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The tea fields of Africa one day. A tasting room in London the next. You never know where Tea Master Barry W. Cooper will be tomorrow! Check here frequently to read Barry’s latest entry in his travel blog—or send us an email with “Barry’s Blog” in the subject line and we’ll alert you when a new entry is posted. Sign Up |
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This is a hysterical shot. There are Five people at this table who between them represent THIRTEEN MARRIAGES!!!! Here’s to those who never give up trying. Or is it the other way around? We give up to try again? I am responsible for two, Sandy (3), Sherry (3), Garry (3), Rick (2). Here’s to the optimists of the world!!
My niece Courtney was given away by her father Rick (more about Rick later) to Gus, seen holding her hand. I have always thought “giving away” was a strange expression, why would one “give away” their daughter? Anyway, she made a beautiful bride and it was a great day on the beach.
The beaches are different in California. Flat and firm. The water is COLD, and in the background you can see the banks of mist and fog rolling in. It was still a great morning walk though. Nothing like breathing Ocean air. The houses crowd onto the beaches here, I guess they don’t have hurricanes in this part of the world.
California Beach
Yet one more shot of the DIA airport. It really is a photographers dream, so many different angles. I liked this one. I am off to California, one of the blossoming BAZZA markets and a wedding to attend. Heading to Ventura County, by the sea. Ocean to Ocean to Ocean, all in a matter of days. Java Sea, Atlantic Ocean and now the Pacific, all in the space of two weeks. It’s a small world.
DIA
March roars in like a Lion and leaves like a Lamb? It is almost the end of the month and the grass is green with that lusciousness that only comes with being buried under snow for the past 4 months. I mean IT IS READY! But, old man winter hangs in there with a last gasp of a snow storm. The contrasting colors were great, and I should not get too comfortable. A few years ago we had snow in JUNE in Boulder…winter may yet have a surprise in store for us.
Leaving St Croix
Last day on the island! Up early to pack to catch a 1.45pm flight to San Juan, thence to Houston then onwards to Denver, finally back to Boulder. That was the plan! First part went well. Second part fell apart. We were all loaded on the plane in San Juan, in fact we had taxied down he runway. Then the pilot comes on and says there is this little light that is blinking. So we head back to the terminal. Turns out it was the hydraulics. Now, I don’t know much about planes but I do know that you don’t take off in them if the hydraulics are not working. The Captain had the same viewpoint! The flight was cancelled. So Continental had to send a plane from Houston to pick us up. It arrived 4 hours later. Long story made short….we arrived in Houston at 3am. We caught at 8.55 am flight to Denver. Who says travel is glamorous. I did have this fabulous shot of dawn in St Croix to remind me that the trouble travelling to and fro is worth it.
Now back in Boulder, the news is snow is expected this weekend!
This is a pretty boring picture of a very interesting place. It is the eastern most part of the USA, it is called Point Udall. During the millennium celebrations they erected a monument and if you look closely you will see it looks like a tuning fork. If you dive in the water and start swimming east the next piece of land you come across is Africa!! In fact one of the problems we have on St. Croix is the dust from the Sahara desert blowing across the Atlantic in September and creating magnificent sunsets and grit everywhere. One of the penalties of living in Paradise!
Point Udall
Sunrise in St Croix
Of course the destination I was heading too made it all worthwhile the next morning. I woke up at 3 am (That’s 3 pm in the land I had just left) and sat and watched the dawn break. Worthy of a shot I thought. No decisions today. Judgment is bound to be faulty as the rest of me is trying to catch up with the part that arrived here yesterday. As soon as we have a whole body and mind functioning as one we will dive back into the fray. Until then we are taking a time-out!
Actually, the Thai Airways flight is kind of awesome. Here is a graphic of the route I took. Right over the North Pole.17 hours in the air and you arrive in New York. Outstanding. I had two hours to get to my AA flight to San Juan…not a problem, made it with time to spare. We took off on time and then half an hour into the flight we had to turn back to JFK because an elderly person became very ill (not me). So, plans at this point disintegrated and an hour later we took off again. We got to San Juan and of course I had missed my connection and had to wait for another two hours. Then I finally got my flight to St. Croix. So lets add this up. 17 + 2 + 11/2 + 3 1/2 + 2 + 1 = 27 hours. Add to that the 3 hours that I had to be in the BKK airport before take off and we have a glorious total of 30 hours traveling.Who said International travel is romantic and glamorous? It is hard, tiring and you are very smelly at the end of it.
Pics of line up at the security check point.....just joking!
Here's the guy who found my shoe polish
Bangkok has a magnificent airport that looks a lot like Rodeo Drive in California. However, you are forced to walk to your gate past hundreds of up market, very expensive stores with sales people lurking at every entrance. They are ready to sell you the Fendi bag you always wanted or the Gucci shoes you cannot live without. The fact that you actually have no where to put these new purchases is irrelevant. The net result is that masses of travelers end up looking like Christmas Trees festooned with bags. Experienced travelers live with this stuff every day and avoid the temptation to get that one last Ferragamo pair of shoes, so I was OK. BUT, when we got down to the security area the problems began. Here, in the BRAND NEW airport we find the same old - same old, two metal detectors and 500 passengers lined up, all clutching their new purchases, plus carry ons, plus handbags, etc., that must all be searched. Slowly we make our way through the line and eventually my bag goes in the X-Ray equipment. Ooohho! We have a problem. I am taken off to one side and asked if they can search my bag. Since “No” is not an option I say, “Of course, please, search my bag.” They carefully go through my stuff and nod at the plastic baggie with my 3 ounces of toothpaste, but keep on going. They are looking for something. Eventually they find it and hold it aloft in triumph. “Ahha. No can do,” they say. “Not allowed.” “What do you mean, no can do?” I reply pointing to the object they had found. “No can do in baggage. Must put here,” and with a flourish they opened by plastic baggie of toiletries and dropped in the small round can of KIWI shoe polish they had found. I have no problem with the folks who have to make the searches; they are just doing their jobs. Nor do I have a problem with security in general, but I do not understand why it is considered a hazard to have shoe polish packed in my general luggage and not in my plastic baggie.
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