John M. Edwards finds out that Costa Rican Artist Saul Bolaños’s Medium Is Hot Costa Rica, a coffee democracy in a sea of banana republics, is known more for its number-one export than its art. So perhaps it is only natural that Costa Rican photo-artist Saul Bolaños decided to fuse the two and extract art from the ubiquitous bean. His CAFEGRAFIA®, sepia-color photo images made real by coffee, explore the offbeat flight paths of Central … [Read more...]
Hiking the Grand Canyon
Recently I learned something intere sting from my friend’s uncle. You can hike the Grand Canyon! I’m not talking about just going out to canyon and hiking the outskirts. You can hike the whole thing – from the south rim to the north rim AND you can do it in a day. Of course, not everyone does hike the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim, and there are actually many warnings on the internet not to do this, but my friend’s uncle (who is in his 60s) said he … [Read more...]
Independence Days: The Firths of Fourth and Fourteenth
John M. Edwards switches two similar independence holidays around, “when” left intentionally vague, while storming the Bastille crowd on the 4th of July and watching the Hudson fireworks on the 14th of Juillet. In Paris, I finally managed to go by “bateau mouche” (boat fly) to one of my favorite sights on the Seine: the original little lady, a smaller prototype of “The Statue of Liberty”—a colossal gift from France which was shipped over to … [Read more...]
Let Les Bons Temps Roules in Red New Orleans
John M. Edwards discovers New Orleans unique cuisine to be out of this world, not just Creole and Cajun clichés (“Gumbo” and “Jambalaya”), but also, well, nothing beats an Oyster Poboy! At the legendary Napoleon House in New Orleans, Lousiana, I found myself expectantly dreaming of a dressed “Oyster Poboy,” especially since they had not even one of them on their menus. (Hurricane Katrina had literally wiped out many of the oyster beds way back … [Read more...]
Bees and Lavender in Carmel
Ever want to don a full bodysuit to invade a colony of 60,000 Italian honeybees and extract honey from their hive? Spending a day on bee farm is something I’ve always wanted to do. Maybe it’s because you get to wear a cool suit. Maybe it’s because bees are slowly disappearing and I want to support them in someway. Maybe it’s because I’m totally afraid of them and need to get that out of my system. Whatever, the reason, when I learned you … [Read more...]
Sometimes You’re Not Lost. And THAT’S the Greatest Lesson of Them All
“Can you do me a solid, Madame Laveau?” I whispered, so close I could have sworn I felt her lean in. There was no response. Not yet anyway. The months before heading to New Orleans was a chaotic mess. I had lost my job. Or rather, my career. A career I had studied for. A career I took pride in. I’m a teacher. But as I left the office the day I was let go, I remembered what my former boss said to me before my dismissal: “Your. Students. Love. … [Read more...]
Touring Napa Valley: Tasting wine where it’s made
There’s something to be said for having an affordable bottle of rosé on a Friday night – particularly one that is low in calories but still tasty – Blossom Hill is a good example. But to learn more about appreciating wine, the best thing to do is visit the country where it was made – because like olives in Greece, biltong in South Africa or surf and turf in California – it just tastes better! Blossom Hill is made in California (and a bunch of … [Read more...]
Canada wildlife experiences
Where can you find Canada's best wildlife? If you're a wildlife lover looking for a holiday full of incredible creatures, why not try Canada for your next adventure? Canada's vast and largely unspoilt wilderness is home to a diverse ecosystem, including seals, bison, moose and many other animals, which it is incredibly rare to see outside of a zoo and in their natural habitat. However, the real star of the show as far as wildlife is concerned … [Read more...]
The Enemy
My yearning for unhurried solitude brought me to a strip of sand beneath a canopy of wind blown tress at Emma Woods Beach Park in Ventura, Ca. While lying belly down on the warm sand listening to the rhythm of the rolling waves, I spied a homeless man curled up on a nearby dune. I hoped that he could actually sleep there, nestled in the ice plant. He lifted his head from his knapsack and looked at me with blood- rimmed eyes. Not wanting to … [Read more...]
Ancient To Modern in Miami
Imagine a trip to Miami - fun in the sun, sand, and on the water; palm trees swaying in the breeze, tropical fruity drinks, tanning lotion, and dancing until dawn. But there's more to Miami than beaches and bars. It's a city full of history, culture, and architecture. These little gems - these not so typical tourist attractions - really tell the story of the city. Each time I go to Miami, I find some new cultural or historical treasure. It’s a … [Read more...]
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