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General => Community Events => Topic started by: Martin Milner on March 25, 2008, 15:46:22

Title: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Martin Milner on March 25, 2008, 15:46:22
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h139/lhaap3/P3251145--.jpg)

Sitting on a park bench on LHAAP's desk, our retired couple have a brainwave.

Grandma: Fred, here we are in our Autumn years, you may still have a full head of hair, but everything else is dropping. We need to live our dream before Winter catches us up.

Grandpa:  I've got a Panama hat that would look silly on anyone under 70, and my artificial hip is aching again so there's rain in the air. What did you have in mind?

Gran: We need to travel; travel the world and see all those places we talked about back when we were courtin'.

Grandpa: Well Maisie, that was just to get you to sleep with me.

Gran: I knew that, Fred, but let's live a little more. Let's stick a pin in the Atlas and see where it leads us...

Grandpa: OK Maisie, you lead and I'll follow. (to self in a whisper) <probably get ourselves eaten by cannibals or something...>

Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: LHAAP on March 28, 2008, 18:32:52
Here the first close-up of Maisie und Fred, who are just about to go out and see which country they have landed in.

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h139/lhaap3/P3281162-.jpg)
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: LHAAP on March 29, 2008, 16:16:07
Today Maisie and Fred have been sightseeing in my garden. They also found out that they are in Denmark ;)

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h139/lhaap3/P3291171.jpg)
Maisie and Fred in front of my house (Garden).

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h139/lhaap3/P3291175.jpg)
Seen from another perspective.

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h139/lhaap3/P3291176.jpg)
Maisie and Fred also found time for a walk in the trees. They were especially happy to see that the spring is coming to DK (Note the shoots on the tree).

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h139/lhaap3/P3291177.jpg)
Enjoying "the view".

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h139/lhaap3/P3291179.jpg)

(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h139/lhaap3/P3291184.jpg)
After having enjoyed the view they were so confused that they couldn't find the way back.

Title: Maisie & Fred hit Oxford UK
Post by: Martin Milner on April 13, 2008, 20:02:28
(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/00oxford.jpg)
First, an overview of the city of Oxford to get acquainted. The names Worcester, Nuffield, Exeter, Jesus etc. are the various colleges.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/01Oxford.jpg)
The Saxon Tower (c.1040) at the top of Cornhill Street, the area known as Northgate from the time when Oxford was a walled city. Maisie sighs and thinks of Fred in his younger days.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/02Oxford.jpg)
Fred poses briefly in Boswells. More about Boswells in the shopping forum soon.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/03oxford.jpg)
A very old building used for a very modern purpose.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/oxford04.jpg)
Looking south down St Aldgate, the tower of Old Tom is visible. There is a popular English Folk tune with the same name. Maisie sighs and thinks of Fred in his younger days.


(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/06oxford.jpg)
The front of the town hall. Some impressive stone carving, but could do with a clean.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/07oxford.jpg)
Old Tom is the clock and belltower that stands over the entrance to Christ Church College. Old Fred is the old codger in the foreground.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/08oxford.jpg)
The postbox outside the post office - quaint! Fred briefly considers posting himself home, but decides against it.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/09oxford.jpg)
Bicycles and busses. Oxford discourages the private motorist (thank goodness). Students get around on bicycles, and there are thousands around the city, often not very well secured. Maisie and Fred travelled everywhere by foot.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/11oxford.jpg)
Malmaison. Once a prison, now a luxury hotel! M&F are staying in a cheaper hotel in George Street, the Victoria House Hotel. Not as classy, but easier on the wedge.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/12oxford.jpg)
Here's what we came for - music and dancing at the Oxford Folk Festival.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/13oxford.jpg)
Appalacian Clog dancing is suprisingly popular!

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/14oxford.jpg)
And the music is quite uplifting!

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/16oxford.jpg)
The impressive frontage of Trinity College bathed in the morning sunlight as Maisie and Fred take an early morning constitutional the next day.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/17oxford.jpg)
The White Horse, a typical old English Pub, first recorded as a pub in 1760, but likely much older. Unfortunately it's closed and a disappointed Fred is dragged away by Maisie.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/18oxford.jpg)
Hmm, Egyptology. Mummies and pyramids. This gives Fred an idea, but alas the library is closed this early in the day, and covered in scaffolding so not worth a photo today.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/19oxford.jpg)
Oxford's Bridge of Sighs...aaaah!

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/20oxford.jpg)
"Look Maisie," calls Fred, "The trees are so old they need walking sticks! Makes me feel quite sprightly!"

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/21oxford.jpg)
Fred may be nearer to 89, but when he's with Maisie he feels like he's 16 again.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/22oxford.jpg)
Fred & Maisie don't think this is the vehicle used for tours.

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/25oxford.jpg)
Just time for a breeze round the French Market before catching the train to their next adventure. Sausage with Hazelnuts, whatever next?

(http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd97/Martin_Milner/Oxford%20FF%202008/26oxford.jpg)
On the train home, and the rain has started. Looks like they got away just in time. I know the railwaqys rolling stock is a little old, but steamtrains? Actually this is the Railway Museum at Didcot Parkway.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 11, 2008, 13:18:54
Here are Maisie and Fred making a brief visit to North Yorkshire.  The last photo shows them surveying my planned walking holiday next year from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway along the line of Hadrian's Wall to mark my 65th birthday.  Maisie and Fred will be accompanying me.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 11, 2008, 13:22:17
And they meet Fluff.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Gustavo on August 10, 2008, 20:17:34
THE FIRST QUICK VISIT OF
MASIE & FRED TO RIO

They arrived for a quick visit ;), this time, on the Winter days of August in Rio ... Pretty hard to find a sunny day or a blue sky, when the winds from Antartida come, this time of the year. Rio State shore is "horizontal" in the map*, and it happens that cold waters from the icy continent are blocked here in this Brasilian State. If you wish to come to Brasil for warm ocean waters, go north of Rio (Espírito Santo State, Bahia State), because Rio waters are cold (even on Summer -- However, once the weather is of high temperatures on Summer, it's, sometimes, pleasant to go into very cold waters ... Anyway, back to Fred and Masie ...).

Once they visited, they wished to walk around. I thought about taking them to visit my grandparents, but it didn't seem exactly what Fred was willing to do, however Masie did get excited about it! :yup:

It occured that, by chance (completely out of plans, specially because it's Winter), a few friends of mine decided to go visit Santa Cruz fort. It's placed in Niterói, the city right in front of Rio, on the other side of the Guanabara bay. I almost forgot to tell Fred I was going, but, before leaving, I looked at them, and Fred looked at me, and he said: "you aren't even conjecturing to leave us behind, are you, lad??!! :hmm:", so, I grabbed them & the camera, and, well, there it came the two pictures below.


(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/01santacruz_fort/fred_n_masie_rio001.jpg)
"Come on, Gus! ... I know you're having fun with your friends, but I have to have a picture with the Sugar Loaf!!!"

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/01santacruz_fort/fred_n_masie_rio002.jpg)
& Here, Masie, saying "Oh, what a splendid view, Gus! ... You'll take us up there, when we're back, won't you, on Summer?",
and Fred, admiring the rock, at the other side of the bay.

I'll actually have to take them at Santa Cruz fort again, on Summer, as well ::) But this is a beginning for Fred and Masie in Rio.



*I'd like to provide better maps ... Maybe in the future; for now, you'll find it clicking here (http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagem:RiodeJaneiro_MesoMicroMunicip.svg) & here (http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagem:Rio-de-Janeiro-Brockhaus-Konversationslexikon-1895.jpg)
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on August 10, 2008, 20:33:40
On Friday, Maisie and Fred came with us to a wedding.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on August 16, 2008, 19:15:06


MAISIE AND FRED ARRIVE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS


After a long trip from Martin's London home, our world travellers wait patiently to be greeted at Crown Bay Marina.

They seem to be cooling their shoes. Apparently the pavement was a bit too warm on their feet ...  :klickywink:

After they have had an opportunity to rest up, we'll show them some of the island's highlights.

However, their journey has just really begun. Next week, we leave for Denver, Colorado. Then it's off to Houston, Texas for a few days before we drive to Fort Lauderdale.

So, Masie and Fred will get to see some of the Rocky Mountains, most of the Gulf coast and the best of south Florida before we head back to the Virgin Islands.

Thanks, Martin!

All the best from F&M and me.

see attachment
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on August 17, 2008, 14:30:56
Maisie and Fred visit Flamborough

Last Friday, the 15th, Diane and I went to Flamborough Head on the east coast of Yorkshire.  It was the day with the best weather forecast and the forecast was right, warm and sunny, a bit breezy (but pleasant enough as we walked some six miles), and some spectacular clouds.

We arrived about lunchtime so found a restaurant and had a good Yorkshire lunch - farm gammon steak (not the standard shaped reconstituted ones, but a real steak as it came off the pig) with fried egg on top for me and pineapple for Diane.  They came with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, boiled new potatoes, mushy peas, green peas, carrots, cauliflower, French beans, fried onion rings and onion gravy.  We didn't bother with a dessert!

After that we walked to Flamborough Head, which is where the photos start.

The first picture is of what is called The Old Lighthouse, although there is no evidence that it ever was that!  It was possibly built as a folly.

2nd photo: It was opposite Flaborough head that four American ships led by John Paul Jones fought two Royal Navy ships in 1779.  This plaque commemorates the incident but diplomatically doesn't refer to the outcome.  (On the original photo the plaque can be read easily, but unfortunately not on the reduced version.)  The battle was fought almost exactly on the Greenwich Meridian (0 degrees longitude).

Next, Fred and Maisie examine the toposcope which also was erected to mark the same incident.  This relates Flamborough Head to various places in the UK and the world.  For example, from Flamborough Head to John o' Groats (the most northerly point on the mainland) is exactly the same distance as from Flamborough Head to Land's End, the most southerly point, while London is 172 miles away and Edinburgh 176.

Lastly, a map showing the area.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on August 17, 2008, 14:47:05
After the big lunch, the walk from the village and all that information to take in, Fred and Maisie had a sit down before tackling the visit to the lighthouse.

The lighthouse dates back to 1806 the lamp was originally lit by oil and had three lenses, 2 white ones and one red one.  Nowadays, the light has four lenses, all white.  Electricity was introduced in 1940 for the light.  Originally, the light rotated by a clockwork mechanism which needed winding every 45 minutes, so during the hours of darkness two of the three lighthouse keepers worked 4 hours on and four hours off in rotation to keep the light rotating.  The lighthouse was automated in 1996 and is now unmanned.  It is 26.5 metres tall and the light is some 65 metres above mean high water mark.

The lighthouse is open for visitors (not on Tuesdays as that's maintenance day), so we went in side.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on August 17, 2008, 15:04:34
It's a steep climb up the lighthouse (we had an excellent lady guide to explain everything), so Fred and Maisie had a rest before going into the lamp room.

Here's a picture of the lamp itself, quite difficult to take with a digital camera because the camera "pauses" before the shutter fires and the lamp housing is turning all the time.  If it stopped, then the powerful lenses would act like giant magnifying glasses on a sunny day and set the place on fire!  On maintenance days, covers are put over the light when it is stopped.  The present housing for the lamp dates back to 1926 and weighs over three and a half tons and "floats" on mercury so there are no gears or guides to wear out.  The bulb is only 1 kilowatt and it's the lenses which give the light its range of 24 nautical miles.  (If you want to see the range on a map, find Flamborough Head and then look south along the coast to Spurn Point, the most southerly point of its range, and then look north and find Whitby, the most northerly point of its range.)  If you look at the picture of the bulb carefully you can see two bulbs, one vertical (the bulb which is lit at night) and one horizontal to the right (a spare which automatically flips up and comes into use if the other bulb fails).  If the second bulb fails or all the power fails, then there are two battery powered flashing lights outside which automatically come on; these have a range of 12 miles and were used in the late 1990s after a lightning strike destroyed the mains electricity connection and the standby generator cabling.  In the third picture, Fred and Maisie are looking out at one of the emergency lights.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on August 17, 2008, 15:17:28
After a rest and an ice-cream, we walked back along the cliff path to where we'd parked the car and, after a cup of tea, set off home after a grand day out.  The cliffs are chalk cliffs and so proned to be washed away, but also sculpted into strange shapes by the sea.  The cliffs at Bempton are famous for the quantity of birds nesting on them and here are two photos of the Bempton cliffs.  In the second, note the next right on the top.

Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:12:37



Perhaps we should call this Maisie and Fred's EXCITING Adventure ...


On Wednesday the 20th of August, Susan and I began what was supposed to be just another hurried business trip. Our plans were to fly from St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands to Fort Lauderdale and spend the night.

So far so good ...

see attachments
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:15:24


The next day we were to fly from Fort Lauderdale to Denver with a brief stop in Houston to change planes.

Again, so far so good ...

see attachments
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:16:55


A couple of days in Denver to meet with a client, a drive out to look at the Rocky Mountains and Buffalo Bill's final resting place (http://www.buffalobill.org/), then a quick flight back to Houston.

Still, so far so good. Never enough time to take lots of photos, but that's quite typical with most quick business trips.

see attachments
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:19:10


In Houston, we visited Susan's corporate office (http://www.careermanagement.com), a Mexican restaurant (http://www.molinasrestaurants.com/), the Museum of Natural Science (http://www.hmns.org/?r=1), the Rothko Chapel (http://www.rothkochapel.org/) and Sam Houston's statue (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=%22sam+houston+statue%22+hermann+circle+houston&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=title). Interesting, but not yet very "exciting" ...

see attachments
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:21:42


Continued ...

see attachments
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:23:32


Then the reports of Gustav were all over the news. "Killer hurricane approaching the Gulf Coast," read the headlines!

We were scheduled to drive back to Fort Lauderdale from Houston!

This would put us directly in the path of Hurricane Gustav!

see attachments
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:24:40


We had planned on a leisurely drive with a stop-over in New Orleans. We quickly changed our plans, packed up and prepared for our race with Gustav.

We knew that heading due west was our best chance to win the race. However, we also knew that we would be slowed by everyone evacuating ahead of the storm.

We made good time from Houston to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. But, just before Slidell, Louisiana, we started slowing down. When we crossed over Interstate 55, we saw bumper to bumper traffic heading north. Thousands upon thousands of people trying to escape the oncoming storm. (There are no photos of this part of our journey. We were too busy navigating our way through the traffic. And, anyway, Masie and Fred were hiding in the back of the vehicle.)

We pushed on through Biloxi, Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama. Everywhere we looked there were people trying to get out of the way of Hurricane Gustav.

Automobiles and trucks overloaded with pets, personal belongings and treasures. Terrified families trying to save everything they could from the hurricane menace that was churning up the Gulf of Mexico.

Stalled and overheated vehicles littered the medians and shoulders of the highway. People were running out of fuel. The gasoline pumps at many of the service stations had been long emptied by the fleeing residents of the Gulf Coast.

We were in the middle of the largest evacuation in US history. Almost two million people were running from this terrifying monster called Gustav!

Miraculously, we made it to Pensacola, Florida where we spent the night.

Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:25:56


The next day, Sunday the 31st of August we started what was supposed to be the last leg of our journey. (Masie and Fred joined us in the front seat expecting a nice scenic drive.)

see attachment
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:26:59


Hurricane Gustav was not quite finished with us. Freeway traffic appeared to be stopped up ahead, so Susan and I decided to take the exit ramp. We asked a fireman, who had also pulled off and stopped at the little combination general store and gas station, about the road ahead. He told us that the traffic was at a dead stop for more than thirty-six miles. An RV trying to escape the hurricane had caught fire and was blocking the highway.

The outer bands of Gustav were already beginning to lash out as we took the detour that the fireman had suggested.

We were skirting the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico and the water was rising. The fireman had warned us about a possible storm surge and had urged us to keep moving.

see attachment
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:28:11


As we sped toward Destin, Florida, the wind began to pick up and the water in the Gulf continued to rise.

This would normally be a beautiful drive as you are literally almost driving on the water as you leapfrog from one barrier island to the next. However, with strong winds and a storm surge, we were actually driving on water in several places. We were probably also one of the last vehicles to use this road until after the storm had passed.

see attachment
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Richard on September 04, 2008, 19:29:03

Susan and I stopped north of Orlando and just fell into our comfortable hotel bed. We were exhausted. But, thankfully, safe and out of harms way. We thought about the two million people. How many were still on the road? We whispered a prayer for their safety and fell asleep.

Monday, the 1st of September was a holiday. Labor Day in the United States. We had breakfast and thought about our harrowing drive. With only a three and half hour journey ahead of us to Fort Lauderdale, we could breathe a big sigh of relief and thank God for protecting us both ... yet once again.

We suspect that if Maisie and Fred could talk, they might say that they would prefer a nice walk along Hadrian's Wall with Gordon and Diane rather than a hair-raising mad dash with a Hurricane named Gustav.

see attachment
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Gustavo on May 24, 2009, 22:01:39
Yesterday, I had to go to a neighbourhood in Rio called Saúde, so as to go to a doctor, and, well, Masie didn't want to walk much, but Fred was on the mood (I told him it'd be a lot of walking, for his age ...), then he went with me.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio001.jpg)



Saúde is a very old neighbouhood, between Rio old docks and downtown (or the "old city"). Below, there's a picture of a "Nacional Comitee of Naval Carpenters of the Merchant Navy". I'm not sure there's still such cometee, but the house is there 8}

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio002.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio003.jpg)



We went on walking. We went by bus until behind the "Estação Central" (urban trains), and it was walking till the doctor's, and from there back downtown, after. It's a nice walk in a kind of an unknown Rio.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio004.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio005.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio006.jpg)



(I've never been to Russia, but that place, at least in the picture, looks a bit like what I imagine of that country ;D That old factory still works.)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio007.jpg)



Near the clinic, there's this very traditional Brasilian plaza, with what we call a "coreto", which is based, I believe, in French Belle Époque. They used these places for bands, on certain hollidays, to play to the public of the region.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio008.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio009.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio010.jpg)
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Gustavo on May 24, 2009, 22:13:48


(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio011.jpg)



After the visit, we went walking towards downtown. Here's Fred. He was a bit impatient, because we had waited A LOT OF TIME at the clinic ... At the way to the old cité, we go through the place where there are a lot of trucks parked, I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because the old part of the docks are right at the side, but as well, it's a place where there are a few factories, then, maybe the trucks work for these factories, I haven't found out what it is yet ... Fred said that some guys at playmofriends might like to see the trucks ...

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio012.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio013.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio014.jpg)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio015.jpg)

(part 2 of 4)
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Gustavo on May 24, 2009, 22:39:15
From here, we turned right, and followed a looooong way.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio016.jpg)



(Here, before turning right, Fred wished to take picture of some of the trucks, from another angle.)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio017.jpg)



As we turn right, there are still more trucks, still for a couple of squares.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio018.jpg)



Until we reach a place where there are no trucks anymore ...

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio019.jpg)



There are a lot of places where "Escolas de Samba" meet themselves. Here's one, in that region.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio020.jpg)

(part 3 of 4)
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Gustavo on May 24, 2009, 22:46:11
(We ran short of memory, in the machine, so we couldn't take all the pictures we wished, because I had to take Fred still at Confeitaria Colombo ... Although there are only six pictures left, I'll divide part 4 into 3 mini-parts, so as to better explain them.)

Once I made a stop here, notice, in the pictures above, taken yesterday, that we're in the autumn, here, in Rio, and the trees don't get red. In Argentina, a little south, they do. But in Brasil, I don't think not even in the south States they get red or yellow. We're a tropical country. In the south of Brasil, things get a bit cold, on winter, but in Rio, our winter don't make less than 15 Celsius.

Yesterday was a sunny day. It should be about 25 or about. Not too hot, not cool either, anyway.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Gustavo on May 24, 2009, 22:51:58
In the region of the old docks, there are a lot of "ruins". It's sad. Government try to make projects to revitalize the region, but it isn't quite easy, once Rio de Janeiro has A LOT of other more urgent needs. It's a huge town, and the more populated areas need special attention.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio021.jpg)



However, this kind of shocked Fred. He said something like: "Wow!, a couple of blocks back there, we had ruins, now we see a top-line building like this! What a contrast!" Indeed, I have to agree with him.

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio022.jpg)

(part 4, a)
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Gustavo on May 24, 2009, 22:59:45
Rio downtown (our "La Cité", as they say in Paris :), I like the term) is a place full of everything, but in more reasonable conditions. There are very old buildings, and there are high quality ones as the one above (that's in the Cité, already). Here, at Gonçalves Dias street, crossing with Buenos Aires street, at the very heart of Rio (not the famous Rio, like Copacabana or Ipanema, but the everyday Carioca citizen's Rio), Fred was caught by his ... weakness ;D : Chapelaria Alberto. A very old store that sells hats and such. Too bad we had only a few pictures left :( I wished to have taken a lot of other pictures ...

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio023.jpg)



(Fred gazing at the hats of the Chapelaria.)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio024.jpg)

(part 4, b)
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Gustavo on May 24, 2009, 23:12:24
(part 4, c)

I wished to take Fred here: Confeitaria Colombo! "The biggest mirrors of Latin America", they are famous for ... (I don't like the term "Latin America", I refer to myself as American and Portuguese American. I'm not merely Latin. I'm Portuguese American ... And American, before anything.) This "Confeitaria" is from the first quarter of the XXth century, if not from the late XIXth ... One can take a nice cup of tea, there, cakes, "croquetes" (German meat cake), sweets and snacks, and, at the second floor, they can have lunch. I'm not in the proper moment for a coffe in my life, but, when I have money enough, I like to go there, at least once a month. All the better, once a week! :)

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio025.jpg)



(Fred was astounded with the mirrors ... "They're big, all right!" :lol: )

(http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll61/Olivieri76/rio_de_j/fred_n_masie/02fred_oldcity/fred_inrio026.jpg)

"A stroll in Rio,
on a Saturday morning"

End

:blackhair:
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 02, 2009, 13:49:58
Well, Gus has finally kicked me into action with a story that dates back to November last year.  It's been waiting for me to sort it out because there have been a number of distractions, not all good, from Playmobil in the last seven months or so, but now things seem to be getting back to normal.

Diane was 60 last November so to celebrate her getting her pensions (yes, two of them) we went away for a few days (including her birthday itself) to Norfolk, probably our favourite part of the country.  One of our first holidays there, maybe the first, was a stay at a pub called "The Wash and Tope" in Hunstanton.  The Wash in the name is the large inlet of sea at the "top" of Norfolk where King John lost his crown jewels and the rest of his luggage.  A tope is a small shark caught in the area.  Hunstanton itself is on the west coast of Norfolk, and those people who say, "Impossible!" check your atlases and you'll see what I mean.  We thought of going to the Wash and Tope again, but as it had had about four changes in management in about two or three years we decided not and instead stayed at The Lodge in Old Hunstanton.  (Old Hunstanton is the original village only about half a mile from Hunstanton.  Hunstanton itself is a more or less purpose built town aimed at the better off Victorian holidaymaker.  Times have changed, but it's still very popular, especially with motorcyclists in the summer who will travel literally 200 miles on a Sunday to meet up with fellow motorcyclists at the town green.  As they all seem to be in the 50+ age group, it's not so scarey as it sounds!

First, a map showing The Wash and Hunstanton, courtesy of Google maps.  Then a picture of The Lodge.  It's a listed building because of its age (built about 1902) and its history (it used to be a Dower House) and a building of one sort or another has been on the site since the 14th/15th century, for much of the time an inn.  Being on the west coast, there are good sunsets.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 02, 2009, 13:59:38
The thing Hunstanton is most famous for is its striped cliffs which show clearly the different layers of rock and sediment laid down over the years.  Like much of East Anglia, the coast at Hunstanton is liable to erosion by the sea and so rock falls are quite common.  The coast is also one of the dinosaur coasts and so, if you know what you're looking for, fossils are easy to find, especially after a rock fall.  Maisie and Fred, however, got rather over-excited over a dog's paw print on the beach!
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 02, 2009, 14:10:44
On a number of occasions we walked from Old Hunstanton down to the beach and then along the beach to Hunstanton.  Although it's only a small town, it has quite a good selection of shops, including a toyshop which sells Playmobil.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 02, 2009, 14:17:26
A big treat for Maisie and Fred was to visit SeaLife in Hunstanton.  They'd never seen anything like this before!

There was a big ray and the sharks and a starfish, amongst others, and don't worry, the second shark isn't eating the ray.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 02, 2009, 14:24:31
Some fish were quite hard to see because they were the same colour as the rocks on the bottom, others were quite scarey, especially the spider crab.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 02, 2009, 15:25:55
But the smaller rays were the favourites of Maisie and Fred.  At first they thought the ray was ignoring them as it swam by, rather like an underwater bird in flight.  Then, it levelled off, and turned to look at them, as interested in them as they were in it.  And after that, a baby ray came up to see who the visitors were.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 02, 2009, 15:39:46
On the way out of the aquarium section, we called in at the breeding section and smaller creatures to see the seahorses.  Maisie and Fred were intrigued with these.  When they saw the metal rods in the water they couldn't decide what they were for until they noticed the seahorses curled their tail round them so they could just stand still under water.

Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 02, 2009, 15:41:59
But outside there was more to see!  It was feeding time for the penguins and for the otters and the seals.  Wow! What a morning!  Maisie and Fred were quite worn out.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 02, 2009, 15:46:19
Later in the day, while Maisie and Fred were sleeping, Diane and I went to Norwich, a wonderful city.  Of course, we had to call in at Jarrold's, the big, traditional department store where you can still try shirts for fit before you buy them.  We headed forthe toy department before we left and spotted this PM display.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmofire on June 02, 2009, 16:18:29
On the Sunday morning, Diane and I went for a walk along the beach and sea defences from Old Hunstanton to Heacham.  It was a brilliantly sunny day but with a bitterly cold north-east wind which we were walking pretty well straight into.  At Heacham there is the national lavender centre and also a good lunch.  We have a number of lavenders in our garden and needed to replace one, so here was our opportunity to check that the type we wanted was available and then buy it next day on the way home.  It was a bracing walk, and after lunch and a look round the lavender centre shop and gardens we set off back, by road this time.

As you can see, the area is very flat and in fact just to the right of the sea defences the land is below sea level and remains so for some way inland.  Heacham is about a mile inland and is threatened by flooding whenever there are very high tides, especially if there is a north-westerly wind blowing as that is blowing the sea towards the shore.  The whole north Norfolk coast was severely flooded in 1953 more than 80 people were drowned.   The shuttering on the holiday homes isn't to keep burglars out but to keep the sea out and often the holiday homes are raised above ground level so, hopefully, if the sea does flood over the defences, the living accommodation will be safe.

Lastly, there's an other moody seascape from Hunstanton beach.

I hope you enjoyed Maisie and Fred's trip to North Norfolk.  The next trip they made was in May in an old bus to the market town of Hawes in North Yorkshire, which I plan to post shortly.  If you have any comments, please remember the separate comments topic.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Klickus Mobilius on July 10, 2009, 07:38:52
Last Friday, Fred and Maisie went to San Francisco to see the King Tut exhibit at the de Young Museum.  They stayed over at Kaethe's house, and we all went together to see the exhibit.  Before hopping on the bus, we went to the Marina where they had me take their picture with Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Klickus Mobilius on July 10, 2009, 07:54:12
We took the bus to the de Young since parking is at a premium in the city.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Klickus Mobilius on July 10, 2009, 08:06:10
Here are Fred and Maisie outside the de Young Museum.  Unfortunately, photography is not allowed inside the museum so this is the last photo.
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Gustavo on April 26, 2010, 05:08:00
Fred & Masie
Rio

Parque das Ruínas, in Santa Tereza neighbourhood, Rio de Janeiro, is an interesting place, not very high, but that allows a good vision of a pretty vast part of central Rio de Janeiro!

(http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/album/albums/userpics/10422/normal_1004--_fredmasie1sm.jpg)
(One of the famous Carioca rocks, the Sugar Loaf,
Eiffel Tower height, around 300 km.)


(http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/album/albums/userpics/10422/normal_1004--_fredmasie2sm.jpg)
(Downtown, at the back, the Rio-Niterói bridge.)


(http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/album/albums/userpics/10422/normal_1004--_fredmasie3sm.jpg)
(The Guanabara bay way in/out from/into the ocean ...
The Portuguese arrived there.)


(http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/album/albums/userpics/10422/normal_1004--_fredmasie4sm.jpg)
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: playmovictorian on April 26, 2010, 05:13:35
That's wonderful Gus'  :love:

Karim :)
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: Gustavo on April 26, 2010, 05:30:08
Thanks ... I actually still didn't manage to get a good camera :-[ and they forgot theirs ... Again 8}

(Please, lets keep the commentaries in the comments thread ...
not all knew there was one, I believe .. lol! ;)
http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=2136.0 )

 :wave:

Gus
:blackhair:
Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: skypurr on May 30, 2010, 23:42:20
Maisie and Fred learn about John Paul Jones

Spending a few days in South West Scotland Maisie and Fred decided to visit John Paul Jones' Birthplace Museum in Kirkbean near Dumfries.

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/sign.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/notice.jpg)

Arriving early, they were able to help with raising the two flags -

Fred helped to raise the Scottish flag

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/fredsflag.jpg)

then Fred took a photo of Maisie raising the US flag

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/maisiesflag.jpg)

They then went into the Museum and settled down to watch a dvd to learn something about John Paul Jones

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/dvd1.jpg)

John Paul was born in Kirkbean in 1747, he was the son of the head gardener (also called John Paul) at a large house called Arbigland owned by a man called William Craik.  At the age of 13 John Paul left school and went to sea.  After a series of voyages he decided that he did not like working on slave ships and was travelling back to Scotland as a passenger when the captain and mate of the ship both died.  John Paul was the only man who could navigate and he brought the ship safely back to Kirkcudbright in Scotland.  There the owners of the ship gave him the captaincy of the ship - he was then aged 21.
After several years travelling between Britain and the West Indies and American Colonies he accidentally killed a member of his crew in Tobago.  To avoid being charged with murder he 'disappeared' for 20 months.  He reappeared again having taken the name Jones to protect his identity when he was taken on as the sixth captain in what was then called the American Continental Navy. 
Following the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War (War of American Independence) he was eventually based in France, attacked Whitehaven in England, tried to kidnap the earl of Selkirk from Kirkcudbright in Scotland, captured HMS Drake in Belfast Lough, Ireland and was prevented from taking Leith near Edinburgh by an adverse wind.
He then captured HMS Serapis in the Battle of Flamborough Head, where he spoke the famous words
"...I have not yet begun to fight"
He returned to the Americas supervising the building of a new warship, the war drew to a successful close for the Americans and John Paul Jones took a semi-official post in Paris and spent most of the rest of his life living there.  Towards the end of his life he became a rear admiral in Catherine the Great's NAvy fighting the Turks in the Black Sea.  Returning to Paris he took ill and died in 1793 aged 43 years.
John Paul Jones was buried in a cemetery for foreign protestants in Paris and it was not until the early years of the 20th century that the American Ambassador in Paris started the search for his body.  With great ceremony he was eventually returned to the USA and his body now lies in a grand mausoleum in the grounds of the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Quite a journey for a gardener's son (John Paul his father lies under a simple gravestone in the Kirkyard at Kirkbean church - paid for by John Paul Junior)

After watching the dvd Maisie and Fred took a tour around the Museum where information boards give further details of his life.

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/info6.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/info5.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/info4.jpg)

Maisie didn't like the board which showed John Paul Jones body when it was discovered about 110 years after his death - it was well preserved because his coffin had been filled with alcohol - Fred thought that was a great way to end up!

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/info1.jpg)

In the museum there is a magnificent model of Jones' ship The Bonhomme Richard and Maisie and Fred were thrilled to be allowed to go aboard -
Maisie got a bit upset when Fred tried to climb the rigging and told him to act his age...

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/ship1.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/ship2.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/ship3.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/shipsign.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/lion.jpg)

There is a copy of a bronze bust of John paul Jones in the museum which John Paul liked so much that he had 20 copies made to send to his friends.  It is positioned to be at his actual height of 5 feet 7 inches.

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/jpjbust.jpg)

Maisie and Fred then went over to the actual cottage where John Paul Jones was born.
Today there is an extra room at the back which was added in 1831 and is now used as a copy of the cabin of the Bonhomme Richard.

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/cottage5.jpg)

The simple original cottage consists of two rooms - originally the entrance door would have been at the other side (where the door to the cabin is now) facing the sea.

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/cottagedoor.jpg)

Inside the cottage they stood on an old griddle pan (or girdle) by the fire, to have their photo taken

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/fireplace.jpg)

They then looked at the bedroom - there are no original pieces of furniture but it is set out to give an idea of what it could have been like -

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/bedroom.jpg)

By this time they felt in need of a rest so decided to test the bed and have forty winks...
Maisie preferred the orthopaedic bed they have at home!

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/bed2.jpg)




Title: Re: Maisie and Fred's Excellent Adventure
Post by: skypurr on May 31, 2010, 00:42:23
After a short rest they felt refreshed again and went into the cabin to watch a slide show about John Paul Jones

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/slideshow.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/cabinlit.jpg)

When the slideshow ended the cabin was quite dark - being lit only by lanterns

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/cabin.jpg)

The man from the museum came and told them a story about the people who used to live at the big hoose!  Helen Craik, the daughter of the owner of Arbigland fell in love with one of the grooms, a man called Dunn, The family did not approve of their relationship and her brother Adam shot Dunn from the dining room window of the house.  The family gave out the story that Dunn had committed suicide so he was not allowed to be buried in the Kirkyard but instead buried on a nearby headland.  Helen refused to have anything more with the family and went to live on one of their distant estates across the water in England.
The story is that Dunn's ghost still roams the grounds and has been seen on a number of occasions.

Maisie thought this was really spooky and was sure that she too had seen the ghost but Fred told her not to be so silly - it was all in her imagination - there was no such thing as ghosts!

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/ghost.jpg)

After this they needed a little fresh air so had a walk around the cottage, reading the various plaques...

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/plinth2.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/plinth1.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/cottageplaque.jpg)

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/cottage.jpg)

They saw that the back of the museum building had once been the kennels for the hounds

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/kennels.jpg)

They looked at an old water pump but didn't get too close because there was a nest of blue tits inside it.

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/pump.jpg)

They decided to look at the view over the water to the Hills of the english Lake District, the tops of which were just showing above the mist

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/view3.jpg)

standing on the wall of the picnic area they could see across to the old lighthouse at Southerness which they hope to visit soon.

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/view.jpg)

Having had a tour of the grounds they went back into the museum - Fred had fancied trying on a uniform hung on the door but it was really much too big for him

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/uniform.jpg)

They had forgotten earlier to find out about the flags hung on the wall

The one with the 13 eight pointed stars was the one carried by Jones' ship at the Battle of Flamborough Head and the one with the union flag in the top corner was the first flag of the rebellion colonies.

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/flags1.jpg)

The flag with the snake and the words "Don't tread on me" is one of the first flags of the US Marine Corps,  the flag with 13 stars in a circle was the first official US flag after gaining independence and the other flag is the current US flag.

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/flags2.jpg)

Having a last look around the museum Maisie and Fred were thrilled to meet some friends of theirs who were on loan to the museum for the summer - Captain Jones waved to them from his ship!

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/friends.jpg)

They decided to buy a souvenir to take home

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/souvenirs.jpg)

Then finally before leaving the museum they signed the visitors book.

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/visitorsbook-1.jpg)

As Maisie and Fred sat outside in the sunshine before leaving for home Fred showed Maisie the guide book of the story of John Paul Jones that he had bought to show the folks back home! 

(http://i909.photobucket.com/albums/ac300/skypurr/Playmo%202010/resting.jpg)

They enjoyed their visit - hope you did too!

Elaine

(Please keep any comments in Maisie and Freds' comments thread ...

http://www.playmofriends.com/forum/index.php?topic=2136.0 )