The Essence of Now / by It’s a Beautiful Day / 1970 After a while the days start to run together. As they should.
But who wants to worry about Time when you’re on Holiday?
Coati in a tree …
Not me.
I just want to smell the … Roses?
And look at the birds …
Enjoy the ocean …
How sweet it is !
“You said something?”
There were about 5 cenote pools on the resort. You could tell that people were once allowed to swim in them, but this had mostly been stopped except for one central lagoon.
Too bad, because on a hot day that water is awesome.
Years back I saw a pure white Heron in a marsh outside of town.
Pure white. It was beautiful!
I knew this was rare because in all my years in Alberta
I had never seen one before – or since.
But what was that bird???
I thought it might be an Egret, but Egrets don’t range up this far.
Upon much investigation I think I’ve finally solved the mystery.
Wikipedia says this: “The Great Blue Heron is found throughout most of North America …”
And it is known that Great Blue Herons can sometimes be white!!!
That’s right. Pure white.
The above images are of a white Great Blue Heron I found on the internet
and aGreat Blue Heron that I photographed in Calgary last week.
I stitched the two photos together so show that it is indeed the same bird.
Amazing!!
Here’s the other pics we shot at the pond.
Rose first spotted the Heron flying across the pond
and I snapped a quick shot.
We watched where he landed and …
… were able to get a couple of decent shots.
He agreeably posed for us.
Great Blue Heron and friends.
Then he headed off.
There’s a big unresolved debate as to whether the white Great Blue Herons are a “morph” or an entirely different species.
I can only show and tell my own experience.
They look identical except for their color.
That’s all I know …
Except that they are beautiful to see.
In the days of camera film that would cost a small fortune, but with todays wonder of digital photography you can just fire away and you’re bound to hit something occasionally.
Don’t see this everyday in Calgary …
We end up throwing a ton of pics away – (some were plainly awful) – and hope to end up with something of interest?
“ECO” – plants and animals – was the big thing at the Resort Spider Monkey lounging in a tree Peacock Hen … not all the animals here are native Unusual looking ducks Not sure why there were so many statues of Buddha around? Chickens and Doves
Most don’t do much damage, but on occasion
can destroy crops, houses, cars … you name it.
This one damaged the garden out back,
but only because it lasted about half an hour.
Otherwise the hail was small – pea size we call this.
Can be golf ball size or larger …
Michael Nesmith
December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021
I swear I just heard this on the news a couple of days ago? Have I been in a Time Warp or something? And I’m certain a few dozen people more notable to History and Arts have passed in the time being, but I always liked this guy. He was a legitimate Artist, Musician, and Songwriter.
Michael Nesmith
Silver Moon / Michael Nesmith / 1970
Of course, Mike had once been a member of the Monkees – who I despised in those times as a commercial Group that was fabricated to fleece Teenyboppers. There’s some truth in that, but it prevented me from appreciating
anything they did. The years have fortunately softened me in MANY, MANY ways however, (thank GOD) and I can now go back and amend some of the prejudices of my youth. One of those prejudices is that I can now appreciate
some of the songs they did. ?
Before I got distracted by those Mayans and Aztecs I was intending to post about our Mexico trip. Those past civs have a deeper pull on me than I knew. And I’m not finished yet. BUT… Day 2: We continue exploring the Sandos Caracol Eco Resort.
This place is big.
It can take a day or two to look around at everything.
Boo Hoo … Life is so Hard
But mostly I was interested in two things: The beach and the Food. I was disappointed on both counts. The beach was rocky with LOT of rocks in that water. It was treacherous to go in there without some kind of footwear.
This was a major disappointment for me because swimming in the ocean is a huge deal for us landlocked prairie boys – and definitely a main reason that I come here.
See !? Rocks. Lots of ’em.
The food also proved not as good as previous Resorts we’d been to. At first we thought this might be another affect of Covid – that has influenced so many things. But when we later went to another Resort nearby the food was excellent. I hate to complain about this because we are SO spoiled in Canada.
Pretty good really.
What!? No caviar?
Other people in this world would consider this to be the feast of a lifetime. It was just not as good as what we had experienced before.
All in all, still a great time.
I’ve decided that in future I will take a lot more Videos instead of Still pics. I’m not very good at videos yet, but it still think it gives a better idea of things than Still images.
Wikipedia says: “The Aztec Sun Stone is a late post-classic Mexica sculpture housed in the National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City,
and is perhaps the most famous work of Mexica sculpture.”
It measures 11.75 ft across … and weighs (54,210 lb).
It is sometimes also sometimes called the Mayan Calendar, but since it was found under Mexico City – which was built on top the ancient Azteccapital of Tenochtitlan – it’s an Aztecartifact.
However Mayanand Azteccosmology were almost identical .
But despite their great achievements in Art, Architecture, Astrology, etc.
the Aztecswere undoubtedly among the most barbaric civilizations that ever existed. At times it’s known they were practicing human sacrifice on a mass scale -ritual murder many thousands of people a year.
That finally caught up to them, and they were slaughtered by an equally barbaric culture: the Spanish Conquistadores.
That’s Karma.
Bad Karma.
But do you really think you could murder thousands and thousands of people for years and there would not be some eventual reckoning?
I think not.
Tip: (And if you’re going to utterly destroy an empire,
be sure you build your stuff on top of it.)
I’d been wanting a Bird Bath for quite a long time.
(I got tired of all the dirty birds around here)
Truthfully though I just love to watch those little birds
splashing around in the water!
I’m sure I could have made one myself and I see lots of ideas for that
on You Tube. But I finally found this one at a local garden center.
Most of the Bird Baths I saw are pretty expensive, but I knew I’d eventually find something that suited my budget and tastes.
So … Here it is!
It’s just plastic, but it looks pretty good.
Cost 60 dollars.
I don’t think the birds will care one way or the other.
We put it out in the back yard and I’m eagerly awaiting our first guests.
Then I’ll take some pics and post ’em.
I’ve had a very fortunate and favoured life.
I’ve experienced many miracles.
But most miracles are not large.
They are small.
Yet no less important or wondrous.
I recall one such small miracle that occurred many years ago.
I was depressed that day. (I think most of us get that way at times).
And I was sitting on the edge of my bed …
thinking about how unworthy I was Spiritually.
Then I suddenly got a nudge:
“Turn on your radio.”
I listen to those nudges.
I leaned over and turned the radio on.
This song was playing:
We are God’s children.
And no matter what,
You are Loved unconditionally.
Forever …
“A single crocus blossom ought to be enough to convince our heart that springtime, no matter how predictable, is somehow a gift, gratuitous, gratis, a grace.” – David Steindl-Rast
Could you spend 4 days under the snow and then just pop up and carry on
like nothing had happened?
I don’t think so.
But the mighty little Crocus does it all the time.
Look at those guys!
Wikipedia says: Crocus (plural: crocuses or croci) … The crocus has been known throughout recorded history, mainly as the source of saffron … It is valued as a spice and dyestuff, and is one of the
most expensive spices in the world.
“Croci!” Really? “Hey Rose, the Croci are lookin’ good.”
That just doesn’t work.
Saffron? Don’t recall ever using that, for anything.
But it’s history is possibly longer than my memory.
“In saffron-colored mantle from the tides
Of Oceans rose the Morning to bright light
TO gods and men.”
– Homer
Life is full of mysteries. The Mayans (and Aztecs) didn’t seem to know about the Wheel. They moved things around by other means?
Click to Enlarge
YET! … The Mayan Calendar is round … A Wheel. In fact, it’s full of Wheels. It’s Wheels within Wheels. But none of them ever hit the ground. Go figure …
We had a good Winter.
Only one cold spell. Not much snow.
Only had to shovel a couple of times.
But Winter never leaves without a passing dump.
Like so …
It’s a cool wind out there today, but per usual, the Sun is shining.
So we might be able to go out for bike ride.
Hope so.
SHAMANIC MUSIC -_Yucatan – Mayan Ritual Call_- Marcus Viana
Pakal the Great
Click to enlarge
We will probably never physically visit Palenque.
Or Rome. Or Greece. or Stonehenge … or a thousand other places …
However !
Through the wonders of modern media we can still
have a visit to all these places without even leaving our homes!
Check this out:
A movable video image:
Native American Flute Maya Drone in E – Daniela Riojas – Quetzalcoatl Flutes
Throughout the the Resort we discovered at least 4 busts of King Pakal, the Great. This might not mean much to most people? But I have a direct recall of a past life here as a Mayan. (I was a peasant woman – not a Queen or King).
And I just love Archeological history.
Otherwise I would usually think that a visit here is just good luck.
But it’s not. I’ve simply returned to a place
where I have an important connection from the Past.
The first statue of Pakal (below) was the Resort entrance.
These busts are a rather poor interpretation of the original sculpture of King Pakal (below) that was found at the famous Mayan City of Palenque.
So we have a pretty good idea of what Pakal looked like.
Four of the statures were accompanied by a plaque
telling us something of ancient Mayan culture.
Click on the photo to see an enlarged image of the plaque.
The Spanish were likely very disappointed with the Mayans
because the Mayans didn’t value Gold – they valued Jade
and thus had very little gold, which is what the Spaniards were after.
That didn’t deter the Spaniards from their brutal behavior however,
part of which they (sadly) burned all the Mayan books they could find.
What a treasure that would be for us now!
Below: Pakal’s jade death mask and jade necklaces found in his tomb.
With the restoration of many the many ancient Mayan Temples,
Cities and artifacts, I’d guess there’s been a strong resurgence
for the Mayan people and their culture.
And though the brutal Spanish chased the Mayans into the jungle
they were not decimated as were the Aztecs.
Click on the photo to see an enlarged image of the plaque.
Below: An artists vision of Pakal based upon archeological finds.
“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe.”
– Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) from Blade Runner: The Final Cut
Flipped on the TV today and the final scene the film ClassicBlade Runner was showing. This was a somewhat of a coincidence since last night I had watched “The Last Duel” (2022) also Directed by Ridley Scott. (It’s not a Classic and I won’t be watching it again.)
This version of Blade Runnerwas Director Ridley Scott’sFinal Cut (2007).
I favor the Originalversion however, and I’ll tell you why.
Blade Runner Original 1982 posterBlade Runner – The Director’s Cut Poster 2007
Wikipedia says:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blade_Runner
“Versions of Blade Runner:
Edited by me (MFW):
Several versions of Blade Runner have been shown. The original workprint version (1982, 113 minutes) was shown for audience test previews … in 1982. Negative responses to the previews led to the modificationsresulting in the U.S. theatrical version. The workprint was shown as a “director’s cut” without Scott’s approval … in April 1991, … Positive responses pushed the studio to approve work on anofficial director’s cut. A Sneak Preview was shown only once, in 1982, and was almost identical to the U.S. theatrical version but contained three extra scenes not shown in any other version, including the 2007 Final Cut.
(Confused yet?)
Two versions were shown in the film’s 1982 theatrical release: the U.S. theatrical version (117 minutes), known as the original version or Domestic Cut, and the International Cut (117 minutes), also known as the “Criterion Edition” or “uncut version“, which included more violent action scenes than the U.S. version … The International Cutwas later released and Criterion CollectioninNorth America, and re-released in 1992as a “10th Anniversary Edition“.
Ridley Scott’s Director’s Cut (1992, 116 minutes) had significant changesfrom the theatrical version including the removal of Deckard’s voice-over, the re-insertion of the unicorn sequence, and the removal of the studio-imposed happy ending. Scott provided extensive notes and consultation to Warner Bros. in creating the Director’s Cut.
Scott’s definitive The Final Cut (2007, 117 minutes) was released by Warner Bros. theatrically in 2007, and subsequently released in 2007. This is the only version over which Scott had complete artistic and editorial control.”
(Whew!)
OK. However, strangely?, I can’t recommend Scott’s Final Cut (2007)Firstly because I liked Harrison Ford’s “voice-over” narration in the original. Secondly, because I also liked the original ending in which Deckard (Ford) reveals how Rachael was “special” – she had an extended (eternal?) lifespan – unlike other Replicants. A happy ending. That worked for me.
Like “tears in the rain”.
In all, I wonder how many viewers eventually figured out that Deckard (Ford) himself is a Replicant? This is what made him “the good one” as a Replicant hunter – and also tells us how he was being blackmailed by the authorities into doing so.
Despite it’s versions and variations … still a Classic.
Travelling.
It’s such fun.
So here’s what you do:
Get up and 6:00 am. (In the dark)
Call Taxi. Load bags.
Go to Airport.
Haul bags in; Check in;
Go through Security; Covid crap; etc. etc.
Then Wait.
At about 11 am. you get on the plane.
Plane gets de-iced.
Takes Off.
Flys South across the US.
Crosses Time Zones.
Are we there yet? Is that Florida?
Arrive in Mexico at 8:00 pm.
5 and a half hour flight.
Get Taxi. Go to Resort.
Sandos Caracol Eco Resort
Outside I take a blurry pic (or is it just me?)
of Mayan King Pakal.
In the Lobby:
Check In: 10:00 pm. (In the dark)
16 Hours travel time?
Theme of the Resort is posted in Lobby.
“ECO” – Nature is the theme here. Jungle and animals.
Lobby pics.
Pardon my poor photos.
I hope they will still give you an idea of the place:
Looks pretty nice.
But we’re tired and hungry.
Grab a bite. Head to our Room.
The first thing we really wanted to see:
Did I ever dream I would be having such experiences?
Never.
Daffodils, That come before the swallow dares, and take the winds of March with beauty. ~ William Shakespeare
The steeds are out of the barn.
My SteedRose’s Steed
The Bow River / Calgary. Used to be that I would shortcut across here in the Winter. And I could judge if it was Spring or not when the ice disappeared.
The water on one side of Prince’s Island. In Grade 3, my brothers and I played hockey here. It was a slough back then – where people threw junk and garbage. It made for an interesting hockey game though, stickhandling around tires and stuff sticking up through the ice.