Island of The Blue Dolphin

So there is the children’s novel being read in 4th grade now. It’s Island of the Blue Dolphin written by Scott O’Dell and first published back in 1960. It’s a timeless story about a young girl who was stranded on an island and had to fend for herself alone for 18 years. It’s based on the true story of Juana Maria, a Native American, who was left behind on San Nicholas Island off the coast of Southern California in 1835. The young girl, Karana in the novel, was only 12 when she was left by her people who sailed to…

Transmogrify

October 28, 2016October 28, 2016 Categories: TravelTags: girls · makeup · photography · transmogrify · Travel · Wordpress Weekly Photo Challenge3 Comments

This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge is Transmogrify — to change in appearance or form. This little one is transforming into a Disney character before your eyes. See more transmogrify at the WordPress Daily Post. Travel safe. Have fun.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Shine

October 24, 2016 Categories: TravelTags: Bay · Oakland · photography · San Francisco · shine · Travel · water · Weekly Photo Challenge5 Comments

Bay Bridge, San Francisco. See more Shine photos at the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge.

Cooking at the Getty Villa

October 14, 2016October 15, 2016 Categories: TravelTags: ancient food · California · cookbook · cooking · culinary workshop · foodie · Getty Museum · Getty Villa · Los Angeles · Museum · rome · Villa6 Comments

Kongo headed to the Getty Villa on the Malibu coast on Friday to dine with the gods. No really. He attended a culinary workshop titled “Dining with the Gods” based on a real menu that would have been served up at a villa on the shores of the Gulf of Naples early in the first century. The Getty Villa is inspired by the floor plan of the Villa dei Papyri owned by Lucius Calpurnius Pico Caesoninus. Getty’s villa was built to house Mr. Getty’s extensive collections of ancient Roman artifacts. The original villa, now partially excavated by archeologists, sat about halfway…

Old Los Angeles

October 13, 2016October 13, 2016 Categories: TravelTags: Antonia Aguilar · California · curios · Day of the Dead · Los Angeles · Mexico · Olivera Street · photography · Things to Do · Tourism · Travel4 Comments

In downtown Los Angeles, not far from the towering skyscrapers and iconic city administration building is a small, out of the way pocket of Old Mexico known as Olivera Street. If you’re running short of curios for your next Cinco de Mayo party or just need to stock up on Día de Muertos costumes, you need to head to Olivera Street. It’s also a wonderful excursion and opportunity to learn about the history of this behemoth city on the West Coast.

European River Cruise Basics

October 9, 2016October 9, 2016 Categories: TravelTags: advice · Cruise · Europe · photography · review · river · River Cruise · Travel5 Comments

If you’re of a certain age and watch TV you have seen plenty of commercials about river cruising. Long boats ply navigable rivers all over Europe. Some companies are planning cruise itineraries on U.S. rivers too. Like all travel options there are pros and cons. This post examines Kongo’s take on river cruising in Europe.

Travel Monkey

The Adventures of Kongo

Month: October 2016