Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

Luxury Travel in the 1850’s Was Spurred by the Birth of Photography

October 31, 2009

In today’s Guardian, Nicky Woolf has written a wonderful article about the birth of world tourism.  Here are some of the highlights:
In 1833, William Henry Fox Talbot conceived the photographic process, after becoming frustrated with his inability to draw.
Photographs of exotic far-off places first came available in the 1850’s.  Demand for these sorts of photographs [...]

True Love Between a Monkey and a Cat!

October 15, 2009

Photos: Tomar, Portugal’s “Festival of the Trays” with Paper Flowers

September 18, 2009

This harvest festival takes place in Tomar every four years, in July.
A very nice concise write-up of the Festival (in English), by Rosa,  can be found HERE.
A longer write-up (in English) can be found on the middle section of THIS PAGE, under “FESTA DOS TABULEIROS.”
–Posted by Madame Monet

Chasing the Total Eclipse of the Sun – July 22, 2009

July 22, 2009

Starting in India, and continuing across China, and the Pacific Ocean, the total eclipse of 2009 was the most spectacular, most viewed (due to it’s passing over heavily-populated areas),  and lasted as long as six minutes and 39 seconds in some places.
People all over India gathered in open spaces, and although the eclipse passed [...]

Who Says History Is Boring? Compare Modern Life with 1500 A.D., in England…

June 22, 2009

I didn’t write this, but received it as an interesting email  forward:

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn’t just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly [...]

Facebook Games Replacing TV Leisure

May 30, 2009

 
 
Many people are no longer coming home, turning on the TV, and flipping channels to see what’s on.     Instead, they sit down in front of the computer.  

Even before checking email, many people now go to Facebook, just to see if anything is new on their home page, or to see which of their [...]

What Facebook Quizzes Can Tell You About Your Life

May 23, 2009

Today I had time to take some of the fun quizzes on Facebook.  Here is what I’ve learned about myself: My dream home is a Southern Antebellum Mansion.  My Euro-Persona is French, but my International Personality is actually American. My true age is 46 (not bad for 53), and my ideal career [...]

“Guess Which Country” Red Wine Tasting

May 21, 2009

Last night’s wine tasting was lots of fun.  Our host had five reds, all of different prices and different countries.  He asked us to try to guess which country, after tasting each.  We started the tasting with deveiled eggs, pita bread and cheeses  to nibble on with the first bottle of wine.
  
 Here was our first. [...]

YoVille Beats Mafia Wars

May 9, 2009

After trying both Mafia Wars and YoVille, I find that YoVille is SO much more fun.  Both are online games through Facebook that many people of all ages are playing now.
A freind in America told me how much he enjoyed Mafia Wars, so I decided to try it.  I didn’t like the jobs or fighting, [...]

Moroccan Comments on “Moorish Courtyard,” by John Singer Sargent

April 17, 2009

Moorish Courtyard, by American Oil Painter John Singer Sargent (painted in 1913)
I asked my Moroccan husband to take a look at this famous painting and tell me whether he thought it actually looked like Morocco.  According to Christie’s auction house,  “Moorish Courtyard was probably conceived in Granada in the autumn of 1912 when Sargent [...]