A final day out in Mallorca

CC sent us another batch of photos from Mallorca. She tells us about her day:

We rented a car and drove out to cuevas del Drach (across the island). They are interesting and we took the obligatory tour ... Hehe... Stalactites and stalagmites ...cool textures and colors and a beautiful concert inside with little boats (with lights). It was a rainy/cold day but after the caves we decided to drive through a portion of the coast, looking for a nice lunch spot but it was deserted...so we then drove up to Valldemossa for a late lunch/early dinner before coming home and settling in..packing, etc... Valldemossa looks like a town in Tuscany --- very very charming.

Cuevas del Drach:

Valldemossa:

Next stop, Ireland! Thank you, CC.

No sightseeing today...

I've been rushing today and CC hasn't sent any new photos, so I'll leave you with a very politically incorrect funny picture (it's sexist and blondist...).

Thanksgiving in Palma de Mallorca

We continue our travels with CC...

This is the apartment:

This looks like an "Amy" corner:

Now, let's take a stroll around town:

CC didn't forget how much we love cats!

Thank you, CC. We're really enjoying our journey with you.

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Here's a handy reminder, courtesy of Mrsgunka:

Car trouble solved, plus big smile and yummy stuff from Barcelona

We spent the whole day chasing a battery in Tulle. It turned out our car requires a "special" battery, which all the shops kindly offered to order but didn't have in stock. We were beginning to despair and, around 5PM, after trying just about every shop in Tulle, we finally found it! Yay!

CC sent us some more pictures of her trip to Barcelona:

Here she is, goofing around with her friend Richard, trying on some 4 euro glasses:

The next photos look nice enough to eat!

Finally, a very festive store:

Thank you, CC. Enjoy Mallorca!

Funny cats, again...

I'm sorry today's post is so late. We had some car trouble... The battery decided to die on us!

Enjoy the kitties. I particularly liked the kitten and the lizard.

Barcelona (We're green with envy) - UPDATE

CC has arrived in Barcelona. We're very jealous, but we can enjoy the trip vicariously and be consoled by looking at these pictures...

Sending CC lots of petonets!

UPDATE

CC sent us the first photos of her trip:

Thanks, CC!

100 years of fashion

This video was filmed in London. The images change very quickly, but it's fun to watch.

This one is for Mrsgunka

Signs of pregnancy

Mrsgunka sent us this very funny story:

ACTUAL AUSTRALIAN COURT DOCKET 12659 ---

A lady about 8 months pregnant got on a bus. She noticed the man opposite her was smiling at her. She immediately moved to another seat. This time the smile turned into a grin, so she moved again. The man seemed more amused. When, on the fourth move, the man burst out laughing, she complained to the driver and he had the man arrested.

The case came up in court..

The judge asked the man (about 20 years old) what he had to say for himself.

The man replied, 'Well your Honor, it was like this: When the lady got on the bus, I couldn't help but notice her condition.

She sat down under a sign that said, 'The Double Mint Twins are coming' and I smiled.

Then she moved and sat under a sign that said, 'Logan's Liniment will reduce the swelling,' and I grinned.

Then she placed herself under a deodorant sign that said, 'William's Big Stick Did the Trick,' and I could hardly contain myself.

But, Your Honor, when she moved the fourth time and sat under a sign that said, 'Goodyear Rubber could have prevented this accident!'

... I just lost it.'

'CASE DISMISSED!!!'

Thank you, MrsG.

Cool basketball

Love in Paris

Say it with flowers

Funny, naughty cats and long suffering dogs

The haka - Maori traditional challenge (UPDATE)

The rugby international tournament is taking place at the moment. We used to live in Twickenham, the home of English rugby, and enjoyed the atmosphere around town when there were big matches. The crowds are very well behaved (unlike soccer supporters), drinking together at the local pubs before and after the matches, all in their colourful and sometimes humorous attire.

England/Wales supporters

South Africans

French supporter

A couple of Irish fans

One of the highlights of this competition is the haka, performed by the New Zealand All Blacks.

From Wikipedia:

Although the use of haka by the All Blacks rugby union team and the Kiwis rugby league team has made one type of haka familiar, it has led to misconceptions. Haka are not exclusively war dances but were traditionally performed by men. In modern times, various haka have been composed to be performed by women and even children. Haka are performed for various reasons: for amusement, as a hearty welcome to distinguished guests, or to acknowledge great achievements, occasions or funerals.

War haka (peruperu) were originally performed by warriors before a battle, proclaiming their strength and prowess in order to intimidate the opposition. Today, haka constitute an integral part of formal or official welcome ceremonies for distinguished visitors or foreign dignitaries, serving to impart a sense of the importance of the occasion.

Various actions are employed in the course of a performance, including facial contortions such as showing the whites of the eyes and the poking out of the tongue, and a wide variety of vigorous body actions such as slapping the hands against the body and stamping of the feet. As well as chanted words, a variety of cries and grunts are used. Haka may be understood as a kind of symphony in which the different parts of the body represent many instruments. The hands, arms, legs, feet, voice, eyes, tongue and the body as a whole combine to express courage, annoyance, joy or other feelings relevant to the purpose of the occasion.

The haka before a rugby match is a challenge to the other team, as explained by a former player:



Here's an example of the haka performed by a Maori dance group:



The All Blacks challenge South Africa's national team, the Springboks:



Some people find the haka controversial, but Peter and I really enjoy it. We know the players get on very well and that the whole thing is just part of pre-match tradition. Tonga and Samoa also perform the haka before their matches, but the New Zealand one is the best. They beat England yesterday in an exciting match, including a very good haka!

UPDATE

Lynn in VA posted the link to this lovely haka:



Thanks, Lynn.