Umbrella-mouth Gulper

London ~ February 20, 2010

Natural History Museum

I was so excited to find this critter swimming in the air behind glass. Partly I was excited because it's just weird, and partly because at the time I had one in my online store (see below). Note the teenie eyes up near the nose. This eel was about 18 inches long, I think.

This is the plastic gulper eel I had in the store. I've said it in past tense because, unfortunately, we don't have this guy around anymore. Like so many wonderful realistic toy animals, the manufacturer discontinued it. What can they have been thinking?

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Big Ben

London ~ February 14, 2010

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Fast

Portland, Oregon ~ April 18, 2010

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Rare Photo of Shakespeare's Fireplace

 Stratford-upon-Avon ~ February 17, 2010

Shakespeare House

It's a nice old back plate and a cozy setting, but the real reason this may be a rare photo is because it's illegal. The moment after I took it, I was scolded and asked to put my camera away. We had just come in from the drizzly cold by the back door tourist entrance and entered the second building on the property where William Shakespeare was born. I guess somebody was worried that I could sell this picture for a lot of money. Or maybe they just wanted me to spend my pounds in the souvenir shop, which I did anyway. What do you think? 

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Phantom Flyer

Portland International Airport (PDX) ~ February12, 2010

I thought up the title before I realized there were web sites and clubs with the name already. They mean something slightly different.

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Alter Ego?

Stratford-upon-Avon, England ~ February 17, 2010

Shakespeare's Birthplace

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Windows in Washington

Vancouver, Washington ~ April 18, 2010

I'm taking part in "Orange You Glad It's Friday?"

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Lillywhites' Pink Window

London ~ February 19, 2010

Lillywhites, Piccadilly Circus

I had two photos, one with this big lens in the way, and one missing the context.

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Bicycles on Alfred Street

Oxford, England ~ February 18, 2010

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Footbridge on the Cherwell

Oxford, England ~ February 19, 2010

The Cherwell joins the River Thames a few yards from here, but you would hardly recognize London's thoroughfare as it meanders small and lazy like the Cherwell past the playing fields of Oxford's Magdalen College.

See more Weekend Reflections

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More Windows, Oxford

Oxford, England ~ February 18, 2010

These lovely windows that seem to combine Gothic and Baroque (?) elements can be found near the corner of Merton and The High Street, although the main facade is on the other side of the building.

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Bright Windows, Oxford

Oxford, England ~ February 18, 2010

It would be easy to do a magnificent series of windows and doors without leaving The High Street in Oxford. Much of the outstanding architecture in Oxford is either Gothic or Baroque.

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Night Gondolas

London ~ February 14, 2010

London Eye Ferris Wheel

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Half-timbered Tudor

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England ~ February 17, 2010

Garrick Inn

Stratford-upon-Avon is known not only as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, but also for its remarkable half-timbered buildings. The Garrick Inn pub probably dates from the mid 1500s, depending on who you read.

All posts from Stratford

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Who's Real?

London, February 20, 2010

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

I admit, I loved Madame Tussaud's and could have gone through it a second time. The line took a staggering two hours, or close to that, and I remember the admission being pretty steep, but I thoroughly enjoyed seeing figures from then and now. Some looked so real, others looked blatantly fake. For some reason I'm always startled to see that some of the most famous people are or were not very tall.

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Piccadilly in Purple

London ~ February 19, 2010

Piccadilly Circus

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Windows, Chicago O'Hare

Chicago ~ February 12, 2010

O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Today I continue my "Windows" theme. I was struck by the pleasing shapes and also by the layering of window upon window. I like O'Hare because of its bird-chirping baggage trains, the flags and globes above the walkways, the interesting people, the occasional dinosaur skeleton, and most of all because I have never been through O'Hare when I wasn't going someplace really interesting (or maybe returning). This trip it was Portland to London.

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Windows, Paddington Station

London ~ February 19, 2010

Paddington Station

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Sky and Silhouettes

Dudley, West Midlands, England ~ February 16, 2010
Dudley Castle Keep

Image Search / Wikipedia

Fortunately, I finished sorting my used pictures for this blog last night, or I would have repeated this photo of Dudley Castle. I must be in an English Castle mood today. Here is another post, this time from the tower looking down.

Today I am joining others around the world who participate in Skywatch Friday. Click on over to see stunning photos of the beautiful sky that covers us all!

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Interesting Old Digs

Banbury, England ~ February 15, 2010

Whately Hall

We stayed in this former coaching inn from the 17th Century for a couple of nights. I loved the old building (and cheaper than most Holiday Inn Express Hotels). We got to chat about history with some of the staff, but I vowed to carry my own blankets next time. Under a featherbed comforter, you roast. Throw it off and you freeze. I'm used to layering covers, and I never got the hang of how to sleep Old England Style. Any hints?

By the way, I'm re-thinking my blogs, and I intend to make "Tapirgal's Daily" a daily blog again. Or close enough. It will help when I get my used photos re-named with the date first so I can tell quickly if I've already used a photo or not. Apologies for any you've seen before.

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