Zambia is a land-locked country in Southern Africa sharing contiguous borders with 8 other countries. After 1911 and British colonization it was part of Northern Rhodesia. In 1964 Zambia gained its independence. However, the people indigenous to the area have their roots in tribes who were there thousands of years ago. The marvelous "upside down tree" was there with those early inhabitants. The baobab tree potentially can live two thousand years. Some can grow to 98 ft. with a trunk diameter of 36 ft.
One of the most unusual sightings I've seen was the interchange between a young hippo and a young hyena in South Luangwa Park. They were too young to know they were enemies and were very curiously checking each other out. There's a lesson in that.
This female leopard was hiding down in a ravine where a herd of puku were peacefully grazing on either side. We watched her crawl on her belly to get from one end to the other; then she carefully pulled herself up to check out her prey.
A baby giraffe can walk minutes after its birth. This Thornicroft giraffe is about 6 weeks old but there is a vestige of the umbilical cord still present. This species is only found in Zambia's South Luangwa Valley and none are in captivity.
One of the attractions for going to Zambia is the ability to go on night drives which are prohibited in several other countries known for big game. This gives you a rare opportunity to observe predators stalking prey, as well as nocturnal animals such as the Cape Porcupine. When threatened, they run backwards to ram their attacker with quills that are aimed in that direction.
The Zambezi River is famous for the danger of its crocodiles and huge hippos but it has a peaceful side as well.
Leopards are considered to be elusive, shy animals that every African safari wants to provide for their guests to view. Botswana seems to possess the more outgoing type as even in the daytime you are likely to cross paths with one. Their agility in trees gives them an additional opportunity to spot game.
Elephants abound in the Okavango Delta. The babies nurse for about two years so they don't stray far from Mama. The females stay with the herd but the males leave when they're 10 or 11.
Lions are also easily found in the Delta. They stay with their mother for about two years before they are mature enough to hunt with the pride.
South African or Cape Giraffes make their stately journey from oasis to oasis in the dry season of the Delta. When a female gives birth the calf needs to be able to walk within 30 minutes to an hour or it will be unable to nurse.
Zebra is the national animal of Botswana. The Plain's or Burchell's Zebra is the only species that occurs there. The second longest zebra migration after the Serengeti is in Botswana. Up to 25,000 zebras travel the 150 miles between two areas.
Rome, the Eternal City, resonates with many citizens of the Western world as many of our traditions, laws, architecture and culture originated in that civilization. Although most photos you see of the Colosseum are of the exterior, the interior is far more interesting. It is amazing how complex it is. There were elevators worked on pulleys to bring up the gladiators and animals that were used in big spectacles. There were awnings that were pulled out to shade the wealthy citizens and those were operated by naval officers as they were considered sails. The inaugural games were held in AD 80 and the arena held 55,000 people.
The Forum dates back two to three hundred years before Christ. It was in the 2nd century BC that the food courts were replaced by law courts and business centers. The Temple of Saturn was where the annual December Saturnalia celebrations were held. During that week people exchanged gifts, schools were closed and even slaves had time off. This is the predecessor to the Christian Christmas.
Villa Borghese and the park around it was designed in 1605. Now it houses some lovely art, one of the most impressive examples of which is "The Rape of Proserpina" by Bernini. The detail of Pluto's hand dimpling Proserpina's thigh demonstrates one of the unique qualities of Carrara marble: the ability to be worked so that it can appear soft.
Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD and ultimately released a hundred thousand times the thermal energy released by the atom bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world and last erupted in 1944. In 79 AD over 1000 people died but exact numbers aren't known. Nor are there precise numbers for the population at that time, but the range is between 20,000 and 35,000. The ash that buried the city is from 13-20 ft. which is why preservation is prevalent.
In a busy city, then as now, there were fast food operations. The holes in the counter are where pots of food would have rested.
The Amalfi Coast is famous, or infamous, for its narrow, winding road that hugs the sides of mountains. Positano is a lovely montage of colorful homes clinging to the mountain with spectacular views of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Capri, just by its name, conjures up images of famous celebrities and their yachts cavorting in gorgeous blue water. The island is in the Bay of Naples and has a lot of natural beauty to offer in addition to delicious food and world-class shopping.
Hill towns are fascinating windows into medieval times. Monteriggioni is one of the smallest of these in Tuscany not far from Florence. It was built in 1203 and was the model for Dante in his description of the deepest abyss in Inferno.
San Gimignano has thirteen towers that make the skyline of this hill town unique. They were built in the 12th & 13th centuries.
The Collegiata, a 12th century Romanesque church, has an amazing array of frescoes that were created in 1367 and were based on Old Testament events.
Another impressive skyline is that of Siena where from any surrounding hill the dome of the Duomo is visible.
Siena is famous for the Palio, the twice-yearly horse race that's held in the Piazza del Campo as a competition among the 17 contrade, or parishes.
One of the most charming hill towns is approachable only by a pedestrian bridge. Civita di Bagnoreggio has become an island in the sky with its volcanic foundation gradually eroding away. It was the birthplace of Saint Bonaventure who died in 1274.
Italy never disappoints and Florence is one of its queen cities. The Duomo is a magnet with its magnificent dome which can be seen from the hills surrounding the city.
The Spedale degli Innocenti isn't as well-known but for hundreds of years the pass through seen here was where families left their babies to be taken into the orphanage.
One of the rarest sights in the city is the Vertical Warper, a device created by Leonardo da Vinci for the silk industry which was a major industry in the 16th & 17th centuries. The Warper is the only one of its kind and is still being used today.
Marbling paper is a beautiful, old craft. Olive oil and water are in the tray. The artisan blends several colors into the mix and pulls the paper through with almost magic results.
In a city of many churches the Basilica di Santa Croce is a standout. Not only breathtakingly beautiful, it houses the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli, to name a few.
No matter how many times I go to Gatorland , near Orlando, FL, I am always delighted by the chance to observe closely the waterfowl there as they mate, build nests, lay eggs and hatch fledglings. The boardwalk meanders across a lagoon with over 125 gators in close proximity. These prehistoric looking reptiles protect by their mere presence hundreds of bird nests. The raccoons, 'possums and even snakes are not likely to risk being in the neighborhood so the area has become very safe for nesting.
The Great White Egrets, because of their size, are very showy when they are in nesting mode. During this stage they have aigrettes, the long plumes growing from their back. Because in the late nineteenth century these plumes were prized for women's hats, the Great Egrets were hunted to the point they became endangered. The National Audubon Society was founded in part to protect these birds.
After eggs are laid the Great Egret has to routinely turn them in the nest so that they are kept warm evenly. Note green coloration on the egret's face from the eye to the beginning of the bill. This appears only during the breeding season.
Snowy Egrets are smaller than Great Egrets. Their feet are yellow instead of black like their larger cousin while their beaks are black and the Great Egret has a yellow beak. Their breeding color at the base of their bill is red.
This unusual wading bird, the Limpkin, is found from Florida down to Argentina. It is usually in marshes and swamps searching for apple snails.
Rich in wildlife year round, Gatorland never disappoints.
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida has been a family haven for three decades. There's not a bad month to be there. Each visit seems to bring special memories.
The rare blood moon was a beautiful sight in January.
Despite the profusion of electronics on the beach, some still find time to build the traditional sand castle.
Although typically the bird life consists of waders and waterfowl, this juvenile Cooper's Hawk landed on a windy, rainy day to check out the area.
And there simply is no better place to record awesome sunsets.
Signs abound everywhere you look. Some give you a hint about the progress made.These are a few recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, this beloved, funky river city.
Few get to see a real implosion so when Baptist Hospital's medical building on Union Avenue was razed it brought the crowds out.
Who could have imagined that the old Sears distribution center which sat empty for over 20 years and was over 1 ½ million square feet could ever be re-purposed. This is a window into the derelict building. Today The Crosstown Concourse houses multiple businesses, restaurants, apartments, a school and artists. Daily over 3000 people make use of the now splendid facility.
And what does the name Memphis bring to mind apart from music? BARBECUE! The Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest draws thousands to the riverside with a number of teams coming from Europe.
Dr. Martin Luther King gave his last speech and his last breath in Memphis. The Lorraine Hotel where the tragedy struck has redeemed that stain with the National Civil Rights Museum within its walls.
The mighty Mississippi which birthed this city seldom overflows its banks to reclaim it but when it does thousands turn out to see its power as it spreads for over a mile wide in front of Downtown.
Brooks Art Gallery created Brooks Outside with 30 vignettes from their collection scattered about the city, reproduced on buildings and walls to bring remarkable
art to the people. This is a scene from Carroll Cloar's "The Wedding".
The Kori Bustard is the largest bird native to Africa that can fly. They generally weigh between 12-42 pounds and are found in Southern Africa as well as Eastern Africa. They seldom fly and forage on the ground for food as diverse as seeds, insects and small reptiles.
The only true fox found in Southern Africa is the Cape fox, also called the silver fox. Typically they are solitary hunters at night so we were fortunate to have a rare sighting in the Kalahari in the day time.
One of the most fascinating experiences we had was time spent with the San people: the Bushmen of the Kalahari. They have survived at least 20,000 years in that arid part of Botswana and Namibia. They started this camp fire by spinning fire sticks to get sparks to ignite dry vegetation.
A South African oryx is also called a gemsbok. It’s a very large antelope that weighs around 400 pounds and is designed for desert life. Despite the long, sharp horns they carry they depend primarily on their speed to escape from predators.
This family of Cape ground squirrels typically forages most of the day. They get the moisture they need from their food instead of drinking water. Their bushy tails serve as umbrellas to protect them from the desert sun. The underground burrows protect them from extreme weather as well as from predators.
Murmuration is an astonishing phenomenon where thousands of birds fly in synch together as of one mind. Redbilled queleas are a type of weavers and sometimes fly in such concentrated numbers it would appear they would knock one another out of the sky in the Okavango Delta.
On a morning game drive we heard the literal scream of an elephant, followed by more screams and trumpeting. A dust storm appeared over the nearby trees. Our driver gunned the jeep. We were afraid something had attacked a baby elephant. As we got nearer the screen of dust we saw a hyena slinking away from its aborted attempt and being followed by enraged adult elephants.
Later we ran across a lioness and her two nearly grown daughters. One had grabbed up a stick and carried it around much as a house cat would with a toy.
Our guide tracked an elusive leopard after hearing the warning call of a kudu. We couldn't believe as we flew through so much brush in the jeep that he finally located the youngster easily camouflaged by the undergrowth.
A pride of 9 lions near our second camp in the Delta took down a zebra during the night. We were able to observe them early in the morning as they gorged themselves on the fresh kill.
