Long Walks On Leafy Streets

7/21/2013 Boulevar Luis Ferre, Ponce, Puerto Rico.
We arrived back in Washington on Monday the 15th. Memories of Puerto Rico still remain fresh in my mind. The hotel where we stayed was in a neighborhood named Miramar, just outside of downtown San Juan. It had a nice view of the surrounding areas from our room and the dining area on the sixth floor. On the last day of our trip after breakfast I went for a walk on the streets of Miramar. Pictures that I took on this walk as well as pictures taken from the hotel windows are in the set “Scenes from Miramar” on flickr. To see them click on the little photo at the top of this page and then click on “Pictures.” As I wrote in the previous post, I was truly amazed to see all the flowers that I grew up with, such as the hibiscus, nerium, West Indian jasmine (thetti, as it is called in Kerala) and the mimosa tree on the streets. Seeing thetti was the best because we used these flowers for puja (worship) all the time. These flowers are in the picture with the white picket fence.
Another thing that caught my eye in Puerto Rico were plants that grew on trees (epiphytes). There is a picture of this phenomenon as well on this set.
Since coming back we have been hit by a heat wave. I have been staying home mostly, working on my research and other things. I have also been watching the British Open golf tournament. I started watching golf when Vijay Singh came to prominence. I do enjoy watching it even though golf courses are not the most environmentally friendly. I think it is a beautiful game. It is relaxing for me to watch the grass and the trees and men hitting balls over them, not fighting or beating up each other physically. I think, properly managed, golf can be a great gift to people as well as the environment. Walking for a day amidst trees in picturesque surroundings must be calming to even the most aggressive corporate tycoon. Perhaps it would also get them to be more caring towards nature.

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