Category Archives: Travel

Blogs of visits around the world.

WHAT’S IN A NAME, ANYWAY?

WHAT’S IN A NAME, ANYWAY?

Entering kindergarten for an immigrant child in 1955 wasn’t simple or easy, especially when her parents brought their regional differences with them to America.

My mother, Eugenia Pagonis, arrived from war-torn Greece in the winter of 1947. Her siblings, who had relocated to Pittsburgh PA, during the Depression, had pre-arranged a marriage contract for her with a Greek Cypriot.

Eugenia Pagonis married Andrew Savvas Constantinides on March 7, 1948 at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Pittsburgh.

One custom my parents brought with them declared that the firstborn child was to be named after one of the father’s parents.

So I was to be named Myrofora after my paternal grandmother. Myrofora is a Greek Cypriot name and is not common in other parts of Greece.

My maternal aunts and uncles didn’t like Myrofora, nor did they like the English-language version of my name, Myra. They wanted something else –whatever that might be.

Dad insisted on tradition. So I was alternately Myra or Myrofora for the first five years of my life.

I entered kindergarten in September, 1955 and my father had to decide what my American name was going to be. It was certain that I was going to be made fun of if I was to be called Myrofora.

Most first- and second generation immigrant kids wanted to be as American as possible. I was no different.

No one liked the name, but Dad decided that Meriam was the best alternative translation for Myrofora.

On the first day of kindergarten, he told the teacher my American name. She was an older woman who, it turns out, was hard of hearing. She recorded my name as Marion.  Dad didn’t pay attention until later, but by then it was too late to change it again.

In the end, neither my parents not my aunts and uncles named me. My kindergarten teacher did!

It wasn’t until third grade that Dad noticed that my last name was also misspelled. He marched to Holmes Elementary School and demanded a correction. He had had enough.

What’s in a name, anyway?

Plenty! I’ve always hated the “o” in Marion!

Marion Constantinides

                      Good Old Days

Volume 4, No. 4

July/August 2015

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Community Garden 2019

Community Garden 2019

I’ve always had a flower and herb garden. Occasionally, I would also grow eggplant, jalapenos, green peppers and cherry tomatoes in pots. This year, I wanted a community garden plot. Thanks to Barb Martin of the Forest Hills Farmer’s Market (located in Forest Hills, PA),  I contacted Hazelwood Initiative who gave me a plot in one of their community gardens. Hazelwood is only a stone’s throw from my neighborhood, Squirrel Hill/Greenfield. I grew cherry tomatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, eggplant,  zucchini and cucumbers.

The butternut squash seeds and pumpkin seeds which I saved from the previous season, were eaten by the birds. I planted the onion too late in the summer.

I learned a lot about gardening organically. I used compost and cuttings from my flower garden to serve as mulch. Garlic repels groundhogs as do red pepper flakes. Vinegar poured on weeds during a hot morning will kill those weeds. Beer in a shallow container kills slugs (I didn’t have any so I didn’t use it), and noisy objects like cans hung on string will scare off animals, too.

LOCAL RESOURCES:

http://www.foresthillsfarmersmarket.com

http://www.hazelwoodinitiative.org

https://www.visitpittsburgh.com

www.growpittsburgh.org

pittsburghpa.gov/events/farmers-market

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LOYALHANNON SPINNERS

LOYALHANNON SPINNERS

n Spinners

Loyalhannon Spinners has been helping interested folks learn to spin and explore the world of fiber arts. They are active in the fiber arts community and conduct educational demonstrations in the Westmoreland County Fair, the Fiber to Shawl Contest in Washington Count and the PA Farm Shows in Harrisburg. They meet the third Saturday of the month from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Grist Mill on the campus of St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA.

Follow them on Facebook.

 

 

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Part V: JORDAN JULY 2018

Part V: JORDAN JULY 2018

THE DEAD SEA

The Dead Sea is part of the Great Rift Valley and sits 408 m below sea level. It’s location is the lowest point on earth. The Dead Sea is a sea of blue salt water.Dead Sea minerals and salts are popular for their skin-enhancing properties. Swimming is one thing you can’t do in the Dead Sea but the buoyancy enables you to bob up and down. Jerusalem ad the West Bank can be seen in the distance. Sadly, the Dead Sea shrinks every year. The Sea has no outlet and hot temperatures in the summer evaporate the fresh water more quickly than it is replenished. Two additional contributors to the shrinkage is the irrigation in the Jordan Valley and the potash industry.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Walker, Jenny and Clammer, Paul. Lonely Planet, Jordan.

www.lonelyplanet.com

South, Coleman and Newsome, Joel. Cultures of the World, Jordan.

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PART IV: JORDAN JULY 2018

PART IV: JORDAN JULY 2018

ROMAN AMPHITHEATER

It was built in the 2nd Century AD during the reign of Antoninus Pius (AD 138-61), it was cut into the northern side of the neighboring hillside. Built on three tiers (for the elite, the military and the general population), the theater had a seating capacity of 6,000. Today, it is sometimes used for summer concerts.

FORUM

The row of columns in front of the Roman Theater is what is left of the forum or public square built by the Romans. it was built in 190 a.D.; the fourth side of the structure was flanked by the Seil Amman stream which lies underneath the street.

ODEON

The Odeon was built in the 2nd century A.D. and is located on the eastern side of the Forum. It has a seating capacity of 500.

HASHEMITE PLAZA

The Plaza is named after the Hashemites, royal family of Jordan, and is the site of cultural events. It is flanked by the Roman Amphitheater, the Odeon and the Nymphaeum fountain.

FOLKLORE MUSEUM AND MUSEUM OF POPULAR TRADITIONS

The museum highlights traditional Jordanian life. The displays include tools, basketry, musical instruments, looms, traditional Palestinian dress among other artifacts.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Walker, Jenny and Clammer, Paul. Lonely Planet, Jordan.

www.lonelyplanet.com

South, Coleman and Newsome, Joel. Cultures of the World, Jordan.

 

 

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PART III: JORDAN JULY 2018

PART III: JORDAN JULY 2018

Scenes from the streets of Amman: 50-year old Hashem’s Restaurant, Umbrella Street (Abis Bakras Siddiq Street), traditional and modern clothing, souvenir and trinket shops for tourists and locals, fruit and vegetable markets, coffee shops, and more….

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Walker, Jenny and Clammer, Paul. Lonely Planet, Jordan.

www.lonelyplanet.com

South, Coleman and Newsome, Joel. Cultures of the World, Jordan.

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PART II: JORDAN JULY 2018

PART II: JORDAN JULY 2018

AJLOUN CASTLE AND AJLOUN FOREST RESERVE

Ajloun Castle was built on top of Mount ‘Auf between 1184 and 1188 AD by one of Saladin’s generals, ‘Izz ad Din Usame bin Munqidh. The castle overlooks the Jordan Valley making its location ideal for protection against the invading Crusaders during the Middle Ages. Ajloun Castle has had quite a history: it was enlarged in 1214 and partially destroyed by Mongol invaders in 1260; later, it was rebuilt by the Malamuks and overtaken by the Ottomans like so many other countries in the region.Earthquakes in 1837 and 1927 further damaged Ajloun Castle but restoration efforts have been ongoing.

Ajloun Forest Reserve was established in 1988 to protect oak, carob, strawberry tree and pistachio forests. The reserve is also a sanctuary for wild boar, stone martens, roe deer, polecats, grey wolves, and jackals. Biking and hiking rails have been developed around nearby towns for tourists.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Walker, Jenny and Clammer, Paul. Lonely Planet, Jordan.

www.lonelyplanet.com

South, Coleman and Newsome, Joel. Cultures of the World, Jordan.

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Part I: JORDAN JULY 2018

Part I: JORDAN JULY 2018
VISITING JORDAN JULY 2018
The Ancient City of Jerash is located north of Amman, the capital of Jordan. Jerash was inhabited during the Bronze Age and later settled during the era of Alexander the Great (333 BC). Later, the Romans made the region a part of their empire. The Emperor Trajan further developed what became known as the Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa, building Hadrian’s Arch to honor the visit of the Emperor Hadrian during the third century, the Temple of Artemis (famous for its Corinthian columns) and the Forum’s oval colonnade. Later, the Byzantine Greeks built several churches on the site.
Jordanian food is similar to the foods of nearby Middle Eastern countries. Popular foods include lamb, yogurt, cheese, poultry, couscous, humus, baba ghanouj, flat  bread, and of course, many fruits and vegetables. Garlic, mint, parsley and other spices and herbs are popular seasonings.
JORDANIAN HOSPITALITY

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Walker, Jenny and Clammer, Paul. Lonely Planet, Jordan.

www.lonelyplanet.com

South, Coleman and Newsome, Joel. Cultures of the World, Jordan.

 

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JUST LOVED READING: Tru and Nelle: A Christmas Tale

JUST LOVED READING: Tru and Nelle: A Christmas Tale

JUST LOVED READING:

Tru and Nelle: A Christmas Tale

by G. Neri 

Middle Grade/Fiction

 

Neri, G. Tru and Nelle: A Christmas Tale. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers, 2017.

Tru moved away from his mother’s cousins home in Monroeville, Alabama. He thought living in New York with his mother and step-father would be fun but after a stint in a military academy, Tru runs away.

He hops on a train with other hobos and heads back to Monroeville. He becomes friends again with Nelle who lives next door to his cousins. It’s the Christmas season but events happen which dampen everyone’s spirits: the house the cousins live in burns down and they move in with Tru’s aunt and uncle on their farm outside Monroeville.

Nelle’s father takes on a case of two black men accused of robbing a store and killing its owner. Nelle blames herself for arrest. Reminiscent of the case in To KIll A Mockingbird, this case doesn’t end happily, either.  The story does reaffirm the better side of the human spirit when Tru and his family and Nelle and her father celebrate Christmas with the accused in the local jail.

WHY I LOVED READING THIS BOOK:

In a surprising twist, Tru’s cousin, Sook, invites a member of the KKK to the celebration. Only his son, the local bully, shows up and demonstrates how beautifully he plays piano.  It doesn’t turn everyone into good friends but the incident highlights how complex race relations were during the Jim Crow era in the South.

Tru and Nelle: A Christmas Tale is the continuing narrative of the friendship between Truman Capote and Harper Lee which continued into adulthood (until Truman Capote became jealous of Harper Lee’s literary success). The first book in the series, Tru and Nelle, recounts their earlier childhood adventures.

Xmas tree

Xmas tree

Monroeville, Alabama was founded in 1815 on lands ceded by local Native Americans. It was later formally incorporated in 1899 and named after President James Monroe. Monroeville is the seat of  Monroe County, Alabama. In 1997, the Alabama legislature designated Monroeville as the “Literary Capital of Alabama.”

https://www.monroevilleal.gov./

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/whats-changed-what-hasnt-in-town-inspired-to-kill-a-mockingbird-180955741

www,monroecountyal.com

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MY BIG FAT CARIBBEAN CRUISE VIII

MY BIG FAT CARIBBEAN CRUISE VIII

JANUARY 6, 2013

FAREWELL

Departure was uneventful except for long lines at the terminal. There were fairly long lines at the airport, too, but they weren’t too bad. The lines moved.

The drive from Galveston to the airport was the same: strip malls, restaurants, car dealerships; hotels; motels and the Greek Orthodox Church which our driver called “beautiful.” She also wore a rhinestone pin which spelled out the word “Texas.”

She was our unofficial tour guide on our way to George Bush Airport. Texas, she said, has the tallest building in the world that is not located in a city. The Texans football team is one of the hottest in the country, according to her, so she got into sports.

She also told us that the cost of gas in Texas is $3.05 in spite of the many oil refineries there. I wanted to laugh when I think of the cost of gas in Pittsburgh.

It’s hard to imagine that earlier today we were on the Mariner of the Seas and earlier than that we were in the warm beautiful western Caribbean. I heard that it was still cold in Pittsburgh and that the snow from the week before hadn’t melted as yet.

Yuck.

For one of the few winters of my life, I experienced summer during the cold winter months. I recommend it.

Goodbye the pampered life.

 

 

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