In Newburyport, Massachusetts
In San Diego, California
Spot the seven differences. 🙂
This post is my contribution for this week’s Wordless Wednesday.
I have not touched ice skates since I was a teenager. How about you? Do you ice skate these days? Indoors or outdoors? Only in winter or all year long?
January 23, 2019 at 06:56
Hi Liesbet! I loved the Newburyport shot…made me nostalgic for MA! It is sure different than skating in So Cal!
January 24, 2019 at 13:18
Very different. I haven’t skated in either place, just stared in awe. The last time I ice skated was as a kid in Belgium, where the ponds only freeze over once every so often in February.
January 23, 2019 at 07:23
It’s quite a difference Liesbet! 😁 I prefer the natural ice in the Newburyport image – it reminds me of skating in the Netherlands as a child 🙂💖 xxx
January 24, 2019 at 13:19
I can see the comparison with the Netherlands, Xenia, except that ice skating is way more popular there. Almost like a national sport, especially with the Elfstedentocht. 🙂
January 23, 2019 at 07:33
I’ve ice skated at an indoor rink but I’ve never even seen ice on an outdoor pond. I bet it is a fun experience.
January 24, 2019 at 13:20
Hi Deb! Thanks for swinging by and commenting. I didn’t see a link to your blog. Do you have one? I’m curious to where you live, since you haven’t seen natural ice during the winter time.
January 23, 2019 at 08:08
My aunt gave me her ice skates when I was 11 or 12. I had previously done quite a bit of roller skating. Being a resident of Southern California an indoor ice rink was my only choice. I skated once a week during my early teen years partially because I enjoyed the physical challenge but also because the rink was a great place to meet boys. Now that I am married and living in New England skating indoors holds no charm whatsoever for me. However, I do still own skates and when the conditions are good on local ponds, (and the temperatures reasonable), I’ll strap them on and grab my hockey stick (it helps with balance, especially on rough surfaces). Still waiting for thos perfect conditions this winter.
January 24, 2019 at 13:24
Sweet memories, Leslie. And, some good reasons to go to the indoor rink back then. I’ve actually never been to an indoor ice rink. I have images of hockey tournaments in my head for those places. Must be from scenes on TV. I’m sure that the ponds in Rhode Island are frozen by now, but I imagine that it has been way too cold (and maybe even grey) this last week to go skating. And, now that it’s above freezing again, it might not be safe anymore. Maybe next month. I can imagine using a hockey stick for support, like a walking stick… Fantastic, though, that you are still skating when possible!
January 23, 2019 at 08:53
How cool to see this photos, Liesbet! I’ve never skating on natural ice having grown up in San Diego. We skated in ice arenas then then outdoor rinks when they started popping up in the 1990s. It takes a LOT of work to maintain ice as shown in your SD shot. In 1992, I ran the City of Sacramento’s downtown outdoor ice rink its 2nd year. It was a lot of fun and reignited my interest in skating. I was in my 30s and started taking group lessons and bought an expensive pair of real ice skates! Very fond memories of good times!
January 24, 2019 at 13:27
You must know a lot about those outdoor ice rinks then, Terri. I remember last winter that the one in Liberty Station was supposed to open, but there must have been trouble, as they were delayed and every time we walked by (before opening), the rink was full of puddles and there was water everywhere along the edges! It was interesting to see the tubes and such, though. Sweet memories for you as well then. 🙂 I had no idea that there was an outdoor ice rink in downtown San Diego as well. The only other one I know of is the one next to the beach on Coronado Island.
January 23, 2019 at 10:40
Too funny! I’d take the San Diego version any day! I’ve never skated at the Liberty Station rink but I did once at the one they had at the Hotel Del. Ice skating next to the ocean was magical.
January 24, 2019 at 13:30
I hear you, Janis. I’d prefer the palm tree scenario and blue skies above the barren trees too! The grey and the cold in New England seriously got to us after only two weeks! I’m hoping to go for a walk with the dogs near the Liberty Station ice rink soon again. The ice rink at Hotel Del is even more special, I agree. See you in a couple of days!
January 23, 2019 at 10:44
Definitely different, Liesbet! Some potential difference: short sleeve shirts, skirts, palm tree, no leaves, blue skies, cloudy skies, less people, natural ice rink, condos versus not? Similarity: all having fun!
January 24, 2019 at 13:31
I love your similarity observation! And, it’s all about fun, right? I’d like to try ice skating again, but am worried about twisting my ankles.
January 23, 2019 at 12:22
Real lake-ice rink, hockey (at least that’s what it looks like they are playing)-skating, sunny-cloudy, dead trees-trees with leaves, probably windy-not windy, and that’s all I can see…
January 24, 2019 at 13:34
Good eye, Alex! Those skaters in Massachusetts were playing hockey. As a Belgian, I have no experience with this sport at all. Just the skating seems precarious to me… And, when I first saw the ice rink in San Diego, backed up by palms, I did have to snicker. Now, it makes sense to me that people in Southern California might like to skate outdoors as well.
January 23, 2019 at 14:16
I’m not a fan of the cold, so I avoid anything involving ice. However, as a child, I lived at the rink!
January 24, 2019 at 13:36
Wow, that’s quite a change from childhood for you then, Jill. Going from loving the ice to not liking it at all. How about in a cocktail? 🙂 Yet, I totally understand. As a child, it was fun to strap our skates on as only every few years, the lake in my home town would freeze in February. Since I lived and traveled in the tropics, however, there is no climate I’d rather be. Mark and I have been trying to find pleasant enough winters in the US, but have failed three years in a row. We are really sick of being cold. Florida might be our only chance. Oh, and Puerto Rico or Hawaii, of course. 🙂
January 24, 2019 at 18:36
LOL! I started to say I do like extra ice in my Margarita! As I’ve gotten older, I’m more sensitive to the cold…I thought I should be having hot flashes! 🙂 Hawaii sounds good,
January 27, 2019 at 22:19
I’m glad you’re not having hot flashes, Jill! Most people I know seem to prefer colder weather as they get older. I was starting to worry that I would fall in that category at some point as well (which would totally collide with my husband’s preferences), so I’m happy to read that there are people out there preferring warmer climes as they age. 🙂
January 23, 2019 at 18:04
My personal experience with ice skating is a very bruised backside!! I have not been to either place though the bottom one does look more inviting. Fun post with the comparisons 🙂
January 24, 2019 at 13:38
Glad you liked the post, Suzanne. Had you ever heard, or seen, outdoor ice rinks? Before I saw the one in the photo in San Diego, I had no idea they even existed. Like you, I fell a lot when ice skating as a child. I’m very worried now, about bruises and twisted ankles, hence I’m not too keen to try it again.
January 24, 2019 at 13:58
I wouldn’t try it now, like you Liesbet I may receive more than a bruise 🙂 I don’t possess good balance as I would love to do windsurfing and surfing. The ones I experienced were indoors or man made outdoor ones.
January 27, 2019 at 22:19
That makes two of us “off balance” types! 🙂
January 23, 2019 at 18:07
We actually have an Ice Skating Rink near to where I live here in south Florida!
I have gone a couple of times. But I fall alot….lol
Thanks for sharing!!
– Lisa
January 24, 2019 at 13:40
Welcome to the club of “fallers” (NOT “failers”!), Lisa! All these indoor rinks are interesting to me, as we don’t have them in Belgium, and maybe not even in Europe. Such a novel idea, but all the resources that go into maintaining it… I wonder why people prefer them to roller skating or blading rinks?
January 23, 2019 at 18:37
I love ice skating – but haven’t been for a few years. It is on my to-do for this winter though. Thanks for the reminder.
January 24, 2019 at 13:41
Alright, Janet! You go girl! I’m curious to find out how your ice skating experience goes. You’re much braver than me! 🙂
January 24, 2019 at 00:00
I love the more natural rink although an understand where some might be fearful of the ice cracking in places where it might not be strong enough. I can’t skate to save my life. For some reason every time I tried I failed but would love to be able to!
Peta
January 24, 2019 at 13:43
Keeping that balance on thin blades seems so precarious to me too, Peta. You’re not quite in places to practice, though. 🙂 I remember as a kid, when we went ice skating with my dad, he was always a tad nervous about thinner ice in places. I think we just waited to see what happened when groups of people tried before us. In Belgium, it can be tricky, because it doesn’t get as cold and for as long as in Massachusetts.
January 24, 2019 at 08:03
I LOVE ice skating! Did it all the time as a kid and even worked at a rink during high school to finance my very first overseas trip. Nowadays my outings onto ice are few and far between, the last once being a few years at Chicago’s Millennium Park. (It was harder on the ankles than I remembered – haha – but maybe it was because I was in cheap rental skates.) Thanks for prompting some happy memories!
January 24, 2019 at 13:46
You keep amazing me, Lexie. You are so fit and sporty and keep at it. A few years ago doesn’t seem that long ago! Good for you. I would think that the ice skating boots these days are fancier and sturdier than 25 years ago (when I last did it, probably) but I’m still not willing to try it, as I’m worried about twisting my ankles. The older we get, the more fearful we become!
January 24, 2019 at 10:11
It looks so easy when other people do it – but I can’t keep my balance on either wheels or blades 😟.
January 24, 2019 at 13:48
Aha! You’re like me, Anabel! I watch those ice skaters in awe (the ones in San Diego anyway, too cold to do so in Massachusetts), wondering how they don’t flip over or break their ankles. Maybe it’s all about momentum? There must be something to it, as young and old are still doing this.
January 25, 2019 at 15:30
Differences – Palm trees, hockey sticks, clouds, fountain, shorts, dirt, and colors.
I have never been able to ice skate. When I’ve tried my ankles have felt all wobbly and not strong enough to stand up on them. It does look fun though, especially the bright and cheery California version.
January 27, 2019 at 22:24
The California ice skating scene is so intriguing to me! They took that rank down, since we’ve returned a few weeks later. I guess it’s a holiday period thing. I’m curious to try ice skating again, but I’m sure I’ll be in your situation… worried about my ankles, and having no balance.
January 25, 2019 at 21:15
I grew up ice skating and actually used to teach it. In fact we are meeting friends on Tuesday to go skating. It’s Canada in winter what can I say? 🙂
January 27, 2019 at 22:26
Why am I not surprised about your ice skating capabilities, Sue? You’re a “manusje van alles” (a Jack of all trades), especially when it comes to winter sports! Enjoy your skating excursion with your friends!
January 25, 2019 at 22:40
Those photos made me giggle – I’ve never seen an ice rink surrounded by palm trees before! I haven’t skated for a few years, but when I was growing up we used to skate on the large pond on our farm in Manitoba. When the temperature went down to -30C, the ice would settle and make a booming CRACK! like a rifle shot. It was a little scary even though we knew the ice was at least a foot thick and more than strong enough to hold us!
January 27, 2019 at 22:31
Before I visited San Diego, I’d never seen an ice rank in palm tree territory either. Quite special (and funny) if you ask me. But, it seems to be the only way people in Southern California can skate. Outdoors anyway.
Interesting about the ice, Diane. A friend of mine was telling a similar story the other day, how the lake bordering her house would freeze and make the ground and the house shake as the ice closed in. -30C… I can’t even imagine what that’s like. I was in Boston last Sunday and it was 6F, which is about -15C or so. Painful!
January 26, 2019 at 11:50
The little lake looks about the size of the pond my sisters and I skated on as kids. There was often a bonfire and crack-the-whip episodes then.
I haven’t skated recently except for an excursion near St. Augustine, FL where our blades sunk into ice beginning to melt. I know it’s not good etiquette to put our own posts on those of another blogger, but I’d like you to see the photos, so please forgive me: http://marianbeaman.com/2015/01/31/ice-is-nice-but-snow-glows/
No, I don’t ice skate these days. I’d have to leave Florida for that . . . haha!
Great post, Liesbet!
January 29, 2019 at 08:43
No worries about posting a link in the comments, Marian, especially as a loyal follower of Roaming About and blogging friend. 🙂 I loved your photos and memories. What a novel concept to be ice skating in St. Augustine! Not sure about having the blades sunk into the ice, though, but it would make the activity easier for beginners (or for me). I have a few friends on sailboats in your neck of the woods.
I have no idea what crack-the-wip episodes means…
February 6, 2019 at 01:01
I can’t skate. I wish I could. But I used to play a type of hockey where you wear broomball shoes on the ice. Super fun (and challenging).
February 9, 2019 at 14:07
I’ll have to look up what broomball shoes are. Just a minute… Aha! Interesting. Not quite like suction cups on the soles, but thingies that grab onto the ice. Yeah, that would work for me. 🙂
February 13, 2019 at 10:45
I love skating, and I used to figure skate as a child (in an arena). Skating outside on frozen ponds and lakes is fun, but I have not had an opportunity to do that for about ten years. When I was a child, my dad used to make an outdoor skating rink in our back yard. My kids all learned to skate, and now my grandchildren are learning.
Jude
February 14, 2019 at 15:43
Wow, Jude, you sure have skating in your blood, and in your family. I love watching figure skating on TV. Although it has been a while since I actually did. Maybe this winter you find/found a frozen pond on the island? Based on the snow I recently saw on photos near Victoria, there must be some natural skating rinks like your dad used to create… 🙂