SBPA | Sociedad Benefactora y Protectora de Animales de San Carlos | San Carlos | Mexico

 

This is where it all happens, a seemingly small building on a road to a residential neighborhood.  Multiple times every year, this is the scene of a massive crowd gathered to get their pets spayed or neutered.  Veterinarians and Vet Techs from neighboring cities come to our town to help provide free spay/neuter procedures for animals whose owners cannot afford the cost of having it done at a local veterinarian.  In one year, at the end of this past June, this clinic program has managed to spay/neuter 1977 animals and administer 2600 rabies vaccinations.

 

 

This clinic always draws a crowd, and this time I got to see part of the process that goes into this event.  This street doesn't usually have cars parked along each side, unless it's clinic day.

 



 

A friend made me aware of a couple living on our street whose dog had a litter of 6 puppies that were about 9 months old.  What is worse, mama dog had another litter that was about a month or so old - 7 of them!  Through a series of visits with a translator, I was able to let them know about the clinic and that we could bring all the dogs in, except for the very young litter.  Thanks to the SBPA organization, I was given help and information as well as the loan of crates to help get them to the clinic. 

 

On the clinic day, the dogs were loaded and we went to the clinic to get the necessary paperwork done.  Even though it was shortly after 7 AM, there was a crowd.   There was lots of barking and meowing from all the animals who realized this was not going to be a fun day for them.  After the paperwork, the animals were weighed and labeled and put in separate crates, ready for surgery.

 

The photo below shows a crowd of people still waiting a few hours after I had left the clinic.  When the animals are finished and out of recovery, the owners are called so that they can be picked up.

The day of this clinic, over 100 animals were taken care of, when they expected to treat only about 50.  It was a 12 hour day for the doctors as well as the support staff.  This clinic does a great job taking care of the animals in our little town, and  I was very pleased to have been able to work with this organization to help the animals.  I have put my name on the list of volunteers to help in future programs or events.

Anyone interested in further information about this organization can visit these links  https://www.sbpasancarlosmexico.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SBPA-San-Carlos-197277600418611/

 

Dia de los Muertos | Day of the Dead | San Carlos | Mexico

Welcome to San Carlos!!  The first week I was here, it was the celebration of the Day of the Dead.  In our area, they don't celebrate it as much as some other areas of the country.

Shrines were erected in different areas of the town.  They would have photos of loved ones who had passed on, as well as candles, flowers and other items.  In some towns, families and friends would gather in cemeteries to spend the evening or night eating special food that had been prepared.  There would be conversations remembering and honoring their loved ones, and even sometimes music.  This is not a sad remembrance, and as usual with Mexico, it's full of color.

 

This is a closeup of the photo previous to this - and shows the detail of the "altar".

 

 

And, of course, the art gallery had to have a painting of one of a typical mask, similar to those that some people may use in their celebrations.

 

 

I went into an office in town, and they had their shrine set up inside, a tribute to the singer Selena.

 

It is not a tradition that is observed much here, and I don't even think they did these shrines the first two winter seasons I was here in San Carlos.

 

 

Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter | Charleston | South Carolina

 

This is the parade ground in the middle of Fort Moultrie, and the photo below is the entrance to the fort, which is a National Monument on Sullivan's Island.

 

 

There were multiple cannons on display, aimed at all areas.  This fort was in use during the Revolutionary War in 1776, then the Civil War, World War I and World War II.  Some of the World War II influence can be seen around the fort.

 

 

 

 

 

This building is a more recent addition to the fort, since it was in use in World War II.  Outside the building, there was a machine to send lighted signals to troops on the water.  Both the building above and this signal machine are from World War II. 

 

  

  

 

I thought the next photos were interesting, showing how ammunition arrived at the fort.  The crates in the top photo are marked 1907.  The barrels in the second photo are marked 1834.

 

  

This shows a direct hit during the Civil War, and is why fort walls are always very thick.

 

Another fort in the area is Fort Sumter. 

 

Fort Sumter is quite far out in the Charleston Harbor, there was a large crowd visiting the fort that morning, so we were all brought out on the tour boat you see above.  No dolphins to be seen, but it sure was good to get on a boat again.

 

 

This is the entrance to the fort itself, which was 3 stories tall when it was built, although only one story has been restored.  Building on this fort started in 1829 and was not yet complete when South Carolina seceded from the Union.  Their first battle was in 1861, another was started in 1863 when the Union tried to overtake the fort.  By 1865, the fort was reduced to piles of rubble, although still in Confederate hands. 

 

If you look to the right of this next photo, you'll see a hole where the fort was struck by a round from the opposing army. 

 

 

 Looking out from the fort, they would have had a good view in all directions, especially with 3 stories. 

 

 

 

 

USS Clamagore | Charleston | South Carolina

 

This submarine was built for World War II, but didn't get finished in time for action.  It spent time in Key West, Charleston and New London. 

 

 

This is the galley, also known as a kitchen.

Dining room - I'm assuming they ate in shifts.

 

Captain's bunk.

 

Radio room full of equipment that would be much smaller with today's technology.

 

Four engines powered the sub, 2 on each side of this area.

 

 

Small hatches made you step high and bend over to get through.

Berths for the torpedoes.

 

 

 

This is not the place for a claustrophobic person!

The sub was tied to the dock, unlike the aircraft carrier, which has been stuck on the bottom for some time.