Birmingham Stops: Moundville

Sylvie, Ute and Ellen on the Black Warrior River, Moundville AL

Back end of the Armadillo

The day after Thanksgiving, we went west to a site called Moundville - South and west of Tuscaloosa. This is an historical native American Indian site. The site was developed through about 800 to 1450AD. It has an impressive series of dirt mounds built by people that were part of the so called Mississippian Culture. Also impressive are the many artefacts found at the site and there is a small modern museum that highlights the culture. When we visited, it was completely dry with hardly any new growth. A grey armadillo dashed out of the adjacent forest when we arrived, scooted into the long grass and up one of the mounds. We walked up to the top and low and behold the armadillo came right to the top too and poked its head and body to us. However, he/she proved very hard to photograph - even though we were 6 meters away.

Moundville Museum

Moundville Platforms

Southern Road trip 1

On the 23rd of November we headed out to explore the south of the USA. Our goal was to meet up with our former bridesmaid who lives in Birmingham, Alabama. Sylvie drove the whole way about 1020 miles (1642Km). The roads were superb. We went Bloomington to Evansville on Thanksgiving Day Eve with hardly a car on the road - and cross the Ohio River there. We stopped the night in Clarksville, TN where we had rain; and then the next day went through Nashville to Birmingham. South of Nashville you could see a line of clouds and beyond was clear blue sky. As we approached we got into a parched land. The south and southeast has been in drought for 4 months. We passed through areas of smoke and wildfires. We stopped at a couple of places along the freeway to get a break from the trucks and driving. Always near you, every 1 kilometer are trucks hauling all manner of goods. Some are of impressive length and it is an unnerving experience to have the Hyundai Sante Fe Sports AWD sandwiched in a lane between them. Got hit up for a donation at a Starbucks at Athens (north of Birmingham) - there are people who will come up to you for money and spin a story of woe. What could I do? It was Thanksgiving Day after all.

Nashville is spaghetti freeway junction. Sylvie was on the driving and I was navigating with the Google Maps - Ute was on music. The online map was absolutely necessary. You need it to navigate the numerous and rapidly presenting off ramps to this place or that. Then there are exits that are I-64A and this is different from I-64 etc. A good idea too, is to stay in the middle lanes as right or left lanes can evaporate or become exit ways you can't get out of easily. Still we got there. Indy500 here we come.

Birmingham is known for its iron industry and the evidence of it is all around. It was hot, still, sunny and dry as a chip. All grass dead and trees in different stages of dropping leaves or dying. We had Thanksgiving dinner outside at our friend Ellen's place - just plain lovely. Thanks Ellen. Thanks Dean.

Ellen and Dean, Birmingham

Ute getting ready for Thanksgiving Dinner

Simon's Birthday

We celebrated my birthday in Room 372 with an afternoon tea for our Fulbright friends.

Hanane (Morocco), Hasna and Haya (Palestine), Keitsemetsie (Botswana), Diana and Karina (Mexico)

Susanna and her daughter Lilly (Finland) and two kiwis

Khalid and Hanane (Morocco)

Ute Arrives

Ute arrived yesterday 21st November after a long trip for three weeks with us.

Arrival at Indianapolis Airport

Eiteljorg Museum of Native American Culture

This is a must see museum in Indianapolis. It focusses on maintaining the history and culture of the native American Indians. Unfortunately, their history during the founding of the USA between the 1600's to the 1900's makes sad reading. All despite their own willingness to try and accomodate the new settlers. A similar pattern with respect of indigenous people everywhere. It was 2 degrees, sunny and fine on the day.

ThanksGiving Dinner Sherwood Oaks Christian Church 20th November

We were invited to the Sherwood Oaks Christian Church as part of the International Community at IU. This was a lovely occasion with something like 300 people served a dinner of Turkey and vegetables by the church members. We were transported there and back and entertained with music and a mass Thanksgiving history role play (!) during our time. Thanks giving is a holiday officially observed on the 24th, but extends through the week. Americans visit family and give thanks for what they have. What a lovely event and our hosts went out of their way to make us welcome in their community. Thank you!

The Sherwood Oaks Hall

Karina (Mexico) and Ley Kheng and Gail (Singapore)

This is little Siran from India. Her family are not part of the Fulbright Group, but she is famous. Her family lives near us and here she is grooving to the music on the table after dinner.

The Week Past: Some air guitar and karoake with actions

Its been a busy week winding up our project reports, attending lectures and functions. Here are a few pictures of life with my colleagues. The Mad Housewife is a good brew from California. Some of the Fulbrighters are so young they don't know some of the classic music of the 60's and 70's!

We are now in the Thanksgiving Break that extends to November 27th - no IU University classes. The weather has just turned very cold and we are now at zero overnight with frosts. We are travelling to Alabama for a few days next week. Heads down and work time...

Group Karoake with Actions - another use for a walking stick

A Sign for Promoting American Culture

A real brand of very good wine from California

Sunset at Evermann

Moroccan Independence Day Celebrations. That's sweet peppermint tea on the table - a traditional drink