Friday, April 27, 2012

Hammond Ranch Safari Lodge!

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Recently visited the Hammond Ranch in the Save Valley Conservancy in southeastern Zimbabwe.

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The lodges were welcoming and rustic--mine had a loft!

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The peace and quiet was a welcome getaway from Harare.

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For some reason I really liked this ceiling.

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My lodge had a view of the riverbed and serenity all around.

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Hammond Ranch was constructing a lookout next to its dining area.
The ranch specializes in photography safaris (clearly my choice!) and hunting.

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This thing was half the size of my fist and completely creeped me out.

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I apparently have a thing for oddly shaped trees.  The elephants in the Save Valley helped me out by twisting the trees into odd shapes!


For more information on the Save Valley Conservancy.





Saturday, April 21, 2012

Snapshots from the Road

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Passing villages in southeastern Zimbabwe.

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Small farms in southeastern Zimbabwe.  How different the landscape is from Senegal.

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Zimbabwe is filled with stunning rocks jutting out of unexpected places.

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Attempting to capture villages from a moving vehicle...

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More villages.

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The landscape in Zimbabwe is breathtakingly beautiful.

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More villages. 


Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Arlington National Cemetery

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Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, United States.

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The cemetery is a breathtakingly beautiful yet haunting and sobering experience.  

Men and women who served in several wars, to include the American Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, have been laid to rest here.  Others here also include military chaplains, nurses, Civil War contrabands, and countless memorials to those who never returned.  

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The eternal flame marking the final resting place of American President John F. Kennedy and several family members.  
JFK and President William Howard Taft are the only American presidents buried at Arlington.

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The cemetery also contains the Tomb of the Unknowns, or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and many military memorials as well as ones to those from the Space Shuttle Challenger and the victims of the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.

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Arlington House--the former estate of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and his wife.  The half-mast flag indicated there was a funeral the day I visited.
It was a sobering reminder to see the family at the grave, to hear the gun salute, and to feel the chills that 'Taps' evokes as it runs down your spine.

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But the budding new life the flowers reminded of the cycle of life...

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...while the gravestones reminded of the sacrifices given for the next generation.


For more information on visiting Arlington National Cemetery.




Sunday, April 15, 2012

Heroes' Acre

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Hereos' Acre in Harare, Zimbabwe.  It is a memorial to those in ZANLA and ZIPRA who died in Zimbabwe's liberation war.

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Burial is reserved for those declared by the ruling party, ZANU-PF, to be a national hero.
There is controversy over the choice of some individuals because of their allegiance to ZANU, vice liberation war credentials.

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When asked if Robert Mugabe would be buried here, the guide smiled knowingly but stated no spot is reserved and is only allotted after someone dies.

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This obelisk houses the eternal flame, lit at independence celebrations, to depict the spirit of independence.
My favorite fact?  The eternal flame is only lit from 1800 - 0600.

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The monument, memorial, and obelisk are flanked by two friezes depict the struggles for Independence.

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Several graves at Heroes' Acre, many with pictures of the deceased.
While my Zimbabwe history is not perfect, I recognized many of the names of Harare's streets.

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The statue, designed in North Korea, is a monument to those who died in the liberation war.  
It is also the tomb of the unknown soldier.

It reminded me of another North Korean-designed statue from my past.


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Robert Mugabe's first wife, Sally, is buried here at Heroes' Acre.



Friday, April 13, 2012

Oh, come forth into the storm

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Leaving Harare for Hwange, we were greeted by this fantastic storm and rainbow.
It reminded me of this amazing rainbow in Wyoming.

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To be followed by fantastic blue skies only moments later.

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It seemed fitting that upon our return to Harare, storm clouds like I've never seen welcomed us back to the city.

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Storm clouds over a lay-by.

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This storm was breathtaking--you can see Harare in the distance; by the time we entered the city, it was a torrential downpour.

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Most of Zimbabwe's cities have Independence markers on their outskirts.  This is Bulawayo's.

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Ahh, Africa, where trucks are loaded with more lettuce than you've ever seen before.



Inspiration for this post's title:

A Line-Storm Song
Robert Frost

The line-storm clouds fly tattered and swift,
The road is forlorn all day,
Where a myriad snowy quartz stones lift,
And the hoof-prints vanish away.
The roadside flowers, too wet for the bee,
Expend their bloom in vain.
Come over the hills and far with me,
And be my love in the rain

The birds have less to say for themselves
In the wood-world’s torn despair
Than now these numberless years the elves,
Although they are no less there:
All song of the woods is crushed like some
Wild, easily shattered rose.
Come, be my love in the wet woods; come,
Where the boughs rain when it blows.

There is the gale to urge behind
And bruit our singing down,
And the shallow waters aflutter with wind
From which to gather your gown.
What matter if we go clear to the west,
And come not through dry-shod?
For wilding brooch shall wet your breast
The rain-fresh goldenrod. 

Oh, never this whelming east wind swells
But it seems like the sea’s return
To the ancient lands where it left the shells
Before the age of the fern;
And it seems like the time when after doubt
Our love came back amain.
Oh, come forth into the storm and rout
And be my love in the rain. 

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Adios, Hwange!

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Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

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After a wonderful stay at The Hide, we left early in the morning to return to Harare.

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Only seeing the early rising impalas and this bird to send us off.

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Although you'd see signs of life (and death all around): the remnants of a giraffe skull were so cleverly positioned as a dam.

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Or skulls were used as fencing.

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We left Hwange---it's almost easy not to realize if you've left the park.

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It seemed fitting to run into traffic on the road as we left: a beautiful giraffe.
It's impossible not to love the beauty and serenity of Hwange.



Monday, April 2, 2012

Hello, Animals! (Did someone say baby elephant?!!)

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Hello, baby elephant!
Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe.

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Hello, zebras!

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Hello Hwange traffic!

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Hello, bull elephant!

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These zebras were keeping an eye on this lion.

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Elephants are by far my favorite animal.

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Hello, lightning (and animals!)



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