Bison

Early American settlers called bison “bufello” due to the similar look between the two animals, and the name “buffalo” stuck for the American kind. But it’s wrong. The American bison lives only in North America, while the two kinds of real buffalo live in Africa and Asia. Scientists think that bison crossed over a land bridge that once connected Asia and North America over a space of many many years. Through the centuries buffalo slowly moved southward, eventually reaching Mexico and east to the Atlantic Coast. The largest herds settled on the plains and prairies of Central Unites States and Canada. Bison were a symbol of abundance and a sacred life for the Native Americans, with many stories and legends told about them. Purrs, Gulliver

buffalo

Arches

I spent some time camping at several of our national parks this past summer. Arches National Park is in eastern Utah. I did a lot of hiking and saw many of the 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to sky-high peaks and giant balanced rocks. One evening, a ranger talked about the kinds of wildlife that live in the parks. Desert bighorn sheep and mule deer can be seen often, but mountain lions come out at night. Kangaroo rats, lizards, spadefoot toads and many types of birds also live in the park. Take pictures when it is safe, but don’t bother the wildlife, the ranger said. Purrs, Gulliver

Arches

Barcelona

Do you like to read? I do, so I plan to find a Spanish sweetheart in Barcelona next April and celebrate Saint Jordi’s day with her. Like Valentine’s Day it is a romantic holiday. On April 23rd the man gives a rose to a woman as sign of love and in return, the woman gives a book as a sign for eternal love. Thousands of stands of roses and bookstalls are set up for the celebration. Around 4 million roses and 800,000 books are purchased on this day for lovers to declare their love. An interesting fact: The City of Love (Paris, France) is home to the Eiffel Tower, but the original location was supposed to be Barcelona! Barcelona is over 2,000 years old and has a lot of history to explore. I also enjoyed sunbathing on the Mediterranean coast during my trip! Purrs, Gulliver

Barcelona

Boston

“Bean Town” is just one of Boston’s nicknames. The name was used by sailors and traders because in colonial days beans cooked in molasses were a popular dish. There is so much history here because Boston was a major city and port even before the American Revolution. Harvard University was started in 1635. The Boston Tea Party was a revolt of citizens objecting to high taxes on tea, so they dumped the imported tea into the bay. Paul Revere was one of several people who raised the alarm that British troops were coming at the beginning of the American Revolution. It is a great city to walk around in, and I sailed in a boat under the Boston University Bridge, one of the only places in the world where a boat can sail under a train going under a car that is driving under a plane! Purrs, Gulliver

Boston

Montana

Do you have a nickname? Mine is Gully. Montana has a couple: The Treasure State and Big Sky Country. Montana is Spanish for mountain. When the territory was being named there were suggestions that a Native American name would be more fitting. Shoshone was a popular suggestion since it was the tribe of Sacajawea, a young Native American girl who traveled and interpreted for the explores Lewis and Clark. After much disagreement, the name Montana became official. Purrs, Gulliver

montana map

Brr, it is cold outside

I walk into the room and hear “Mrowl! Miao, Miao”. It is my sister’s voice, but I don’t see her. “Wowl”, she whimpers plaintively. I look some more, then realize the lump under the bedspread is moving. Sasha has crawled all the way under the covers to the foot of the bedspread. “I’m so cold, even with my fur coat my teeth were chattering. It must be only 10 degrees Celsius in here.” said Sasha. “Wow that is cold!” I thought. Then I realized that she meant it was 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is cool, but nowhere near freezing. Most of the world uses the Celsius scale to measure temperature, but the United States kept the use of Fahrenheit which was developed in the 1700’s. I wonder how they measured temperatures before then? Purrs, Gulliver

Manchu Picchu

Manchu Picchu is often called the “lost city of the Incas” and is the best known symbol of the Inca Empire. Machu Picchu means ‘Old Peak’ or ‘Old Mountain’ in the Quechua Indian Language. Machu Picchu includes of around 140 structures with terraced fields nearby. It was thought to be an estate of the emperor. It is believed that the Incas were some of the best masons in the world. Legend has it, that when an Inca placed two stones together, no one would have even been able to place a knife between the stones due to their precision and accuracy in carving. Purrs, Gulliver

Germany

Sprechen sie deutsche? Do you speak German? Germany has 16 states instead of 50; its capital and largest city is Berlin. It has borders with nine other countries: It also has coastline on the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. There are many castles there. King Ludwig had three, including Neuschwanstein which was the inspiration of Walt Disney’s Cinderella’s Castle.

I love to eat German food. Traditional foods include Wurst (sausage) Schnitzle (breaded pork or veal) Spaetzle (noodles or dumplings), Stollen (fruit cake) and Strudle (a layered pastry). I finish each meal with Marzipan, a sweet made with almonds and sugar. Purrs, Gulliver

germany

San Francisco

The City by the Bay is one of my favorite cities, and I get to visit often because my cousin Gabby lives there. San Francisco was founded by Spaniards in 1776 – the same year as the start of the American Revolution. Last time I was there we scampered down to Fisherman’s Wharf to beg for fish, then rode the cable car up the hill. We got off at Lombard Street and watched the people drive down the crookedest street in the world. Gabby wanted to go to Alcatraz Island and see the old prison, but I was afraid they would lock us up and throw away the key! So we went to see the Golden Gate Bridge instead, which runs north to south, and has the Pacific Ocean on one side and the San Francisco Bay on the other. Purrs, Gulliver

Brazil

Oohhh, I ate too much Feijoada, it was so good! Brazil’s national dish is a stew made of black beans, pork (including earns, knuckles, chops and sausage) and dried beef. It is served with rice, decorated with collard greens and sliced oranges. It is a hearty dish; restaurants regularly serve it on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Brazil is the only Latin American nation whose language and culture come from Portugal. The early explorers brought back a wood that produced a red dye, “pau-brasil”, from which the land received its name. Brazilians are one of the most welcoming people in the world; foreigners are treated with respect and often with admiration.

Purrs, Gulliver

brazil