Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park - Hawaii

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One day on our vacation to the "Big Island" of Hawaii, we drove around the entire island. One of our stops on the drive was to the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. This park preserves the traditional Hawaiian life. Honaunau Bay, with the sheltered canoe landing and the availability of drinking water, was a natural place for the Ali'i (royal chiefs) to establish one of their most important residences. Separated from the royal grounds by a massive wall was the Pu'uhonua, a place of refuge for defeated warriors, noncombatants in time of war, and those who violated the kapu (sacred laws).

Heleipalala - A pond with a mixture of spring water and saltwater held food fish to be eaten by the ali'i.

I'm next to a Tiki (or Ki'i) carving used to mark the boundaries of sacred or significant sites.

Hale o Keawe - Temple and mausoleum that held the bones of 23 ali'i.

Konane - Pebbles for this traditional Hawaiian game are arranged on a replica papamu, or stone playing surface.

Temple model - The framework for this half-size reconstruction of the Hale o Keawe temple is oho'a wood tied with coconut fiber. Ti leaves were tied on as thatching.

Catherine and I wanted to see a green sea turtle (or Honu in Hawaiian) while were in Hawaii and we saw this turtle on the beach and a couple of other swimming around nearby.

There is a turtle on the beach behind me in this photo.

Bowls carved into the rock may have been used to hold dye, evaporate ocean water to make salt, or pound the 'awa root to prepare a ceremonial drink.

Another view of Honu, the Hawaiian Sea Turtle.

A closer view of the Tiki.










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Paris, France!!!

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Catherine et John devant laTour Eiffel.

When Catherine and I left London we flew to Paris.

Cercle National des Armees

While Catherine and I were in Paris we stayed at the French Military Officers Club "Cercle National des Armees"  The club is on place St. Augustin, one block from Gare St. Lazare, two from Galenes Lafayette and three from the Opera and American Express office.  The club is in the VIII arrondissement of Paris.  Situated on the right bank of the River Seine and centred on the Opéra, the 8th is, together with the 2nd and 9th arrondissements, one of Paris's main business districts. According to the 1999 census, it was the place of employment of more people than any other single arrondissement of the capital. It is also the location of many places of interest, among them the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde, as well as the Élysée Palace, official residence of the President of France.

Lobby of the Cercle National des Armees

Our room at the Cercle National des Armees

 The Saint Augustine church

The Saint Augustine church is across the street from where we stayed.  You can see our hotel on the right of this picture and the Saint Augustine church on the left.  The current Saint Augustine church was built by Victor Baltard in 1868.  Saint-Augustin's facade features the four evangelists above arcades, and above them the twelve apostles and rosette window. Its stained glass windows depict bishops and martyrs of the first centuries, and cast-iron columns within feature polychrome angels. The church's organ was built by Charles Spackman Barker. One of the earliest organs to employ electricity.

A statue of Joan of Arc, by Paul Dubois, was erected before the church in 1896.

 

The Paris Metro was just a few steps from our hotel.  This station is named "Saint Augustin" and serves Line 9 of the Paris Metro.

 Street scene of Paris.

The river Seine

Another view of the river Seine