Over the summer, we learned about New Zealand. Our activity was to learn about and replicate Maori symbols. We also discussed moko-Maori tattoos- and their significance, and did we think it would hurt to get a tattoo on your face. What do you think?

The first program at the Torresdale Branch of the Free Library this summer was about the Middle East. We read the book Living in Egypt by Chloe Perkins, which helped us learn some Arabic and understand a little of what it’s like to be a girl living in the Middle East/North Africa. We also looked at a lot of pictures of the kids who lives in the many countries throughout that region. For fun, we created clay sculptures of famous landmarks. As you can see here, a popular choice was the Kuwait Towers. Others chose to re-create the Great Mosque of Samarra, Dome on the Rock, or make fish that did not live in the Dead Sea.

The national dance of Chile is called the cueca. These students won a regional (state) competition and were off to a big city near the capital to represent the Magallanes Region, or Region XII. It was the first time they left their region and ever flew on an airplane.

Learn more about the history of the cueca and Chile here:

A quick train ride into Coyoacán (place of coyotes), a municipality of Mexico City, Frida Kahlo’s La Casa Azul (The Blue House) is a must see. I don’t know if she did a lot of cooking, but it’s nice to see her style at home was as beautiful as her paintings.

Read more about Frida’s house here.

I really like visiting libraries in other places, even if I can’t check out any books. But in Mexico City, you need your passport to enter this one, so I just enjoyed it from the outside. Do you ever go to libraries while traveling in other places?

If you are looking for a train station in Paris, do not go here! This old train station has been recycled into a cafe and you should definitely go for a snack. Check to see if they still have chickens out back. Read more about it here.

Maybe the fossils of marshmallows left behind at Zion National Park in Utah?

Find out more about Zion National Park here.

If you are ever in Colombia, go to the city of Santa Marta and then take a taxi (car or moto!) up the mountains into Minca. From there, take the hike further up the mountain to the Pozo Azul, or the Blue Hole, one of the best swimming spots in the world. There are at least three levels of swimming holes but we were so excited to get here, we jumped right in. It’s more green than blue but it’s clean and refreshing. Go early in the morning because by the afternoon, it is crowded with tourists and locals.

On the way back to Minca, we stopped at a road/mountainside restaurant for the most delicious chicken ever. You will be so hungry from hiking and swimming you should each get your own!

If you want to practice your French, go to New Brunswick, Canada. Every sign is in English and French. It’s a quiet province, so you may be practicing your new language with the squirrels but it is clean and peaceful.

Learn more about the Bay of Fundy and New River Beach Provincial Park here.

When I lived in Chile, I met up with my best cousin, Erin, in Buenos Aires for a week. We ate a lot of empanadas, took a boat across the river to Uruguay and saw this giant steel flower, the Floralis Generica. It is open during the day and closes at night, except on four special holidays.

So grateful for this action shot that my dear friend Rebecca got of me during my first official week being The Geography Lady.

First outdoor event was a breeze!