Surfer in Antarctica surrounded by jumping penguins

Surfer in Antarctica surrounded by jumping penguins

This video makes me want to go back to Antarctica.

Maps #31: Have Map, Will Travel

I created this map using Google maps. It represents a trip I took to Antarctica a few years ago. It was pretty difficult doing this map because many of the places we went to are not on maps because they are coves, channels or bays. Once I figured out how to uses Google maps it was pretty easy and Miss Grimm helped me put it on my blog. You can click on the bubbles to find the exact locations or switch to satellite or terrain view.
View Larger Map

Optional exercise: I typed in my address and then did a search for vegetarian restaurants, then narrowed it down by one mile and found 10 withing walking distance. I already knew about these but found several I had never heard of when I limited it by five miles, including The Raw Truth Vegetarian Restaurant. I then got directions from my house to this restaurant which is 4.7 miles. Then I checked the box "avoid highways" and received a new set of directions which goes straight down West Alabama and is only 3.1 miles. I also found this review by Victoria Wright : "The Raw Truth Café is a wonderful all-vegetarian establishment in Houston’s fourth ward. It was an instant hit upon opening and is a favorite of many area vegans. If you’re looking for an affordable dinner in a comfortable, casual setting, this is your place. The portions are large and the food is great. Both raw and cooked are dishes are available. Be sure to try their delicious deserts too!"

A PS for the map queen (you know who you are) in Denver or anyone else who might know. Is there a map site where I can make a map similar to the one above if all I have is the latitude and longitude coordinates?

Pot of Gold??

Pot of Gold??, originally uploaded by MaggieOAE.

Imagine a rainbow in Antarctica! From my RSS assignment I went to the Antarctica site I had added and found this truly magnificent picture.

Antarctica

In 1998 I fulfilled a lifelong dream and went to Antarctica for 3 weeks. I flew from Houston to Miami to Santiago, Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. From Ushuaia I boarded a small Russian research vessel that had been converted to a tourist ship. There were about 40 passengers aboard including the Pulitzer Prize winning author Annie Dillard who wrote about our trip in a journal. Our guide was Jonathan Chester who has written many books including A for Antarctica, Splash! : a penguin counting book, and The Nature of Penguins. HCPL has these books and more by both Dillard and Chester. In addition to Antarctica we also went to South Georgia which is part of the Falkland Islands and where the explorer Shackleton is buried and Cape Horn. Here are some pictures of my adventure. If you click on individual pictures they will enlarge and you can see how beautiful it is there. If anyone at HCPL wants to see all of my pictures let me know and I will bring my album in.