Friday Fabulosity: A Hat Helen Might Wear

While her face launched a thousand ships.

A certain pedantic attention to detail forces me to admit that the ships Helen's face launched would probably have been triremes.  Regardless, this is the pinnacle of hatness.

In Puerto Rico. With Fortifications.

The larger and newer of the forts in San Juan is the Castillo San Cristobal.  It's a massy structure of stone and lots of moss that guards the entrance to the old walled city.  

It rains a lot here, and the stones get very slick.  I would not like to be a conquistador trying to run up and down the stairs and ramps in the rain.

The interior hallways are all dim glowering passageways that my camera can't handle.

The doleful dungeon had ship paintings, preserved behind glass, that probably some prisoner drew somehow to while away the weary hours.

 Doleful dungeon window.

As the sun came out, I could look through crenellations to the surf below.

The fort was last garrisoned in WWII.

Looking out across the harbor, one could see the other fortress.

Old shot.

Finally, exhibits dedicated to the lives of soldiers and their arms.  

Next: onto the other fort!

In Puerto Rico. With Rum.

I bailed on February in Atlanta and went to Puerto Rico. For the record, this is a wonderful idea that I highly recommend. It's snowing in Atlanta. This was the view from my room in Puerto Rico.

There is some question over whether this ocean was technically the Atlantic or the Caribbean, but I'm claiming Caribbean because that makes me feel more tropical.  Particularly since as a wedding favor (I was technically there for a wedding, I got rum.)

This I saw walking down the street to a bakery for breakfast.  Well done, Puerto Rico!  The States part of the US suffers from a ridiculous stigma about advertising protection and planning. In Georgia, protection isn't even a required part of public sex ed classes.

There was a cemetery on the way to breakfast!  I like cemeteries!

I ate cake and chocolate covered strawberries for breakfast while there.  I regret nothing.

Next: Old San Juan!

Caturday Post: Horse Edition

 I am in Puerto Rico!  I went on a horseback ride through the rainforest!  The horse's name was Lebron James!

Mandatory over the ears photo.

The Good News News Channel: Tanzanian Education

Tanzania is overhauling its education system!  Secondary education is now a right!  There will be no more of this "one chance to pass an exam and the students who fail are stuck in the village the rest of their lives!  Additionally, secondary education will be in Kiswahili, a language students are much more likely to understand (though they still may only speak their tribal languages, but at least it's easier to go from tribal to Kiswahili than it is from tribal Bantu to English).  They may actually get something out of their education!

I shouldn't be this optimistic, I should know better, but it's at least a step toward a better system that doesn't cast aside so many of its students just because they don't have access to even halfway decent English language classes.

Caturday Post: In Which a Plan is Reconsidered

Pay no attention to the kitten behind the shower curtain.  

Tamerlane will boldly and fiercely ambush the kitten behind the shower curtain! 

Maybe attacking the cat behind the shower curtain is not, after all, the best plan.  

In Which Audience Members Around Me are Eavesdropped Upon

At the ballet, during a scene change, I happened to overhear a conversation behind me.  By happened to overhear, I mean I was paying rapt attention.  The couple sitting behind us at a performance of Romeo and Juliet (Prokofiev's balletified version) were of the opinion that such romance can no longer happen in this world we have today, because "we have made ourselves too safe.  You can't have romance without tragedy."

I completely disagree with everything about those statements, but what do you think, darlings?

Caturday Post: Naptime

It's how I've felt most of this week as well.