Travels With Marie

Sunday, July 24, 2016

IMPERIAL BEACH SUN & SEA FESTIVAL

We had a good overview from the pier

This is an annual event in Imperial Beach that includes a swim & paddle at the pier, a 3 K run, a Zumba demonstration, a parade and a fun zone for the kids in addition to the main event which is the sand sculpture competition. Just sand, water and tools are used to pack sand into castles, whimsical creatures and buildings. Some themes included peace, Alice in Wonderland characters, castles, astronauts and whimsical fish. The Spirit of Imperial Beach bronze sculpture depicts the dual theme of surfing and sand castles.

There were food trucks and booths in the area so Paul and I bought hot dogs from a Boy Scout troop and enjoyed lunch at one of the tables under some palm trees near the beach.

A band playing nearby for music entertainment. It was a fun way to spend a summer day.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

AQUARIUM VISIT

Paul and I visited the Birch Aquarium with displays of local sea life in San Diego. Some exhibits also include fish in the ocean off of Baja California coast.

Another exhibit area features the effect of climate change on coral and other plant life with increasing water acidity along with other ocean science research
There are also outdoor pools that mimic tide pools where one can touch the invertebrates and fish.

Local Girabaldi

Lion fish

Sea Dragon

OVERVIEW OF THE SAN DIEGO ZOO

During Paul’s visit we took the bus tour of the San Diego Zoo. It gives a complete overview of all the exhibits along with an informative narration.

Often the animals perk up when a bus comes by, hoping to get a treat from the driver.

Later we walked around to see some of the exhibits

close up.

Getting up front and close

Baby gets a free ride

Nothing like getting right in the dish for a snack

BUTTERFLY DAY

Paul came for a visit In San Diego in April 2016. He joined Ray and me for a visit to Safari Park.

It was Butterfly Jungle time there when several dozen butterfly species are let loose by the thousands in an aviary. A Common Blue Morpho is one of the most spectacular.

We also visited the Tiger Trail that is the new home for the Sumatran tigers that are along a trail that leads to an Indonesian longhouse.

Later we visited the Orfila Winery for wine tasting and to enjoy the view of the Escondido countryside.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

SAN DIEGO SAFARI PARK CHRISTMAS VISIT

New cub on exhibit

It is a festive time to visit the Safari Park with decorative red bows throughout the park. A week day during the holiday season is a good time to go there with fewer visitors.

Marie is standing with Ray and Betsy at the entrance to the Tiger Trail which opened in 2014 for the Sumatran tigers. There are fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers in the wild.

A large lagoon in the Congo fishing village is home to numerous species of waterfowl. A white pelican is see here.

The park houses a large array of wind and endangered animals including species from the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America and Australia. The Park is in a semi-arid environment with free-range enclosures that house such animals as antelope, giraffe, buffalo, cranes and rhinoceros.

Giraffes and rhinoceros are in this African exhibit. The park has the world’s most successful breeding program for southern white rhinos.

The open range East Africa exhibit has a large lagoon with lesser and greater flamingos and other waterfowl.

The gorilla habitat houses a troop of lowland gorillas

Friday, March 13, 2015

IN MEMORY OF ED INSKEEP

In memory of my friend Ed Inskeep who passed away recently. We shared many wonderful day trips, concerts, plays and museum visits, Ed graduated from Ohio State University and from UCLA with a MA. He spent his career working as a consultant for the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme and World Tourism Organization. He traveled to most regions of the world. Including places where he worked and those where he traveled as a tourist he visited more than 100 countries. He wrote a reference book on tourism and was a university lecturer. He lived a full and interesting life.