Or as Loweho says where TravLin and I went for our parole hearing.

We met at the House Of Seven Gables. It was a neat place.  Even with the haunting we had...  After we left there we took the trolly ride to learn more about the town.  Then we went to the memorial for the witch trials.  It was very interesting.  Here are some of the people who were killed last statements: "To my dying...."
"God knows..."
"I plead..."
This is the park that is the memorial.  Each one of the stone benches has the persons name, how they were killed and the date.  It was very interesting.  And contrary to popular belief non were burned at the stake.  Most were hung.  Then we went into the cemetary next to the memorial.  None of the so called witches are there.  The bodies were disgarded after hanging for days and thrown into the woods.  For the animals to take care of.  In the cemetary there was even a person who came over on the Mayflower.  It was very interesting.  These are just some things that caught my eye: Into the streets & Down an alley.  If you ever have a chance to go there it is a great place to see.  And if you get a chance to meet up with someone from Photographica do it!  TravLin is a super person and I'm sure I will see her again!  Thanks for the great day TravLin!!

I took a trip to Wilmington, NC for Memorial weekend.  It was a time to gather with family and enjoy the sights.  I was able to visit the beach and the historic downtown areas.  Take a look and let me know what you think.

doorways of color
garage bits and pieces
gathering of bowls
notes of time
 love these signs!
peeking over a garden wall....
pelican parking
jumping in!

I spent this afternoon at Arlington Cemetary.  Seeing the  sea of headstones was very sobering.  It really makes day to day hassels fade into the background.  Seeing how many men and women gave their lives so I could live the way I do is humbling.

Soldiers from different areas  and different times are represented.  I found the markers of the crew of the two lost  shuttles.  One had obviousely been recently  visited.

And we can't forget our Unknown Soldier.  The grave is somberly watched by a  lone guard.There were easily over 70 people watching and you could hear a pin drop, the silence was so deep.

Many of us are quick to thank our soldiers on holidays like Veteran's Day or Memorial Day.  We should thank them much more often.  For many of these graves represent the ultimate sacrifice: their lives due to their belief in their country and what it represents.  So please hug a soldier and thank them for what they do.  

Well, the grandparents came to town, so my husband and I were free to go wander around town like adults and not parents.  Weeeee!!! So, of course could we think of a place to go that did not involve a kids menu or play area? Ah.....no.  The conversation went like this..."where do you want to go?  I don' t know, where do you want to go?  I'm not sure..."

 Finally we decided to head to Old Town Alexandria.  We stopped at Christ Church where George Washington and Robert E. Lee attended services.  Look at the headstones.  They are  black due to fires.  The army used the cemetary as a field hospital and soldiers built fires in front of the headstones to keep warm and slept there.  (shiver!) I loved the steeple on the church.  

After walking around there we hopped in the car and headed to downtown DC.  Here are some shots of buildings I thought were interesting or beautiful:
 building one
tall one
french looking...
Washington Monument
Hubby's favorite: the money place!
monument being restored

What do you think?

Now that I understand how to post on this site, (sorry for the burden yesterday) I'd like to share with you some of the specific traditions found in Morocco. Fantasia is a very spectacular one!

I hope you'll enjoy...

The communion between the Man and the Horse

The fantasia is an extraordinary warlike exercise where men riding horses devote themselves to incredible acrobatics and discharge their "moukhala" (old rifle with powder) during an unrestrained gallop, in a perfect synchronization. The fantasias take place in particular at the time of traditional festivals called "moussems".

Symbol of warlike virtuosity, the fantasia ensures the continuity of an authentic military equestrian tradition. The rigour is ruling this practice. The rider and its horse must recognize the exact sequence of the figures prepared in group. On a delimited ground approximately six hundred fifty feet long, the teams, composed of twenty riders, follow one another. A respect of the sequence, an overall cohesion, the simultaneity of the shooting called "baroud" are the essential criteria of the fantasia. The notation is strictly framed by a sporting ruling.

To carry out these prowesses, the riders must have a certain equestrian technique, but also much of agility, audacity and courage. The riders all, dressed in white and fitted with high Turkish slippers, carry in a shoulder-belt a small leather satchel as well as a bent dagger, slipped into a velvet case.

Their long parade rifles with engraved sticks and embedded silver. Embroidered silk, leathers with morocco finish, gilded or nielloed metals, the horses also exhibit sumptuous harnessings. Fantasia remains one of the equestrian demonstrations most appreciated in all Morocco.

The smithy's the fellow that handles the  bellows
That makes the  fire roar.
The smithy   strikes batches of  hinges and  latches
To place upon the door.
Smithy's building is old, but he never gets cold
When he works behind the door.
When he's done with his  hinges and finished his  latches,
There's fun behind this door.

The Annuciation Cathedral The Cathedral of Michael the Archangel The Assumption Cathedral The Bell Tower of Ivan the Great The Kutafya Tower, the Entrance to the Kremlin the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles the Tsar's Bell The Tsar's Cannon