Ghost Towns Around The World

I have always been fascinated with ghost towns.  Maybe it's the calm quiet that surrounds them or the many stories of lives that are left behind.
The monkeys love to go fossil hunting around the Mojave Desert where there are several abandoned mining towns.  Some of them are really remote and hard to get to which makes me nervous.  Others have been made into 'Old West' touristy towns and a lot of the solitude that draws me is lost.
We are in the midst of mapping out and planing a few excursions in the coming months to some abandoned (read quiet) ghost towns.
Here are some ghost towns around the world that I would love to visit:

Chaiten, Chile is a fairly new Ghost Town having been abandoned in 2008 when a nearby volcano started spewing ash. Plans to relocate and compensate the residents are still on going. 

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Varosha, Cyprus was once a thriving tourist town known as the Maras district until the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974.  The whole area was sealed off and became a no man’s land.  To this day a small part of the beach resort is still considered ‘occupied’. 

Prypiat, Ukraine is one of the abandoned Ghost Towns that used to house (over 50,000) workers from the nearby Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.  When disaster struck in 1986 the town was abandoned.  Because of the nuclear contamination residents were only permitted to take paper documents making it a unique glimpse into life in the Soviet era.  (Okay- I wouldn't really want to visit here but the photos fascinate me!)

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Belchite, Spain this Ghost Town was the site of war between General Franco’s troops and the Spanish Republican Army in 1937.  Completely destroyed instead of rebuilding a new village was built near the ruins of the old one.  

Do you like Ghost Towns? 

Have you visited any Ghost Towns? 

What Would You Do With An Extra Two Hours?

When I was in high school I remember hearing this quote: 

Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.

This quote had an effect on me and I vowed to not use the phrase ‘I don’t have enough time’.  Really when you say ‘I don’t have enough time’ what you are saying is ‘I’m prioritizing and this/that is not a priority’.  

In the past few years and especially since I started homeschooling, I have given myself permission to not feel bad when my priorities knock something off the list of things that were supposed to be done that day. Disappointing others is more forgivable than disappointing yourself.  Balancing my health and happiness means that sometimes I have to postpone a play date, leave the lunch dishes out or not drop off the overdue videos at the library.
I think it is important to not make excuses for the things that should matter to you the most.  For me it would be reading, writing, blogging, getting exercise, making my family dinner, hosting dinner parties and a load of of things.  

With advances in technology I think we are generally afforded more time in our day.  My IPhone and GPS alone have saved me heaps of time.  I though this chart was neat: if employees data collection was more efficient then they would have an extra two hours a day. 
If there was a chart like this for Stay At Home Moms and a laundry machine was invented that say sorted, washed, dried, folded and then put clothes away, then I might get an extra two hours. 

IF I had an extra two hours a day I think I would like to either spend more time doing the things I already enjoy doing OR perhaps organize our photos (which is not an excuse, just not a priority).  

 

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What would you do with an extra two hours? 

Guatemala Tikal

Tikal National Park is a Mayan archaeological site in northern Guatemala, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. 

The Mayan city of Tikal is believed to have started around the 4th century BC, and reached it’s pinnacle around 200 to 900 AD when the city dominated much of the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily. By the end of the 10th century evidence suggests there was population decline which eventually resulted with the city’s abandonment.

Tikal is one of the best understood Maya cities because of the discovery of several intact tombs which provided archaeologists with a long list of dynastic rulers as well as well preserved temples and palace. 

Tikal has been partially restored by the University of Pennsylvania and the Government of Guatemala.  Many temples, like this one, have still not been excavated. 

There are also several courts like this one for playing Mesoamerican ballgame 

Most of the time visitors can climb the actual ruins, which is amazing although maybe not so great for preservation, some of the temples that were being restored had steep stairs like these. 

 Here is a sacrificial alter, all fun and games for this guy! 

We went very early in the morning when the wildlife is known to be most active.  We came across a group of Howler Monkeys and Spider Monkeys- all of the photos just look like trees- 
These little guys are called Coati and we saw a group forging for food on the trail in front of us- they didn't seem to be bothered as we walked by- although at one point they got spooked and the whole herd leaped onto trees a few feet off the ground and clung on like koalas.  It was cute.  They are a close relative of the raccoon. 

The boys were fascinated with the leaf cutter ants and I have to admit they were pretty cool to watch

And here is my youngest trying to look natural while the wild turkey called a Crested Guan,  struts behind him.

We arrived early and spent the day wandering around- Being in the moist jungle amid the ancient ruins was a magical experience.  

What is the oldest place you've visited? 

Mother's Day Is SO Overrated

We started a new Mothers Day tradition this year that I hope becomes an annual event. 

On Saturday morning we got up early and started organizing.  The tent was taken down and checked for all it’s components, the sleeping bags were retrieved and flashlights filled with new batteries.  Because we live in the desert we also gathered kindling and wood to pack into the car.  I made sure food was packed, cutlery, dishes, cups, pots and pans.  I packed the clothes for the kids and made sure there was sunscreen and a first aid kit.  I then waved goodbye as Dr. J and the monkeys took off on their camping adventure.  

I closed the garage door and entered my quiet house.  The next few hours were filled with reading, writing, wine, a bubble bath and popcorn for dinner.  I shut my phone off but allowed my computer to stay on.  I needed the computer because with the silence my mind raced with ideas, things I remembered I needed to look up, research- It is so easy to think when there are no interruptions.  

In the morning I woke up at 8:30 (!) to a quiet house.  I read in bed, made myself coffee, did some yoga then might have even thrown in a load of laundry.  I made some phone calls and then waited.  At exactly the 24 hour mark the garage door opened and in burst a cloud of red dust with dirty children and a tired husband.  Mother's Day is so overrated, all I want is peace and quiet. 

I hope everyone had a relaxing weekend! 

Sunlight In My Home

My house makes me happy.  I like spending the day at home seeing different sun spots, shadows and how the sun changes color saturation.  I love that there is sunshine 360 days of the year here.

Do you like watching sunshine in your home? 

Here are more photos of sunlight in my home

Have a great weekend

xoxo Ren

Gardening From Seedlings

During this walk last year we collected several pods and seeds.
I kept them in a jar for a year (in a cool dry place) and this year germinated them and planted them in egg cartons.  I officially have 18 mini trees now.  We are still waiting for them to have six leaves each before transferring them to a proper container.  No sure where I'm going to plant my 18 trees.

I placed them in a wet paper towel, folded over and kept moist. 

After about a week little sprouts started to appear and we then transferred them to the egg carton and soil. 

We also have sunflower seeds that  monkey number one planted.

In this photo my baby trees are in the foreground, the sunflowers are in the middle and a friend bought me these beautiful full grown sunflowers.

What have you been growing? 

Things to consider when planting with kids:

Kids of all ages love to play with soil, digging holes and water.  

Give them free reign on what they want to plant. 

Do some internet or library book research together.

Try to encourage fast growing plants so that they can see progress quickly (sunflowers are very rewarding!)

Talk about bees, insects and butterflies that help pollinate flower and are food for birds.  

Have fun!