Team Marco Polo

History Schmistory: February 3. Tu-soon!

Monday, February 3, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1637: The so-called “Tulip Mania” in the United Provinces (now the Netherlands) collapses faster than the 2008 US economy. Yep, the fleetingÂ tulip craze was more potent than the Macarena or the pet rock, with certain savvy merchants gaining more than 400% of their initial investments. The most sought after tulips were deliberately infected with a mosaic virus which greatly weakened the already prolonged maturation of the plant, but happened to result in a wild array of variegated color schemes that were so popular, merchants began selling “futures”; flowers that did not yet exist! Whaaa?
The craze was predictably short-lived, being rudely interrupted by another unanticipated yet much more hostile virus. Namely, the flippin’ black plague!

Monkeys in contemporary 17th century Dutch dress are shown here dealing in tulips, a satirical commentary on speculators during the time of “Tulip Mania”.

History Schmistory: February 3. Quite a Tunnel!

Monday, February 3, 2025 by teammarcopolo

February 3, 1918. Twin Peaks streetcar tunnel opens in San Francisco.

History Schmistory: February 2. Groundhogs, take warning…

Sunday, February 2, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1887: The firstÂ Groundhog DayÂ is observed inÂ Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where crowds as large as 40,000Â have gathered to celebrate the holiday ever since.Â The tradition can actually be traced back to Pennsylvania’s earliest settlers, who brought with them the legend of Candlemas Day, which states, “For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, so far will the snow swirl in May.”
-If only Punxsutawney Phil was that eloquent…

History Schmistory: February 1. Words, Words, Words!

Saturday, February 1, 2025 by teammarcopolo

February 1, 1884. Dictionary: Part One!

History Schmistory: February 1. “It certainly is grand… And quite central.”

Saturday, February 1, 2025 by teammarcopolo

1913: Grand Central Terminal (also known as Grand Central Station) opens in New York City as the largest train station in the world, with its cavernous concourse measuring 275 ft long, 120 ft wide and 125 ft high. These days around 43,200,000 human ft stroll through it annually, making it one of the top ten tourist attractions in the world.

GO THERE! Hope you like stairs!

Saturday, January 25, 2025 by teammarcopolo

In central Burma, high atop Mount Popa, nestles the Popa Taungkalat Temple, a shrine to the 37 “Nats”, (spirits of the Burmese Buddhist faith.) It’s a popular place to check out during the full moon of Naylon, (May/June) when the Thingyan Festival is held.
Just be prepared; before ascending all 777 steps to the top, you will be asked to remove your socks and shoes. The Nats aren’t crazy about footwear. Also, don’t wear red. Or black. Or green. And definitely do NOT bring meat, especially pork. You don’t want to get the Nats all up in your face, do ya? Besides, the masses of local monkeys will harass you all the way up the mountain with that bacon in your pocket.