Yoga in Virginia

Sylvia had investigated Bikram yoga studios before I arrived from Chicago, and the Falls Church studio was the nearest to Springfield where they lived. Sylvia and Bill, very kindly, drove me to and from the studio each time I wanted to practice, about half an hour away. The Falls Church studio has wonderful energy, and it reminded me very much of our studio in Wellington. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. Joe Clithero, a teacher who went to training with Raewyn from our Wellington studio, very kindly gave me 2 of his classes so I got to teach. It was so good to practice there, and teach.....thanks Joe, and everyone at the Falls Church Studio.

Back to Virginia

I took the Amtrak back to Virginia on Tuesday, 25th August. It was only half an hour late. Sylvia and Bill were at Alexandria Station to pick me up. I had 2 more days in Virginia before heading to New York.

Yoga in South Carolina

I was desperate to do yoga, so off we went to KMart, and I bought a bright canary yellow yoga mat. We left the blinds up in the sunroom at Kate and Willy’s house so that the afternoon sun heated it up, I put on Bikram’s CD, and practiced my yoga. It was great, and the sunroom has been renamed the ‘hotroom’.

Brookgreen Gardens and an Alligator

We went to Brookgreen Gardens, a sculpture garden created by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. They bought Brookgreen Plantation and the three adjoining properties, amassing 9,127 acres of forest, swamp, rice fields and beachfront. Originally, their plan was to establish a winter home overlooking the wide, blue Atlantic, but they realised that beauty and history of the land should be created into something more grand. In 1931, they organized a non-profit institution with their mission: 'to provide a showcase for American figurative sculpture within a refuge for native plants and animals'. A year later, they opened Brookgreen to the public. It is the first sculpture garden in the United States and designated as a National Historic Landmark. Check out the website:

http://www.brookgreen.org/huntington.cfm

We then went to Huntington Beach and looked through the house, Atalaya, the picturesque, Moorish-style winter home of the Huntingtons. Extraordinary, and worth a visit. On the way there, we saw a LARGE alligator.....I had been hanging out to see one, and there he/she was....presenting his/her best side!!!

Charleston

Kate and Willy took me on a day trip to Charlestown. On the way we went to Boone Mansion, a fairly recent building, not quite 200 years old. The mansion has been used in quite a few movies, including ‘Gone with the Wind’. It wasn’t a cotton plantation, the crops they grew were tobacco and indigo. The slave quarters are still there and have been preserved.

Then we carried on to Charleston. I loved it, amazing architecture, huge houses. Kate and Willy took me to a market and on a carriage ride. We saw some of the ‘smaller’ large houses, so interesting. I was intrigued by the houses that looked in slight disrepair. It was HOT in Charleston, around 40C. I would love to go back to Charleston.

Surfside Beach

WOW....it’s stunning. As far as the eye can see, there is beach and ocean. We walked about 6 kms on the beach. I walked bare foot, feeling the sand massaging my feet. Hurricane Bill was threatening, and there was a bit of concern, but while it produced some heavy seas, it didn’t come into the beach. Walking on the water’s edge during the heavy sea was wonderful. Large waves crashing in to me, and then having to brace myself against the strong undercurrent as the water receeded back.

I got reprimanded twice by a life guard for going out until the water was mid thigh....the current was rather strong, but it was so tempting as the Atlantic Ocean was warm. There were the most fantastic cloud formations, and I couldn’t resist the urge to photograph them. Kate and Willy took me on a river tour up the Waccamaw River, looking at old rice plantations that had been producing rice for around 200 years, and that had stopped production after the Civil War when slavery was abolished. Such interesting history, and what a mission it must have been to turn the forest and swamps into rice producing fields. It took up to 10 years before there was any return for the investment. There is still rice being grown, but it is more ‘boutique’. We bought some and I cooked it. It was really delicious. If you ever see South Carolina rice anywhere, try it. It’s really good (and no slave labour is used, so it is a bit more expensive that Uncle Ben’s).

South Carolina

I took the Amtrak to Florence, South Carolina on Tuesday, 18th August. It was a 7 hour train ride, plus 2 extra hours to allow for delays caused by over heated tracks. Now this is the largest first world country, and they have a pretty dreadful train system. The government here has been offering ‘cash for clunkers’ a US$4,500 incentive to people who have gas guzzlers, to replace them with a more fuel efficient option. I reckon the government should have a ‘cash for clunker trains’ here, get some fast trains like they have in Europe. Off the soap box now.....

My aunt Kate and my uncle Willy met me at the station, then we had almost a 2 hour drive to Surfside Beach where they live.

Being a tourist in Washington DC

On Friday, 14th August, we went into Washington DC on the train to look at the Monuments. The first was the Washington Memorial, a white pinnacle reaching for the sky. From there we walked to the World War 2 Memorial, then on to the Lincoln Memorial. We went to The Viet Nam War wall of Rememberance next, and that was very impressive, and sadly poignant. So many names. From there we went to the Korean War Memorial. We continued walking to the Roosevelt Memorial, and then to the Jefferson Memorial.

Arlington

There is so much to see in Washington DC, and it was impossible to see everything. This trip was about monuments. On Wednesday, Sylvia and Bill to me to Arlington National Cemetary. Before doing any touristy stuff, we went and put flowers on my cousin, Russell’s, grave. I never knew him, and, sadly, he was very young when he died.

Arlington is an enormous, solemn place. While we were there, there was a funeral being held, with a horse drawn carriage, flag draped coffin, 20 gun salute. It was most likely for a young soldier killed in Iraq. We walked (in the heat of the day) up to the JFK Kennedy Memorial, then across to the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior where we watched to change of the guard.

Monday 10th August - Virginia and JetBlue.....

I had originally thought that I would take the train from Chicago to Washington, DC, but felt that I really didn’t want to spend 17 hours in the train. So I decided to fly. Shopping around, I decided to fly JetBlue. It should have been all good!!! However, the time I had hoped to save was totally negated by what happened! I was dropped off at the airport at 10:30am, so I could catch my flight. I checked in (had to re-distribute some stuff to get my suitcase down from 53 pounds to 50), then went through security to wait to board. Got to the gate to find out that the flight had been delayed due to mechanical problems in New York (very reassuring), and hadn't even left there yet. My flight was supposed to leave Chicago at 12:15pm and fly to New York. I had a connecting flight in NY to DC. I got that changed to the latest flight, leaving NY at 10:30pm. Worried a bit about whether my suitcase would make it. Anyway, we finally took off at 4pm!!!!! Got to NY, and was put in a holding pattern for 30 mins before landing. People were getting a bit tetchy.

At JFK, I got a sandwich, then settled down to wait, and thought, perhaps I had better check that my next flight was on time. There was chaos at the airport, lots of flights delayed. Good thing I did check, the flight was on time, but the gate had been changed. We boarded at the right time, waited a while, taxied out....and waited on the tarmac for over an hour before we could take off. More tetchy, tired people. Finally took off at about 11:30 pm, arrived at 1:15am or so. Long walk to a shuttle which took us to the baggage claim, and my suitcase was the first one out. My aunt Sylvia and uncle Bill were waiting patiently. Another 30+ minutes to their house, and I was knackered. I went to bed at around 2:30am, but didn't get to sleep until 4 or 5am. I woke up, looked at the clock, thought it said 9:00 am, but it was 11:45am instead! Oh well, I have been pretty lucky with all my traveling, so had to be ‘yogic’ about a little bit of travel adventure.

Lake Barrington with Kaye and Bob

Friday (7th August) afternoon, and Bob, Kaye and Richard (African Grey parrot) took me to their condo at Lake Barrington, yet another beautiful place, for the weekend. Bob and I walked around the lake on Saturday and Sunday mornings (Kaye is recovering from knee surgery, and couldn't join us). Of course, it’s the height of summer, and it’s very hot and very humid. Sunday afternoon, they took me back to Matt and Eleanor’s and stayed for dinner. Thank you Matt and Eleanor, Bob and Kaye for a wonderful, memorable time in Chicago. I love this city.

Baseball in Chicago

Kaye’s mother had won 2 tickets to go see the White Sox play, and Kaye bought me a ticket so I could join them. Again, it was great fun. We had perfect seats, outside, but just out of the sun, thank goodness, because it was HOT. Again, I was fascinated by the crowd, nobody says still, always getting up, moving around, buying the most dreadful stuff to eat - hotdogs (yep, I had one), pretzels with melted cheese, nachos with melted cheese, and, of course, soda’s (soft drinks) and beer. We left before the game ended (the White Sox lost) to avoid the traffic.

more Chicago culture...

On Wednesday, Matt and Eleanor drove me into the city and I stayed with Bob and Kaye Wertz, more old friends. I got to practice a class in town, then Kaye picked me up, and we raced across town to meet Bob at the Millenium Park concert auditorium where we heard a free outdoor concert performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Kaye had picked up a picnic dinner which we ate after the concert.

being a tourist in Chicago.....

Monday, and Eleanor and Matt took me into the city to be a tourist. It was great. We took the train into the city (Matt and Eleanor live in Des Plaines). We went to Millenium Park and the Art Institute of Chicago. The outdoor sculptures at Millenium Park were being enjoyed by many, many people, lots of children playing with the water sculptures. There is an amazing, huge outdoor concert venue. At the Art Institute, we saw an exhibition about wine from Ancient Egyptian times to the present. We went to 'American Decorative Arts, 1920-1970' - lots of Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles Eames and others, then, Ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman Art. Passed by the famous 'American Gothic' painting, and the Seated Buddha. Excellent day.

Chicago 1st - 10th August

I took the Amtrak from Milwaukee to Chicago - practiced a class first, went to lunch, then Carrie dropped me off at the station - the other half of the Greyhound Depot. It was only an hour to Chicago, and Matt and Eleanor Mattison, friends we made on a trip to Indonesia many years ago, picked me up. It was wonderful to see them both - the last time I saw them was 15 years ago. Eleanor had checked out the location of Bikram Studios for me. I went on line and looked up the studio at Naperville, and discovered that Esak, who had been leading a back bending clinic in Milwaukee while I was there, was giving a seminar on Sunday afternoon. Eleanor very kindly offered to take me there, about an hours drive. She did the seminar with me, and then we practiced a class afterwards, Eleanor’s first class. Now all you people out there who say it’s too hard /hot etc, Eleanor is in her 70’s and she did an awesome class, every posture, didn’t sit any out. I was impressed.

Yoga in Milwaukee

I got to practice several classes at Bron's wonderful studio, and Carrie gave me two of her classes to teach. Carrie is a fabulous teacher. Her dialogue is excellent, she has wonderful energy, and really commands the room. I thoroughly enjoyed her classes, and it’s another Group 2 success. Bron has done a wonderful job with the way he has set up his studio. There is a nice, open entrance and reception area with lots of room to sit and wait for class to start. He has two yoga studios which means that he can have seminars on at the same time as a class is in session. There are big changing rooms, with plenty of showers - at least, the women’s changing room is like that, didn’t go into the men’s changing room! I liked the heat and humidity there, made for a good practice. If any of you out there ever get to Milwaukee, go practice at Bron’s studio. You’ll love it.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee is a lovely city, and if you ever get a chance to visit it, take it. I really liked it there. Right on Lake Michigan, it is very green and picturesque. I had no idea what to expect, and I was very impressed. Carrie and Matt live in the city, but they also have a house out of the city on one of the smaller lakes. I spent a few days with them in town, then out at the lake house. While staying with them at the lake, I did something I have never done before.....I practiced a 6am class!!!!! That meant getting up at 4 am to drive into the city, Carrie was teaching. A bit of a shock to the system, and I don’t plan to make a habit of it.......

We did some sightseeing around the city, including seeing a statue of ‘the Fonz’.

Here we are, Carrie and I with 'the Fonz'.

Baseball in Milwaukee - Thursday, 30th July

Carrie and Matt have season seats at Miller Park Stadium to watch baseball, and they took me and a couple of their other friends to a Brewer’s game. It was great fun, all the pre-game, during the game and after the game activities were great to watch. There are food stands, drink stands, and all the baseball merchandise for sale in the shops there. I’m not sure how much of the game the spectators actually watch because people are always getting up and moving around. There’s lots of noise, flashing lights, fireworks, masses of stuff going on around the stadium. Thanks, guys, I had a great time.

Yoga Seminar with Mary Jarvis, August 25

The Bikram studio in Milwaukee is wonderful, brand new, with 2 yoga rooms. The studio is owned by Bron Gacki who was at my teacher training in Hawaii. Mary Jarvis has been teaching Bikram Yoga for many years and is very highly respected in our yoga world. She taught the 8 am class before she presented her seminar. She took us through all the backward bending postures. She had had a serious car accident a few years ago, and used Bikram yoga, with extra emphasis on the backward bending postures, to heal herself, to heal her spine (I think she had 5 herniated discs among other injuries). Her surgeon wanted to operate, but couldn't give her any reassurance that the surgery would help. It took her 2 very patient years, but she did it.

I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to participate in this seminar.

Milwaukee Friday 24 to Saturday 1 August

I was rather apprehensive about taking the Greyhound bus to Milwaukee, and asked Hunter if he would wait with me until the bus left, which he very kindly did. The St Paul, Minneapolis bus station was, well, a little grotty. There was lots of activity, people coming and going, and only one minor altercation between travelers. While I was waiting, a little boy, about 5-6years old, came up to me, touched the blue cross necklace, and said ‘hello, my name is Angel, and I like your cross’. I felt ok after that, Hunter didn’t have to stay, and the bus ride turned out really well. There was a cheerfully grumpy driver, and no delays. The ride took us through some interesting country side where I saw an Amish family on an outing, and at one of the stops, a Hutterite family got on board. The bus arrived on time at the shiny, new bus station in Milwaukee, and Carrie Belanger was there to meet me.