When I was in college I was a member of a food co-op.  The place was called the Gentle Strength Health Food Coop, and until about ten years ago it was the only place to find organic fruits and vegetables, as well as anything else one would want to buy from the grocery store.  The one catch, the one element that made this place different from all the other stores in the city at the time, was that nothing was sold and no products were carried, which contained artificial anything.  For many years, a large portion of the population still bought their fresh produce in corporate markets, unaware that there was an option to pesticides.  The years past and the larger, corporate health food chains such as Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s moved into town, and the co-op and its organic market went out of business.  There is a parking lot there now, where the forty year old small store used to stand.

I needed to get back to this kind of life.  I wanted out of the city, and although Trader Joe’s is great, I wanted a real garden, a real farm.  I had heard of the Terhune Orchards in Princeton, New Jersey so I booked a flight and booked a hotel and was off.  During the two generations of Terhunes who ran the farm, it had had only three kinds of fruit trees, apples and peaches with a few pear strewn here and about.  But in 1975 a Pam and Gary Mount bought the orchard and turned it into a farm.  Now everything from fresh herbs to tomatoes to squash and peas can be bought here.  The catch is though…you won’t find your produce polished to a nice shine.  You won’t be hit by the tiny sprinklers as you pick out the best zucchini and you won’t smell dirt.  At the Terhune Orchards and Farm, you “pick your own”.

You pick your produce from the plants and the trees, and you dig your potatoes out of the dirt.  The couple had spent many years in the Peace Corps, and the notion of sustainability is something they brought back with them when they returned to the States.  When traveling through Princeton in the summer time, this is a great place to stop off and pick a basket of strawberries.  For working vacations, many people take a few weeks, live on the farm and work the fields.  In the ever growing corporate world, it gives one peace of mind to know that there are still places to get away from it all, in order to get back to what is real and to what is important.

The Burnham Tavern is located in Machias, Maine and is one of the many historical sites located in any of the towns and cities of the state.  This tavern was built during 1770, and was the meeting point for the local and regional patriots during the times of the American Revolution. Today there aer exhibits that illustrate the history of the region during the 1700’s through the 1800’s.  The furniture is the furniture of a time when the United States was in its infancy as a nation, and the design is a great example of the technology and style of the time period.  And just as the tavern does on the whole, many of the individual pieces have their own unique stories and histories.

Many great hotels in the town reflect this same sensibility and give one the feeling that they may be stepping back in time.  The time of the Tavern’s early days, marked a time when the people of the country were put into difficult situations, often times forced to sell goods and services to the British troops, of which the American soldiers were at war.  If they did comply with this, they faced the wrath of the British commander, Lieutenant Moore and faced a live of poverty and starvation.  However if they did comply they were seen as traitors.

Originally called the Tap Room, the tavern was owned by Job Burnham.  This is where the American settlers would gather to have discussions and debates, over the actions that should be taken against the British troops and against Commander.  This establishment is now on the list of the U.S. Department of the Interior as a National Historic Site.  It is open to the public, to the history buffs who are not only interested in the history of Machias, but in the history of the birth and the development of the entire country of the United States.The Burnham Tavern Museum in Maine

The Burnham Tavern (http://www.burnhamtavern.com/) is located in Machias, Maine and is one of the many historical sites located in any of the towns and cities of the state.  This tavern was built during 1770, and was the meeting point for the local and regional patriots during the times of the American Revolution.  (http://www.theamericanrevolution.org/) Today there aer exhibits that illustrate the history of the region during the 1700’s through the 1800’s.  The furniture is the furniture of a time when the United States was in its infancy as a nation, and the design is a great example of the technology and style of the time period.  And just as the tavern does on the whole, many of the individual pieces have their own unique stories and histories.

Many great hotels (http://www.hotelsmaine.net) in the town reflect this same sensibility and give one the feeling that they may be stepping back in time.  The time of the Tavern’s early days, marked a time when the people of the country were put into difficult situations, often times forced to sell goods and services to the British troops, of which the American soldiers were at war.  If they did comply with this, they faced the wrath of the British commander, Lieutenant Moore and faced a live of poverty and starvation.  However if they did comply they were seen as traitors.

Originally called the Tap Room, the tavern was owned by Job Burnham.  This is where the American settlers would gather to have discussions and debates, over the actions that should be taken against the British troops and against Commander.  This establishment is now on the list of the U.S. Department of the Interior as a National Historic Site.  It is open to the public, to the history buffs who are not only interested in the history of Machias, but in the history of the birth and the development of the entire country of the United States.

In Los Angeles, there’s a home above Hollywood built in the early 20th Century that’s a private club for magicians.  It’s known as the Magic Castle, and features five unique performances a night of magic and comedy.  It’s a place all magicians revere, and a place the public loves to come — if they can find a magician to give them a ticket to get into the exclusive club.  If you don’t have a coupon from a magician, or are at least accompanied by a magician, you don’t go inside.  However, on the other side of the country, in Miami, Florida, you’ll find magic and comedy available just by going on line and purchasing a ticket.  Known as one of the best shows in Miami, it’s Kevin & Caruso’s Magic and Comedy Show.

Augustine “Gus” Caruso and Kevin Jeffrey met each other in school and began doing street performances, later giving way to the Magic and Comedy Show.  Caruso is known for his choreography and constantly changing costumes that he constructs from scratch.  He maintains over 100 costumes and headdresses, all meticulous in detail.  Kevin has worked in magic for over fifteen years and has performed all over the globe his mix of comedy and magic.  Most magicians, by the way, also work in comedy, as its one of the best ways to disarm your audience, relaxing them enough to make the illusion seem perfect.  Raised in Reno, Nevada, his gravitation to show business seems almost an instinctive thing to happen.  He’s constantly putting together new shows.  Like any artist, he considers his work not quite finished, everything a work in progress.

The two performers work out of the Collins Avenue Theater, an intimate venue of only 220 seats and a entrance way that’s hidden.  The little theater has been used for stars of the past who wanted to perform privately for VIPs and officials of the city.  There’s rumors that this place was once a movie house, once a strip club, and who knows what else in-between.  Today, though, it’s the proud home of magic, mystery, and comedy.  All you need do is come to Miami and its fine hotels and reserve a ticket for, as the site proclaims, one of the best shows in Miami.

One of the great things about Rome is its history and significance throughout the centuries. It is one of the oldest cities in the world and certainly ranks among the oldest in the Western world. There are various aspects of the city and society that are reflected in this though it is extremely easy to see in the architecture and art, which represents the greatest artists and architects in world through various time periods. Another historical aspect of Rome that is often extremely enticing to tourists is the dramatic and theatrical history that is associated with it. Seeing one of the ancient Roman plays live and in the city is a great experience for many of the guests in hotels in Rome. And while the ancient works of the Greek and Roman playwrights are often confused and combined into one period and genre, they are in fact two distinct periods of culture and drama, though it is true that Rome borrowed many of the stories and plays from the Greeks, this is a fundamental aspect of all societies throughout history. And there is now denying that the Romans made the theatre and mythology of the time all their own, regardless of where some of the stories may have originated.

One of the signifying differences between Greek and Roman tragedy is the fact that the Greeks did not display major violence on the stage and the Romans loved it. The gruesome details of some of the gory events in Greek plays would occur offstage while the Romans would bring it on in full force. This is a sensational difference that may intrigue some of the audience members at a contemporary performance. And while productions can and will do whatever they want, you can be relatively sure you’ll see more gore from a Roman play than from a Greek. Seneca and Plautus are the two most well known of the Roman playwrights though they were working and living centuries apart. Plautus is well known for his comedies and is believed to have lived between 254 and 184 BC while Seneca is know more for his tragedies and was working much later and in a different social and political environment in the first century AD.

I have been planning this backpacking trip to Europe for some time. I was even given a wonderful map of Europe as a birthday gift by my mom when I first told her of my plans. I had a long list of places I was going to go, but I was absolutely going to start out by traveling to England first. London to be exact. I wanted to see all the tourist attractions, and maybe catch a glimpse of Bob Dylan’s first painting. Next I was going to Cambridge before a stop in Salisbury with Stonehenge. I know it sounds like a whirlwind now, but I’m planning on a more leisurely pace, and finding thing I had never expected as I walk down the streets and through the markets. From there it is France, where as much as I love Paris, I would really rather wander into some of the small towns, and really explore the countryside.

I am most excited about having decided to add some extra time for some of the eastern European countries including Hungary and Romania. Both of these places were inhabited by the Romans, and have some of the most exquisite bath houses you have ever seen. Because many of these places don’t get visited except by the locals, the prices stay really cheap and you can have a whole day of water fun jumping between heated pools, and ice cold ones. The water is always natural and many of them use the same technique to draw it out of the ground as the Romans did when they built the bath houses, even though they have been renovated and given more modern conveniences.

I will be ending my journey in Italy, where I would explore Vatican City, and the great history of artwork that is housed around there. In Rome I will probably explore the Jewish ghettos and There was only one problem with this trip so far, and that was leaving for it. On my drive down to Los Angeles, I began to realize, I really need a map of California. I got lost three times in my one hour drive.

I once heard that there is always something to do in Fort Lauderdale. I think I must have been about twelve when I first heard it. A few of my cousins were over for Thanksgiving, well and other relatives too, and they were all older than I was. I remember one of them talking about his recent trip to Florida and staying in a really cool hotel in Fort Lauderdale. He was a student at the time and went with a few friends for a summer trip between sessions, my cousin always had to catch up some hours over the summer. That was my cousin Bob. I remember I always looked up to Bob and he always seemed to look out for me. He’s married now with three kids and working as a shop foreman back east I think.

Meanwhile, I’m now the college student who continually has to make up hours over the summer and am currently trying to figure out where I can go during my one week off from class this summer. I have two friends, Carl and Terry who want to take a trip too but they’re both talking about going to places like Greece and Spain. Not only can I not afford that but I also don’t have the time. Needless to say neither of them is taking any summer classes. So, I was trying to come up with an agreeable place that they would be happy going to and somewhere that I could actually swing. Suddenly yesterday afternoon my cousin Bob came to mind and I remembered what he said about Fort Lauderdale. Oh yeah, the only thing he said you couldn’t do in Fort Lauderdale was sleep. Gotta love Bob.

So, tomorrow I’m supposed to meet Terry and Carl at the library and I’m going to suggest we go to Fort Lauderdale. I found out the beaches are incredible and we should have a great time even if we did nothing else. And I also noticed that Las Olas Boulevard seems to be the main entertainment hub. We have to visit the Elbo Room. I found it in my searches and now I think I can remember Bob talking about it. The more I look into Fort Lauderdale the more excited I become about going there. Maybe I can make it a college tradition in my family and pass on the great stories to the next generation. Meanwhile I can’t wait to tell Bob that I’m going.

It’s Saturday afternoon in Colorado. After a boys night out, we had to get up very early because Cameran and his guest had to fly back. After a delicious German breakfast, boiled eggs, fruit, bread, jam and coffee we all left our wonderful guest home, thanks Cameran for letting us stay the night. Rene and I had packed our car once again and headed onward north.

A little bit after Denver, which gave us a beautiful view of the Great Plains to our right and to our left the Rocky Mountains, we stopped at Fort Collins where the Colorado State University is located. We stopped here for the night, because this college was Rene’s parents Alma-mater and where they married back in 1970. We walked around campus and we’re pretty sure we found the apartment complex where they first lived after they got married.

We found a coffee shop called the Alley Cat Cafe, which is open 24 hours and we decided to book us a room for the night, so we took advantage of the free wi-fi offered by the coffee shop and found this wonder site: hotel fort collins, and managed to find a great hotel not far from where we were and at a great rate.

Tomorrow, we plan to drive on to Yellowstone National Park, but we knew there’s no way we’d make it there by today. After we spent some more time at the coffee shop, we walked around a bit more. Fort Collins is really a great college town. It was great to see where Rene’s parents met and married. Now that her parents have passed-on, I could tell this little side trip to Fort Collins made Rene feel reflective and oddly enough at peace. I think it will be a great time for me to propose to Rene tomorrow morning, before we leave.

If you are an outdoor sport enthusiast than you would think that David Edward Jackson was famous. He is one of the trappers that originally found a good hunt in the Grand Teton Mountain area called Jackson Hole. There are some fabulous hotels in Jackson click here to rest up for some amazing outdoor adventures. The area is famous for its hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, skiing and any other outdoor sport for any season you can think of. The old down town is famous for its deer antler archways and old western town restaurants and saloons.

It all made me think of famous people that have put there mark on the world named Jackson. In the early years you have names like Stone Wall Jackson who was a Confederate General in the American Civil War. He was born Thomas Jonathan Jackson and got is Stonewall name after his performance in the First Battle of Bull Run. Andrew Jackson is another famous American who was of course the seventh President of the United States. Another political character in modern times is the Reverend Jesse Jackson. He is a Baptist minister that has been a loud voice for civil rights.

You can’t talk about famous Jackson’s without mentioning the entertainers that have this last name. There are some actors such as Kate Jackson who played the character Sabrina Duncan on the popular 70s show Charlie’s Angels.  Samuel L Jackson is an actor that has been seen in over a 100 films with blockbuster names like Die Hard with a Vengeance and Jackie Brown. Then you have musicians such as Joe Jackson and Jackson Brown. The Jackson five were a brother band of singers that had an extra bright star Michael Jackson. Then there was their little sister Janet Jackson who made a name for herself a pop diva.

A few years ago, my East Coast grandmother visited from Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  My sister and I picked her up at the Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, and when she stepped into our view we knew we were in for one crazy week with grandma.  She was dressed in full “cowgirl” regalia, a bright red shirt with fringe, a red cowboy had, white polyester bell-bottomed pants, and red cowboy boots.  We love our grandmother, but at that moment we were both very pleased to know that she would be staying in one of the best Phoenix hotels, and not with either of us, as grandma in small doses was good, but grandma 24 hours a day would be a bit much.

She seemed to be caught in time long past when she thought about Phoenix.  She had never been to the city before and was seriously expecting Cowboys and Indians to be riding their horses along next to our car as we sped down I10.  She made it perfectly clear that she wanted to do “Western” things during her visit, so that night my sister and I planned out a bit of our itinerary with grandma.  We went the first day to the Tuzigoot and Montezuma Castle monuments.  We hiked a bit, but for the most part wandered through the museums at both locations.  The next day we gave her a bit of a thrill by taking a drive along the Apache Trail, a winding road that takes you past the Tonto National Monument, Saguaro Lake and the Gold Field Ghost Town.

The next two days we spent in town, taking a tour of the Heard Museum, and then walking through the galleries of Scottsdale during the Thursday night Art Walk.  Our last night with her, we spent at a place called Rawhide. This is a replica of an old time western town, with stage coaches and staged gun fights in the street.  The real life cowboys were everywhere, and she was overwhelmed by it all.  As we took her to the airport the next day she claimed how she thought that the my sister and I were real live cowgirls, which made both of us smile on the drive home.

Jason had never seen such a wondrous sight as the week he spent in Dallas, Texas with his mother, father and older sister Denise. The family spent six nights in one of the glittering Dallas resort hotels to make a vacation out of a trip his father, Mike, had to take regarding a job interview. Mike was the only member of the family to have ever visited Dallas before and he wanted his wife, Martha, and children to come along so that they could experience the city and get a feel for what their life might be like there. In addition, he liked the security and sense of confidence his wife gave him and really wanted her there for support, though he only admitted to the family that he was bringing them along so they could enjoy a vacation.

This was more than fine for Martha, who also understood that her husband needed her and was eager to support this major career advancement opportunity. And it was also true that the family didn’t get to take a vacation last year so she thought it was a great idea to combine the purposes of this trip. Denise was also excited about going and loved the idea of moving to Dallas. She wanted to become a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader when she was old enough and had already been practicing the moves for a year and would dance the routines with them when Mike and Jason watched the games on television. Jason was the only member of the family who wasn’t particularly thrilled with the idea of moving.

However, once they arrived in this iconic Texan city, Jason was immediately captivated and enthralled. He had never been in a city that large or seen so many enormous buildings. Martha decided to capitalize on her son’s sense of wonder and took him and his sister to the Bahama Beach Water Park while Mike was in his interview. All three of them enjoyed the attractions and each of them had a favorite. Martha loved great views of the entire park while enjoying a cruise down the Calypso Cooler Lazy River. Denise’s favorite was the body slide known as the Bermuda Triangle. She wanted to go on this one over and over again. Jason loved the interactive rain forest Coconut Grove. And as simple as it may sound, this one afternoon in the water park, sealed the deal for Jason, and he desperately wanted to move to Dallas.

It’s always great to be working on an assignment, any assignment.  These days, I don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. When I’m asked to write, I don’t even ask how much it pays or how many words, I just want to know if I can have my deadline cut short.  I like the energy I get, the steam that builds up, when I’m working under extreme pressure.  I was trained in the old school ways of writing.  You get yourself a room at one of the best hotel buildings in Manhattan, and you settle in, and you get to work.  Forget about your best girl, because she’s probably forgotten about you already again, anyway.

Maybe I showed too much of myself just now.  I can’t help it.  It slips out sometimes.  It doesn’t matter, doesn’t mean anything.  I like the tradition of the last generation, where you just hole up with nothing but a bottle of cutty, and a pack of luckies, and then you go.  You dig in to your chair and you set off to type as much as you can, but not just anything.  You have to write hard.  Every sentence, every word, has to land, and it has to land surely and squarely.  And if it doesn’t land, you throw it all away and you start over again.  If you spill some of the cutty, you throw that away, and start over again with another bottle.  Because it’s important to keep moving.

Of course, these days, it’s hard to find the right sized bottles to slip into a jacket.  And luckies are retro again, which means they’re more expensive.  These are details, though, that don’t mean a lick when it comes to being a merchant of dreams, despite the misery of your own fading desires.  If I have to write the copy for the coupon saver, I can do it.  I can take that job, and I can do it.  I can make it so that no one could ever even think of writing a coupon again.  Coupons are like life, they’re the angels that follow you into the alley when you’re hard on your luck and wondering what it’s all for.  They’re sweet little reminders, is what they are.

New York is the largest city in the United States. It is also one of its historical cultural and political centers and has played a prominent, frequently essential role in the development of this country. In addition to the significant personalities that have lived and or been born in this city, it has also given birth to many cultural transitions and movements. He Harlem Renaissance is one of these important cultural developments to rise from New York. Tourists have always flocked to this city and the hotels New York USA are full of adventure seekers and people from across the world wishing to explore the secrets and the beauty of this great city. They are often lucky enough to experience history in motion as major cultural transitions and artistic events unfold before them.

The Harlem Renaissance refers to the period of time during the 1920s and the 1930s when a new birth of African American intellectual, artistic and cultural life flourished in this area. During these early days it was referred to as the Negro Movement and while it is commonly called African American today, much of this population prefers simply to be called black and might refer to it as a black movement. Regardless of what it is called, though not to mitigate the importance of a title, it was an extremely significant and important period of cultural identity recognition and expression.

The Renaissance grew out of a continually developing African American literature tradition and the exact dates and persons associated with the movement are sometimes debated. In addition, music, art and the theatre contributed to and evolved during this period. This marked the decline and eventual end of the use of blackface and the corresponding minstrel shows. In addition, a particular style of piano playing developed during this time, which became called the Harlem Stride style. This development served to blur the cultural distinctions between the elite and poor black populations and introduced the piano to “poor peoples” music and jazz to the rich.

I woke up very early yesterday, which is a new for me, and took the subway to 6th and 14th to do a bit of sightseeing. I didn’t realize I was walking the wrong way for about 20 minutes. The only point of interest when I realized my error was the First Presbyterian Church, well okay, not that much of a point of interest. I headed back the right way and walked most of midtown Manhattan. I went up to the Empire State Building, which by-the-way, is so tall that I had to walk back a couple of blocks just to see the entire building.

I found the roads of New York City to be nutty. They’re all one-way in general and due to the grid system, cars can only turn left or right when the pedestrian walk sign is on, or the cars don’t even bother with the signals and as a result, cars almost keep hitting me. I’ve been duly informed that this happens to everyone, not just me.

I didn’t have to purchase a new cell phone, I found a place that unlocked my mobile, which after paying them $50, it probably would have been cheaper to buy an new phone. After opening up my phone to the world again, I found a nice park, Bryant Park, to sit down for a bit and cool down. Just wearing a t-shirt and jeans, like everyone else in New York seems to be wearing is still pretty hot. I’d really like to cut the legs off. Bryant Park is next to Times Square, so I wandered though the street, although, it really struck me that this area is just a big huge advertisement and a place where chain shops sprout up.

It was lunch time, so I headed over to a place my guidebook recommended, but was surprised to find that place no longer existed and has been replaced by a kebab joint. I ended up going to the Port Authority Bus Terminal and had a really good chicken Parmigiana. After eating this huge plate full of food, that when I noticed my jet-lag kicking in. It was time to head back to my wonderful boutique hotel New York has provided for me and dream more about my upcoming adventures in this fabulous city.

My flight arrived after 5am and despite arriving an hour early, the first thing I noticed in the airport terminal was just how humid and muggy it was. At 5am! I felt like I was arriving at a tropical country outside the US. I caught the Air-Train to first Howard Beach, where I would then catch the subway into Brooklyn, then into Manhattan. While I waiting for the subway, I began talking to this guy who lives in L.A., but was originally from New York and he told me about all kinds of stuff to do and see while I was here. Then this Russian woman entered into our conversation and gave me even more recommendations. I’m not in New York for more than an hour and I’ve meet some really great people!

Once on the subway and to Hoyt-Schermerhorn stop, I then got off and found the route that would take me to Manhattan where I have reservations at a small New York hotel. After dropping checking in and dropping off my bags, I immediately went exploring. I managed to find a nice little cafe that was just opening up for breakfast. Breakfast only made me more sleepy, but I really wanted to explore the city and not my hotel bed.

My hotel wasn’t too far from Times Square, so that’s where I went first. Even though it was still early in the morning, Times Square was bustling with people heading off to work! I walked around soaking it all in; everywhere I looked there were huge neon signs blinking one advertisement after another. It seemed that every single corporation of the world had purchase advertising space in Times Square and each one outshining the other one. I literally could only take so much before I got sensory overload. Gratefully, in the middle of all this hype, I saw an area set aside with tables and chairs. I had to sit down, but this gave me a great opportunity to observe my first morning in the busy, busy city.

I heard about the ‘hop-on hop-off’ bus tours, so I decided this would be the best way for me to explore the city. The buses took me all around the city and to all the major attractions. I think for the money I paid for one ticket – $54.00 – was well worth it. It was the best way, in my opinion, to see the city and at my own pace. It made my short visit here all that much better. I highly recommend taking full advantage of these ‘hop-on hop-off’ buses when visiting New York for the first time.

Billy loved dairy food and all things that could be derived from milk. Interestingly, he was also a vegetarian and loved to work with cows. He had grown up on a small organic farm spent much of his early childhood out in the pasture playing with the cows. There was a calf that had been born on the same day as Billy and the family named it Joel. The connection is obvious and also true. Billy Joel was his parents’ favorite musician and both Billy and the cow were named after him. It was an odd legacy by as if deemed by fate the cow and the boy got along famously and were good friends through all of Joel’s life.

When Joel was sixteen his parents sold the farm and they moved into a house in Fresno, California. Billy enjoyed the city but always missed living on a farm. By the time he was ready to go to college he was certain that he wanted to study dairy farm practices and he sought out the best agricultural programs across America.

He was also a daily runner and a long distance bike rider. Last year when the Tour of California, as part of the UCI America Tour and the USA Cycling Professional Tour, arrived in Modesto, Joel was there to watch Lance Armstrong cross the finish line. He drove down with his family while he was home visiting and while he was in Modesto he remembered that Foster Farms is located there. On their last day in the hotel Modesto Billy asked his parents to go with him to our the dairy. They happily agreed as they too missed the farm and dairy life. They were all stunned by the size of the Foster Farms area and Billy thought this would be a great place to gain some experience before he tried to open a farm of his own. His parents were happy that their son had such a passion for dairy farming and would enjoy visiting him on his own farm someday, but reminded him that he had little to no experience with chickens.

The state of Georgia was one of the first thirteen colonies that put their fists up to British rule. It was the last to be established but it happened in 1733. It accepted the U.S. Constitution in 1788 and was the forth state to do so. Later, it became one of the seven confederate states in 1861 when it seceded from the Union. But came back to the Union of states in 1870. Today it is still a fast growing state with Atlanta being its capital. There are some out door enthusiasts who come to visit the Blue Ridge Mountains that is apart of the Appalachian Mountain range. They can also hit the beach along the Atlantic Sea.

People check into the nice hotels Georgia has to offer and learn more about the battles that took place here during the American Civil War. The Battle of Chickamauga was most significant in the Union defeat and had the second highest amount of soldier casualties in this war, next to Gettysburg of course. Then there was the battle of Kennesaw Mountain and the Battle of Atlanta or it was also called the Battle of Decatur. You can find information on all the battles that took place in Georgia. They are studied well by our military training today.

Georgia has become quite the media center in current times. Television, Movies and Radio industries all of hubs in the state of Georgia. Ted Turner is the big name in Television. He founded TBS, TNT, TCM, the Cartoon Network, CNN and Headline News to name only a few. Atlanta is where the head quarters are to his great empire of media. There have been some movies filmed here and is the home of a couple of studios, Tyler Perry and Rainforest Films. Atlanta is often called the Black Hollywood because there are many films produced with African American actors.

One of the things you are least likely to hear about New York is that there is never anything to do there. In fact, most people are more concerned with doing everything that was on their agenda prior to their visit. And while touring everything in the city or experiencing all it has to offer in a single trip is generally impossible, one of the things on many people’s agenda that will definitely happen is attending a Broadway play. Broadway is the icon for the American theatre tradition and is also well known across the globe for its quality of productions and bringing new works into the international scene. It is often considered to be equivalent of the West End in London, which is England’s iconic theatre area.

One of the things Broadway has always been known and loved for is the spectacular musicals that are produced on its stages. Theatres like the Shubert and Winter Garden take on mythical status in the nation’s theatre tradition and represent the ambitions and dreams of young artists from around the world. The theatre district in New York includes more than the Broadway theatres and is often referred to as the Great White Way. The actual district is colossal in significance and symbolic importance though it is located on a relative small strip in Manhattan. It extends from 53rd to 42nd street and is between 6th and 8th Avenues.

And while many great dramatic and comedic plays have been and continue to be produced on the New York stage, Broadway is legendary for its great musicals. Names like Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rodgers and Hammerstein are part of the nation’s collective consciousness and their shows have highlighted many aspects of our lives. Guests in a New York Cheap hotel have always and will continue to visit the city and enjoy one or more of its great theatrical offerings.

Corey was absolutely thrilled when his wife Ruth was scheduled to go to Belgium on a business trip. He would frequently go with her when the location sounded interesting to him and this was one of the places he had wanted to visit his entire life, or at least as long as he could remember. It made it nice for Ruth when her husband accompanied her on these trips as well and though she spent most of her days in business meetings or presenting project ideas the two of them generally enjoyed a nice evening out together and when it was a particularly attractive city that they would be visiting they would frequently book an extra few days like they did at one of the Leuven hotels where they would be staying.

As usual Corey had not problem getting out and touring the city on his own while his wife as at work and he as absolutely amazed by the beauty of the architecture. Every building he encountered seemed to be majestic in size and structure and could have stood for hours and just stared ahead at whatever he happened to be standing in front of. Some of the late Gothic style buildings particularly attracted him and Corey made a note of places that he would want to return to later with Ruth.

One of the things that both of them definitely wanted to do while they were there was to attend a performance by the Arenberg Orchestra. They were both huge fans of symphony music and Corey had wanted to become a concert flutist in his early life. Those dreams eventually gave way to the practicality that he just wasn’t good enough to pursue it as a career though he continued to play frequently for fun and sometimes with the local orchestra. The performance they saw on one of their last nights in town was absolutely amazing they both left it inspired and appreciative. The next day Ruth had off and the two of them planned a day’s trip over to Brussels.

Depending on the tide, there are either ninety-nine or one hundred and four islands in the archipelago that makes up Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah (Langkawi Permata Kedah in Malay).  Named after the the Sultan Abdul of Kedah’s Golden Jubilee Celebration in July of 2008, out of all these islands, only three are populated, the largest of which is Pulau Langkawai inhabited with about forty five thousand people.  The next island is nearby Pulau Tuba, with about five fishing villages and three thousand people.

Recently, in 2007, UNESCO gave Langkawi Island World Geopark status, creating conservation areas in the following areas inside Langkawi Geopark: Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park, Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park.  These parks comprise quite a popular spot for tourism.

Some of the best beaches in Malaysia may be found in Langkawi, and if you’ve checked into one of the luxury hotels Langkawi provides its visitors, you’ll find many spectacular white sand beaches, lined by coconut trees and casuarina trees and shrubs.  A number of the beaches have different qualities that make a visit worthwhile.  Pentai Tengah, for instance, contains a small cape, separating it from Cenang.  Migratory birds favor Burau Bay, which is ringed by outcrops of rock.  Pantai Kok is more on the peaceful side, with limestone hills in the background, while Datai Bay contains both examples of forest and sea, where the white beach lies against a deep, green forest.

Aside from the beach what is one to do in Langkawi?  Scuba diving and snorkeling, for one.  There’s a great number of marine life in the waters, where you can see black tip sharps, giant groupers, and barracudas.  There’s coral, too, both soft and hard.  You may also fish and swim here, as well.  But if you tire of the beach, you may be interested in a differnet view, available by taking the Langkawi Cable Car to the peak of Guinung Mat Chinchang, where you can take a look at the Langkawi Sky Bridge.

Rivers run through a number of towns and cities in the United States, but how many comprise over twelve percent of the city itself?  I don’t know the answer to that, but at least one of those cities is Grand Prairie, Texas, just outside Dallas, whose Johnson Creek flows through the city of over a hundred and sixty thousand and into the Trinity River.  This small city is a destination spot for families and offers those who stay in the hotels Grand Prairie offers its guests a number of fun activities, including fishing and camping and boating and hiking in the Cedar Hill State Park or Joe Pool Lake.  There’s also the Traders Village Flea Market, which is perhaps one of the most popular flea markets in Texas, where you can find typical Texan cuisine: turkey legs, burgers, corn-on-the corn, not to mention corn dogs. There’s theme park rides, too, as well as amusement parks.  Just a few blocks away from a number of hotels, you can find entertainment similar to the kind you might if you were visiting Hollywood: A Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum and a Palace of Wax (Of course, Hollywood doesn’t offer a Lone Star Park horse track or Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor [you have to drive forty miles north for the latter amusement park in California]).

Originally, the city was known as “Dechman” after a man named Alexander McRae Dechman who learned in 1863 that he could trade for land in Dallas County.  Using his oxen, a broken wagon, and two hundred in Confederate cash, he bought nearly two hundred and forty acres.  Well after the Civil War, in 1876, he traded this prairie property to the T&P railroad, making certain that trains would come through town.  The railraod depot was named Dechman.  In 1877, the postal service used the name Deckman because they couldn’t read the handwriting on the form, creating confusion between Deckman and Dechman.  The post office decided they would just use the name Grand Prairie, based on map designations of the area from twenty years prior, around 1850 to 1858.  Soon, a legend grew up (that proliferates all over the internet): A famous actress came to town by train, got off at the depot, and said, “Oh, what a grand prairie.”  Perhaps it’s true.  I’m sure somebody said it at some point, perhaps more than once!

If you are talking about beautiful, clean sandy beaches, brilliant, crystal clear water, huge rolling waves, breathtaking views, spectacular vistas, fabulous sunrises and sunsets, you must be talking about Malibu, California. Malibu has it all and you really need to experience it for yourself. I’m sure you’ve seen the awesome pictures and heard people talk about it. You know hundreds of movie stars, writers, directors, playwrights, singers and others involved in the California entertainment industry call Malibu home. This western Los Angeles County city has a population close to 13,000 according to the 2000 census bureau. The Pacific Coast Highway, Route 1 runs along the California coast and is considered one of the most scenic ocean views there is. It is absolutely an incredible sight as you drive along.

This is a very artsy area and the many musical festivals and concerts are exciting to attend. You just never know who you might see there, maybe even get your picture taken with a celebrity, or get an autograph. There is so much to see and do here. For outdoors, other than the beaches, there is horseback riding, trail hiking, or take a mountain bike out and enjoy the beautiful scenery. The museums are some of the best around; you sure want to visit the Getty Villa and the galleries of the J Paul Getty Museum.

Malibu hotels are just as impressive as the area itself. With a their guests’ comfort in mind, the hotel staff is especially friendly and accommodating, and the amenities are top notch. You will be pampered as you relax during your stay. And of course you will enjoy fine dining at the elegant restaurants, either at your hotel or scattered throughout the city. Whatever your reason, whatever the season, Malibu will not disappoint, and it will beckon you again. Listen to that call.

New York is associated with many famous and interesting personalities and cultural movements. It is also well known as a favorite city of artists, actors, writers and other creative personalities. This has been true through most of the 20th century due to the fact that artistic personalities of all types have made their way to this great city through the decades. Dylan Thomas is just one of them. He was a Welsh writer who was well known for his public solo readings and his prominent works Under Milk Wood and the poem Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night. Tourists have also been attracted to New York throughout the 20th century and they have enjoyed visiting some of the same locations during their stay in a boutique hotel New York as what famous people were and are known to frequent.

Thomas was born in Whales and lived there through most of his childhood. He visited London in 1932, which was the first of many that would occur through the rest of his life. By 1946 had established his career and the publication of Deaths and Entrances solidified his writing reputation. He began touring the United States in the early 1950s and gave the first public solo reading of Under Milk Wood at Harvard in May of 1953. He then performed it with a cast at the Poetry Center in New York. Thomas’s addiction to alcohol was already affecting his life by this point and was well known to his friends and work associates.

He was back in New York and staying at the Chelsea Hotel in November of 1953. He would regularly visit the White Horse Tavern, which was his New York favorite and was there a few nights before he died. It is famous for being the last place he actually drank. He had been introduced to the tavern by the Scottish Poet Ruthven Todd and could be seen there every time he was in New York. It was immediately suspected that Thomas died from alcohol poisoning or from the effects of chronic drinking. However, he had been complaining of feeling sick and had been given shots of morphine prior to his death. It is also believed that he had pneumonia at the time.

India is a fantastic place to visit, with some of the most exquisite vistas in the world.  There are natural areas that are simply stunning, and endlessly elegantly marvelous.  There are plenty of ancient temples, and temples still in use today, where the local population will gather on special days to worship.  There are also plenty of street festivals, with elegant dancers making interesting new creations in front of your very eyes, as if there were a new artistic movement in the works, and there usually is.  India does not stop, and wouldn’t think of stopping.  The motion is very splendid.  Delhi is all of this, it’s almost like a condensed version of the entire country, with an enormously dense population, and many cultures mixing and living in the same time and place.

It has everything, like any big city, but there’s something rather unique about Delhi.  Or perhaps there are many unique things about Delhi, and too many to mention, surely, but it is unlike anywhere else on the planet.  If you’re coming, hoping to taste the offerings from some of the world’s best restaurants, Delhi may very well have these.  There is certainly a fantastic selection here, and some of the finest chefs in the world are preparing some of the world’s finest cuisine.  And some of the best artists are cooking up some new and fantastic worlds to explore on canvas.

Delhi’s Tanmoy Samanta is certainly an artist to watch.  He’s had a good beginning as an artist, and is reaching a phase where the maturer works are starting to make their way into the world, and it’s a splendid thing to see.  Especially when the style and execution produce such stunning results.  His Eye of the Needle show brings together some of the most interesting things to give life to gallery walls in awhile, and with spectacular energy and focus in each painting.  They are very bare and very spare, and could be best described as deconstructions of objects, and mediating on these brings enormous sized-worlds into focus, and it’s often stunning and often distubring.

Phil had loved baseball for as long as he could remember. He grew up in Southern California, though his parents had moved from New York City shortly before he was born. So naturally they had strong East Coast and New Yorker personality aspects and a loyalty to their home city. Phil’s father would watch baseball every Saturday afternoon and from these early games Phil became extremely familiar with the history of the New York Jets. However, having been born in Southern California, Phil himself was something of a San Diego Padres fan. This caused him to develop a bit of personal conflict, which he tried to keep to himself. He would demonstrate his loyalty to the Padres at school and with his friends, meanwhile at home he would root for the Yankees. He knew this would eventually lead to trouble, but it seemed to be the best idea at the time.

Then there was Phil’s grandfather, also named Phil, who would visit the family at least twice a year. This die hard New Yorker would never dream of moving from his beloved city though he was close to his family and tried to visit often. Little Phil only remembered having visited his grandfather once when he was boy. This was because his father believed he should visit the city at least once but was afraid his son would turn into a New Yorker himself if he visited too often. After all it was in his blood and his genes. And that being the case, it was only a matter of time before Phil came to his father and announced that he wanted to visit his grandfather over the summer. Coincidentally, he received notice from his own father that he was commanded to bring his wife and son to New York that summer. Little Phil had the right to visit his grandfather in his own setting. So, against Phil’s father’s better judgment the family booked a room in a five star hotel New York City and headed out to visit Big Phil. And as it turns out Big Phil had plans to take Little Phil to Yankee Stadium for a ballgame. And that experience was all it took. Little Phil was an uncompromising Yankee fan for the rest of his life.

Madrid is pretty close to being the center of Spain, physically speaking, and certainly feels like it in many other ways.  It is the capital of the country, and the largest city, and some will say it feels like the center of the universe.  It has been the center of many fascinating historical moments, and has been a creative capital for many generations.  Today it is one of the world’s great financial hubs, and there is a tremendous creative output from the people who live here.  There is a constant sense of things happening , with an infectious energy that is very appealing to travelers from all walks of life.  The Madrid best hotels are those that can offer that perfect combination of classical sensibility with contemporary taste.

It’s very difficult to avoid good taste and splendid style anywhere in Spain, being one of the most fantastically cultured places in the world, and Madrid again rises up as a center for gracious sensibility, and is never shy to display its magnificent flair.  Hotels and restaurants will showcase this sense of style, and it’s also visible in the local fashions.  It seems to be a city designed to blur the boundaries between art and life, just as so many of its artists have done.  One artist to watch in this regard is Chris Sugrue.

She works here and in New York, and her work is seen all over the world, in places like Portugal, Japan, Brazil, Austria and Turkey.  Her works are fascinating interrogations into how human life and digital life intersect, and it’s a very fine line in these times.  Her art projects have been all over the map, from solo shows to massive collaborations, and they are all equally marked with a spark of genius.  The question of life and art has been asked for generations, and is always a concern of the avant-garde, and the technological focus of Sugrue’s works puts this into a new direction for a whole new generation that is still in the process of defining itself.

So, now I know how this happens, when you show up expecting to stay 5 to 6 days in India, expect that to stretch into a whole week, then the next thing you know, you’ve signed up for another week. That’s just how India pulls you in, slowly and unexpectedly. Luckily, I picked one of the best luxury hotels Goa that could keep booking the same room for me.

Motorcycles, will become less expensive as it’s becoming the end of the season here in Arumbol. There’s so many make to choose from, like a 2 stroke 100 by Yamaha, or scooters, but the one I’m hoping for is the Royal Enfield. This baby hasn’t changed for over 50 years and there are only two models, the 350 and the 500. Both are one-lung and kind of a mini-triumph with a loud exhaust. They have a classic style and enough power to travel long distances while on the Indian highways.

It’s that motorcycles with which I am seeking, well at least dreaming about. I see myself on an Enfield touring all of India and all for a fraction of the cost. I like seeing myself travelling that way instead of riding the rails. I could really get the feeling for the country riding on an Enfield. I learned that motorcycles are registered for a lifetime in India, so the registered passes from one owner to the next. I could buy one for about 500 dollars (20,000 rupees). There is a drawback, Enfields tend to be moody and break down suddenly and often. Luckily for me, the mechanics are easy to fix and the parts are sold everywhere in this county. I’ve put out a few feeler around, so I’ll see if I get a bite.

I’m somewhat free from obligations, at least compared to most people, so I can conceivably lengthen by tour for even one full month, even two. It’s cheap to live here and I’ve found it gets cheaper as I head into the hinterlands. I’m keeping all my possibilities open. I want to take full advantage of the freedom I’m offered at this very moment of this life.

Klye was in the mood for a steak. And when he said steak, he only meant the best steak available and for Kyle, that meant taking a trip across the bridge to Brooklyn and enjoying a great meal at Peter Luger Steakhouse. He swears that any restaurant that can last a hundred years has got to be one of the best restaurants New York City and beyond. And that night, Kyle was hungry and wanted the best.

However, and unfortunately for urgent appetites, Kyle’s wife Velma was adamantly in the mood for her favorite Chinese food. And her hunger demanded that they take a trip to the Chinatown Brasserie. She simply had to have some sea bass with black bean sauce and would not take no for an answer. This was an unusual predicament for the two of them to find themselves in as both of them were rather easy going about choices and were usually easy to please. Granted, they both had their favorites as was just demonstrated and occasionally they would find themselves unwilling to compromise when the need struck them though it rarely happened to both of them on the same night.

So, to rectify the situation, one they can’t recall ever having dealt with before Velma called her mother to gain support. That was all Kyle needed and with his hunger growing he sulked into the other room to grab his coat. Well, Velma wasn’t pleased with her mother’s first suggestion, which was to go for the steak because she preferred that herself. So, when pressed the mother came up with a different solution, which was to go to separate restaurants for the night so that each could enjoy their own choice. That was an odd suggestion, but Velma was attracted to it. She mentioned this to Kyle, who did not like to eat alone. But seeing that they were both unwilling to compromise they decided it would be the best thing for that evening. And while they both had the dinner they wanted, and enjoyed their meals, they decided that in the future they should make their plans earlier in the day before their appetites could get the better of them and leave them eating alone.

This is my first writing about my trip to India. Many of you know about my travel, and many of you do not. So, here is my plan for India.

I arrived a few days ago and I will be taking an Italian cooking class. Yes, really! Here in India. Upon arrival, I was overwhelmed with the amount of people waiting for me, just for me, well not really, all the drivers here act like they know you personally, act like you’re a long lost friend in order to get you to ride with them. I really enjoyed just how hard they try, they are real experts at what they do, one convinced me enough, that I hired him. He almost had me believe that I was his long lost relative.

I learned my lesson well though, he charged me an arm and a leg by the time we reached one of the four star hotels Chennai offers to all its visitors. I had to go to an ATM machine to make up the difference of what I didn’t have in my wallet. I didn’t mind though, I actually enjoyed giving him a hard time, I told him that I was his long lost relative, and that he shouldn’t charge a relative so much, or at least offer to invite me over for dinner so I can meet with the rest of my long lost family. He enjoyed my response so much that he took me up on the dinner idea! I laughed and told him that I already had plans for the evening, but he insisted! I asked if I could come by after I finished a few cooking classes and that I’d cook him up an Italian dish he’ll never forget. He laughed and agreed! He gave me is address and phone number and told me to call him anytime.  What was even more remarkable was that he gave me back half of what he charged me! So, I ask you, who was the professional here? Me or him?

I have to say that I’ve never seen so many people in one place! The city is busting with cars, buses, people, so much traffic, so much noise and life! I can’t imagine where they all came from! I walked about a bit and asked a shop owner just how many people live here, he said about 6 million! No wonder, I thought, that with this many people, there’s so much pollution, but also so much to do and see! I hope that I’ll be able to experience more of Chennai in between my cooking classes. As for now, it’s time to get cracking and learn some fancy Italian dishes so I can keep my promise to that taxi driver.

Ciao!

After checking into one of the five star hotels in Delhi, get out your walking shoes and hit the streets. There are many wonderful attractions to inspire visitors to learn more about the area. One of these great attractions is the Lal Qila.  Lal Qila means Red Fort in the local language. This Fort was built by one of the greatest rulers of India. Shah Jahan was a great leader and well respected by his country. He was also known for his great architectural creations. He came to Delhi in 1638 from Agra and created this new royal palace which was completed in 1648.

This amazing Fort was built with massive 110 feet high walls made of red sandstone that surround the gorgeous Mughal architecture. When you walk through the Lahore gate you start to feel the grandeur and history of this amazing palace. As you begin to peak in side you start to see that this Fort is actually made up of a number of pavilions. Each pavilion has it’s own purpose. The most decorated pavilion is the Khas Mahal which served as the private space of the emperor. Made up of white marble and decorated with precious stones and gold leaf.

Another of the pavilions is the Hammam which is a bathing room. But is not really just one room, it actually has three areas separated by hallways. These rooms are of course built with marble floors that have multicolored stone inlays with floral patterns.

The Moti-Masjid is the Pearl Mosque. This  Mosque was built by Aurangzeb for himself. When you walk into the prayer hall you see the Musallas which are small prayer carpets placed across the black marble floor. When you see the Mosque from a distance it stands taller than the courtyard. Walking this property is walking in a garden and is truly a peaceful walk to take on your visit to Delhi.

Great beaches and great nightclubs were all Tony could think about when he planned a get away to Miami, Florida with his best friend Joey. Joey on the other hand was looking forward to visiting the Miami Art Museum and attending a performance by the Florida Grand Opera at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts though neither of them mentioned their interests or realized the discretion before they left. They had been best friends since Joey’s family moved in next door to Tony’s when he was five and Tony was five and a half.

When they met for their complimentary breakfast the first morning of their stay in one of the fine hotels Miami Florida Joey mentioned the current exhibit at the Miami Art Museum. Tony didn’t give it much thought and had actually never heard of Guillermo Kuitca. However, when Joey mentioned they could grab a bite at one of the seafood restaurants after their trip to the museum, Tony realized his friend’s intention. He warned him about turning their leisure vacation into some kind of cultural exploration trip and Joey had to laugh. That was Tony’s response every time he wanted to do something that wouldn’t require getting his clothes dirty.

After spending their first breakfast making compromises and discussing what they knew they should have before they left, both Tony and Joey were satisfied with their mutual and independent agendas. They did go to the museum that day and Tony actually enjoyed the Kuitca exhibit. He was particularly impressed with and intrigued by the spatial abstract association works and thought maybe he had found his favorite artist. Of course it was also one of the few artistic names he knew. After the museum the friends grabbed a bite to eat and spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach. Joey was not opposed to beaches and clubs and he and his friend had a great time, he just didn’t want to make an entire vacation out of them. The two friends ended up enjoying their vacation, which is what they usually do after realizing they had different intentions with it.