Star Tours #5: Andromeda

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2:09Welcome to get sleepy when we listen we relax and we get sleepy I'm your host Thomas thank you so much for being here tonight we'll be continuing our tour of the stars this time we'll start off in Ethiopia in East Africa before traveling to the constellation of Andromeda one of the only constellations that can be seen in both the northern and southern hemisphere once we're up in space we'll discover the myth behind the stars the tale of the princess and dromeda and her husband Perseus again thank you to Kayla for writing this

3:10wonderful series all of which is read by me before we set off into space once more let's bring our attention to the here and now the very spot that we're in and the sensations felt at this moment once you're as comfortable as can be adjusting anything you need to achieve that just relax your breathing to a slightly slower pace soften your forehead and the muscles around the eyes release your jaw if it's clenched and let your tongue rest gently as those breaths come and go let your mind

4:21center its awareness on anything that feels good at this moment perhaps it's the opportunity to rest your tired body particularly if you've had a busy active day this is the time when you're finally able to reset and give your muscles the necessary relief they need maybe you feel good about some of the things you achieved today a real sense of accomplishment and so you should perhaps the soft feel of your bedding and the cushion's support of your pillows is what stands out to you

5:21or even embracing this familiar routine that you enjoy when you come to bed you may have already taken several steps prior to this moment to settle yourself down and now you can listen to my voice and follow along with our story as intently or as loosely as you wish whatever feels good right now take a moment to just appreciate it and know that this relaxing process is leading you towards a beautiful restorative night of sleep so simply lie back relax and listen we're about to embark on our next adventure starting in

6:32Ethiopia this is where our story begins tonight's adventure starts off in the city of axum in Ethiopia in ancient times this city was the heart of the axumai tempaya which had influenced over much of modern day Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti and parts of Somalia

7:34walking around the modern city of axum you can see remnants of the old empire which lasted from the first to the seventh century CE obelisks and steely are surrounded by ruins the stone monuments reach up into the sky filled with clues about the ancient history of the place the war mayor bustling markets and busy streets remind you that kings, philosophers, artists and all sorts of other people have inhabited to this place for thousands of years the axumai tempaya traded with the newbieans and Egyptians in the north the Romans in the west

8:40and the Persians to the east its connections with so many different surrounding cultures made axum a rich multicultural region legends from all parts of the world merge there like the stories from the cabernagast a literary work that tells of the infamous meeting and partnership of the queen of sheba and king Solomon even as a modern city the place is still filled with an ancient wonder Startours departs from a launch pad across the street from northern steely park so you decide to go for a walk there while you wait for the sun to set

9:48you are wandering around the park you see steely of all shapes and sizes some of these rough stone monuments stand only a few feet high others rise up into the sky making you think of the journey to the stars you are about to embark on the rocks for this steely i thought to have come from quarries just west of the city you take in the beautiful carvings on some of the pillars marvelling it to the craftsmanship of the people who lived here in ancient times as the sun sinks slower in the sky you watch the light dance on the steely highlighting the carvings

10:55walking slowly around the park in the darkening evening you fill the earth underneath your feet and think of all that's yet to be rediscovered in this area much of the park hasn't been dug up yet so with each step you could be walking over a trough of buried treasures from the past the colors in the sky turn deeper shades of pink, purple and red in the fading light the trees that dot to the farmlands in the distance become dark shadows leaving the park you cross the street to the observer tree looking forward to the unique adventure

12:00you're about to embark on tonight other tourists file in around you as you show your ticket while walking into the observer tree everyone is excited to share this journey together while you wait for the boarding call you look around to the observer tree where there's information about the history of astronomy in the region you're drawn to a panel about Naptoplyre this ancient stone circle is thought to be 2000 years older than stonehenge it was found in the Nubian desert now in southern Egypt

13:00some scientists believe it may be the oldest astronomical stone circle in the world you look at the photos of grey stones in the reddish sand and you wonder at how the ancient people used the night sky to no end to plant and harvest their crops and also to tell stories the speaker announces that boarding is about to begin you line up with the fellow tourists on the boarding dock and notice the smiles on the faces of the families groups of friends and solo travelers as you catch snippets of conversation

14:05you realize the people around you have come from all over the world to visit to this fantastic place and go on this journey to the stars you chat to a man in line behind you who's been on three Star Tours trips before he assures you that they've been some of the best trips of his life and that the Star Tours crew are amazing and so skilled at what they do when you get to the front of the line you meet your guide Nila a tall woman with her hair in a tight bun and a friendly smile on her face she's wearing a star-studded black jumpsuit and she gives you a warm handshake to welcome you aboard

15:15the interstellar she offers you a tour of the ship pointing out to the cafe where you can order different herbal teas and snacks for your evening trip then she brings you to your pot your base for the night Nila leaves you to get settled in you start by going to the cafe and ordering your favorite herbal tea and some cola an aromatic Ethiopian dish of roasted greens and seeds as you return to your pot with your goodies you take in the gentle hum of the engine and the excited whispers and murmurs of the other passengers who are also getting comfortable

16:23for the dreamy journey placing the tea and snack on your bedside table you climb into bed shifting around to the pillows until they're just right and choosing a soft blanket there are windows everywhere so no matter which way you lie you have a great view of the night sky the stars are beginning to show themselves as the night darkens you sip your tea and munch on a handful of cola enjoying the view from your bed soon Nila's voice comes over the speaker announcing that the ship is ready for departure

17:32the engine hums a little as the ship offers off the ground and begins its ascent closer and closer to the stars your guide explains that the constellation you'll be viewing tonight is Andromeda it was catalogued by the ancient astronomer Tolomey the story behind the constellation comes from Greek mythology and reflects the ancient Greek perception of Ethiopia the night is clear as the ship floats higher away from the city the stars seem impossibly bright dotting the dark night sky so beautifully

18:39it's hard to spot any constellations as the ship is moving so you just enjoy the journey feeling connected to the beautiful universe that we call home looking at the stars has been a human pastime for thousands of years it's so delightful to be able to participate in this age old hobby with the latest incredibly advanced technology it makes you feel even more connected to the night sky and the people who've been gazing at it for millennia the ship comes to a hovering stop and Nila points out the Andromeda

19:39constellation from the ship's windows a line connects the stars so you can see the shape of the princess andromeda in the night sky Nila explains that this constellation can be seen in the northern hemisphere from September to May and is then visible in the southern hemisphere from November to January the Andromeda constellation is so big that it quite literally contains galaxies the milky spiral rings of the Andromeda galaxy can be spotted from earth and way up here in space it feels as though you're looking into another dimension

20:45the Andromeda galaxy is the Milky Way's nearest neighbor 2.5 million light years from Earth slowly the ship starts moving again so you can view the constellation from a different angle the stars seem bigger and brighter here you sip on your herbal tea as the ship moves feeling so comfy and cozy as this adventure unfolds when the ship stops again it's time to hear the story behind the stars from Nila you learn that Andromeda was an Ethiopian princess

21:52she loved her mother queen Cassia Peer and father King Seafius and the people in her kingdom but there was one thing Andromeda loved above all else a good story she loved hearing the tales of merchants and travelers who came from far away places like Egypt, Greece, Rome and Babylon they traded gold ivory emeralds and frankincense and ma as well as jewelry, spices and olive oil and Andromeda longed to go on an adventure

22:52but while it was fun to imagine traveling to far off lands she knew that her place was here in axum with her family as Nila begins telling the story the constellation lights up with color fully animating the characters to create a theater of stars Andromeda was walking along the river looking into the water and dreaming of adventure she saw the reflection of something flying in the sky overhead something much too big to be a bird she looked up to see a man with winged sandals the wings flapping slowly as he glided beneath the clouds

24:05when the man saw her he circled down to the bank of the river and landed next to her he introduced himself as paseous from Greece at first Andromeda couldn't believe that this might be the hero paseous who should have so much about in the tales but it must be true how else would he have these magical winged shoes paseous had travelled all over Greece but this was the farthest from home he'd ever gone before perhaps Andromeda thought she wouldn't have to leave her people at all to go on an adventure

25:14paseous was delighted by the sights, smells and sounds of this new place And Andromeda loved getting to see her home through his eyes they wandered through busy city streets and markets paseous taking in the craftsmanship and smelling the herbs and spices that were plentiful in axum together they admired the architecture paid their respects at the morselium and told each other the stories of their lives under the shade of fruit trees in the palace garden as they got to know each other better they began to fall in love

26:18paseous was Andromeda's hospitality and passion for knowledge And Andromeda with paseous's kindness and love of the unknown So one day when they were strolling through the gardens exchanging stories they decided to start a new story together they announced to the king and queen that they would like to get married King Seafius and queen Cassiopeia were delighted at the news together they planned a big wedding where they'd invite not only all their friends and family in axum

27:19but distinguished guests from neighboring empires too Andromeda's cousins helped paseous prepare for the ceremony Paseous presented sweets and cart leaves to Andromeda's family and settled into a room in the palace while they finished making the wedding arrangements Messengers delivered invitations to beloved guests far and wide In response elephants and camels arrived with gifts of jewels, wines, fruits and spices from all different parts of the world along with notices confirming their attendance out to the wedding Decorations were put up in the great hall and just walking by the kitchen was a delight

28:31as all kinds of flavours could be smelt cooking at all hours of the day In the days before the wedding guests started arriving both Andromeda and Paseous greeted old friends extended family and political allies from neighboring kingdoms Finally the big day arrived All of the guests gathered to watch the couple promise to be partners for life They led a procession into the great hall which was decorated with gold and ivory While a band played the traditional wedding songs

29:34First Paseous and Andromeda danced together But soon the rest of the guests joined in celebrating this special day When everyone was glowing and tired from dancing the parties sat down to a feast Large rounds of buckwheat bread were served with chicken stew, minced beef, rice and goat meat Spicy lamb stew and lentils Laughter and conversation filled the hall as the guests ate Sharing stories catching up with old friends And celebrating the love that had brought them all together on this day

30:43After dessert the band continued to play And everyone danced well into the early hours of the morning Finally guests started to trickle out to bed and the wedding festivities came to an end Paseous and Andromeda were excited by their union And felt that the day couldn't have gone any better So full of friends, family, community and good food and music For some time the couple were happy and axum enjoying all that the great city had to offer But soon both became restless

31:46Paseous wished to return to his own kingdom in Greece where he'd one day rule Tarynz And Andromeda who'd enjoyed seeing her home through Paseous's eyes Now saw the chance to finally go on her own adventure The one should always dreamed of The couple announced their plans and said goodbye to their family and friends in axum Who assured her couple that no matter how long they were away for They'd always have a home here Paseous and Andromeda packed their favorite things from axum Spices, herbs and sweet treats and departed on their voyage

32:56Rather than fly they decided to travel over land and sea So they'd be able to visit all the different places and people between their two home lands They climbed onto camels and left the palace in axum Then they headed for the city of a dueless now in modern day eratria To reach the port where they could find a ship heading north The camels traversed dirt paths in the highlands towards the sea Stout trees with wide canopies provided shade in the heat as they made their way down the hillside

34:00Even though Andromeda would return to this place This was the last time she'd see it through such familiar eyes When she returned the land would be changed too Through the lens of all the different landscapes she'd experienced on her travels Andromeda marveled at the thought When they arrived in a dueless they were met with sotisia and the sounds of traders haggling for goods Andromeda and Paseous loved the liveliness of this place Where people came from all corners of the world to trade not only goods

35:02But also thoughts and ideas After spending a couple of days in the port city They found a sailor heading north who was happy to take them to Egypt Exitedly they boarded the ship Feeling the gentle rocking of the boat as they made their way up the coast Even though it was called the Red Sea by Manny Andromeda noticed that the colour of the water varied Some days it really did appear red Perhaps reflecting the colour of the reddish brown earth just below the surface

36:03Other times the water was a turquoise blue Tempting the traders and explorers to jump in for a cooling swim during the midday heat The boat passed ports in Newbia where people waved from the shores And Andromeda could see golden statues in the distance Continuing up the coast The boat finally reached Egypt Where Paseous and Andromeda disembarked And set their goodbyes to all the new friends they'd made on board Andromeda had heard many stories of Egypt But it was one thing to hear about it and another thing entirely to see it

37:10On camels they made their way to Alexandria They travelled through cities along the Nile Passed the pyramids Giant statues of ferros and swinxes and grand temples and palaces It was easy to see why this place contains so many stories When they arrived in Alexandria there was something about it that felt like home to Andromeda The mixture of so many people from the Mediterranean And the sharing of art, textiles, spices and ideas felt familiar to her

38:13She wandered through the halls of the great library There all around her were more stories and information than she'd ever dreamed of The couple explored the markets meeting the local people And they visited the palaces where they greeted the leaders Their partners in trade, like old friends After a few days enjoying the magnificent city Paseous secured one more boat passage to take them to Greece Andromeda said goodbye to the new friends she'd made in Egypt While she was sad to be leaving the great city of Alexandria

39:16She was grateful to it as well It had taught her that more than one place could feel like home And that coming home after a long adventure felt just as sweet as leaving with exciting things on the horizon Paseous and Andromeda sat on the deck of the ship and watched Alexandria fade into the distance The warm sun shone down on them as they enjoyed the gentle rocking of the boat on the Mediterranean sea They'd already experienced so much together and Andromeda was excited to finally see the place

40:17That her husband called home They sailed past the island of Crete Home to the great Mycenaean civilization And watched people fishing from the shore and swimming in the blue sea They reached the coast of Peloponnese They drifted past trading ports and cities with colorful marble columns Until they finally reached Terence Entering through the great city walls Paseous took Andromeda to the palace When they entered a long hall with tall wooden columns under throne

41:18Andromeda After so much travel and adventuring it was time to make their new home Andromeda loved seeing all the Greek architecture trying new foods and listening to different kinds of music And there were many great storytellers in Greece with tales of heroes and heroines Andromeda felt like she was living in one of her stories Knowing that this place was tied to so many tales that she used to enjoy Like close of Hercules Most of all she liked seeing this new land through the eyes of Paseous

42:25She enjoyed getting to meet his friends and seeing everything he loved about the place that she could now call home Andromeda and Paseous settled into life in Terence And eventually Paseous took the throne and became king of my Sini That came with its own set of adventures Ruling the people and traveling to neighboring kingdoms The couple weren't sure when they'd next depart on a voyage They dreamed of going back to see more of Egypt and to visit Andromeda's family again in Axum

43:30They knew that wherever they went they had each other But they also delighted in having a wealth of friends and family in different parts of the world That they could return to when the time was right For now they enjoyed their rule in Terence But both knew that the next adventure was just around the corner As Nila finishes the story the lights connecting the stars solely fade Now all you can see through the window are the blazing stars in the dark night sky

44:30Nila lets you know that you're free to sleep while the pilot makes the slow journey back to Earth Though if there's anything you need during the night she and the crew of the interstellar are there for you You snuggle onto your blankets The light-tum of the engine starts up again as the ship begins to move Like Andromeda you'll soon return to your home and you'll see it through new eyes After the adventure you've had The ship continues to rock gently letting you fall deeper and deeper into rest

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