#Waterskiers World
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I first became fascinated with it a few years ago when I noticed it out an airplane window on a flight from Texas to Southern California. In an expanse of endless desert, suddenly, a vast body of water. When I got home, I immediately looked it up on a map. The Salton Sea.
It’s the largest landlocked body of water in California. It sits right on top of the San Andreas Fault at over 200 feet below sea level. It is more than twice as salty as the Pacific Ocean. It is completely toxic. And I had never heard of it before then.
(photo essay under the cut)
In the early 1900s the Colorado River was diverted through a series of irrigation canals in order to provide water for the farmlands of Imperial Valley. One of the head-gates broke during a flood, and the desert basin filled with water for 2 years before it was fixed. The unexpected lake soon became a popular vacation destination; it was stocked with fish, and resorts and hotels popped up along its shores. It became known as a great place for sport fishing, waterskiing, and yacht parties. Big name celebrities visited. At one point, it had more annual visitors than Yosemite.
Salton Sea has no outlet, and is only filled via agricultural runoff. As the water evaporated in the hot desert sun, the lake became more and more saline. Chemicals began to build up from the run off causing toxic algae blooms, and mass die-offs of fish and birds started in the 80s. By the 90s, the beaches were littered with fish gills and bird bones and the resorts were abandoned. The lake began to dry up as irrigation run-off was diverted away. The exposed lake bed is also toxic, and the high desert winds kick up the dust, making the air poisonous.
Despite the unpleasant odor, the noxious air and the summer temperatures regularly reaching 120°, a renaissance of sorts began in the early 2010s. Artist and nomad colonies began to spring up around Salton Sea. Bombay Beach, once a popular resort destination, is now mostly a ghost town, but the folks who remain have turned the ruins on the shores into an outdoor art installation gallery where the found-art sculptures are cyclically destroyed by the elements and then replaced with new ones. Many of the houses and RVs in town are themselves art pieces.
In nearby Slab City, a settlement of off-the-grid lifestylers, you can find even more folk art. Salvation Mountain is a manmade hill painted with bright colors and bible verses and maintained by a community of volunteers. East Jesus is a sculpture garden and art installation.
This past weekend my partner and I finally made the pilgrimage to the Sea. California has the benefit of being home to a huge array of biomes. In just a couple of hours you can travel from snowy mountain peaks to lush oases to endless sand dunes. Driving the hour or so south from Palm Springs towards Salton Sea is like driving towards the end of the world.
Bombay Beach especially enamored me. The beach is crusted with salt and millions of tiny shells and bones. It smells awful, like sewage and chemicals and low-tide and rotting fish. You drive out onto the beach and park anywhere amongst the sculptures and deteriorating resort ruins. The art feels raw in a way I haven’t experienced before. It reminds me of seeing paleolithic cave art. Humans made this, with no motivation other than to create something intriguing or beautiful or sad. Not much can live out here, but what you find fills me with a great adoration for humanity. Despite the asphyxiation of the natural world, the human spirit persists.
#im sure most people know about this place but i didnt so!!#i hated writing essays in school but now in my 30s i do it for fun apparently#photos are all mine except the first one#salton sea#bombay beach#slab city#salvation mountain
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A company leasing part of the Von Bach Dam area near Okahandja from Namibia Wildlife Resorts wants the High Court to order the government to pay N$465 million to it, based on its claim that land used by two waterski clubs at the dam overlaps the area leased by the company.
The company, Tungeni Africa Investments, has now given notice that it plans to ask the Windhoek High Court to grant a default judgement in an amount of N$465 million against the minister of environment, forestry and tourism.
#water#dam#reservoir#wildlife#environment#Namibia Wildlife Resorts#water sports#waterski#tourists#recreation#Okahandja#Namibia#news#world news
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“You should always be trying to learn new things” is a statement I do my best to live by, but it’s one that can seem daunting without an explanation. Because “always learn new things” brings to mind the image of someone who learned how to play the guitar last week and is learning how to waterski this week and is learning how to basket weave next week, and while taking the time to learn new skills is awesome, frankly life is way too busy for that.
To me, learning is simply wanting to know the world around you. Learning is asking why pine trees have needles instead of leaves and running to google to find out. Learning is discovering what kind of stories and songs people can create. Learning is creating art yourself and discovering what your ideas look like manifested in reality. Learning is asking for a stranger’s name in the middle of a friendly conversation. Learning is disagreeing with someone and taking the time to try to find out why they disagree. Learning is meeting someone whose life is dramatically different from yours and understanding how they live it. Learning is experiencing the world with someone very very special to you and learning the look on their face as they smile and stare into the majestic sunset.
The world has more to learn in it than it could be possible to learn over quintillions of lifetimes. So always be trying to learn new things.
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1964: eyes of the storm
At the weekend I went to the Paul McCartney exhibition at London's National Portrait Gallery.
I'd seen some of the pictures, but I still wasn't prepared for just how fond it is. Tumblr is enchanted by Soft John, and yes, absolutely - but the whole exhibition has this warmth and freshness to it. I'm sure some of it's smart curation and hindsight, but the observation and attention and choice of subjects is so full of affection.
Some of the earliest shots are at a London gig. There are portraits of George's mum and dad, visiting their boy, looking alert and intelligent and bursting with pride. Because of course they are, and of course Paul took pictures of them.
It's late 1963, but the Finsbury Park Astoria looks stuck in the 1950s, all post-war austerity and support acts with towering teddy boy hair. Backstage looks cramped and freezing and dark: no wonder they went to the pub to try to do a photoshot. Then they go to Paris and the world opens up around them.
And Paul is so thrilled by it all. He's trying arty camera angles (some don't work). He's putting little crosses on his contact sheets, using a special pencil like he's seen the proper photographers do, because he's a complete nerd. And of course they were all arty nerds, trying out techniques and watching other artists (in whatever medium), getting excited and doing their art projects and trying to be cool.
Some are technically not-very-good photographs: Brian laughing right into the camera, George trying to waterski, both out of focus and both radiant with joy. Some are genuinely good portraits (Ringo particularly).
By the time they get to America, he's more confident and some of the on-the-hoof pics are striking: photographing the photographers, alarmed by armed police (with like. real guns. and ammunition. right there, on the other side of the car window, right there).
And so much people-watching. He watches them, and they watch back, looking up as the Beatle circus goes past. Airport workers with their hands over their ears because the screaming's so loud, or catching Paul's eye to mime playing the guitar. A lovely one of a railroad worker smiling back at him, another of a girl in a headscarf, absorbed in her own thoughts. One of their security falling asleep on the job (it's on a boat, they're probably fine). Mal, and Neil, and George Martin with Judy, and Cynthia. He's interested in people. He's amazed by sunlight. He's happy.
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In 1964, then-23-year-old starlet Ann-Margret bared her soul to 16 Magazine about her “hates and loves” (or, as they put it at the time: “Here they are - the deep-down, intimate secrets of your favourite new star!”). I think Ann-Margret speaks for all of us here! (Please don’t tell me some publicity agent or anonymous hack cobbled this together – the disillusionment would be overwhelming). Pull up a chair – this is one LONG mutha of list.
She hates for anyone to yell at her. She cried the first time a bandleader loudly chewed her out for being late to a rehearsal.
She hates dresses with lots of ruffles and frills. They make her feel like "... a Christmas tree!"
She hates vegetables - especially cooked spinach.
She hates to cook or anything to do with the kitchen.
She hates people who say nasty things about other people whom they don't even know.
She hates the fact that no matter how she rushes, she has a tendency to be late.
She hates to see too much make-up on a woman.
She hates to see an animal hurt.
She hates people who "...kid around with someone's emotions".
She hates gossip of any sort.
She hates rain.
She hates herself when she fluffs a song or dance, even during a rehearsal.
She hates people who think that show business is all whipped cream and glamour. Ann-Margret says: "It's one of the toughest professions in the world".
She hates it when people call her a star. "Right now, I am just a very fortunate girl", she earnestly maintains. "A star is someone who sustains, like Bette Davis".
She hates for people to try and pry into her personal life.
She hates the thought of sitting still for more than five minutes at a time.
She hates to have to straighten up her room.
She hates reports that she dates just for publicity.
She hates for people to tell her how to run her life.
She hates grey days and grey colours.
She hates people who complain and feel sorry for themselves.
She hates it when there is a mechanical failure in her car or motor scooter.
She hates to be told she ought to act such-and-such a way, because "... it's the thing to do".
She hates herself for being so painfully shy when it comes to meeting new people.
She hates jealousy of any kind.
She hates aggressive girls who brag that they can twist a man round their little finger.
She hates to get up early in the morning.
She hates prejudice in any form.
She hates to diet.
She loves going to football and basketball games.
She loves to ride her motor scooter through the Hollywood hills.
She loves a steak.
She loves to wear dark glasses.
She loves animals of all sorts.
She loves chocolate malts for breakfast.
She loves a windy night.
She loves big, shaggy sweaters.
She loves performing for a live audience.
She loves saving things. She has a huge chest, hand-carved by an uncle in Sweden, in which she stores all her mementoes.
She loves sad movies - even though they make her cry.
She loves the colour black.
She loves to sleep under lots of blankets.
She loves pizza with ginger ale.
She loves browsing through family photo albums.
She loves Cantonese food.
She loves talking on the phone. She has two "Princess" models in her bedroom.
She loves waterskiing.
She loves collecting stuffed animals - the pride of her collection is a huge lavender poodle Eddie Fisher gave her in New York. She took it back to California on the plane - strapped in the seat next to her.
She loves flowers and greenery of any sort.
She loves baked potatoes with sour cream, chives and butter.
She loves to travel - especially back to Sweden for a visit with relatives.
She loves the name Skuby. So far, it's the "handle" for her Yorkshire terrier (also a gift from Eddie Fisher).
She loves her red motor scooter and her red compact convertible car.
She loves window-shopping.
She loves the excitement of Las Vegas.
She loves watching parades.
She loves laughing and seeing others laugh.
She loves working with Elvis Presley.
She loves weddings. Last year she was maid of honour at the nuptials of Sharon Louver of Summit, N.J., and Joanie Stremmel, of Wilmette, Ill., both of whom had been her best friends since the sixth grade. She caught Janie's bouquet!
She loves dancing - especially the Twist.
She loves the new house she bought for herself and her parents in fashionable Benedict Canyon.
She loves the beach - day or night.
She loves Marlon Brando's acting.
She loves little children.
She loves Capri pants.
She loves candlelight dinners.
She loves watching TV.
She loves Sammy Davis, Jr. and Elvis Presley records.
She loves modern furniture.
She loves being alone for a certain part of every day.
She loves her good luck charms - a miniature red horse, ivory Buddha, smooth beach pebble and tiny hula doll named "Jungle Julie".
She loves writing in her diary.
She loves playing a jukebox.
She loves holding deep philosophical conversations.
She loves suede jackets.
She loves riding a bicycle.
She loves to write letters and receive them. Write to her at 8966 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, California.
#ann margret#ann-margret#lobotomy room#kitsch#gossip magazine#starlet#old showbiz#retro#camp#swedish american#movie magazine#movie star#sex kitten#sex kitten gone berserk
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The late Sandy West, former drummer for The Runaways and possibly the hardest rockin’ female drummer of all times, here on a guest performance at The Coconut Teaszer, LA, in 1993, as captured by Jerry Venemann.
Her parents wanted her to be a violinist, so she could form a string quartet along with her sisters but Sandy, a real tomboy and a roughhouser, made it clear right from the start that she was not going to follow in the classical path. Her thing was to live up to any challenge to do whatever the guys did -which proved to be both Sandy's lifelong drive and part of her downfall. She played tennis and basketball, swam competitively, ran track, surfed, waterskied and rode horses, being incredibly energetic, hysterical, very funny and athletic.
Having strong arms like Tina Turner has legs, she was born to rock and was acknowledged as a true powerhouse and a force of nature behind the drums during her time with the Queens of noise. Sadly, West was one of the only of her bandmates who never went onto the post-band life she deserved, thanks partly to addiction and partly to Kim Fowley’s financial manipulations. The Runaways officially dissolved in 1979 and though Sandy continued to pursue music with the Sandy West Band or reunited with Cherie Currie and Jackie Fox playing small gigs, the bad combination of wild success, partying hard with drugs, an unfair record deal and the fall from fame led to desperate measures.
Unfortunately Sandy struggled hard and eventually resorted to a life of crime and drugs to pay her bills, arrested and jailed repeatedly. She freebased coke, took crystal meth and became a drug runner and dealer's muscle, breaking people’s arms and shoving guns down their throat.
“Because Sandy's life didn't move forward as well as the others', it was easier for her to fall back on drinking and drugs,” says Alcock [John Alcock, producer of The Runawys final album]. “She started doing some fairly heavy partying with fans and hangers-on, people I didn't know, somewhere down in the beach communities. Those were not great people.”
She would disappear with these people, into black holes of drug-fueled behavior. Family and friends staged interventions; West went into rehab a few times. But she always fell off the wagon.
At one point, says Currie, “she came over to the house and she was freebasing cocaine, which I tried desperately to get her to stop. It was extremely difficult to watch her do it. Having been in her position, I knew all the begging in the world wouldn't stop her.”
Sometimes, when West disappeared from friends' and families' lives, it turned out she was in jail. Her stateside arrest record starts in 1988, when she was picked up in Orange County for driving under the influence. There were at least six arrests after that, in multiple counties: more DUIs, possession of controlled substances, possession of illegal substances, driving with a suspended license. She was able to serve some of her sentences concurrently.
In fact, West was lucky to get put away for minor charges when she was doing much worse things. “Sandy got involved with mob-type figures,” says Tischler-Blue: “Because she had this all-American-girl look, people wouldn't red-flag her. She started running drugs into the recording studios. Sandy loved coke. That was this turn that took her down a very different road. That road led to the underbelly of the Hollywood music scene. At that time, there were some really bad characters moving around. Heavy-duty drug people. Gunrunning people.”
Looking tough but emotional, West talks about “the dangerous adventures of me” in Tischler-Blue's 2004 documentary about the band, Edgeplay. “Maybe that was the self-destructive side of me. Maybe I was out to push it. I was fearless. You go down and break somebody's door down. They've got guns all over you, you've got guns all over them. You don't know who's going to get killed. … I had to break somebody's arm once. I had to shove a gun down somebody's throat once and watch them shit their pants. And then you look around and say, 'I just wanted to be a drummer in a rock band.'”
Near the end of her life, West lived in circumstances demeaning to a former rock star: in a trailer in San Dimas. She appeared to be getting her life together. She released a four-song EP that shows her multiple talents: singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, drummer. But then she was arrested again, for possession of drugs and paraphernalia. In the era of three strikes, this was one offense too many. This time, West was sent not to the relatively tame county jail for a short stint, but to state prison in Chowchilla for 18 months. She found herself surrounded by hard-core criminals.
Not long after arriving at Chowchilla, she developed a bad cough. It was lung cancer — the deadly, aggressive kind. West underwent chemotherapy while still in prison. When finally released, West's family was back in her life, helping to take care of her. Currie, Blue and other friends were there often. Jett visited her. She and Ford talked on the phone.
West's last months of life were full of pain, as the cancer, which moved to her brain, ate away at her. She lost some of the things that defined her: her golden hair and the strength to drum.
laweekly.com/the-runaways-wild-thing/
She died on October 21, 2006 at the age of 47.
(via)
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hi, you mentioned in a post accessible sports like rock climbing, i am wondering if rock climbing can be wheelchair accessible? asking because i have wondered for a long time if everything in the sims 4 could be made wheelchair accessible if they added wheelchairs and i could never figure out rock climbing.
Hello!! Yes most sports can be made accessible for wheelchair users. Honestly I haven't found one yet that can't! I work for a nonprofit that organizes events for children who use mobility equipment and we do all sorts of sports: sled hockey, waterskiing, downhill snow skiing, sailing, indoor skydiving, ziplining, kayaking, horseback riding, swimming, baseball, basketball, golf, self defense/karate, archery, even ballet!
This is the first time we're doing the ropes course and rock climbing. From what we've seen of the rock climbing, the wheelchair user is in a sling and they are repelled up the wall. They are able to decide how much work they want to personally do, or how much they are capable. This allows any person - no matter their upper body strength - to have the opportunity!
The ropes course is built so that one side has planks that the wheelchair user goes on with all the same obstacles to move out of their way and maneuver around as a typical ropes course.
So yea all it takes is some creativity and people saying HECK YES LET'S DO IT! And the world could be a MUCH more accessible and inclusive space. The kids I work with every day prove that all they need is someone giving them the opportunity.
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Just as long as it was running at the top of my head, picture this scenario:
The Banana Splits, on their Road Trip of Redemption from that awful horror film treatment, turn out to have a stop in Wisconsin Dells as includes an evening appearance at the Elm Street Plaza in concert and mirth, opening, more or less, as thus:
BINGO, taking stock of the mostly tourist-type audience for the show: How were we to know people were actually going to show up in the first place?
FLEEGLE, slightly surprised: Who else would they be expecting, the Black Cat Tour?
SNORKY: [Rather blatant honking, which Drooper interprets as "Whatever that was."]
BINGO, trying to keep things a little crazy: Alright, if I may take a little survey here ... how many of you in the audience see yourselves as locals or even as tourists in your hometown? [Modest number of hands raised in response]
DROOPER, trying to be pragmatic about it: And I just hope some of you don't get the takeaway that the rest of you just filling the seats here are tourists trying to make up for the loss of the Tommy Bartlett Waterski Show these last couple of years! [Laughter]
BINGO: Which, I understand, had an evening performance--
FLEEGLE: And you're quite right they did ... as if chorus-line dancers winding up at Pebbles Flintstone's birthday party once--and it turned out to be by mistake--wasn't silly enough! [More laughter from the crowd]
DROOPER: But at any rate, folks, it's rather wonderful of us Banana Splits to be here in the Waterpark Capital of the World this evening, and let's just all have a hot time in the old time tonight--
(Which turns out to be the cue for the opening numbers, a medley essentially of "We're The Banana Splits" and the show theme tune, "The Tra-La-La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)", followed by some vaudeville-model exchanges and banter)
*************
@warnerbrosentertainment @thebananasplitsblog @iheartgod175 @archive-archives @indigo-corvus @the-banana-splits-blog @warnerbrosent-blog
#hanna barbera#headcannons#vignette#the banana splits#road trip of redemption#free show#wisconsin dells#evening show#before the show banter#comedy relief#hannabarberaforever
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WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION MAGAZINE : FEBRUARY 1999
Transcript Below!!!
PERSONALITY PROFILE
Favorite Band/Singer: Mono (a band similar to Enya)
Biggest Thrill In Life: Visiting the White House and going to the Super Bowl.
Person You Would Most Like To Meet: Former President Ronald Regan
Favorite Sport (Besides Wrestling): Volleyball
Favorite Athlete: Gymnast Kerri Strug
Favorite Television Show: Melrose Place
Hobbies: Waterskiing, weight training and jogging
Favorite Food: Bagels
Favorite Fast Food: Burger King cheeseburgers
Favorite Actor: Tommy Lee Jones
Favorite Actress: Heather Locklear
Favorite Movie: Basic Instinct
If I Could Have Done It Differently, I Would…: Studied directly under Lee Strasberg when I attended his acting institute in New York City.
Secret Talent: I’m a great actress.
Best Advice Ever Received: Treat people the way you’d like to be treated.
Favorite Video Game: I don’t have time for video games.
Favorite Cartoon Character: Roadrunner
#debra mcmichael#wwf personality profile#magazine scan#wwf magazine scan#wwf magazine#magazine transcript
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K. so I'm gonna share a Memory. I hold it fondly, but boy was I upset when it was actually happening. XD
It's about my older brother, the gamer.
So, when I was younger, I liked to watch my older brother play video games. I'd sit and watch, and he'd sit and play, and I always asked him to sit on my feet because they were always cold. Always kicked him when he farted on me, though. XD (Which is why sometimes he'd say no, and I'd wrap my feet in blankets instead, and then he'd sit on them. Good compromise.)
Anyway. He played a lot. I watched a lot. I almost never watched from the start of the game to the end of the game, though, so there were some storylines I straight up Missed.
At some point, he plays a game called Phantasy Star Universe. I almost always caught him playing the beginning, but I always missed the middle and end. It was a story that I had no clue about, and he eventually just stopped playing it and moved onto something else. (At least, I think that's what happened. XD)
So. This Would Not Do. I really wanted to know the story, and I either didn't know letsplays were a thing or couldn't find one. Which makes sense because Phantasy Star seems to be not super popular. XD So I decided to play the game myself.
ngl, I was bad at it. XD But I did my best. And, in a role reversal, my brother watched me play sometimes. He'd go in and out of the room like I did, and I focused on the story. I did My Best.
Now, the game has 14 chapters? I think??? Lemme double check. 12 chapters. My bad. ANYWAY.
I made it through chapters 1-6 by the Skin of my Teeth. But I did! I was so happy! When I got to chapter 7, I was trying really hard to pull an all nighter (my brother had done a couple, and I was going to play this game!), but I got stuck. That chapter was hard for me as I suck at coordination, and there was a section where you gotta waterski across the first bit, and I kept running into bombs, then there were big enemies that I kept running from and waving my saber Wildly at, and I kept losing support left and right to the plot, and I was a Ragged Mess by the time I hit the boss.
I think I died 3 times trying to get that boss, and I kept getting more and more frustrated. The only thing I remember is feeling myself about to cry (which I still don't like doing in front of people, but the aversion was Very Strong as a child, and my brother knew it), and he offered to beat the boss for me.
I said okay, and I vowed to myself that I was going to Watch and Learn. I was going to Watch and Learn and be able to get on with the story!
The next thing I know, I'm waking up to a beautiful shot of water moving and the main character talking to a character I'd seen before, but I had no idea what she was doing there.
"Oh, you're awake," said my brother (I think. This was years ago.). "I beat level 7 for you."
Which he did, and I was v grateful, but he also went on to beat chapters 8 and 9 and had just finished beating chapter 10.
Guys. I was distraught. How could I bet the game when I couldn't beat chapter 7? I was a chapter 7 skill level masquarading as someone competent on now chapter 11. Which had a wave-after-wave battle in it that I couldn't defeat. XD My poor brother had no idea what to do, so he showed me all the upgrades he gave my character (upgrades that I had no clue about until he did them for me) and how to use them.
I did have to go back to 7 For The Story, but when I got the upgrades my brother showed me and use hacks that he also showed me, I was able to beat the boss and continue with the game. The story gripped me until the end, and there was a Happily Ever After!
Now, Phantasy Star Universe is one of my favorite games. I really did like the story and the world and the characters. I like the structured game play and the memories that go along with it. That's one of the big reasons it's gonna be one of my my favorite games forever. That, and I was still playing it when one of my little cousins was born several years later. RIP game progress. You died for a Worthy Cause x2. XD
(also Karen is my favorite okbye)
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Seven beautiful wildflowers rising from the bottom of the ocean
Gran Canaria
The Canary Islands have as many names as they are diverse, the entire archipiélago is an astonishing patchwork of extreme wild landscapes and micro-climates.
Apart from that they have a generous supply of small paradises, surprises and adventures alike.
The group of seven islands, seven wildflowers, off the coast of North-West Africa are blessed with a warm subtropical climate, all year long, an eternal spring!
It is difficult to find words to describe their beauty, each one is a volcanic jewel, a priceless treasure.
The islands are just the top of a gigantic subaquatic mountain chain, rising a phenomenal 7.500 metres from the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, as a result of ferocious volcanic eruptions.
The Canaries have a particularly interesting history, dramatic geography and is a veritable goldmine of fascinating and surprising small sites.
The islands are themselves a revelation, unique and dissimilar from anything else in the world.
In addition to being distinct from anything you have ever seen they are also different from each other.
The Canary Islands are located 100 kilometres (62 miles) from the African coast, and an astonishing 1.056 kilometres (1.700 miles) from the Spanish mainland, even though they belong to Spain.
The archipiélago consists of seven larger inhabited islands or thirteen including the smaller uninhabited ones.
As each island is unique, and differs greatly from the others, a deeper description is needed to familiarise oneself with each island, representing each one by a special Canarian wildflower, so we can discover the flora a bit more too. The islands are ordered from oldest to youngest.
Fuerteventura
The island of the golden beaches
Fuerteventura beach and Hypericum Canariensis
Fuerteventura is the oldest of all the islands in the archipelago, and is at its ripe age a paradise of beaches.
The island lacks some of the enormous mountains and high peaks that characterises many of its sisters but instead its topography is perfect for a myriad of water activities, such as : snorkelling, windsurfing, kite surfing, yachting, sport fishing and waterskiing.
The beautiful sandy island of Fuerteventura has a rugged beauty, exceptional beaches and a dramatic coastline, it is the second island in size after its bigger neighbour Tenerife.
The entire island has been declared a biosphere reserve, thanks to the diversity of its flora and fauna, its many microclimates are evident all around the island.
Its name is subject to wide discussions, Fuerteventura in Spanish means “strong winds” a reference to the windy conditions around the island that sometimes endanger nautical adventurers.
However, it might also refer to wealth, luck or destiny, a third theory suggests that the name derives from Latin “Fortunatae Insulalae” (fortunate islands).
In ancient times it was called Maxorata which means “children of the country” in ancient Canarian Berber, by the native inhabitants, the Guanches.
Lanzarote
The Island with the moon landscape
Grape trees in Lanzarote and Attaraylis Preauxiana
The distinct arid island of Lanzarote offers a volcanic moonscape, best compared with the actual landscape of the moon.
Nevertheless, it also has its invisible secrets, El golfo cráter is a volcanic crater on the shore of the peculiar island.
Inland, just a few metres from the coast, is a pool of water that has developed a green hue. The green comes from an algae living in the salt water in the pool.
The waters in the pool are still connected to the ocean via underground fissures, which keeps the water at sea level, and ensures that the pool doesn’t evaporate away.
Cooking food over a volcano.
On Lanzarote where the last volcanic eruption took place in 1824 there is still a significant amount of heat just below the surface.
In the National Park of Timanfaya you can visit a restaurant * , with a nine metres hole, dug to access the heat, and is used to grill.
The temperature of the grill reaches 400 degrees C and uses no energy.
Further, the island has some of the oddest vineyards in the world, as the island is volcanic, arid and has almost no soil or natural vegetation, to grow grape vines here takes quite a bit of effort.
Unlike most vineyards, where vines are planted in rows, on Lanzarote each vine is placed in a small depression with a semicircular wall of lava stone around it, to help protect it from the winds. The plants take root in the lava rock, where they get water from the moisture that condenses on the rocks.
Gran Canaria
The miniature continent
Roque nublo, Gran Canaria and Helianthemum inaguae, plant species considered in danger of extinction
Gran Canaria has a landscape forged by volcanoes.
The island rose from the bottom of the sea as a result of the force of volcanoes.
Then the volcanoes, the winds and the rain came together and sculpted the island of cliffs, fertile plains, deep ravines, black and golden fine sand beaches, natural pools, galleries, caves, stone arches, valleys and monoliths.
Such a geographical diversity of microclimates makes it possible for Gran Canaria to have so many different faces.
From its high altitudes, when looking down from the Pico de las Nieves (the snowy peak) and feeling the vertigo, as you stand at an altitude of almost two thousand metres the island looks very different from what it does when you see it from the coast, while hugging the ocean.
But it is the same island nonetheless: the heir of the volcano.
Today as the volcano has been sleeping for millennia and we can approach it without fear, we can see the island's volcanic heritage reflected in its nature.
Even higher up, where the island pierces the sky, lies the protected landscape of Las Cumbres de Gran Canaria (the summit), the high mountain region where a series of volcanoes that erupted three thousand years ago are aligned.
Inside the protected landscape of the sacred mountains of the island, declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO, we can observe the indigenous heritage the way natural caves or caves made by humans in the volcanic tuff were used as dwellings, barns, astronomy sites or sacred places for rituals.
These high peaks, covered in pine forests, marks the separation between the semi-deserted south and the lush, densely vegetated north.
When seeing the different climates, so paradoxical, like opposites, that is when you realise that this small island is truly home to several worlds, a continent in miniature.
Tenerife
Starry nights on Mount Teide
Mount Teide and Tajinaste rojo
Tenerife is the largest and most populated of the tropical archipelago, with a generous variety of landscapes: golden sand beaches, misty volcanoes, and a dense pine wood.
Mount Teide is not only the highest point in the entirety of Spain and the world’s third highest volcano, but with its peak measuring an astonishing 3.718 metres above sea level ( 7.500 metres from the ocean floor ), it also casts the longest shadow over the sea in the world. It is spectacular!
As that is not enough, Teide’s national park is the most visited park in all of Europe and it is, of course, home to Mount Teide, as well as a Natural World Heritage site.
Furthermore, Mount Teide literally separates the island in two different climate zones: the semi-deserted south and the rich, flourishing northern parts.
The waters in the southwest of the island are exceptionally rich in marine life and one of the few places in the world where you can actually see and interact with turtles and dolphins that live here all year long. This region is also visited by blue whales and orcas.
A true sanctuary for these incredible mammals that find ideal conditions for feeding and reproduction here.
The curious shadow of Mount Teide
The Canaries are due to their location, climatic conditions and mountain peaks blessed with the clearest and most unpolluted skies, excellent for stargazing, in the world.
In addition, Mount Teide has another secret: when the sun rises the Mount casts a curious pyramidal shadow over the Atlantic Ocean which disappears into the distance like a train truck.
The shadow changes as the day grows.
At dawn a silhouette is projected towards the island of La Gomera, while at dusk the shadow is pushed out towards Gran Canaria.
Views of the shadow are particularly good from the peak of Mount Teide itself. The silhouette on the ocean is in the shape of a perfect geometric triangle, which is astonishing especially as it is considered that the actual peak of Mount Teide does not have a pyramidal shape at all.
The shadow therefore seems to defy reason.
La Gomera
The forgotten island that was lost in time
La Gomera and Digitalis (Isoplexis) canariensis
From a distance La Gomera appears as an impenetrable fortress, ringed with soaring rock walls. Noodle thin roads wiggle along cliff faces, and up ravines.
The white spots on this prehistoric landscape turns out to be houses impossibly placed on inaccessible escarpments.
Up close, however, the rough landscape turns out to be lush valleys, dense rainforests, glittering black pebble beaches and bold rock formations sculpted by volcanic activity and erosion.
Simply put, La Gomera’s shape is rather like an orange that has been cut in half then split into segments, which has left deep ravines or barrancos in between them.
By the coast beaches are set between the cliffs, this wild, mountainous landscape is filled with contrasts, it is a paradise for nature lovers.
Considering the inaccessible landscape it is not difficult to understand why the thousand years old whistle language still is especially deep rooted here.
They really needed it to communicate through rough mountainous terrain, and it has lived on since ancient times until now.
La Gomera’s prime attraction is the magical often misty National park “Garajonay”.
Clever though by gorges and filled with laurel rainforest, this prehistoric forest is responsible for the labyrinth of vegetation in the park, a park that is bewitching like a fairytale.
Here you will find more than a thousand species that, thanks to their isolation, include a large proportion impossible to find elsewhere.
Lush and dense laurel rainforests once grew across most of Southern Europe and North Africa but now they are only found here in the Canaries and the rest of Micronesia.
An interesting note, La Gomera is the only island that still uses its ancient native “Guanche “ name.
The legend of Gara and Jonah
The Canarian Romeo and Juliet
The Canaries is famously known as the land of legends and volcanoes, this special legend comes from La Gomera.
Long, long time ago, in the time of the Guanches, the first native of the archipiélago, a beautiful princess lived in La Gomera, her name was Gara.
This island was famous for its water springs that still exist (los chorros de Epina), which could predict if someone would find true love: if the waters remained quiet, without movement, it meant The person would find true love but if the waters got turbulent, the answer was negative.
During the Guanches New Year's feast, princess Gara and her friends visited the spring, as Gara approached, the still water started to become so turbulent that it was shaking, then a sun appeared in the waters and told her: What will happen will happen, run away from the fire Gara, or it will consume you.
The same day, Jonay, a handsome young Guanche and son of the king of Tenerife, visited the island with his father and other noblemen as they were invited to the new year’s feast in La Gomera.
When their eyes met, it was love at first sight!
They immediately announced to their parents that they wanted to get engaged.
It was then that the ocean got filled with fire, the big, powerful volcano Teide on Tenerife had erupted, and such was his fury that you could see it even from La Gomera.
That was when they remembered Jonay was from Tenerife, the island of fire and Gara was the princess of the holy springs.
Fire and water don’t mix! Their love was impossible.
It was first when their parents forbade the engagement that the volcano calmed down.
Back in Tenerife, Jonay couldn’t forget Gara and in the middle of the night he threw himself in the ocean and swam across to the island of La Gomera and Gara, where he and Gara ran together up the mountains, to the very highest top but as they discovered they were followed they took a stick and sharpened its two extremes.
Holding it in between themselves to their chests, they hugged, the sharpened stick pierced their hearts and they died together.
Since then the mountain is called Garajonay, in memory of the two lovers that preferred death rather than continue living separated.
This same place is nowadays a National park: "Garajonay”.
La Palma
The beauty (La bonita)
La palma and Pericallis hadrosoma
There are places that will give you unique, magical moments, moments when you think: this is what I always wanted to experience, places made just for you.
La Palma is one of those places.
From the top of the mountains you get a spectacular view, and if that is not enough you might even, if you are lucky, get to see a sea of clouds.
The heat from the sand almost burns your feet but the cool waters from the Atlantic quickly repairs the damage.
The pleasure is complete with the calming, soft and fresh scent of canary pines, from the abundant pine woods, that fill your senses and relax your body.
The beautiful, green La Palma is like a big, natural spa!
A natural spa that regenerates, revitalises you, and fills you with energy and good vibes.
It is mainly in December and January that snow appears on the highest points of the island, surrounded by pine trees.
With the top of the island covered by a white snow blanket, you wonder: is this really a subtropical island?
It is even possible to enjoy a snowball fight in the morning and finish the day with a warm, relaxing sunset swim in the Atlantic, life can not get much better than that!
El Hierro
The island with soul
Tajinaste Azul
It is the youngest and it is tiny but overfilled with incredible natural wonders.
El Hierro is indeed the smallest of the fortunate (inhabited) islands, but it is an island with soul.
The island is more remarkable for what it doesn’t have than for what it has.
There is very little traffic here, the island has no hotel complexes, no buildings higher than two floors, no lifts and only one set of traffic lights.
Furthermore, it is almost completely self sufficient.
Since a while back El Hierro has been working towards making the entire island self-sufficient and they have almost reached their goal, other islands are following their example but are somewhat behind.
Beaches here are rare, to swim you either have to jump from the cliffs or enjoy the many natural pools, as a substitute for beaches, but the island's wonderful landscapes make up for the lack of beaches.
Ancient civilizations were just as impressed and fascinated by this array of exotic islands as we are today.
The archipielago forms a part of the Macronesian eco region and it is further referred to as “the islands of eternal spring” , the reason for that is that they are regulated by the Gulf Stream and trade winds, which contribute to their subtropical climate.
With little difference between seasons, they truly have an eternal spring!
Loved by countless civilizations, each one giving them a nickname, the islands have got as many names as there are stars in the sky, we find many names for those we love!
Tenerife
Canary Islands- the Romans.
The fortunate islands-the Numidians
The islands of eternal spring - the Greeks.
The everlasting islands- the Arabs.
The blessed islands-the phoenicians.
The islands of the fortunate-
The islands of the Guanches-the Guanches.
The islands of hope-
The Macronesian islands
The canary birds were named after these islands and not the other way around.
Caught in between volcanoes, legends and reality, they are marvellous islands on the limit of the world.
The sweet charm surrounding them and their positive energy works as a magnet!
You visit once and you are stuck, you fall in love and nothing else is comparable.
Their diversity is staggering, no other place in the world offers so many treasures compressed in such a small place.
It is truly an archipelago of a thousand experiences!
*El Diablo restaurant in Timanfaya.
#history#writers on tumblr#writblr#writers#original content#travel#spain#the canaries#canary islands#canarias#gran canaria#tenerife#fuerteventura#lanzarote#la palma#la gomera#el hierro#flowers
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Seoul - Idiom of Tradition and Trend
Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, is located in the northwest region of the country, at the bank of Han River. Seoul offers various enticing destinations to tourists to experience its glory in different aspects. It has a world of its own that possesses amazing temples, palaces, museums, gardens, and parks. The tourists are greatly fascinated by some of its unique attractions. To make their journey comfortable and convenient there is an availability of nice transport amenities as well as good options of hotels in Seoul.
Seoul has rich architectural and cultural heritage that is well displayed in the form of temples, palaces museums as well as art and crafts and many colorful festivals. The four palaces are among the greatest draw for the tourists. The Gyeongbokgung Palace is a stunning spot which is regarded as Seoul's most spectacular tourist attraction. The architecture is marvelous and spacious gardens are seen all around it. The Kyongbokkung Palace is a splendid symbol of the ancient era that is known as the most beautiful palace in terms of architectural styles. Changdokkung, constructed as a secondary palace to The Kyongbokkung Palace is another one that is worth to be mentioned. It is best known for its Secret Garden which comprises of 78 acres of gardens beautifully harmonized with pavilions, ponds, and wooded areas. Apart from these, the Toksugung, regarded as a royal palace, is today famous with an identity of Royal Museum, which exhibits items once used by the royal court. Other major tourist attractions in Seoul include Lotte world, Namsangol Hanok Village, Insa-dong, Mount Namsan and Myeong-dong.
Along with the hidden history and depicture of ancient architecture of centuries-old temples, palaces, pagodas and pleasure gardens, the city is also over shadowed by high-rises modern skyscrapers that very well justifies its contemporary outlook. With ancient temples, palaces and parks along side, the city also offers various state-of-the art shopping malls, specialized markets for flowers, furniture and electronics to shopping lovers to buy standard products. Over here the travelers can experience the best sample of shopping, eating and night life of South Korea. Each street of this dynamic city portrays the color and shade of traditional heritage and modern outlook side-by-side in perfect harmony. Hence it is truly considered as an idiom of tradition and trend that showcases the Korean culture as well as fashion and latest lifestyle to the fullest.
Besides exploring the sites and venues the visitors will find adequate activities related to recreation and fitness that include variety of water sports along the southern coast and islands. Numerous involvements like swimming, scuba diving, paragliding and white-water rafting can be enjoyed here. Good facilities for windsurfing, waterskiing and boating are widely available in all coastal resorts. Meanwhile, good facilities for golf and skiing are also available in and around Seoul.
There are even standard transport facilities to move in and around the city. Taxi, subway, city & express buses are available as an easy means of conveyance from one part to the other. And above all, the availability of wide range of hotels in Seoul further makes the travel of the guests convenient. Thus, the tourists can choose the hotel suiting to their budget and needs from the huge selection of Seoul hotels. Apart from high profile luxurious beach facing resorts and other five star hotels, the city also features low costs options even in and around favorable spots of the city. Hence, all categories of tourists can enjoy the visit with full convenience.
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Chapter 8: I MAKE A DANGEROUS PROMISE
"Define dangerous?" Alex tapped critically upon her chin, not noticing Nico's uneasy wince as she studied Magnus reading the new chapter title. "A swear upon the river stakes? A dare? You don't have to bathe a cat do you?"
"Her mind went from life or death, truth or dare, to cats." Percy gestured like they'd missed this. "Why are my thoughts being analyzed here?"
"If we could switch points of view we would," Thalia sighed.
"I've always been more partial to charades as far as games," Rachel grinned back.
"Oh, I own that game!" Alex beamed and was clearly only a breath away from challenging her now.
As much fun as that would be for all of them to see, Magnus reluctantly turned to the book when Jason pressed his palms together and begged him to keep reading.
Will didn't disagree, but he was getting worried about Nico again as he had his eyes trained on the ever-growing cracks on the ground. They could easily fit a shoe in one now, any larger and they were all in danger of falling into the unknown surface below anytime they got up to get a snack or use the bathroom.
If Percy lost it one more time, Nico might risk shadow traveling down one of those. This was probably the longest he'd been anywhere, since those first days at camp.
This would be the day he'd said goodbye to his sister, if he had at all.
And there was nothing in the world Will could do about it to make that better. Especially if Nico didn't want anybody to be there for him.
Blackjack gave me a ride down the beach, and I have to admit it was cool. Being on a flying horse, skimming over the waves at a hundred miles an hour with the wind in my hair and the sea spray in my face—hey, it beats waterskiing any day.
"You get to do the coolest things!" Jason was wiggling in his seat like a kid about to ride his first roller coaster. Thalia looked a little green, he looked so like that toddler... but they imagined it was because she didn't go near the ocean much, considering her dad.
"I'll be happy to race you when we get back," Percy proudly agreed, "but be warned, Blackjack's pretty unbeatable."
Jason's face lit with challenge, there was the smallest moment where the ocean breeze ruffled up his straight blonde hair that made Percy look at his own hands in confusion if he'd done that before Magnus cut in, "I call winner!" Then grandly kept reading so they didn't have to wait a whole year to get to that.
Here. Blackjack slowed and turned in a circle. Straight down.
"Thanks." I tumbled off his back and plunged into the icy sea.
I'd gotten more comfortable doing stunts like that the past couple of years. I could pretty much move however I wanted to underwater,
Percy glowered at the water surrounding him now in betrayal. Whatever Oceanus had done to take that way, he clearly took it personally.
The others sort of did too, because it would have been nice if he'd taken all, or nothing.
just by willing the ocean currents to change around me and propel me along, I could breathe underwater, no problem, and my clothes never got wet unless I wanted them to.
I shot down into the darkness.
Twenty, thirty, forty feet. The pressure wasn't uncomfortable. I'd never tried to push it—to see if there was a limit to how deep I could dive. I knew most regular humans couldn't go past two hundred feet without crumpling like an aluminum can. I should've been blind, too, this deep in the water at night, but I could see the heat from living forms, and the cold of the currents. It's hard to describe. It wasn't like regular seeing, but I could tell where everything was.
As I got closer to the bottom, I saw three hippocampi—
"Is Rainbow and the gang back?" Magnus asked brightly, looking all around the room as if still hoping one would pop up now.
"Did they bring Tyson?" Alex asked just as eagerly, though she well knew he probably wouldn't sneak out of the forges. Man she needed to meet that guy and instill a little fun in him as they swapped design techniques.
"I don't think it's the exact same ones as before, and no," Percy seemed just as disappointed as them. As miserable as he was around camp, it would have been nice to see a familiar face like his brother around if he just dipped into Long Island sound.
fish-tailed horses—swimming in a circle around an overturned boat. The hippocampi were beautiful to watch. Their fish tails shimmered in rainbow colors, glowing phosphorescent. Their manes were white, and they were galloping through the water the way nervous horses do in a thunderstorm.
Magnus's voice was pure longing as he read that. It was something that no matter how many times it was described, he knew he'd still have his breath taken away when he saw them in person.
Something was upsetting them.
I got closer and saw the problem. A dark shape—some kind of animal—was wedged halfway under the boat and tangled in a fishing net, one of those big nets they use on trawlers to catch everything at once. I hated those things. It was bad enough they drowned porpoises and dolphins, but they also occasionally caught mythological animals. When the nets got tangled, some lazy fishermen would just cut them loose and let the trapped animals die.
"Where's Artemis when you need her," Percy scowled, "I bet these fishermen wouldn't pull any more stunts like these if they were jackalopes."
"Poseidon doesn't take kindly to them either, they never give proper sacrifices before being so awful to his creatures," Thalia agreed.
Apparently this poor creature had been mucking around on the bottom of Long Island Sound and had somehow gotten itself tangled in the net of this sunken fishing boat. It had tried to get out and managed to get even more hopelessly stuck, shifting the boat in the process. Now the wreckage of the hull, which was resting against a big rock, was teetering and threatening to collapse on top of the tangled animal.
"I've never heard a better reason to get up at 5 am, not even donuts," Percy said without regret now.
"Baby animals, water skiing at sunrise, you sound like you're living a millionaires life," Will grinned.
The hippocampi were swimming around frantically, wanting to help but not sure how.
One was trying to chew the net, but hippocampi teeth just aren't meant for cutting rope.
"Is there a specific set of animal teeth for that?" Jason grinned.
"My money wouldn't be on a herbivore," Alex shrugged.
Hippocampi are really strong, but they don't have hands, and they're not (shhh) all that smart.
"We'll take your secret to the grave Percy," Rachel chuckled.
Free it, lord! A hippocampus said when it saw me. The others joined in, asking the same thing.
I swam in for a closer look at the tangled creature. At first I thought it was a young hippocampus. I'd rescued several of them before. But then I heard a strange sound, something that did not belong underwater:
"Mooooooo!"
"The cow?" Alex did a double take, once again leaning closer than ever over Magnus's shoulder, obscuring the book with her green hair to get a look.
"Well I didn't say mew, did I?" Magnus agreed as he spat a bit out and nudged her playfully back away. She just leaned right back in and he kept going with a smile for this strange habit of hers.
I got next to the thing and saw that it was a cow.
"Ten points, to Alex learning her animal noises," Jason agreed with the same strange look on his face.
Even those in the know Percy had just stumbled across the ophiotaurus like this were slightly taken aback at the randomness of it all and looked appropriately confused.
I mean... I'd heard of sea cows, like manatees and stuff, but this really was a cow with the back end of a serpent. The front half was a calf—a baby, with black fur and big, sad brown eyes and a white muzzle—and its back half was a black-and-brown snaky tail with fins running down the top and bottom, like an enormous eel.
"Naww," Will couldn't help but coo. So long as the snake half didn't wiggle about to much, he liked to think he'd give Bessie a little scratch on the ears.
"Was Poseidon having fun with his doodles and one came to life?" Rachel grinned at the little baby she'd never seen. It was a great description to start her own outline.
"The first cow Percy's met who hasn't tried to kill him," Alex helpfully reminded as she mentally sculpted the cutie.
"Whoa, little one," I said. "Where did you come from?"
The creature looked at me sadly. "Moooo!"
But I couldn't understand its thoughts. I only speak horse.
"I'm sure there's an app for that," Thalia chuckled, "maybe your dad can download the rest of the sea life if you ask nicely."
"I'll hold off on that until I get a sample of what dolphins are actually saying about me," Percy grinned. "My mom would kill me if I came home learning new cuss words from them, she'd take back her custody agreement."
We don't know what it is, lord, one of the hippocampi said. Many strange things are stirring.
"And this one's taking it literally," Jason agreed, imagining the muck it was swilling around in, plus stirring two different animals into one.
"Yeah," I murmured. "So I've heard."
I uncapped Riptide, and the sword grew to full length in my hands, its bronze blade gleaming in the dark.
The cow serpent freaked out and started struggling against the net, its eyes full of terror.
"Whoa!" I said. "I'm not going to hurt you! Just let me cut the net."
But the cow serpent thrashed around and got even more tangled. The boat started to tilt, stirring up the muck on the sea bottom and threatening to topple onto the cow serpent. The hippocampi whinnied in a panic and thrashed in the water, which didn't help.
"I think I'll take the free trial of that app though," Percy said uneasily as he tried to figure out how to be everywhere at once. Soothing the hippocampi, freeing the calf quickly, and stopping the boat from coming down on them. Some great hero he was, couldn't even save a baby animal from a net without making it all worse.
"Okay, okay!" I said. I put away the sword and started speaking as calmly as I could so the hippocampi and the cow serpent would stop panicking. I didn't know if it was possible to get stampeded underwater, but I didn't really want to find out. "It's cool. No sword. See? No sword. Calm thoughts. Sea grass. Mama cows. Vegetarianism."
"Where is Grover when you need him," Percy chuckled along with them, it was just too precious an image not to.
I doubted the cow serpent understood what I was saying, but it responded to the tone of my voice. The hippocampi were still skittish, but they stopped swirling around me quite so fast.
Free it, lord! they pleaded.
"Yeah," I said. "I got that part. I'm thinking."
But how could I free the cow serpent when she (I decided it was probably a "she")
Percy gave Alex a winning smile, and she graciously nodded a potentially wrong guess was far better than calling the little one an it the entire time he was rescuing her.
panicked at the sight of a blade? It was like she'd seen swords before and knew how dangerous they were.
"I'm guessing people in ancient times didn't greet her with sea grass and vegetarianism," Magnus said in sympathy.
"Why is everything either a bad omen or food back then?" Thalia pouted.
"All right," I told the hippocampi. "I need all of you to push exactly the way I tell you."
First we started with the boat. It wasn't easy, but with the strength of three horsepower, we managed to shift the wreckage so it was no longer threatening to collapse on the baby cow serpent. Then I went to work on the net, untangling it section by section, getting lead weights and fishing hooks straightened out, yanking out knots around the cow serpent's hooves. It took forever—I mean, it was worse than the time I'd had to untangle all my video game controller wires. The whole time, I kept talking to the cow fish, telling her everything was okay while she mooed and moaned.
"It's okay, Bessie," I said. Don't ask me why I started calling her that. It just seemed like a good cow name.
"Duddett, that is the most cliché cow name in existence!" Alex laughed. "Are you going to name Cerberus Max too!"
"So says Alex," Percy shot right back. "The first common, gender-neutral name that comes to mind."
"I make unoriginal look new," she swept a hand through her green hair with a very proud smirk.
"Hey, curious," Magnus said quickly before anyone could ask him to keep reading, "if your name wasn't gender neutral, would you change it every time you switched? Or, like, would you just want to be a guy called Sally?"
"It depends per person," she forcefully reminded again, before smiling at him and answering, "I would be okay with being called Sal, but I've met some who would still go by whatever name they pick no matter what gender. I've met those who identify as male go by Alice and females named Tobias, they all have stories. It, it's hard to explain in a short amount of time..." Her mind hovered over Adrian and she quickly waved for Magnus to go on now.
"Good cow. Nice cow."
Finally, the net came off and the cow serpent zipped through the water and did a happy somersault.
The hippocampi whinnied with joy. Thank you, lord!
"Moooo!"The cow serpent nuzzled me and gave me the big brown eyes.
"Round three of pretending to be vegetarian for a week?" Thalia asked mildly.
"I'll get back to you on that," Percy didn't bother to hide the sarcasm in his smile.
"Yeah," I said. "That's okay. Nice cow. Well... stay out of trouble."
Which reminded me, I'd been underwater how long? An hour, at least. I had to get back to my cabin before Argus or the harpies discovered I was breaking curfew.
I shot to the surface and broke through. Immediately, Blackjack zoomed down and let me catch hold of his neck. He lifted me into the air and took me back toward the shore.
Success, boss?
"Yeah. We rescued a baby... something or other.
"Who wants to bet Percy is not going to actually go home and look it up," Jason almost made a longing moan at the deprivation.
"Not on your coin," Magnus agreed with the same disappointed frown.
Took forever. Almost got stampeded."
Good deeds are always dangerous, boss. You saved my sorry mane, didn't you?
I couldn't help thinking about my dream, with Annabeth crumpled and lifeless in Luke's arms. Here I was rescuing baby monsters, but I couldn't save my friend.
"No good deed goes unpunished," Nico repeated grimly. Annabeth had saved Percy and Thalia's life with that stunt and suffered greatly for it. His sister had died on this quest. The domino effect of that one action had rippled all over everybody's life.
As Blackjack flew back toward my cabin, I happened to glance at the dining pavilion. I saw a figure—a boy hunkered down behind a Greek column, like he was hiding from someone.
Nico felt a rattling breath pass his lips before he could smash them back shut and lock his jaw tight. Here it comes, he knew. This conversation he'd memorized by heart without the aid of the book. 'I'm not holding a grudge Bianca, I'm trying, I promise...'
It was Nico, but it wasn't even dawn yet. Nowhere near time for breakfast. What was he doing up there?
"Studying the architecture?" Alex asked innocently.
Nico didn't react, even to the joking comment about Annabeth that made Percy wince with longing.
I hesitated. The last thing I wanted was more time for Nico to tell me about his Mythomagic game.
Even now, in the midst of his stupid, childish pedestal he'd held Percy on for so long having its greatest weakness revealed in the aftermath of knowledge in this quest, some part of Nico still felt the rejection of that. He'd never been more than a nuisance to his hero.
But something was wrong. I could tell by the way he was crouching.
"Blackjack," I said, "set me down over there, will you? Behind that column."
Percy did care though, Nico knew. It wasn't the love, admiration, and attention he wanted from Percy, but many other campers wouldn't have stopped to ask the dumb kid what he was doing. The Stoll's had only rolled over in their sleep when he left the cabin and grumbled at him not to get lost in the forest.
I almost blew it.
I was coming up the steps behind Nico. He didn't see me at all. He was behind a column, peeking around the corner, all his attention focused on the dining area. I was five feet away from him, and I was about to say What are you doing? real loud, when it occurred to me that he was pulling a Grover: he was spying on the Hunters.
"I hope Grover's not somewhere around there gawking too, or Artemis might have to start filing restraining orders," but Rachel's light quip fell on deaf ears. Nico's eyes were vacant to all around him.
There were voices—two girls talking at one of the dining tables. At this ungodly hour of the morning? Well, unless you're the goddess of dawn, I guess.
"Another reason I couldn't make it there," Alex made a face, "I will not be contracted into a morning person."
"A minor fault of the gig," Thalia grinned with an exaggerated yawn, but no levity was stopping the darkness from seeming to grow around them, like the cracks Percy had made in the ground had awakened something. They'd swear the dim light that came from nowhere was fading.
I took Annabeth's magic cap out of my pocket and put it on.
I didn't feel any different, but when I raised my arms I couldn't see them. I was invisible.
I crept up to Nico and sneaked around him. I couldn't see the girls very well in the dark, but I knew their voices: Zoe and Bianca. It sounded like they were arguing.
"It cannot be cured," Zoe was saying. "Not quickly, at any rate."
"But how did it happen?" Bianca asked.
"A foolish prank," Zoe growled. "Those Stoll boys from the Hermes cabin. Centaur blood is like acid. Everyone knows that. They sprayed the inside of that Artemis Hunting Tour T-shirt with it."
Magnus spluttered in concern and double-checked the print that looked like someone was flicking black paint on the letters, making them bolder by the word and impossible to miss. "That's terrible! They tried to kill her over a game."
"It would only maim or seriously injure," Alex batted her eyes as she said innocently.
Magnus snorted in surprise while Thalia winced and did actually answer, "err, yeah, mostly that. She wouldn't have died so long as she got treatment." Phoebe had sworn revenge on the Hermes cabin though and was no longer allowed back at camp after the last time she'd stolen all of their clothes and spread them in the forest.
"That's terrible!"
"She will live," Zoe said. "But she'll be bedridden for weeks with horrible hives. There is no way she can go. It's up to me... and thee."
"But the prophecy," Bianca said. "If Phoebe can't go, we only have four. We'll have to pick another."
Percy glowered at this disastrous group already having its first hiccup and they hadn't even left camp, but he refused to turn his scowl on Thalia again. She hadn't been part of this conversation, of course Zoe wouldn't offer a hand to him next, and he had to stop blaming Thalia. It was unfair of him to even hope now Thalia would refuse to go without him along too just to fill in numbers.
"There is no time," Zoe said. "We must leave at first light. That's immediately. Besides, the prophecy said we would lose one."
"In the land without rain," Bianca said, "but that can't be here."
Magnus was practically having to read with the book pressed against his nose now, the light in here wavering like someone was flicking with the switch. Will made a gentle, humming noise in the back of his throat as everyone glanced at Percy for being the cause, and Nico forced himself to keep breathing. It hurt, and was growing sharper like the oxygen was fighting him.
"It might be," Zoe said, though she didn't sound convinced. "The camp has magic borders. Nothing, not even weather, is allowed in without permission. It could be a land without rain."
"But—"
"Bianca, hear me." Zoe's voice was strained. "I... I can't explain, but I have a sense that we should not pick someone else. It would be too dangerous. They would meet an end worse than Phoebe's. I don't want Chiron choosing a camper as our fifth companion.
And... I don't want to risk another Hunter."
Bianca was silent.
Nobody would have let him go, Nico kept reminding himself over and over. Not any of them, he was too young, a useless child back then, she didn't want him to go. He could have done nothing to change this, and it wasn't Zoe's fault, it was Bianca's choice.
No matter what he kept telling himself, the hurt she hadn't even mentioned him didn't seem to be fading very well. 'Hard to not hold a grudge when you make it so easy sis,' he pressed his lips together painfully tight to stop himself snapping.
"You should tell Thalia the rest of your dream."
"No. It would not help."
"But if your suspicions are correct, about the General—"
"I have thy word not to talk about that," Zoe said. She sounded really anguished.
Zoe was right, Thalia kept her own bitter thought to herself. It wouldn't have helped to tell her. Thalia couldn't honestly tell herself what she would have done with the knowledge. Had a moment of empathy with Zoe as her dad wasn't the best either? Kept her mouth shut and kept it all to herself as she went out to save Annabeth and leaving Zoe's fate to herself? Been even more horrible to the frost princess of a girl for possibly leading them into a trap? It was an unknowable path, and one she didn't wish to dwell on.
"We will find out soon enough. Now come. Dawn is breaking."
Nico scooted out of their way. He was faster than me.
As the girls sprinted down the steps, Zoe almost ran into me. She froze, her eyes narrowing. Her hand crept toward her bow, but then Bianca said, "The lights of the Big House are on. Hurry!"
And Zoe followed her out of the pavilion.
I could tell what Nico was thinking. He took a deep breath and was about to run after his sister when I took off the invisibility cap and said, "Wait."
Like an angel and a devil over his shoulder at once, Nico morbidly thought to himself. His knight in shining armor appearing out of the gloom, making his heart leap at the sight of him before Nico had enveloped himself in shadows to escape the sight of him.
He almost slipped on the icy steps as he spun around to find me. "Where did you come from?"
"I've been here the whole time. Invisible."
He mouthed the word invisible. "Wow. Cool."
Will tried to give him an encouraging smile and wanted to ask him anything to keep his attention right now, but Nico's dark eyes were glowing an almost concerning purple, backlit in the iris's as the shadows on the wall twisted and shaped into pavilions and tables.
All Nico could see was that cold winter morning, smell the salt and feel the warmth coming off of Percy. How was it possible he could do any wrong when he could be everywhere at once in this world?
"How did you know Zoe and your sister were here?"
He blushed. "I heard them walk by the Hermes cabin. I don't... I don't sleep too well at camp.
Will gave up trying to distract him, he had a really bad feeling where this conversation was going coupled with the chapter title, but he did file that question away for later. Was it still true? The dark bags under Nico's eyes proved it was, and yet he hadn't slept at camp in months.
The others were watching Nico with their own concern, especially Percy as he kept nervously looking from him and away like a bad tick. Nobody else ever seemed to want to, or were able to gaze at him long enough to see such things for themselves.
So I heard footsteps, and them whispering. And so I kind of followed."
"And now you're thinking about following them on the quest," I guessed.
"How did you know that?"
The first of many times Nico had thought Percy knew the answer to everything. He knew better now, that Percy was fumbling along on these adventures as much as anybody in the god's world. Still brave, still a hero, still a good person who would likely stop and ask some dumb kid what was going on, but Percy couldn't do everything.
"Because if it was my sister, I'd probably be thinking the same thing. But you can't."
He looked defiant. "Because I'm too young?"
"Because they won't let you. They'll catch you and send you back here. And... yeah, because you're too young. You remember the manticore? There will be lots more like that. More dangerous. Some of the heroes will die."
He shoulders sagged. He shifted from foot to foot. "Maybe you're right. But, but you can go for me."
"Say what?"
"As if you needed him to tell you that," Thalia muttered, half surprised Percy hadn't already packed his bag to do it himself and sneak onto the bus.
"I really was going to go see my mom first," Percy tried to say that like he meant it, but even to his own ears it felt like a lie. Once he'd heard Phoebe was out, he would have kept the impulse to follow them until they all met in that dark cavern with Annabeth and Artemis.
"You can turn invisible. You can go!"
"The Hunters don't like boys," I reminded him. "If they find out—"
"Don't let them find out. Follow them invisibly. Keep an eye on my sister! You have to. Please?"
"Nico—"
"You're planning to go anyway, aren't you?"
I wanted to say no. But he looked me in the eyes, and I somehow couldn't lie to him.
...those sea-green eyes that had lied to him.
"That famous actor parent must be awesome," Alex muttered as she tried to grin at Nico, but it was like looking at a shape in a dark room, the kind of thing that made your heart skip a beat even as you scolded your brain it was just some clothes on a chair. He looked like he was being shrouded in darkness.
"Yeah," I said. "I have to find Annabeth. I have to help, even if they don't want me to."
"I won't tell on you," he said. "But you have to promise to keep my sister safe."
"I... that's a big thing to promise, Nico, on a trip like this. Besides, she's got Zoe, Grover, and Thalia—"
"Promise," he insisted.
"I'll do my best. I promise that."
A black energy crackled in the room that sent everyone's hair standing on end, a sizzling, dangerous power that blasted an icy chill down each of their spines, except Nico.
He didn't seem to realize anything had happened, still sitting stoically, eyes vacant and pushing so hard at nonchalance as the others shivered while blaming it on Percy's continued sense of foreboding on this quest, even himself.
The lights had gone back to their normal vision like nothing had happened. Jason swallowed uneasily as he glanced at Percy and back to the book that didn't have any new dents on it. Percy was rubbing at his temple, his eyes closed.
Will was watching Nico with sad blue eyes, as the Son of Hades stirred and looked around as if just remembering where he was.
"Get going, then!" he said. "Good luck!"
It was crazy. I wasn't packed. I had nothing but the cap and the sword and the clothes I was wearing. I was supposed to be going home to Manhattan this morning. "Tell Chiron—"
"I'll make something up." Nico smiled crookedly. "I'm good at that. Go on!"
I ran, putting on Annabeth's cap. As the sun came up, I turned invisible. I hit the top of Half-Blood Hill in time to see the camp's van disappearing down the farm road, probably Argus taking the quest group into the city. After that they would be on their own.
I felt a twinge of guilt, and stupidity, too. How was I supposed to keep up with them.
Run?
"Hijack another bus?" Jason managed an uneasy laugh, almost wishing for the nearly inky black space around them now. There was a comfort in the dark, not having to see the pain this was causing everyone. Nobody laughed to light the room a little more.
Then I heard the beating of huge wings. Blackjack landed next to me. He began casually nuzzling a few tufts of grass that stuck through the ice.
If I was guessing, boss, I'd say you need a getaway horse. You interested?
A lump of gratitude stuck in my throat, but I managed to say, "Yeah. Let's fly."
Magnus uneasily lowered the book and passed it to Alex as he looked at Percy. If messing with the lights down here was his new resolution to all of this, he couldn't complain, but the way he was studying Nico left a sense of forbidding in them all it might not be Annabeth he'd been so worried about this time. Hopefully the kid hadn't snuck out with Percy anyways and gotten hurt.
#pjo#Percy Jackson#Thalia Grace#Jason Grace#alex fierro#Magnus Chase#fierrochase#percabeth#fanfiction#reading the books#nico di angelo#will solace#solangelo#rachel elizabeth dare#Titan's Curse
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Back before there were drones how in the world did they get these shots? Easy, when the crew from ABC Wild World of Sports comes to the Gardens for the 1962 All-American tournament, just put up scaffolding that goes up a good ten stories... Climb cameraman, climb! 😀 #waterskiing #showskiing #cypressgardens #waterskithenext100 (at Cypress Gardens, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/Co7x6q_Oigk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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Living near the waterskiing capitol of the world is literally insane I was watching a mst3k short about waterskiing and I was like oh I am 100% sure it was filmed at Cypress Gardens and lo and behold. Also if you’re curious Cypress Gardens is now Legoland but they still do waterskiing there
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Redwood City, California
1974
Water skiers
Marine World / Africa USA
Photograph by Nick DeWolf
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dboo/8681478448
#photography #film #35mm #color #california #bayarea #marineworld #waterskiing #people #1970s
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