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not having early warning over 6000 people died few of the shells found  hurricane water levels on a post downtown...    a great visit to Galveston Island....we will be back... |
3 days ago
Friday, December 30, 2011
...going coastal...
it has been years since we visited Galveston Island...we were amazed at how the city has recovered from Hurricane Ike...we tried to explore as much of the island as time would allow...we did drive the 32 miles of beaches from one end to the other...the seawall has improved by the city bringing in 200 feet of sand in front of it for walking and shell hunting...back into town lots of history can be seen in the building architecture and museums...seeing the documentary of "The Great Storm" was very interesting...this was the hurricane of the 1900s that destroyed Galveston....
Thursday, December 29, 2011
...Moody Gardens Rainforest Pyramid....
Moody Gardens was so much more than we had imagined....it is a 240 acre complex which houses 3 glass pyramids surrounded by gardens...I can only imagine what it looks like in the spring and summer when all the flowers are in bloom...we just missed the Festival of Lights which is only on the weekends and we were down on the strand during the weekend...next year,however,we did decide to visit the Rainforest Pyramid this trip...a 10 story pyramid with huge tropical plants giving shelter to birds, bats, monkeys and butterflies, frogs and even a sloth...it was just like walking thru a real rainforest....a place I would have loved to bring my students when we studied the layers and life of the rainforests of the world...it brought back so many memories of the kids doing their reports on the different animals....the staff has done a tremendous job in bringing it back to full scale since the hurricane in 'o8...I truly enjoyed it...a place to visit again...next time the Aquarium Pyramid....I have to see the penquins....
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visitor center at Moody Gardens     monkeys were everywhere....  termite mound...huge!!!  he was just posing for me.... |
...Dickens on the Strand...
...Galveston Island once again transformed into the 19th century Victorian London and this year we were there...OMG, so much more than we had expected...costumed vendors, strolling carolers, roving musicians, bagpipers, jugglers, Cathedral Ringers Handbell Choir, a parade with the "queen", a civil war encampment and yes, Bill's favorite, the "Steampunk" group...for those of you unfamiliar with "Steampunk", as it was explained to me...the high tech in the Victorian era of the future that never happened...pictures below will illustrate...yeah, I was lost also...he he...we do plan on being there next year and yes, in costume...if you have any old Victorian clothing you don't want let me know....
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strolling carolers steampunk Santa (note goggles on his hat)       |
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
...Galveston's Tree Sculptures....
...the combination of the powerful winds and waves from Hurricane Ike in 2008 uprooted many of Galveston's trees that formed so many of the beautiful tree canopies...many saw dead trees and waste after the storm, but a few of the homeowners saw a chance to morph symbols of destruction into signs of rejuvenation....so, artists, began to breathe a second life into something Mother Nature attempted to destroy...homeowners and the artists replaced the majestic oaks with whimsical tree sculptures...with a map and the driving skills of Bill we followed the Galveston Tree Sculpture Tour and found many of the sculptures...most of these tree sculptures are located within the East End Historic District....
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pod of dolphins and mermaid   pelicans  large pelican holding a fish  yellow lab   these were only a few of the sculptures...we found all 17 of the ones on the the tour and then found out there are many more off the beaten path...another adventure for another time.... |
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