Daily Archives: November 28, 2011

Great Wheel, Travel

Oh. Yeah.

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Samain                           Moon of the Winter Solstice

We have entered my favorite season of the year, the slow slide toward the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year.  Cue Robert Frost.

(Dandelions at Lapatia Bay, Kate)

In Ushuaia the sun did not set until 9:30 pm.  Here it sets at 4:30.  As we traveled south along the west coast of South America, the days grew longer and longer.  The evening I went into Ushuaia to have supper, it was 8:00 pm and still quite light.  People strolled the streets, window shopping, holding hands, glancing here and there at other walkers.

They’re headed for a date with December 21st as well, but for them it will be the summer solstice and the longest day of the year.  I knew this intellectually, but it was the little things, like taking pictures of the dandelions at Lapatia Bay, the southernmost harbor of Tierra del Fuego, that pressed its reality into my experience.  Let’s see.  Dandelions here.  Leafless trees at home.  Spring.  Autumn.  Oh. Yeah.

 

General

Quotables

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Samain                                     Moon of the Winter Solstice

Quotables

Bumper sticker today:    Think about honking if you love conceptual art.

Bumper sticker in Stanley, capitol of the Falkland islands (2,500 people):  For such a small town there sure are a lot of assholes.

Heard on the cruise:  Hope you have a good day.  Reply:  It already is a good day, we both woke up.

 

Travel

20,000 Miles Over the Sea (and some in the air)

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Samain                        Moon of the Winter Solstice

According to the cruise log provided by the ship, we traveled 12, 800 statute miles by sea.  Counting the six thousand plus from Rio to Atlanta and another thousand to New York to get started, we covered over 19,000, close to 20,000 miles in 40 days.  That’s a long way.

It had to be over twelve thousand because we went from 45 degrees N to 45 degrees S (and then some) which equals 90 degrees, then 45 degrees S (and then some, I think we hit 55 degrees S in Usuhaia, if I remember correctly) to 45 degrees N again for 180 degrees which is pole to pole, so one half way around the world or roughly 12,500 miles.  Put that in your story problem folder.

Still digesting the trip, the experiences, its length.  If, as Marita, our guide in Buenos Aires, said, travel makes us bigger, I’m bigger in some ways.  Waiting for the outline of that greater bigness to emerge.