Elissa

For someone who has lived in a small bucolic town, I have been in a constant state of surprise…

So much has happened here in recent days!

This Sunday, was certainly a great reward for living far away from the center of the city and at the edge of Galveston Bay.

The “Annual Regatta Elissa” in honor of the vessel with the same name, considered the “official tall ship of Texas, took 8 years to be restored, and is maintained and preserved by a group of wonderful volunteers.

This boat is 123 years old and floating, and is not a replica. It’s a survivor that worked for 90 years carrying everything she could, from port to port around the world. Her name is taken from a Phoenician princess who fled Africa and founded Carthage near Tunis .

“ELISSA” can be seen at Pier 21 of the “Seaport Museum” in Galveston Texas.

Back to regatta…

Since the Houston Yacht Club is also close, we were there, on a very beautiful spring day with the north wind blowing full steam! The wind was so strong that the race finished well ahead of schedule.

This club was founded by a group of yachtsmen in 1897, with the purpose of maintaining our bay clean and healthy, and they seem to have achieved this, because large fat fish are constantly jumping whenever I’m close to the water. Always. No exaggeration. And look, I don’t fish…

The club has been promoting this event for 24 years, and has been established here since 1927, in a beautiful Spanish style building known as “The Pink Palace.”

It was there another race took place, that of the Consuls, as you can see by the flags around the pool.

Watchful and silent as always, also participating, my innumerable neighbors… And when I say innumerable, it’s because they were.

I consider them one of the rewards of my simple life and they’re probably here for the abundance of food that is found here.

Now a little more of the beauty of this fascinating sport.

But having to mention it again: do you see the huge community of white pelicans and birds lined up huddled in the background? I almost couldn’t believe my eyes !

And everyone smiled for a photo.

Like I said, the north wind was so strong…..

Hold on, Julia!

“Look at everything as if it were the first or last time, then your time on earth will be filled with glory.” (Betty Smith)

Filed under: Information • Inspiration

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!