State House, Nashville, Tennessee, USAWe were ultimately not that impressed with Nashville when we went there over 10 years ago, but it probably was just that it was cold, we had hotel problems, and half of our planned tourist stops were closed for good. On the plus side, we saw some terrific live music in a small bar and were able to see some historic sites and a unique car museum. We probably ought to give Nashville another chance.
Nautical Rope, USCGC Ingham, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Rope is one of the most common tools used in the world. People use it in all sizes to secure and make things. This is some very thick rope used to secure ships.
Concourse B, Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, USADenver International sure has a lot of moving sidewalks. It's no surprise, because in the rarefied mile-high air, people do tire more quickly.
Wasp Nest, Atlanta, Georgia, USAWe found this empty wasp nest in our yard. We were not sure how it got there or from where it originally fell, but we were glad to find it empty.
The Last March, Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, Israel
Today is Yom Ha'Shoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. It is on this day that Jews around the world remember the 6 million Jews who died at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. Nearly half of the Jewish people in the world were wiped out during this cruel genocide.
"The Last March", at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, depicts the mass deportation of Jews to the Nazi death camps. Yad Vashem is a memorial and museum dedicated to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Additionally, righteous Gentiles who risked their lives to save Jews (like Oskar Schindler and Raoul Wallenberg) are honored in the Garden of the Righteous at Yad Vashem.
Earring, Atlanta, Georgia, USAThis weekend we went to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival and had a nice time. Ned bumped into a colleague whose friend was wearing this unique earring.
Roasted Vegetables, Kfar Saba, Israel
For a country which is about 60% desert, Israel boasts some of the freshest and most delicious produce in the world. We've eaten oranges the size of grapefruits and green beans the size of asparagus. Roasted with herbs and Israeli olive oil, these vegetables were delicious.
USS Yorktown, Patriot's Point, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, USAThe US Navy recently conducted an incredible rescue off the coast of Somalia. In honor of them, we present a Navy hero from the past, the USS Yorktown.
Ned in front of an EMB-120, Glynco Jetport (BQK), Brunswick, Georgia, USA
Yes, we really love to fly! One holiday weekend we went to peaceful Jekyll Island in southeastern Georgia. It's about a five or six hour drive, but we decided to fly instead.
In those easy pre-911 days, it was pretty easy to stroll to the airport at 7:45 am for an 8:30 am flight. By flying, we got up at a leisurely hour and arrived at our hotel way before noon. Because Glynco Jetport (BQK) is such a small airport, we also didn't have to leave Jekyll Island until around 3 pm for a 4 pm flight. We arrived home relaxed and refreshed within 3 hours of leaving our hotel. No frustrating ride home battling with other holiday travelers.
The airplane featured here is an Embraer Brasilia (EMB-120). It was a mainstay of many commuter airlines before regional jets became more prevalent. Many of you reading this blog will call it a small plane, but would you believe at one time a 30 passenger aircraft was considered large? During the 1930's and 1940's folks crossed the country in planes smaller than this.
Danny Datsun, Tallahassee, Florida, USAThis is not one of our more stellar pictures, but it is definitely of historical value to us. This is a picture of Marc's first car, an orange Datsun B-210 hatchback named "Danny". Danny served his parents and older siblings for about a decade before reaching Marc.
Needless to say, Danny was long in the tooth and suffered much abuse before and after Marc received him. Although an unglamorous little guy, Danny was much beloved and managed to make it another two or three thousand miles before he could take no more.
"See Rock City" birdhouse on a Dogwood Tree, Atlanta, Georgia, USAAround this time, the South is filled with beautiful blooming dogwoods, camellias, and azaleas. This coming weekend is the 73rd Annual Atlanta Dogwood Festival.
Rock City is an unusual tourist attraction open since 1932 near Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Lookout Mountain in northeastern Georgia. At one time, over 900 barns in 19 states were painted with the slogan "See Rock City".
McDonald's Restaurant, Jaffa, IsraelEating at McDonald's happens worldwide for perhaps over a billion people everyday. The McDonald's in Israel are usually hopping. However, this being Passover, business is likely off significantly in Israel, except perhaps in the totally non-religious areas and where they've made a restaurant Kosher for Passover.
Seder Plate, Atlanta, Georgia, USAThis seder plate highlights almost all of the ritual foods at the Seder table. We have the bitter herbs, charoset, roasted egg, roasted shank bone, and karpas (green vegetable). To the right is the salt water for dipping the karpas. To the left is the stem of a wine glass for the four cups of wine we must drink (which for Jews isn't so easy, many of us are light-weights). The only thing missing from this picture is Matzo, which has a separate special place at the Seder table.
The Kotel, Jerusalem, Israel
The last remaining structure associated with the great Jewish Temple, The Kotel (literally, "The Wall" in Hebrew) is also known as the Wailing Wall and the Western Wall.
The first seven layers of massive stones you see, and the 17 layers below ground level that you don't see, were laid over 20 centuries ago. The stones above the first seven visible layers aren't too recent either. Most of these massive stones weigh between 2 and 8 tons, but some weigh much more.
In this picture, Marc and his father are returning from the wall after praying.
Although we are not in Jerusalem for Pesach (Passover) this year, perhaps we will be next year in Jerusalem.
Passover Greetings, Ben Gurion International Airport, Lod, IsraelWe spent Passover 5764 (2004) in Israel. As we entered Immigration and Passport Control, we saw this sign! This simple sign is just one of many things which remind us of why we need and have a homeland.
Hag Pesach Sameach!
Seder Table, Atlanta, GeorgiaIn 5760 (2000 C.E.) we had our first Seder in our new home. The word Seder simply means order in Hebrew. The Seder is thus a wonderful ordered meal where we retell the story of our deliverance from bondage in Egypt.Jews around the world participated in Seders last night, the first night of Passover. Outside of Israel, Jews also participate at Seders on the second night of Passover. This being the second night, we plan on having another joyous evening tonight with friends.
Negev Desert, IsraelOver 3,000 years ago G-d set us free from our shackles of bondage in Egypt. It was land like this (but outside of Israel) through which Moses and the Israelites wandered en route to the Promised Land. Through the sustaining power of G-d, our massive group survived in barren landscapes like this.
The land that G-d gave to us is not just desert, it is a land of great beauty that has sustained us well physically and spiritually. It truly is "a land flowing with milk and honey".Tonight, Jews around the world retell the story of our deliverance from bondage by reading the Haggadah at our Passover Seders.
Luna Pier, Luna Pier, Michigan, USAMichigan's economy has been getting figuratively battered by stormy seas. Here in the town of Luna Pier, this eponymous structure gets literally battered by Lake Erie.
We discovered the town and pier by accident while meandering from Toledo to Detroit. When we have time to wander, we often discover cool new places.
Beluga Whale Stuffed Animals, Atlanta, Georgia, USAEvery day kids around the world play with dolls and stuffed animals. These cute belugas were on sale (and probably still are) at the Georgia Aquarium. They also have real beluga whales too, but not for sale.
Fresh Fruit Kabobs, Atlanta, Georgia, USAStrawberries are in season right now. Our little niece exclaimed with delight last Sunday that "strawberries are juicy!". Yes, they definitely are!
Grist Mill, Stone Mountain, Georgia, USA
This century-old grist mill was originally near Ellijay, Georgia. It was moved to Stone Mountain Park in the mid-sixties.
Theme Building, Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California, USAThis glamourous Populuxe building looks as good now as the day it opened in 1961. Located at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the building contains a restaurant.
Snow Covered Plastic Flamingos, Atlanta, Georgia, USAYesterday's post, of course, was an April Fools' Day joke. The snow is real, but the flamingos are actually plastic. A staple of many Florida yards, Marc's folks shipped these to us as reminders of Florida.
When we had a heavy snowfall one year, we looked out our window and saw our southern friends covered in snow. We couldn't resist photographing this oxymoronic scene.
Freezing Flamingos, Tallahassee, Florida, USAWhen we were in college, a freak blizzard came through Tallahassee and dumped a bunch of snow. These poor fellows from a nearby wetland got stuck in the snowstorm and were found shivering in our neighbor's yard. After quickly documenting this sad affair with our film camera, we and all our neighbors got towels and blankets to help them dry off and warm up. Because of frostbite, these little fellows could not stay in the wild and ended up as a featured attraction at the Tallahassee Zoo.
