Chicago Gotham City

#Chicago_Gotham_City

As i am taking the Architectural River Cruise, learning many things about Chicago
 (as one local told me) it is what New York wanted to be 😃

A) Movable Bridges: has more than all the other cities in the world
B) Backward-Flowing River; was engineered to reverse to keep the drinking water from being contaminated from the sewage 
C) Ground Raised; was hydraulically elevated several feet in the 1800s to create a better runoff system
D) Windy City; the nickname was first used by the newspaper here to mock the politicians
and not the weather
E) First Skyscraper; the worlds first steel framed tall structure was the
 Home Insurance Building in 1885

 

Gotham 
The name was first used to describe New York City by American author Washington Irving in the 1800s Then in 1941 by the comics to give the Batman series a real time feel to it
So both cities have been used for filming locations, but when here look for theses areas if your a fan

A) Chicago Board of Trade Building; was used for Wayne Enterprises 
B) Lower Wacker Drive; its multi-layered underground streets for the high speed chase scenes
C) Willis Tower; when Batman was surveying the city from its roof
D) Downtown Alleys; with the many used for the fight scenes against the criminals
E) Old Main Post Office; was the "bank" targeted by the Joker

Mag Mile
It was given the name from a developer who was changing the area from its past of mansions
 to a retail destination in 1947
Today it has over 460 stores plus shopping malls over a 13 block
 stretch of North Michigan Avenue

Fun Facts
A) Surviving Construction; the Old Chicago Water Tower (1867) is one of the few to be still standing after the Great Fire of 1871
B) Wrigley; was the first major structure to be built in the area which helped
spark the development 
C) Looking Glass Theatre; the Tony Award winning company in the Water Tower district and with its free gallery exhibits
D) Historic Properties; Drake Hotel, Tribune Tower plus the Palmolive Building

Father Time Clock
Was a gift in 1926 from the Elgin National Watch Company
 who was renting space in the building at 35 East Wacker Drive
Look for the figurine on top, of the bearded man holding an hourglass and a scythe
This represents the relentless passage of time 

The Jewelers Building 
A) Car Elevator; the structure was originally designed for diamond and jewelry merchants
  So it had a vehicle lift going up to the 22nd floor, all to avoid being mugged on the street
B) Al Capone; rumor had it he ran a Speakeasy (running of an illegal bar during the Prohibition era)
 on the top floor
But when that nightclub was opened he was in jail, so impossible
But a cool story😎 none the less
C) Movie Sets; Transformers and its giant robot battle, Batman as the City Courthouse , Home Alone 2 and Lost in New York (even know we know where this location is jajjaja)

Medinah Athletic Club (now InterContinental Hotel)
Was built in 1929 with the intent of a docking space for blimps with a structure on its spire,
but was never used

As Chicago had its own disaster with the Zeppelins, when in 1919 a Goodyear craft caught fire and crashed into the city which resulted in the deaths of 13 people (on the ground -10 bank employees)

Government Council within 6 hours after the tragedy passed an ordinance to regulate flying over the city, thus ending any early ambitions to be an airship hub 

Iconic Buildings

A) Wrigley Building; its clock tower is lit up every night since the 1920s 
The entire exterior is covered with 250,000 individual pieces of glazed white terra cotta tiles
 It has six different shades becoming lighter towards the top, to emphasize the buildings height

If you make it here you will notice no huge sign plastered on the side of the structure, but only a small brass plague as you enter the building
 As William Wrigley Jr. said; the structure itself and its unique appearance with its constant illumination is enough of an advertisement 
I like his style and way of thinking

B) Aqua Tower; has the unique facade that can extend out by 3.6 meters (12 feet) to give it the look
 of a rippling water effect
But it has a purpose; to maximize the views, reduces wind sway and provides natural solar shading which all blends into its sustainability status 
It also has one of the largest green roofs in Chicago, specific glass treatments to minimize bird strikes and a efficient water irrigation system

C) Palmolive Building; was originally built in 1929 and was the headquarters of
Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company
Also the Playboy Magazine was here (1965-1989) with then a residential conversion in the early 2000s

On the roof there was a powerful navigational light aid installed in 1930 to help guide planes into the Midway Airport, which was called the Lindbergh Beacon
After complaints by the local residents of the light (as the buildings kept being built more vertical) the beam was turned off in 1981, but restored in the 2000s and modified
to rotate back and forth just over Lake Michigan 

D) John Hancock Centre (875North Michigan Avenue); has the distinctive X-bracing on the outside This was for structural engineering innovation which allowed a more open concept interior,
 because less fewer internal support columns were needed.
 Also on the 44th floor there is Americas highest indoor pool plus a full service grocery store 
Onto the 94th level for the 360Chicago Observation Deck, where on a clear day you can see
 Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan

Food Choices
Hey when in any new area i am trying what the place is famous for

Deep Dish Pizza
Only started in 1943 and is made upside down to prevent the cheese from burning as the mozzarella goes directly on the crust, followed by the toppings (sausage is the most popular in Chicago) then a chunky layer of tomato sauce which takes 35 + minutes to bake
Rainbow Cone
Its sliced not scooped with five flavors (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla with cherries plus walnuts and pistachio almond) with orange sherbet on the top
During the Depression Era the founder created this idea as to offer something substantial and filling
 He was trying to convince people to spend their limited money on ice cream instead
 on a full meal which would be the same cost
Twinkies
Invented here in the 1930s, but had no more room left inside me 😅

Route 66
The "Mother Road" that starts in Chicago with the Illinois section the first to be paved 
When visiting the city, look for East Adams Street at South Michigan Avenue for a small "Start Historic Route 66" sign on a lamppost

The Beginnings
The idea was to connect hundreds of small rural towns in the Midwest and the West Coast of America
 The planners used the southerly alignment (along the 35th parallel) which was a better route to avoid the more extreme weather and the steep grades of the northern highways
Many Commuters
The growing trucking industry started using Route 66 to ship their goods
Then it was well traveled during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl eras,
 as hundreds of thousands used the road migrating to California
searching for a better life
Finally during the world conflict it was an important military transport corridor, used to move equipment, fuel plus troops to the west coast ports
Post-War Car Culture
The American road trip was born with the rise of more economic prosperity, better dependable automobiles plus the improved highway system, all led to a sense of freedom and exploration 

This started a boom in the roadside businesses like motels, diners and quirky attractions

Some Local Landmarks
Berghoff Restaurant
One of the oldest diners along the route and famously received the cities first post-prohibition
 liquor license in 1933
Dairy Queen
Opened on the highway in 1940 which now the building is now a local landmark
Historic Gas Stations
Look for Standard Oil and Amber-Becker 
Gemini Giant
The classic muffler man as a roadside photo stop

Charcoal Sketch
As i finish my drawing of the city, it is considered the birthplace of modern architecture
 and the skyscraper
 Until we meet again, i will miss your ambience Chi-Town 

Ottawa Canada

#Ottawa_Capital_Canada

Chosen as the capital by Queen Victoria in 1857
 The city has the largest population of bilingualism for French and English in Canada
 They have made both as the official languages here
 
Green Roots
In 1885 Ottawa was the only place in Canada with all its downtown streetlights run by electricity,
 using steam engines that utilized the waterpower from the nearby Chaudiere Falls
This replaced the older coal oil lamps, putting Ottawa ahead
 of any American city at this time
 With modern times, the country of Canada is at 80% for its electricity generation from clean sources
 like hydropower, wind and solar
 

The parliament building roofs are of this color for several reasons
A) Energy Savings; the added insulation provided by the soil and plants significantly reduces energy costs for both heating plus cooling
B) Stormwater Management; acting like a sponge it absorbs the rainwater which helps control the amount of water entering the drainage system
C) Air Quality; the plants absorb carbon dioxide plus other pollutants
D) Habitat Creation; its a living landscape for various forms of wildlife 

Recreation Areas
Over 1300 parks (the city operates) with a wide range of amenities that includes 2000 play structure stations, trails and sport courts
 Also Ottawa has 800kms (500 miles) of bike routes that include multiuse pathways, rural trails
 and some off road options

 

Name Origins
From the Algonquin word "adawe" meaning to trade

Initially the area was known for its fur industry, but that declined with the Hudson Bay and North West Companies moving their operations further north

Original Trans-Canada Highway
 The Ottawa River plus its canal system moved massive quantities of lumber for the British and American markets
Then in the late 1880s the railway network within the country expanded which opened up the industrial growth for the area

Parliament Buildings
Originally constructed between 1859-1876 with the Centre Block being redone after the 1916 fire
The iconic Peace Tower (92 meters- 302 feet high) is certainly the focal point of the structure and was built to commemorate the contributions to the First World War

Fun Fact
There is an observation deck at the Carillon with its 53 bells, which is played by a "carillonneur" and those performances were broadcast live from the tower

The wall is made up of multiple materials, highlighting the stone which came from quarries in Europe,
 United States and Canada
The rock posts and wrought iron fencing were used in keeping with the theme of the Gothic Style
 that was chosen for the entire complex

Hidden Features
A) Secret Passageways; the office of Opposition Leader has a hidden door that is blended into the wood paneling leading to another room
B) Apartment; the Speaker of the House of Commons has a three-room retreat that includes a living room, bathroom and bed
C) Unfinished Elements: after the 1916 fire and its rebuild, the architect intentionally left around two hundred building features (such as blanks walls, windows) unadorned
 saying that the Parliament is a "living, changing institution"
D) Hidden Pub; when the original House of Commons was built the bar was located in the basement, which is now closed 
E) The Clock; during the fall time change in Canada  (the mechanism
 cannot be turned backwards) so it is stopped for an hour to get the correct setting

Found my Emblem for Nova Scotia in which each Province and Territory is
 represented here in stone

Did You Know
A) Nova Scotia; its coat of arms was granted in 1625 which makes it the oldest 
B) Continuous Carving; it has hired Dominion Sculptors for over one hundred years to carry on this work, as it is a ongoing project
C) Themes; with each Provincial or Territorial plaque it always includes flora and fauna, for example maple leaves for British Columbia or wheat for the Manitoba
D) Indigenous; starting in 1978 it has added the cultural and historical perspectives to the carving program of the buildings

Gothic Style
The many figures i found here was common during this architectural style which was aimed to evoke the grandeur of medieval cathedrals and also to the grotesque
To teach about the Good and Evil

Also at this location, some of the carvings where of a hybrid design
that was inspired by the prehistoric fossils found on the site during the construction phase

 Another was of the fish-tailed dragon
 which was in the theme of the structures nautical vibe they were trying to create

The city is home to fourteen museums
 Which as a Canadian is you want your capital to be; displaying our cultures, history,
 heritage and achievements 

My Top Three
A) Canadian War Museum; on November 11th the sun shines through the glass purposely to illuminate the headstone for the "Canadas Unknown Soldier" in the Memorial Hall
Also look on the north part of the building for the Morse Code Windows
which are designed to spell out "Lest We Forget"

B) Museum of History; with over 4 million artifacts including a large collection of First Nations Art plus totem poles, a water gallery featuring a 19 meter (62 feet) long blue whale skeleton 
It has something for everyone

Diefenbunker

It was built during the Cold War as a top-secret central Emergency Government Headquarters that was a four-storey underground facility

A) John Diefenbaker; nicknamed after this Prime Minister who commissioned it, but actually never visited the completed site
Pierre Trudeau was the only one who was here during its operational period
B) Gold & Beer; the lowest level was built to hold the gold of the country incase of a nuclear attack, plus the personal storage of "on site" beer 😀
C) Survival Time; the facility was designed to house 535 government
and military personal up to 30 days 
 The tunnel was purposely designed to be 378 feet long to divert any explosions on that end

Nova Scotia
We had our own Diefenbunker in the northern part of my Province that was built in 1964 for the same reasons as stated above
Now its being repurposed as boutique hotel 

Sparks Street
It became the first outdoor pedestrian street in North America,
after its conversion in 1967

"Full Circle"
 The original owner Nicholas Sparks (who was a settler and farmer)
after he purchased the land in 1821,
created a path so he could walk through his property  

Famous Five
The statues honor the women (Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards) who successfully campaigned to have women
declared "persons" under Canadian Law
Which opened the door for females to be appointed to the Senate

Rideau Canal
It was built as a secure military supply route between Montreal and Kingston after the War of 1812
This was an inland alternative to the St Lawrence River
 which was vulnerable to American attacks

Fun Facts
A) Manual Operations; most of the 45 locks are still worked by hand, as it was when the canal first opened in 1832

B) Engineering Marvel; used a "slackwater" system which was building dams to raise the water levels of the existing rivers and lakes, instead of digging new channels around the rapids

C) Bytown; with this new construction settlement plus all its workers, it brought prosperity to the area
and it eventually was renamed Ottawa 
Unfortunately around 1000 workers died (mostly from malaria) as the area was at this time full of swamps with its mosquitoes

D) Rideau Namesake; French for "curtain" as Samuel de Champlain seen the rivers twin waterfalls which gave him this thought 

E) Beaver Tails; the iconic pastry got its start in 1981 with a kiosk selling during
 the winter skateway on the canal

Climate 
The Capital is the seventh coldest in the world, so in Canada you embrace your surroundings
Thus the canal is the planets longest naturally frozen skating rink, which would be the equivalent
 (in area) to 90 Olympic sized hockey rinks 

Chateau Laurier Hotel
The rumor is the building is haunted after its builder Charles Melville Hays died on the Titanic days before its opening

He was a prominent American railroad executive who moved to Canada in the early 1900s with a vision to build a second transcontinental line across the country
Building the hotels along this route was his plan to elevate tourism plus his Grand Trunk Rail Company
but he never got to see his dream fulfilled 

Hearsay
That the furniture for the hotel was on the doomed vessel, which has not been verified as the ships cargo manifest had it not listed
But for sure the Belgian sculptor Paul Chevre survived and ironically his work of Sir Wilfrid Laurier bust is in the hotel lobby

Catching a ride in the vintage auto, perfect way to end this trip
 with an area that has so much history

South Beach Miami

#South_Beach_SoBe_Miami

The area was started as a coconut plantation in the 1870s, but failed as the rabbits and their other "friends" from the animal kingdom would eat the young shoots
Once this venture ended, the land was acquired by John Collins (and his business friends) who provided the financial backing to connect the island to the mainland
 With this Collins Bridge (worlds longest wooden span that opened in 1913) it started the development of this island from its mangrove swamp beginnings 

 

East Coast Railway
Henry Flagler was the co-founder of Standard Oil, so used his acquired fortune to follow his vision to build a transportation and resort empire in the state of Florida
After he bought this small rail line he progressively expanded south, also building luxury hotels at the stops along the route
 This included St. Augustine, Ormond Beach, Palm Beach and finally Miami

Julia Tuttle
Was a local landowner who convince him to extend his service further south by offering a significant amount of her land for a hotel and his railroad infrastructure
But it took a severe freeze in Central Florida (1894-1895) that spared the crops of Miami, to make up his mind to invest in the region

The Impact
Once the trains arrived the development was instantaneous
 With Flagler helping by building water / power systems, streets and his Royal Palm Hotel
The city then Incorporated in July 1896

Overseas Railroad
Not to be deterred and thinking like an entrepreneur, he decided to extend the track
from the Florida mainland to Key West
The reasoning was to take advantage of its deep-water port that would benefit with the increase in trade, because of the opening of the Panama Canal
This project was called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" which spanned 205 kms (128 miles) with a majority of it over open water via a series of bridges and viaducts
It was completed in 1912 after seven years of construction only to be heavily damaged
 by a hurricane in 1935.

After this natural disaster the company was left in dire financial straits, so sold off the remaining roadbed plus bridges to the State which converted them into Route 1 Overseas Highway

Miami Beach experienced an economic boom in the "Roaring Twenties" attracting wealthy business people and celebrities

After the 1926 Hurricane and Great Depression
The area was built in the Art Deco style, which was a vibrant move forward after all the negativity
 of the past few years
With this bold idea, the city was hoping to attract investors plus tourists as an exciting destination  

Flamingo Hotel
The start of the resort business for the area (by using some interesting marketing ideas) to attract the wealthy and the famous was by the pioneer developer Carl Fisher
He used Biscayne Bay for speedboat races and other themes on his site

Fun Facts
A) Imported Birds; six flamingos from Africa for the park at the hotel
B) Rosie; nickname for the mascot and baby elephant to promote the property
 as an exotic vacation destination
C) Presidential Visit; Warren Harding was persuaded to stay for the entire winter season
 with the persistence of Fisher
He offered "free accommodations" plus highlighting the areas recreational facilities of golf and fishing 
The publicity was a success for both the hotel and for Miami Beach
 as Harding praised the area

 Dark History
A) Rum Runner; Duncan "Red" Shannon was killed by the US Coast Guard
on the water in front of the resort
B) No Jews; in 1935 some players from the New York Giants baseball team were refused entry, until the manager threatened to remove the entire team

South Beach at one time became a retirement community, but later was known for its drug activity 
With its geographical location to the Caribbean, it was an ideal entry point
  for drug smuggling from South America
Then lets add in the cities large Spanish speaking population that would help facilitate
 communication plus assist the trade networks for the cartels, you had an ideal setup
With the film Scarface and the TV Show Miami Vice, it told the outside world not to visit 

But then a major revitalization began in the late 1980s which helped get the Art Deco Historic District designated as a National Register with over 800 preserved buildings
 
Also the city had a growing role as an International Financial Centre with legal business dealings in Latin America, which led to a construction boom in high-rise office towers
Then to diverse from just tourists the Convention Centre was built
 which led to hosting many large gatherings 

Man-Made Land
The area is not "natural" but from extensive dredging and is periodically replenished with sand
from the seafloor to prevent beach erosion

Venice of America
The six Venetian Islands (Biscayne, San Marco, San Marino, Di Lido, Rivo Alto and Belle Isle) were made almost entirely from sand pulled up from the bottom of the Biscayne Bay, which then created the exclusive waterfront real estate

US Army Corps of Engineers
Starting in 1968 this organization has been the "sand recycler" for here, but they know it is a race against time with the increased strength of tropical storms and hurricanes
One solution is to (full circle event) to restore mangrove trees and other aquatic vegetation to work as the natural systems to reduce the storm risks

"The Most Beautiful Boot Camp in America"
During World War 11 (1942-1945) over a half a million soldiers trained in Miami Beach as it was designated as an Army Air Corps Base
The hotels were converted into barracks plus the dining areas became mess halls with the troops using the beaches, the ocean and even the pools for training purposes plus received specialized
instruction on chemical warfare

As i found this layered concrete mural, some fun facts of the Marine Life to be found here

A) Bottlenose Dolphins; only fifty percent of the brain is sleeping during that time
 so they can continue to breathe
B) Sea Turtles;  they get rid of access salt from their bodies by "crying"
which can look like they are shedding tears 
C) Seahorses; have no stomach, so must eat almost constantly to stay alive
D) Clownfish; can change sex in their adulthood

After Hurricane Andrew, local architect William Lane was commissioned to design
(what would become) the iconic lifeguard towers, which have become symbols of South Beach

Each of the 36+ towers have an unique design, shape and color scheme
Falling back on its mid-century architecture history of the area
 plus of course the Art Deco past

Fun Facts

Original Famous Residents
A) Benjamin Green; a pharmacist who came up with the formula for Coppertone

B) 5th Street Gym; training site for boxer Muhammad Ali

C) Gianni Versace: his legacy lives on as his mansion, The Villa Casa Casuarina  now operates as a luxury boutique hotel (with its swimming pool and its 24-karat gold tiles)

D) Peacock Inn; Charles & Isabelle opened the first hotel in Miami (1882)
 The site is now Peacock Park, to honor these trailblazers role in the growing of Coconut Grove

E) Al Capone; put the property in the name of his wife to avoid public scrutiny, as this "famous" gangster was not welcomed in the city
After his release from prison (tax evasion)  he lived his final years in Miami,
 after passing his body was buried in Chicago

Muir Woods

#Muir_Woods_Northern_California

The area is the remnant of the ancient redwood forests
 They can live for over 2000 years, making them almost as old as the dinosaurs

When a local water company had business plans to build a reservoir and log the trees in this area
John Muir asked his friend William Kent (who was a politician,
 conservationist and philanthropist) for help

He ended up buying 600 acres and gave 295 acres to the US Federal Government for protection
as a national monument

National Park Service
Once Kent was elected to the US House of Representatives, he co-introduced the legislation to establish this organization which manages Muir Woods plus other parks and monuments within the country

Annual Rings
It serves as a climate record and captures a trees personal history
A) Light and Dark; together represents one years growth
B) Wide; show years of plentiful rainfall
C) Narrow; harsher conditions
D) Fire Scars and Cracks; a tree struggling to survive

Location
The Redwoods are found along the Pacific coast from central California to southern Oregon
They are best suited to be around 80 kms (50 miles) from the ocean, so then they are protected from the wind, the salt spray and also have a constant source of moisture

Bohemian and Cathedral are the biggest trees here at the Muir Woods

How large you ask
I took this photo purposely with humans to show the comparisons
The highest is over 115 meters (379 feet) with a width of 4.2 meters (14 feet) which makes it the worlds tallest living thing
 The mature trees range in age of 500 to 800, with the oldest over 1000 years old

Sequoias grows larger in bulk but is less vertical than the Redwood 
They can be found in
Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks

Fog 
The Redwoods can only flourish here on the Northern California coast because of its summer fog
as this provides critical moisture during that dry season
So with the winter rains and the floodplains of streams (that periodically overflow)
 this supplies the levels of water that is needed for the rest of the year 

Fire
It clears the forest floor of duff ( decaying organic matter) which allows the redwood seeds
 to reach the mineral soil
It also recycles the nutrients and can enhance wildlife forage
Finally the National Park Service conducts prescribed burning to re-establish fires
 natural role in the forest

Thick Bark
Its spongy plus fibrous which is 15 to 31cms (6 to 12 inches) thick, so it insulates the mature redwood against fire damage, insects and disease

Interesting Facts;
A) The Redwoods intertwine their roots with each other, which helps them gain
 stability and support
 to offset the "top heavy" effect because of their height
B) Despite their massive size they start from very small cones, that are only
 about  2.54cms (1inch) long
C) Some adult trees can "clone" themselves from sprouts, which helps them survive forest fires
 and the effects from other damage 
D) Their enormous canopies can contain an entire ecosystem which supports a wide variety
 of plants and animals

The Sierra Club
Founded in San Francisco 1892 by John Muir
 It had a mission to protect and preserve the wilderness
 plus our natural resources

Fun Facts
A)  Charter Members; had 182 who joined during the first five months with a wide
range of backgrounds.
 A banjo teacher, taxidermist, the inventor of the cable car and even the founder of the Pasadena annual New Years Eve Rose Parade
 All paid an annual $5.00 fee (around $135.00 today)

B) Beatles Song Connection; one charter member, botanist Frederic Bioletti was the first cousin
to the barber in the song Penny Lane

C) Earthquake 1906; the building where the club was founded was destroyed during that terrible event
With the first meeting then being held at the California Academy of Sciences
 which ironically John Muir missed

Environmental Movement
In the 1960s there was a proposal to build hydroelectric dams in the Grand Canyon, which would of resulted in flooding and lost land within the park
The Sierra Club launched a massive public relations campaign which resulted in a compromise among the Colorado River basin areas thus the national reserve was saved

Yosemite Park
The club began a fourteen year campaign to convince the government to put the area
 under federal management
John Muir and President Theodore Roosevelt did a camping trip together in Yosemite, which became a pivotal moment as he showed the Commander in Chief "the value of the untamed land"
After Roosevelt became a strong advocate for conservation
which culminated in 1906 act that combined Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Valley plus the surrounding
 high ground into a larger National Park

10th Mountain Division
Many Sierra Club members provided technical knowledge, training and survival skills
 for this elite unit of the military at Camp Hale Colorado

Alaska
Beginning in the 1980s, the Sierra Club had a major involvement in the states land and the
 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) 
It has lobbied through litigation plus pressuring financial institutions against oil drilling on this land

Today 
In 2025 it has remained active in environmental advocacy
It challenged a permit for a nuclear-waste disposal facility in Federal Court
  and won the case
Pushing for more renewable energy over fossil fuels,
responding to government policies
As the fight continues

United Nations
Signed on June 26th 1945 by the representatives of the 50 original Member States
President Roosevelt was the principal architect and designed it to ensure postwar peace plus security through a system with the major Allied Powers

They used this park for his memorial as the ancient redwoods in Cathedral Grove symbolized
 the Presidents ideals and faith

Quotes from John Muir

"The mountains are calling and i must go"
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks"

Bondi Beach Australia

#Bondi_Beach_Australia

The Aboriginal name of Boondi means "Water Breaking Over Rocks"
Once private land, it was declared a public beach in 1881 after the local government intervened to prevent that right from being terminated

Fun Facts
A) The original blue-green exterior of the Apple iMac computer was named "Bondi Blue" from the colors of the water here at the beach
B) Filming location for many films and the reality TV Series Bondi Rescue, which has brought the area to an international audience
C) In the 1930s & 40s gymnasts would entertain the visitors with their skill in the sand, which led to the term "beachobatics"

 

The Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club

Iconic Ocean Pools
In 1929 the Iceberg Winter Swimming Club was established by the Bondi Surf Bathers members
 Some who wanted to continue their swimming plus fitness regime during the colder winter season
But now both are run as separate entities
Interesting Fact
It requires its members to swim on three of four Sundays per month and must be fulfilled for five consecutive years to maintain your good standing

Bondi Surf Bathers 
Founded in 1907, this volunteer organization is the worlds oldest lifeguard outfit
It has performed over 27,000 rescues to date 

Black Sunday
In 1938, there were 35,000 people on the beach that day because of a heatwave, then a series of massive waves swept around 200 people into the sea
 The 70 Bondi Lifeguards rescued dozens, but unfortunately five lost their lives

The area has always been known for a powerful rip current at the south end of the beach, so much that the locals call it the "Backpackers Express"
 Because the tourists who are unsuspecting or just do not heed the warnings, then often
 get caught up in it

Summer Olympics

In the beginning of this idea to host the Beach Volleyball competition here were met with much backlash plus protest
The area would be off limits for months; with cultural events, local tenants plus businesses would face a huge disruption

But then home town pride kicked in, so the 10,000 seat stadium was constructed in just six weeks
 and as history has showed us;
Bondi was everything the City of Sydney (plus the country of Australia) was trying to project to the world
Fun, Friendly and a Little Cheeky 

Coogee Coastal Walk
From the local Aboriginal word "Koojay" which means stinking seaweed from the decaying kelp that would wash ashore
The infrastructure was the result of the State Government project to create work during the 1930s Great Depression

Few Things to Look For

A) MacKenzie Bay; located as you leave Bondi before Tamarama 
 It sometimes has a sandy beach depending on shifting tides and seasons
 Occasionally staying concealed for years

B) Gordons Bay; it is a protected aquatic reserve and home to an underwater trail
It allows divers or snorkelers to explore by following the chain and concrete drums

C) Whales; from the clifftops plus lookouts you can spot humpbacks during their
migration from May to November

D) Shark Arm Murder Mystery; in 1935 on Coogee Beach when a tiger shark was captured for a local aquarium, it brought up a human arm with a distinctive tattoo.
This led to an investigation that uncovered a complex murder plot

Waverley Cemetery

 

Did You Know

Each type of coin left at a headstone holds a different meaning

A penny signifies that you visited and want to thank the veteran for their service, a nickel left at the grave means you trained at bootcamp with the deceased serviceperson, while a dime suggests you served with them 

The cemetery was established in 1877 and is known for its
Victorian and Edwardian monuments

Sculptures by the Sea
Its the worlds largest free outdoor exhibition

From its humble beginnings;
 The exhibition was held as an one-day event to now with its global reach that attracts
 500,000 visitors each year
It is a temporary gallery that runs for around three weeks each October, as remember we are dealing with the coastal location plus weather so the window to view is short

Moving Forward
The event has a "Decade Club" to acknowledge the artists who was exhibited for at least ten times, with a few reaching Double Decade Club status 

Near the trail look for the Aboriginal rock carvings, which is a form of ancient storytelling 
I read the engravings were done by "Pecking" the soft sandstone with pointed stones or seashells
 then basically connecting the dots to form the lines

Wedding Cake Island
The name is derived from the white caps that break over the rocks
or
 The large amount of bird droppings (guano) which can appear to be like an iced cake

Fun Facts
A) A young pig managed to swim to the island in 1922 then got stranded, with initial reports of noises from the uninhabited rock, a local man went out and rescued the little guy
The next day in the newspaper a nicknamed was born; Porky Crusoe
B) ANZAC Day commemoration, the local surfers paddle out with beer and drinks to toast and honor those fallen war heroes
C) Australian rock band Midnight Oil  did an instrumental song after being inspired by the island, its called Bird Noises
D) Swim Challenge; a 2.4km single lap open water event which many
 consider a "rite of passage" to compete

Sunsets
The vibrant orange and red colors are caused by the suns light traveling through more air, which it then scatters the shorter wavelengths thus allowing the longer wavelengths to been seen

All that being said, Bondi Beach faces east with the sun going down in the west, but its still awesome

Continuing After Sundown
People gather on the north shore of Bondi to have drinks, picnics or watch
 the last surfers catching waves

It is visited by around 3 million people, i feel fortunate to have been one of those
So as they say in Australian "Thanks Heaps" Bondi 😎