 Two fishermen add substance to the enormity of time and beauty behind Europe's Iron Gate. Time, and the River Danube, had carved an amazing channel through Eastern Europe's Carpathian Mountains.
An early morning fog had added mystery to amazing. The queen of Europe's rivers had done it again, rendering the journey extraordinary. Our bus headed north from Bucharest on highway A3 through Romania's Carpathian Mountains, away from the bustling capital city; away from the indelible stamp of communism on drab buildings housing 2.5 million residents now looking to democracy for a brighter future.  Grey seemed the prevailing color for all the socialist architectural statements. History has not always been kind to Romania, to her "citizens of the Roman Empire," but that's another post altogether. History aside, I discovered the largest country in Southeastern Europe has much more than Transylvania and Count Dracula to offer the world, thank you very much Bram Stoker.
You can thank yours truly via the comments for today's highlights, 7 Things You Might Not Know About Romania. And to think a few months ago I couldn't even find Romania on a world map. It's wonderful what travel does for one's view of the world. Okay, let’s just put it out there. There was very little that was charming or quaint about Skagway, Alaska.  Violet was a most unusual and beguiling hood ornament for her Skagway Streetcar. Well, there was Violet. I’ll get back to her in a minute.
Vast rugged wilderness and natural beauty is what Alaska is all about, although for a brief period, just before the turn of the 20th century, Alaska was all about GOLD! Tens of thousands of dreamers and schemers passed through the virtually uninhabited Glacial Valley the native Tlingit called Skgagwei; all contributed to the raw and raucous two-year period from 1898 to 1900 at the core of much of Skagway’s history; at least the bulk of history Violet shared during our one hour tour of Alaska’s first incorporated city.  Graphic courtesy of wildhawaii.org. They come by the thousands year after year, many of the whales traveling 2,800 miles just to feed in the cold, protected waters of Southeast Alaska, the bubble-net capital of the world. More on bubble-net feeding, a uniquely humpback whale dining technique, later in this post.
Almost two million tourists follow in their wake, hoping to catch a glimpse of these gentle giants. Okay, two-million-and-one counting yours truly. My maritime whale-watching excursion included a guaranteed whale sighting or a refund on the cost of my excursion with Allen Marine; and that’s no fish tale, particularly given whales are mammals, not fish. But you knew that, right? Suffice it to say, my hundred bucks bought me a whale of a good time; and some unexpected visitors to boot.  Johns Hopkins Glacier emerges from the misty waters of Alaska's Glacier Bay. Mile after mile after magnificent mile (6,600 miles of coastline) was unimaginably beautiful; and serene; and remote. Only 20% of Alaska can be reached by road; which is why we chose to come by boat. Most visitors do.
The little guy seemed unfazed by our presence, going on about the business of soaking up the afternoon sun atop the waters of Michigan’s Kalamazoo River as if we’d always been a part of this living picture of tranquility. 
Say hello to Shelly!
It wasn’t difficult to feel thousands of years slip away in the morning mists along St. Johns River. Like a woman with an aura of mystery about her, the river’s quiet beauty harbored fascinating secrets.  This is the watered down version of a tell all. I know, I'm soooo bad! It’s a jungle out there, and Jimmy and I recently had a chance to see it up close and personal with friends Joan and Jerry. The jungle was part of a swamp, as in a Florida Everglades wannabe. Thousands just like it, fed from underground springs and abundant rainfall, are a vital part of the fragile ecosystem of the state of Florida. The wildlife in this sanctuary was as abundant as the Spanish moss covering the 2,000 year old Cyprus trees. The air was heavy with expectation, my imagination on overdrive as we slipped into the quiet solitude like interlopers in the night.  Fortunately there were no mosquitoes. Every once in a while, when the stars align to create a perfect moment, the world pauses as if to say, “Do you have any idea how lucky you are?”
You’d think I’d take notice of those moments more often, but the world is a busy place. My hearing isn’t what it used to be, either. But it just so happened on one special evening while in Europe, I’d stepped away from the white noise of my ordinary life and the twenty-first century into a moment so extraordinarily beautiful and unique that the world really did come to a standstill. Okay, maybe that was the boat cutting its engines. But it only served to highlight the perfection. Whoa! Where have you guys been? Oh, wait! I've been the one off for the last week. Well, I'm back, and ready to rock and roll - I think.
It’s been a struggle writing today’s post (although I think it's the longest post ever for 2012 - lots of pictures!), something along the lines of a tooth extraction. The extraction was undoubtedly a wisdom tooth given my lack of muse. It’s left a huge hole at the back of my six months of otherwise pearly posts. I’ve been running my mind over the hole the holidays left in the order and rhythm of my literary life, unable to reconcile the foreign feel of a blinking curser and all that empty space taunting me. I’ve decided photos might be more appropriate for my planned “Year in Review” post given it may take a few days before my arthritic bones and muse are back up to speed. I think it’s the lethargy of all the holiday food and family and friends combined with minimal mental and physical exercise. Thankfully the New Year, along with its resolutions, will bring an end to all the lethargy. It was a beautiful, enchanting world out there that beckoned in 2012. All the history and mystery, the people and places (and the fantastic food) offered a multitude of photo ops that spoke volumes when it came to the world’s gifts and mankind’s imagination. You know you want to check it out! |
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