I’ve been in Haiti for a few days now, trying to get a better understanding of life in one of the poorest nations on earth (see my related articles on Port au Prince and Cap Haitien.) By any measure, it has an arduous history. Haiti bears the misfortune of being the island that Columbus decided to claim and colonize first. The native Taino indians were promptly enslaved and sent off into gold mines to enrich the coffers of Queen Isabella of … [Read more...]
Five days in Port au Prince, Haiti
“Excuse me, you’re going where??!” she gasps while simultaneously taking an irritated stride back, crossing her arms and dishing out that look that husbands the world over dread. “Um. Haiti,” I whimper back. And how can I blame her surprise? Just think of the things that come to mind when you hear the name Haiti: crime, armed violence, political instability, UN soldiers, endemic corruption, hurricanes, earthquakes, Zika virus, poverty, famine, … [Read more...]
New Smithsonian Channel Docuseries – Polar Bears, Churchill Manitoba
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 4, 2016 — Every fall, approximately 10,000 tourists from around the world descend on “The Polar Bear Capital of the World,” Churchill, Manitoba. This community of about 800 people on Hudson Bay in Northern Canada is home to the annual migration of more than 1,000 hungry polar bears that pass through town as they wait for the Bay ice to return. The new Smithsonian Channel docu-series POLAR BEAR TOWN documents a season in … [Read more...]
Knoxville Rocks the History Trail
Tennessee is really a fascinating place, particularly for history buffs. There are sites exemplifying pioneer history, the founding of the United States, the Civil War, the Great Depression, WWII, and the Civil Rights Movement – all easily accessible from Knoxville (itself named after Henry Knox, Revolutionary War hero and Secretary of War under President Washington). Most interesting to me is that America as the grand experiment - a country … [Read more...]
Knoxville, TN: Holding on to the Stories
“When an old person dies, it’s like a small library burning.” -- Alex Haley, author of Roots, spoken to his friend John Rice Irwin, founder of the Museum of Appalachia[i] Until I went to Knoxville, Tennessee, I hadn’t experienced a place with such a strong sense of preserving the past. Not just the events or places of the past – I work as a tour guide in Philadelphia and we have that here – but the importance of each individual life gone by, … [Read more...]
A Tale of Blue Gold
You might not wonder how clothes or other fabrics get their color, but textile dyes have been around for centuries affecting much more than just the world of fabric. With the introduction of exotic and stunning hues that came from dyes, the world was made a canvas upon which our ancestors painted their history. Dyes were often considered a luxury and a symbol of wealth. Of the many dyes, indigo is the oldest, and its origins are based in … [Read more...]
Take a literary tour of Madrid
Literary history abounds in Madrid, with evidence of the famous writers that once lived in the Spanish capital on every street corner. From plaques and statues to quotations from famous works engraved into the pavements, you'll find a plethora of literary references and historic buildings to remind us of Spain's literary geniuses. If you're planning to take a tour of Madrid during one of your Spanish holidays, here's 5 places that should … [Read more...]
Music, Music Every Where and a Sip of Tennessee Moonshine to Drink
“Hippie” Jack Stoddart handed around a Mason jar of chilled moonshine as music filled the air. We were close to the main stage under the big tent during the second day of the September 2015 Jammin' at Hippie Jack's Americana Roots Music, Camping & Arts Festival in Overton County, Tennessee, the home of Americana Music: so delicious. This funky, progressive, and educational gathering of Americana roots musicians and enthusiasts served … [Read more...]
Little Known Adventures in Cambodia Other Than Lara Croft’s Angkor Wat
Cambodia immediately conjures up visions of the temples of Angkor Wat. OK, they are without argument, among the most awe-inspiring monuments ever built by man. But there are plenty of other things to see and experience in Cambodia. There is so much more to this beautiful country. While Angkor Wat should be on your checklist of must-see places, let’s get off the main tourist track and take a look at 10 other amazing sites. This country has … [Read more...]
How to Uncover the Mystery of the Scottish Highlands
Over the misty mountains of a Scottish morning, lochs stretch over the horizon. Deer amble and graze across the bracken and moss, while Nessie lurks somewhere in the deep dark belly of Loch Ness. It’s the Highlands – and it’s bursting with grandeur and mystery. Ask a non-native to think of Scotland and they’ll probably conjure up the image above. People are less interested in the cosmopolitan warmth of Edinburgh, the throbbing nightlife of … [Read more...]
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