Waitomo Glow Worm Caves New Zealand

#Waitomo_GlowWorms_NewZealand

After finishing up my time on the R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship (read my story on terrykeystravel.blogspot.com) i was told about an inland body of water i should explore by boat

Always intrigued and looking for the odd (funny when you think different....the different finds you 😂)
I thus ended up at the Waitomo Caves

The caves had been known to the local Maori people for sometime but they did not realize the full extent of its system

In 1887 the local Maori Chief  Tane Tinorau and British surveyor Fred Mace ventured into the grotto with a handmade raft plus candles for light
After this, the caves were opened to the public in 1889 and became a very popular destination

The site was run by the Government from 1904 until 1989 when rightfully it was returned to the descendants of Tane Tinorau
Thus highlighting the importance of respecting the cultural heritage of the area

As you enter the caves you have options; take a boat tour, walk the grotto system or even try blackwater rafting (which is the navigating of the subterranean river)

The name Waitomo comes from the Maori words Wai (water) and Tomo (hole or shaft)
Some other interesting facts;

1) The glowworms are not worms, but the larval stage of a fungus gnat which is a type of fly
2) The glow is produced through a chemical reaction in the tail using an enzyme called luciferase
3) Unlike most fungus gnats these glowworms are carnivorous and trap their food by using a sticky silk thread
4) The caves are made of limestone formed millions of years ago from ancient seashells, coral and fish skeletons
5) Rainwater (which is slightly acidic) dissolved the limestone over the years creating the grotto plus its stalactites and stalagmites

These glowworms (Arachnocampa Luminosa) is a species only found in New Zealand.

They attract their prey with the bioluminescent light and are also known to engage in cannibalism adding another level to its life cycle
During the larval stage (during the glowing) the lifespan is up to one year, after that step during the adult phase time is short, females have 76 hours and males a bit longer at 96 hours

Besides the beauty, the Glowworms are extremely useful in the New Zealand ecosystem as they help control the insect populations

The caves are divided into two levels; the upper which is dry for the walking tours
 then as you see the lower section that is filled with water

Some parts of the cave is considered sacred as it was a space used for burials, plus with a tradition of washing your hands in the water to cleanse oneself internally before leaving

After taking on the mighty Pacific Ocean on a Tall Ship (via Bay of Islands) then the waters of Waitomo my job is done here jajajaja

Time to move onto the next adventure

Tuscany Wine Experience

#Tuscany_Wine_Experience

Winemaking in Tuscany dates back to the Etruscan era (550BC) with the Romans later adopting the regions name and played a significant role improving the technologies plus infrastructure ( roads / aqueducts) also by expanding upon the practices of the Etruscans

 With its Mediterranean climate (warm, dry summers and mild winters) the area is ideal for grape growing which all adds up to a world renowned region for its iconic wine
 (plus stunning landscapes and ancient cities)

As i get to Siena my goal was to have some of its famous Chianti Superiore wine served from a fiasco (squat bottle in a straw basket)
Then of course bought a loaf of crusty bread, olive oil and Pecorino Toscano cheese

La Vita e Bella  
(Life is Indeed Beautiful)

 

Tuscany is made up of ten provinces (Florence, Pisa, Arezzo to name a few) with Siena being where  my travels has taken me 
The city is famous for its cuisine, art, museums, medieval cityscape and of course the wine

Because of the fertile land and Mediterranean climate the fruits here taste amazing.
 Everything from cherries, peaches, figs, grapes (of course) pears, apples, apricots and strawberries

I am no doctor but why is life expectancy in Italy so high (84 years on average)
It must have a lot to do with fresh whole foods, drive less / walk more, spend time connecting with family and friends plus maybe a little wine once a day 

Tuscany is home to the famous Chianti Wine Region ( established in 1716) with eight subzones in the area that each produce its own unique style
One of the most famous is the Black Rooster Seal (Gallo Nero) that is the symbol of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium established in 1924

There are many wine tours, but these are the ones i would recommend
Etruscan Coast, Via Francigena or Montepulciano

 But for myself i wanted to explore the ancient cellars, learn the wine making traditions plus the skill of pairings; with cheeses, bruschetta and other regional foods

The countryside here has been the site for numerous films; earning it the nickname 
The European answer to Hollywood
Gladiator, The English Patient, Under the Tuscan Sun, A Room with a View

Also the area was the first to pave its streets (which set a trend for other cities)
Plus its known for its marble, which was used in famous artworks like Michelangelo David

Finally its the homeland of Pinocchio; the wooden puppet who wanted to become a real boy

Local History;
During the Renaissance Period; the modern Italian language that is spoken today was based on the Toscano (Tuscan) dialect from this area
In 1497 when Florence and Pisa were at war with each other, the Pisans thought if they blocked the salt shipments that would cause a surrender
 Florentines just adapted and made bread without sodium chloride 

Geography;
Tuscany has 65% hills plus another 25% are mountains......so bring good footwear
There are seven islands here (Elba, Giglio, Capraia, Montecristo, Pianosa, Giannutri and Gorgona
and the myth behind the making of the archipelago is that the Goddess Aphrodite lost seven beads from her necklace into the Tyrrhenian Sea
You can snow ski in Tuscany in the areas of Abetone and Monte Amiata (2 hours from the beaches)

Here in my Province of Nova Scotia we have our own Wine Region
Because of our cool climate it contributes to the natural acidity in the grapes but the area is gaining recognition for the crisp, aromatic and refreshing qualities

While its no way near the beginnings like Tuscany, the French Settlers here planted the first vineyards  (1611) in the Bay of Fundy area
The modern development started in the 1980s with Grand Pre Winery and Jost Vineyards, now in the 2000s we have experienced growth to 25 grape and fruit wineries

Catalina Island

#Catalina_Island

Catalina is a California Island located just 35kms (22 miles) off the coast of Los Angeles known for its resort towns, dive sites, wildlife and nature trails

KeyTip;
Once you arrive by ferry, if staying in either Avalon or Two Harbors the walking is pedestrian friendly to explore shops, restaurants and sights

 But if you decide to go hiking a permit is required (for your safety and free of charge....look for the Conservancy Trailhead Center)
Trail choices are the following; Country Club Loop, Botanical Gardens Path and the Garden to Sky Hike
 All routes are well maintained with great scenery

For the three plus days trek of 62kms (38.5 miles) you have the Trans Catalina Trail for experienced hikers or backpackers
A campsite reservation is required in advance

Other Options
 To rent a Golf Cart is around $60 per hour and tours are priced per adult at $50
Public Bus is on a demand basis at a cost of $2.00 per rider

 

The island was first claimed by Spain ( you can see that influence with the buildings here)
 It was passed on to Mexico, then finally became part of the United States when California entered the Union in 1850 to become the 31st State

So before USA acquired California it was a province of New Spain, then part of Mexico (after they got independence from their European masters)
All of this adds up to the unique culture and effect you find here

There is a 20 year waiting list to own a car on Catalina Island
 ( there are taxis and hotel shuttle buses)
 But also as you can see, golf carts are allowed on the city streets of Avalon
 ( its only1.6km or 1 square mile in size)

The island is only 35kms (22 miles) long and 13kms  (8 miles) wide so i walked a lot of it until i came upon this
 (in my mind at least it flashed to the song of Stairway to Heaven)
To borrow some of the lyrics from Led Zeppelin;

In a tree by the brook, there is a songbird who sings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven
Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, it makes me wonder
There is a feeling i get when i look to the west
And my spirit is crying for leaving

Catalina is one of the eight Channel Islands (which five of those are National Parks)
so preservation is in the mindset of everyone here

There are four types of amphibians and eight listed for reptiles, plus some endangered species like the Baja California Tree Frog, San Diego Alligator Lizard and Arboreal Salamander

I have always been a Chicago Cubs fan as i guess mostly because of the Wrigley Field with its old stadium and with my love of history
So to know this was once the Spring Training area for that baseball team
 It was like completing the circle so to speak

From the Beginning;
 William Wrigley Jr. acquired a majority of the Catalina Island Company in 1919 which still is run by the family today specializing in vacation packages from boating, ziplining and camping
Philanthropy;
The family invested into developing the island as a tourist destination by building the transportation infrastructure on the land, public utilities, steamship service (S.S.Catalina) and the Avalon Casino
Finally they have also donated 42,000 acres of land (90% of the area) to establish the Island Conservancy for preservation in 1972

Hard to believe but from 1942-1945 the island was closed to visitors and solely was used as a military training base for US Maritime Service, Coast Guard and Army Signal Corps

The Catalina Casino takes its name from the Italian meaning (social club) and is not a gambling site but used as a ballroom that hosts events
The twelve story structure has been entertaining guests for over 80 years and is the signature landmark when you enter the Avalon Bay

There was a swimming marathon (32kn or 20 miles) from the mainland to Catalina in 1927 with a huge cash prize offered by the Wrigley Family to peak interest in the area

To Present Times;
The Catalina Channel event is one of the three iconic races that makes up the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming 
With the other two being the English Channel and  Swim Around Manhattan

Anyone interested needs to submit an application, medical forms and fees at least 45 days before your intended target date

Some fun facts as we get ready to depart;

1) Marilyn Monroe had a house in Avalon
2) Filmed here; The Hunt for Red October, Suicide Kings and The Thin Red Line
3) The only school here is an outdoor based science Marine Institute (CIMI)
4) Bison were brought to the island for a movie and they were never returned
5) The Avalon sheriff area includes their part of the Pacific Ocean to mainland Southern California

Cozumel Beaches & Mayan Ruins

                                                    #Cozumel_Beaches_MayanRuins

Cozumel is a mostly undeveloped Mexican island in the Caribbean Sea but has a great road system with little traffic
So i opted for a rental and even though the check engine light was on, what the heck that was part of the negotiations 😄
Now i did pull the oil dipstick, looked to see if anything was loose, tire pressure visual and so on
Lets hit the highway
 

The Road to the Moon
It was covered with crushed seashells and a resin from the local copal tree to reflect moonlight, allowing for nighttime travel

The ruins featured structures like temples, houses and a kitchen with an architectural style reminiscent of those found in Chichen Itza
This area was a holy site dedicated to Ixchel; who was the Goddess of the moon, fertility and medicine
so because of this the women would make the pilgrimage by canoe to visit this site to hold rituals

While not grand as those on mainland Mexico, it does offer a fascinating glimpse into the culture and history of the Mayans which that civilization (in present times) includes the area of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador and southeastern section of Mexico

What to watch for and avoid on land 

1) Venomous Coral Snakes
2) Bark Scorpios found in trees
3) Black Widow Spiders; they say they are shy....well so am i then hahaha
4) Coati; they can bite you (member of the raccoon family)
5) Ticks and Fleas; can transmit parasitic infections
6) Mosquitoes; can carry diseases

Pulling in for a couple of cool ones, i was told by the bartender that i am getting a  Pacifico pilsner beer with guacamole and crispy tortilla chips

After, i am having some shrimp tacos for the drive back

The reefs were always world class for diving, but after famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau visited the site and declared it spectacular, that increased the area as a top destination for that sport

The underwater area is part of the Mesoamerican System which makes it the second largest only after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
The area is now under the National Marine Park so is protected 

Lots of other attractions here for everyone from adventure parks that has water activities, wildlife encounters, cultural exhibits and ecological exploration

Check Engine was still on when i returned the rental, but with my broken Mexican i told the vendor
No Hay Problema (there is no problem) Si No Pasa Nada (if nothing happens)

Off to my next adventure

 

Haunted Structures of Lincolnshire England

#HauntedStructures_Lincolnshire_England

Always looking for an adventure, so as i was in the Spain region of Costa del Sol having a few pints with some mates from London
They mentioned about the haunted buildings in the northeast area of England, so here i am to find out in Lincolnshire

Gunby Hall

The locals say its haunted as the sightings are linked to a murder involving Sir William Massingberd who thought his wife or daughter was having an affair with one of their servants

In these times there was a distinct social divide between the workers and the families with rules to follow, some ageless sayings; 

1) Tread Lightly; servants should move quietly and do not disturb the household
2) The Business of Life; the role was primarily seen as fulfilling practical needs rather than social interaction
3) No Singing or Romping; no boisterous activities in the presence of the masters family

So all that being said, the fact Sir William was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons and certainly was used to decorum, this incident must of drove him ( as the British say) loopy 😅

Well all is not lost, the house hosts a Haunted Hall Weekend around Halloween so everyone can feel the presence of the spirits at Gunby 

The most famous ghost at Tattersall Castle is that of the White Lady.
She been described as a glimmering woman wearing a white gown and a French-style medieval headdress
Some of the paranormal events visitors and staff  have felt inside the tower are a sudden sensation of sickness, the pushing back feeling of entering a room plus strange audibles like taps and bangs

Also there is story that talks about a secret tunnel connecting the Castle to Kirkstead Abbey
 in which a man enters with his dog and bugle, only to have the scared canine returning plus hearing the instrument playing eerily, only to go silent

The castle had it beginnings in 1231 constructed by Robert de Tattersall, then it was basically rebuilt and expanded by Ralph Cromwell (who was Treasurer of England) in 1406
He chose to use 700,00 bricks which has been described as the finest piece of medieval masonry work in all of the country
 All that remains of the great structure is the 40 meter (130 ft) Great Tower and the moat

In 1910 it was sold to an American buyer for the huge medieval fireplaces, who then had them ripped out for shipping to the USA. 
At the last moment Lord Curzon of Kedleston bought the castle, reinstating the fireplaces (after a nationwide hunt, they were found in London) then gifting the estate to the National Trust in 1925

Bolingbroke Castle was built in 1220, also of importance its the birthplace of Henry1V which adds to the intrigue and mystery
Like most castles, after it was damaged the winning side would completely destroy the structure (1652) so it could not be used again in battle

But not to be disappointed, i found out about a phantom hare that said to be the spirit of a witch
which folklore suggests is the goddess associated with spring

What a great way to end this latest adventure with some of my own paranormal activity
Actually, just caught the lighting correctly to make it appear headless
Boo 

Ta Ta from all my new ghostly friends i made on this journey 

Queen Mary from Halifax to Long Beach California

#QueenMary_Halifax_LongBeach_California

The Queen Mary was launched in September 26th 1934, her maiden voyage was two years later from Southampton England to New York USA
This was the beginning as a career of a luxury transatlantic liner, but then was
eventually converted into a troopship in 1940 and carrying over 800,000 Allied Soldiers throughout the war, including a record breaking trip of 16,600 passengers

The ship was retired by the Cunard Shipping Line in 1967 because of declining passenger travel due to airplanes (times has changed, as the Global Cruise Industry reported 35 million customers in 2024)  Long Beach saw the business opportunity so outbid the scrappers to make it a tourist attraction 

        Past notable passengers of this historic ship; Bob, Hope, Fred Astaire, Elizabeth Taylor, Greta Garbo, Winston Churchill, General Dwight Eisenhower and Jackie Kennedy

Long Beach (originally called Wilmore City before being renamed its namesake in 1888) is part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area but still maintains its own unique character 

The port here is one of the busiest in the world so a huge economic driver, plus a film location with past productions like Titanic, Lethal Weapon, Clueless, Ferris Buellers Day Off and Airplane

They also they run the IndyCar Circuit as the Grand Prix of Long Beach which draws in  huge crowds from within the local area and Internationally
Finally the California State University has a large (40,000+) student body which certain adds to the culture of this growing city (465,000 citizens....7th largest in the State)

Long Beach Yacht Club (that was formed in 1929)  was certainly very accommodating for all my needs Thank You!

After its 39 day journey from Southampton England around Cape Horn to the western side of North America the Queen Mary went under major renovations

The City of Long Beach took ownership and was determined to preserve the historic Art Deco Designs but also to modernize the staterooms
The ship began hosting tours and a portion of its Museum of the Sea open to the public in 1971, then the hotel section started receiving guests  the following year

To present times; plans include developing a large entertainment district with an amphitheater, restaurants, lounges and other hosting venues

This Soviet submarine served in the Pacific Fleet (1971-1994) before being decommissioned and displayed as a museum exhibit first in Australia, then here in Long Beach

Here is the first random connection to my City of Halifax in Eastern Canada

We served as a key location for tracking Soviet Submarines in the North Atlantic
The Canadian Navy played a significate role in the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) using underwater microphones
The city was also a major base for the National anti-submarine warfare operations

 Connection Two;

Samuel Cunard was born in my City of Halifax
He eventually moved to London and in time started the passenger carrying transatlantic service after being successful in a mail route over the same ocean

Connection Three;

The Queen Mary 2 (as with tradition paying homage to its roots) visits us in Halifax during our busy Cruise Ship Season

At one time the Howard Hughes H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose) was housed next to the Queen Mary in Long Beach
 until it was moved to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville Oregon in 1992

It was designed during World War 11 ( almost entirely made of wood.....hence the nickname) with the purpose to carry troops plus supplies across the Atlantic Ocean 
Howard Hughes risked his reputation on the project but did get to see it airborne ( but it flew only once) in 1947 for about 1.6km (1 mile)
But at least he was the pilot that day to have some sense of vindication

Connection Four;

Speaking of disbelievers of aviation ( like Howard Hughes endured) near Halifax is Baddeck Cape Breton (350kms or 217 miles away) 
In 1909 pilot JD McCurdy flew the Silver Dart for almost 1km (0.6 miles) at a speed of 65kms (40mph)
 The builders of this project were part of the Aerial Experiment Association which included Alexander Graham Bell ( yes the phone inventor, as his summer home was in my Province of Nova Scotia) so many firsts happened here in my area