The Tuscany region of Italy Continuing with my geography awareness week of posts, I move on to the continent of Europe. There are so many places in Europe that I’d like to visit that it was hard coming up with a destination to discover. Well, actually it wasn’t hard to come up dozens of places that I’d like to visit, what was hard was narrowing it down to one. But finally, I chose Tuscany, in central Italy. What’s so appealing to me about Tuscany is its rich variety of life. From the history and magnificent art of its capital city of Florence, to the small towns and villages in the countryside, and the delicious wine and food of the entire area, it all sounds wonderful! This spring I’ll have the opportunity to spend a time in Tuscany, staying in a […]
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Down Under in Sydney
Four days into Geography Awareness Week, and now it’s time to go down under, giving me an opportunity to write about where I’d like to go on the continent of Australia. I’m featuring a different dream location each day this week, one from each of our seven continents, so be sure to check out my posts on Antarctica, The Maldives, and Kruger National Park. While most of my dream trip locations have been fairly remote, and appealing to the side of me that loves solitude, my choice for Australia would be a bustling city, full of culture and fun —Sydney. Sydney is the capital of New South Wales, and is located on the southeast coast of the island. It’s the most populated city in Australia, and is the country’s center of finance, media, and tourism. I’d need to spend some […]
Read MoreWhere in the World are the Maldives?
In keeping with this week’s theme of Geography Awareness, I continue with my exploration of travel destinations on all seven continents. Yesterday was Antarctica, and today, I head off for Asia. . . and the Maldives. The Maldives (more officially the Republic of Maldives), is located in the Indian Ocean south of India and southwest of Sri Lanka. It is an island nation, the smallest smallest of the Asian countries in terms of population, and is home to spectacular beaches. Tourism plays a key part of the Maldive economy, and the country now boasts luxurious tropical resorts. A typical resort is situated on a private lagoon, and often a private island. Many times lodging will consists of a building on stilts in the middle of the water, or a cottage on a sandy beach. The water is that beautiful azure […]
Read MoreDo You Take Your Vacation Time?
I was reading the other day that more and more people are foregoing their annual vacation. Some are choosing to work through vacation, opting to get paid out for their vacation days. Other people are continuing to work, just letting vacation accrue in their leave accounts, some at the risk of “using or losing” days. Some people don’t want to lose time away from the “fast track” by taking vacation, believing they are showing loyalty to their job and company by staying at their desks. Still others take time away from work, but work on projects at home rather than taking any actual vacation. To take, or not take, your vacation time has become the subject of numerous studies, leading to a variety of articles and books written on the topic. And guess what? It turns out that taking a […]
Read MoreThe Beat Goes On
Fans of Kerouac, Burroughs, and Ginsberg, probably already know about The Beat Museum, and it’s certainly no surprise that the home of The Beats is now the home of The Beat Museum. Having moved to San Francisco’s North Beach area from a prior location on the coast, The Beat Museum continues to celebrate the beatnik generation of art, music, and way of life. The lure of The Beat is probably as strong as it’s ever been. It’s been 50 years since Jack Kerouac published On the Road, and it is arguably more popular today than it was when originally published. The Beat Museum is located at 540 Broadway (at Columbus) in San Francisco’s North Beat area (map it). It is open Tuesday – Sunday, 10 am – 10 pm. Closed on Monday. Depending on your interest in the topic, and your […]
Read MoreOdd Travel Memories from Childhood
Growing up, I lived a couple hours north of Seattle. While that doesn’t seem very far of a drive by today’s standards, back then, the trip involved a great deal of logistical planning, and was one my family took only a few times a year. A couple of favorite places that we would go included the Woodland Park Zoo, the Museum of History and Industry, and to the Waterfront, with dinner at Ivar’s Acres of Clams. We usually managed, after pleas from us kids, to find time to visit Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. The shop was compelling in an odd, freak-show kind of way. Perfect for kids in that pre-teen age bracket. It had been there forever, we thought, and its wear and tear made it comfortable and appealing. The store has actually been there for over 107 years, so as […]
Read MoreThe Puka Dog: Hot Dogs Hawaiian-Style
Every geographical area seems to do its own special version of a hot dog, and for a tasty dog Hawaiian-style, Puka Dog is the place to go. What is a Puka Dog? It’s a special bun-sized loaf of bread with a hole at one end, pierced through the length of the bun, forming a hole throughout. Secret-sauces, relishes, or just the usual mustard and catsup, are then poured into this hollowed out bun creating a soft nestling area for a Polish-type sausage. Take a look a the photo to get an idea of what it looks like. To order a Puka Dog you specify sausage or veggie, followed by your choice of garlic lemon sauce (mild original, spicy jalapeno, hot chili pepper, or hot hot habanero), followed by your choice of relish (mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut, banana, starfruit, or catsup, […]
Read MoreSee the Whites of Their Eyes at the Bunker Hill Monument
Most of the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill, the first major British-Colonial battle of the Revolutionary War, didn’t take place on Bunker Hill at all — most of the fighting took place on Breed’s Hill. But the geographical error continues to this day, and the 221 foot tall Bunker Hill Monument stands proudly on Breed’s Hill. Construction of the monument was an on again, off again process, building furiously when funds were available, then halted when funds were gone. Eventually, battlefield grounds had to be sold off to help complete the monument, leaving only the summit where the monument stands. The monument was dedicated in 1843, with remarks from noted orator, Daniel Webster. The Monument is an obelisk, that is, its tall, narrow, granite sides taper into a pyramid at the top. In front, is a statue of William Prescott, memorable for […]
Read MoreThe Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia is one of the oldest science museums in the country. Founded in honor of Benjamin Franklin, the Institute consists of three centers, The Science Center, The Franklin Center, and The Center for Innovation in Science Learning, with a mission to create an understanding of, and passion for, science and technology. I visited The Franklin Institute Science Museum earlier this year when I visited Philadelphia to see the King Tut Exhibit. The Science Center is hosting the traveling exhibit Tutankhamen And The Golden Age of The Pharaohs, which will run through September 30th. There are lots of things to see at the Science Museum, and while we were waiting to get into the Tut exhibit, we wandered around looking at the other exhibits. The exhibits are simply presented, and designed for young minds to learn about and develop […]
Read MoreThursday Night Villagefest Along Palm Canyon Drive
The weekly Thursday night Villagefest is one of my favorite events in Palm Springs. The event was originated by former mayor Sonny Bono, and for over 16 years has been the home for local vendors of food, fresh produce (straight from the farms), music, art, handicrafts, and entertainment. Villagefest operates year round, from 6 – 10 pm, October – May, and 7 – 10 pm, June – September, along Palm Canyon Drive between Baristo and Amado. This weekly event has become as popular with local area residents as it is with tourists and visitors. Many of the shops and galleries along Palm Canyon Drive stay open late on Thursday nights, and the Palm Springs Art Museum offers free admission. Over the many years that I’ve been going to Villagefest, I’ve purchased tasty local produce, a couple of pieces of art (including one large, stunning, […]
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