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Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

Many people think of the world as being static. All the borders are set, no one is expanding or at war losing land and therefore most people assume that their map from ten years ago is still accurate. The truth is that there are still wars over land and the country lines are still in flux. Governments take over certain lands, areas secede from their nation, and nations split apart. In the past ten years there have been some fairly major changes in geography and therefore a world map from ten years ago is no longer accurate to the reality of political and geographic situations. Some of these may seem silly, but in the matter of world politics and travel they are incredibly important.

In 2005 Serbia and Montenegro were one country. In 2006 they agreed to split into two countries. Having been two countries a long time ago it was not hard for them to choose the state lines again, but it did mark the end of an important Yugoslavian state.

Timore-Leste also known as East Timore gained it’s own independence in 2002 from its other half West Timore, and from Indonesia. Both states reside on the small island of Timore. East Timore in particular has seen hard times over the years. First they were colonized by Portugal, and when that was over, Indonesia invaded the small country. It was a long and bloody battle for independence, and the people are still suffering for it, but many of them still believe that it was for the best.

There have also been a number of capitol cities that have changed. While they have for the most part been in small countries, it is important for the world traveler to know where the new capitol cities are for any given area. These small changes also affect the accuracy of maps . The capitol of Myanmar changed in 2005 from Yangon sometimes referred to as Rangoon and was moved to Naypyidaw an area that is less known by most westerners. One year later the capitol of Palau changed from Koror and moved to Melekeok.

While it might seem normal to assume that Orlando, Florida is the place to go with the kids, it is more true than one could have ever imagined. There are a number of great places to visit whether spending the vacation nights in five star hotels in Orlando , or going back to a economy motel every night there is something for the whole family to do on any budget. Like any other large city there are of course zoos and gardens if that is something that interests the kids and the parents are likely to find out something new about a few animals from around the world. Orlando is also home to standard attractions like Sea World which is packed with people all year round. If these do not sound fun, then maybe going to an alternative area would be better.

While some adults may think it is a little cheesy, there is a place to get dinner where the show interacts with the whole family and the kids may come out being the heroes. Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows is one of those shows where the dinner guests are looking to find out whodunit. The Merry Mystery Dinner Adventure in particular was designed for elementary school kids allowing them to interrogate the suspects with prizes awarded for students who find clues and work toward solving the mystery. Reservations are required, but if planned appropriately ahead of time the whole family can get in the mood for the impossible by going through Ripley’s Believe it or Not .

If going outdoors and learning first hand about the mucky yucky outdoors is more to the taste of the kids, Orlando is filled with swamps and bogs and there are a number of places that are happy to give air boat rides through the swamps . This area is untouched by man and filled with wild beasts in particular alligators and bald eagles. The whole family can take half hour tours throughout the daytime or longer rides in the evening in which it is more likely to see the alligators.

When in Punta Cana, you must eat at these three restaurants: Capitan Cook’s, Jellyfish and La Yola’s. They are on the expensive side, but if you’re a foodie, these three establishments are a requirement and they are all within walking distance from any Punta Cana hotel, so there’s no excuse to not try any one of these marvelous cuisines.

Capitan Cook’s is a seafood restaurant located in Bavaro and their King Crab legs, their lobster and other fish dishes are to die for. All the fish and crustaceans are fresh catches of the day and kept on ice in a fiberglass vault and when time, only brought out to be grilled right in front of you as you sit on the sand at the water’s edge and watch fishermen hang up their days catch by the tail. As you eat your sizzling meal, you’ll be serenaded by a mariachis band as a crowd of stars above shine overhead.

Jellyfish, also located in Bavaro and a seafood eatery is a sophisticated, al-fresco restaurant on the sand. The restaurant itself is shaped like a double-deck yacht. You’ll sit at tables that are light wooden platforms and be shelters by barely enclosed thatched roofing. Their seafood is also fresh, caught by the Punta Cana fishermen, but the restaurant also serves up beef and chicken dishes, plus a children’s menu is available. Jellyfish’s oven-baked langosta de las casa (house lobster) is memorable and when you’re back home, you’ll get a craving to once again bite into this exquisitely prepared dish. Jellyfish’s menu is a little bit more diverse than Capitan Cook’s by offering crawfish, octopus and conch. Plus, the De Leon Cigar smoking lounge is not to be missed after your meal, where (if arranged ahead of time), you can meet the owner and light up and sample several of the cigars for sale. The restaurant offers free transportation to and from your Punta Cana hotel .

La Yola serves up an delightful Mediterranean cuisine. You’ll be dining on a deck overlooking the harbor and Marina . Your backdrop is the ocean and you eat al-fresco with thatched cane used for overhead shelter. La Yola not only serves the best Mediterranean, but also Caribbean. Naturally seafood and fish are a major part of La Yola’s menu, but you will find some beef and chicken items. La Yola’s appetizer consists of a spicy tuna tartare served with guacamole relish, this started, with its bursting flavor, will only tease you taste buds for what’s about to come, the main course. The Bake Chilean sea bass with clam and cherry tomato risotto is highly recommended.

You can’t go wrong at any of these top-notch restaurants, expensive yes, but the food is the best in Punta Cana. Remember, even though you are at a beach-side community, these restaurants require you dress accordingly, no shorts, tank-tops or beachwear is acceptable and make reservations.

In the music industry, it’s become something of a necessary pronouncement to declare your hometown as boring and dry, and the Mannheim-based Fluids make this claim because they are as savvy as a band can be. But visitors here should remember that they are actually from Koblenz, and the criticism is leveled there and not necessarily here. However, there are plenty of post-punk musicians, and they’re included, from Germany who declare that Germany itself is the most boring country in the world. It’s also necessary to remember that one of the most interesting things about the country is that the cultures here have been bored for so long, that it’s become a terribly interesting component of the art.

Visiting here means staying in pretty spectacular Mannheim hotels , eating fabulous food in sidewalk cafes and fancy restaurants, and enjoying all the local scene has to offer. Mannheim’s history as a city for music is very long, and very impressive, and there’s plenty of classical music to hear, played live or piped in. Like any progressive city in Germany, the new music scenes are always in motion, developing fluidly between and among genres. The bass thumping from car radios as traffic lights is always going to be over 180 beats per minute, and techno is everywhere.

But so is punk, and with the Fluids , the future is in very good hands, although they may be bored hands. It’s filled with angst that ranges from the adolescent to the melancholic, and always complex, and the performance is one of magnificent boredom. This is the minimal sound that made it interesting in the early 80s, and 30 years later it’s back with these three terribly interesting musicians. In the intervening years, techno has come to take over most of everything, and the influence is absolutely in the music. It’s a welcome component, too, because the monotony helps to drive the sound forward until it becomes something else, something entirely relevant, from a pulse that suggests that something is happening here.

An intersection between culture and history, Lisbon is a place of multiple overlappings. One moment speaks to an enormous history surrounding the moment that preceded it, and the future is always visible, if not palpable. It’s a cultural paradise, and one that’s certainly informed by its history, and there are moments when this is more keenly felt than others. In some of the more densely-populated areas, there is a present that is only eclipsed by a future that’s just a split-second away, and the contemporary waves of world trends and events washes through the atmosphere. In some of the isolated areas, or even in the city centers, in times of quiet, it’s possible to imagine a time when the Visitgoths came calling, and the ghosts from earthquakes might be glimpsed.

It’s always only for a moment, and they leave as quickly as they come, but they repeat. One of the brilliant things about Lisbon is its capacity to host a repeatable moment, and some are more repeatable than others. Anyone who’s ever had the chance to visit Pasteis de Belem can understand this. It’s an unusual sensation to recall that time when, sipping a coffee and eating one of their delectable goodies, the world was felt as a vibrant, quaking whole. It’s not hard to fall in love with Portugal, and sometimes in Lisbon, it’s easy to fall in love while in Portugal.

There are other places to enjoy a great espresso, like the famous Cafe Nicola with its complex and deft treatment of the bean. It’s difficult, however, to repeat the ambience of the Pasteis de Belem, with its history that goes back almost 200 years where people from the monastery started selling the pastries for the first time. It’s sometimes palpable just how close those moments fold into this one, where it also seems as though everybody here is here and there at the same time. Recalling it later, in the luxury of a Lisbon hotel , there are dreams of a pleasant repetition.

There are some interesting things to see while spending time in Manila Philippines. There are a few museums and cathedrals that may capture your attention. The National Museum of the Philippines has quite a few exhibits of interest. The National Art Gallery has a splendid entrance with sculptures of Manuel Quezon, who was the former Senate President and Sergio Osmena, who was the former Speaker of the House. These sculptures were created by the amazing Guillermo Tolentino who is a Nationally recognized artist.  

The museum building itself was originally supposed to be a public library, but ended up being built as a home for the Legislature and was opened in 1926. The first floor did in fact become a library and the second, third and fourth floor became the meeting place for the Senate and House of Representatives. The Constitutional Convention took place in this building in 1934. Many other historical events happened here such as the swearing in the President of Commonwealth, Manuel L. Quezon, on the steps out front. It was converted into the Museum in the mid 1990s after the Senate of the Philippines moved out in 1996. It has become a nice museum with a focus on the Filipino people and it has a splendid planetarium inside as well.  

Not far from your hotel accommodations in Manila you will find some Cathedrals and churches that you may find interesting. The Manila Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica has some amazing history that dates back to the late 1500s. This is when the city of Manila was established by the Spanish conqueror, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. There were a number of cathedrals that were built on this site and the present form is the eighth cathedral built after the bombing of the previous building during the Battle of Liberation which happened in 1945. The Manila Cathedral opened its doors again in 1958 and quickly became a strong symbolic for the Catholic Church.

Coming to understand why my mother did what she did was a bigger turning point for me than learning how to drive. It was as important, too, or at least it seemed to serve a very similar function, where I could navigate the world. I don’t know if anyone can ever understand how depression works entirely. There are some things that have to do with brain chemistry , and those are all things that can be dealt with in concrete ways. But there are also those things that have to do with the strange chemistry that happens between people, and that’s another story altogether.

It was not the perfect place to have a revelation of this magnitude, and I doubt most people go to Atlantic City for a moment of illumination, but it happened that way for me. I woke up a little before noon, and had a little coffee before leaving the cool room where I was staying. This was going to be a short day, I remember thinking. It turned out that I’m better off not thinking.

Somewhere between roulette and video poker, I ran into my doppelganger. He was sitting at a table, holding two drinks, watching an older woman yell at a dealer. These are moments when I always get a tightness in my neck, like something springing tightly, and trying desperately not to recoil. They are always so familiar that I get the taste of childhood in my mouth again, the bottle cap candy , cola flavored.

She kept yelling and the man looked down into the drinks. He looked like he wanted those drinks, and more just like them, and that there couldn’t possibly be enough in the world to help the way he was feeling. The dealer, on the other hand, was strange. He had a soft smile on his face that never wavered, and his eyes were not tough, not like everyones’ eyes are tough on the east coast. He was looking at her, and he was listening, and he looked like he might listen all night.

Between the man with the drinks and the dealer I could see myself, and I had a choice on who I could be, and I made a good decision that day.

While you are staying in Charlotte you may want to park the rental car and let the city’s trolley take you around to all the interesting sights to see. The old trolley made it possible for the city to grow in the early neighborhoods. It is still a great way for people of all walks of life to get around the city whether it is to get to work or to just see what is going on around the city. The first incarnation of the trolley was in the early 20th century and this mode of transportation is still thriving today.
If one is visiting the city is it is a fun day to spend with the trolley starting at the new museum that was built in devotion for the trolley and its history. They have a different sort of take on the what the trolley contributed to the city. It was always much more than just a ride to a from somewhere. There was a big social story that went along with the train through all the decades social changes. They like to introduce the cars like they are people. Car #85 is the only original electric trolley car still running today. The city was trying to replace the trolleys with buses and so for a while many of the cars were scrapped. But car #85 was spared because it was sold to the Air National Guard to be used as an office. Then it became a diner during the 1940′s and in the 1950′s it was bought by a Daisy Mae Trapp Moore who was in Huntersville for about 150 dollars who used it to house some some family who didn’t have a home. The inside of the trolley had been obviously changed many times from passenger seating to office desk to kitchen to a three room home.
It is fun to see how this trolley and a couple others were saved and sitting in good condition today. If there is an extra day available while you are staying in a fancy hotel than catch a ride to the Trolley Museum in Charlotte and see how this charming transportation is making a rebound.

The city of Half Moon Bay in northern California is really pushing this green thing. And that’s a good thing. As we’ve all heard, in one capacity or another, going green is the way to go. So here’s how to go green in Half Moon Bay: Start by visiting the Chamber which details unique ecotourism opportunities in the area. A place to stay is the first order of business, then we can move on to the fun stuff.

Would you believe Farmer John really does exist in Half Moon Bay? He and his wife, Eda, own Daylight Farms where they grow a selection of herbs and pumpkins. Eda’s desserts are apparently reason enough to pay a visit. Interestingly, for the past 30 years, Farmer John has supplied flowers for each presidential inauguration. But the pumpkins! Growing pumpkins is a big deal in Half Moon Bay and John and Eda are major contenders. They pride themselves on their pumpkin growing prowess, most recently producing more than 40 of their specialty, the Atlantic Giant (each pumpkin ranging from 250-500 pounds). Visitors who call ahead are generally welcome to join this farm family for dinner. Eda might prepare your freshly-caught salmon and John will discuss any matters of water, land, rural life or government.

Two local wineries score high on the ecotourism card: La Nebbia and Thomas Fogarty. La Nebbia is closer to Half Moon Bay, with their tasting room open from 10am to 5pm daily. Gourmet food products are available to sample and purchase. Dogs are welcome, as long as you clean up after them and don’t let them trample the plants and flowers. Thomas Fogarty is located in Woodside, about an hour’s drive from Half Moon. Burgundian-style pinot noirs and chardonnays are their specialty.

Since we touched on wine, let’s cut the cheese. A tremendous opportunity awaits near Half Moon Bay to visit a cheese farm — specifically, Harley Farms, Inc. Only 16 miles south, in Pescadero, it’s the only remaining dairy farm in San Mateo County. Renowned for their goat cheese, here you have the opportunity to make your own cheese.

Cheese aside, our bellies full, it’s time for whale watching. A year round activity in Half Moon Bay, you are likely to see the gray whale migration from December through May, versus the humpback, blue and/or pilot whales from May through October. Bird watching, fishing and lighthouse tours via boat are also available.

Between the farms, farmer’s markets, wineries and tours available, you won’t find a much better destination for ecotourism than Half Moon Bay, California.

The history of Minneapolis holds a legacy in the mill industry. The Saint Anthony Falls are the only natural powerful water falls on the upper Mississippi River and in the early settlement of the city it was the main attraction for creating the sawmill and flour mill industries. Fort Snelling was the first major military force in the area and acted as the beginning of settlers coming to the area in 1819. The soldiers used this strong river as a power source and as the land in the area opened up settlers arrived into what was originally two cities, Minneapolis and Saint Anthony. Now they are merged together and are often called the twin cities. The saw and flour mill industries really boomed in the early days along with the railroads and the banks.  

There are some interesting historical buildings like the Minneapolis Grain Exchange building still standing but only one large flour company still here, General Mills. While visitors are staying at one of the fine hotels in this diverse city they can visit the Mill City Museum to see an old mill and learn more about the history of the mill industry. The building itself is an old mill that has quiet a story of its own and it is located along Minneapolis’s riverfront which has become a subject of renewal.  

Another interesting place to visit along the riverfront is the Guthrie Theater which is sure to take care of that night life itch you may get when on vacation or a work function. Here visitors can find some grand productions of all sorts of plays and concerts. They also have learning programs for people who live in the area like summer camps for kids and teens and fun acting classes that are about and hour and a half long for your special group that is visiting the area. What a great way to bring out the personality of your team.