Tobogganing :)

 

 

 

Andorra is a tiny county (181 square miles) nestled between Spain and France and happens to be quite prosperous due to it's tourism industry.   It is estimated that over 10 million people visit here annually, and oddly enough,  I doubt most American's know in which continent it is located :).  With it's lovely four seasons, what better way to enjoy the country than a toboggan ride, aka the Tobotronc.   It's almost a 3 1/2 mile journey of pure enjoyment. 

 

 

 

The Daily Grind of Paradise :)

 The South Pacific is home to America Samoa, paradise islands (if you ask me).  The beauty is enough to fill a Strange Spot post, but I stumbled upon these interesting ancient grinding stones also known as Foaga.   About 700 plus years ago, the people of Fataumafuti on American Samoa's Tutuila Island manufactured stone tools, one being the adze which was used for carving wood.  It's similar to an axe and consists of a stone blade attached to a wooden handle with coconut twine.  The grinding stones were utilized to sharpen the adze blade and can be identified by bowl shape depressions on the surface of the stone.  I posted a few Foagas, as well a just the natural beauty of America Samoa!

 

 

 

 

 

Wildlife "Refuse"?

 

Maui, Hawai'i, O'ahu, Kaua'i, Moloka'i, Lana'i and let's NOT forget Midway Atoll.  All and all, Hawaii has about 31 islands, reefs and atolls that all need our attention.  The military history of Midway is quite rich, but the military is long gone.   Today, the island and it's remaining inhabitants are suffering more than ever before.
Midway Atoll is a territory of the United States and oddly enough,  it is a "National Wildlife Refuge" with almost 600,000 acres of land and water in the surrounding area.  Refuge might be a generous word,  I would tend to use the word REFUSE (garbage refuse).  Twenty TONS are garbage wash up on shore every year. Five of those twenty tons are fed to Albatross chicks.

In 2009, Christopher Jordan photographed the dire situation on Midway Atoll.  Nesting babies are fed bellies full of plastic debris. Unfortunately, the parent birds unknowingly collect garbage believing it is colorful marine life to feed to their young.  This leads to the death of tens of thousands (1/3 of total population) of Albatross chick each year as a result of starvation, choking, toxicity and internal damage.   Adult birds have a reflux to expel the garbage, but even so, their intestinal tracts are often filled with 50% plastic. 
It's amazing that these birds are suffering and yet live 2000 miles from the nearest continent.  Time for change!

Concrete Igloos?

 

Albania is home to 750,000 Communist era bunkers that dot the landscapes lush mountainsides, sandy beach and even local playgrounds.  They are everywhere!  The bunkers are a little residual paranoia left behind during Enver Hoxha 40 year dictatorship.  One concrete bunker was built for every four citizens in the event of an invasion and was to be used for viable human habitation and protection.  Children as young as 12 were trained with the use of firearms to protect themselves inside of their new mushroom homes.  The only problem,  the invasion never occurred.
Today, the question is what to do with the 3/4 of a million or these mushroom igloos?  Many have naturally found their own purpose as artist studios, make-out spots for teens,  shelter for animals and bizarre homes.  Tourists are naturally drawn to the  bunkers, but apparently locals find them bit of an eye sore.   Time shall tell on this one....