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...]
More to Augusta, Georgia off the course on The Masters Weekend
Whenever a host city focuses the spotlight on an internationally recognized event, it leaves in the shadows attractions and destinations that define the city every other day of the year. I challenged myself to discover what Augusta, Georgia had to offer off the course on Thursday morning of the Masters weekend. A cab from Augusta National Golf Club to downtown Augusta on Masters weekend meant standardized premium rates: $30 one-way for an … [Read more...]
The Florida Keys: Funky, Fantastic, and Fun (as in, “Lots of”)
Remember when you were a kid and the carnival would come to town, and there would be one great ride after another, gooey kid foods, a happy crowd and a sense of being somewhere special? The Florida Keys are like that—but with better rides (things to see and do) and definitely better food. I recently spent five days in the Keys, and packed in a whirlwind of sightseeing goodness (and packed in sumptuous plates full of fabulous food). Top to … [Read more...]
What do Van Morrison, The Godfather of Punk, and Seamus Heaney have in Common?
There is a theory of “primitive affluence” that suggests that when a society has its primary needs met by Nature...food, shelter, clothing…then it will turn to creativity. Bali, a tropical island in Indonesia where the rich volcanic soil produces an abundance of food and materials for fabrics and building, is held as an example. The trope is that “everyone in Bali is an artist.” Yet, while it is true that most everyone spends days carving, … [Read more...]
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