North Pacific Crossing

Well it is that time again, when my cruise for this year is getting close. Now down to less than 30 days. So what do I do? Look for the cruise for next year. A month or so ago, I planned to go back to Europe. But with the bombings in Brussels and the fact I have visited so many ports there already, I decided to go to Japan, if all works out. 

I have such an interest in the ports on the North Pacific Crossing, 19 days, from Yokohama, Japan to Vancouver. I am especially interested in a tour that takes us to the Ainu People of Japan. They are definitely both a gargoyle-inspired and graffiti-inspired people, based on their wonderful costumes and their unique tattoos.

Ainu people 1904 from Wikipedia

Saguenay: Definitely Graffiti-Inspired

Tattoo of our bus driver in Saguenay

If there was one unusual place we visited on our Canada New England repositioning cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Montreal, it was Saguenay, Quebec.
First of all, I was fascinated by the tattoo of our bus driver shown above, and his tattoo kind of set the tone for the entire day. Just kind of weird and bizarre, but interesting.

Our guide at the goat farm

Besides the eery tattoo, we went to visit a goat farm. To me, the goats looked like sheep. But when I came back, I looked up the information on these guys and they were definitely goats. They are goats with mohair. Guess I learn something new every day.

Goats that look like sheep to me

The baby goats

It was a bizarre day all around. We went to a presentation at a small museum to see how fjords form. It was like going to a school room from the 1950s where they tried to be space age. Very odd. Then off to the  Le Chevrier du Nord goat farm, and after a musuem that we saw the works of Arthur Villeneuve. He was an eccentric man who painted the outside and inside of his house with tons of murals. I will do a separate post on him. He became quite famous and traveled all over the world. 

Venice Graffiti

Graffiti at Venice

On my walk around Venice, I spotted graffiti here and there. After traveling in Italy extensively over the last five years, it just doesn't bother me anymore. It is a form of expression that goes back to Roman times. Below is an example from the Roman Colosseum. I found the Colosseum graffiti photo on a blog, Makenzie's blog.

Graffiti at Roman Colosseum

Some more photos of graffiti I found on Venice.

By the way, the first graffiti says "Ti amo" which must mean the same as "Te amo" in Spanish, or I love you!

Ainu People: Graffiti-Inspired Tattoos

Ainu woman by Joseph Deniker

The Ainu are a group of indigenous people from Hakkaido, Japan. The cruise I would like to take next year has a tour to visit these wonderful people. Having been an anthropology major for my undergraduate and master's degrees, I love studying indigenous cultures.

In 2008, Japan called upon its people to recognize the Ainu as "an indigenous people with a distinct language, religion and culture". More information on these noble people can be found on Wikipedia here.

One of the most fascinating things about them is their tattoo techniques, which are so graffiti-inspired. 

To me, the most interesting thing is the reasoning for these tattoos and the fact that only women had these tattoos. The last Ainu tattooed woman died in 1998. The reasoning for these tattoos is to dispel evil spirits from entering the mouth. Girls were started with small tattoos when 7 or 8 years old, and then the tattoos were enlarged as they grew older toward child-bearing years. The arm tattoos also were to dispel evil spirits.

One of the best articles I found on this is from Lars Krutak and can be read here. Fascinating!

Graffiti Christmas

Southampton, UK graffiti posted by Richard Edwards

Since I had a post about gargoyles at Christmas, I thought it only balanced that I post about Graffiti at Christmas. Typing "Graffiti Christmas" in Google, I came across a great blog called The Cabbages of Doom and a great post on Christmas graffiti. When you look closely at this, it is pretty funny. A would be robber snowman is holding up another snowman with what looks like a gun, but is actually a hair dryer. LOL I guess to a snowman, there would be nothing worse than being melted by a hair dryer.

Homer and Son by Graffiti Life

Here is more great graffiti by Graffiti Life. Homer Santa is choking Bart for painting graffiti at Christmas, I think. The wall had become famous as the Bart Simpson wall, so they updated it for Christmas. More on this graffiti artist can be found here. It says "Don't get caught painting Christmas graffiti!"

Graffiti Christmas Card

Last but not least, here is a Graffiti Christmas card from Reduce the Panic's website. It is from the post "Not your Average Christmas Card: Santa Claus Graffiti." More info on this website can be found here.

Merry Christmas, everybody!

Sunday Morning Spirituality: Vejer de La Frontera

Vejer de la Frontera, Spain

Our second stop on our cruise from Barcelona to Dover was Cadiz, Spain. I had visited before so I wasn’t too psyched about going back. I typically don’t like to revisit places, especially ones I hadn’t loved to begin with. What I remembered of Cadiz was a port town, kind of dirty and getting driven by a 70 year old lunatic named Bartolomeo on the cruise ship pier against our will going 90 miles a hour. Needless to say, I didn’t want to relive that experience, but Cadiz surprised me. It was clean and lovely and not at all how I remembered it. They have done a lot in the eight years since I was there. I took a wonderful tour of Cadiz with a guy I met named Bob, and we had a great afternoon touring Cadiz. (That will be saved for another post.) Since it's Sunday, I want to talk about Vejer de la Frontera.

Vejer de la Frontera was once the border between the Christian and Moorish worlds. We arrived in early morning before the town was really awake. A few old men wandered the streets. One had a loaf of bread in his hand. Another man spoke to a woman above, who opened her window to lean out and chat.

Lady in the window chatting

Our guide walked us through the old town, so charming and beautiful and in harmony. It was chilly and so quiet as the town slept and we had the privilege of enjoying the morning without a mob of people, cars or buses.

Honestly I don’t remember much about what she said that day. I mostly remember how I felt … full of peace and serenity on a Sunday morning.

Cathedral in Vejer de la Frontera

my traveling feet

 I had thought I took the picture of my traveling feet in Barcelona, but actually it was here in Vejer de la Frontera. I love the cobblestones and the wad of paper on the ground.

Last but not least, I didn't notice until my husband pointed it out - that the photo above has graffiti that says, "My name is Bombe."

Cozumel Sea Walls by Flow Serfati Photography

This was such a crossover blog post, I decided to copy it from my Design in Cozumel blog ...

Jason Botkin painting Cozumel sea wall photo by Florent Serfati

This photo is so powerful in so many ways. It is a great shot by Florent Serfati, who has done a magnificent job of compiling all the sea wall photos he shot recently. The artist, Jason Botkin, is shown in a Michaelangelo concentration doing what he does best. There is so much passion in this photo.

Jason Botkin mural complete by Florent Serfati

I have been following Florent Serfati's photography for a while, admiring his skills and loving what I got to follow on Facebook. But he has really outdone himself with the murals that have gone up all around Cozumel in the last month. People came from all over the world to promote our oceans and leave us these wonderful treasures. Flow has captured these moments magnificently.

Another awesome photo by Flow Serfati Photography

Due to some health issues, I haven't been out and about to take my own photos of these sea murals. Luckily I didn't have to, I have been able to enjoy them from in front of my computer. The above is by Kaulukuku and references the sponsor, Pangeaseed and of course taken on Cozumel, Mexico 2015.

It you loved these sea mural photos, please visit Flow Serfati's Photography page here on Facebook. You will see the sea murals and a whole lot of other wonderful photographs. Thanks, Flow!!

Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans on Cozumel Island

Really psyched about the sea walls, murals for oceans that is being sponsored by Pangeaseed here on Cozumel Island for the next ten days. Murals are being painted by some pretty famous street artists "to save our seas by public art and activism."

I already know a few places they have started and plan to stop and photograph them. I did notice one artist has started and appears to have the name of a restaurant in his wall art. I really hope it isn't so, as that seems like such a sell out. Will let you know tomorrow when I go by. We already have enough advertisements here. Hoping for something new and fresh.

Walking Around Venice Part 2

Venice canal

There is something so mesmerizing about the water of the Venice canals. Like a deep lagoon of green water, you can't see in to it. I have been told it is dirty. I have been told it even smells at times. Never when I was there has it smelled bad. To me though, Venice is mystery and passion and excitement. I just love it, and I love her canals. I love all the activity and buzz. I love that I felt welcome.

I love the frivolity and fun. There is just something in the air in Venice. I guess it is a sense of mischief. All the masks and decked out creatures!

Restaurant at Venice

Hats for sale at Venice

Around every corner is some amazing architectural feature that is to die for, including these lovely grates on a bridge with the crumbling buildings beyond.

Walking Around Venice 2015

On my one full day in Venice, I took a walk in the early morning from my hotel near the Piazzale Roma to St. Mark's Square. Took over an hour one way. It was a gorgeous walk. The sun was out. It wasn't too hot yet. 

There are just so many wonderful things about Venice - all the stuff going on and how it is all done on the water, the buildings crumbling in to the sea with such grace, and the most delightful architectural features. 

When I finally reached St. Mark's Square at 9am, it was already mobbed with people. Long lines waiting to get in to the Cathedral. I didn't see the need to tour inside again. I was happy to people watch.

Way more photos and architectural goodies to follow!

Canterbury: Funky Paradise

Canterbury Abode Hotel entrance - #1 in my book

After I wrote the post on Canterbury exposing the things I didn't like about it, I felt bad, disappointed in myself for not liking it more. Like a lot of places, it isn't perfect but it really isn't all bad either. I spent two days there and I did like a lot of things. As I said earlier, I loved the Abode Hotel. Information can be found here


Of course after I raved about it, I got a message from the hotel that they didn't like me posting one of their employees with a thumbs up on tripadvisor. I don't know what to say about that. Where is their sense of humor?

If you want a small town feel, medieval charm and a great place for walking, Canterbury can't be beat. I also loved the funky feel of the place. From the musician singing and playing for spare change to the Third Eye tattoo and body piercing shop, Canterbury is as much a 60s throwback as it is a medieval tourist destination.

Tattoo and body piercing shop

Street musician

Street vendors

Canterbury is also pretty famous for its graffiti, so this will be a graffiti post. Have not done one in a while. The following photos are compliments of Canterbury Bombs

No post would be complete without an architectural detail or two, so here goes.

Funky door stop

Rooftop of the Prezzo Building in Canterbury

Graffiti: Playa del Carmen Street Art Part 2

Street art photos courtesy of India Lee

India Lee is a woman I know from Cozumel. She was living here when I arrived in 1999-2000. I think she had already lived in Cozumel a while. She and a friend moved to the Riviera Maya area to sell at one of the hotel resorts being built and we lost track of each other. I was happy to find her again on Facebook. Thanks again, India Lee, for the great photos of the new street art at Playa!

These were my favorites. Enjoy!