A to Z challenge: Z

Finally, our last destination: Zimbabwe Yep, I would love to go to South Africa.

And that is the end of the 2013 A to Z Challenge. Until next year!

A to Z challenge: Y

Yukon, the land of the midnight sun and Aurora Borealis that I call home.

Yukon is not for sissies, that's for sure. It requires some adjustments to the lifestyle because of the cold, harsh climate and the wilderness right on the door step. But I love it! I love it's beauty, long summer days and fluffy snow in the winter, wood crackling in the wood stove and night sky full of stars (in the winter only).  If you have never visited north - do it! It's an amazing experience.

So long my friends,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: X

Where should we go today? I do not have even a little desire to visit China and that's where most places starting with an X are. I know! We can go to Xalapa in Mexico.

Sorry it's in Spanish. I didn't understand much but I enjoyed the short video, I hope you will too!

So long my friends,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: W

W for the White Island in New Zealand, an active volcano that I would love to explore.

The White Island volcano is estimated to be between 150,000 to 200,000 years old. It was named White Island by Captain Cook, the first European to sight the island. This was in 1769 and as he noted in his log book, “We called it White for as such it always appeared to us”. Cook, however, did not come close enough to realize it was a volcano.

Europeans did not land on White Island until 1826. The first man to do so was Henry Williams and that's how he described the scene:

“We walked round the crater, which presented an awful sight. Its surface was nearly on a level with the sea. One of its sides having fallen in, we had easy access. Steam and smoke were issuing from all parts of the island and to the very summit. There were several small lakes of boiling substance, and on the right a large body of smoke with the upmost fury rose up from the regions below. We examined this awful sight as minutely as we dared but from the intolerable stench of brimstone and the lightness of the surface over which we had to pass, we deemed it not prudent to remain long, fearing suffocation from the one or precipitation into some boiling cavity from the other. As the whole island was composed of sulfur, being blackened with the smoke gave it a ghastly appearance.”

I think that walking on White Island would be like walking on the moon.  Virtually no vegetation (do not see any on pics) but lush beds of yellow and white sulfur crystals among hissing, steaming, bubbling fumaroles. Oh, maybe a little smelly but definitely exciting!

So long my friends,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: V

Yep, I'm back to Italy and today's challenge is taking us to Venice, an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building contains works by some of the world's greatest artists such as Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and others.

The city is built on 118 small islands (connected by 409 bridges) and seems to float on the waters of the lagoon.  In this lagoon, nature and history have been so closely linked since the 5th century AD when Venetian populations, to escape barbarian raids, found refuge on the sandy islands of Torcello, Iesolo and Malamocco. These temporary settlements gradually became permanent and the initial refuge of the land-dwelling peasants and fishermen became a maritime power. The small island of Rialto was chosen as the headquarters of the new city.

Oh, I must explore it!

 

 

 

So long my friends,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: U

U for Ucluelet, a small village on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I have been there once and I hope I can go there again. The place is beautiful all year around but my favorite time is winter when arctic and subtropical air masses collide over the Pacific Ocean, the tempests come one after another slamming into Vancouver Island. It can be as many as 15 storms per month hitting the west coast during winter. I love storms! Can you imagine eight foot high waves pounding the beaches, bringing driftwood, trees and sometimes Japanese glass fishing floats.  Beachcombing after a storm could be fascinating and rewarding. Yeah, definitely I would love to go to Ucluelet in the winter...

 

So long my friends,

Evalina

A to Z challenge: T

I must have been Italian in my previous life... I'm back to Italy again! This time to Tuscany. Yep, the whole region  from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Apennines is well worth exploring not just Florence.

Beauty, wine and an unparalleled artistic legacy, I will need at least a month (or two) to spend there.

So long friends,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: S

My pick for today is Stockholm in Sweden. Do you know that this  amazing city is build on fourteen islands connected by fifty seven bridges? It must be awesome!

So long my friends,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: R

My next destination is Rio de Janeiro.

Sun, sandy beaches, exotic parks and gardens, and the rhythm of samba...

So long friends,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: Q

I did not have to think too long about my destination that starts with Q. It is Quadra Island in British Columbia. I was there couple of years ago and I have to go back! It is a tiny island, very peaceful and beautiful. I would love to live there!

Now, I'm up to date with the challenge. So long my friends,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: P

In last post I invited you to Olsztyn. Since we are already in Poland, let's stay there for a while...

 First let's visit my city Bialystok .

(It has been over twenty years since I was there, those clips brought a lot of memories...)

And now let's go south to my another favorite city, the old capitol of Poland Krakow.

And I will leave you with the shortest ever history of Poland

For the stitching part - I think I will work on my very old project John Paul II

Next: Q

A to Z challenge: O

Now I will take you to Olsztyn in my home country, Poland

Next: P

A to Z challenge: N

It looks like I will spend a lot of time in Italy... I better start to learn the language! My next stop is Napali (as Italians say) or more known as Naples.

Next: O

A to Z challenge : M

M for Monaco! Home to the glittering Monte Carlo Casino and Grand Prix racing, tax free haven for individuals.

Next: Napali

A to Z challenge: L

L for Livorno. Yep, I'm back to Italy - this time to the shores of the Ligurian Sea

Did you know that Lorenzo is a home of sweet Galliano? Cheers!

 See you at my next destinaton,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: G, H, I, J, K

Oh, my lord! I've been lost in taxes, debits and credits - my life has stopped for a while.  I have quite a few letters to go through... lets get started:

G for Goderich, a lovely town in Ontario by an awesome Lake Huron.

Actually I'm going there in a couple of weeks to pick up a new puppy! Stay tuned for more pics after my return.

Here is mommy, daddy and puppies. One of them will be mine! 

H is for Hawaii. I would love to hike there and see an active volcano

I must be for Ireland on St. Patrick day (or any other day really). The castles, the green and the beer- should I say more?

J for Jamaica. Good food, great music, warm and fun!

 

K for Kelowna. A lovely city located in British Columbia, Canada. 

Stay tuned for more!
Evalina

A to Z challenge: F

There is a saying that says 'All roads lead to Rome'. I think they have it wrong - in my opinion all roads lead to Florence. 

When I close my eyes I can see gorgeous frescoes, sculptures, churches, palaces, and other monuments from the richest cultural flowering the world has known. It would be awesome to to be in a place that Dante, Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli and other great minds called home.

 

But Florence is not just about the history, it is a center for art exhibitions, festivals, design and fashion shows (just looks at those shoes!)

It's also famous for the great food and wine

Can you guess what I'll be stitching? Guess no more

 

It's Tuscan Beauty by Mystic Stitch (I have no idea who the painter is)

So long my friends,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: E

When I look on the globe from yesterday post I see that my next stop should be Egypt. Those who followed my posts from last year A to Z challenge know all about my passion for the ancient sites. I have never been to Egypt but I'm planning that trip for the last 7 years or so...

Of course I would love to see the pyramids,

  and sail the Nile,

and try some of the Egyptian cuisine, and much more...

While preparing for the trip I'm reading and trying recipes from

 

For the stitching part I will work on Egyptian Sampler by TW

 

I've started this piece a year ago and completely forgot about it. Here is my progress so far

So long my friends,

Evalina

A to Z challenge: D

Damascus, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world,  is my next destination. The city of jasmine that never sleeps. Damascus is a living museum spanning thousands of years. A city measuring time not by hours, days, months, and years but by empires it has seen rise and crumble to ruin.

As for the stitching part - I have no idea what to stitch while thinking about this trip. Any suggestions? 

So long my friends,
Evalina

A to Z challenge: C

I always wanted to go to Canary Islands but a while ago I was watching a program about these Islands and I do not want to go there anymore... so what is my next destination? California! I know, I've been there, I lived there, I lost my heart there... While living in California I was planning a road trip to Canada. It never happened. Instead I flew, put my belongings on cargo and a few hours later I was welcomed on the Canadian soil. Since then I have never left Canada.

I think is not too late, I can take that road trip, just instead of going north I will go south.  I will stop to see some familiar places:

 have a cup of tea in Golden Gate Park

 Golden Gate Bridge

 stop for a glass of wine in Napa Valley

 go for a swim in Half Moon Bay

 visit Rosicrucian Park in San Jose

 I have never been to San Diego and I heard that it is a very beautiful city.

And if I'm that far south already maybe I will just keep going straight to Belize (see my previous post).

And what I'll be stitching? I have in my stash a very nice sampler by Ginger and Spice:

So long my friends,

Evalina