The Monthly Armchair Travel has established itself as a successful event at the Coronado Senior Center. This month’s presentation took the audience on an adventure to Mongolia.
Lonnie Horn, Orange County resident, Tufts alumna, and an avid lover of the outdoors, delighted attendees with her travels to the four corners of Mongolia.
Lonnie began with a brief history of the country, explaining how it went from being part of the great Mongol empire, to being taken over by the USSR, to what it is today, a rapidly developing country. Gold, copper and coal mines in the country have recently gone online, allowing for steep economic growth. This rapid development is what attracted Lonnie.
A country with vast land, and more animals than people, Mongolia is filled with large areas of pure greenery, with no signs of civilization. Although Lonnie and her tour group spent a brief time in a five star hotel (not what you would think a five star hotel looks like), most of their nights were spent in the traditional gers, or in camping tents.
Ulan Bator, the capital city, represents a sharp contrast between century-old temples (Mongolia is a largely Buddhist country), and modern, high-rise buildings and constant construction.
Throughout the four corners, museums and monuments are dedicated to Genghis Khan, a great hero to the Mongolians. These structures contrast with many Soviet monuments built during the occupation. The Soviets did do some good, bringing the literacy up to 95% and requiring all children to attend school.
Lonnie favored the countryside, where she was welcomed into gers by many families. From eagle hunters to reindeer people.
Those who attended this month’s Armchair Travel were surely marveled by the stories recounted, as is the usual for this great event hosted at the Senior Center.
Programming note: Although there will be no activity in December, Armchairs will continue in January.
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Dani Fernandez
Intern
eCoronado.com
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