Karla Lalim
retired teacher, active in our church, attend Bible Study Fellowship, a grandma, enjoy playing golf, like to play cards, married for 46 years. Lue lisää🇺🇸Rio Verde
    • the square in townBarbary macaque...tailless monkeyvery common to see many of these tailless monkeys on the road to St. Michael's CaveSt. Michael's CaveSt. Michael's CaveSt. Michael's CaveThe Greek philosopher, Plato in 400 BC gave the term Pillars of Herculesview of the narrow Strait of GibraltarSo fun to have this monkey eating out of my hand

      Gibraltar

      25. syyskuuta 2023, Gibraltar ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

      We checked out of our hotel/apartment in Marbella, Spain, and off we drove to Gibraltar, about an hour away. We parked the car on the Spain side and walked with our passport into Gibraltar. Quaint, very cute area! Some people told us it reminded them of being in the UK.
      We heard the fish and chips in Gibraltar were amazing, so we had to try them for lunch. Roy's didn't disappoint. The portions were gigantic and delicious. We even got a picture with Roy, the owner, and he told us what to see and make the most out of our few hours in Gibraltar. We took a taxi tour around to see the highlights.
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    • Ronda, Spain

      20. syyskuuta 2023, Espanja ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

      After one of our morning shifts working the golf tournament, we took a little driving trip to the town of Ronda, Spain, the birthplace of bull fighting. It was the 450 year anniversary this year. Francisco Romero, from Ronda, Spain, is generally regarded as having been the first to introduce the practice of fighting bulls on foot around 1726, using the muleta in the last stage of the fight and an estoc to kill the bull. Only problem was when we went back to get our rental car, we found it up on a hoist ready to be towed somewhere with a police car in front, yelling something to us in Spanish. I wanted to take a picture but decided it probably wasn't a good idea. Scott tried to explain to the tow driver, we don't understand Spanish, or where we could park in town. He wasn't buying it as he didn't speak any English. But what we did understand was there was going to be a charge to get him to release our car. After we finally figured out what he was trying to tell us about how much to pay (it wasn't cheap), we were on our way. We were thankful we didn't need to go to a Spanish police station somewhere and could drive back to Marbella, ready to volunteer the next day.Lue lisää

    • Malaga, Marbella, Solheim Cup

      18.–25. syysk. 2023, Espanja ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

      We arrived in Malaga on Australian Airlines on Monday around noon, September 18th. After getting our rental car at Hertz at the airport we drove to a beach area on the Mediterranean in Malaga where we stopped for lunch. After lunch, we drove to Ona Valle Romano Hotel in Marbella, a 12 minute drive to the golf course where we'd be working for seven days. We had a view of the Mediterranean from our apartment. I marshaled on Hole 10 in the grandstands. It was a par 3, 172 meters or 188 yards . My job was to get the crowd pumped up and quiet while the girls were hitting. "Ola, Ola, and EUROPE!" were favorite chants among the Europeans and the Americans countered with, "USA, USA!" A very fun, manageable, respectful crowd. Scott worked on the tee box for Hole 10, again making sure the spectators were quiet when the girls were hitting and keeping them away from the girls as they left the tee box to the green. Of course, my favorite golfer was Carlota Ciganda from Spain. She was the star of the game. USA and Europeans ended in a tie on Sunday, 14 to 14. Unfortunately, because Europe had won the last Solheim Cup in Toledo, Ohio, it meant they got to keep the Cup until we face off again in Virginia in the USA in 2024.Lue lisää

    • Scott waiting outside the Bathhouse for his Turkish bath
      We weren't allowed to take pictures inside but took this one coming out of the bathroomSpice MarketTurkish teasSee where we bought our Turkish coffee cups.The grounds of the Topkapi PalaceSpoonmaker's Diamondone of many of the Sultans' clothingold wall around the PalaceSultans Mosque...one of the Palace buildingson the balcony of one of the Palace buildingsa beautiful park in the cityBasilica CisternOld houses that used to be merchant houses are converted to VRBOOur boat to the Asian side of Istanbulour Turkish lunchBeer was served in this cool copper mugour waiter was eager to take a picture with us

      Turkish Bath, Spice Market, & More

      17.–22. syysk. 2023, Turkki ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

      There were many Turkish bath houses in Istanbul. We felt very fortunate to have gotten into The Hagia Sophia Hurrem Sultan Bathhouse, which lies between the Hague Sophia and the Blue Mosque. From the bathhouse, it was a short walk to either Mosque. The bathhouse itself is a sixteenth-century Turkish bathhouse. It was commissioned by Hurrem Sultan, consort and wife of the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. The last renovation was in 2011.
      Today, we visited the Spice Market or Spice Bazaar. It was built in 1664. It's a very colorful bazaar that offers countless spices, Turkish treats, which they were continuously giving out different samples to try, soaps, and a variety of other Turkish made items. It was fun to see a Turkish man giving out samples with an Arizona t-shirt on. I had to have my picture taken with him.
      One of the most famous palaces in Istanbul is the Topkapi Palace. It's set on top of the most visible hill of Istanbul and is said to be the symbol of the city. Opulent, decadent, and steeped in history, it offers visitors a chance to get to know the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire rather more intimately. Rather than one building, it was a collection of buildings, each showcasing some of their most prize possessions. The most prized single item is the Spoonmaker's Diamond. It weighs 86 carats on its own and is surrounded by a double row of 49 old-mine cut diamonds. Various stories are told about the Spoonmaker's Diamond. Another amazing structure was the Bascilica Cistern.
      This subterranean structure was commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532.AD. It's the largest surviving Byzantine cistern in İstanbul. It was constructed using 336 columns, many of which were salvaged from ruined temples and feature fine carved capitals. It was amazing how big it was.
      We enjoyed a late traditional Turkish lunch of shish kabobs sitting on mats on the floor. We were wondering how we'd get up, but thankfully, we made it up after two beers🍺😁and we were off to get our massages at that bathhouse to end a beautiful day.
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    • whirling devish ceremony
      a rendering of what the Hippodrome would have looked like, placed in the modern city of todayEgyptian Obelisk of TheodosiusSerpent ColumnInside the Hague SophiaHague SophiaOstrich eggs were used to keep spiders and insects outBlue MosqueBlue Mosqueinside the Blue Mosqueone ceiling in the Blue MosqueBlue Mosque in the backgroundTurkish coffeeBlue Mosque at a distance

      Monuments, Mosques, and More

      16. syyskuuta 2023, Turkki ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

      Today one very popular broad, beautiful avenue in Istanbul that's full of lots of pedestrian traffic along with lots of restaurants and shops was once the chariot-racing center of public life for nearly a millennium and a half in Byzantine and Ottoman times. It was referred to as the Hippodrome back in the day, and several ancient monuments are still standing in this area, the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius and the Hellenic Spiral Column, of which only half of it is still there. Part of the column was destroyed in the 17th century by Christians as it symbolized a three-headed serpent, a god, the early Egyptians worshipped. It's sometimes referred to as the Serpent Column. These date back to 1500 BC and are the oldest monuments in Istanbul.
      Our private tour gave us VIP access to Hague Sofia and the Blue Mosque. We were glad we had this service as the lines were long, and we could avoid them. Both of these mosques were spectacular and different.. It was fun to watch how Turkish rugs were made. Such a labor-intensive process! It was a big decision to purchase a rug, but in the end, we felt we made a good decision and that it would be a great souvenir and keepsake from our trip.
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    • We arrived from Dubai
      Our hotel is behind the blue vaninside the lobby of our hotelthe lobbythe lobbyUpon our arrival, we were greeted with a Turkish tea and some Turkish delightsinside our room...bathroom had a Turkish bath and rain showerview from our roomoutside dining for breakfast or afternoon tea or winethe street on the way back to our hotelOn the way back to our hotel... stray cats and an old shop owner feeding them

      Istanbul

      15.–18. syysk. 2023, Turkki ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

      Loved this city! Culturally so different from the United States! Several mornings, we were awakened with what sounded like some loud chanting. Later, to find out it was the Muslims call to prayer. It happens five times throughout the day, depending on the earth's rotation, among other things. Actually, it's very beautiful and amazing! We stayed at the Dersaadet Hotel in the Fatih area of Istanbul. Apparently, that was the former name for Istanbul, who knew. The hotel's location was great, safe, and in the middle of everything.Lue lisää

    • Dubai

      14.–15. syysk. 2023, Yhdistyneet Arabiemiirikunnat ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

      On Wednesday, September 13th, we left Nairobi at 10:30 pm on an Emirates flight to Dubai . We arrived at 4:50 am on September 14th. Knowing we'd only be in Dubai for a little over 24 hours, we hit the ground running 🏃‍♂️ . Many of the men wore long white dresses with their heads covered in turbans. We often saw them walking or conversing in twos. The ladies, on the other hand, were dressed in full black dresses with their heads covered in black as well. Kissing and embracing out in the open in Dubai is strictly forbidden, and most hotels in the city do not allow unmarried couples to book the same room. One thing that was easy to feel was the wealth of Dubai. The shopping center put the Mall of America to shame with so many high-end shops. We went to the top of the tallest building in the world, visited the Museum of the Future, and took a boat cruise. We stayed at the Marriott Resort Palm Jumeriah, Dubai. The weather was unbelievably HOT. It would have been fun to enjoy the beautiful hotel more, but early Friday morning, we had a flight to Istanbul.Lue lisää

    • the bar at campplenty of room at the barNick and Jolene's celebration partylast night campfiretaking in the safari one last timethe Maasai women selling their crafts at the airporton the plane heading back to Nairobi

      Last Night Surprises and One More Safari

      12. syyskuuta 2023, Kenia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

      On our last day, we were surprised to see some zebras watching us as we left our tent. The last evening meal was a fun celebration and tribute to Nick and Jolene, the newlyweds. Then it was saying goodbye to this camp for the last time. We had a little safari time on our way to the airfield. The hyena was looking back as if he'd miss us. When we got to the airfield, the Maasai women were displaying their wares on blankets, hoping we would buy. Then, back to Nairobi, where we'd have to say goodbye to Nick and Jolene. What memories we have to treasure!Lue lisää

    • the giraffe was quite close to our truckwater buffaloes and a calfwarthog...they were pretty quick, hard to get a good pictureSee the truck! See the water!So far, so good! Right, Jolene and Nick?It was deeper than you'd think.Look who's hanging out by the water looking for a meal.I think he sees something.The water is pretty deep in spots.We crossed an area like this too.I'm surveying the situation. More water to cross!There's wild animals out there.Oh no! Truck broke down. Nick checking out the situationhungry hyenasYou can really see him up close here. Hopefully, he doesn't see us.It's getting dark.Such beautiful BIG animals!Quite a day ending with a gorgeous sunset!

      Truck Breaks Down

      12. syyskuuta 2023, Kenia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

      It's early in the morning, and we awake to a beautiful sunrise. It was a drive from our camp to the Mara River where we couldn't wait to experience the Great Migration. We had a little taste of it the day before, but we couldn't wait to experience more. The terrain was rough, and there was plenty of water to get through as well. We had heard little sounds coming from our truck but kept pushing on. Finally, around noon, the truck we were traveling in gave out, and we were left out in the wild with little protection. Luckily, the wild animals out there didn't know of our predicament and didn't bother us. Many trucks drove by us. Bennett tried to get them to help. After several hours, we jumped on board several other trucks. They took us back to our camp. Bennett was left out there trying to solve the truck problem. It was right after we got back to camp that I realized my phone was missing. We spent the next few hours looking for my phone both at the camp and out in the brush. Thankfully, it was finally found.Lue lisää

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