#SummerHat12 Candidate #5

The last candidate is--now that I think about it--the only hat in the running this year that doesn't have a sports connection. (And I'm not as big a sport fan as all that, honestly.)
But, the cult of Apple is a lifestyle all of its own.
Lynda purchased this hat for me as a souvenir during her trip to the Cupertino mothership campus where Steve Jobs walked on water and the first iPod drive locked up and failed. She was there for work about a year or so ago and bought it in the campus Apple Store. (And while she was there, she saw Apple Board of Directors member, and former Vice President, Al Gore buying an iPad.)

#SummerHat12 Candidate #4

Candidate number 4 is another baseball team, my local National League team, the Cincinnati Reds.
Some people around here are Cleveland Indian fans, but I have always been and always will be a NL fan. So I must go with the Reds. (And besides, I can't be a fan of the two Native American-based teams, can I? The protests I would receive would become unbearable.)

This hat was given to me by my colleague S. Carl, a lifelong Reds fan and yearly season-ticket holder. She bought me this hat specifically to be a candidate in my next election for #SummerHat12. So, here it is.

#SummerHat12 Candidate #3

Candidate number 3 is a 1974 era Atlanta Braves hat.
While I was alive during this time, I was only a toddler when the most important event of this uniform era (Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's career home run record) occurred.
During most of my conscious baseball watching as a kid, I remember this uniform style. These were the Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, Bruce Benedict years.
And when the Braves were national postseason powerhouses year-after-year in the Bobby Cox/Glavine/Smoltz/Maddox/Chipper era, the unis looked like this.

Over time I've owned one of each of these styles. (And subsequently lost each one of them as well.) But the only style I happen to have right now is the Hammerin' Hank '74 version. And I like it . . . even if the bill is curved slightly lop-sided.

#SummerHat12 Candidate #2

Candidate number two was the source of some controversy during the initial filming of the #SummerHat video.And I know that at least one potential voter is withholding an endorsement until I provide some more information on this particular hat to help clarify his position.

So, Tracy . . . this one is for you.

This blue baseball hat with the logo "South Georgia Seniors" is not, as Grace mistakenly suggested a hat that hearkens back to my high school senior days.
Rather, this hat represents a regional golf league that my dad participates in (he was even the treasurer one year). The region is (as you mght guess) southern Georgia. And the members are (again, self-evidently) "seniors" of the _______ citizen variety.

So, I hope this helps clarify things.

#SummerHat12 Candidate #1

Candidate number 1 is the Ohio State baseball style cap.
I actually purchased this hat during a golf afternoon with my old buddy Shirtless.
I'm a sucker for two-toned baseball caps like this.
And the fact that it also featured the old-school mesh-in-the-back style of my youth was the final determining factor in the decision to purchase this hat.

It gets sunny in Ohio during the summer months. And if you've got to shade your eyes, picking a Buckeye hat will always get you in the door.

The Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea on my first full day.

The Walk to Jaffa

Minaret in Tel Aviv

The promenade between Tel Aviv and Jaffa.

I originally thought this was a school field trip, but later learned that school was out on this day for a national holiday. So this must have been a tour.

Entering Jaffa's Old City

Here is a clearer view of Jaffa approaching. The tower on the far right is the bell tower of St. Peter's Catholic Church.

There were some fishermen and their boats along the Jaffa shore, as well as teens enjoying the day off (?). There were also some touristy shops to cater to visitors.

Jaffa Randomness

Me taking my first of several doorway pictures in Jaffa.

Another thing only a tourist would do . . . take a picture of a manhole cover.

Jaffa fishing boats

Street Art in Jaffa

Interesting graffiti art directly across from a modernized building that looked to have art studios on the ground floor and apartments above. Perhaps a resident artist did this?

One close up detail of the graffiti.

A full-on shot of the same wall, standing in front of the apartment building entrance.

Along the Jaffa Streets

This is found on all electrical poles in every city. I guess it prevents anyone getting close to the wires above.

self-evident

Courtyard of St. George church

Looking out from the St. George church doorway area, out into the courtyard. Matt and I had entered through a fenced gate--which was open, by the way.

Accidentally, I tooka few really pretty pictures

Much of Jaffa's old, historic area looks like this. Stone buildings, paved stone alleyways. Of course, in much of the areas we walked, the doorways led to jewelry stores, art galleries, tourist shops.

Jaffa flowers

Evidence that Humans Exist in Jaffa, Not Just Architecture

St. Peter's church

Look--a human being! This is Matt, Karen's husband. (Karen works with Lynda.) He walked with me during my visit on my first day while our wives were working.

Views Through Jaffa

Entrance to St. Peter's Roman Catholic church.

Looking down below to the Med. Sea from the top streets of Jaffa.

St. Peter's Church, Jaffa

One of the stories in the New Testament says that while visiting Jaffa, Simon Peter received a dream telling him to preach to the Gentiles. This church is a Franciscan Roman Catholic church, which is the same order that I grew up with as a kid in south Georgia.

St. Peter's altar

St. Peters ceiling

Ceiling dome window decoration above the St. Peter's altar.

St. Peter's ceiling decoration, symbolizing the Keys to the Kingdom.

Jaffa's History Mystery

Jaffa historical marker, decorated as a Napoleonic era soldier.

Here is the "historic area" the previous soldier marker was pointing to. I don't know what this area actually is, but I think it is a stage area for seasonal historic performances. I also think there is a historic museum down below this--there is a ramp to the left of this photo.

Mysteries of Jaffa

Another interesting (hopefully for you?) glimpse of alleys and doors and windows in Jaffa.

I don’t know what this was advertising, but people of Hebrew descent certainly know to not mess with Ramses.

Jaffa at Rest

My contribution to the Windows desktop theme sweepstakes?

At first, I didn’t know what this doorway was referring to. But I found out in a few more pictures. Stay tuned!

Questions about Jaffa

In line with the admonition to NOT mess with Ramses, you might also want to know that Cool Rabbins (why that spelling?) are skateboarding.

Hey, another doorway! Why do tourists take such boring pictures?

Jaffa Details

Many of the alleyway streets in Jaffa featured these street name makers. (I’d hate to deliver mail here.) It made me wonder if they were a civic art project, because they look decidedly un-governmental.

Here is the explanation for the blue door with the white cross shown previously. It was one of the entrances to the Greek Orthodox St. Michael’s Monastery in Jaffa.

The Streets of Jaffa

Jaffa alleyway, capturing St. Peter’s bell tower in distance.

Looking back at Tel Aviv from Jaffa.