St. Patrick's Cathedral and Marsh's Library

If you're a writer, and happen to visit Dublin, there are two places that you should not miss because of the literary history behind it. One is St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the other, Marsh's Library. They are next to each other, and you only have to pay once to see both.

Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin has been around since the late 12th century, and is where the Irish writer, Johnathan Swift, who wrote Gulliver's Travels, is buried. I remember reading Swift's book in Farsi when I was a kid, and getting lost in his story.

 

Swift's companion, an Englishwoman named Esther Johnson aka Stella, who died before he did, was the first to be buried at the cathedral. Swift had a difficult time handling her death, and asked to be buried next to her upon his death. So, was it a love story, or a friendship? There have been speculations that the two were married secretly, but no one can verify it. History just refers to the two as being "close friends," or having a "deep friendship."

There was a wedding going on, and the staff had roped off a section. Everyone had to wait before they were allowed in. 

Ireland's first public library, Marsh's Library, was built in the early 1700s, and carries rare, and unusual books dating back to the 16th century. Before this library, access to libraries usually belonged to scholars, clergymen, and the upper class. For more than 100 years, this was the only public library in Ireland. The picture you see hanging on the wall is a photo of Arch Bishop Narcissus Marsh who founded the library.

Legend has it that the ghost of Marsh walks around at night, looking for a letter that his niece left him. His niece fell in love, and eloped with a sea captain, because Marsh didn't approve of him. She wrote a letter to her uncle, asking for his forgiveness, and left it in a book that he never found.

The librarians also serve as custodians who work hard to preserve the library, and the books. The books are located in the same location where they were hundreds of years ago.

It's a small Library. People were allowed to use it, but due to theft, researchers must now make an appointment to use the reading room. Bram Stoker, James Joyce, and Oliver Swift visited the library for literary research. There are library cages where readers were locked in to prevent theft. Some books have bullet holes from the 1916 Easter Rising when the Irish rose against British rule. In the late 18th century, an Egyptian mummy—a man with a missing head and partial arm—was found in a cupboard. The staff named him Maurice.

Passion vs. Trends

(Image by Stockcake)

As a writer: Would you compromise your passion for trends? I was reading an article the other day about how romance books sell much better than other genre, and how, many readers today prefer writers who write in first person even when they're writing a steamy sex scene. One of the readers who was interviewed said that she only reads books written from first person perspective because she can connect better to the story. She also said that she liked uncomplicated books because she didn't want to think. She just wanted a place where she could escape. So, should all writer rush to write from first person point of view, or write simplistic stories?

As a writer: Okay, let's hold off on that response because I want to introduce something else. I was at a writers conference awhile back, and one of the speakers was a screenwriter named Gary. He was funny, and cracked a lot of jokes. But one thing that stuck in my mind from his lecture was the story he told us about his friend who was also a screenwriter. His friend was looking for work, and started to call around to find someone who was interested in him writing a script about G.I. Joe action figure. He was told that someone else had already been commissioned to do that, but if he was willing to write about this other toy—let's call it Molly—they would consider purchasing his script. Months go by, and one day Gary calls his friend to see how he was doing. His friend said that he was about to hang the doll, and himself, because he was tired of staring at a blank page.

As a reader: Years ago, a friend of mine, who loved to read, and write, gave me a book she had enjoyed reading—Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. I have never been into vampires unless it's Halloween, and I want to dress as one, but my friend who knew this about me, insisted that I read the book. I picked up the book reluctantly, and before I knew it, I finished it in two days. I enjoyed the writer's voice, and found the plot fascinating. So, Anne Rice drew me into her story, and I couldn't put the book down.

As a business: Yes, writing is also a business, but should you kill your creativity, and write what the trends dictate? It's a tough decision when you have bills to pay. Yet, at the same time, it squashes the creative process. And I'm sure that there are writers out there who write manuscripts that they are not passionate about. There is no judgement here. We are all different, and our needs, and desires are different. Nothing wrong with that.

As for me, I have to be passionate about what I write. Otherwise, I would produce mediocre work, at best. I rather have another job that would support my writing career, than to write just to please others. Because I think if I write an intriguing story, I can open up the readers mind to a whole new world, by drawing them in.

I think a writer's job is not just to tell a story, but to let the reader learn something new, something they didn't know much about. And if done right, the reader can still sit back, and lose themselves without being forced to think. 

Tchaikovsky and Acrobatics

When my friend and I first arrived, we both had a long day. We joked about how we almost fell asleep in our seats when the lights were turned down, the night fell upon us, and the relaxing music started.

The conductor, Chloé Dufresne, who is also the music director of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and who recently debuted with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, led the orchestra. When Chloé spoke, she read with a French accent off of the notes in her hand. She said that she had just moved to the U.S, and what surprised her was that everything was so much bigger. Everyone laughed. She was humble, talented, and continued to use humor to talk about Tchaikovsky's music, and his background.

Performers were members of Troupe Vertigo, based in Los Angeles. They work with different orchestras, and coordinate their movements to the musical composition of the ensemble. Their artistic director, Aloysia Gavre, is the former director of Cirque du Soleil.

I had to cut, and compress these videos in order to fit blogger, which means that I had to pick and choose. Everything I posted here, according to my opinion, were some of their best work.

The fireworks at the end were absolutely beautiful, and better than last year. What was incredible was the coordination of the fireworks with the music. Oftentimes we sit, watch a show, and then get in our cars and leave. But we don't think deeply about how much work has gone into a performance. And I have to say, from the choreography, to the music, and the stage set up, a lot of work went into this magical night of performance. In the past, I didn't attend the Hollywood Bowl much, but the more I go, the more I appreciate their performances, and their hard work. 

Moving to La Jolla

Well, not me. My niece moved to La Jolla late August for her grad studies, and work. She says that she has always wanted to live in San Diego. She said the same thing about Kauai/Hawaii when she moved there a few years back for work, but got homesick, and moved back to L.A. So, not sure for how long her San Diego fever will last, but for now, she is enjoying it. And I'll be visiting La Jolla more often, because I always have an amazing time with her, and with my younger niece as well except that she is up at Berkley.  

We had sushi at Shiku for breakfast because that's what Ellie wanted. Then she wanted to hangout by the beach. We started at Coast Walk Trail on an excruciating hot day with a ton of visitors, and a big line to see Sunny Jim's Sea Cave. She couldn't believe that all those people were willing to wait more than 30 minutes to see a grotto for a fee. She said that she has seen many grottos in the past, and they were free to visit minus the crowd.

I was there on a Sunday. During the week, it's quieter. We still had a nice time. The crowd were patient, sociable, and friendly.

After moving about for some time, the high temperatures, and humidity started to wear us down, and so, we ended up back at her apartment. Ellie is a great artist. I don't know, maybe I'm bias, and a proud aunt. She started taking art classes at the age of four. She paints everything, including her wall decors, trainers, and skates.

There is a whole story about the skateboard in the photo. When Ellie finished her undergrad at NYU, she was overwhelmed by the amount of packing she had to do, and decided to throw out her skateboard. I offered to take it with me to L.A. So, I carried it through JFK with people staring at me. The airline stewardess rolled her eyes when she saw me with it. At LAX, a teenager asked me if the board was mine. I told him that it belonged to my niece. We both had a good laugh about it.

She uses a labor-intensive special method to do her paintings. A large piece takes her at least six months to finish.

We were both really tired, not because we did a lot, but because it was so darn hot outside. I crashed on her sofa, and took a short nap. She relaxed on the carpet. Soon, we both realized that if we don't get up, and get some coffee, we'll fall into a deep coma. Before leaving though, I had to find out the story behind her painted guitar.

Philz Coffee. My first time there. She had the Mojito, and I, the Tiramisu which was definitely decadent, and I highly recommend it.

We ran a bunch of errands after our mandatory dose of caffeine. I tried to find her a coffee table as a housewarming gift. No luck. Will keep looking. But no visit is complete without a stop at a bookstore. We went into B&N, and I bought a book from one of my favorite authors, Eckhart Tolle. OMG, I have so many unread books at my house. I need to seriously stop shopping, and read what I have in stock before getting something new.

 

Time for dinner. We weren't that hungry, but the day was coming to an end. Ellie had to get ready for her first day of meeting her instructors and classmates, and I had to head back home. We went to Puesto La Jolla. It has a pretty front patio, but we opted for air-conditioning.

The classic guacamole, summer enchilada, and passion fruit margarita mocktail were excellent. We ended up taking food home, and having it for dinner the next day.

 

Matanuska Glacier, Anchorage (Part 4/4)

When I learned about hiking the Matanuska glacier, I was hooked. I wanted to try it out, because it was such a different experience. I have already skied, very poorly I may add, on the Matterhorn Glacier when I was 14. I also have fallen down on my behind on ice as a kid in Tehran when I tried to cross the street from my parent's home to the market, but I have never tried hiking on ice.

On our way to the glacier. Ben was driving, and told me to sit up front. Couldn't argue with that. I had a perfect view of everything. He was an efficient guide, talked about his native heritage, and tried to pace the ride so that we would get to the glaciers on time.

A scenic stop.

There was road construction going on, and one of the rangers stopped us for about 25 minutes, allowing the cars coming downhill to go through first. The "Pilot Car" led the way. Our van, and all the ones behind us, were not allowed to pass the pilot car, and had to follow it whereever it meandered. Its purpose was to keep everyone safe.

So, Ben was explaining that moose eats the vegetation because it's vegetarian, and I told him that that means I'm a moose 😀

To get to the Matanuska Glacier, You walk downhill for about 15 minutes before you get to a bridge. There are different groups of hikers, and each group has one guide.

In the above photo, our guide, Jason, is handing out ice cleats—a plastic gadget with spikes that go around your shoes, and provide traction. This makes your shoes like track shoes with cleats, so that when you walk on ice, you won't slip and fall. As for me, I had an injured right ankle before I went on this trip, and if it weren't for Jason, I would have never made it through. Besides being painful, an injured ankle, throws the balance off, making it difficult to stabilize yourself on the asphalt, let alone on ice.

So, why did I do this hike with an injury? I was pissed off at myself. It's always something, the back, the knee, the ankle, and so on. I refuse to give in, and let these setbacks stop me from doing what I want. I wasn't sure if I could make it through this hike, but I went ahead anyway. Jason said that if I reach a point where I can't continue, he would call it in, and put me on an easier hike. But that never happened, because I was stubborn, and determined to do this. Anyhow, Jason, if you happen to pass by my blog, many thanks for all your help.

A great great bunch. We were all from California. Also, our group was mostly Korean with the exception of myself, and a mom, and her son. Everyone was so wonderful, down-to-earth, and got along well. We had so much fun, and I felt like I was hanging out with family, and close friends.

Jason used an ax to chop chunks of ice for us. The 600-years-old ice was pure without all the pollution you find in our water today. And I have to say that, it was pretty darn good.

Despite Jason's warning, a few of the guys wanted to climb this slippery slope for the challenge, the fun of it, and a photo opportunity.

Frozen water has ice patterns with cracks, and abstract design caused by temperature fluctuations, and repeated freezing and thawing. Moving water shapes the ice surface, forming veins, ridges, or smooth patches. Our guide knew where these were hidden beneath the frosted overlays as he cleared them with his hands to reveal nature's artwork.

Glacial ice is different from regular ice. Where there is fresh snow, the color appears white because it allows all lights to travel through it. However, in areas where ice has been compacted for many years, and is dense, the structure of the ice is different. This ice absorbs all colors except the blue wavelength, causing the ice to appear blue or turquoise.

It wasn't easy to walk with spikes on water and rocks. The water makes it slippery, and you have to be careful when you walk on gravel, and rocks. You kind of need three different types of shoes.

 

Jason told us that it's easier to do this hike during winter because snow is easier to walk on. And I agree, as I have walked on thick snow. It's more doable than on ice. 

On the way back, you turn in your ice cleats, and hike uphill for about 20-25 minutes to get to where you started. I would say that anyone can do this hike if they are not injured, and if they have a good balance. 

Tips: 

• During summer, wear a long sleeve cotton turtleneck, a windbreaker or a puffer jacket, water proof pants with fleece lining, a pair of gloves, a baseball cap, and a good pair of tennis shoes.

• Wear a windbreaker with zippered pockets, put your wallet and anything important in your zippered pocket, and leave your backpack in the car. That's what I did. People in our group were complaining about the weight of their backpack. Remember that no matter how light your backpack is, it's a whole different experience when you're moving on ice. Just take a small water bottle with you. Your guides, who are used to hiking on ice, carry a 30 pound emergency backpack. So, make sure you tip them for all their hard work.   

 

• If you feel that this hike might be a bit challenging, ask them for a trekking pole. Also, do as I say, and not as I do, meaning, if you have an injury, wait for it to get better before you go. My ankle has still not recovered from all the abuse I put it through 😏 

Anchorage Wildlife and Cruise (Part 3/4)

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage Valley.  According to our guide, Patrick, who is also conscientious about animal welfare, this center is a sanctuary for injured animals. Their website indicates that there are over 200 acres of land so that animals can roam free, and their purpose is to educate students, and visitors about wildlife.

In the photo above, it looks as if I were close to these moose, when I was actually behind a wired mesh with several feet of space between us. Patrick who knew a lot about photography, took this shot so that the wired mesh would not show up in the picture. Yeah, you don't want to get too close to a wild moose.

Muskox. Native to the Arctic, these ice age survivors are named after the strong musk odor they give off to attract females during mating season.

Their two layers of coat—long hair that reaches the ground, and qiviut, an inner wool—protects them against harsh winters. Similar to lamb's wool, but lighter and softer than cashmere, and eight times warmer, qiviut sheds during spring, the molting season. 

Qiviut is quite expensive, and is made into unique garments, scarves, and gloves for their softness, and warmth. Although some of this wool is gathered after these animals shed, they are often gathered after a hunt in Canada, or in Alaska from animals kept in captivity, or from killing farm raised animals for their meat. So, if you are a vegetarian/vegan like me, you may want to avoid these garments.

Visitors were excited when they saw these bears. Everyone had their cameras out. The bears were probably thinking, get a life, don't you guys have better things to do than to take our picture? 😀

As you drive through Anchorage, and beyond, you will see a lot of "Dead Bark Trees." Most are caused by beetles infesting spruce trees, cutting off their nutrients, and causing their death. The disappearance of these trees in the parks, and forests, causes sunlight to hit the ground faster, which increases the risk of wildfires. The city of Anchorage is working toward getting rid of these beetles, and spending millions to take out the killed trees.

The Conservation Center with Chugach Mountain backdrop.

Alaskan Elks. Members of the deer family, they share traits with deer, caribou, and moose. Elks in Alaska are decedents of Roosevelt and Rocky Mountain elks imported from Washington in the 1900s, because the native elks disappeared during the ice ages.

Caribou, also known as reindeer, are species of deer found in the Arctic. In the wild, they are constantly on the move, and besides some seasonal migration in large groups, they are solitary animals, and not easily spotted.

Moving on to the glaciers, and silt. Glacial silt is a powder produced when the glaciers melt. Glacier is basically ice that forms from accumulation of snow. Over the years, as more snow comes, and gets compacted and heavy, it starts to break off, and flow downhill. 

In the above video, Patrick was explaining that this movement causes a grinding action against the bedrock, turning it into powder, smaller, and smoother than sand. The powder is called silt, or glacial flour. When silt enters lakes, and rivers, it changes the color, and turns it into brown, gray, or aqua. The sound you hear in the above video is Patrick grinding two rocks against each other, creating silt.

So, I took two pieces of glacial rock and brought them home with me. I rubbed the two rocks against each other, and some of it formed into silt, a silky powder. It took effort to produce the tiny amount of silt in the above photo. Silt is also rich in minerals, and retail stores sell them as a form of clay facial mask. I was told that it leaves the skin silky smooth. Although, I have not tried it, yet.

Portage Glacier. Long ago, this glacier covered the entire 14-mile valley, and was connected to other glaciers. Today, the only way to get there is to take a tour. The area is called Portage because it was the hub of transportation for coastal shipping.

Portage town, referred to as a ghost town, is near Portage Glacier. After the massive 1964 earthquake, the town dropped about 10 feet, sinking under the tides, destroyed by salt water. Once a thriving community with restaurants and bars, a rail service for moving freight, and an important stop for thirsty and hungry travelers with cargo, is now covered with mudflats, abandoned buildings, and dead vegetation, and trees.

The cruise took us up close to the water streaming down from the melting ice, and to the ice laden glaciers. My video, and pictures don't do it justice. Best to experience it in person.

Dinner at MyThai. As I said before, the food in Alaska is meh, but this hole in the wall had yummy Thai food. I ordered green tea, and chicken fried rice, minus the chicken, add in the tofu. Both the tea, and my dinner were excellent. This is a good choice if you visit by yourself, and don't want to end up with a bunch of food you cannot finish. It has everything in it—vegetables, protein, and carbs. Do recommend this place, and the service is great.

Downtown anchorage has outdoor concerts for free, and I ran into bunch of them by accident. People dance, drink, and are friendly.