Museums – Page 2 – Snapping The Globe

Manneken Peace

Every woman loves a good outfit!

Why shouldn’t a statue?

Mannekin Pis, the statue which is a huge part of Brussels’ cultural heritage, is one of my favorite landmarks to take new visitors to the city to see. So when my husband joined me on a recent trip, the first place I took him was to see the little “Pissing Boy.”

I have visited this statue on many occasions, but this time, as luck would have it, was the first time I was able to see him in one of his costumes! This was such a coincidence as we were also on our way to the statue’s own special museum. The Garderobe Manneken Pis is located just down the street and houses the statue’s vast collection of costumes. It’s like his own personal closet!

Once housed in the Maison du Roi on the Grand Place, the wardrobe was moved to its current location in February 2017. It was surprising to find it to be such a small museum as I knew that his wardrobe consists of nearly 1,000 items.

The museum displays a selection of more than one hundred costumes, (some dating back to the 17th century) that are presented according to seven themes, geography, folklore, charity and citizens’ associations, trades, celebrities and characters, sports and designers. He is gifted with about fifteen or so new costumes each year and regularly wears the costumes from his collection, being dressed up about 130 times per year.

But where do his costumes come from?

In order to present Manneken Pis with a costume, a request must be made to the Mayor and the Aldermen of the City of Brussels. Certain stipulations must be met before the costume can be accepted, such as the quality of the fabric and that the costume is not being used to promote political purposes, political beliefs or advertising. If the proposal is accepted, the donors are responsible for the creation of the costume according to strict instructions. An official ceremony is then scheduled to be held in City Hall where the new costume is formally received. A procession to the fountain follows the ceremony, where the official dresser presents the new outfit to Manneken Pis and his is outfitted in his newest duds. He wears this new outfit for the rest of the day and it then officially becomes part of his wardrobe. From this time on, the donors can then make a request for Manneken Pis to be dressed in their costume for specific occasions, such as national days of celebrations, a meeting for members of an association or fellowship or to mark a sporting, cultural or charity event.

The costumes were stunning, whimsical, unique and classical. Many come from all over the world, though a great deal (not surprisingly) were donated from his home country of Beligium. My favorites included Mickey Mouse (1969), a traditional costume from Bolivia (2007) and a replica of the original costume given by King Louis XV of France in 1745, which is the oldest outfit in Manneken Pis’s wardrobe.

Some pieces have not withstood the test of time, so in order to view the entire collection, the museum offers an interactive terminal. My favorite thing, however, was the area for visitor’s to dress a replica of Manneken Pis, which, of course, I had to do!

Wouldn’t it be fun to be Manneken Pis’s dresser? I think that this must be a highly coveted job and I wouldn’t mind a piece of that action…keeping Manneken Pis clothed to celebrate events and traditions! Must give him peace to know that he doesn’t have to always be naked! 🙂

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Garderobe Manneken Pis

https://www.brusselsmuseums.be/en/museums/garderobe-mannekenpis
Address: Rue du Chêne 19 Bruxelles
Hours: Tuesday- Sunday, 1000-1700. Closed on Mondays and on January 1, January 5, January 11, November 11, December 25 and December 31. Closes at 1600 on December 24 and December 31.
Admission: Adults ages 18+, 4€. Under age 18 and citizens of Brussels, free. Free with Brussels card and on the first Sunday of the month. You can purchase a combined ticket for both the Garderobe Manneken Pis and the BrusselsCity Museum, 8€.
Getting There: Metro, station Bourse/Beurs, lines 3 and 4. Bus stops, Grand Place/Grote Markt and Cesar de Paepe.

Full List of costumes and origination dates

The Old Exchange

Many years have passed since I last visited Charleston, South Carolina.

My memories of the southern city were vague, recollecting only that it had reminded me of New Orleans and my home state of Louisiana and that we had stayed in a hotel that was reported to be haunted!

When I had the opportunity to visit with my husband, who was in town for business, I decided that I would use every waking moment to re-discover everything that makes Charleston…Charleston!

Having already marked off the tourist-worthy points of interest on my map, I had planned to start my explorations bright and early the next morning. Being that it was already the later part of the afternoon, I headed out into the unseasonably warm temperatures intending to only take a walk before dinner.

Walking through the City Market, browsing a bit of the artistic fare displayed for sale, I made my way to the waterfront. Stopping to take in the tranquil view of the Charleston Harbor, I continued my stroll through Waterfront Park admiring the fountains and the old oaks towering above. Heading up to East Bay Street, I found myself at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon.

The Charleston landmark was completed in 1771 and is the site of some of the most important events in South Carolina’s history. Used as a Commercial Exchange, a Customs House, a Post Office, City Hall, Military Headquarters, it now operates as a museum. Once the property of both the British and United States governments, the Confederacy and the Charleston City government, it is now owned by the state of South Carolina and the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and is operated by the City of Charleston.

As it was the later part of the afternoon, with less than an hour available until closing, I made the quick decision to squeeze in one landmark. After paying my admission, I was instructed to head down to the bottom floor to catch the final tour of the day before squeezing in a visit to the remainder of the museum.

Our tour guide, dressed in Confederate period attire, escorted us through the bottom floor of the Exchange which was converted into a military prison known as the Provost or “dungeon”. Here, American prisoners of war, British soldiers, private citizens and enslaved people were kept here to endure the harsh conditions.

Though the dungeon no longer seems like such a scary place, with its full scale dioramas depicting life in the bowels of the building, I can only imagine the vast number of prisoners (and rats) crammed in this small space with its darkened interior and inhumane conditions. It was no wonder that the survival rate was scant.

With the tour completed, I headed upstairs to investigate the remainder of the institution admiring the Georgian-Palladian design of the building which was constructed from the finest materials and was once a symbol of the city’s worth.

The Old Exchange entertained President George Washington in 1791, events that were attended by hundreds of members of the Charleston aristocracy. It was also a meeting place for local Patriots and hosted South Carolina leaders as they debated and approved the U.S. Constitution. It is one of only four structures remaining where the nation’s founding document was originally ratified. The room of the Daughters of the American Revolution, located on the lower level, also displays a copy of the Declaration of Independence given to the Chapter in 1912 by Brig. General George Gordon Greenough, great nephew of Ann Harrod Adams, sister-in-law of John Quincy Adams. Despite these remarkable events in the nation’s history, there was also many darker notes, including the fact that it was a location often used for slave trading.

There are many artifacts displayed throughout the museum including a setup depicting the Old Post Office once located in the Old Exchange in the 1880’s.

As I walked through the upper floor, I wandered through the Colonel Isaac Haynes Room, dedicated to the patriot who fought in the Seige of Charleston in March 1780. He was hanged in 1781 in Charleston by British troops for espionage and treason.

One of the displays that stood out was of two paintings crafted to commemorate Washington’s visit to Charleston by John Trumbull. The original painting depicted Washington in 1777 prior to the Second Battle of Trenton. When the leaders rejected the painting, citing that Washington should have been painted as he was during his Charleston visit, Trumbull agreed to a second painting which showed Washington standing in nearby Mount Pleasant with the Charleston skyline visible in the background. Originally, the painting was displayed there in the Great Hall of the Old Exchange until City Hall was moved to is present location.

Quite an interesting start to my Charleston discovery…

Guess what I would be going in search of the next day?

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The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

http://www.oldexchange.org/
Address: 122 East Bay Street, Charleston, SC 29401
Hours: 0900-1700, daily. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Tour times, 0900-1700 every day on the half hour.
Admission: Adults, $10.00, Children (7-12 years), $5.00, Children (under 7 years), free. Discounts are available for Senior/AARP, Military, Teachers, Students, Children, and groups of six people or more. The Old Exchange also offers discounted combination tickets with the Old Slave Mart Museum that provide access to both sites. Adults, $15.00, Senior/AARP, $11.00, Children (7-12), $8.00, Children (0-6), free

The Tulip Quiz

What kind of flowers grow in the Netherlands?

Why, tulips, of course!

Everyone should know this answer!

Now, does everyone know the tulip’s origins? Where the tulip got its name? Or how many varieties of tulips there are?

Despite my love of the beautiful flower that I plant in my yard every year, I must confess, I knew none of these answers.

A rainy afternoon, led me through the saturated streets of Amsterdam to the small museum located on Prinsengracht. Though my umbrella was in rough shape when I arrived, the museum was light and airy…and dry!

After paying my admission and watching an introductory film, it was time to head downstairs to the exhibition rooms. So much tulip information is presented here from its origins, to how it arrived in Holland and the roles it played in Dutch history and in current times. An additional film is also presented on the street level which identifies what transpires in each season for the farmers who grow them. I have to admit, I was intrigued! I guess I thought that I knew more than I really did!

See how much you know…

Is the tulip native to Holland? Tulips originated in the high plains of Central Asia, (present day Kazakhstan and surrounding countries) and can still be found growing wild in many areas. Recognized as something special, the tulips were brought to Turkey and introduced to the gardens of dignitaries. Suleyman the Great, the ruler of the Ottoman Regime, a plant enthusiast, gave bulbs to De Busbecq, a Flemish scientist, who worked in the court. In turn, De Busbecq passed some on to Carolus Clusius, a friend and another Flemish scientist, medical doctor and botanist during the 16th century. As a professor at the University of Leiden and the head of the Hortus Botanicus, founded in 1590, he planted the bulbs, but did not share his knowledge of them. When the bulbs were stolen and subsequently sold, this was the beginning of the commercial tulip trade in the Netherlands.

How did the tulip get its name? Because it was a symbol of power and wealth, Ottoman sultans wore the tulip on their turbans. Since the tulip’s shape resembles a turban, the Latin word tulipa (derived from the Persian word tulipan, meaning turban) became commonly used.

How many kinds of tulips are there? One. There is one kind. The tulip. This statement is quite misleading, however, because there are many different groups of tulips each with their own specific characteristics and classified into a system of 15 different groups, broken down into shape, heritage and flowering season.

Where do tulips grow best? Tulips like sandy-clay soil in areas not far from coastal areas as well as mild winters and summers. Because of this, tulips tend to grow well in certain parts of Holland, however, they may grow successfully in other parts of the world provided the soil conditions are similar and they receive at least six hours of sunlight daily.

What is the best time to plant tulips? The only time of year to plant tulips is during the fall, more specifically, from October until mid-December. The bulbs need to develop good roots before winter starts and the frost penetrates the soil and should be planted twice as deep as the height of the bulb.

Will tulips return every year? In warmer climates, not likely. In zones 3-8, it is possible but not guaranteed. In cooler climates, it is more likely providing the bulbs are planted extra deep, watered well, protected with extra mulch and fertilized.

Should bulbs be dug up every year? In warmer climate zones, digging of the tulip bulbs is advised after the flowering periods and new bulbs planted during the following fall season. For zones 3-8, the bulbs do not need to be removed.

How to care for cut tulips? The tulip stems should be cut at an angle and placed in a water-filled vase. Care should be taken to ensure that the flowers remain in a cool area during the night and narcisses/daffodils should not be placed in the same container as they produce a toxic substance detrimental to other flowers.

Were tulips bulbs once eaten? During the winter of 1944-1945, starvation in Amsterdam was rampant and many died. Since the bulbs had a high percentage of starch, they began to be sold as food. After removing the brown skin and remnants of the roots, the bulbs were cut in half, the flower stem removed and then washed thoroughly. They were then cooked for about a half an hour and coincidentally, tasted much like potatoes.

Can tulips be brought to your home country (USA)? Ensure that the bulbs have been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Flower bulbs remaining within the European community can be exported throughout Europe with no problems.

So, how many did you get right?

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The Tulip Museum

http://www.amsterdamtulipmuseum.com/en/
Address: Prinsengracht 116; 1015 EA Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Hours: Daily, 1000-1800. Closed April 27 and December 25.
Admission: Adults, €5.00, Children, €3.00 and Families, €10.00
Getting There: Located in the Jordan district, near the Anne Frank museum.

Calling All Cat Lovers

Cats…had them when I was younger. Norie, Blackie and a few whose names I don’t remember.

Today, I am more of a dog person, but when I read of the Katten Kabinet, I had visions of a museum with hundreds of cats roaming throughout the gallery. Always looking for something unique, it seemed like something worth checking out. I had some time to kill and it was in the area…

Paying the admission in the old patrician house where the museum is located, I looked around…no cats. I browsed through the gift shop. Lots of books and posters. No cats. Finally, I headed up the stairs. Still, no cats.

What I did find, however, is that the Katten Kabinet offers a look at the role of the cat in art and culture throughout the centuries, displaying hosts of art in the forms of posters, original paintings and sculptures paying homage to cats. The most interesting display, however, was a host of letters written to the museum and its cats from other cat lovers expressing their love of felines!

Founded in 1990, by William Meijer, a wealthy Dutchman, the museum pays homage to his feline companion, John Pierpont Morgan (1966-1983) and is housed in a structure that commands more attention than the collection displayed in it. Built in 1667, for William and Adrian Van Loon, the museum faces the historical Museum Van Loon, an identical floorplan, just across the canal. After a draw, which decided which of the brothers were to receive either of the homes, it was William who acquired the property at 497 Herengracht. Throughout its history, the house has hosted several famous people, such as the Mayor of Amsterdam, Jan Calkoen and former American president, John Adams. It has been rebuilt and redecorated several times, though most of its current state represents the 19th century.

After walking through a couple of the rooms in the museum, I finally did encounter two of the five cats that are reported to live on the premises. Stretched out on a window sill, a black and white feline stared impassively at the visitors wandering through its home. A short while later, another mostly white cat paced back and forth behind a glass-pane doorway, obviously hoping to be released from its confines by the owner who currently resides on the top floor.

So, should you visit?

Well, if you are in Amsterdam and looking to drop a few more euro than necessary…this is your museum.

If you are tired of visiting austere museums on art and history, of which there are several…this is your museum.

Cat lover? This is definitely your museum.

Anyone else? If you have the IAmsterdam card, are in the area and have nothing else to do for half an hour (and I am being generous with the time)…this is your museum. Otherwise, there are so many more places and sights that will fill your time more productively. Seek those out.

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Katten Kabinet

http://www.kattenkabinet.nl/
Address: Herengracht 497, 1017 BT Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hours: Monday through Friday, 1000-1700, Saturday and Sunday, 1200-1700
Admission: €7.00
Getting There: Tram, from Central Station, lines 1, 2 and 5 stop at Koningsplein. Take a left onto Herengracht. The museum is about a three minute walk.

Let’s Talk About Sex

WARNING: Photos featured in this post depict sex,sexual content and nudity. Photos are censored, however, if easily offended, please tune in later for other posts.

There are those who don’t like to talk about sex.

And, there are those who do.

And those who like to see it.

Amsterdam, a very liberal place, is one of extreme freedom. Marijuana is legal as well as prostitution. Sex shows can be found in the red light district in addition to a few museums, depicting the sex trade and erotica.

One museum, the Sexmuseum Venustempel, located on busy Damrak Street, has been around since 1985, welcoming curious visitors by the thousands. With its convenient location near Amsterdam’s Central Station and many of the city’s hotels, plus its relatively cheap admission, it has evolved into one of the most visited museums in the Netherlands, with 675,000 visitors in 2015 alone.

Having visited the museum about twenty years ago, when I was younger, I knew that I probably remembered it in a different way. Aware of what it offered, I was curious to see what changes, if any, had take place after all these years.

The museum’s full name is Sexmuseum-Temple of Venus and the first thing you encounter is a full sized figure of Venus at the entry.

After issuing a greeting to Venus, I paid my admission and made my way inside looking for a familiar display…and there he was!

The flasher.

“Pssst!” He whispers from a dark nook. A motorized figure moves forward, whipping his coat open. Well, you can figure out the rest!

Moving on, life-sized wax figures of Mata Hari and her male partners stand proudly to the right side of the room. In the rear, a long line waits for entry into the fetish room, offering hundreds of pictures of different types of fetishes including domination, exhibitionism, nudism, bondage and larger partners.

Guiding yourself through the rooms, each offers a view into different types of sex or cultural views of sex. Downstairs you’ll detour through the dimly lit prostitution room, depicting the sex act as it may have been a couple of hundred years ago, as well as a displays on erotic pastries and African erotic art and fertility gods.

As you make your way up the stairs, plastic body parts line the stairwell and each floor offers encounters with various exhibits including Asian Art, Sex Through the Ages, Sex and Artists (with a depiction of Rembrandt painting a nude subject, Demons and Sex and numerous phallic representations, displayed singularly and in groupings. In the architecturally compelling atrium, which houses the Venus Gallery, make sure to look up at the window where a leather clad sex worker perches asymmetrically atop a stool.

Finally, I encountered something else that I remembered from all those years ago…Marilyn Monroe.

Yes, Marilyn, the sex symbol from the 1950s. Her life-sized wax figure reproduces the iconic scene from her movie The Seven Year Itch in which she fights the upward breeze from the subway grate blowing her white dress.

The rich and interesting collection offers hundreds of pieces of art, unique objects, rare old photographs brought together in an interesting way.

Though not for those easily offended, the museum is both amusing at times and quite compelling. Judging from people’s reactions when I mentioned that I visited, it is also probably not what most people imagine it to be. You’ll definitely get your five euros worth (and maybe more!).

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Sexmuseum Amsterdam

http://www.sexmuseumamsterdam.nl/
Address: Damrak 18, 1012 LH Amsterdam, Netherlands
Hours: Daily, 0930-2330
Admission: €5.00. Minimum age, 16 years
Getting There: Walk from the Central Station direction Dam (2 minutes) or from the Dam square direction to the station (5 minutes).

Collections on the Canals

The narrow houses that line the canals in Amsterdam once housed the wealthiest and most illustrious families in the city.

The Cromhout family was one of these.

Setting out on my bike and riding along the canals, I passed throngs of tourists out enjoying a sunny break in the otherwise rainy afternoon. Searching for the Biblical Museum, I eyed each of the canal houses until finally finding the correct one and parked my bike. Trying the door, I discovered it to be locked.

Noticing a couple of people entering the adjacent doorway, I glanced upwards to find that it was the entrance to the Cromhout Museum. Amazingly enough, I found that the Cromhout Museum and the Bible Museum are housed in the Cromhouthuis and are covered under one ticket price. Two for the price of one is always good!

Problem was…I wasn’t quite sure what the Cromhout Museum was.

Years ago, Amsterdam’s elite sought to fill their time by traveling and collecting treasures from around the globe to decorate their beautiful homes. Displaying their costly possessions was relished and provided fodder for conversations during parties. The items were collected during their travels and nothing was deemed irrelevant…portraits, silver, preserved sea creatures, clocks, skulls…anything that made the owners appear to be more worldly and offer up opportunities for debate and discussion was what was sought after.

The Cromhouthuis is a collectors’ house, telling the story of the Cromhout family and is today home to some extraordinary Amsterdam collections.

During my visit to the Cromhouthuis, an exhibit was displayed entitled “Gold! Watches and Jewelry by Sophia Lopez Suasso”. Sophia Lopez Suasso-de Bruijn (1816-1890), the daughter of a Dutch merchant, was a unique collector who enjoyed amassing nineteenth-century watches by famous makers, gem-encrusted brooches and ingenious snuff boxes from Switzerland, France and Italy. After marrying Lord Augustus Pieter Lopez Suasso, scion of a Portuguese Jewish family in 1860, she began her collection during their frequent travels around Europe, where they also acquired bronze sculpture, medals and coins, books and costumes. Upon her husband’s death in 1877, she continued to collect and remained a regular customer of H. Martens Jewelers in Amsterdam.

In 1888, Sophia purchased the contents of the Museum Broeker House and established in her will that her own house be dedicated as a museum upon her death. The city, to whom she left her estate, deemed her home unsuitable and instead built the Stedelijk Museum to accommodate her collection which includes watches in unique forms, such as animals, flowers, fruit and musical instruments, each with hidden switches to reveal the actual watch. All of the watches and jewelry were made of gold and decorated with diamonds, gems and enamel.

The Suasso collection is disbursed throughout the Cromhout Museum, mainly on the second level, and is interspersed with the family’s prized collections. The home itself is also worth inspection as it gives a glimpse into the way of life that the families of this time period were accustomed.

When visitors to the Cromhout family arrived, they were received in the Antechamber, where a cabinet of curiosities, its drawers and cabinets filled with extraordinary natural phenomena, exotic items and unique hand-made artifacts, was located. The guests were then allowed into the Grand Salon, where parties were held and guests were entertained. The family’s art collection, a symbol of their status, was highlighted during a stroll around the first floor.

Artist Jacob de Wit, then young and relatively unheard of, was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Cromhouthuis in 1718, one of his first ceiling pieces. The grand work of art depicts twelve Olympic gods, surrounded by personifications of the seasons, the points of the compass and the zodiac.

Two kitchens are also located in the home, one small and one large. The large, used for cooking since construction, was located in the basement so that temperatures remained cool and food stayed fresher for longer periods of time. The small kitchen, older than the rest of the home, was incorporated into the construction from a smaller house on the property. The red and green tiles were sourced from the Swedish island of Öland in the Baltic Sea.

In the rear of the property, the Cromhouthuis garden, is worth stepping out for a look, especially during a nice Dutch day. Although once longer than it is today, the design is one of order and symmetry and quite beautiful during the spring.

Since the Biblical Museum is also located on the premises, many biblical references were added to the garden’s design by landscape architect Jan Van Der Horst who incorporated an 18th century geometric pattern into the design and decorated the garden with plants and trees featured in the bible. The pools with stepping stones are a reference to the crossing of the Red Sea and the sculpture by Martie Van Der Loo represents the Apocalypse.

Finally, I made my way to the top floor of the Cromhouthuis, home of the Bible Museum, making sure to admire and appreciate the elaborate staircase commissioned for the Cromhout home.

Since 1975, the upper floors of the Comhouthuis have housed the Biblical Museum. Having expected to find rows upon rows of dusty books, I instead found a light airy space consisting of biblical models, antiquities, archaeological finds and first edition bibles.

The main room exhibits many ancient texts, including the oldest Bible printed in the Netherlands, dating from 1477, a first edition of the 1637 Dutch Authorized Version and the Van Noordwijk collection, an assemblage of religious books with silver coverings. A facsimile copy of a Dead Sea scroll from Qumran containing the Book of Isaiah is also highlighted.

Adjacent rooms exhibit models of temples including a famous model of the Tabernacle, commissioned by the founder of the museum, Rev Leendert Schouten. This 19th century reconstruction uses materials mentioned in the Bible, including goat’s wool imported from Syria for the awning and sand from the Sinai desert.

Egyptian antiquities are also displayed including artifacts collected by Schouten in the 19th century. Inscribed stone slabs, funerary figurines, canopic jars (for mummified remains), scarabs, statues of the gods and a sarcophagus were intended to be laid out around the Tabernacle to give visitors an impression of the religious life of the ancient Egyptians. The most impressive item is a complete mummy of a young woman. Other unique items include oil lamps, clay tablets, earthenware, shards of pottery and coins.

Be sure to climb up to the loft area to observe varying photographic presentations.

Though my intentions were to only visit the Biblical Museum, I must admit that visiting the Cromhouthuis and its exhibition on the Soussa collection were the highlight of the my outing. Though probably not a museum that I would have picked out of a guidebook, it was a wonderful way to spend a drizzly afternoon and learn about the illustrious history of the Netherlands and their .

But let’s not forget the Bibles…they were pretty cool too!

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Cromhouthuis

https://www.cromhouthuis.nl/en
Address: Herengracht 368, Amsterdam
Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 1100-1700. Closed Monday
Admission: Adults, 10€, Children 0-18 years, free. CJP, Student Card, 6,50€, Museumcard, I Amsterdam City Card, Stadspass, Rembrandtpass, ICOM and Holland Pass voucher, free. Ticket also valid for Bible Museum, located on top floor.
Admission includes free audio tour
Gold!, this year’s winter show, is on display until 2 April 2018

Bijbels Museum (Biblical Museum)
https://www.bijbelsmuseum.nl/en
Address: Herengracht 366-368, Amsterdam
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 1100-1700
Admission: Adults, 10€, Children 0-18 years, free. CJP, Student Card, 6,50€, Museumcard, I Amsterdam City Card, Stadspass, Rembrandtpass, ICOM and Holland Pass voucher, free. Ticket also valid for Cromhout Museum, located on bottom floors.

The Cradle of Mankind

In the middle of the eastern Serengeti Plains, lies the Great Rift Valley, which stretches across East Africa. In it, exists one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world.

Olduvai Gorge.

Or…is it Oldupai?

Well, both. People now know it as Olduvai, however, the name Olduvai is a misspelling of Oldupai, the Maasai word for the wild sisal plant Sansevieria Ehrenbergii, which can be found growing in the gorge.

Whichever way anyone decides to refer to it, the ravine is the location in Tanzania that hold the earliest evidence of the existence of human ancestors. Hundreds of fossilized bones and stone tools, dating back millions of years, have been unearthed in the area, leading paleoanthropologists to conclude that humans evolved in Africa.

In 1911, German Wilhelm Kattwinkey observed many fossil bones of an extinct three-toed horse in Olduvai Gorge and later German geologist Hans Reck found hominin remains. Reck’s research, however, was halted by World War I. After a visit to Reck’s site in 1929, Louis Leakey became convinced that the gorge held critical information on human origins. Deciding to mount an expedition, he was joined by his wife, Mary. In 1959, the paleoanthropologist-archeologist team, discovered a skull fragment belonging to an early hominin. The skull dated to about 1.75 million years ago and indicated that hominins evolved in Africa. Later, specimens of Homo Habilis, a more human like species, were also found in the gorge.

In addition to the human remains, the Leakeys unearthed more than 2,000 stone tools and lithic flakes. Their research provides the most continuous known record of human evolution during the past 2 million years, as well as the longest known archaeological record of the development of stone-tool manufacturing.

In 1986, however, Olduvai Gorge, since designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, was the scene of one of the biggest and most significant findings in the scientific world, not credited to the Leakeys. A team of Tanzanian and American archeologists excavated 302 bones and teeth belonging to a female, determined to be about 1.8 million years old.

Oldevai Gorge, often called the “Cradle of Mankind” (not to be confused with the “Cradle of Humankind” in South Africa) is now a site frequented by tourists, mostly enroute to safari destinations.

The site offers a small, yet interesting museum containing a large amount of information about the pre-history of Homo Sapiens and the amazing discoveries made by Mary and Louis Leakey and others. Though the information and displays are a bit dated, a new museum is currently under construction, and is probably a reason for the higher entrance fee. Our entrance fee was taken care of by our tour, but it was noted on another travel site that it was recently raised from $10 to $35 USD.

There is a modest gift shop, adjacent to the museum, which offers more reasonable prices than the nearby Maasai village and many of the same kinds of carvings and jewelry. There is also a monument to Dr. Sekino Yoshiharo, a Japanese scientist who traveled across the world from 1993 until 2002, spending a night at Olduvai Gorge on February 8, near the end of his journey.

At the rear of the property, you can stand on the edge of the ravine and look out over the area which has offered so much to understanding the history of mankind. A covered area overlooking the ravine provides a shady area for guests to rest or enjoy lunch while listening to one of the curator’s explain the historic nature of the gorge. An engaging 8 minutes…you will learn that Lucy was not found here (as many people think), but Ethiopia and you will learn about the Leakeys. But, the main thing you will walk away with is…being asked to spread the word that it is indeed Oldupai Gorge!

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Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge

http://www.olduvai-gorge.org/
Entrance fee (to be verified): $35 USD per person or vehicle
Museum displays in both English and Swahili
Restrooms available on site.

Down Boma Road

Tanzania has a fascinating history.

In 1899, the Germans began constructing a boma or strong fortification in Arusha. The Maasai people were conscripted to complete this task while the new colonists surveyed the work site on horseback. Those not working as as swiftly as deemed necessary welcomed whippings and severe punishment. Resentment ensued and after a Maasai tossed his master into the river, many Maasai went into hiding, fearing the consequences. A local Maasai chief was sent to find them and act as mediator. He explained that they could return to work with no ramifications. As the approximately 400 Maasai marched back into town, down Boma Road, they were all gunned down. A bloody beginning for the German edifice.

The boma was completed in 1900 and became a barracks for 150 Nubian soldiers. Later, the fortification was made the regional government offices until 1934, when it was turned into the Arusha Museum of Natural History.

Today, the boma still stands strong on Boma Road as the Museum of Natural History. Those wishing to enlighten themselves on Tanzania’s natural wonders can also educate themselves on Tanzania’s turbulent history.

Though the museum is not teeming with high tech displays, it is extremely informative and can be navigated with the help of a guide (if so desired). Take the time to read the displays and investigate the numerous artifacts available…you won’t be disappointed.

The museum divided into three different areas. The wing dedicated to the evolution of humans is quite fascinating as much of what the world knows about the topic comes from fossils unearthed in Tanzania, including the findings from the Olduvai Gorge and the Laetoli footprints. On display are many incredible early hominid fossils, including Australopithecines, Homo erectus, and Homo habilis skulls, and stone hand axes from Olduvai Gorge. Illustrations, facts and Neanderthal displays highlight the building. In addition, there are many displays of insects and amazing photos of plants and animals by photographer Dick Persson.

The second building is dedicated to the history of the German colonial regime in Northern Tanzania. There are many photos and displays pertaining to this period and to Tanzania’s struggle for independence.

The third building offers more animal pictures and facts about the origin of man. Here, you can see taxidermists at work as well as a vast array of their endeavors on the walls. We loved seeing these up close as a precursor to our expedition.

On the side and rear of the property you can find a couple of indigenous snakes and many native plants and trees in the botanical garden.

Be sure to check out the artists and shops at the far end of the grounds. There are many items for sale and you can watch the artisans at work. Paintings, clothing items, carvings, jewelry are all available in a no hassle atmosphere. Take your time walking around and watch them create their wares. If you so desire, you can even take a painting lesson! Now that would be an impressive souvenir!

The museum is situated at the end of the Boma road neighboring the Arusha International Conference Center, the Arusha Municipal Council, and the Arusha Regional Offices and is easy to find navigating from the clock tower. Definitely an enlightening visit!

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Arusha Natural History Museum

http://eol.habari.co.tz/museum.htm
Address: Located at the end of the Boma road neighboring the Arusha International Conference Center, the Arusha Municipal Council, and the Arusha Regional Offices.
Hours: 0900-1800
Admission: $5.00

The Tanzanite Experience

An ancient story from Tanzania, tells a story of how the local Maasai saw a bolt of lightening come down from the sky and strike all of the rocks on the ground turning them to a shimmering blue.

Tanzanite.

As a jewelry enthusiast, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and rubies were the extent of my gemstone knowledge. I had heard of Tanzanite, but I’ve never owned any. Come to think of it, where it originated had never even crossed my mind.

Where does it come from, you ask? Well, if you’ve ever heard of Mount Kilimanjaro, then you know where it comes from!

Museums were not on my agenda for our visit to Arusha. We knew that we wanted to see the town and visit the market, but when someone mentioned going to the Tanzanite museum, we decided, “Why not?”.

Located near the iconic clock tower in the center of town, the museum lies a couple of blocks away on India street.

Ascending three floors in the Blue Plaza, we patiently waited while the security guard stood at attention until we were buzzed into two sets of secure doorways. Greeted enthusiastically by our guide Akiyo, we were offered light refreshments before beginning our tour.

Beginning with a brief introduction on where Tanzanite is found in one small area in the Mererani Hills in Northern Tanzania, at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, Akiyo then went on to explain how Tanzanite could once be collected on the surface. Eventually, this scavenger mining gave way to pits and tunnels extending far beneath the earth’s surface.

Leading us into the Tanzanite Experience’s own “mine” in the museum, we were versed on the strict mining practices which are followed at their own mine located in Block D.

Exiting the “mine”, we were then instructed on the extensive education required to learn the procedures for proper cutting of Tanzanite. Years of training prepares the gem cutter to cut the Tanzanite to the point that it can be certified as an “excellent cut” where the stone reflects light to create maximum brilliance. This process of cutting plays a crucial role in displaying the true colors of the Tanzanite and its ability to show either blue or violet from different angles. Though much of the raw Tanzanite mined is exported to Kenya, India and China for processing, the government is working to change this and keep processing in Tanzania.

Finally, we were shown different types of stones and the grading process was explained. The Tanzanite Experience Museum is also home to the Tanzanite Laboratory where all the gemstones are expertly assessed before being made available for purchase.

After the tour, we were invited to browse the beautiful stones and stunning jewelry available for purchase. Though no pressure was placed on us to purchase any pieces, we were encouraged to take our time and inspect any piece we thought worthy.

Thanking the staff for the amazing and informative tour, we made our way through the security doors and down the stairs to the street. The Tanzanite Experience Museum was a surprising find! It was exciting to learn something new, see this beautiful gemstone and understand its place in the world and its impact on the Tanzanian economy.

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.com

Tanzanite Experience Museum

http://www.tanzaniteexperience.co/
Address: 3rd Floor, Blue Plaza, India Street, India St, Arusha, Tanzania
Hours: 0830-1730, daily
Admission: free

The Guiding Light

The Outer Banks.

Many of my neighbors and friends vacation here every summer.

Strangely enough, having lived in nearby Virginia for the last twenty years, I had never been down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina!

Friends of ours were vacationing in Corolla, North Carolina and discovered that there was plenty of room in their beach house. Since we were heading down to the southern border of North Carolina for a convention that my husband was attending, we decided to make a detour to the Outer Banks to stay with them for a few days.

After working on my tan for a day and a half, I decided that I needed to venture out and see what this area was comprised of. Driving around a bit, I discovered that there are…beach houses…beach houses…and then…more beach houses perched upon pristine white sand and gazing upon emerald waters. All amazing, but towards the end of the island, in Corolla Village, there is a sight to behold! A lighthouse!

Towering above the flat landscape and keeping watch over the ocean is the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, completed in 1875. Having the largest of seven Fresnel lens sizes, it is characterized as a first order lighthouse and can be seen for 18 nautical miles. The light, illuminated every evening at dusk, has a twenty second flash cycle…on for three seconds, off for seventeen seconds…and is extinguished at dawn. An aid to navigation, it not only warns mariners but also enables them to determine their locations.

To reach the lighthouse, we drove along Ocean Trail, following the signs along the way. There was ample parking near the lighthouse and we were greeted by a volunteer who immediately showed us the best places to capture an amazing photograph of the unusually unpainted lighthouse.

The impeccably manicured lighthouse grounds are also comprised of a couple of other historic structures including a Victorian “stick style” Lighthouse Keeper’s House, a smaller residence (once used for a third keeper and his family, now operating as a Museum Shop), an outhouse and a storage building. The Lighthouse Keeper’s House is currently being restored and not open to the public, however, the Museum Shop is open from Easter through Thanksgiving.

The lighthouse, which had fallen into disrepair, when automation deemed lighthouse keepers unnecessary, has undergone a huge preservation by the Outer Banks Conservationists since 1980. Visitor have been allowed to enter and climb the structure since 1991.

Taking our place in line to await our turn to climb to the top of this towering structure, some members of our group used the time wisely to walk around the grounds and investigate what the gift shop had to offer. In order to keep congestion in the lighthouse to a minimum, only a small number of visitors are allowed inside at one time. So, as visitors leave, others are allowed in.

Finally, our turn had arrived and we began the long, hot, climb to the top…220 twenty steps, stopping only to catch our breath and read the museum-quality displays on each level detailing the lighthouse’s history.

After one last exhausting push, we exited to the top platform into the cool breeze, admiring the expansive views of the Atlantic, the barrier island and the sound. Worth the climb? You bet!

Though access to the lens room is not permitted since the lens (the original) is still a functioning one, it was thrilling to look out over one of the top vacation spots in on the East Coast.

After making our way, slowly down the winding stairs, sadly, it was time to end our visit. Getting our sticker, we were ready to return to the beach…and work on our tans!

For more pictures, check out Facebook, Snapping the Globe and Instagram, @snappingtheglobe.

Currituck Beach Lighthouse

http://www.currituckbeachlight.com/
Address: 1101 Corolla Village Road, Corolla, NC 27927
Hours: March 20-December 1, 0900-1700, daily (weather permitting). Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the lighthouse will remain open on Wednesdays and Thursdays until 2000. Closed Thanksgiving Day
Admission: $10.00 to climb the lighthouse tower, cash or checks only. Children under 8 years climb free with an adult. Admission to the grounds and parking are free. On opening day, March 20, the lighthouse is open for free climbs.
Getting There: At the junction of Highway 158 and Route 12, take Route 12 heading north towards Duck and Corolla. The lighthouse entrance is 20 miles from the junction, on the left, just beyond the Currituck Heritage Park sign. You may also enter at Currituck Heritage Park and ask the guide at the entrance for directions from there.
After your visit to the Currituck Lighthouse, you can check out The Whalehead Club, The Wildlife Center and Historic Village.

01/05/1698	0	Habit rich Maximilian (see No. 677)
31/05/1747	1	Habit given by King Louis XV
01/01/1770	2	Gala costume, City of Brussels (exact date unknown)
01/01/1790	3	Marquis (exact date unknown)
01/01/1820	4	Gala Habit (exact date unknown)
01/01/1830	6	Volunteer of the Belgian Revolution (exact date unknown) – New outfit available in 2006, see No. 781 (date précise inconnue) – Nouveau costume offert en 2006, voir n°781
01/01/1852	5	1852 gala dress (exact date unknown)
29/11/1918	7	“Jass” of the 12th regiment of Line Petite out dress – Gift of the City of Brussels with the money made by the elders of 1870 and 14/18
06/03/1919	8	19th Battalion of the French foot Hunters – Don Ducornez the Commander. 11/10/45 wore to visit the General De Gaulle
19/11/1921	9	Student of the ULB (see No. 690)
11/06/1922	10	Boy Scout Baden Powell – 10th anniversary of the police Brussels
22/04/1923	11	Alsace – Don bourgeois Colmar
11/05/1927	12	Service clubs “The Gays Fellows” – 50th anniversary of the Royal Circle and Philanthropy
16/01/1928	13	Jimbaori costume Samurai, Asahi Journal
07/01/1929	14	Gille de Binche (see No. 916)
17/02/1929	15	Huntsman Brabant Brabant Rally. Master Crews from Belgium
21/06/1930	16	1st Regiment Carabinieri 100th anniversary Grande held in use until 1914
12/10/1930	17	Minor in the region of Mons President of the Society of United Decorated Charbonnages West from Mons to Boussu. Visit to Brussels to Labor Day
09/01/1931	18	India child Parsee religion, Bombay (or 14/01/1931)
03/03/1932	19	Sioux Indian Circus Sarrasini (demonstration in Monoment fairground)
11/12/1932	20	Gunner, 2nd Artillery Regiment Fraternal old Raiment in use until 1914
01/10/1933	21	“Piot” 10th anniversary of the 9th Regiment of the Line Fraternal Petite out dress before 1914
27/05/1934	22	Conservatory System Old 35th anniversary of philanthropy
04/06/1935	23	Polynesian dancer
03/08/1935	24	Alsatian
26/09/1935	25	Great Daimyo armor shops Matsu Zakaia Remembrance visiting If Mr Thys, Special Ambassador for the emperor to announce the death of Albert I and the advent of Leopold III
05/05/1936	26	Mr. Noble Kigo Japanese architect in Osaka
26/01/1937	27	1st Regiment of Grenadiers Regiment Centennial
31/05/1937	28	Lawyer toga
05/07/1938	29	Boater, Circle 60th Anniversary Regatta
19/02/1939	30	Pierrot the circle “The Nameless” Cercle Royal choral and philanthropy founded in 1883
27/02/1939	31	Student Liège Royal Association of medical students and pharmacy (or 02.28.1939)
20/05/1941	32	Corporal Don 9th Line Regiment Lady-Ackermans Top
29/07/1945	33	Sergeant Welsh Guards – Raiment peacetime. Commemoration of September 3, 1944
04/09/1945	34	Liberation Brigade Piron – Jean Piron Brigade Commander
20/10/1945	35	Belgian paratrooper Special Air Service
21/10/1945	36	Member of the National Movement MNB Belgian. MP receives honorary brigade municipal utilities and provincial lecommandement
27/10/1945	37	US Marine Commander Don Boas Dressed October 27, “Navy Day” in the USA
15/12/1945	38	Sergeant Pilot RAF December 15: the anniversary of the Battle of Britain (8 / 08-31 / 10/40)
13/02/1946	39	Sergeant Major of the PM April 6: the anniversary of the entry into the war the Army of the USA in 14/18