During our trip to California we had an opportunity to do something we always wanted to do. We went to the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio California and saw a match.
At halftime in the match spectators are invited out to the field to replace the divots, stretch and walk their dogs. We refrained thinking of all the horse poop tat was probably also spread out over the field.
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Halftime at The Polo Club
During our trip to California we had an opportunity to do something we always wanted to do. We went to the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio California and saw a match.
The sport is a lot like hockey on horses and of course like any sport there are rules and umpires. The umpires are also excellent horseback riders. After learning a little about the sport we saw play periodically stop and a foul was called. These required resetting the ball or maybe a penalty shot. The umpires use this clever tool to pick up the ball and move it to a different spot so they don’t have to dismount to get the ball.
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Polo Umpire
We spent a morning in Manhattan Beach watching surfers from the pier. The swells were not huge but I am always amazed that anyone can do it at all. I tried it once in 1968 when I lived in California and escaped with my life. I did have fun lying on the board and belly surfing in and once managed it on my knees.
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Surf’s Up
Surf’s Up
Surf’s Up
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is a Papal major basilica and the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy. It is one of the Churches referred to as The Vatican Beyond the Walls. Eve though it is outside the Vatican it is part of The Papal See and guarded by the famous Swiss Guard instead of the roman police.
The inside is astonishing and has one of the most beautiful ceilings in existence. It is very large with many different areas for worship and truly one of the most beautiful and accessible churches in the world.
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The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is a Papal major basilica and the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome, Italy. It is one of the Churches referred to as The Vatican Beyond the Walls. Even though it is outside the Vatican it is part of The Papal See and guarded by the famous Swiss Guard instead of the roman police.
The inside is astonishing and has one of the most beautiful ceilings in existence. It is very large with many different areas for worship and truly one of the most beautiful and accessible churches in the world.
To see other images and buy apparel or prints, please visit my commercial gallery.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
During our trip to California we had an opportunity to do something we always wanted to do. We went to the Eldorado Polo Club in Indio California and saw a match. I love horses and my riding years are most likely behind me. I can no longer attend horse racing which is a cruel sport to the horses. I was amazed by polo and will undoubtedly be posting many pictures. The synergy between the horse and rider is truly amazing and magical to watch. After the first half I became aware why.
These horses are ball hawks. They are undoubtedly trained to follow the ball and when they turn the rider better be ready. If the rider falls off the horse they do not stop the match. If the horse falls the match is halted. Nobody fell and after two hours it was mind boggling that none did.
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Ball Hawk
I always wondered why there was one of the stamen looks different. I figured it was because it had no pollen attached to it. Maybe it was defective. I knew that the stamens where the male part of the plants reproduction system.
Turns out the one that looks different is not a stamen. It is a stigma and actually part of the plants female reproductive system and connected directly to the plants ovary. Learn something new every day!
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First Amaryllis in Pittsburgh
Stamen
We have grown Amaryllis in the past but have never photographed any for some reason unknown to me. We also have never had one since we returned to Pittsburgh. They are beautiful spectacular blooms. We bought this one late in the season and it is a little short but the the flowers are magnificent.
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First Amaryllis in Pittsburgh
First Amaryllis in Pittsburgh
First Amaryllis in Pittsburgh
This church, Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, was fascinating for a number of reasons. It was built in the ruins of the Diocletian Baths of Ancient Rome. There are fenced off ruins right next to the basilica but visitors are not permitted. Recently I post about magnificent pipe organ.
Here are some other images from one of the churches known as the Vatican Beyond The Walls
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Basilica of Santa Maria
Basilica of Santa Maria
Basilica of Santa Maria
Basilica of Santa Maria Pipe Organ
If you stand on the Plaza of Michelangelo and over look the city of Florence you will notice immediately the dome of Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore or Il Duomo. If you look to the left and a little further back you will see another smaller dome. This is the Tempio Maggiore or The Great Synagogue of Florence, Italy.
Tempio Maggiore is one of the largest synagogues in Europe. Although Jews survived in Tuscany better than some other areas of Europe they were still persecuted and second class citizens There was a Jewish emancipation in 1848 of the Jewish communities living in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The temple was built in the moorish style and designed to fit in as worthy counterpoint to the famous Catholic dome
Comparisons aside this temple is a magnificent structure and museum. It has a fantastic history and had been miraculously preserved and maintained. Sadly, as with most synagogues around the world security is noticeable and you can not take a camera inside. However they do allow you to take photographs with your cell phones.
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Tempio Maggiore Firenze
Tempio Maggiore Firenze
Tempio Maggiore Firenze
Tempio Maggiore Firenze
Imagery Photography 