tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22710289608137508752024-02-08T00:37:00.152-05:00Inky Marina!Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.comBlogger455125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-68160326352119646902020-11-25T19:31:00.005-05:002020-11-25T19:31:41.979-05:00My Pandemic Birthday<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/50637961273/in/dateposted/" title="Happy Pandemic 11th Birthday Inky!"><img alt="Happy Pandemic 11th Birthday Inky!" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50637961273_875fddcfe1_z.jpg" width="449" /></a>
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On Monday, I celebrated my 11th birthday! Due to the pandemic, I wasn't able to have a birthday party with my friends. I was disappointed, but this is our new reality, unfortunately. Still, my moms made the day really special! They brought me my traditional balloon bouquet. We took photos outside our building (masks off just briefly for the photo, don't worry!) and checked how much I've grown compared to other years.
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My cake was chocolate-pumpkin with pumpkin cream cheese icing! Yum! It was perfect for my November birthday. I had a Miffy candle on it, in honor of theme I had wanted to have for a party.
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I also had the opportunity to video chat with my good friend Brooke! Her family typically splits their time between Seattle and New York City, but Seattle is their home base for now, due to the pandemic. We haven't seen each other since February! We do video chat often, but today was special because she sent me a birthday gift and I got to open it with her right on screen.
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Hurrah! Brooke gave me a beautiful Elsa ornament for my New Year tree. It's a bit of a bittersweet gift, because Brooke and I also have the tradition of trimming my New Year tree together. We alternate who puts the topper on the tree. This year, it'll be me by default!<div><br /></div><div>I'm glad I still had a happy birthday despite the hardships we've faced this year. The most important thing is that my family and friends are healthy! Have you celebrated a birthday during these trying times?</div>Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com2Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, USA40.6710672 -73.9814227999999912.360833363821158 -109.13767279999999 68.981301036178849 -38.82517279999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-49307339783133900762020-06-28T19:03:00.000-04:002020-06-28T19:03:24.806-04:00Happy Pride 2020!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/50021167717/in/dateposted/" title="Happy Pride 2020!"><img alt="Happy Pride 2020!" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50021167717_de5187b6b8_z.jpg" width="427" /></a>
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Happy Pride everyone! Tonight is the 51st anniversary of the first night of the
riots at the Stonewall Inn. The Stonewall riots were a key moment in the modern American LGBTQ+ rights movement. Even in my lifetime, as a kid, a lot has changed. When I started blogging in 2006, my moms weren't married because it was illegal! In 2011, New Yorkers won their right to marry. In 2015, that right was extended to Americans in general- though many states had already honored marriage equality. <div><br /></div><div>The LGBTQ+ movement is NOT just about marriage. It's an intersectional movement. That means it honors every part of folks' identities, including things like race, gender, disability, religion, immigration status, and much more. I'm proud to be a fighter and protector of human rights for everyone. </div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't celebrate Pride in public this year, though I usually like to go to the Stonewall Inn to pay my respects to my queer ancestors. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it's safer for kids to stay at home. My mom took this photo of me in our courtyard- I took off my mask for just a little while! </div><div><br /></div><div>This year and always, remember- Black Trans Lives Matter!</div>Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com3Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, USA40.6710672 -73.9814227999999912.360833363821158 -109.13767279999999 68.981301036178849 -38.82517279999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-16211716504088955052020-06-08T20:51:00.002-04:002020-06-08T20:52:58.814-04:00Still Safe at Home<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/49983307942/in/datetaken/" title="Inky VR"><img alt="Inky VR" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49983307942_b5668e630e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Sometimes it feels like we've been living with COVID-19 around us forever. Some days it's hard to do the same things over and over, especially indoors. There are little things that mark the days. Today, for example, our building's maintenance team mowed the lawn for the first time since the quarantine began! I was sad because it was fun to explore the yard's different plants. We even had tiny strawberry plants! Still, the mowed lawn smells like summer. I love that smell! <div><br /></div><div>Today was also fun because my mom's friend let me try out her virtual reality headset! I got to see her piece, which is called <a href="https://www.bloodmemoryvr.com/">Blood Memory</a>. It's a journey through Indigenous ancestral experiences. I was really happy to get to experience it!</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/49959733213/in/datetaken/" title="BLM"><img alt="BLM" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49959733213_f1394de550_z.jpg" width="427" /></a></div>
</div><div>Over the weekend, a bunch of kids in my neighborhood joined together (in a socially-distanced way, of course!) to make anti-racist chalk drawings on the sidewalks. There are a lot of big changes and protests happening right now to support Black people and communities; it's really important to participate and show solidarity whenever we can.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Black Lives Matter!</b></div>Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com2Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, USA40.6710672 -73.9814227999999912.360833363821158 -109.13767279999999 68.981301036178849 -38.82517279999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-16572273838674329262020-05-24T00:17:00.002-04:002020-05-24T00:17:16.934-04:00Video Chatting with Nora<div style="text-align: center;">
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While I love playing Animal Crossing online with my friends, not everyone has the ability to play it. However most kids do have computers or tablets, especially now that many kids have moved to online school. I was very lucky to be able to video chat on my computer with my friend Nora! Nora lives in Ontario, Canada. She visited me a few years ago and we explored NYC together. We had been hoping to see each other this year, but with the pandemic, that won't happen.
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Nora and I get to talk more frequently than most kids who live in different countries. We're in the same time zone! Nora and I have our favorite book, <i>Swallows and Amazons</i>, in common. We like to scheme about having camping adventures in a sailboat as the kids in the book series do!
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I took this photo of Nora at Conservatory Water in Central Park almost three years ago. It's a model boat pond where you can rent little sailboats! It was the perfect activity for the two of us. We both want to take a vacation one day to the Lake District in the United Kingdom to camp by sailboat.
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It was nice to get to video chat with Nora! It was refreshing for us to hang out that way. Since we always live far apart, it really felt normal. I haven't seen my NYC friends in a long time. I do have a friend in my building, but our windows aren't visible to one another, so we haven't been able to even wave! Nora and I have actually been spending more time "together" than before the pandemic. I'm trying to look at the situation in a positive way!<br />
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One of the big changes that has happened since our quarantine began is that I have a new cat! I'll write more about that later. Until next time!Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, USA40.6710672 -73.9814227999999940.622893700000006 -74.062103799999988 40.7192407 -73.900741799999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-56319222095004251112020-05-22T14:32:00.000-04:002020-05-22T14:32:37.148-04:00Playing Animal Crossing New Horizons<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/49923628226/in/datetaken/" title="Playing Animal Crossing"><img alt="Playing Animal Crossing" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49923628226_346b6c6c1c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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My parents are both in academic careers. They had hoped to raise me with as little screen time as possible. Then reality set in; I'm a modern kid! Now that COVID-19 has us spending nearly all our time in our apartment, I have fewer options to stay busy. I'm an outdoorsy person (I love exploring our national parks), so this change has been hard on me. I do get to go to the courtyard occasionally, but most of the time? I'm in my bedroom.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/49923110808/in/datetaken/" title="Playing Animal Crossing"><img alt="Playing Animal Crossing" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49923110808_065d18aa2d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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I had been asking for a new video game console for a long time. Finally, just as the quarantine began, I got my wish! My moms gave me a special Animal Crossing-themed Nintendo Switch. The new Animal Crossing game, New Horizons, debuted in late March. I've been playing a lot ever since! I made a little person who looks like me and I spend time interacting with the animals on my island. It's really fun. One of the features is the ability to play with online friends! I'm only allowed to play with friends that I already know in real life, but that's perfect for me! We get to stay in touch and play together.
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I'm really happy to have my own space to hang out and relax. New York City apartments are usually not that big, so I'm thankful to have my own bedroom. It's filled with toys and mementos of my friends and my travels. And now? I have my own television and Animal Crossing too! Of course I miss my friends, but I'm glad I can stay in touch with them.<br />
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What have you been doing to stay busy indoors?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com3Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, USA40.6710672 -73.9814227999999940.622893700000006 -74.062103799999988 40.7192407 -73.900741799999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-29219731426303243492020-05-15T00:37:00.002-04:002020-05-15T00:37:19.852-04:00Staying Safe at Home<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/49892436432/in/datetaken/" title="Inky in These Trying Times"><img alt="Inky in These Trying Times" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49892436432_a025d85dfd_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Hi everyone! I have been busy at home now that NYC is under orders to stay home except for essential needs. I have been busy organizing my room and spending time with my family, including my pets. COVID-19 is definitely changing a lot about my life. I haven't been able to travel or see friends since early March.<br /><br />My building has a large courtyard where you can often find kids playing. Now that kids rarely get to leave their apartments, it's nice to go there during my allotted time to run around a little. There are lots of kids in my building and families rotate using the courtyard. That way, each kid gets a chance at enjoying fresh air occasionally. I decided to bring my cat down with me yesterday! It was really fun. I used a little leash just in case, since my cat is usually indoors-only. <br />
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I'm so glad I got to be outdoors for a little while! Can you tell that landscaping is no longer considered essential? Our courtyard's lawns are pretty overgrown now! I was proud to get a chance to wear the beautiful mask that my grandmother sewed for me.<br />
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How are you doing lately? Are the changes to your routine difficult for you? I hope you are doing well!Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-53182161682562217962020-03-09T19:22:00.001-04:002020-03-09T19:22:53.594-04:00Happy 2020!<div style="text-align: center;">
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I rang in the year 2020 with my friend Brooke in Seattle! It was fun to be there and to celebrate Hanukkah with her family. After my trip across the west in October, it was nice to have a quiet fall and start to the winter. Brooke's family let me put Lucky Bat on top of the tree! They had a New Year tree just for me, which was so nice of them. Can you see Lucky Bat up there?
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One of my holiday gifts was a Rey costume! I love Rey; she's one of my favorite characters in Star Wars! Brooke's uncle let me play with his awesome BB-8 too!
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BB-8 is so cute. I got to go see the newest Star War movie during the holiday season. It was really exciting, because I don't get to go to the movies that often. However, it was definitely movie season! When I visited Brooke, we also went to go see Frozen 2!
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One of my favorite holiday traditions is sending New Year cards to my family and friends. This year, I was excited not to wear a dress! I wore this red sweater and posed for my holiday photo on the beach. Doesn't the beach look different in the winter time? It was a cloudy day, but still, I thought the colors were very subtle and pretty.
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We had a very, very mild winter in New York City. I think it only snowed twice, and only a little bit each time. I was able to play outside on several winter days without a heavy coat! My building is doing a lot of landscaping in our courtyard, so most of the bushes have been removed. I had fun running around with the other kids in the neighborhood. These mustard pants and blue shirt were other holiday gifts. Do you like them?
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On the day that felt like the coldest of the entire winter, I went to the Lantern Festival in Queens! See that giant Transformer-esque thing behind me? That's a big, lit-up sculpture of a mouse! This year is the year of the Metal Mouse, so the entire neighborhood was celebrating mice during the Lunar New Year festival. It was SO COLD though! I'm glad I had a warm parka and scarf. <br />
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What did you do this winter? Did you go on any adventures?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY, USA40.6710672 -73.9814227999999940.622893700000006 -74.062103799999988 40.7192407 -73.900741799999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-14681098103356827002020-02-25T13:20:00.001-05:002020-02-25T13:20:35.924-05:00Theodore Roosevelt National Park<div style="text-align: center;">
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My last National Park Service stop on my road trip across the West was Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota! This park was named in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, who enjoyed visiting the area to hunt bison and spend time in nature.<br />
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I really enjoyed this park because of the natural beauty too! Sometimes it's called the badlands of North Dakota, but I don't think the land is bad at all- it's so pretty. It was a very blustery day when we went, so my hair was blowing out of its buns! That's okay though, I had lots of fun!
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Our first stop was at a prairie dog town! Black-tailed prairie dogs aren't dogs. They're actually rodents that are part of the squirrel family. They're so cute! I wish I had gotten close-up photos of them, but it is very important to keep your distance from wildlife. It's dangerous for the animals and for people too! Prairie dogs are vegetarians, but they are food for other animals like birds of prey. In fact, when one prairie dog gives a warning signal, all the prairie dogs quickly go back to their underground burrows! They only come out when one of them gives an all-clear signal! They're such amazing little animals.
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As I usually do at NPS sites, I did the Junior Ranger program! I had to use the exhibits at the visitor center and my observations to learn more about the park. When I finished, I stopped by a visitor center to have a ranger check my work. Since the ranger wasn't there, this Park Police Officer gave me my badge instead. He was nice enough to pose for a photo too.
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After I received my badge, we went back outside to take photos of the park. Can you see the different layers in the rock formations behind me? They're amazing! Each layer represents a different period of time when sediment like gravel or sand hardened. There are fossils out there, though the badlands themselves were formed just after the dinosaurs went extinct.
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Before long, it was time to get back on the highway heading east to Minnesota. Can you see the highway in the picture? I'm looking out at it! I loved going to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. My favorite memories were seeing the prairie dog towns and a herd of bison! The bison were so special. They're massive! We were very careful to stay in the car as we passed the bison; they are unpredictable and can even kill you!<br />
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The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Crow peoples originally lived on this land and still do today. In the nineteenth century, Native Americans were pushed further and further west, so other indigenous peoples also made this area their home. It's important to remember that the land wasn't empty, it was and is the home to plants, animals, and people!<br />
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Have you ever visited North Dakota? What did you do there? Did you see any animals?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota, USA46.978965 -103.538709121.456930500000002 -144.8473031 72.5009995 -62.230115100000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-67464050376202728252020-02-14T12:14:00.003-05:002020-02-14T12:14:37.564-05:00Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48872731673/in/album-72157711233839711/" title="Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument"><img alt="Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48872731673_85e137ccac_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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On my road trip across the western part of the US, we stopped at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. This monument remembers the Indigenous peoples and members of the 7th Cavalry who fought at the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. The 7th Cavalry, led by Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer, had come to subdue and destroy the Indigenous peoples in the area, particularly those who had not agreed to live on reservations. The Indigenous people involved were fighting to protect their land from colonialism and settlement. The site is also famous because it is where Lt. Col. Custer was killed.
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The national monument includes the battlefield, the cemetery, a visitor's center with a museum, and surrounding land. I walked through the museum to answer questions about the battle and its historical context. Afterward, I received my badge from the ranger and went out to take photos.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48873457902/in/album-72157711233839711/" title="Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument"><img alt="Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48873457902_ceede3d64d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The land is beautiful. I could definitely see why it is sacred to the Indigenous peoples of the area. I don't like to take photos in sacred places, but I made an exception for Little Bighorn Battlefield, because I feel it is a place that we should all respect and understand. The Native peoples who fought to protect their land won this battle against the 7th Cavalry. I overheard some other visitors saying that Native peoples lost the long war though- but they did not! Indigenous peoples are still alive and thriving in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and throughout the hemisphere. Many people think of Indigenous peoples in this country as belonging to the past, but they are part of the present and will be part of the future too!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48873457347/in/album-72157711233839711/" title="Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument"><img alt="Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48873457347_b61131a132_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The national monument has a little loop road that goes through the main part of the park. We decided to stop at the Indian Memorial to pay respect to the Indigenous peoples and their allies, the horses, who were killed in the battle. I am so proud that my family are Native American and that they continue to survive with resiliency in the face of settler colonialism. I know the Native warriors who fought at Little Bighorn are proudly watching over their descendants too.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48873261841/in/album-72157711233839711/" title="Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument"><img alt="Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48873261841_e52e8fcfb6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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A quote on the wall of the Indian Memorial says "In order to heal our grandmother earth, we must unify through peace." Do you agree? What does it mean to have peace? Does your family have Native American heritage?<br />
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I'm really glad we got to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield. It's a complicated place, but an important part of our history.Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0I-90 Frontage Rd, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA45.5700984 -107.4324313999999820.0480639 -148.74102539999998 71.0921329 -66.123837399999985tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-57553530516138259352020-01-09T13:26:00.000-05:002020-01-09T13:29:00.421-05:00Glacier National Park<div style="text-align: center;">
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In October, I got to take a road trip across the western United States! We started driving east on I-90 all the way across Washington, Idaho, and into Montana. In Montana, we turned north and visited Glacier National Park! Glacier has been the home of people for at least 10,000 years. The Salish, Kootenai, and Blackfeet peoples all call the park home. When European settlers first came to the area, they were looking for furs/ pelts to sell in the fur trade. I felt honored to visit Glacier; it is a beautiful place.
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When we visited Glacier, a lot of the park was closed due to heavy snow. I was only able to explore the southwest portion of the park. Don't worry- it did not disappoint! It was gorgeous. I went on a walkish- hike through a portion of the park called Trail of the Cedars that was filled with beautiful moss, trees, and a gorgeous creek filled with fallen trees.<br />
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I loved this fallen tree. It looks so spooky, don't you think? I love how all the roots look.
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The creek cuts through the rock in this photo; it's called Avalanche Gorge. I'm standing on a little bridge that crosses Avalanche Creek. I love how the mosses and lichens grow in this area. They're so green and beautiful!
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The trees form a canopy over the trail, so there is not much direct sunlight unless you are out in the middle of the creek. There are lots of rocks that have come down the creek bed; they are a lot of fun to climb! I stuck my hand in the water; it is VERY cold! It reminded me of the Ohanapecosh River in the Grove of the Patriarchs at Mount Rainier National Park. Glacial water is brrrr-oni!
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After hiking the Trail of the Cedars, we drove back down the visitor center. First though, we stopped along Lake McDonald. The lake is large, but you can easily see across it. It was created through erosion from glaciers, or rivers of ice. The glaciers carved out the lake, which filled up with glacial meltwater and precipitation. It's very, very clear and you can easily see down quite far into the lake. I thought it was so beautiful.
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We stopped and parked for a little while so that I could work on a favorite National Park activity- my junior ranger workbook! Luckily, I was able to finish before we had to leave the park. We stopped by the Apgar Visitor Center to turn in my booklet. Ranger Emily helped me say the Junior Ranger oath. She checked over my booklet and helped me to correct the mistakes I made. I'm glad the National Park Service has such great rangers!
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After I said the Junior Ranger pledge, Ranger Emily gave me a special junior ranger badge! I pinned it to my junior ranger vest and proudly wore it for the rest of the day. I keep all my badges in a special box. Ranger Emily asked me how many junior ranger programs I've completed, but I wasn't able to answer because I have done so many!<br />
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Visiting Glacier National Park was amazing. The trees, water, mountains, and sky are stunning. If you are ever in western Montana, make sure to go! What do you think- would you like to visit Glacier someday?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com2West Glacier, MT 59936, USA48.5231068 -113.9885196999999823.0010723 -155.29711369999998 74.0451413 -72.679925699999984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-75288893478798232292019-12-27T07:01:00.000-05:002019-12-28T07:01:38.248-05:00Chag Hanukkah sameach!<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/49280643442/in/datetaken/" title="IMG_9769"><img alt="IMG_9769" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49280643442_b1523e1b30_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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This holiday season, I was lucky to celebrate Hanukkah with Brooke! She recited the blessing and we enjoyed holiday treats like latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) by the light of the menorah.<br />
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My family celebrates secular New Year as our main winter holiday, but I love celebrating other holidays with my friends and family as well. I'm glad Brooke's family included me in their Hanukkah celebration!<br />
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Do you celebrate a winter holiday? What do you do to mark the season?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-13349722376340113162019-12-18T12:56:00.002-05:002019-12-18T12:56:54.305-05:00A Return to Chaco Canyon<div style="text-align: center;">
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One of the most beautiful places in our entire world is Chaco Canyon in Northwest New Mexico. When my family goes to New Mexico, we always try to go there. It's a very sacred place to Pueblo people. The building complexes at Chaco Canyon are aligned to astronomical features, which is amazing! I love going to Chaco and spending time there.
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This is me on the edge of Casa Rinconada, the largest known kiva in the Pueblo world. Kivas are sacred structures that are still used by Pueblo folks today! The windows at Casa Rinconada align with the sun on the equinoxes, which is an amazing astronomical feature. Can you imagine how special it would be to live in Chaco?
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Another special place in Chaco Canyon is Pueblo Bonito, which means "pretty village" in Spanish. Since the land that is now called New Mexico was occupied by the Spanish, many names in the region are in the Spanish language. I love Pueblo Bonito! The last time I was at Chaco Canyon, my family hiked up onto the canyon wall above Pueblo Bonito and got a bird's eye view of the structures. It was really special! This time, we stayed on the canyon floor, but it was just as special.
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I feel honored that my family has such a strong connection to Chaco Canyon. It is important to always remember our ancestors and the things they accomplished so that we could be who we are!<br />
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Is there anywhere special your family likes to go together?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico, USA36.052999799999988 -107.9559239999999810.530965299999988 -149.26451799999998 61.575034299999984 -66.647329999999982tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-56438898119961769212019-11-21T19:46:00.002-05:002019-11-21T19:46:52.582-05:00Exploring Old Town Albuquerque<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48752589811/in/album-72157710891515666/" title="Inky in Old Town Albuquerque"><img alt="Inky in Old Town Albuquerque" height="419" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48752589811_ba14e8ddcf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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As fall got underway, it was time for another trip with my parents! One of my moms is from New Mexico. Since my family hadn't visited for over a year, we decided to take a fall trip there. After spending a quiet weekend with my grandmother and aunt, we went to Old Town Albuquerque to explore a little.<br />
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Old Town is a historic part of the city. It was founded by Spanish colonists over 300 years ago in 1706. Albuquerque is on El Camino Real, or the road that went between Santa Fe and Mexico City. If you've ever read the American Girl Josefina books, then you might remember that Josefina's grandfather was a merchant who traveled along El Camino Real! He would definitely have stopped in Albuquerque.<br />
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The center of Old Town is the plaza, a square with grace, paths, and a gazebo. It's basically a little park surrounded by shops and restaurants!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48752779212/in/album-72157710891515666/" title="Inky in Old Town Albuquerque"><img alt="Inky in Old Town Albuquerque" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48752779212_b7a98dc3f7_z.jpg" width="435" /></a>
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Behind me in this photo, you can see the San Felipe de Neri Church! Many New Mexicans (like Josefina and her family!) are Catholic. The church goes all the way back to Spanish Colonial times! The original church building was built in the same year Albuquerque was founded- 1706. The church burnt down at end of that century. The current church replaced it. I didn't take any photos inside as I did not want to be disrespectful.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48752778687/in/album-72157710891515666/" title="Inky in Old Town Albuquerque"><img alt="Inky in Old Town Albuquerque" height="410" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48752778687_9db263fc62_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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In this photo, I'm standing in front of a mural in a pedestrian passage off of San Felipe St Northwest. It has outdoor scenes of New Mexico. Do you see the bison in the mural? They're so big! My family's tribe has a bison ranch nearby, as do some of the other tribes. I like to look out for bison as we drive around New Mexico! You never know when you might see one.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48752590401/in/album-72157710891515666/" title="Inky in Old Town Albuquerque"><img alt="Inky in Old Town Albuquerque" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48752590401_8f8d287920_z.jpg" width="483" /></a>
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Down the same passage as the bison mural, there is a really cute café called the Blackbird Café! I posed in front of this fountain that mimics an old-fashioned well. The flag I am holding is New Mexico's state flag, which features the sun symbol from Zia Pueblo. Many people do not agree with the sun symbol being on the state flag. Since the flag is a state symbol, Zia Pueblo cannot copyright the symbol either! It's very sad, because it is a sacred symbol. There was even a special exhibit on the sun symbol at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center that explored the relationship different New Mexicans have to the Zia sun symbol. It's called "Ours: The Zia Sun."<br />
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I love going to New Mexico and spending time with my family and friends. Does your family have a special place you like to spend time together?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com1Old Town, Albuquerque, NM 87104, USA35.0963121 -106.6694582999999735.0898161 -106.67954329999998 35.1028081 -106.65937329999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-51546157650210422302019-11-09T13:08:00.001-05:002019-11-09T13:08:34.901-05:00New Hampshire Weekend<div style="text-align: center;">
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After my summer trip to the Pacific Northwest, the rest of the season was pretty calm. Even though I am home schooled, my parents work in universities. Their work picks up again at the end of the summer. My family decided to spend one last summer long weekend together at family friends' lake home in New Hampshire! It was so nice. The sun was out and I used my binoculars to look at everyone on the lake canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and swimming. There were even kids younger than me who were learning to water-ski!<br />
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The lake is so beautiful. I did some research before we drove up (there isn't really much internet service near the lake!) and learned that I would be on the un-ceded lands of the Wabanaki (Dawnland) Confederacy. When New England (the area of the United States where New Hampshire is) was first colonized, there was brutal conflict between the new settlers and the indigenous peoples. The violence against indigenous peoples continues today, but they are still here! They are thriving and celebrating their cultures.<br />
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I watched a great movie called <a href="http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/dawnland/" target="_blank">Dawnland</a> about truth and reconciliation efforts in Maine, which is nearby. If you click on <a href="http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/dawnland/" target="_blank">this link</a>, you can watch it on the PBS website through the end of 2019. I recommend it! It's very sad but also very powerful.
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Even though our family friends have two cabins and a few outbuildings, I really wanted to sleep outside! I set up my tent and sleeping bag near the shore of the lake and watched the stars until I fell asleep. In the morning, the breeze, sun, and sounds of birds woke me up. It was so much nicer than waking up to the sound of honking cars back home in New York City.
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Though the name of the lake calls it a pond, I think it is actually classified as a lake. The lake is full of different kinds of fish. You can also see many birds gathering on and near the water. I loved wading and seeing the minnows swim away as I walked deeper into the water. I also ran to the end of the dock and jumped in!<br />
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New Hampshire is a beautiful place. I'm glad I was able to say goodbye to summer there with family and friends. We ate lots of yummy food, relaxed outside, and talked about cozy things. How did you end your summer this year?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0Rockybound Pond, Croydon, NH 03773, USA43.446915 -72.14383459999999143.441151 -72.1539196 43.452678999999996 -72.133749599999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-8737706025978846782019-11-06T18:07:00.001-05:002019-11-06T18:07:25.643-05:00Seattle Japanese Garden<div style="text-align: center;">
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After our day trip to Victoria, Brooke and I had another adventure planned! We visited the Seattle Japanese Garden in Madison Park. The garden takes up 3.5 acres. It's very beautiful, with many beautiful plants, stones, and water features. Juki Iida designed the garden according to the Japanese idea of <i>shizensa</i>, which means the "essential quality of nature."
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Brooke and I brought along my Instax Mini camera, which takes little Polaroid photos! We posed for photos all over the garden. It's a beautiful place and I'm very happy that we decided to go together.
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We visited the garden in July, when the plants were bright and green. The garden staff encourages visitors to come back at different times of year, so that they can see the changes in the garden through the seasons. I would love to go back again, but I loved seeing all the beautiful mosses and lichens in particular. They made the whole garden seem like a place where fairies would like to live!
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What do you think it would be like to live in a place so beautiful? I love this picture because of the light and because of the ferns and moss. Ferns remind me of dinosaurs. I learned once that ferns, which reproduce with spores instead of flowers, are one of the oldest types of plants. They were definitely around during the dinosaur times, which might be why they remind me of dinos! I have been learning a lot about moss lately too. I am reading a book called <i>Gathering Moss</i>, which is full of beautiful essays. It's by an indigenous author who shares traditional knowledge of moss and other parts of nature.<br />
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There are a few bridges throughout the Japanese Garden. I like that they are low and not fancy; they seem just-right for the environment they're in! The pond in the middle of the garden has lots of fancy <i>koi</i>, or Japanese carp. They can grow very big. The Japanese Garden has <i>koi</i> of many different sizes in its pond!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434498242/in/datetaken/" title="Seattle Japanese Garden"><img alt="Seattle Japanese Garden" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434498242_66c84b9e6e_z.jpg" width="454" /></a>
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Before long, we had completed the loop on the path through the garden. The Seattle Japanese Garden is a strolling garden, which means you can walk through it and admire all the different parts. It was so nice to go! I loved seeing all the different things growing there. The rocks were beautiful too. If you visit Seattle, I recommend going to the garden!<br />
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Have you ever been to a Japanese garden? Did it look like the one I visited?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-81307893871793568502019-10-22T17:56:00.001-04:002019-10-22T17:56:23.560-04:00Victoria's Inner Harbour Waterfront<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434490152/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434490152_cbe70fe00a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The last thing I did in Victoria was take a short walk along the Inner Harbour waterfront! Many cruise ships and ferries come to this part of Victoria, so there are a lot of little shops and things to see. I particularly enjoyed this topiary (decorative plant sculpture) of an orca and its baby!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434348966/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434348966_e9af4941c4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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As Brooke and I walked along the Inner Harbour waterfront, we also saw The Empress hotel. It was built over 100 years ago to house railway passengers! It still works today. Guests can even go to fancy tea services there!<br />
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I was really happy to visit Victoria. I'm glad Brooke and I got to meet up with Léonie as well; it was so kind of her to show us around Victoria. I'd love to go back someday for a longer visit. Have you ever gone on a day trip to a new city? What did you see?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0Inner-Harbour Pathway, Victoria, BC V8V, Canada48.4208445 -123.3692121999999948.420680000000004 -123.3695272 48.421009 -123.36889719999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-38157081765907222642019-10-18T15:14:00.001-04:002019-10-18T15:14:08.217-04:00Native Plant Garden at the Royal BC Museum<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434491422/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434491422_9047e73b99_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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On our day trip to Victoria, Brooke and I went to the Native Plant Garden at the Royal British Columbia Museum! The garden surrounds the museum campus. All of the plants in the garden grow in British Columbia. Most of them are from the coastal areas, but a few are from the interior. We went to the coastal forest and wetlands sections!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434491157/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434491157_71f2ba46e0_z.jpg" width="413" /></a>
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The plants in the garden are beautiful. I wish there had been more signage about what the plants are called! I loved this one's beautiful spiky trunk. The color of the branches was so rich and nice. It was even a little sticky!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434491092/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="470" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434491092_af52b631d3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Brooke and I loved this plant too, with its bluey-purple berries. We did not try any, because eating unidentified berries is a terrible idea!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434349601/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="428" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434349601_dfd889ca40_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The berries grew in big bunches and were very pretty. They did not look quite like blueberries.
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Then there were these big red fruits! They grow in the coastal wetlands. They seemed very festive to me.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434349206/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="452" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434349206_96fdbeab7d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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I also met this beautiful plant with its poufy, fluffy pink flower! (Maybe it's not a flower?) It reminded me of amaranth! I loved it too. Can you imagine what it would be like to encounter all of these plant friends in their wild habitat? It must be so beautiful. I thought back to the documentary that Brooke and I had watched about spirit bears; the spirit bears are probably familiar with all of these friends!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434490327/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434490327_9b82821a24_z.jpg" width="427" /></a>
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Brooke and I had a wonderful time visiting with the plants in the Native Plant Garden. We posed with the flag of British Columbia before leaving. Do you recognize the Union Jack at the top of the flag? That is because Canada is part of the Commonwealth. The blue and white wavy lines represent the ocean, and the sun represents the fact that British Columbia is the province furthest west. I think it's a very bright flag indeed!<br />
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Do you like to make plant friends? What are your favorite plants? Do you like berries? Flowers? I feel very lucky to have visited the garden. I hope that I can explore more of it the next time I'm in Victoria!Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com2675 Belleville St, Victoria, BC V8W 9W2, Canada48.4198111 -123.3674497000000124.026660099999997 -164.6760437 72.8129621 -82.058855700000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-71908403812168661712019-10-14T19:19:00.001-04:002019-10-18T15:14:23.960-04:00The Ferry to Victoria, British Columbia<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434350311/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="420" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434350311_c398c3bb1e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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During my trip to the Pacific Northwest to visit Brooke and her family, Brooke and I had a side trip planned! We woke up very, very early one morning to catch the ferry to Victoria! While I had been to British Columbia before, I had never been to Victoria. The ferry took about three hours and it was so beautiful! Brooke took a nap while I went out onto the deck to look at the trees and islands as we passed by. We rode the Victoria Clipper- it was so much fun! I didn't even feel sea sick.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434350186/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434350186_f8d50644d3_z.jpg" width="427" /></a>
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When Brooke and I arrived at the ferry terminal, my friend Léonie was waiting for us! We didn't have firm plans for our day trip, so we decided to take a walk together. Our first stop was the Victoria Centennial Fountain, which is behind the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The fountain has many sculptures of different animals that live in British Columbia- do you see the bear behind us? The bear represents the "interior Indians" of British Columbia.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434350091/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Victoria, BC"><img alt="Victoria, BC" height="403" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434350091_0a7f49abca_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Here I am with the Canadian flag! I have been learning a lot about Canada this year. The maple leaf has been a symbol of Canada for about 250 years. Of course, the indigenous peoples of Canada, the First Nations, have been there for many, many thousands of years longer. It's important to always honor our ancestors.<br />
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I'm glad I was able to visit Victoria! In my next post, I'll share more photos of what the three of us kids did!Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com1Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.3656444000000148.3441262 -123.5270059 48.512715199999995 -123.20428290000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-37445796331556546942019-09-10T18:20:00.002-04:002019-09-10T18:20:40.816-04:00Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434331556/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium"><img alt="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium" height="444" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434331556_c9a32f4ec7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Zoos can be really sad. Even if zookeepers do their best work to make sure that the animals are happy, they are still not in their wild habitats. However, with climate change, life in the zoo can be safer than life in the wild! Still, the animals in zoos are ambassadors for their species. They make sure the public knows how important conservation is for everyone!<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434331751/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium"><img alt="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium" height="533" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434331751_d2edff7420_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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While I was on my trip to the Pacific Northwest, Brooke asked if I wanted to visit the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. I said yes, because I love seeing animals! We woke up early and headed south to Tacoma to visit the different creatures living there. Of course, the animals themselves were very shy as it was very, very hot out! We had fun in the aquarium though!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434330721/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium"><img alt="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium" height="467" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434330721_98ec2fe2d7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I liked this map in the aquarium that showed how much water there is near Seattle. Wow! I live near the Atlantic Ocean, but I don't actually see it all that often unless my family is at the beach. I love how the water is almost always nearby when I am visiting Brooke in Seattle.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434472032/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium"><img alt="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium" height="444" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434472032_04f618f177_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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There was a cool display, also in the aquarium, that showed some of the important dates in ocean conservation. The Kyoto Protocol was an international agreement (a decision shared by many countries) to reduce emissions into the air. Emissions make the ocean more acidic, which is very bad for sea life. Sadly, the United States did not join in signing. Luckily, the state and tribes in Washington have worked together to make sure that marine habitats are protected.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434471872/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium"><img alt="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium" height="408" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434471872_fe7f8b9cd2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Back outside the aquarium, Brooke and I found a snack stand! They were selling something called Fudge Puppies. A fudge puppy is a waffle on a stick with ice cream and caramel sauce on top. Yum! Of course, it was so warm that it fell right off the stick. Oops!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434329841/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium"><img alt="Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium" height="618" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434329841_89f3914f26_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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After we finished our Fudge Puppy and bought postcards in the gift shop, we decided to head home to Seattle. We were so hot! It was very sunny and bright. When we got home, we took naps - just like the animals at the zoo! I'm glad to know that there are so many people working to defeat climate change and to work toward conservation. I hope our planet will be a safe place for animals in the future!Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com05400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407, USA47.3048779 -122.5208211000000321.7828434 -163.82941510000003 72.8269124 -81.212227100000035tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-86786178667040365392019-09-04T12:17:00.001-04:002019-09-04T12:17:28.670-04:0050th Moon Landing Anniversary<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434318126/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Brooke's Yard"><img alt="Brooke's Yard" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434318126_b15f2cb087_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Spending time with Brooke is always fun. On July 20, we put on our NASA shirts to celebrate a special anniversary- the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing! I love learning about space and I was really excited to mark this special day. What better way to enjoy the moon landing than to love our Mother Earth? Brooke and I decided to play outside together.
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In 2009, I celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Moon Landing with my best friend, Violet! We threw a little party for ourselves, complete with "moon cake" and root beer floats. It was really nice. The 50th anniversary with Brooke was fun too! I wonder with whom I'll spend the 60th anniversary!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434459812/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Brooke's Yard"><img alt="Brooke's Yard" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434459812_54762a7f29_z.jpg" width="427" /></a>
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Brooke's family's yard is beautiful. They have really nice flowers everywhere you look. Plus, there is real grass! I know that sound a little bit silly, but I live in New York City. My apartment building has a courtyard, but we are not allowed to go on the grass. I love being at Brooke's, where I can run around and feel the grass between my toes.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434318526/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Brooke's Yard"><img alt="Brooke's Yard" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434318526_6c1e546bce_z.jpg" width="427" /></a>
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I really liked this plant because it reminds me of something that would have grown during the dinosaur times. Again, I don't know what it's called- but doesn't it look amazing?
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48334419406/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Looking for the moon"><img alt="Looking for the moon" height="418" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48334419406_ed65845639_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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When the time came for the exact anniversary of the Moon Landing, Brooke and I cheered! Can you imagine how exciting it was for Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin? I would have been so scared. Still, I would have loved seeing our Earth from the moon.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48434459527/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Brooke's Yard"><img alt="Brooke's Yard" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48434459527_ba82690063_z.jpg" width="453" /></a></div>
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Can you believe that humanity has worked together to send astronauts and cosmonauts to space? It's incredible. Would you ever want to go to space? Why or why not?
Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com1Seattle, WA, USA47.6062095 -122.332070847.2636695 -122.9775178 47.9487495 -121.68662379999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-39542872920155185092019-08-27T20:21:00.001-04:002019-08-27T20:22:09.688-04:00Pacific Science Center<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48330124817/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Downtown Seattle"><img alt="Downtown Seattle" height="449" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330124817_0f30e139f3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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My next stop in downtown Seattle was the <a href="https://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/" target="_blank">Pacific Science Center</a>! I had heard about a really cool new IMAX documentary about the temperate rainforest in British Columbia. It's called <a href="https://greatbearrainforestfilm.com/" target="_blank"><i>Great Bear Rainforest</i></a> and it's showing at a few different science museums in Canada and the United States. Brooke's family are members of the Pacific Science Center and got us tickets to see the film! It was really good. I especially loved learning about Spirit Bears, which are the world's rarest bear. I'm so happy we got to see it!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48330132502/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Downtown Seattle"><img alt="Downtown Seattle" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330132502_db52136f3d_z.jpg" width="539" /></a>
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After the film, we spent some time exploring the main parts of the museum. Here we are in front of a model of our solar system! Brooke and I both enjoy learning about space. In fact, I would be in Seattle during the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing! I was a little bit sad because I celebrated the 40th anniversary with my best friend, Violet. However, I was glad to spend some time with Brooke, especially in a place as beautiful as the Pacific Northwest!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48330130212/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Downtown Seattle"><img alt="Downtown Seattle" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330130212_0c15a0aefa_z.jpg" width="452" /></a>
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Here we are pretending to be exploring the surface of the moon! Of course, if we were truly on the moon, we would need to wear special suits. Can you imagine what it would be like to see the Earth from so far away? I'm sure our Mother Earth looks beautiful.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48329994561/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Downtown Seattle"><img alt="Downtown Seattle" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48329994561_9608edba35_z.jpg" width="400" /></a>
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After we finished looking at the different exhibits in the space section of the Pacific Science Center, we headed into the dinosaur section! Here we are with an animatronic version of Parasaurolophus, which was a type of duck-billed dinosaur. Scientists have found Parasaurolophus fossils in China, New Mexico, Utah, and Alberta. They were herbivores and one of the skeletons was 31 feet long. Whoa!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48330126182/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Downtown Seattle"><img alt="Downtown Seattle" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330126182_2938842876_z.jpg" width="427" /></a>
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Carnivorous dinosaurs are pretty awesome too. I'm pretty sure this is a Velociraptor! If you've seen any of the <i>Jurassic Park</i> movies, you'll remember these dinosaurs! I think they look pretty scary. In fact, the <i>Jurassic Park</i> movies are the scariest movies I've ever seen. I don't think I could handle anything scarier!</div>
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Our visit to the Pacific Science Center was really fun. I loved seeing <i>Great Bear Rainforest</i> in particular. I'm so thankful that Brooke's family got us tickets to it! Have you ever seen an IMAX movie?</div>
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Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109, USA47.6197393 -122.3510923999999722.0977048 -163.65968639999997 73.1417738 -81.042498399999971tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-38295847304168893122019-08-22T16:56:00.000-04:002019-08-22T16:56:02.353-04:00Arriving in Seattle and Robot vs. Sloth<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48330005826/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Downtown Seattle"><img alt="Downtown Seattle" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330005826_6707e730c7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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After Brooke and I went on our Caribbean adventure in January, we didn't see each other for a few months. When she invited me to come visit her in Seattle in July, I happily accepted. I've been to the Pacific Northwest twice before (in <a href="https://www.superinky.com/2006/08/visiting-seattle-naomi.html" target="_blank">2006</a> and <a href="https://www.superinky.com/2016/09/vancouver-aquarium.html" target="_blank">2016</a>), so I knew a bit of what to expect. I was excited to fly out to Seattle, where Brooke's family was waiting to pick me up at the airport!<br />
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We didn't waste any time in sightseeing. Our first stop was the Pike Place Market, where there are many little shops and vendors. Brooke and I saw the cutest store and ended up spending most of our visit admiring their wares!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48330139322/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Downtown Seattle"><img alt="Downtown Seattle" height="405" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330139322_d9e4304b28_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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The shop is called <a href="https://www.robotvsloth.com/" target="_blank">Robot vs Sloth</a>. It features lots of handmade art by local artists! I loved this wall of animal "busts." They're all plush, don't worry! None of them are made of any real animals. Phew!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48330003556/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Downtown Seattle"><img alt="Downtown Seattle" height="489" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330003556_f69eef0592_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Brooke found these awesome "mermonkey" kits! They're little kits for making a sock monkey mer-creature! I'm a little nervous around sock monkeys, but Brooke convinced me to pose for a quick photo.
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48330001781/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Downtown Seattle"><img alt="Downtown Seattle" height="514" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330001781_352b17e515_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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I found this box of plush bats wearing white briefs! Aren't they silly? I thought they were hilarious!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/48330002416/in/album-72157709763748487/" title="Downtown Seattle"><img alt="Downtown Seattle" height="457" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48330002416_a64d136712_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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After picking out some cute postcards and stickers, it was time to head over to Seattle Center for another activity. We jumped on the Seattle Center Monorail to head to our next destination. I was delighted to get to visit Robot vs. Sloth! It's such a fun store.<br />
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I hadn't been to the Pike Place Market since I <a href="https://www.superinky.com/2006/08/visiting-seattle-naomi.html" target="_blank">was there with my friend Naomi</a> years ago. It was really fun to see how things have changed. It was definitely a lot busier this time!<br />
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Have you ever been to Seattle? What was your trip like? If you haven't, would you like to go?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com01535 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, USA47.609661499999987 -122.3410030999999722.087626999999987 -163.64959709999997 73.131695999999991 -81.032409099999967tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-33720201331753386812019-08-19T17:58:00.002-04:002022-08-11T19:29:27.160-04:00Goodbye to Curaçao!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Our last stop in Curaçao was at the Curaçao Liqueur Distillery! Curaçao is famous for its blue liqueur. Though Brooke and I couldn't try the liqueur, they did have menthol cooling spray and yummy gelato for us to taste. To get there, we crossed the very, very high <i>Koningin Julianabrug</i>, or Queen Juliana Bridge! I thought it was a little scary, but the view was beautiful. Queen Juliana led the Netherlands from 1948-1980 and the bridge is named in her honor.<br />
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The Curaçao Liqueur Distillery had lots of fun exhibits about the history of production. They also had a fun gift shop, where I climbed up onto a giant barrel! The gift shop sold several flavors of Curaçao Liqueur, but Brooke and I were most interested in trying the different kinds of chocolate!
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Outside the distillery, there is a little model of the old distillery building! We had to get a photo with it, of course. Curaçao is a warm island and we were glad to stand in the shade of the model distillery!
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/46194253824/in/album-72157676010321337/" title="Curaçao"><img alt="Curaçao" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7800/46194253824_0f6be4a73d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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After the distillery stop, our mini bus dropped us back at the cruise port for a little bit of shopping. Brooke and I walked through the port looking for cute souvenirs. The waves were big and turquoise blue. The breeze coming off the sea was so nice to feel! Can you see how the wind is whipping the hair from my buns? It felt great! In this photo, you can see a little bit of the Disney Wonder behind me to the right. Before long, it was time to get back on board the Wonder and say goodbye to Curaçao. We quickly chose souvenirs and climbed back up the gangway.
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That night, we ate dinner at went to bed soon after. Brooke and I put on our Disney-themed pajamas and posed with our plush toys. Brooke has a little friend named Rupert, while I had a little shark from Curaçao! He says "<i>Dushi</i>" on him, which means "sweetheart" in Papiamentu. He really is a very nice shark; he bites only very rarely!<br />
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Brooke and I both enjoyed our day in Curaçao. I'd love to go back someday. The next day, we went to a water park in Aruba, but we didn't take any photos. After Aruba, we sped back to Puerto Rico, where after a long delay in the airport, we flew home to New York City. Our Caribbean adventure was amazing! I'm so glad that Brooke's family invited my family to join them. We loved Puerto Rico, Tortola, St. Kitts, Curaçao, and Aruba!<br />
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Have you ever been to the Caribbean? What did you think? If you haven't been, would you ever want to go?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0129 Schottegatweg Oost, Willemstad, Curaçao12.110145 -68.904304000000025-13.411889500000001 -110.21289800000002 37.6321795 -27.595710000000025tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-50672739192745007772019-08-13T17:56:00.001-04:002019-08-13T17:56:15.193-04:00Hato Caves on Curaçao<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/colettedenali/46194253904/in/album-72157676010321337/" title="Curaçao"><img alt="Curaçao" height="427" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/7874/46194253904_e77172698f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Bon dia! That means "good day!" in Papiamentu, a creole language in Curaçao. Brooke and I loved our stop at The Curaçao Museum, but we were excited to see the next stop on our day trip- Hato Caves! My family has visited Carlsbad Caverns many times, so I was excited to see the caves on Curaçao. Our mini bus parked in the parking lot and we climbed up 49 steps to the entrance of the cave. It was so beautiful inside! The first part of the cave gets some light in it, but pretty soon, you are in complete darkness! The guide turned off the lights to show us just how dark that is- yikes!
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There are several different rooms in the limestone caves. The caves are formed in the limestone rock by the dripping water. You can see stalactites and stalagmites there. There are also bats fluttering high above if you shine a flashlight at the ceiling of the cave. It's such a beautiful place. I learned from our guide that the Arawak and Caiquetio indigenous peoples used these caves around 1,500 years ago. They even made petroglyphs, which are pictures carved into the rock.
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Brooke and I really enjoyed seeing the caves, though the pools of water made us a little nervous. Because the caves are always growing, due to the water dripping through the limestone, there are standing pools of water in different parts of the cave system. If you don't have light with you, it would be pretty scary in there!<br />
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Our guide told us that during the times when slavery was legal on Curaçao, enslaved people would sometimes use these caves to hide when they sought their freedom. During our trip through the Caribbean, we learned a lot about different things enslaved people did during those horrible years. Though the stories made both me and Brooke really sad, they made us feel extra committed to making sure that kind of thing never happens again.
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Once we finished viewing the Hato Caves, we climbed back down the 49 steps to the little café by the parking lot. Can you see the sign behind me? It says that the fruits are poisonous and should NOT be touched. Yikes! Do you see all the different languages on the sign? That's pretty typical in Curaçao!
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Soon it was time to get back on our mini bus and head to our next stop! Danki (thank you in Papiamentu!) for reading about my trip to Hato Caves!<br />
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Have you ever visited a cave?Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0Franklin D. Rooseveltweg, Willemstad, Curaçao12.1801438 -68.948081600000023-13.3418907 -110.25667560000002 37.7021783 -27.639487600000024tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2271028960813750875.post-5636526469228002402019-08-12T13:44:00.004-04:002019-08-12T13:44:59.247-04:00The Curaçao Museum<div style="text-align: center;">
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Our next port of call (after a day at sea) turned out to be Curaçao! Our families had arranged another fun day of activities on the island. Curaçao is a really cool island, part of the Dutch Caribbean! That means it was colonized by Dutch settlers. On Curaçao, they speak Dutch, Papiamentu, and English. Our guide taught us a few words in Papiamentu, which I'll share with you later. Papiamentu is a creole language, which means it's a mix of languages- in this case, Dutch, Spanish, and African languages.<br />
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Our first stop in Curaçao was The Curaçao Museum in Willemstad. It was really cool- literally! The museum had big, breezy rooms. Brooke and I enjoyed looking at the historical furniture, the carillon of bells, and the different airplanes and train cars.
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Outside the museum, there was this big stack of rocks with this cool glass sculpture on top! We didn't know much about it, but Brooke and I thought it was beautiful. What do you think? Do you like it?
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A favorite tradition in my family is sending postcards when we travel. Brooke and I were excited to see this old fashioned airplane, which used to deliver mail between islands! Can you imagine being out over the sea, all by yourself, in a little airplane? Whoa! Mail pilots were very brave, I think.
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The grounds of the museum also had different train cars. Here I am with Brooke on an engine- pretty sweet! I loved learning about Curaçao's history. Today, Curaçao has about 150,000 people- about the same as my neighborhood back home in New York City!<br />
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Would you ever want to visit a Dutch island? I thought it was pretty cool, especially learning about Papiamentu! Te aworo! (That means "bye!" in Papiamentu!)Inkyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05140822676840737434noreply@blogger.com0Van Leeuwenhoekstraat z/n, Willemstad, Curaçao12.1119844 -68.947147700000016-12.276918599999998 -110.25574170000002 36.500887399999996 -27.638553700000017