When I visit Baltimore, I always squeeze in some birding, even for a short visit. Knowing that, I was so tickled when Kirk told me I was in for a treat, a visit to Birdland!
Yay, Orioles!
We arrived at a huge facility, Kirk told me was called Oriole Park at Camden Yards. OMG, with a name like that, I knew I was in for some fantastic birding.
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
To enter the park we had to go through a security shake down. Never did that on a birding adventure before. Then we were in the park. below you can see concessionaires in the pink building on the left, with the ball park to the right. I looked around and spotted the ubiquitous house sparrows, but hope springs eternal, where were the Orioles? Kirk & Bea suggested begin with dinner at Dempsey's Brew Pub & Restaurant . Well, no birds in there, but OK.
At Dempsey's we enjoyed scrumptious meals. Kirk ordered a round of Bacon on a Stick for the table - and to show me how freakn' cool the appetizers are - and the are! Big thick hunks of Hungarian bacon drizzled with Old Bay maple glaze (you drooling yet?) on sticks stuck in bottles, stuck in a six-pack. Eat enough of them and lose your six pack I say! I tasted one, but now being bereft of a gall bladder, I thought I'd better skip the yummy bacon or I'd later be skipping any birding in favor of hoovering over a toilet. Let's just leave all that here, OK?
Niece Bea and Great Neph James-Allen and Bad-Ass Bacon
After a good meal we headed to the Ball Park next door. I figured we'd be high up in the stadium, so all the better for me to see some birds. Then Bea said, ironically enough, the teams today were the Baltimore Orioles vs. the New York Yankees, you know, 'the bums'. First up, I wondered if Kirk had misunderstood my need to see some birds, thinking I'd said I needed to see something named after a bird. Also, I wondered if there were some unresolved issues concerning our origins, as Bea, Kirk; all of us - save James-Allen - were all born in NYC. That didn't preclude finding out that the whole of my Baltimore family are die-hard Orioles fans. I kept my NYC bred mouth shut and concluded I may have understood Kirk's offer to 'go see the Orioles play'. Silly me.
That's Yankee Chase Headley at bat, and yes, I had to look that info up on-line because I don't know a Yankee uniform or player from a hole in the ground
The Oriole Bird, the official Orioles Mascot. Hum... looks more like a Raven to me
Bea, Kirk & James-Allen kept their baseball dunce of an Aunt up on what happened in the Ball field and on the cool, digital thingmajig scoreboard. I bet the last time I was at a game they used chalk on a blackboard to keep score. What were the two giant birds on the top of the scoreboard... hum. Massive Orioles.
We didn't stay for the entire game, for one thing, James-Allen has to get up for school in the morning. Ah, bless kids for giving adults a reason to leave early - that is 'moi' as I'm sure Bea & Kirk wouldn't have minded staying on. Before we left, they wanted me to take a tour of Camden Park.
The first thing I noted was this sign... not standard American Birding Association or Sibley stuff.
James-Allen risks posing quite close to a bat wielding crow.... um, Oriole
There is a whole playground for kids in the stadium
Aside from the playground, Camden Yards has an area set aside with huge bronze statues in homage to great Oriole players of the past. Cool.
So as the sun set, I had to admit, no one had fibbed to me - I did, after all, see Baltimore Orioles.
You know, I normally visit Baltimore in the Fall. If my niece Ain offers to take me to see her beloved Ravens, I go. You know I won't turn down the chance to watch Ravens at play.
She ought to have known better. I mean really. April I got an e-invite to my niece Ain's birthday party. The part had an Alice in Wonderland Tea Party Theme. Now, Ain lives in Baltimore on that other coast but know what? I get so few invites to east coast 'doings' there was no way I was not going to accept the invite and attend Ain's 35th birthday soiree.
The party was fun! It was held at Bea and Avon's condo (my niece & her hubby). Being a huge Alice in Wonderland fan myself, I was so tickled that Ain too loves all things Alice.
Sweet Alice, I mean, Sweet Ain, styling as the Red Queen
We arrived at Bea & Avon's before the party began, hugs all around.
Bea and Dolores
Bea & London working in the kitchen
The teapot erupting cards
Lots of family and friends filled the home, but you know me, I was mostly taken and impressed by Ain's home made party decorations and favors.
They Painted the Roses Red
Bright eyed flowers - ready to chat up party guests
What's a Tea Party without Cake? We'll never know
Soon the guests arrived. All were encouraged to put on their Tea Party birthday hats. Some did so eagerly - after all, we're all mad here.
Ladies in the alcove, who take their tea parties seriously
Birthday Girl, a true Millennial, on her phone
On the left, Beegee & Dolores, freinds since they were teens
With just one day left for this trip we decided to hit the 'Golden Circle'. The circle is a popular tourist route that hits 3 popular spots: Þingvellir National Park, the Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. All three are an easy day's road trip from Reykjavik. So off we went!
FYI: Þingvellir is pronounced, "Thing-vel-lear". There now we can all pronounce 1/35th of the Icelandic Alphabet.
First stop on the scenic drive was Þingvellir National Park. Not only is the park a UNESCO World Heritage Site but the whole park is seated in a valley that lies between the North American and the Eurasian tectonic plates - GAK! We trusted the tectonic plates would behave for our visit.
Þingvellir Visitor Center under overcast sky
I'll remember the Þingvellir Visitor Center for two things. First the so cool metal disk (in glass shown on left). I have a mobile that has similar metal disks - never mind, long story.
But the main thing I will remember was the lovely young lady from Africa who handily took care of my purchases in English - as do it seems all Icelandic people - then turned to her Icelandic co-worker and spoke a blitz of Icelandic that made my head spin! I know. How silly of me not to expect an African to speak fluent Icelandic - but honestly it was so cool. If I'd had the nerve I'd have videotaped her.
In a nutshell, once upon a time, Þingvellir was a meeting place in the age before the first century, for Icelandics to gather from all over the island.. The area had grazing, water and handy routes that led the various old Icelandic peoples to hold their 'meet ups' the area.
On the right today's tourists travel a path over the lake that leads them to recent age buildings.
Buildings on the site of the old Icelandic Parliament at Þingvellir
Loved the scenery of Þingvellir which included this old, solitary, presumably feral Icelandic sheep.
Next we headed for the Gullfoss, passing at least a couple of bathhouses featuring water from underground hot springs.
Along the road there were geothermal springs and whatever this thing is
Our second stop on the Golden Circle was the Geyser fields of Haukadalur. The Geysers are spread through a field with riverlets of hot, mineralized water crossing the plain.
Yellowstone? Nope, the Geysir field of Haukadalur
Hot water and poofs of steam
The Strokkur geysir is Iceland's retort to Yellowstone's Old Faithful. And whereas Old Faithful's geyser is slightly higher than Iceland's famous Strokkur, the later is far more regular, i.e., 'faithful' than the former, erupting every 8 to 10 minutes as opposed to every 30 to 100 minutes. You show 'em how its done Iceland!
Strokkur geysir erupting in the distance
Redwing exploring the geysir field.
Hiking around the geysir area was like visiting Babel, hearing a dozen languages being spoken by visiters from around the globe: Manderin, Italian, Russian and English (with both British or Southern accents).
The Visitor Center was immense, with restaurants with gourmet and snack foods, vast areas with all the souvenirs one can imagine. But what was my favorite thing in the visitor center? Surprisingly it was not the vast area full of souvinirs - but I bought nothing - I must have been ill.
My favorite thing was the bathroom. What impressed me so much? Nope. Not the instructions on proper use of the toilets.
Like a budgie in a cage, I got the biggest kick out of the mirror, outlined as an Icelandic horse & rider. It is the first thing you see on leaving the ladies room.
The final stop on our 'Golden Circle' tour was the 3rd national treasure, Gullfoss. We hussled through the artistic Visitor Center.
The Gullfoss Visitor Center
... walking down the long wooden boardwalk for a view of the magnificent double waterfall.
Look how gorgeous a natural structure that is Gullfoss - 'Golden Waterfall'. It is terraced and I can't imagine anyone traversing in a barrel and surviving both falls.
The Michelin Woman at Gullfoss
Gullfoss was quite the eye full. The whole area seems old, yet new as they are still building walkways and viewing areas such as the ones shown below.
Still under construction
Quick note, prior to this trip I watched several YouTube videos on 'what not to miss' and we took said advice to heart. Therefore before getting back on the highway to Reykjavik, we stopped to sample the following treats...
An Icelandic Lamb Hotdog with French (Icelandic?) Fries.
a WILDLY generous serving of chocolate dipped vanilla ice cream cone.
Well worth the hype.
What was my favorite view opt of such a lovely day? Not the falls or the geysirs? The ice cream cone larger than my head? Nope. It was the lovely little, hooved dudes & dude-ettes below. We had stopped to see them when I veered off the little highway, so excited I was hyperventilating. There was a small farm in the distance, and a spot where these Iceland horses were lined up awaiting treats (first) and petting (second).
The friendly little line up of sweeties
Finally! I was going to be able to touch, and get close to those darling multi-colored horses! The owner of the horses was there, a six foot plus giant of a man. I bought a little cup of horse 'candy' from him, and when I excitedly fed the ponies, he kept coming over and giving me free cups of the horse candy.
I told the v. sweet giant, that I can't wait until I get my weight down enough so I can ride an Icelandic horse. He made my day by telling that he rides Icelandics and he certainly weighs more than I do. I was so happy to touch these touch-stones of the equine world that I was fighting back tears the whole time (Ah! I get sooo emotional when I get to do things I've only ever dreamed of getting to do).
I said he was a giant!
That's the Golden Circle, traversing from one enchanting site to the next, and all within an easy day's day's drive from Reykjavik. Tomorrow we have to stuff all our stuff and head back home to Sacramento. I am already feeling whiny about wanting to return to Iceland, next time with a goal of go for a ride on an Icelandic pony. I hear there are three horses on Iceland for every person, so I'm pretty sure I'll find one to accommodate me.
