tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2373425433335672022024-02-06T21:44:53.192-05:00vagabondbloggerA blog of my vagabond experiences, including photos.vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.comBlogger377125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-27766131616807053162010-05-01T03:11:00.000-04:002010-05-01T03:11:34.343-04:00May 2010 Wallpaper / Screensaver<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">"April showers bring May flowers."</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">A couple of blumenvasen for this month's calendar.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S9uyGlj-khI/AAAAAAAAKzw/FFhxWGbJWEo/s1600/wallpaperfa57b9bbf56c54eea306b653e5d47db3659d3ae0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S9uyGlj-khI/AAAAAAAAKzw/FFhxWGbJWEo/s400/wallpaperfa57b9bbf56c54eea306b653e5d47db3659d3ae0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-53927647079267154102010-04-29T11:53:00.000-04:002010-04-29T11:53:15.996-04:00News<div style="text-align: left;">A few non-funkengroovin items of note.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S9llwhjgECI/AAAAAAAAKy4/SF1fyYoDyc4/s1600/DSC_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S9llwhjgECI/AAAAAAAAKy4/SF1fyYoDyc4/s400/DSC_0867.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The New York Times has had two excellent articles recently:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/world/middleeast/29egypt.html"> Labor Protests Test Egypt’s Government</a><br />
By MICHAEL SLACKMAN<br />
Published: April 28, 2010</div><blockquote>"In the past, the government has negotiated with workers, hoping to confine their demands to pocketbook issues, but there are signs that its patience is wearing thin."</blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/26/us/26expat.html">More American Expatriates Give Up Citizenship</a><br />
By BRIAN KNOWLTON<br />
Published: April 25, 2010<br />
<blockquote>"A growing number of overseas Americans are renouncing their citizenship over taxation and banking problems."</blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Lastly - if you know of any Americans living in Egypt of the Democratic persuasion (i.e. Obama supporters) please pass the word that Democrats Abroad Egypt is the place for them. You can direct them to the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2309870829">Facebook group</a>, or the official Democrats Abroad <a href="http://www.democratsabroad.org/group/EMEA-Egypt">link for Egypt</a>.</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-45401565765673953372010-04-01T07:04:00.000-04:002010-04-01T07:04:29.289-04:00April 2010 Wallpaper / Screensaver<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">April calendar. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The first photo is an old VW Bus we spotted in Giza. The driver said he thought it might be an old military vehicle. The second photo is a hood ornament, from the car show in West Suffield, CT last summer.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S7L4U48Rq7I/AAAAAAAAKQ8/FSVzJsE24PY/s1600/wallpaper227949e9bb5350aded16c862e68d948a834b2121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S7L4U48Rq7I/AAAAAAAAKQ8/FSVzJsE24PY/s400/wallpaper227949e9bb5350aded16c862e68d948a834b2121.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S7L4GwXl0wI/AAAAAAAAKQ0/HuKDh7orVzg/s1600/wallpaperc771236e98cec7565c071d4a98665ef6602dbbb8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S7L4GwXl0wI/AAAAAAAAKQ0/HuKDh7orVzg/s400/wallpaperc771236e98cec7565c071d4a98665ef6602dbbb8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-61745481213693876282010-03-24T02:42:00.000-04:002010-03-24T02:42:47.209-04:00Funkengroovin - Scenes From Giza 1<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We had guests here in Cairo, for spring break. Anyone who visits Cairo wants and should see the Pyramids. Most famous of all are the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza">Giza Pyramids</a>. The photos in this first set are our drive from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saqqara">Sakkara</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza">Giza</a>, late morning early afternoon. Most photos were taken through the window of our car, so the colors / shots are somewhat murky.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Farmers on a donkey pulled cart pull over to allow a huge tour bus to pass. The road around Sakkara is dirt, and wide enough for two cars.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6dnkXH-QFI/AAAAAAAAKNI/7gOM949IFlo/s1600-h/DSC_0581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6dnkXH-QFI/AAAAAAAAKNI/7gOM949IFlo/s400/DSC_0581.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: A red Bus in Giza. Most Giza VW Buses are white. So this is unusual.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: On The Road.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6dl91h5W8I/AAAAAAAAKM4/EkcjXWeJ7rg/s1600-h/DSC_0583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6dl91h5W8I/AAAAAAAAKM4/EkcjXWeJ7rg/s400/DSC_0583.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: As usual, a VW Bus (people mover) drives through Giza town with it's side door open, making it easy for passengers to hop on and off.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6dlCQtaBLI/AAAAAAAAKMw/4j6SmQev1xs/s1600-h/DSC_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6dlCQtaBLI/AAAAAAAAKMw/4j6SmQev1xs/s400/DSC_0584.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below 3 photos: "White Chickens" (the nickname for VW Buses in Giza) in action.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6dklDNzuJI/AAAAAAAAKMk/Jg6K09OXvP4/s1600-h/DSC_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6dklDNzuJI/AAAAAAAAKMk/Jg6K09OXvP4/s400/DSC_0585.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6di6j8QEVI/AAAAAAAAKMU/yjeG5jG6xas/s1600-h/DSC_0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6di6j8QEVI/AAAAAAAAKMU/yjeG5jG6xas/s400/DSC_0588.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Took several photos of this Bus to no avail. He has a horse on the front of his roof (click on the photo to enlarge it.)</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91VHBPyTQ89b2VrCQIUYonoziFGycCZRQcV9XvFbrZxwE9zaJ0vwF4XP0RoVuPbsDZd120B2yQsHlmkeS0tWXeykBh47oKQP5lni1VaphuPeTATcA6-FNtyk6rMtqQEXqmQSGHAVlRos/s1600-h/DSC_0591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91VHBPyTQ89b2VrCQIUYonoziFGycCZRQcV9XvFbrZxwE9zaJ0vwF4XP0RoVuPbsDZd120B2yQsHlmkeS0tWXeykBh47oKQP5lni1VaphuPeTATcA6-FNtyk6rMtqQEXqmQSGHAVlRos/s400/DSC_0591.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Finally, the road to the Pyramids. Another form of transportation. These buggies are a common site in the part of town near the Pyramids, and at the site, as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6dYrmnBdNI/AAAAAAAAKL8/_N2XWzZXXCc/s1600-h/DSC_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S6dYrmnBdNI/AAAAAAAAKL8/_N2XWzZXXCc/s400/DSC_0593.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-45042686990582974602010-03-09T07:38:00.000-05:002010-03-09T07:38:00.690-05:00March 2010 Wallpaper / Screensaver<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">"About Time!" You Say.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I tried, for several days last week, to load up a VW photos onto the site that makes the wallpaper, to no avail. It kept cropping the Packard photo, and VB just gave up on that and let it be. Finally today (and with a completely new VW photo) it worked. The first photo is a well cared for Splittie, we found here in Cairo, Egypt. Unfortunately, VB had to take it with the iPhone as there were just too many boabs and guards milling around. The second photo is of a 1935 Packard we saw at the annual Congamond Lake car show in West Suffield, CT this past year.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Apologies for the lateness of this posting.</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S5Y954ygStI/AAAAAAAAKAQ/Zy6pD0MzEUI/s1600-h/wallpapercc847949ad528206b4b746323247476cbb0d7587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S5Y954ygStI/AAAAAAAAKAQ/Zy6pD0MzEUI/s400/wallpapercc847949ad528206b4b746323247476cbb0d7587.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-24595656853125792292010-02-18T06:58:00.000-05:002010-02-18T06:58:45.273-05:00Funkengroovin - Catching Up With Myself<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Since VB hasn't posted for a few weeks, it was time to catch up with the photos she had taken. Then after digging through the photo file and finding these, she thought, "that can't be, I've already posted those." So then she went back through her blogs to determine if she was being redundant, and found she was not.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The photos below start from the most recent ones taken with the Nikon to the last three, which are all taken with the iPhone.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: On the way home from Road 9 one day.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3J_QxD_qtI/AAAAAAAAJ0w/ROiWiNKApPs/s1600-h/DSC_9448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3J_QxD_qtI/AAAAAAAAJ0w/ROiWiNKApPs/s400/DSC_9448.JPG" width="287" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Just across Port Said Street, not far from VB's apartment.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3J6b42dZNI/AAAAAAAAJ0k/SpEx6Qf9WIo/s1600-h/DSC_9538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3J6b42dZNI/AAAAAAAAJ0k/SpEx6Qf9WIo/s400/DSC_9538.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: On the highway.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3J2mXPXx8I/AAAAAAAAJ0Y/h4JwyxxMkOg/s1600-h/DSC_9552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3J2mXPXx8I/AAAAAAAAJ0Y/h4JwyxxMkOg/s400/DSC_9552.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The dirt road near Carrefore.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3J2JBTs0yI/AAAAAAAAJ0Q/WBSi163PdoA/s1600-h/DSC_9571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3J2JBTs0yI/AAAAAAAAJ0Q/WBSi163PdoA/s400/DSC_9571.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below 3 photos: Somewhere on the way home from Carrefore.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3J1FWVddHI/AAAAAAAAJ0E/0pvVcDuOJkg/s1600-h/DSC_9575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3J1FWVddHI/AAAAAAAAJ0E/0pvVcDuOJkg/s400/DSC_9575.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Would like a better photo of this Beetle. It's kind of cool looking.)</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3Jvr_exW7I/AAAAAAAAJzs/nyq4tAJYDxk/s1600-h/DSC_9576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3Jvr_exW7I/AAAAAAAAJzs/nyq4tAJYDxk/s400/DSC_9576.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below 3 photos were taken with the iPhone. The 2 below are on Road 9.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3Jtn3vwxrI/AAAAAAAAJzY/__fkCofUuvk/s1600-h/IMG_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3Jtn3vwxrI/AAAAAAAAJzY/__fkCofUuvk/s400/IMG_1157.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3JsUS6_OSI/AAAAAAAAJzM/u0AeT3zkMxo/s1600-h/IMG_1160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3JsUS6_OSI/AAAAAAAAJzM/u0AeT3zkMxo/s400/IMG_1160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Another on the way home from Road 9. (Enlarge this to check out the fan on the dashboard.)</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3Jrs8PmV0I/AAAAAAAAJzA/3hZKvRz1Elo/s1600-h/IMG_1365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S3Jrs8PmV0I/AAAAAAAAJzA/3hZKvRz1Elo/s400/IMG_1365.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2010/02/0217VW-beetle-outsells-Model-T">Feb. 17, 1972: Beetle Outruns Model T</a></div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-21452779583390253712010-02-03T06:26:00.000-05:002010-02-03T06:26:29.704-05:00February 2010 Wallpaper / Screensaver<div style="text-align: center;">Better late than never.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">VB forgot to post the new wallpaper / screensaver photos. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The first is a VW Beetle in an alley at The Khan. The second is a Nash Metropolitan at a Congamond Lake car show this past summer, in West Suffield, CT.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S2lbo1azNnI/AAAAAAAAJuM/UEBr-j0HR4k/s1600-h/wallpapera6e086fa1356bf00eddff61bff244d85ef164b70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S2lbo1azNnI/AAAAAAAAJuM/UEBr-j0HR4k/s400/wallpapera6e086fa1356bf00eddff61bff244d85ef164b70.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S2lbL11RA0I/AAAAAAAAJuE/Ab7LD0LPMew/s1600-h/wallpaper8dafce7500ca768f1805547a4c7a1bf745be1564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S2lbL11RA0I/AAAAAAAAJuE/Ab7LD0LPMew/s400/wallpaper8dafce7500ca768f1805547a4c7a1bf745be1564.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-39650688128356439282010-01-27T12:13:00.000-05:002010-01-27T12:13:11.890-05:00Funkengroovin - Two Blue Buses and Sleeping Dogs<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">A couple of weeks ago, we walked over to the Degla part of Maadi (basically through the nearby roundabout). Out shopping, we passed two blue Buses (below: 4 photos.)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0rINzUrrSI/AAAAAAAAJe8/CsgaoQunlGY/s1600-h/IMG_0961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0rINzUrrSI/AAAAAAAAJe8/CsgaoQunlGY/s400/IMG_0961.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0rDEEZdYTI/AAAAAAAAJec/qvj2C9-jYfU/s1600-h/IMG_0965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0rDEEZdYTI/AAAAAAAAJec/qvj2C9-jYfU/s400/IMG_0965.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">A new shop selling cheese has opened. VB's not sure when it opened, as she just returned to Cairo the third week of December. The cheese selection resembles what VB has seen at the <a href="http://www.gourmetegypt.com/">Gourmet Egypt</a> shop, near Carrefore.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The open refrigerated shelves with pre-packaged cheeses, and jars of yogurt. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0q_NGQaMvI/AAAAAAAAJeE/slPbcjfG4TA/s1600-h/IMG_0966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0q_NGQaMvI/AAAAAAAAJeE/slPbcjfG4TA/s400/IMG_0966.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The larger cheeses, behind the counter. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0q-Dlk-4cI/AAAAAAAAJd4/X8ZkpuQWIM8/s1600-h/IMG_0967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0q-Dlk-4cI/AAAAAAAAJd4/X8ZkpuQWIM8/s400/IMG_0967.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">After checking out a few shops, we stopped at the "HubblyBubbly Cafe and Restaurant" for Lattes. They make it with <a href="http://www.illy.com/wps/wcm/connect/us/illy/">illy</a>. No sheesha for us on this date. Just coffee and conversation.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0q9K0ZDzZI/AAAAAAAAJds/aBT7FI7LD6I/s1600-h/IMG_0970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0q9K0ZDzZI/AAAAAAAAJds/aBT7FI7LD6I/s400/IMG_0970.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">For some fun, more "dogs on cars". These photos were taken at The Khan. The woman in the blue scarf passed VB as she was taking a photo and remarked, 'You're taking a picture of a dog, why not me?"<br />
VB's thought bubble answer, "You're not sleeping on a car now, are you."<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S2BD6W8QuSI/AAAAAAAAJqo/KPdveQmAWgw/s1600-h/DSC_9310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S2BD6W8QuSI/AAAAAAAAJqo/KPdveQmAWgw/s320/DSC_9310.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S2BE3ZkbpkI/AAAAAAAAJqw/_bUomAwHdiI/s1600-h/DSC_9308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S2BE3ZkbpkI/AAAAAAAAJqw/_bUomAwHdiI/s320/DSC_9308.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-26057605459492072872010-01-25T07:46:00.000-05:002010-01-25T07:46:47.550-05:00Dimai - Part 2<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">From Deir Abu-Lifa, we drove up farther into the hills. You can detect the road markers along our route.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0GfKN_ICHI/AAAAAAAAJQw/nt5xpwTBqiE/s1600-h/DSC_9097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0GfKN_ICHI/AAAAAAAAJQw/nt5xpwTBqiE/s400/DSC_9097.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Two road signs. One for the Petrified Forest and the other which went to our left, directed visitors to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_quarries_of_ancient_Egypt#Widan_el-Faras">Widan Elfaras</a> an old stone quarry. We are headed to the Petrified Forest.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0GhfK_hucI/AAAAAAAAJRE/XaWJ2G7NIrk/s1600-h/DSC_9099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0GhfK_hucI/AAAAAAAAJRE/XaWJ2G7NIrk/s400/DSC_9099.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: As we sat on the edge of this small valley, VB told the driver that we had no wishes to re-enact Thelma and Louise. We drove down, and yes, between those rocks there is enough space for an SUV. On return, a good pace is needed to clip over the edge at the top of the hill. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0Giv6aylrI/AAAAAAAAJRM/rWJdt_tLN70/s1600-h/DSC_9101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0Giv6aylrI/AAAAAAAAJRM/rWJdt_tLN70/s400/DSC_9101.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: In the valley, looking back.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0G1-sVobyI/AAAAAAAAJRY/gbiLYToOYjo/s1600-h/DSC_9108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0G1-sVobyI/AAAAAAAAJRY/gbiLYToOYjo/s400/DSC_9108.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: This was as far as we could get due to the blowing sand the week before. You can see where the trail becomes too deep for travel. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: We left the valley, and a kilometer or so away we arrived at the Petrified forest. These remains are scattered throughout this area.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0HB_t8Tb5I/AAAAAAAAJRs/HsB-NRMMsTA/s1600-h/DSC_9112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0HB_t8Tb5I/AAAAAAAAJRs/HsB-NRMMsTA/s400/DSC_9112.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">160 meters (524 feet) above sea level. Before descending we stop to enjoy the view.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0HDIYYXNYI/AAAAAAAAJR0/HqvqhBKgRf4/s1600-h/DSC_9120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0HDIYYXNYI/AAAAAAAAJR0/HqvqhBKgRf4/s400/DSC_9120.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Another road sign, indicating the way down the mountain.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0HEKkfceNI/AAAAAAAAJR8/JV60LtB5zEc/s1600-h/DSC_9123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0HEKkfceNI/AAAAAAAAJR8/JV60LtB5zEc/s400/DSC_9123.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Finally, <a href="http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/dimeh.htm">Dimai</a>.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The rooms of the castle.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The walls of Dimai.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We lunched at Dimai, outside the walls, and decided to make a last minute stop to visit Lake Qarun. Both <a href="http://www.egyptevoyage.net/Egypt-attractions/sights.asp?sight=675">Qasr el-Sagha and Dimai</a> are guarded by boabs. There is no entry fee, and not many visitors at all, but it is customary to tip the boab. We were completely alone to explore both sites - it doesn't get any better than that. It would have been nice to spend a bit more time at Dimai, but we had had a long day. Several cars of visitors arrived just as we were departing Dimai. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">These are huge rock formations along the way to <a href="http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/lakeqarun.htm">Lake Qarun</a>. (The photos of Lake Qarun weren't very good.) Lake Qarun is 43 meters (49 feet) below sea level.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0HQdzmBm9I/AAAAAAAAJSo/y9HPtovPTH0/s1600-h/DSC_9160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0HQdzmBm9I/AAAAAAAAJSo/y9HPtovPTH0/s400/DSC_9160.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Just outside of the cemetery, the drivers decide to race.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Back to the City of the Dead (cemetery), and then home.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0HR9QP51OI/AAAAAAAAJSw/xvhnlu-9av4/s1600-h/DSC_9175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0HR9QP51OI/AAAAAAAAJSw/xvhnlu-9av4/s400/DSC_9175.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div>Qasr el Sagha and Dimai are great for day trips. The air is clean, and the skies are blue, something we don't get in Cairo. There's no gas stations once you get to the desert people, so make sure you have a full tank of gas, food and drinks. We took two cars, just in case of unexpected problems, like getting stuck in the sand. And a GPS also helps, which one of the drivers had. We had a great time and plan on doing it again when we have visitors. It's not far from Cairo, it's not crowded, and it's a bit of an adventure, as well.vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-66226356516240265112010-01-22T02:24:00.001-05:002010-01-22T02:26:58.548-05:00Dimai - Part 1<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">A bit over two weeks ago, we took a trip to Dimai, with a few short stops beforehand. Originally our first stop was to be the "castle" at Dimai. But, due to blowing sand the week before, and the route being muddled, we steered off to an alternate site. Our destination was still Dimai, but now it would be our last stop. The route we drove is similar to this <a href="http://touregypt.net/Map13.htm">map</a>.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">We left around 8:00AM and drove south along Dead Donkey Canal Road, through Giza on a road where a new water tower is being built. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">When approached a newer City of The Dead (cemetery) along the same road, and turned into it, driving through.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The cemetery borders the desert, and we continued our drive in the desert until we came to a one lane road a few kilometers away. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0C9e6ycn_I/AAAAAAAAJPw/n2T1QkGNBhU/s1600-h/DSC_9026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0C9e6ycn_I/AAAAAAAAJPw/n2T1QkGNBhU/s400/DSC_9026.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Here, we had been driving for awhile, and stopped to shoot photos of the scenery. It was foggy, and chilly. This one lane road is said to have been built for Mrs. Mubarak so she could take her friends to Dimai, Qasr el-Sagha, and Fayoum, President Mubarak's hometown. VB decided to call this road, "The Susan Mubarak Highway." VB's not sure what the road is called on maps, but it's in the middle of the desert, and seems to have just been plopped down, without any other road intersects at all (at least not on the parts we drove.) VB's not sure where the road ends either, as we strayed away. If memory serves, we were told The First Lady is flown in, and there did appear to be a small flat area nearby, and a watchtower which would be perfect for a helipad. (Sorry, no pics of it all.)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Yes, there is dew in the desert - see below.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">After stopping, we get to some cement blocks lined up in a row, indicating a pipeline, and we turn, and drive along them, off road, for some distance. Turning, and winding through the desert, we arrive at <a href="http://egyptsites.wordpress.com/2009/02/15/qasr-el-sagha-and-dimai/">Qasr el-Sagha</a>, aka the Golden Temple. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">As you can see from the photo above, there are two doors. The smaller door to the right was a lure for thieves wanting to raid the temple. It lead nowhere, as you can see below.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-uJo3WfrbjCM2TXQ7XSLFByahKiyuRfNZ-s0aN9NPceIh52BqNCWToU_KaTZQo3i97tZ9ntndqeSorjJ6LkWDm4H4JfZ1ZRtR8_9NNb9RqU1HJpCDxoFpQW3R5lqYM-HhwQcDi4IbQo/s1600-h/DSC_9047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu-uJo3WfrbjCM2TXQ7XSLFByahKiyuRfNZ-s0aN9NPceIh52BqNCWToU_KaTZQo3i97tZ9ntndqeSorjJ6LkWDm4H4JfZ1ZRtR8_9NNb9RqU1HJpCDxoFpQW3R5lqYM-HhwQcDi4IbQo/s400/DSC_9047.JPG" width="265" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Rooms to the right were designated for specific gods. The room at the far end, leads to another room, with a hidden jail room, behind it. According to the guard, visitors would be greeted at the main door. They would present their problems to the greeter, and he would determine which god they needed to address their woes.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">As usual, everyone likes to leave his / her mark after a visit to the temple.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Found items at the site.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">After visiting Qasr el-Sagha we drove into the hills and arrived at <a href="http://www.dailystaregypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=13301">Deir Abu Lifa</a>, which at one time contained a monastery. We did not go caving, but did view these small cave-like areas on the hill. We were told they're all interconnected, but did not explore them. We took in the views, and us ladies found a couple of private spots to relieve ourselves.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: A close up of the formations. The stone looks like shale, is fragile and flakes easily. <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next Post, Part 2 (The Petrified Forest, and The Castle at Dimeh / Dimai.)<br />
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</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-62899498722029250712010-01-20T08:05:00.000-05:002010-01-20T08:05:48.264-05:00Funkengroovin To Dimai<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Before VB details her trip to Dimai, she figured she'd better get the Funkengroovin part out of the way. We drove to <a href="http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/dimeh.htm">Dimai/Dimeh</a> just over two weeks ago. We started out at 8:00 AM and returned home after 4:00 PM. The majority of our time we spent out in the desert, but on the way, we passed through Giza, the home of the "white chickens."<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Below): A Bus on Dead Donkey Canal Road (no dead donkeys seen this day.)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Below 3 photos): Around Giza, as we make our way through. We hit Giza during morning rush hour.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">And it was overcast and foggy. Some areas foggier than others.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Below 2 photos): Bus stops in Giza.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Below): Most white chickens have an open door policy.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Below): Just before we drive into the desert.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Below): On our return. When we left in the morning, it was foggy, and the Pyramids were hidden. The sun came out, the sky turned blue, and on our return we could see the Pyramids for several miles. We were so amazed even though we've visited them, and in trying to get passing shots, VB almost missed this broke down bus.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Below 5 photos): Shots of buses and scenes from Giza.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Below): Leaving Giza, and spotting a nice blue van.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0NQqGZwQLI/AAAAAAAAJV0/eAVslbCQcls/s1600-h/DSC_9199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/S0NQqGZwQLI/AAAAAAAAJV0/eAVslbCQcls/s400/DSC_9199.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">(Below): VB turned to get a frontal photo of the blue van, but the combination of a sand covered window and a brilliant sun, totally obstructed her view.<br />
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</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-60585782174472034822010-01-18T07:50:00.000-05:002010-01-18T07:50:10.630-05:00Beware The Dark Alleys of Cairo<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">About two weeks ago, we trekked down to Road 9, to do some last minute shopping for one of the kids. As usual we passed a VW parked on the street, so here's a few complimentary Bug photos since VB's been remiss at the Funkengroovin posts lately. (We had the whole family here for awhile, plus entertained another five people who are our neighbors back in Connecticut. So we've all been preoccupied.)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below 3 photos: Different views of the same Beetle.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">On our walk, we discovered the bakery at the Metro overpass had closed up shop. It always had full stands of bread and sweets. Then the bread riots came and VB heard they were baking bread for the government. As time went on, the amount of products they offered dwindled. And now this - nothing. So where to get freshly baked goods? <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZXLTz8tsCdoGJecVuHj9LUyrkW7QmNcWxRufeEfO1iYPgb7D5twsKxjHv6iqXdixbv__4Iv8HxUDiHeJIHzpNOlbxy2Sd1sYzvSAvjG14Ykbi6lhIvQIRMB_Mm_51zgNWtPKa0nK0v8/s1600-h/IMG_0942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZXLTz8tsCdoGJecVuHj9LUyrkW7QmNcWxRufeEfO1iYPgb7D5twsKxjHv6iqXdixbv__4Iv8HxUDiHeJIHzpNOlbxy2Sd1sYzvSAvjG14Ykbi6lhIvQIRMB_Mm_51zgNWtPKa0nK0v8/s640/IMG_0942.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">While we were shopping near the Metro Market area of Road 9, VB could smell some enticing odors coming from a dark alleyway. She looked up, saw a sign, and a man standing outside said, "bakery." It smelled so good, VB had to visit, even over the protests from the kids. So we went into the dark alleyway. Below: Wooden shelves containing some of the breads, and crackers, including bread sticks. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Looking beyond the the shelving a man was napping in an airy courtyard, where sheesha is served. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Freshly baked rolls.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The reason we ended up staying longer. They had a package of small pizzas made with puff pastry. The baker said he would have fresh ones coming out of the oven in a few minutes, and the kids wanted fresh, warm pizza. They didn't want to stop here to begin with, and now we have to <i>wait</i> so they can have it straight from the oven.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">They also sell cookies exactly like Greek <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koulourakia">Koulourakia</a>.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: These are called "S" and have an orange flavor. Others have anise, and some are slathered with sesame seeds (VB's favorite.)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Much of the cooking around the Middle East, southern and eastern Europe is so similar, probably due to the Ottomans who had control of the territories for ages. It's typically the first bits of a new language VB learns, since the words are so similar.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The bread below is called Tsorek, and tastes exactly like Greek <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsoureki">Tsoureki</a>, a bread usually baked for Easter.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The shop sign. This has become one of VB's favorite food stops. Everything we've tasted is delicious, and disappears quickly. We left with two packages of small pizzas (about 2-3 dozen), one tsoureki, one batch of "S", two large fateers, and two packages chocolate filled eclairs and puff pastries, for less than 100LE (about $17.00). Quite a deal.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Most photos were taken with VB's iPhone, another one of her favorite things. (No this is not a copy of "Oprah's Favorite Things", but they "Good Things" too.)<br />
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</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-64747350201780754942010-01-06T12:29:00.000-05:002010-01-06T12:29:39.843-05:00Funkengroovin Around Town<div style="text-align: center;">Back in Cairo getting a few shots of VWs. No news this week. It's been busy here, with the family visiting, holidays (Thursday is Coptic Christmas), and all that. So enjoy the pics. They're a mixed bag between my Nikon D40 and iPhone camera.<br />
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Below: As VB took this photo, the cop under the tree shouted, "NO PHOTOS!!!" VB replied, "SORRY!" And the next two cars were caught at the same roundabout too, but at different times / dates.<br />
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Below: VW <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Fox">Crossfox</a> - just another VW not available in the USA.<br />
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</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-25310402467833901142010-01-03T09:21:00.000-05:002010-01-03T09:21:22.013-05:00Egyptian Pancake House<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">The Egyptian Pancake is also known as fateer. Every time we go to The Khan, we pass by the Egyptian Pancake House. Curious, this time we decided to stop in for a bite. <br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Awesome Daughter gets tea.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: "Savory Pancake" - mixed cheese. Very yummy. Not quite sure what combination of cheese was used. The pastry of both sweet and savory resembles flaky filo dough, but sturdier. VB can't find any recipes so far, and most of her Middle East cooking books are back in the States ("How convenient", you might say.)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: "Sweet Pancake" - jam and powdered sugar. Also delicious, but very sticky (we ate with our fingers.)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Close up of the sliced "Sweet Pancake."<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: A window full of some of the ingredients they use.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The store front.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Another satisfied customer.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The whole building. VB keeps referring to this shop as "The Egyptian Pancake House" and if ever there was a place, this one would clearly define it, as it houses quite a few occupants as indicated by all the apartments above it.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: Shops across the road. The road is mainly pedestrian, except for the ginormous tourist buses which are allowed to use it as an exit.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The rest of the street, looking back at the main Khan area towards Muski.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">All said, VB would definitely go back for more.<br />
</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-85720392652114149002010-01-01T13:01:00.000-05:002010-01-01T13:01:53.405-05:00A Funkengroovin Happy New Year To All!!<div style="text-align: center;">Happy New Year!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the two wallpaper / screen savers for January 2010.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Below: Representing best wishes for the new year - A photo of a cabrio VB took on a trip to Germany in 1996. This is a digitized representation of an old SLR photo.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Below: Representing resolutions and good intentions - a Midget (?) or a Sprite (?) needing a good bit of work.<br />
)VB used to get rides in a Midget with another female co-worker. VB had a job with an employment agency for a few months after graduating from college. When her Chevy Malibu broke down in the middle of winter, VB rode to work with her manager, in a tiny little car, just like this. This co-worker would explicitly recount her previous evening's sexual endeavors in the bathroom, on the kitchen counter, or even in the MG - (UGH! hopefully not on VB's seat), and where ever else the mood struck.) <br />
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</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-60453672726487988362009-12-30T16:50:00.000-05:002009-12-30T16:50:32.093-05:00Funkengroovin in Cairo Again<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: A view of Frankfurt International Airport one week ago, as we were passing through, on our way back to Cairo.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzrwqMr5EsI/AAAAAAAAJHQ/ZlHv-T4INnU/s1600-h/DSC_8624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzrwqMr5EsI/AAAAAAAAJHQ/ZlHv-T4INnU/s400/DSC_8624.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">VB is back in Cairo again. She arrived last Tuesday night, and has a few photos of VW's. Most were taken with her iPhone, and the first, and last edited with some of the iPhone Apps. No news this week as this is about as good as it gets right now. Enjoy the photos and VB will be posting her monthly wallpaper / screen saver very soon.<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Don't forget to stop by VB's <a href="http://vagabondbloggersproject365.blogspot.com/">photo-a-day project</a>.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: A collage <br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Szi1bfK_D4I/AAAAAAAAJF4/wcgAJ5YfZts/s1600-h/Volks+Wagen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Szi1bfK_D4I/AAAAAAAAJF4/wcgAJ5YfZts/s400/Volks+Wagen.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below: The original photo for the collage.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzjgGg3auGI/AAAAAAAAJGE/dRUbv6SyPBo/s1600-h/IMG_0899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzjgGg3auGI/AAAAAAAAJGE/dRUbv6SyPBo/s400/IMG_0899.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below two photos: On the way to the ATM.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzjgliK1xCI/AAAAAAAAJGM/x2Yp70k57Lo/s1600-h/IMG_0898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzjgliK1xCI/AAAAAAAAJGM/x2Yp70k57Lo/s400/IMG_0898.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzjhKjDI80I/AAAAAAAAJGU/iLT1zkwmbeE/s1600-h/IMG_0896.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzjhKjDI80I/AAAAAAAAJGU/iLT1zkwmbeE/s400/IMG_0896.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Below two photos: On the Nile Corniche at a very busy intersection.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Szjh48YO_tI/AAAAAAAAJGc/XE5w5NlAYjQ/s1600-h/IMG_0894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Szjh48YO_tI/AAAAAAAAJGc/XE5w5NlAYjQ/s400/IMG_0894.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzvJpiPu8CI/AAAAAAAAJHo/8gswWYwpR3M/s1600-h/IMG_0900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzvJpiPu8CI/AAAAAAAAJHo/8gswWYwpR3M/s400/IMG_0900.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-59921713252608134142009-12-25T06:47:00.000-05:002009-12-25T06:47:23.525-05:00<div style="text-align: center;">Merry Christmas!<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">What VB got for Christmas. A VW Bus speaker for VB's iPod. Very cool. It's from Urban Outffitters. VB wanted to show a photo a couple of weeks ago when she did the Funkengroovin shopping post, but couldn't get in an acceptable size. Now she's got her own, and can show it off.<br />
</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzSkuf2V3AI/AAAAAAAAJDM/qQwTijpILQg/s1600-h/DSC_8671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SzSkuf2V3AI/AAAAAAAAJDM/qQwTijpILQg/s400/DSC_8671.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-24321943453560331542009-12-09T09:46:00.000-05:002009-12-09T09:46:33.912-05:00Funkengroovin Christmas 2009<div style="text-align: center;"> It's that time of year again. Time to buy those gifts for your funkengroovin friends. VB's been looking for items that might appeal to just about everyone, and has compiled her yearly list. Sadly, no Pier 1 car ornament this year.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">No news items today, and probably not for awhile, at least until after VB returns to Cairo. <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Below: What VB woke up to this morning here in Connecticut. <br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Sx-1f4X8QPI/AAAAAAAAI7o/-rxVDpX1_jU/s1600-h/DSC_8560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Sx-1f4X8QPI/AAAAAAAAI7o/-rxVDpX1_jU/s640/DSC_8560.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Holiday Shopping:</b></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.marimekkouppereastside.com/bobooreflector.html">BoBoo Reflector</a> from Marimekko, and <a href="http://www.alwaysmod.com/marimekko-reflectors.html">here</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://designmuseumshop.com/themes/christmas/vw-beetle">VW Beetle</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/vw-beetle-camper-van-usb-memory-stick-cars.html">VW Beetle & Camper Van USB Memory Stick Cars.</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">More <a href="http://www.treathim.com/product/volkswagen%20memory%20sticks">here</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pencilthings.com/vw-beetle-eraser-japanese-eraser-iwako.html">VW Beetle Eraser </a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.christmaspresents.me.uk/build-your-own-vw-beetle/">Build Your Own Vw Beetle</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.totally-funky.co.uk/Pages/ProductView.aspx?ID=1790&SID=1214">Build Your Own VW Bus</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?products_id=2606">Dreams VolksWagen Camper Van Type 2 Radio</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?products_id=2605">Dreams VolksWagen Type 2 Keylight</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?itemdescription=true&itemCount=10&startValue=71&selectedProductColor=&sortby=&id=17223686&parentid=A_MEDIA_ALL&sortProperties=+subCategoryPosition,+product.marketingPriority,-product.startDate&navCount=99&navAction=poppushpush&color=&pushId=A_MEDIA_ALL&popId=APARTMENT_MEDIA&prepushId=">VW Bus Speaker</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thepurplebaboon.co.uk/product_pages/vwbeetlesurf.htm">Pink VW Beetle Cabriolet Surf Moneybox Ornament - Hand Painted</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">VW Beetle gifts from<a href="http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=all&includes%5B0%5D=tags_exact&search_query=vw+beetle&ref=related&page=1"> Etsy</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">VW Bus gifts from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=all&includes%5B0%5D=tags_exact&search_query=vw+bus&ref=related&page=1">Etsy </a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/tag/1482790118.html">VW BUS RADIO CONTROLLED HUGE !!!!!</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Advanced Graphics 631 Fillmore - <a href="http://www.craftster.org/Craft-Supplies/Holiday-and-Occasions-Craft-Supplies-and-Party-Supplies/Birthday/Advanced-Graphics-631-Fillmore---VW-Bus-Life-Size-Cardboard-Stand-Up/211870/">VW Bus Life-Size Cardboard Stand-Up</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pilotwear.com/store/p/24260-Vw-Bus-With-Camper-1-87-HO-Scale-.html">Vw Bus With Camper (1:87/HO Scale)</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Volkswagen-2010-Square-Calendar-Multilingual/dp/1421647753">Volkswagen Bus 2010 Square Wall (Wall Calendar) (Multilingual Edition) (Calendar)</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cafepress.com/+vw-camper+mugs">Vw Camper Mugs</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tintoyarcade.com/products/Japanese-Toys-Club-Bus-Ride.html">Japanese Toys Club Bus Ride</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.diecastaudio.com/2009/11/26/limited-edition-pope-designs-christmas-bus-and-dairy-delivery/">Limited Edition Pope Designs Christmas Bus and Dairy Delivery</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.skirball.org/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.scc_flypage&product_id=492&category_id=179&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1">VW Bus Hanukkah Lamp</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.moderntribe.com/judaica/modern_menorahs/groovy_bus_menorah">Wheeling Groovy Menorah - VW Bus</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://worldofgood.ebay.com/Ceramic-Hanukkah-Menorah/250516305212/item">Ceramic Hanukkah Menorah </a>(VW Bug)<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=624835">Volkswagen Christmas Tree Ornaments Cutouts</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silver-Dream-Volkswagen-Camper-Ornament/dp/B002JHZX7M">Silver Dream Volkswagen VW Style Camper Van Ornament</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/clt/1491565478.html">NEW Lenox Christmas - cookie molds / car (VW Beetle) ornament - $10 (rogers park)</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Numerous<a href="http://www.cmgestore.com/VW08/SkuGrpListVW08VEX.asp"> VW gifts</a>, including a <a href="http://www.cmgestore.com/VW08/SKUDetailsVW08F19975.Asp">Max model car</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0020LV592/ref=asc_df_B0020LV592976842?smid=ASNI24R6D7JW&tag=shopzilla_mp_1199-20&linkCode=asn&creative=380341&creativeASIN=B0020LV592">Blown Glass Van / Woody with Surfboard Ornament</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.floridagiftsonline.com/product/0/Red-Surfboard-Volkswagen-Woody-Van-VW-Bug-Surf-Surfing_184503.html">Red Surfboard Volkswagen Woody Van VW Bug Surf Surfing</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23280">VW Bus Glass Ornament</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=886402">VW Christmas ornaments Mercury glass Price: $10 to $25</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.piccoloworld.com/contents/en-us/d158.html">Schuco Piccolo Volkswagen Beetle, Gold-Plated Christmas 1997</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/Recycled_VW.html">Recycled VW Beetle Model Car</a> - "stylish love bug made in Madagascar from recycled cans"<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://southjersey.craigslist.org/cto/1479109965.html">VW BEETLE CONV CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS - $5 (MAYSLANDING NJ)</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/candyqueendesigns/product/herbie_vw_beetle_light_switch">HERBIE VW BEETLE LIGHT SWITCH</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Decorate your VW with: <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tampalights.com/gallery/6640788_eDP8s/1/423666119_AHwyi/Original">TampaLights > 2008 > Volkswagen Beetle,</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">another example <a href="http://www.tampalights.com/2008/Volkswagen-Beetle/6640788_eDP8s#423666238_E57qZ">here</a>.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.rockbandpatches.com/storefrontprofiles/DeluxeSFItemDetail.aspx?sid=1&sfid=205870&c=648623&i=237075874">Volkswagon VW Bus Mosaic Window Sticker</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wrap gifts with:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ekmpowershop5.com/ekmps/shops/woodsprites/christmas-vw-bug---custom---wrapping-paper-187-p.asp">Christmas VW Bug - Custom - Wrapping Paper</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Make your own cards:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clipartof.com/details/clipart/64256.html">Royalty-Free (RF) Clipart Illustration of Santa Flying His Red Convertible Vw Bug Through The Blue Christmas Night Sky</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mygrafico.com/illustrations-cliparts/reindeer-games-whimsical-christmas-graphics/prod_1380.html">Reindeer Games Whimsical Christmas Graphics</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Wear it:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.redbubble.com/people/yeomanscarart/t-shirts/3102229-2-vw-beetle-custom-d">VW Beetle (Custom D) T-Shirt</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/volkswagen-camper-vw-camper-vans-hand-warmers-heat-packs.html">Volkswagen Camper Van Hand Warmers - Set of 2 Heat Packs</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shirtcity.us/design/flowers/flower-power-vw-bus-t-shirt-1695.html?PHPSESSID=6582a7fad46d47d80f66e839a6110d85">Flower Power VW Bus T-Shirt</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shirtcity.us/design/vintage/vw-hippie-bus-t-shirt-2040.html">VW Hippie Bus T-Shirt</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33805499">VW Beetle Kippah</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Use it:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.iconarchive.com/category/transport/vw-beetle-icons-by-lyle-zapato.html">VW Beetle Icons by Zapato</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Eat it:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.vwcampercookbook.com/Gingerbread_bus.html">Gingerbread Bus,</a> (<a href="http://www.vwcampercookbook.com/Gingerbread_bus_files/GingerbreadBus.pdf">Template</a>)<br />
</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-78052807410265354222009-12-01T08:53:00.001-05:002009-12-01T08:54:34.733-05:00December '09 Monthly Wallpaper / Screensaver Calendar<div style="text-align: center;">Something for your wish list - a gold Beetle and a Pagoda Roof Mercedes.<br />
</div><br />
<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SxUe-wZ8A1I/AAAAAAAAIu8/Y_vLKFT1idQ/s1600/wallpaperdeeedca7c2b4b635b397128d52a797d45e173e83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SxUe-wZ8A1I/AAAAAAAAIu8/Y_vLKFT1idQ/s400/wallpaperdeeedca7c2b4b635b397128d52a797d45e173e83.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-39669818056366766382009-11-18T18:01:00.001-05:002009-11-18T18:02:21.308-05:00Funkengroovin Wednesday: Old v. New - The Mini Something different for this week.<br />
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VB loaded most of these photos a long time ago, after a visit to the car market in Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt. That's when she formatted her blog differently, and you can tell when you see the car market photos.<br />
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She's off, in her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini">Mini,</a> to fetch The Boss Man from the airport. He's coming in for Thanksgiving. <br />
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Below 2 photos are VB's Mini. It gets buried under the snow pretty quickly. And, yes, that second photo is in color!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/R6dkLDsTLEI/AAAAAAAACYA/atyrjadrKpo/s1600-h/DSC_1973.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5163205638936013890" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/R6dkLDsTLEI/AAAAAAAACYA/atyrjadrKpo/s400/DSC_1973.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/R3bHZG6up0I/AAAAAAAACMc/g4DvKzlj55U/s1600-h/DSC_0093.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149522458112337730" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/R3bHZG6up0I/AAAAAAAACMc/g4DvKzlj55U/s320/DSC_0093.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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Below 4 photos are an old Mini from the Nasr City car market. We went in September a couple of years ago, and it was scorching hot, so it's quite a contrast to the snow covered photo above.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Ru1Sh1E9gBI/AAAAAAAABlA/7NNioMzY2zA/s1600-h/IMG_0239.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110831893272428562" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Ru1Sh1E9gBI/AAAAAAAABlA/7NNioMzY2zA/s320/IMG_0239.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Ru1Q_FE9f_I/AAAAAAAABkw/48Kro8H-qmc/s1600-h/IMG_0238.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110830196760346610" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Ru1Q_FE9f_I/AAAAAAAABkw/48Kro8H-qmc/s320/IMG_0238.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Ru1QsVE9f-I/AAAAAAAABko/Bd-iX4hZ454/s1600-h/IMG_0240.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110829874637799394" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Ru1QsVE9f-I/AAAAAAAABko/Bd-iX4hZ454/s320/IMG_0240.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Ru1QalE9f9I/AAAAAAAABkg/mGYdWYfoZok/s1600-h/IMG_0241.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5110829569695121362" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Ru1QalE9f9I/AAAAAAAABkg/mGYdWYfoZok/s320/IMG_0241.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />
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A couple of articles:<br />
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<a href="http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091115/auto/auto1.html">MINI comes of age</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.insideline.com/mini/mini-whats-new-for-2010.html">Mini: What's New for 2010?</a>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-65066588124592895862009-11-16T19:11:00.006-05:002009-11-17T17:42:01.403-05:00Patty Melt (Revised)<div style="text-align: center;">VB has revised this post as a result of a comment by the managing editor of Serious Eats, Adam Kuban. The Boss Man always says VB is, "Not always right, but never in doubt," (meaning, of course, VB thinks she's a know it all) which, for some odd reason, really fits in here for an explanation too discombobulated to refine.<br />
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Apologies to Ed Levine and all the folks at Serious Eats. Believe VB, she is seriously eating her words and pretty damned embarrassed about this.<br />
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VB likes to read food blogs. One of her favorites is called Serious Eats. It's a blog originally started by <strike>Mario Batali</strike>, Ed Levine (apparently he's been on a diet for quite awhile now). <strike>It went defunct for awhile, and then was reborn</strike>. It's now an amalgamation of various contributors. VB usually ignores most of the recipes, but was drawn to one in particular. <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Recently someone posted a <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/10/patty-melt-recipe-20091021.html">recipe for a Patty Melt</a>. It appears to be based on a recipe from Saveur Magazine, VB's favorite cooking magazine. Anyway, reading this little post, and it's links brought back memories (you know, like those "fond" ones everyone talks about). <br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">VB's parents owned three restaurants, at different times. A woman named Stella worked as a waitress in our first restaurant. VB practically went through grade school with her, and she even threw VB a birthday party. See!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SvylxL0yPlI/AAAAAAAAIo0/eF2WwGxCDbk/s1600-h/17160015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SvylxL0yPlI/AAAAAAAAIo0/eF2WwGxCDbk/s640/17160015.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">We knew her and her family. Stella's husband owned some sort of fancy sports car and would pick her up from work (he always reminded VB of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Gleason">Jackie Gleason</a>). When VB's parents closed the restaurant (through reasons beyond their control) Stella went to work at a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toddle_House">Toddle House</a>. Stella's sister lived a few blocks from our new apartment, in a totally new (and totally black) neighborhood where VB and her mom moved to (due to circumstances related to the aforementioned loss of the family's first restaurant.) We would visit Sella's sister (who owned a talking bird). VB would play with the bird, while VB's mom, and Stella's sister drank coffee, catching up on the news (i.e. gossip). <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Even though we kept in touch, after VB became an adult and moved away (far, far away) she would continually stop by the Toddle House on Clifton Avenue, to visit Stella. The Patty Melt was VB's favorite dish there (besides breakfast after a very loopy night - Stella probably knew more about VB than VB's own mother)! Stella made the perfect Patty Melt. She could do it with her eyes closed. At a Toddle House the waitress was also the cook, dishwasher, busboy and manager, particularly at night, which was when Stella worked. She was always good humored and laughed about everything. And, because of her sense of humor and good nature, she had quite a few regulars. VB remembers the night she visited to tell Stella that VB's mom had died. At first it wasn't so funny, but Stella could pick out pieces of the past that reverberated in humor. VB and Stella sat, drank coffee, and smoked cigarettes that evening. VB has a hard time eating when she has a big lump in her throat. One night VB showed up and was told, by another waitress, that Stella had passed away. It was a sad evening.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Later, after VB's search for her own mom's past history (another, very lengthy story altogether) Stella's daughter gave VB some photos. At this point both mothers had passed away.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">In remembrance of my visits with Stella at the Toddle House, and her excellence in The Patty Melt, VB presents the following:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Below): Two very old photos of Stella. The first inside VB's parents' restaurant, and the other outside. The Chinese Laundry next door (run by a real "Chinaman" with a long braid, who spoke extremely broken English, and who fed VB some sort of wonderful broth), where Stella is standing, got axed at the same time as the restaurant (this is what happens when you don't own the building / business, and you have a greedy owner.)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/St_UR_S-cGI/AAAAAAAAIdw/UCNgkOgpkvQ/s1600-h/17160008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/St_UR_S-cGI/AAAAAAAAIdw/UCNgkOgpkvQ/s320/17160008.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SwHrle96JuI/AAAAAAAAIp0/EdNtIFHQ-H0/s1600/17160012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SwHrle96JuI/AAAAAAAAIp0/EdNtIFHQ-H0/s400/17160012.JPG" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Below: VB's Patty Melt - it's a bit on the thick side. It was delicious! That griddle on the new stove The Boss Man bought VB is just short of amazing! VB almost feels like she's back in the restaurant business all over again.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SvtY1Sjp5qI/AAAAAAAAIos/C2fY8ExQHjA/s1600-h/DSC_7414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SvtY1Sjp5qI/AAAAAAAAIos/C2fY8ExQHjA/s320/DSC_7414.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And, what'll you have?<br />
</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-66008452234150249622009-11-11T09:10:00.000-05:002009-11-11T09:10:38.299-05:00Funkengroovin - Terryville, CT Bug-A-Fair 2009, Swap & Meet BusesThese Buses were all in the Swap and Meet area at Terryville.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SoxTPy4x1yI/AAAAAAAAIIY/NkVnwSWnx8k/s1600-h/DSC_5682.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371759986369222434" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SoxTPy4x1yI/AAAAAAAAIIY/NkVnwSWnx8k/s400/DSC_5682.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Sowp9LRwGUI/AAAAAAAAIIQ/3u5dlXwpm-8/s1600-h/DSC_5687.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371714586522163522" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Sowp9LRwGUI/AAAAAAAAIIQ/3u5dlXwpm-8/s400/DSC_5687.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPVHP0NAMJAllpfYjSf1mwOQrgk5wLtZtLceS58BliVVuUJleaR-sbjT5EfBI4P7OdizffAWn0vJuCR8pn4tTvqrvPjPdqMXja37m84nl5CLu-z1B3ADE026lEZ2dMioN5XWp3Wl96ng/s1600-h/DSC_5706.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371714280201349730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPVHP0NAMJAllpfYjSf1mwOQrgk5wLtZtLceS58BliVVuUJleaR-sbjT5EfBI4P7OdizffAWn0vJuCR8pn4tTvqrvPjPdqMXja37m84nl5CLu-z1B3ADE026lEZ2dMioN5XWp3Wl96ng/s400/DSC_5706.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SowpizgJlNI/AAAAAAAAIIA/ExsDU3eN7BY/s1600-h/DSC_5707.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371714133463504082" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SowpizgJlNI/AAAAAAAAIIA/ExsDU3eN7BY/s400/DSC_5707.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Sowpbunph_I/AAAAAAAAIH4/H349nSyc4cc/s1600-h/DSC_5709.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371714011893696498" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Sowpbunph_I/AAAAAAAAIH4/H349nSyc4cc/s400/DSC_5709.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SowpP34BZsI/AAAAAAAAIHw/r2wGQbZeE5c/s1600-h/DSC_5710.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371713808219858626" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SowpP34BZsI/AAAAAAAAIHw/r2wGQbZeE5c/s400/DSC_5710.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SowpGR2_5hI/AAAAAAAAIHo/gPyp_4AYA-Q/s1600-h/DSC_5711.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371713643396195858" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SowpGR2_5hI/AAAAAAAAIHo/gPyp_4AYA-Q/s400/DSC_5711.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Sowo5INjySI/AAAAAAAAIHg/wI8-trm_sy8/s1600-h/DSC_5728.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371713417468168482" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/Sowo5INjySI/AAAAAAAAIHg/wI8-trm_sy8/s400/DSC_5728.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SowoxfXcOTI/AAAAAAAAIHY/59Xg05tdNIw/s1600-h/DSC_5729.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371713286244677938" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SowoxfXcOTI/AAAAAAAAIHY/59Xg05tdNIw/s400/DSC_5729.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>NEWS:</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/09/pakistan-paris-vw-beetle">From Pakistan to Paris, by VW Beetle</a><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"A French doctor is embarking on the 6,000-mile trip to promote a better image of Pakistan. 'It's not all about terrorism,' he says."<br />
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"The Beetle came to Pakistan in the 1950s with army officers and bureaucrats returning from postings abroad. The appeal has endured – Mubashir Hasan, a finance minister from the 1970s, still drives his around Lahore. Romano Karim of Islamabad's VW club estimates about 500 "Foxies" travel Pakistan's roads. "Cute, quirky, cheap spare parts – it's the ideal car," he says.<br />
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The French doctor's Foxy should reach Paris in about two weeks. His team is equipped with an ample stock of spare parts and a line of Urdu poetry inscribed on the bonnet: "Every mother's prayer is a breeze from paradise."" <br />
</blockquote>More here where you can also see how the car was restored: <a href="http://artonwheelstour.canalblog.com/">Art on Wheels tour</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/nov/10/vw-fans-achieve-record-stuffing-beetle-dade-city/">VW fans achieve record stuffing Beetle in Dade City</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/11/ev-conversion-bug-bought/">Our EV Conversion Gets A Curvaceous Body</a><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"My DIY electric car project has officially started: I bought a car to convert, a sky blue ‘67 VW Beetle. I’ve had my eye on it for awhile. Now that I’ve got the title in hand, there’s no turning back."<br />
</blockquote><a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/motoring/news/article.cfm?c_id=9&objectid=10608384">Old Beetle takes prize for the most popular car</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.wsoctv.com/news/21573966/detail.html">Support Grows To Save VW Bug Sign</a><br />
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VB's gotten several e-mails about this. If you haven't heard of it, then you're not living on planet earth! <br />
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stolen-bus6-2009nov06,0,5595923.story">VW bus stolen 35 years ago is found in shipping container bound for Europe</a><br />
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And now for the sequel:<br />
<a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i8r1-lYf4HMgntJdcCDBz7UnqdLwD9BSPRK04">Woman would like to buy back long-lost VW van</a><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"SPOKANE, Wash. — Michele Squires once owned the 1965 Volkswagen van that was found recently in a shipping container at a Southern California port — 35 years after she had it stolen from a repair shop."<br />
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"She'd now like to buy it back."<br />
</blockquote><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-dying-route-66-icon-05-nov05,0,7220519.story">Route 66 artist's life coming to an end</a> (Video at the link)<br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"For decades, Bob Waldmire lived on the "Mother Road," wandering the remnants of Route 66 in his orange VW bus and selling his intricate, India-ink artwork from Santa Monica, Calif., to Pontiac, Ill."<br />
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"The Route 66 Alliance plans to put Waldmire's 1972 VW on permanent display at its planned Tulsa, Okla., museum and fund art scholarships and an annual prize in his name."<br />
</blockquote><a href="http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/WJ-Deutsch-and-Sons-Ltd-1071953.html">Rootstock: Peace, Love and Beaujolais Nouveau</a><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - November 5, 2009) - Les Vins Georges Duboeuf will "share the love" for the 2009 Beaujolais Nouveau arrival on Thursday, November 19th -- the official release date of this fruity wine that celebrates the end of the harvest and gives a foretaste of this year's vintage (reported to be one of the best vintages in the past 50 years). In both New York and Miami, "Peace, Love and Beaujolais Nouveau" vintage VW 'Love Buses,' escorted by Beaujolais Biker Chefs and wine-loving hippies, will help launch a week-long food drive and deliver the first cases of Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau wine to the official "sip-in" uncorking ceremonies."<br />
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You must be 21 to enter, but go <a href="http://www.duboeufnouveau.com/">here</a> to see an animated version of the VW Bus delivery.<br />
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How many days until Christmas? VB doesn't start counting until after Thanksgiving, but we'll give it a start. So far - it doesn't look good.<br />
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<a href="http://www.christmasinprescott.com/old-world--christmas-toy-car-ornament-46002.html">Blue VW Toy Car Ornament by Old World Christmas</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.thepurplebaboon.co.uk/product_pages/vwbeetlesurf.htm">Pink VW Beetle Cabriolet Surf Moneybox Ornament - Hand Painted</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.bungalowbeachdesigns.com/vw-bus-ornament.html">VW Bus Ceramic Ornament</a><br />
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<a href="http://nantucketlighthouse.com/vw-bus-ornament.html">VW Bus Ceramic Ornament</a>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-52405850976156868962009-11-07T18:34:00.000-05:002009-11-07T18:34:22.913-05:00Open Farm SundayLast week we went to <a href="http://www.cabotcheese.coop/pages/about_us/farmer_stories/map-northeast.php">Open Farm Sunday</a>, sponsored by Cabot Creamery Cooperative, and hosted by a local farm. Awesome Daughter was not interested in staying too long, until...they offered her complimentary corn chowder and sharp cheddar cheese. It was somewhat coincidental, as we were talking about making corn chowder for dinner. VB presents a short tour of the farm. We had fun. And, of course, everyone on the tour behaved like a bunch of schoolkids at a petting zoo!<br />
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Below: The old main barn, where we were greeted and fed.<br />
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Below 2 photos: Cows are hungry creatures. Some of these animals produce enormous amounts of milk each day, others - not so much. Added up though, they provide us with our daily intake of main dairy products. They are also very friendly creatures, or at least that's what VB thought.<br />
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Below: This is a mechanical milking machine. All cows teats are wiped clean with antibacterial wash, milked, then washed clean again, and given a soothing cream so their teats stay nice and soft - something of that nature. And for cows unable to get into the milking center, say too pregnant, they have portable milking machines! Wow, and VB thought she was going to see the real McCoy milking procedure (dude sitting on a wooden bucket, hand milking the cow - VB's kinda behind the times on some of this new technological stuff.)<br />
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Below: The milk tank, with magnetic messages about farming and farming in Connecticut.<br />
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Below: One of the messages, which VB highly recommends - buy local.<br />
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Below: The pregnant cows. Don't they look overly friendly! That's because (VB found out,) Awesome Daughter was carrying dog treats in her pocket and they totally wanted to be with her!<br />
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Below: This is a calf barn. These calves are a bit older, and they get transferred here to socialize after being moved from the greenhouse. The two calves below are not dairy cows. They will be on your dinner table one of these days. This farm also sells beef (Angus), and you can order from them (you know like a whole side, a quarter, something like that.) At this size, they also have their horns taken off, so they don't injure each other. Apparently, with horns, when they are hungry and pushing through the throng of other cattle, they poke and injure each other inadvertently. The horn removal prevents that from happening.<br />
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Below: Our last stop was at the calf greenhouse. We saw a calf, just born the day before. These are calves that are very young, still nursing, and isolated as they have a habit of mistaking each other for their mothers, sucking, and yes, causing injury. Here (next 3 photos) we have a female calf, who is absolutely smitten with VB's camera strap!<br />
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Below: Awesome Daughter pets the female calf.<br />
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Below: You can see her again. She's the only one standing, waiting for more visitors<br />
to welcome.<br />
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Below: After our Open Farm visit, we stopped at our local farm stand to buy corn for our chowder. The stand was closed, but still open for business. They have a slot in the wooden windows for money. Here pumpkins are on display so you can gauge the size when you buy one. There's a sign with prices on the window. Many farm stands around here are unattended / self serve.<br />
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Below 2 photos: Our corn chowder and grilled sandwiches.<br />
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As VB writes this, she's watching <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/show/the-martha-stewart-show/the-cheese-show">Martha Stewart who is focusing on cheese</a>.<br />
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And for some fun, A take off on VB's favorite show Mad Men. This is called Milk Men.<br />
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<a href="http://www.atom.com/funny_videos/milk_men_trailer/" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: rgb(0, 0, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: white; display: block; font-family: Georgia,Palatino,Times New Roman; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; padding: 5px 0px 7px 5px; text-decoration: none; width: 421px;">Milk Men - A Mad Men Parody</a><embed allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="354" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:hcx:content:atom.com:323f09e6-74c1-4e5d-9cf7-5a8376fcbf16" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" wmode="window" /></embed><br />
<div style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: rgb(0, 0, 0) none repeat scroll 0% 0%; border-top: 1px solid rgb(52, 63, 67); color: #c1ddf2; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 10px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; padding: 5px 0pt 7px; text-align: center; width: 426px;">Atom.com: <a href="http://www.atom.com/" style="color: #c1ddf2; margin: 0pt 5px;" target="_blank">Funny Videos</a> | <a href="http://www.atom.com/channels/category_spoofs/?tab=channels" style="color: #c1ddf2; margin-left: 5px;" target="_blank">Spoofs</a> | <a href="http://www.atom.com/channel/channel_tv_movie_spoofs" style="color: #c1ddf2; margin: 0pt 5px;" target="_blank">TV & Movie Spoofs</a><br />
</div>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-58528533498242042162009-11-04T08:39:00.000-05:002009-11-04T08:39:26.016-05:00Funkengroovin - Terryville, CT Bug-A-Fair 2009, All Tarted UpMore from Terryville. A lot of car entrants try to make their cars look sexier either with fancy mechanical gadgetry or spicing up the looks. Here are a few examples of some Bugs that have been all tarted up.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBZpqLOxnI/AAAAAAAAINg/5UCAhF4Ifbw/s1600-h/DSC_5642.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372892927683905138" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBZpqLOxnI/AAAAAAAAINg/5UCAhF4Ifbw/s400/DSC_5642.JPG" style="display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf_RR_Zt8z4KWXBzYQHXgK4qVB5N-xWNG_mdoVMOUmEyItmYlO52qO6cEg1b_amf6mH5nh2CSFlmI5KfR6vtYMQeH-b7e_AhjtgGpDb_n86XQ5-EsmwrGnt2tkcaB_V26oKvOF2p-5v4/s1600-h/DSC_5653.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372892831995806978" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFf_RR_Zt8z4KWXBzYQHXgK4qVB5N-xWNG_mdoVMOUmEyItmYlO52qO6cEg1b_amf6mH5nh2CSFlmI5KfR6vtYMQeH-b7e_AhjtgGpDb_n86XQ5-EsmwrGnt2tkcaB_V26oKvOF2p-5v4/s400/DSC_5653.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBZc_rsmQI/AAAAAAAAINQ/XGHssoWDaB4/s1600-h/DSC_5661.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372892710118922498" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBZc_rsmQI/AAAAAAAAINQ/XGHssoWDaB4/s400/DSC_5661.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBZOQFgvxI/AAAAAAAAINI/dnaI1fV1bNc/s1600-h/DSC_5674.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372892456824127250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBZOQFgvxI/AAAAAAAAINI/dnaI1fV1bNc/s400/DSC_5674.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBZISrk4BI/AAAAAAAAINA/v8_0OQnc1u8/s1600-h/DSC_5675.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372892354441437202" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBZISrk4BI/AAAAAAAAINA/v8_0OQnc1u8/s400/DSC_5675.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBZADOy-AI/AAAAAAAAIM4/4dG1ZmtJ6Vs/s1600-h/DSC_5678.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372892212855240706" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBZADOy-AI/AAAAAAAAIM4/4dG1ZmtJ6Vs/s400/DSC_5678.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBYq6Q1FbI/AAAAAAAAIMw/NlyVOsdGoaE/s1600-h/DSC_5679.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372891849670596018" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBYq6Q1FbI/AAAAAAAAIMw/NlyVOsdGoaE/s400/DSC_5679.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBYEn_VOoI/AAAAAAAAIMo/weUvo2BV_uw/s1600-h/DSC_5680.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372891191930337922" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBYEn_VOoI/AAAAAAAAIMo/weUvo2BV_uw/s400/DSC_5680.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBX6GsPDPI/AAAAAAAAIMg/_JY6OT21Ric/s1600-h/DSC_5749.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372891011193179378" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBX6GsPDPI/AAAAAAAAIMg/_JY6OT21Ric/s400/DSC_5749.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBXut4fCrI/AAAAAAAAIMY/qp6Ff28ZI2g/s1600-h/DSC_5750.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372890815555111602" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBXut4fCrI/AAAAAAAAIMY/qp6Ff28ZI2g/s400/DSC_5750.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBXl2Yl2PI/AAAAAAAAIMQ/L8PUQfj1-r0/s1600-h/DSC_5751.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372890663218436338" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XJz5JbkloSU/SpBXl2Yl2PI/AAAAAAAAIMQ/L8PUQfj1-r0/s400/DSC_5751.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>NEWS:</b></span><br />
</div><br />
<a href="http://www.auto123.com/en/news/car-news/60-years-since-the-trusteeship-of-the-volkswagenwerk-was-placed-in-german-hands?artid=112309">60 years since the trusteeship of the Volkswagenwerk was placed in German hands</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/misshilda/vw/prweb3016374.htm">1966 VW Bug's Incredible Cross-Country Tour Now Reaches Montana! The Little Bug that Could!</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/10/biodiesel-hybrid-bu/">Old-School Beetle Runs on Batteries and Biodiesel</a><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"Students at the University of Kansas have built what may be the coolest hybrid ever — a 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle–series hybrid that burns biodiesel and gets about 50 mpg."<br />
</blockquote><br />
(Check out the photos and video) <br />
<a href="http://blog.cardomain.com/2009/11/01/paul-newmans-mid-engine-ford-351-powered-vw-beetle/">Paul Newman’s Mid-Engine, Ford 351 Powered VW Beetle</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.wsoctv.com/news/21326886/detail.html">An Old Landmark In West Charlotte Could Go Away</a><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It’s been a beacon for decades at the corner of Freedom and West Morehead, in West Charlotte an old VW Beetleon top of an old garage. Some neighborhood groups call it a landmark, well the city says it may have to come down."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2009/10/09/sports/doc4acecc1468a40870464185.txt">Krider Racing borrows Bug, takes Beetleball title</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/foodday/index.ssf/2009/10/haute_tea.html">Tea guru takes boutique brand to a new level</a><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"In the early days at Stash Tea, he discovered Oregon's exceptional peppermint (used then in toothpaste and mouthwash), and persuaded growers in Prineville and Madras to harvest it to his specifications for tea. "We got a couple of Volkswagen busloads, then graduated to semi truck loads," Smith says. "I would drive the combine and harvest, then drive the semi truck with 25,000 pounds of leaves in it into what's now known as the Pearl District." <br />
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Today his palate is just as acute. He'll only buy chamomile from the Fayoum Oasis in Egypt, just south of Cairo. "We need tight heads, a small amount of stems, fresh product," he says."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.kvnews.com/articles/2009/10/08/news/doc4ace34c7999bf507837870.txt">Home remodel leaves Thorp family living in vans</a><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"The Olliviers have circled up seven of their VW vans and campers in the backyard between their home and the river, somewhat like covered wagons.<br />
<br />
Four of vans serve as bedrooms, one each for Jan, Jacques and sons Jordan, 12, and Joe, 15.<br />
<br />
Three other vans are for storage and other amenities.<br />
<br />
There’s a picnic table in the center with a large umbrella over it for family dining and the boys’ afternoon homework, a power cord from the house for a hot plate and other appliances, and ice chests in place of a refrigerator.<br />
<br />
A portable toilet/outhouse, also used by the contractor, serves as a family restroom. A ladder against their house leads to a remodeled bathroom area in the house’s second floor where showers are taken.<br />
<br />
All the comforts of home. Well, sort of."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2009/10/16/its-friday-is-this-the-worlds-most-miserly-vw-bus/">It's Friday: Is this the World's Most Miserly VW Bus?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2009/10/15/vw-camper-van-hearse-created-for-funerals-92746-24930995/">VW camper van hearse created for funerals</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://tucsoncitizen.com/rynski/2009/10/22/odd-pueblo-snappy-or-crappy-13/">Odd Pueblo: Snappy or Crappy?</a><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"Several folks also voted crappy on a bugged-out VW bug posted many moons ago – but now we got the Volkswagen’s big sister: an awesome Volkswagen bus.<br />
Judging from my calling it awesome, you can bet I think this thing is groovy. Check out the slide show, featuring six ways of looking at a VW bus."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=a68l8RLSMj5M">VW Said to Discuss Buying Insolvent Carmaker Karmann (Update1)</a><br />
<br />
Last year VB <a href="http://vagabondblogger.blogspot.com/2008/04/funkengroovin-wednesday-april-fools-and.html">noted an article</a> about Jay Leno where he mentioned being asked to do an American version of Top Gear. He basically said, "no." Apparently he has changed his mind. NBC has built a race track for Leno's new show: (from September) <a href="http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/19/jay-lenos-green-car-challenge-puts-guests-on-racetrack/">Wheels: Jay Leno’s Green Car Challenge Puts Guests on Racetrack</a>,<br />
<blockquote style="background-color: #d9ead3;">"The latest TV reality show is the “Green Car Challenge,” an irregular segment — which first appeared Friday — on “The Jay Leno Show.” Celebrities will compete in a specially prepared electric Ford Focus on a racetrack built just outside the NBC studio in Burbank, Calif."<br />
</blockquote>vagabondbloggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15335179461403449587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-237342543333567202.post-89868769688666077842009-10-30T10:26:00.000-04:002009-10-30T10:26:56.800-04:00November '09 Monthly Wallpaper / Screensaver Calendar<div style="text-align: center;">Karmann Ghia in Washington, DC<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">1955 Chevy<br />
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