Month: June 2013

San Diego, Travel3 Comments

Torrey Pines

Kongo

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Torrey Pines State Reserve, snuggled between Ja Jolla and Del Mar, is the home to one of the rarest trees in the world.  The Torrey Pines only exist in this small coastal strip and on Santa Rosa Island, one of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California.  The heavy June marine layer stretched over the coastal strip yesterday when Kongo visited.  A few hundred yards to the east the skies were crystal clear and hot.  Along the strip of coast it was all “June Gloom” as the weather phenomena is popularly known in San Diego. Continue reading “Torrey Pines”

Travel8 Comments

Ailsa’s Travel Theme: Sculpture

Kongo

Ailsa’s Travel Theme this week is sculpture.  Well here’s an oldie but goodie that Kongo saw in the Louvre last month.  Venus de Milo if you’re a Roman.  Aphrodite of Milos if you happen to be Greek, which this lovely lady certainly was.  The artist is believed to be Alexandros of Antioch.  See more sculpted entries at Where’s My Backpack. Continue reading Ailsa’s Travel Theme: Sculpture

Paris, Travel4 Comments

Musée de l’Armée

Kongo

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Last month while walking about Paris Kongo paid a brief visit to the Musée de l’Armée (Army Museum).  In modern French history—everything since the Revolution—starts and stops with Napoleon Bonaparte.  In the photograph above the emperor warrior towers above the entry courtyard in his iconic “hands inside his blouse” pose.  Kongo is a big fan of Napoleon and has studied most of his battles.  The Musée is an imposing place and one that pays fitting tribute to the history of this nation. Continue reading “Musée de l’Armée”

San Diego4 Comments

Just Another Monkey?

Kongo

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So as Kongo heads out the door to the zoo to visit the animals in the late afternoon light Mrs. Kongo says, “You just keep taking the same pictures of the same old monkeys.  Pretty soon they’ll be saying, ‘Hey, Kongo, where have you been?”  The same old monkeys?  This was lost on Kongo who then became determined to avoid his favorite spots on the Monkey Trail.  Coming up from Fern Canyon he did spy this old gal but (for the information of Mrs. Kongo!) this is NOT A MONKEY.  It’s a orangatan.  He did see some other cool animals who seemed more active than they are during the day.  Hippos, koalas at their newly constructed enclosure, and a couple of sexy sagos.  Read on. Continue reading “Just Another Monkey?”