Sailing Gromit

26 March 2016
26 March 2016
26 March 2016
26 March 2016
26 March 2016
26 March 2016
26 March 2016
26 March 2016
26 March 2016
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Winter Wonderland in Canada

26 March 2016
Yes, it's winter in Canada and we are in the thick of it.

There has been a hint of spring, but mother nature can be fickle at this time of year. Two weeks ago we had temperatures in the mid teens (mid 70s for you Fahrenheit folks), then a huge snow storm that gave the kids two days off of school and now heavy freezing rain that coated everything to the point of tree branches bending to the ground and snapping like toothpicks.

Where are the palm trees and beaches?

This is the house we are currently living in. We'll be here until our house is rebuilt....we don't know when. We'd hoped to start rebuilding in spring....which is now....but progress is slow, because the process is slow.
We can't complain because this house is spacious and comfortable, though quite dark. We've talked about lightening it up with some brighter paint. Just haven't gotten there yet. Still too much to do regarding the fire.

Winter in Canada

26 March 2016
Maia, Liam, Zoe, Jaya

Loving the snow.
Building snow buddies.
Make snow angels.

But.....also looking forward to spring!!!

Snow Buddies

26 March 2016
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Winter Wonderland

26 March 2016
Patterns in nature.

Winter Wonderland

26 March 2016
Freezing rain.

Winter Wonderland

26 March 2016
Geometry
Vessel Name: Gromit
Vessel Make/Model: Olympic Adventure
Hailing Port: Toronto
Crew: Michael, Cornelia, Zoe, Maia, Liam. Photo: At Tilloo Bank, Elbow Cay, Bahamas (photo by Frank Taylor)
About: Michael: The technical/mechanical/all about the boat and systems guy. Cornelia: The lists/house and land details gal. Zoe, Maia and Liam: Gromit's Skippers in Training!
Extra: Departure date: Summer 2008 email us at: sailinggromit@gmail.com
Gromit's Photos - The Taj Mahal
Photos 1 to 50 of 50 | Main
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This boy was sitting there and only saw me take this photo at the last second. I wonder why he was be-flowered?
The following pictures are from the area around the Taj.
We stayed in this area, called the Taj-ganj, which was directly south of the Taj. It is old, dirty, noisy and full of annoying touts trying to sell souvenirs - so opposite of the beauty and peacefulness of the Taj.
This was our first view of the Taj from a rooftop restaurant.
This is the main entrance into the Taj. It is an arched gateway topped with delicate domes and surrounded by verses from the Koran and inlaid floral designs. Stepping through this gate will give the first view of the Taj.
Anticipation is high, because we know that in moments, we will step through the gate and see the famed Taj.
First view.
The contrast of dark and light, black and white, was stunning.
The Taj stands at the end of a huge ‘charbagh’ (“four gardens”). This is a garden divided into 4 quadrants by waterways. It comes from the Koranic description of Paradise, where river flow with water, milk, wine and honey. Usually the mausoleums are in the centre of the gardens, but the Taj is at the far northern end picturesquely standing beside the Yamuna River.
Inlaid floral patterns of precious and semi-precious stones.
Relief carvings.
The Taj is basically a square building with pointed arches cut into its sides and topped with a huge central dome.
There were crowds of people there the day we went.
Everybody wanted pictures of us, mostly Zoe and Maia. So, in some instances, we took pictures of them, too.
The Arabic verses, praising the glory of Paradise, are exactly proportioned so that each letter appears to be the same size when looking up.
The central dome is over 55m high and is topped by a crowning brass spire almost 17m high.
Leaving the Taj
What the h*** (heck) is a WAZOO?
Who are NAMAZIES?
And, how many one-legged namazies are there?

This sign was around an enclosure immediately to the right of the Taj.
 
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Sailinggromit

Who: Michael, Cornelia, Zoe, Maia, Liam. Photo: At Tilloo Bank, Elbow Cay, Bahamas (photo by Frank Taylor)
Port: Toronto