New Zealand Scrapbook

Hi Kids,
The shot above is the landscape where Hobbiton is located. Filming on the movie, "The Hobbit," was going on when we were there so we didn't get to see the little hobbit houses. There are lots of sheep in New Zealand -- more sheep than people!

We got to feed some baby lambs -- but if you'll notice, I'm stuck under Miss Elaine's arm and she's getting to have all the fun! Grrrr.

It was late October when we went to New Zealand -- the beginning of their summer. But someone forgot to tell the weatherman! It was COLD. Thank goodness I have a fur coat. Mr. Jack accidentally left his coat in the airport in Los Angeles. He had to wear one of Miss Elaine's jackets. It's a good thing that she lives in such fear of being cold that she always packs extra.

We had tea in a lovely forest that was in "The Lord of the Rings -- it represented Lothlorien, the realm of the elves. Here we experimented with perspective to show how the actors who played hobbits were made to seem small. This man was actually the tallest person in the group and the lady was second-shortest. I was actually shorter but I couldn't hold my arms right!

Lake Wakatipu was also used in the Lord of the Rings movies -- and it played a Scottish loch in the movie "The Waterhorse: Legend of the Deep." New Zealand has such a variety of scenery that lots of movies are filmed here.

One afternoon we went to the National Museum in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. These are kiwis. They can't fly (well, these REALLY can't fly because they're stuffed) so it's easy for predators to catch them. New Zealand tries to keep them in preserves, but cats, ferrets and weasels are pretty sneaky. The museum also has the preserved remains for the biggest giant squid ever caught -- it actually looks pretty yucky.

At the final dinner of Miss Elaine's conference, the people from the movie studio that made the Lord of the Rings movies brought props and costumes used in the movies. This is the actual Black Tower -- and it's only about 14 feet tall. Miss Elaine got down on the floor to take this picture. I was pretty embarrassed -- but I have to admit it's a good angle!

Miss Elaine had a travel writers' meeting in New Zealand but it was also a great time to celebrate the fact that she and Mr. Jack have been married 50 years. This orc helped them celebrate!

Love,

Batman

Happy Mardi Gras!

Hi Kids,
Me again -- this time showing you pictures from my trip to Shreveport, Louisiana, for Mardi Gras. In the picture above I'm posing with some Mardi Gras items at Tubbs Hardware -- it's the Mardi Gras headquarters in Shreveport.

As you can tell, they have LOTS of beads and other Mardi Gras things.

We got to sample three different King Cakes. If you look carefully at the one on the top left, you'll see the baby. Usually it's baked inside the cake -- but I guess this baker was afraid someone would swallow it!

The night before the parade, we went to the loading party. That's when everybody hangs their beads on pegs on the floats so they'll be easy to grab and throw during the parade. There were some really big floats. The theme of this parade was "Bad Boys." I don't think Captain Jack Sparrow is so bad!

Here I am trying to catch beads (they're also called "throws") -- it's not easy when you're my size.

This is Aiden Sanchez. He's in second grade in Louisiana. He stood next to me at the parade and even gave me some of his beads.

This is me at the hotel modelling all my beads. They were really heavy! I'm glad to don't have to wear them every day.

That's it for Mardi Gras!

Love,

Batman

It's Spring!

Kia Ora, Kids,
That's the Maori greeting meaning "Good Health." Everybody says it here in New Zealand. Look at your world map to see where I am. I'm in the southern hemisphere so the seasons are the opposite of the northern hemisphere where we live. It is the beginning of summer here but it is still chilly -- they had a surprise snowstorm a few days ago! It's also a day later -- it's Thursday noon where I am but it's only Wednesday where you are -- and it's either 5 in the morning or 5 in the afternoon -- this is so confusing!!!! And when water runs down the sink drain here, it goes in the opposite direction to the way it goes down in Edmond.
This country is beautiful with all sorts of landscapes. Right now we're in Wellington on the coast of the north island. Earlier we were on the south island in an area called the Southern Alps -- gorgeous high mountains.
Back before people settled here, there was only one kind of mammal (two species) -- bats. Because there were no predators, birds forgot how to fly! I hope you got the post card with the kiwi -- it's the national bird. They are almost extinct because with the arrival of people, other animals arrived and they liked to eat kiwi!
People here are very friendly. There are three official languages -- English, Maori and sign language for hearing impaired people. New Zealanders are very friendly -- the call themselves "kiwis."
There are several other bears here and we are having a great time.
Love,
Batman

On the Route of Don Quixote

Hi Kids,


Spain is so beautiful -- even in the rain. I sprinkled off and on yesterday but seemed to stop when Miss Elaine wanted to take pictures. This morning we went to a 500-year old inn, like the ones Don Quixote would have visited on his travels. Then we saw more windmills -- and another castle. Wow!
This is the time in La Mancha -- this particular region of Spain -- when they harvest the saffron fields. Saffron is a very expensive spice -- it´s the a part of the crocus flower. We got to watch some people picking the flowers. Then they throw away the pretty purple petals and keep the little yellow part at the end of the stamens. Miss Elaine bought some saffron from the people who had just been harvesting it. She´s never cooked with it because it is so expensive but she says she will try it now. (It doesn´t cost as much here.)
Then we went to Toledo -- a very beautiful, very old city. We saw many famous paintings including lots by El Greco (His real name was Domenico Theotokopolis) but the Spaniards just called him "The Greek." The cathedral was very elaborate.
We spend a lot of time eating. Miss Elaine says we will have to exercise a lot when we get home!
We leave tomorrow to come back to the U.S. I am bringing you some little treats.
Love,
Batman

Castles in Spain

Hi Kids,
Yesterday I had lunch in a castle! Spain is so beautiful and surprising. There are acres of olive trees and grapevines and beautiful scenery. The highlight of the day was seeing windmills -- not the kind we have in Oklahoma but old-fashioned ones. In the story of Don Quixote, he thinks they are giants and he charges them with his lance. Poor Don Quixote! The food here is super -- I think I told you about the chocolate on the breakfast buffet. They also have pate, which is ground-up, seasoned liver. Miss Elaine LOVES it. Sorry this is so short -- but Miss Elaine is telling me I have to go. One of the writers is doing a video show on elephants -- he´s from India. Not exactly on the Spanish program -- but it should be interesting.
Love,
Batman

Ola from Espana

Hi Kids,
I´m in Alcala de Henares, a city close to Madrid, Spain. I can´t show you pictures until I get home but I wanted to tell you a bit about my trip. Miss Elaine and I are following the route of Don Quixote (pronounced Don Kee-oh-tee). He is a character in a book written 400 years ago -- maybe the most famous book in Spain. It was written by a man named Cervantes (Sir-vahn-tays) and I will go see his house later today. It is a funny book -- but very long. Cervantes was making fun of the popular reading material of his time -- stories about brave knights going on dangerous missions and saving damsels in distress. That´s an old-fashioned way of saying ´´ ladies in peril.´´ Don Quixote read too many of those books and he began to imagine that he was a brave knight going on missions. He wore a cardboard helmet that he made and got a bony, old horse and thought it was a strong, young war horse. He imagined many dangers on his trips -- I´ll tell you more later.
Miss Elaine and I are staying in a parador -- this is a hotel owned by the Spanish government. They take historic buildings and turn them into really cool places to stay. Centuries ago, this was a convent. Now it is a modern hotel -- so modern that we don´t have a room key. We just hold a card to a spot on the door and it opens. When we get in the room, we put the card in a slot and all the lights go on automatically. When we wanted to take a nap, Miss Elaine pressed a button and curtains came out of the ceiling and made the room dark. Wow! I love this place. Miss Elaine is taking lots of pictures. Maybe we can do a show when we get back.ç
Love,
Batman

Batman at the Beach

Hi Kids,

Miss Elaine and I just got back from Apalachicola, Florida. If you look at a map, you'll find it at the bottom of the big bump on the Florida panhandle. (Pronounce it: app-uh-latch-uh-cola) It's a beautiful little town with lots of friendly people. Miss Elaine said they are very dog-friendly there -- and now she knows they are bear-friendly, too.

The town is on Apalachicola Bay, which is an estuary. An estuary is a very important biological area where fresh waters (in this case from the Apalachicola River) mix with ocean water. St. George Island, which is a barrier island off-shore, helps hold water in the bay so that the water isn't completely fresh and isn't completely salty. Lots of species use this area as a nursery so there are many, many kinds of animals and plants found here. They have a very good visitors' center at the Apalachicola Estuarine Reasearch Reserve -- I learned a lot. As usual, Miss Elaine wanted me to get a good view of everything. Here, she is holding a corn snake -- a colorful, harmless snake, which is found here. It crawled on my face and around Miss Elaine's neck! Everyone thought we were very brave but it was fun. The snake was smooth and cool and not slimy at all.

Saturday we got up early to go fishing. This is Justin McMillan of Journeys of St. George Island. He has a lovely, big boat.

I didn't get to fish. Bears fish with their paws and claws -- and somebody forgot to give me any claws! Miss Elaine had to use a fishing pole. Fingernails don't work as well as claws! She caught lots of fish but we threw them all back so they would be okay. This is a Spanish mackerel she caught -- it was really pretty but it had sharp teeth so we were careful not to get close to those!

There were dolphins swimming close to the boat. When we got ready to go home, Captain Justin speeded up and the dolphins swam in so they could surf in the wake. Isn't this neat?

Love,

Batman