December 2008
Timanfaya, Lanzarote
The Montaas del Fuego (Fire Mountains), to give them there proper name were created in the 1730’s when more than 100 volcanos in what is now the National Park, rose up to devastate the southern part of the island. Eruptions lasted for six years and several villages were completely destroyed. The last eruption on the island was in 1824.
Because Lanzarote has such low rainfall (and therefore a lack of erosion) the area appears much as it did at the time and in 1968 the area was declared a national park “Parque Nacional de Timanfaya”.
We decided to make a full day of this trip and we firmly belive that this a must see for any visitor to the island, because of its unique ‘martian’ landscape and rare plant species. On entry to the national park (entrance was around 8 euros per person, as I recall, and the small children were free as is usual at many of the islands attractions), the first thing to catch our eye were camels and of course we had to stop because the children wanted a ride !
An hour or so later, we arrived at the Car park of the Islote de Hilario, where we saw a crowd of people standing around a hole. This was to be the first of two quite stunning demonstrations of just how hot the area is just below the ground. We were told that temperatures a few metres below ground are a staggering 400C to 600C.
Dry bushes were thrown into a hole and in less than a minute, it caught fire !
Water was then poured into a bore hole and seconds later the water erupted back into the air as steam and we all got a warm shower because we were standing on the wrong side.
Next up was the ‘El Diablo’ restaurant, another creation of the famous artist (Cesar Manrique), whose influence is everywhere on the island. Here we find traditional Canarian food cooked using geothermal heat (A cast-iron grill placed over a large hole in the ground). Where else in the world can you get your food cooked on a volcano !
We then went on a coach trip of the National Park (part of the entrance fee). If your feeling a little queasy or don’t like heights don’t sit by the window as it can be quite scary (but very safe and the children absolutely loved it). The coach stops at several strategic points in order that you can get some amazing pictures and film (so don’t forget to take the camera/video with you). During the trip we listened to recorded narration based on words captured by the priest of Yaiza at the time of the eruptions.
Another great day and another great attraction.
City Break to Budapest
Anyone who has been to Budapest will know exactly what makes it
one of Europe’s best-loved city break
destinations; you are really getting two cities for the price of
one. Bisected by the mighty Danube the city has something of a
split personality. On the west side of the river is historic
Buda; the ancient heart of the capital. On the east side is
industrious Pest; defined by handsome boulevards and the
familiar sights and sounds of European commerce.
Each side of the Danube has its own temptations: To the west
hilly Buda corrals together some of the city’s finest monuments
with the Roman ruins at buda providing the obvious historical
starting point. For a lesson in medieval architecture wander the
cat’s cradle of narrow streets that surround the picturesque
castle district. Keep an eye open for the Fisherman’s Bastion; a
group of seven towers that symbolise each of the seven Magyar
tribes that founded the nation.
On the east bank of the Danube is low-lying Pest; the capital’s
business and administrative centre and the country’s economic
powerhouse. Besides the impressive neo-Gothic Parliament
building you will find an impressive collection of department
stores, boutiques and markets selling everything from
antiquarian books to lace tablecloths. However, it is after dark
that Pest really comes into its own; when the myriad of bars and
all-night clubs begin to wake up.
Budapest is a
pedestrian-friendly city and most of the sights can be easily
reached on foot. However, if you fancy something different then
head for Margaret Island and hire a bringo; the Hungarian
interpretation of a tandem bicycle.
After an afternoon in the saddle there is no better way to
unwind than in one of the city’s fabled public baths. There are
more than thirty thermal springs scattered throughout the city,
but they don’t come any grander than the stunning art nouveau
spa in the Gellért Hotel. Admittedly admission is pricey, but
the experience is unforgettable. Anyone traveling on a tight
budget should head to the Széchenyi Thermal Baths on the Pest
side of the river.
Budapest is the richest capital in hot water springs
in the world. That is why it is often described as a city
of baths. The underground waters and springs of Budapest have
very important role in the life of the city. The mineral and
medicinal waters contain various minerals. The water temperature
varies between 14 C and 96 C. These springs are used both to
replenish the waters of medicinal baths and open air pools and
also for drinking therapies. These springs come from 600-1000m
deep along an 80km long geological break line.
These hot waters have been known since the Romans era (2nd – 3rd
century), and were often used for threat for rheumatic disease
from the 13th century. Under the Turkish occupation (16th – 17th
centuries) a lot of baths were built and were used for essential
washing. Evilia Chelebi, a Turkish traveler, mentioned these
baths among others. The next growth in Budapest’s bath culture
is connected to the Hungarian Millennium at the end of 19th
century
The Kiraly (King) Bath is one of the most important Turkish
buildings of the town. Arslan Pasha began to build it in 1566
and Pasha Mustapha of Sokol finished it in 1570. The original
Turkish baths were covered with one larger and three smaller
cupolas. The Fo street wing of the baths was built in classicist
style in 1826. The Kiraly Bath has been operating continuously
for more than 400 years.
The Rudas Bath. The Turkish repaired the first medieval building
in 1566 by Mustapha of Sokol, Pasha of Buda. The octagonal basin
of the bath is surrounded by octagonal arcades and topped by
hemispherical cupola. In the 19th century a steam bath and a new
building was added. This was the first covered swimming pool in
Budapest. The oldest Turkish part of the bath is unique in this
part of Europe.
The Grand Hotel Gellert and the Gellert Bath, a natural mud pit,
once occupied the site of the present bath and was well known
for its healing properties even in the Middle Ages. Buildings of
the hotel and baths date back to the 1910s but have been
modernised several times. The medicinal baths, where a
hydro-therapeutical institute operates under medical
supervision, adjoins the hotel building. The covered swimming
pool and the open-air swimming pool with artificial waves are
also popular features of the Gellert.
Nowadays the hot waters play an important role in health and
tourism as well.
For more information please visit: http://www.mybudapest.co.uk/
The Benefits of Group Travel
Group travel is available in virtually any major city in the country to almost any travel destination around the world. You can get your own group together and then contact the services to help you plan your trip or you can join in on a fun getaway that is already established and meet some new people. Group travel is a great way to go either way. There are more possibilities, and many even some discounts that go along with it!
Here are some of the many benefits that group travel has to offer you:
1) If you choose your own family and friends to take with you, you have plenty of people that you know. You can go in different directions or you can plan a trip that the group does together. With a group of people, you can do whatever you want to do and don’t have to worry about someone else’s feelings getting hurt along the way. 2) Many cities and even counties have set up some great travel arrangements for those who want to go on a trip but don’t want to do the driving on their own. For example, perhaps this weekend a group will be heading to a casino the next state over. Why not take a friend and go with them? 3) There are many bonuses when it comes to costs as well. Think about the fact that you have a bunch of people on a bus or in a large van. You pay less in gas first off. Then, you may be able to save money on hotel stays, admission into destinations such as amusement parks and shows. You can even sometimes find opportunities for reduced prices on meals. There are many opportunities to save money with group travel!
Group travel is often available through local area travel agencies, online at various travel websites as well as through your local recreation center.
For more information Visit Group Travel Directory
Source: Buzzle.com
Reflections After My Brother’s Visit: Toronto – Viewed Through the Eyes of European Visitors
From August 27 to September 6 I had four visitors from Europe in town: my brother Ewald, his wife Anneliese and their two friends – my neighbours from my home town in Austria, Luis and Isabella. You may wonder why this is such a big deal that I need to write about it.
For me this was a huge deal since it was the first time that my brother came to visit me since I immigrated to Canada in 1986. Because of our 9 year age difference we didn’t have a chance to spend that much time together when I was young, and my brother wasn’t big on flying in the first place. But we hatched the idea of a joint vacation last year, during my first visit back to my home town in 8 years.
So to me this was a very big deal. For our four visitors it was a pretty big affair as well since they had never travelled to North America. After all these 9 days in Toronto were their first exposure to the New World. We managed to cram a lot of things into these nine days: a visit to Niagara’s Wine Country, a country driving tour of the Kawartha Lakes, various bicycle tours of Toronto, checking out Toronto’s waterfront, Toronto Island, the Eastern and Western Beaches, the Humber River, downtown Toronto with the CN Tower and many of Toronto’s neighbourhoods, including Greektown, Chinatown (East and West), Kensington Market, Little India, Rosedale, Forest Hill, Bloor West Village and so many other special spots that Toronto has to offer.
They enjoyed the Toronto’s architectural preservation efforts visible in the historic Distillery District or the renovated CN roundhouse that now features the Steam Whistle Brewery. Along the way they managed to photograph many vintage cars and trucks, even a 1950s style hearse in the town of Bobcaygeon. They also fell in love with the Kawartha Lake Region, and ideas of coming back to Canada to rent a houseboat and explore the Trent-Severn Canal System started to percolate.
Of course our European visitors commented on the different dimensions of things, such as the size of cars, of super-markets, even of squirrels in the park, everything seemed just a little larger. Our visitors commented on the sophisticated display rooms and restaurants at Ontario’s wineries, the surprisingly excellent quality of the wines (Ontario’s wines are not very well known in Europe), as well as the friendliness of service personnel at the wineries, and in various other stores and restaurants around town. We even had a variety of friendly interchanges with dog-walkers, people on the street and lawn bowlers. Toronto definitely showed its best side during these 9 days, and the perfect weather just added to the experience.
Our European visitors are all active people who enjoy exploring and Luis and Isabella in particular are athletes who enjoy biking, hiking, tennis, skiing etc. I took them around on mountain bikes and they loved exploring the city in this way. My husband Nigel, an avid golfer, gave them some golfing lessons at the driving range, and added some putting lessons on the carpet in our house. We all went on a fun outing to a par-3 golf course on the outskirts of Toronto. It was their first initiation to golf and they had a ball, and decided to explore this activity further once they get back to Europe.
With our bicycles we explored the Don River Valley and many of the ravines that criss-cross the Toronto landscape and the comments that came back from my European gang were time and time again about how green Toronto is, and how it doesn’t feel like a large urban metropolis, full of concrete and devoid of green spaces and recreational areas. They talked about the liveability of this city, that you don’t even need to leave Toronto to enjoy the water and the green spaces, or even off-road mountain biking.
My brother in particular, was amazingly enthusiastic about his time in Toronto. He loved the ethnic neighbourhoods and said he could spend days just exploring Chinatown. He also mentioned that he never felt an uncomfortable feeling of racial tension in any of the neighbourhoods, the way he had experienced it in some areas in various European cities. And they all felt safe, even though we took the subway and explored some of the less affluent areas of the city.
Our four visitors were the most considerate guests you can ever imagine. They took over the kitchen, with my brother, a consummate chef, whipping up gourmet meals every day, using fresh Ontario ingredients. Since I still had to work on different occasions during their stay, they cleaned the house, watered the flowers, even mowed the lawn. You couldn’t imagine a better group of guests that would be more considerate and helpful. This 9-day sleepover was one of the most positive intense experiences I have ever had.
Yesterday, I rode down to the Beaches for the first time again since my four special visitors had left. I cycled around all the places that I had taken them, where they had posed for photos and commented on their experiences. And it was amazing how much I missed them, how empty the house felt without them, how deep an impression these 9 days left. I have already touched base on the phone with them a couple of times to make sure they arrived safely and to tell them how much I missed them.
Now I am looking forward to planning another get-together, for some more joint activities, whether it be in Canada, Austria, or somewhere in between.
Susanne Pacher is the publisher of a website called Travel and Transitions(http://www.travelandtransitions.com). Travel and Transitions deals with unconventional travel and is chock full of advice, tips, real life travel experiences, interviews with travellers and travel experts, insights and reflections, cross-cultural issues, contests and many other features. You will also find stories about life and the transitions that we face as we go through our own personal life-long journeys.
Submit your own travel stories in our first travel story contest(http://www.travelandtransitions.com/contests.htm) and have a chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on the Amazon River.
“Life is a Journey Explore New Horizons”.
The interview with photos is published at Travel and Transitions – Interviews
M.I.A. in Athens
“Wha’s yer name?” she asked.
“Uhh…I love you.” I coughed out.
“What was that?” she asked, looking a bit startled.
My mind went blank. “Oh crap. What’s my name? I know it’s S something…” I
thought to myself. I took a stab at it and managed to mumble “Sughsngas”.
“Huh?” she asked.
I couldn’t believe this was happening. I thought I’d be calm and cool when I met
M.I.A, maybe stumbling over a question or two at worst. This was far worse than my
“nightmare scenerio”. I couldn’t even get figure out my name. The day started with
such promise too. The weather was great. It was nice and sunny – wait. That’s it!
“My name is Sunny!” I said as if I solved the mystery of life. She must have thought I
was mildly retarded, but was a sweetheart and managed to sign the poster and take
a few pictures with yours truly.
It was around 6:30 p.m. and soundcheck had just finished at the 40 Watt Club in
downtown Athens, Georgia. I had been looking forward to this show for nearly a
month now, and when I heard about Farzad and Shyam getting the oppurtunity to
interview M.I.A, I jumped on the buddy-bandwagon and convinced them to let me
tag along.
We all knew I’d never get past the bouncers if my story didn’t check out, so I
grabbed my digital camera and posed as the “website photographer”. I already
planned on taking pictures for my site, so it didn’t really feel like “lying” when we
told her tour guide. He had no problem with it.
The soundcheck was like a private concert. She got on stage and quickly went
through her entire set, only stopping to adjust the volume, tempo and pitch of each
song. I was treated to both old classics (if I can call them that) off of Arular, her
debut album as well as some new stuff. All of it sounded great. She sounded great.
I’ve been to many concerts and it’s rare when the artist sounds as good live as they
do on record. She sounds better live. I would never have guessed that this mild
mannered 5′2″ Sri Lankan girl would have so much energy, but she’s a Tigress, both
onstage and off.
Her presence onstage is remarkable. By the time she went on, the tamil girl from
London managed to get a bunch of frat boys and sorority girls singing the lyrics to
her songs when they knew them, and making them up when they didnt. It was
hilarious watching a bunch of the frat boys singing about a Hindu revolution in Sri
Lanka. As great as she is onstage, she is a totally different person offstage. Offstage
she’s a sweetheart.
I got to hang out with her for about 40 min after the sound-check, talking about
everything from her role as a Sri Lankan artist, the pressure she felt growing up to
how much she missed good old south Indian food.
“The next time I com’ I ’spect ya to bring me some dem dhosa’s, k?” she said
I’ve never met anyone quite as humble or as warm. When it came time for the
interview she was open with her answers and had no problem getting her picture
taken for a small college radio station out of Atlanta.
Though I fumbled at the begining, I managed to find my dignity and make it
through the evening. She is nothing less than the nicest musician I have ever met..
P.S
I am working on digitizing the interview we did in its entirety and will have it posted
as a podcast in the next few days. It is definitley worth the listen.
To take a look at all the pictures taken at the concert, check out my site.
The Man Who Moved a Mountain – The Incredible True Story of Florida’s Coral Castle – Part 4 of 4
The Day That Ended An Era
One morning in early December of 1951, Ed left a note on the entrance of Coral Castle stating that he was going to the doctor. A few days later on December 7, 1951 at the age of 64, Ed passed away in his sleep at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. His death was attributed to stomach cancer and malnutrition.
The first thing people seem to wonder is why Ed didn’t cure himself of the stomach cancer, as he did with the tuberculosis. Those who knew Ed believed that Ed was just tired. It was pretty obvious that even after all of his hard work, his “Sweet Sixteen” still didn’t care (she did know about the castle); so it’s assumed that Ed just gave up.
Whatever the reason behind all of Ed’s decisions in his life, take a moment today to pay tribute to a very unique individual. An individual who created numerous unexplainable feats — all with a mere forth grade education. That’s right, Ed never officially achieved anything higher than a fourth grade education. However, Ed did love to visit the library on a daily basis and look through books; especially those with pictures of Egyptian hieroglyphs and artifacts. It is believed that within these books is where Ed somehow stumbled onto a secret that has eluded mankind since the days of Stonehenge and the rise of the great monolithic structures of Egypt, Lebanon, and South America.
Ed knew from the very beginning that he was doing something unique, as witnessed by the message he chiseled in place at the main entrance of Coral Castle… “You will be seeing unusual accomplishment”.
The legacy of Edward Leedskalnin is truly fascinating. Will we ever discover the secrets that Ed used to prove his love for his “Sweet Sixteen”? It seems that Ed didn’t feel that the world was ready for his knowledge in 1951. He deliberately destroyed his knowledge before he died. He believed that knowledge should be earned, not merely passed on. Perhaps he felt that it could too easily be used for the wrong reasons. Maybe this decision was the result of almost being beaten to death earlier. Why else would Ed leave the following clue in the encoded form we now find it…
After Ed died, a plaque was found in Coral Castle which read simply, “The secret to the Universe is 7129 / 6105195″. What this means is anyone’s guess. Does this somehow refer to a lost science known as “Sacred Geometry”? Who knows?
Coral Castle was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, but it is still a relatively little-known attraction. Maybe its for the best.
I mean, are we really mature enough to handle his secret today, anyway? I’m not so sure… Regardless, Ed left irrefutable evidence that we are in fact capable of so much more as human beings than currently witnessed. The proof is in the greatest architectural achievement in modern times… that magnificent creation in the Florida Everglades called Coral Castle.
Coral Castle is open for visitors year-round and the cost of admission is currently $9.75 for adults. Children under 6 are free.
For more resources about the Coral Castle story, including some theories, visit: http://www.privilegedinfo.com . There are many more amazing things about Coral Castle for you to discover…
Steve Shannon is webmaster of PrivilegedInfo.com.
Visit http://www.privilegedinfo.com and see what cool stuff you’ve
been missing! You may reprint this article in its entirety as long
as this resource box remains intact and the links are live.
Condos: A Major Success
Condos have been successful in every corner of our world. From
their origination in Ancient Rome, to the fresh outbreak in the
European countries during the early part of the 21st century,
condos thrive almost everywhere. But the greatest success for
the condo story comes from vacation and resort areas. Why?
Because condos offer everyone, the wealthy as well as the
middle-class, an affordable, comfortable, and beautiful vacation
spot; year after year, and it’s guaranteed. From the
developer’s standpoint, anytime a building can be constructed
and sold at a very nice profit, it is a success. From the real
estate agent’s viewpoint, more property means more business. And
from the vacationer’s viewpoint, sometimes a condo just adds
that something special, which a motel room cannot. Well, not
exactly. But when you examine all the contributing factors that
make or break a wonderful vacation, where you stay, the
amenities provided, and the expense, play a huge role. Condos
afford the vacationer all the amenities of home, a kitchen,
living room, bedrooms, and usually double bath. They also
provide many vacationers with a guaranteed place to stay. Quite
often, people vacation in the same place, year after year. Condo
time shares and the unit ownership can guarantee families a
comfortable, large area for vacationing. Many of the condos
that are built are developed and built by professionals in that
area. Their experience and expertise often combine to give them
added leverage when it comes to desirable location. Quite often,
the luxury condo is built with the same beachfront view that the
luxury hotels are, for half the price. There’s also the added
feature that if you are a unit owner, and there is a mortgage
attached to your property, the mortgage interest is tax
deductible. Now, not only do you have a wonderful place to
vacation, you’ve managed to add a tax deduction onto your tax
return. Not many pleasures in life afford the recipient with a
wonderful experience and a tax deduction. These features
combined with the fact that they’re located in resort and
vacation locations, makes them very attractive to the consumer.
Evolution of the Travel Agent
Years ago, when you wanted to go on vacation, there was only one option. You had to hoof it down to your local travel agency and browse through some travel brochures. Then, when you made your selection, you’d sit across the desk from your travel agent (in a very uncomfortable chair) while they entered all the information on their green monochrome computer screen. Travel agents were the keepers of all travel information. Their life was the stuff of dreams. We imagined they had been everywhere and knew everything about world travel. They were the rock stars of the retail world.
Then, a few things happened. First, the airlines decided they didn’t need travel agents anymore and they pulled the plug on agent commissions. This didn’t work out so well for the airlines as evidenced by the number of them who went under in the aftermath. Many agencies refused to sell airline tickets without receiving a commission. Why should they work for free? So, things began to change from what had once been a very structured agency model governed by the ARC (Airlines Reporting Commission) into an industry that was evolving into something new.
Then, the second thing happened. The advent of the internet connection changed the face of travel forever. Information is readily available 24 hours a day about any aspect of travel you can imagine – from luxury yacht trips in the South Pacific to staying at a youth hostel in Europe. Whatever your budget or interest, the internet can open up a whole new world of options available to you for travel.
However, with the plethora of information now available to consumers, is there still a need for the travel agent? Can’t consumers just figure this all out on their own now? I suppose they could try. But, why would they want to? Travel agents offer the benefit of their expertise in dealing day in and day out with travel suppliers. They still hold the “secret knowledge” of the travel business, just in a different way now. Plus, the services of a travel agent are usually free to consumers, as agents are paid commissions by suppliers.
In all honesty, consumers need travel agents now more than ever before. In the past, there was so little information available to consumers that they were at the mercy of the travel agent to get any of it. Now, there is so much information available to consumers, they’re often left floundering in the sea of travel offers. Travel agents are skilled at cutting through the hype and emotion-driven marketing of suppliers. They have learned how to match travelers with vacations they will treasure.
In the wake of the home-based business revolution, many travel agents have moved their businesses to their homes. This is a good thing for consumers in that it allows for much more personalized service. Agents usually have extended hours when they’re home-based, making it more convenient to get in touch with them. And often, agents will come right to your home equipped with their laptop and brochures.
The smart travel agents have embraced technology and are using it to provide better service to their clients. Most travel suppliers are riding the technology wave too and are providing wonderful online resources available only to travel agents. The information age has educated not only the consumer, but has given travel agents powerful tools to provide superior customized service to their clients. With this type of customization, you can receive targeted travel promotions only for the destinations you’re interested in. This service alone can help cut down on information overload. You only receive information that’s of interest to you.
Another benefit of using an agent is that you have an advocate once you’re on your vacation. If anything goes wrong or things aren’t as they were promised, your agent will be your advocate to the travel supplier to try to get things corrected and made right. Just give your agent a call and let them try to sort the problem out. Don’t spend valuable vacation time in frustration. Suppliers know that if they don’t treat their clients right, agent won’t promote their products. Suppliers work hard to maintain a good rapport with the travel agent community. Word travels fast about suppliers who won’t take care of problems. However, if you don’t have an agent, you won’t have the benefit of any extra leverage your agent could provide in correcting a problem.
So, go ahead and spend some time on the internet gathering information for your next vacation. Peruse the vastness of cyberspace hunting for that perfect vacation. However, when it comes time to book your reservation, give your travel agent a call. They’ll be able to determine if what you’ve selected will meet your expectations. If they think it won’t, they’ll recommend something else you might like better. And most likely … they’ll be right and you’ll end up having a fantastic vacation!
Tracey Amino is the CEO of Sapphire Cruises, the travel industry’s original home party plan company. Sapphire Cruises specializes in family reunions, girlfriend getaways, friendship groups, clubs, and association cruise groups. Be sure to visit her site at: Sapphire Cruises.
Visit Durham to Enjoy a Thriving Arts Community
Durham, North Carolina prides itself as being a well rounded, diverse community. This diversity is reflected wonderfully in Durham’s burgeoning arts community in the form of sculptures, murals, galleries, and public artworks located throughout the city. Please read on to learn about some key stops for you to make when visiting eclectic Durham.
Funeral art you say? Yes, Durham has some noteable and exceptional examples of funeral art, if that is something that meets your desire. Two cemeteries, Beechwood and Geer, feature graves of important early African-American business and cultural leaders, while the Maplewood Cemetery contains Italian marble figures and Victorian “funereal” art. Incidentally, Maplewood features the graves of confederate war veterans and tobacco magnates.
Of course, not everyone likes visiting graveyards, but art museums do abound in Durham.
The Nasher Museum of Art is located at Duke University and it houses a fine collection of Russian, European, African, and pre-Columbian artwork. Nearby at North Carolina Central University is an art museum containing African art objects, 19th and 20th century African-American collections, and works submitted by students of this historically black institution.
A stroll through downtown Durham will reveal many murals not easily appreciated by the driving public. Check out the Locomotive mural over at the Amtrak station; The Killer Tomato mural on Foster Street; the Here Comes the Sun mural on the Wee Shop Building; and the untitled mural on the Durham County Social Services building.
Foster Street is an arts-lovers paradise as the venerable thoroughfare contains a half dozen studios. Not to be outdone, the Durham County Public Library on Roxboro Street has paintings, drawings, tapestries, and sculptures while the Sarah P. Duke Gardens features a lovely metalwork fountain and many sculptures.
Fans of vintage art will not be disappointed in their visit to Durham. In the American Tobacco Historic District the Lucky Strike Smokestack and Water Tower hold prominence there. Over on East Parrish Street are signs for Chiclets, Double Mint, and Pepsi-Cola, while on West Main Street the famed Bull Durham Tobacco sign can be observed.
Finally, if the performing arts grabs your attention, then Duke University has five theaters and auditoriums to meet your needs.
Many galleries and studios hold planned exhibits throughout the year. One of the biggest is held in December — the Durham Art Walk — featuring over one hundred working visual artists, many of whom have their own studios downtown.
So, next time you visit Durham, plan on spending some time getting to know the city’ unique tapestry of artists. There is something for you no matter how eclectic your tastes may be.
Matt Keegan is The Article Writer covering subjects as diverse as business, education, health, the arts, travel, and advocacy. Please visit http://www.thearticlewriter.com for samples of some of his work.
Siberia, Russia Part 5 – Khabarovsk and a Little Russian
In this continuing series, we cover my move from San Diego to Chita, Siberia to be a professor at Chita State Technical University. We pick up the story outside the airport in Khabarovsk, Russia.
Khabarovsk
Khabarovsk is an amazing city. Museums with works from Picasso, Rembrandt and other masters. A bustling downtown area with cafes, a lively music scene and architectural triumphs. Then again, maybe not. We were far more interested in finding a hotel with hot water and never ventured into the city.
Outside of the airport, we were a bit flummoxed by the fact there appeared to be no taxis. We quickly learned that practically any Russian with a car is also a taxi for hire. After 5 minutes of egging each other on, Grae made taxi arrangements and we were off. Apparently taking in out disheveled appearance after 3 days of traveling, our driver suggested the Intourist hotel. We readily agreed.
During communism, Intourist hotels were set up for exclusive use by foreigners. Ours was fairly nice and, importantly, had showers with copious amounts of hot water. You can see a picture at http://www.lodging.ru/hotels/intouristkhab.asp. After having returned to humanity with one of the best showers of my life, it was time to brush up on my Russian skills.
I am a huge fan of ice hockey. During the eighties and nineties, many of the best players were Russians. In interviews, they almost always talked about learning English by watching television. If it worked for them, it would work for me. Not exactly.
As Grae showered, I flipped through the eight available channels. Sitcoms were a non-starter, but I eventually found a news channel. I see the images. I know what the images are. I hear the words being spoken by the reporters. I have absolutely no idea of what words go with what images. Okay, let’s back up. What words do they use over and over? Damn, do they have to talk so fast? After 30 minutes, I have learned nothing, nada, zippo. My respect for Russians playing in the NHL has never been higher.
Might as well sleep on it. Yes, day three of the trip was finally done. My original prediction of a 2-day trip was out the window. Still, we were in Russia, so how much longer could it take? Pull out a map and take a look at the country. It is twice the size of the U.S.
Next – When Stairs Attack…
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com – makers of travel journals. Writing journals are the perfect travel accessories. Visit http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more travel articles and travelogues.