So...Chris is back from holiday with exciting news.
He found, in his travels, a tiny town in Illinois that I had never even heard of...or been.
(...in my younger years I spent a lot of time through the back-roads of Salem, Effingham, and Paris...)
The Town.
Olney Illinois. (pronounced ol-len-nee)
Which, it seems, is only on the map because of its White Squirrel Population.
Right. Who knew????
Not just white squirrels. Albino. Everything from Parks to Gift Shops and,of course, the white squirrel rehabber...revolves around them.
Where the local Sprint Car Champion and the Cross Country Champion take second billing to the pigmentally-challenged rodents. Current albino squirrel population around 100.
A place where harassing one of their white squirrels in a park can net you a $750. fine...leaving one to wonder what would possibly become of you if you accidently ran over one or hunted/ate one. Possibly jail time?
Squirrel is right off the menu.
A Mainstreet Atmosphere...Several nice lakes...several nice parks...white squirrels...oh...and this place
The McClure Guesthouse. An 1872 Italianate Victorian Home now used as a Bed and Breakfast! Okay...now I've GOT to see it!
Talked during Morning Coffee and Chat with "Idgy" because this is a very short drive/straight shot across the Indiana/Illinois State Line, and it looks like we may be incorporating this (and the squirrel adventure) into our Fall plans.
Face it. It is PERFECT.
We are both a couple of NUTS...we'll fit right in!
Finishing up (Virtual) Alfama, Portugal today.
A stroll through Alfama and Castelo de S. Jorge.
https://youtu.be/jKHWPtwFays
Alfama is well known for Fado (pronounced fa-doo like hair-do not dough)
a genre of music dating back to the 1820's in Portugal.
https://youtu.be/r_e_Jpo6g54?list=PLEZ2X9WCTzAKbBY3HL_EqZLiOir8BHsdX
(Example of Fado)
With the musicians performing Fado known as Fadistas.
Fado is a type of story-telling ballad generally involving some type of loss or longing...fatefulness and melancholia.
The name comes from the Latin word Fatum or fate.
After listening to several different fadistas I can only imagine that this is an acquired taste in music.
Tomorrow...Rissoles!
Until then...
