Ayla’s Voyage Blog

Me with Harry Potter

At 12:01 AM last night (Thursday night/Friday morning), people of all ages across America gathered together in theaters as the famous theme music played, and the name of the beloved “Boy Who Lived” emerged from the clouds, and so the end of Harry Potter began.

Approximately 2 hours later, some of us with teary red eyes, costumed fans clutching wands and owls traipsed from their seats out into the theater’s atrium. Shocked and stunned faces floated through the hallways, all of us exhilarated by the brilliance of the movie and stunned at how quickly this enormous franchise seemed to come to an end. One moment, Harry Potter was a ordinary boy living in the cupboard under the stairs, and the next he is a courageous grown wizard, facing down the most evil wizard of all time in an epic “Wizard Lightning Battle”—everything in between from dragons and dungeons to love and lost friends, the story of Harry Potter has captured the hearts and minds of millions of fans across the world. Harry needn’t make a Horcrux to render himself immortal—the fans have taken care of that, and Harry’s extraordinary story will live in us forever.

The crew of Three@Sea, being massive Harry Potter fans, arrived at the IMAX 3D theater in our local area at 10:00 am. Fully decked out in my Luna Lovegood costume (complete with homemade Dirigible Plum earrings, a butterbeer cork necklace, and Spectraspecs), we waited in line for 14 hours, enjoying animated conversation with other early-arrival Potterites and watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One, all anxiously preparing ourselves for the moment when the clock struck twelve and the much

Me with the always lovely Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy

anticipated saga closing would commence. The theater, by 9:00, was in chaos  with thousands of Potter fans (4,000 tickets were sold for that theater alone!) dressed in all manner of magical garb, waving their wands and throwing themselves into the roll. Among those present were Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy, Dobby the House Elf, Moaning Myrtle, Rita Skeeter, Dolores Umbridge, Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort, and many, many more. The mood was high and excitement was strung through the air, tangible and electrifying. People rushed with their cameras to snap photos with all those decked out in costume, and though most everyone there had never met the others before, there was no awkwardness or standoffishness—everyone was there to have a good time, and as all fellow Potterites, we were going to do just that. Reenactments of A Very Potter Musical followed broom races and Quidditch games, while Lucius and Narcissa (in character down to the last frown) won the costume contest. Then, by 11:30 pm, people made their way into the theater where seats were taken and the breathless final half hour began (accompanied by cheers).

Rita Skeeter, Pansy Parkinson, Molly Weasley, and Me!

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, this is not a review— I will let you decide for yourself as to the quality of this final piece, but I shall offer my own opinion too (spoiler alert!). It was brilliant! Down to the last line, the last costume, the last set, and the last detail, this conclusion of epic proportions was everything I had hoped it would be and even more. There was nothing they could have done better. Emotions ran high, and from the plummeting drop through Gringotts’s endless cavern to the final moment between our beloved trio, the dazzling Part 2 lived up to every expectation I had possibley set. There was no disappointment. I cried when Fred, and Lupin, and Tonks, and Snape died. I laughed at Ron’s randomly hilarious lines, and cheered as Molly Weasley slammed Bellatrix Lestrange to the floor , and McGonagall dueled Snape in a fantastic showdown. And finally, I felt a sense of completion as Hermione, Harry, Ronald, and Ginny stood on Platform 9 3/4, their children aboard the Hogwarts Express, and watched the scarlet steam engine pull out of the station, knowing that this was the end. Goodbye, Harry Potter.

But, then again, is it ever REALLY goodbye? As Dumbledore once said, “Those who love us never really leave us.”, and as is the same with Harry Potter. To its fans, the Harry Potter series is more than a wonderful story of intricate imagination and whimsically woven beauty. To its fans, Harry Potter is a friend, and a best friend. A friend that is always there—the light we turn on in the dark. He carries beautiful messages. Patronuses teach us that a happy thought can send away

A Starfleet Lieutenant Commander dropped in to observe human behavior (HP Premier-probably not the most sane example of humanity)

even the darkest corners of fear and sadness. Dumbledore and Voldemort, each in different ways, teach us to not fear death— “Do not pity the dead…pity the living, and above all, pity those who live without love.” Luna shows us that it is okay to be oneself and to never be afraid to be confident and happy with exactly who you are. The scintillating Hermione Granger makes it cool to be smart, Ron makes it cool to be ginger, and Neville shows us the value of growing and changing and coming into our own. And, above all, Harry Potter teaches us that love is more powerful than evil. That love, in every form and shape, can survive death and all other obstacles. Harry Potter has been a best friend to all his fans, and Harry Potter’s timeless messages will carry themselves seamlessly into the next generation. The fans who lived to see his books and movies arrive, and lived to watch his magnificent journey unfold will allow him to live in them forever, and we will one day (I hope) pass his adventure onto our children, and they to their grandchildren—whether or not Harry Potter is ever considered a classic doesn’t matter. To his fans, Harry will stand as a memory of both a wonderful decade, a wonderful childhood, and a wonderful, magical voyage.

Expelliarmus! Stupefy! Expecto Patronum!

I will let the magic of the final movie, and of the franchise as a whole speak for itself now. I have only four more words for Harry Potter fans:

Nitwit. Oddment. Blubber. Tweak.

Hi again, everyone! A few days ago I posted a blog about my summer reading list. I included in the section of “Science That’s Fun Beyond Belief” a book called A User’s Guide to the Universe. I was truly blown away and honored that Dr. Goldberg, the co-author of the book, commented on the blog saying “Thank you” for the shout-out!

As a school assignment last year, I was asked to write a non-fiction book review, and because A User’s Guide to the Universe is one of my all time favorite books, I chose that for my review. Because Dr. Goldberg was so kind to both comment and tweet my list, I wanted to publish my full review of his remarkable book, and reiterate the fact that this title is a MUST read!

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Have you ever wanted to build a time machine and fly down a black hole? Have you ever considered what happened before the Big Bang, and what’s going to happen to the universe in another 13.7 billion years? Have you ever scoffed at the notion that an electron can be everywhere at once, but never split? Are you terrified that the Large Hadron Collider is going to destroy Earth? If any of these questions have ever kept you awake at night, then A User’s Guide to the Universe is a book for you.

Witty, humorous, and brimming with scientific questions and facts, A User’s Guide to the Universe is just that: the ultimate handbook and the necessary accouterment to any intergalactic adventurer, or maybe just a curious, aspiring physicist. Specifically geared towards anyone in middle school to college, this book is based on the simple idea that physics—and the universe, for that matter—is really, really cool! Unfortunately, modern-day studies have brought physics under the false rumor of being “uncool” or “boring” or just plain difficult. “Random encounters [between civilians and physicists] often reveal an almost joyful contempt, reserved specifically for the fields of science and mathematics. ‘Oh, I’m terrible at algebra!’ for example, is said in an almost boastful tone, in a way that ‘I barely even know how to read!’ never would.” co-author Dave Goldberg writes in the introduction. He follows up with the question, “why?” Why have astrophysics and cosmology gotten the reputation of droning professors, vague technicalities, and thoroughly ridiculous principles that have no effect on modern life?

In A User’s Guide to the Universe, Jeff Blomquist and Dave Goldberg not only prove the “physics=boring” equation false, but bring this mysterious branch of science to life in a vivid, lively and quirky story of the universe’s strangest conundrums and enigmas. Using a mixture of delightfully funny graphics, highly entertaining anecdotes, Science Fiction references, and questions every geek has ever asked, this books charms the reader and warmly invites them into the world of physics. Whatever you want to know about the universe—whether it be how to use a black hole as a time machine, or why electrons are everywhere while being nowhere—Blomquist and Goldberg weave such a seamless web of fact and humor that physics will capture the reader’s imagination and bring them closer to understanding the grand cosmic scheme. And, for those who avoid physics because of all the complex and lengthy equations, you’ll be happy to hear that there’s only one equation in the entire book: the very familiar E=mc^2, and other than that, numbers get left at home. It’s so easy to understand and so genuinely funny, that readers might just get blissfully lost in the universe and forget all their pent up resentment towards physics. That’s the magic of The User’s Guide to the Universe: it’s not science, it’s storytelling.

Organized into sections prompted by simple questions, A User’s Guide to the Universe covers everything from general relativity, to quantum mechanics, to the Large Hadron Collider, to the end of the universe. Plus, if you’re a fan of science fiction shows like Star Trek or Back to the Future, you’ll love the quirky references to the fact and fiction of these iconic interstellar series.

But it isn’t just the hilarity of these two physicists’ wit. It’s their earnest love of physics, and their desire to share it with a younger generation, who might otherwise remain ignorant of such a fascinating branch of science. “In an era when new technologies are constantly emerging, scientific literacy should be fundamental.” Goldberg states. “…you don’t need to have detailed knowledge of how physics works to appreciate the revolutions in quantum computing or cosmology. It is important, rather, to understand why these developments are significant, and how they are poised to change technology and our lives.” It’s pointed out several times throughout the text that physics is not just a background study, but rather a prevalent and very influential branch of science that allows for more than just text messaging and GPS—it allows for a deeper understanding of our origins, and our future. They point out that science is built to explain things, and to understand the future, what could be more fundamental than explaining where we come from? Their answer: nothing.

So prepare. Prepare to be swept light years across space to somewhere as close as Alpha Proxima, or as far as the universe’s end. Join these witty, humorous, and charmingly geeky authors as they guide you through the universe. For the teenage generation, this book will not only cause roaring laughter, but also a new interest in the study of space, the universe, and even far beyond. Seize this opportunity, and delve into the secrets of space with a truly exemplary book. As residents of not just Earth, but the universe as a whole, A User’s Guide to the Universe will be time well spent understanding every corner of our home.

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Also, some of you might want to check out Dr. Goldberg’s excellent blog and website:  http://usersguidetotheuniverse.com

He has some absolutely wonderful posts up, and continues to discuss some of the most interesting and perplexing science questions known to man. Thank you, Dr. Goldberg and Mr. Blomquist, for this exceptional read!

Hi Everyone! Summer vacation is here for many and approaching for the rest—yippee!—and I think all of us are looking forward to blissful months of long days and starry nights, imagination and adventures, and ample time to frolic in the joy of life. Yahoo! Summer is a time of new learning and new experiences, and for me, it has always been a time of new books.

I enjoy Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix while locking through the Trent Severn

Yes, I know. Summer is supposed to be free of school and books and all that stuff, but to me (a total bibliophile), summer has always been about leaping onto a time machine, or a broomstick, or a spaceship, and becoming engrossed in a marvelous story in wondrous worlds, far, far away. From the edges of our Milky Way, to the temples of Ancient Greece, to the walls of Hogwarts, reading is a transport into a world of imagination for all to enjoy. Writing and reading are the closest things we can do to be anyone, do anything, and see everything, and I believe that summer is the perfect time to explore the world of words.

With that in mind, I have decided to compile a list of reading recommendations for kids, and teens my age. There are some books which are so amazing, profound, and remarkable that anyone—young or old—would enjoy their stories. Without further delay, I present to you, “Ayla Besemer’s Complete list of Favorite Books.”

Classics That Never Get Old

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Age 12+)
• The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Montgomery
• Macbeth by William Shakespeare (I could list other Shakespearean plays that are worth a read, but Macbeth is my favorite. For anyone new to Shakespeare, I highly recommend SparkNotes’ No Fear Shakespeare. Silly as it sounds, these guides make Shakespeare a whole lot more enjoyable when you can actually understand what the characters are saying.)

Historical Fiction that will Blow Your Mind:

• Ophelia by Lisa Klein (Age 12+)
• Nobody’s Princess and Nobody’s Prize by Esther Freisner
• Lady Macbeth’s Daughter by Lisa Klein (Age 11+)
• Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field

Books that Leave You Awestruck:

• Every Soul a Star by Wendy Mass
• The Princetta by Anne-Laure Bondoux (Age 13+)
• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
• The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews
• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
• The View From Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg
• Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel (the heroine, Ayla, inspired my name!)
• Half Magic by Edward Eager
• Knight’s Castle by Edward Eager
• From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

Series That Create a World:

• The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
• Percy Jackson and the Olympians
• Harry Potter (The best of all time! ).
• The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
• Chasing Vermeer (B1), The Wright Three (B2), The Calder Game (B3) by Blue Balliett

Science That’s Fun Beyond Belief:

• A User’s Guide to the Universe by Jeff Blomquist and David Goldberg
• Star Trek and Philosophy edited by Jason T. Eberl and Kevin S. Decker
• Harry Potter and Philosophy by David Baggett and Shawn E. Klein

The ULTIMATE Award, The BEST book of all time, the one I will read over and over, the one which stays with you forever, and the one whose words float off the page:

✓ Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaardner

The best book I have ever read (and I’ve read lots), Sophie’s World is the story of philosophy. Sophie, our book’s heroine (or so we think…), begins receiving letters in the mail from a mysterious teacher who has taken it upon himself to educate Sophie in the history of philosophy. Mind boggling questions precede essays about the history, questions, and intricacies of the philosophic realm. As Sophie delves further into this world, she begins to discover things about her existence that she never guessed—and she begins to unravel a potent secret that questions all we know about reality and our own consciousness. I recommend it to ALL teen readers. This book is truly genius. It is a rare work of literary art, and it leaves you pondering the universe, time, space, the world, and most of all, ourselves. Now, just to keep in mind, it can be a bit of a difficult book to get into because of the author’s writing style. The book was translated out of Norwegian, therefor to an American reader, it can seem a bit short and choppy without many loquacious descriptions. Bear with it, though! It is well worth it, and by the end of the story, you’ve come to appreciate Gaardner’s unique style. It can be read on a park bench, under the covers late at night, in a library, over a cup of tea, with your parents, with your cousins, with random people, with your dog, with yourself…it is the most perfect novel ever to have been written, in my opinion. An absolute MUST READ!

I hope these Summer Reading recommendations get you off to a good start, and that your summer is filled with imagination and endless wanderings in the extraordinary world of words. Happy Memorial Day!

Yippee!!! Goodbye school year, hello summer! I recently graduated 8th grade, and middle school as a whole, and what an incredible three years it has been! They were all filled with remarkable learning and extraordinary discoveries. I am so excited about the summer, and about high school, and as we celebrate the start of an exciting summer with friends and family on the dock, I had a few words I wanted to share with all of you.

My final history essay at the Calvert School was an assignment designed to sum up one of Nelson Mandela’s incredible speeches (written by Marianne Williamson). After reading the speech, we were asked to write on how his words could contribute to our philosophy of life. I greatly enjoyed writing this essay, and as a kick off to summer, I thought I’d share the words with you. Please enjoy.

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Since the dawn of man, as the first civilizations rose and our ancestors walked from the caves, human beings have asked themselves the same questions. Who are we, and what are we doing here? What is our place in this grand, cosmic scheme, and why are we humans? From the steps of the Acropolis, to the churches of the Middle Ages, to the tall ships of the 20th century, we have wondered: who, what, and why are we? Nelson Mandela—a great visionary and a voice of hope for people all over the world—gives us an idea of our purpose to fulfill.

Mr. Mandela’s aim with his inaugural address was to inspire and encourage people to live as they are. To grow, to change, and to become more, but to be true to oneself. He tells us that each of us has a wholly unique purpose in our lives, and all of us can shine brighter than the sun. Unlike philosophers in times past, Mr. Mandela does not believe that man is the puppet of the universe, lacking free will and existing as a pale shadow of something greater. No, Mandela sees the beauty and the ability to extend one’s heart with such clarity, his words and philosophies are inspiring and filled with his own energy. He tells us that there is nothing—nothing—other than our own fear that stops us from being remarkable. We can rise above ourselves, step out of the curtain and into the sun, and radiate goodness, truth, happiness, and love to the world around us. Nothing stops us. There are things that will impede us—the bars of prisons, perhaps—but in the end, human beings are here, as Woodrow Wilson said, “…To enable the world. To live more amply and with greater vision, and with a finer spirit of hope and equality. You are here to enrich the world.”

To me, the most profound quote of this awe-inspiring speech is the line, “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” It scares us that we are in control of our lives, and it scares us that we can shape our own realities beyond measure. To some, it would seem silly that we are scared of being “…brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous.” Why would someone be scared of doing all those things? And yet, we are. It is human nature to shrink when we feel we are too small to matter. This world is big, and this universe is even bigger, and what difference could one voice make in a chorus of voices louder and stronger? Mother Teresa of Calcutta once said, “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” No voice is too small to matter, and no voice is too big that it will drown the others out. We all matter—our songs, our dance, our music, and our imaginations. These all matter to making the world a greater place.The world can seem big, scary, and hard to grasp. Terrifying things happen, yes, and there are people out there who are black holes in the cosmic scheme of human nature. And yet—the world is also a beautiful place. There is more that unites us than divides us, and though we speak a different language, people everywhere still smile, laugh, play, learn, cry, embrace, and dream. JK Rowling once wrote (through the mouth of Albus Dumbledore), “Difference of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”

In the end, we must listen to the words of Socrates, “…endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” Robert Cushing said the same, “The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.” Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Insist on yourself. Never imitate.” Philosophers, scientists, priests, diplomats, scholars, authors, and humans in entirety have said the same for millennia, and the words remain as true today as they were when first spoken. “…As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” Can you imagine a world where everyone lived to be the best they could be? Where everyone strived to bring a sense of light and improvement to each moment they lived, and where people climbed the mountain by helping others and striving to reach a little higher and a little farther than the day before? To me, that is a beautiful image, because it is an image of a future where we are equal, we are extraordinary, and we are here because we are living. Life is short, and yet it is also the longest thing we will ever do. Do you not want to live it to the fullest and to make every moment count for all it’s worth? “…We are meant to shine…”

If the pages above were not enough to prove it, then I shall clarify. I agree with Mr. Mandela’s statement fully and undoubtedly, for he has summed up my philosophy of life. Be dynamic, be exotic, ask questions, learn things, and keep your mind open. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “Do one thing each day that scares you,” and this is a quote which I have chosen to live by. Life is an adventure, one which I am determined to take. A relative of mine says, “I do not want to rest in my grave, perfectly preserved, but rather slide in sideways saying, ‘Holy cow, what a ride!’” To me, this is true, for life will never stop being interesting. There are so many things I haven’t done, and so many things I want to do. There are so many things I do not know, and so many things I want to learn. Albert Einstein profoundly said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning; curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when contemplating the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of the mystery every day. The important thing is not to stop questioning; never lose a holy curiosity.” What Mandela, Rowling, Einstein, Roosevelt, Wilson, and dozens of others have said is that life is an amazing journey. We will begin it as an empty book, and we will end it as a novel. Our pages are blank and yet to be written, and as we live, we are writing our own story. When my book rests in the library of life, I want my story to be breathtaking and heart pounding, warm and interesting, and filled with the lessons fathered from the trees of curiosity. In the movie Ever After, as the Grand Dame tugs her story to a close, she tells the Grimm Brothers, “…And, while Cinderella and her prince did live happily ever after, the point, gentlemen, is that they lived.”

Live life to the fullest. The moment is now, and I hope you take it firmly, letting it pull you towards grand adventures and an unforgettable journey.

My life: a wonderfully odd combination of astronomy, boating, and cooking. The title of this blog came on one of those nights in Culebra when the crew of Three@Sea gathered on the boat deck to gaze at the stars and discuss the day’s events. Cassiopeia is my favorite constellation, and as winter ends, this constellation has come close to slipping below the horizon for the spring and summer. I mentioned to Mom and Dad that, due to Earth’s orbit around the sun, the constellations in the night sky change on a seasonal basis, similar to how vegetables grow in cycles. It was at that time when Mom, Dad and I started drawing comparisons to the constellations and seasonal vegetables. Example: Orion is like a Pumpkin, and Serpens Caput (a notoriously spring constellation with a classic name) is like Asparagus.

When I lived in Boulder, I can vividly remember the start of spring, which to me, was always associated with the blossoming of crocus flowers and the reopening of the famous Boulder’s Farmers Market. Every afternoon, Mom, Dad, myself, and some friends would join into the festivities at the buzzing Pearl Street Mall, where the air would be redolent of sizzling pot stickers, perfumed flowers, fresh clover honey, ripe peaches, and spring rain. Eager sellers and buyers merrily discussed the crops and collections of that season, and Mom and I would wander along the stalls for hours, chatting with merchants, sampling the delicious goods, and heaping our basket full of spring vegetables and fruits: asparagus, baby lettuce, carrots, cherries, artichokes, and more. These were special treats which were mouthwateringly succulent after months of cold weather. I am a fall/winter girl who lives and breathes by pumpkin and squash, but I am always ready for a fresh meal of spring veggies when the season changes, just like two old friends reuniting.

For stargazers, the situation is very much the same. The winter months have brought us great treats like Orion and its corresponding nebula, Cassiopeia, the Andromeda Galaxy, Taurus, and more, and all these are stellar (pun very much intended) treats that all astro-enthusiasts love. However, when spring rolls around, stargazers everywhere will eagerly bring out their telescopes, binoculars, or lawn chairs, and prepare to extend a warm welcome to long lost companions. Spring brings us Serpens (Caput and Cauda), Ophiuchus, Leo, Libra, the Big Dipper, Virgo, and very bright, very beautiful others.

Personally, I’ve identified very few of the constellations mentioned above. But then again, when I was new to cooking, I had tried very few of the interesting and exotic vegetables associated with the season of spring. Just as I encourage everyone to expand their palate and try new cuisine, I encourage anyone (even those with urban skies!) to step outside and drink in the beauty of the dark spring night. I love the spring constellations, and after I write this, I think I’ll grab my binoculars and head out to find Leo. It’s going to be a great season filled with new discovery, and I’m content saying goodbye to my good friends Orion and Taurus for the winter. I’ll look forward to seeing them next year, just as I’ll look forward to eating pumpkin.

Hi All! This blog is going to fall under the sillier blog category, but some of the pictures included below were too priceless not to share. My very best friend, McKenna, and her parents just left after a week of awesome boat time here in Puerto Rico. We went Ziplining (see this blog: Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah), swam in a waterfall, played at Flamenco Beach, snorkeled, observed iguanas, and soaked up the tropical sun while enjoying spring break and each other’s company. There were many, many laughs while she was here, and we have tons of memories, some of which I’ve shared below.

One of my favorite parts of anchoring (see this blog: Anchoring: Top Ten) is the swimming. There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning, throwing on a swimsuit, and heading out to take a dip in warm, spectacularly blue water. Doing it with a friend is even better! It’s incredibly fun to leap of the boat, doing all sorts of crazy, midair jumps, and we decided that it would be double the fun to take pictures of our wacky poses! These pictures exhibit exactly what spring break is for: being silly, having a great time, and getting outside to soak up the sun and be active. Kenna and I had a GREAT time putting together a slideshow, and I’ve included part of it below (we took over 100 pictures of our jumps, total.) Enjoy!

Happy Pi Day! (That's supposed to be the Pi symbol on the pie )

Location: Fajardo, Puerto Rico

Happy Pi Day, Everyone! Today is the day (March 14th, or 3.14, which are the first three digits of pi) to celebrate one of the most famous numbers in all of mathematics: pi. Pi Day happens to be one of my favorite holidays, mostly because you celebrate by eating actual pie! I mean, what’s not to like about a day which give you an absolutely excellent excuse to spend several hours in the kitchen whipping up a fresh pie to share with your friends? Today, in honor of this irrational number, Mom and I baked a caramel pumpkin pie, topped with a pi-shaped strudel crumble. It was delicious—rich, dark, and very unique with its burnt sugar accent flavor. And, of course, because it’s Pi Day, everyone who eats pie must have 3.1415927 slices! For all us math geeks out there, Pi Day is also an excellent day to gather with friends and discuss the history, importance, relevance, uses, and philosophies of pi. Some of us can even sing Pi (seriously, look up the Pi Song on YouTube)! Pi has appeared in many things, from Kepler’s Third Law, to Star Trek, to Carl Sagan’s novel Contact, to the MIT college cheer, and I could probably write a pi-length blog on all the interests and intricacies of this number…but, instead, I’ll just remind you that today is a day to embrace your inner geek and your sweet tooth, all at the same time!

If you want to send a pi e-card, go to: http://www.piday.org/ecards/

Happy Pi Day, my friends!

I’m wearing adventurous gear, a hard helmet strapped to my head and hiking shoes gripping the edge of a wooden platform. My gloved hands clutch the rope, dangling me from the treetops above, preparing to send me whizzing through a canopy of greenery, off on a daring adventure. Suddenly, four villainous rogues appear behind me, ancient Taino swords grasped in their hands. They’re after the archaeological secrets Indiana Jones and I found, dating back to the ancient cultures of Puerto Rico. I leap from the platform, flying across the rainforest, clutching the cracked stone tablet under one arm and firing bows and arrows in another…

And then suddenly, the scene changes:  I’m on a Quidditch pitch with Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. My robes streaming behind me, I straddle my broomstick, soaring through the chilly Scottish air. There’s the Quaffle! It rushes towards me, I grab it from mid air, dodge a Bludger, and zoom towards the other end of the pitch, tossing it cleanly through the goalposts. The crowd roars their approval as I take a victory lap high above Hogwarts castle…

I flash through dozens of scenes: an airborne lightsaber battle with Darth Vader, an exquisite trip over Neverland with Peter Pan, an ancient game of tag with Taino children, and even a daring escape by a rebellious princess. Flying through the treetops, sunlight streaming in, and wind rushing past my face, I can be anyone or anything. Anywhere at anytime. I can let my imagination run wild.

I switch to another scene, although this time it’s real. This one, perhaps, is more spectacular than any imagined world or fictional times. I really am wearing a harness, gloves, and a helmet, hiking up a gorgeous mountain in the El Yunque rainforest, preparing to begin a truly exhilarating adventure. I’m about to go Zip Lining.

Our tour started at a wooden house, perched on a grassy field overlooking a forested area and a sloping canyon. Along with another family, Mom, Dad, Bobby-O, and I arrived at the house, greeted by smiling, adventurous guides named Rogie and Jaime. After a safety talk (that was great—both the guides made us all feel safe, relaxed, and confident), we harnessed up, donned helmets and gloves, and began a one mile walk to the first platform. Maybe more fun than the actual zips (which were AWESOME, as I’ll describe below) were the facts, trivia, lessons, and information which Rogie and Jaime shared along the way. Both of them are experts in Puerto Rican flora and fauna, and they also have encyclopedic knowledge of the ancient cultures that resided in El Yunque. As we hiked up a beautiful sunlit trail, they stop every once and a while to discuss the unique rock formations, exotic trees, strange animals, and signs of a culture lost in the toll of time. By the time we had finished with the tour, I had a deeper understanding of Puerto Rican nature, and a greater connection with the remarkable history of this exquisite island.

Okay—that part was awesome, but that was only one component of a greater adventure. I’m sure if Mom was writing this blog, she’d enjoy giving you a brief history of every ruling family in Taino history, but that’s not exactly my thing. I’ll let her take care of the history lesson—let’s talk about zip lining!! We arrived at Platform #1 where Rogie secured us to two cables which spanned about 150 feet across the tree canopy. Dad went first, and then it was my turn. I must admit, despite the fact that Rogie and Jaime are both extraordinarily good teachers and enormously responsible and competent, I could’t help but feel a little nervous as I prepared to take a leap of faith. Peering over the edge of the rickety platform, I surveyed my landing platform, shifted my footing, and—at Jaime’s bird call signal—pushed off. I was airborne.

The moment one falls from the platform and begins the ride across the forest, doubts and apprehension all go to the wind. In that moment I felt myself whiz past trees, surrounded by sunlight, leaves, and the calls of the Coqui frog. I flew, weightless and free, soaring through an endless realm of adventure and imagination. I let myself relax into the harness—I knew what it was like to be a bird! I was unconstrained and free to expand my wings and fly. It was magical—a feeling that was enormously exhilarating and carefree.

And then, all at once, the feeling stops when you realize you have to land. As crashing into the wooden platform and breaking several bones would be a rather unfortunate conclusion to a brilliant ride, I realized after moments of pure energy that it was up to me—assisted by Jaime—to stick a landing. Yikes. I must admit that first platform, preparing to set your feet down, halt momentum, and climb up the steps so I could be unclipped, was a little unnerving, but it happens so fast that one really doesn’t have time to think. You just have to do. My feet landed on the wood, my line began to tug me backwards, Jaime (with perfect aim EVERY TIME) clipped a safety rope to me, and moments later I was standing perfectly still and in one piece, watching what I had just done with an astonished gaze. And there were six more to do?? FANTASTIC!!!

Another great part of the adventure came after the actual zips—repelling! Instead of a bird, while I repelled I was a gecko, scrambling up and down the trunks, skittering in and out of the branches and surveying the scene below from an exciting, mid-air angle. From the treetops, Jaime once again secured me to a rope, instructed me to stand on my tippy toes with straight knees, and lean back with the pull of the rope. I did, and seconds later my feet made contact with the tree as I began bouncing from ledge to ledge, giggling with wary elation as I swung gently back and forth. Beautiful birds, colorful butterflies, and camouflaged lizards sped by me. I landed on the ground, feet planted firmly, and unlocked my caribeaner, waving to Jaime to let him know that I was down.

And that was all in the first 30 minutes of the day! Needless to say, it only got better and better. With each zip, I became more confident, and everyone became temporary members of the forest as we raced birds and strolled with iguanas. It was…magical. On the final zip, the longest at 800 feet, I flew threw the canopies, and all at once, burst into a scene of unparalleled magnificence. Flying high in the air, I looked down at miles and miles and miles of sloping, gorgeous valley carpeted with gentle green trees. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as wind swirled around me, and…yes…I felt like I never, ever wanted to leave. Ever.

Was this zip line tour one of the most exiting, incredible, brilliant, magical, beautiful, and special adventures I’ve ever had? Without doubt. If any of you come to Puerto Rico, definitely check out Yunke Zip Line Adventures, and say high to the wonderful Rogie and Jaime for us. A big shout-out to them, who made this adventure TOTALLY worthwhile. Until next time! ¡Hasta Luego, mi amigos!

Location: Ensenada Dakity, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Coordinates: 18° 17.439′ N 65° 16.854′ W

Hey All!! It’s great to be blogging again, and it’s my New Year’s Resolution (a little late, admittedly) to post more frequently. We’ve been having an absolutely fabulous time exploring the Spanish and U.S. Virgin Islands, and have had some really excellent adventures. The Caribbean lifestyle is definitely working for me: Pina Coladas twice a day (virgin, of course), sleeping out under the stars, swimming in crystal blue water hourly, hiking some truly spectacular trails, visiting several-hundred-year-old ruins, learning about the dynamic history of this area of the world, and letting the wind carry us towards new adventures.

Recently, Three@Sea and its crew moored at Ensanada Sombe on Vieques (see Dad’s blog for a more detailed analysis of Vieques and other cruising grounds). The water was beautiful, we were able to break in our new snorkel gear, and observe a seriously massive fish which decided to hang around our swim platform one night. Vieques was a really beautiful spot, and I took the opportunity to learn about local Taino Art (calabash gourds), take a swim out to the anchor, and most particularly, bathe in liquid starlight.

Many cruisers or Caribbean locals have probably heard of the bioluminescent cove on Viques, located in Mosquito Bay (a name that doesn’t exactly inspire enthusiasm). Of course, always looking for a new adventure, the crew of Three@Sea couldn’t resist the chance to take a swim in this glowing natural phenomenon. And so, one bumpy (but seriously fun) bus ride later, we arrived at the beautiful, tranquil, untouched bioluminescent bay.

A surprise for many people, this bay doesn’t just glow. It needs movement in order to activate the tiny organisms known as dinoflagellates. When one first arrives at the bay, it’s pitch black and eerie looking. However, as soon as we were on the boat and heading out into the cove, we started to see the first signs of this luminous phenomenon: fish encased in brilliant blue auras began swimming away from the boat’s hull. Almost like a comet, these fish created a long tail behind them, their actual bodies glowing incredibly bright. This was our first sign that we were in for a night when the heavens came down to Earth.

Pulling to a stop and picking up a mooring ball, the quiet, electric boat announced that anyone who wanted to swim would have the opportunity to do so. We were first in line. The paragraph that follows was written by me moments after we got out of the water. This was how it felt to swim in a true bio bay:

Around my body, the aquamarine sparkles flared out, glowing and swirling as my arms and legs kicked to the surface. Around me, stars had come to Earth, meeting with the sea and bonding our own planet with the universe. My arms paddled, and around me streams of turquoise magic sprang from my fingers, cascaded from my arms, and swirled from my feet. I could control light, and swirl stars. My world had met with a world beyond imagination. I swam underwater, sensing the microscopic creatures around us, and as I reemerged to the surface, liquid starlight dripped down my face and twinkled in my hair. The world was still and quiet, and my life joined with the beauty of the sky. As my fingers spread out, the little stars that danced with the waves flickered out, sending unknown magic into unknown realms. My feet, my arms, my head, and my body all glow with the same, incomprehensible blue. I feel myself floating, yet am I in water or in space? At what point does the world of stars end and the ocean begin? The two final frontiers joined in the bonding of nature.

Beauty at its finest.

I hope you enjoyed! Should any of you make your way to Vieques, definitely check out Island Adventures Bio Bay Tours — they have fabulous guides, wonderful information, are very environmentally friendly, and have fantastic information on stargazing (I was able to locate Taurus for the first time). This adventure was definitely one for the record books.

Location: Sand Dollar Anchorage, Georgetown, Exuma Islands, Bahamas
Coordinates: 23° 30.727′ N  75° 44.653′ W

The following are clues as to what this blog is going to be about:

1. The precise coincidental phenomenon described hasn’t happened like this since 1638—that’s 372 years ago,
2. The term for such an event is known as Syzygy—try saying that ten times fast!
3. If you were Mayan or Incan when such a anomaly occurred, it would have been an excellent opportunity to sacrifice some of your most annoying relatives.
4. It won’t happen again until 2094. I’ll be 98 by then.

Have you guessed yet? Yes, this blog is about the December 2010 Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse. If you had clear skies last night, and braved waking up in the wee hours of the morning on winter break, then you probably had a pretty spectacular view. I know I did. This entire event—an eclipse happening on the winter solstice—was extremely magical for me, and I wanted to share it with you.

By the time darkness fell in the Bahamas, clouds had started to blow in. The horizon over Sand Dollar beach was covered  in thick, gray clouds and the wind was howling so that they continued to creep across the sky, covering the full moon entirely. It was 10:00 when I went to bed, and when I looked out the window last, I couldn’t see anything. It wasn’t looking good for eclipse viewing three hours later.

I’ve never seen an eclipse before. I’ve wanted to for ages, but we’ve just never been in quite the right place at the right time. As eclipses go, I think this was a good one to start off with. The entire event was wholly eerie: it’s the winter solstice, and during the night three celestial bodies aligned into a rare position known as syzygy, on the full moon, creating a total lunar eclipse for watchers in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Wow. As Astronomy magazine’s Bob Berman said “This was exactly the kind of spectacle that inspired the fun-loving Mayans to push their most annoying relatives off pyramids.” Exactly. Luckily, in 2010, astronomers are able to predict eclipses like this one, and thousands of eclipse chasers across the Northern Hemisphere were able to set their alarms for what was sure to be a stellar night.

I woke up around 1:40 AM to my mom saying “Ayla…Ayla…it’s starting!” Sleepily, I rolled over and seriously contemplated whether or not this was worth coming out of my sleepy stupor for. “Ayla, you can see Earth’s penumbra across the moon.” That did it. Seconds later, I was out of bed and running up the stairs (I slept in my jeans and sweatshirt so I wouldn’t have to waste sky-time getting dressed) towards the outside.

“Go out on the bow, it’s amazing!” Mom said in a whisper. I grabbed the binoculars from the dashboard, and ran outside. What met my eyes was amazing.

Not only had the clouds parted over the moon, but there wasn’t a smidge of cloud cover anywhere in the sky. The stars—Orion, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and even Pleiades—were shining like beacons of protective warmth over our boat, and the most remarkable sight of all was suspended directly overhead. The once-full moon, creating a  night as bright as day time, was being eaten. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I don’t know how else to describe the eerie sense that a moon I had seen entirely full with my own eyes a mere three hours before was now missing a sliver—only a sliver—of its Oceanus Procellarum. A faintly copper flow, black without binoculars, was slowly enveloping our moon.

Despite the howling wind moaning through the sailing masts and whipping salt spray up from the crystal like water, I didn’t care how cold or how wet or how windy it was. All I cared about was the fact that I was finally seeing a lunar eclipse. The moon was creeping across Earth, timidly edging into it’s shadow, creating a rare and mysterious event, and I was getting to see it.

The last time this happened—a total lunar eclipse on the winter solstice—was the year 1638. Galileo—who would have been in his 70s when this happened—would have stood in his observatory exactly 372 years back from that moment, and witnessed the same phenomenon. It really puts time in perspective, doesn’t it? Depending on how sophisticated eclipse-predicting mathematics were in 1638, he might have realized that the next time this precise occasion would happen would be in the year 2010. I wonder what he thought of that? Did that seem too far in the future to comprehend? What did he think the world would look like? How did he perceive the possibility of us, standing in his same position, looking up at the same moon crossing the same Earth? The connections over centuries, more often than not, happen in space.

A half hour later, Mom, Dad, and I settled behind the dry stack with a blanket and steaming mugs of hot apple cider, and watched as Earth’s Penumbra continued to eat away at the moon. Through binoculars, the misty shadow appeared a very dusty color of copper. As the moon dimmed, the stars became brighter. I saw more star clusters than I ever have before, and the Orion Nebula was visible with the naked eye. It was still too bright to see the Andromeda Galaxy, but we could see the dense cloud of the Milky Way arched gracefully overhead.

The most magical part of the night came at the minute when totality was complete. The moon was completely covered in Earth’s umbra, and you could no longer see the brilliant white of the full moon—just the beautifully bizarre copper glow of Earth’s shadow hanging over the pockmarked surface. The entire family was looking up—totally awed—when the brightest, longest lasting, and biggest shooting star any of us had ever seen came darting directly under the ring of the moon’s light. I think we all gasped and jumped at precisely the same time.

I don’t know whether it was the thought of witnessing something that hadn’t happened in 372 years or simply the magic of floating out at anchor in a beautiful Bahamian cove watching Earth eat the moon, but either way, the night will be one that I always remember. Sitting with my family on the boat deck, watching the moon become a faint, reddish orb hung by invisible threads in the fabric of space, calling out shooting stars or constellations, and covered in a Christmas blanket drinking hot apple cider—an image of perfect cruising tranquility.

See you in 2094 for the next Winter Solstice Eclipse! Happy Holidays and wishing you clear skies.