tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538Fri, 02 Feb 2024 10:34:00 +0000Amtrak Coast Starlightbiz tripCNN iReport-DRC ElectionsCleveland Biz TripMIS Biz TripThere are travelers (those who go to a place for the original experience) and non-travelers (those who go to places with someone else's idea of what they should see, do, taste, etc.) Why is it that most of the non-travelers I know are African-American? I'm out to change that and inspire African-Americans to experience their destination for all that it is, good and bad, or as I like to call it, "Backpacking while Black."http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Dre')Blogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-7570749177936787565Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:24:00 +00002012-01-25T14:34:30.515-05:00CNN iReport-DRC ElectionsI posted my first CNN iReport story this past November while on an election observation mission with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. You can find the story here.http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-first-cnn-ireport-story-observing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-6497563485609307876Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:19:00 +00002012-11-01T16:34:04.213-04:00The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. is a dream given form.  It is the only monument dedicated to a non-president and an African American among monuments such as the Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington Memorials.  The words etched in its stone, the edifice of Dr. King peering across the Potomac River are a reminder that we have http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2011/10/three-days-with-kings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0Atlanta, GA, USA33.7489954 -84.387982433.537754899999996 -84.703839399999993 33.9602359 -84.0721254tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-3468278546860696017Sat, 02 Oct 2010 20:18:00 +00002012-11-01T16:19:16.265-04:00Cleveland Biz TripThree years of solid business trips and I still get a kick out of exploring a new city even if it is Cleveland, OH. The 16th largest city in the United States, home of the Cleveland Indians and former home of Lebron James (if I was a basket ball fan here I would get veclempted). To me, it's another day away from my home and wife, but it's also another opportunity to see somewhere I've never http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2010/10/cleveland-october-2010-day-2-october-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0Cleveland, OH, USA41.4994954 -81.695408841.3092209 -82.01126579999999 41.6897699 -81.3795518tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-471869376583137398Fri, 17 Aug 2007 03:11:00 +00002007-09-14T14:11:07.842-04:00MIS Biz TripNASCAR! For me the word was synonymous with speed, rednecks, trailers and racism. Fortunately, my employer, IMAGES USA, sent me and two other people to the Michigan International Speedway to run a multicultural media tour for the Detroit media during the CARFAX 250 and 3M Performance 400. I was skeptical at first, but there was a budding excitement about this new experience. I can honestly say http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2007/08/detroitann-arborbrooklyn-mi-august-2007.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-4972393300205529863Sun, 10 Jun 2007 03:45:00 +00002007-09-14T15:00:49.463-04:00Amtrak Coast Starlightbiz tripDay two aboard the Coast Starlight started with a beam of sunlight annoying me through the shades of my room. I got up to seal the shades, but couldn’t bear to do it after I saw the snow-capped peak of Mt. Shasta. Rising at 14,162 feet Mt. Shasta is an imposing figure in the Northern California landscape. The train rode through various towns and fields, but Mt. Shasta and the adjoining Three http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2007/06/coast-starlight-amtrak-train-june-2007_09.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-178037528857829917Sat, 09 Jun 2007 03:59:00 +00002007-09-14T15:17:17.876-04:00Amtrak Coast Starlightbiz tripMy assignment was to ride Amtrak’s Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle and document my experience. I had one night in LA’s Chinatown district at the Best Western Dragon Gate Inn (85 North Hill Street). Still groggy from my flight and fighting a sore throat, I arrived at my hotel welcomed by a group of casually dressed martial arts students practicing exercise drills. I meandered my way http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2007/06/coast-starlight-amtrak-train-june-2007.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-3111059859041834190Fri, 09 Mar 2007 06:29:00 +00002007-03-15T01:31:01.468-04:00The last day of my business/leisure trip to Gotham City was uneventful. After spending some quiet time in prayer with my girlfriend and on my own, I showered, dressed, packed and checked out of the hotel. Braving the slight chill with semi-damp hair, I hailed a cab at West 36th Street and 10th Ave. Not to sound racist, but every cab driver I’ve ever had has been of either Arabic, Indian or http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-york-city-march-2007-day-3-march-9.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-5680546959018469654Thu, 08 Mar 2007 06:02:00 +00002007-03-15T01:31:25.228-04:00Let me first say that I love train travel. Experiencing European trains during my study abroad trip in 2002 hooked me on the comfort, convenience and shear enjoyment of riding the rails. American rail travel on the other hand needs some work, but not aboard Amtrak’s Acela Express. This was the reason for my trip to NYC in the first place.I work for IMAGES USA, a multicultural marketing agency in http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-york-city-march-2007-day-2-march-8.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-168072897576650483Thu, 08 Mar 2007 04:38:00 +00002007-03-15T01:02:12.657-04:00I had three days and two nights in New York City while on a media tour for my client, Amtrak. I was determined to not waste my time away in a hotel room while on a media fast. Luckily, I have family in town so it was no problem finding someone to share dinner with. I caught up with my cousin, Matthew, who I haven’t seen in quite some time. We talked about the usual, our significant others, familyhttp://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2007/03/new-york-city-march-2007-day-1-march-7.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-116046736248003996Mon, 28 Aug 2006 07:50:00 +00002006-10-24T09:47:58.670-04:00I was waiting for this day to come. Not that I wanted to leave Nassau, but I was eager to explore the downtown Nassau on foot. After breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant, I shouldered my camera bag and headed east on Bay Street along Junkanoo Beach. I spotted two cruise ships, the Carnival Valor and the Disney Magic, sitting at the cruise ship pier in Nassau Harbor. They had probably just http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/08/bahamas-august-2006-day-5-august-28.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-116046401759331512Sun, 27 Aug 2006 07:03:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:59.030-04:00My tuxedo went from nicely dry cleaned to disgustingly grungy as it was soaked in sweat, cigar smoke and some champagne. Father Eldon got me a discounted room at the Nassau Palm Resort and Conference Center (West Bay Street, Junkanoo Beach). After the wedding reception, around 4 a.m., I checked into a king-sized room with a nice view of Nassau Harbor. After peeling off the tuxedo, showering http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/08/bahamas-august-2006-day-4-august-27.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-116044940118409702Sun, 27 Aug 2006 02:55:00 +00002006-10-24T09:54:16.514-04:00The day of Craig’s and Kandice’s wedding started with a loud knock on the door. I only had six hours to fully recover from the previous day's food, alcohol and slight seasickness, but after the third set of knocks it didn’t matter. Craig and his brother were sleeping heavily so it was up to me to answer the door. It was Craig’s friend Jamal who I knew when he lived in Atlanta a few years ago.http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/08/bahamas-august-2006-day-3-august-26.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-116044788599988589Sat, 26 Aug 2006 02:22:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.913-04:00I guess the day before any wedding is full of last minute errands and tensions. Craig’s household was no exception. He had me up too early for my taste, but if I wanted to make the boat for his uncles’ fishing trip I would have to get a move on. Craig’s family had graciously accommodated me for the night. They lived east of Nassau more towards the interior of the island of New Providence. http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/08/bahamas-august-2006-day-2-august-25.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-116044686270529704Fri, 25 Aug 2006 01:58:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.854-04:00The clouds took on the random shapes of animals, objects and even countries as I was lying on my back in the crystal clear Caribbean waters of The Bahamas. An hour before I was on a rough flight from Miami praying for rest and stability. I was traveling since 4 a.m. and even though I considered myself an even keeled traveler, I was beginning to unravel as sleep deprivation took its hold. I washttp://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/08/bahamas-august-2006-day-1-august-24.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-115086184050626116Tue, 23 May 2006 03:48:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.793-04:00After checking out, my mother and I tried to navigate our way to Norman Manley Kingston International Airport on her memory alone. I knew that the airport was on the coast, off of Kingston Harbour, but her directions had us heading to the mountains. We stopped for directions twice and finally found our way to a familiar stretch of road on Mountain View Road. Mountain View intersected http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/05/jamaica-may-2006-day-5-may-22-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-115086106124274303Mon, 22 May 2006 03:07:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.727-04:00We slept in on a glorious Sunday morning – our last day in paradise. I groggly welcomed family as most of my mother’s cousins stopped by the hotel to have some breakfast before we went off to Hellshire Beach, west of Kingston. Hellshire is about 14 miles away from Kingston on the Nelson Mandela Highway. Signs clearly mark the road so we had no trouble finding our destination. That and we had http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/05/jamaica-may-2006-day-4-may-21-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-115085700542896767Sun, 21 May 2006 02:26:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.657-04:00The next morning was a rush to get out the door to get to the funeral on time, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the complimentary full Jamaican breakfast offered in the hotel’s patio dining room. It was some of the best ackee, saltfish, dumplings/johnny cakes and coffee I’ve ever had. Surprisingly, I only had one helping as I didn’t want to fall asleep during the service. Dressed for the http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/05/jamaica-may-2006-day-3-may-20-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-115043888549608653Fri, 19 May 2006 06:06:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.593-04:00The next day was full of excitement as we prepared for the true test of our driving abilities – the dreaded two-hour or more drive from Ocho Rios to Kingston. I declared that we would leave no later than 1 p.m., but after realizing that a beautiful Jamaican morning on a beach with free food and drinks was upon me, I moved our departure closer to 2 p.m. We ate another surprisingly Jamaican meal http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/05/jamaica-may-2006-day-2-may-19-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-115043792040081941Thu, 18 May 2006 05:48:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.527-04:00I haven’t been back to Jamaica in almost three years. I know those who’ve never been to Jamaica are rolling their eyes right now at my distress, but this tropical paradise isn’t just a vacation, it’s my homecoming for another’s homegoing. My mother had asked me to accompany her to Jamaica for the funeral of her Aunt Myrtle. I remembered her from my childhood and was saddened by the loss, but http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/05/jamaica-may-2006-day-1-may-18-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-114308224480021218Tue, 21 Mar 2006 02:32:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.043-04:00It was hard to wake up from such a dream as the past four days in Paris, but when we did wake up, Matthew and I realized we only had two hours to catch our plane home. We hastily packed and rushed out the hotel doors, barely saying "merci" to the staff for their service.We caught the Metro to the RER station at Gare du Nord for service to Charles de Gaulle Airport. Once we were settled on the http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/03/paris-march-2006-day-7-march-20-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-114733543767701416Sun, 19 Mar 2006 09:13:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.462-04:00I awoke in pain on our last full day in Paris. Five days of walking through two major cities, shopping, sightseeing, dancing and a slight hangover had taken its toll on my body. I was beginning to feel travelers’ fatigue, if there is such a thing. Matthew and I slept till 2 p.m. with no regard for breakfast or lunch. All we wanted to do was recharge ourselves in order to enjoy our last day inhttp://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/03/paris-march-2006-day-6-march-19-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-114481965075044615Sat, 18 Mar 2006 06:13:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.390-04:00On this day, I didn’t mind missing breakfast or anything else because I was so tired. We slept until 12 p.m. almost missing our rendezvous with Francesca and company at 12:30 p.m. Matthew and I were getting used to readying ourselves quickly now that we were used to Paris’ weather and the likelihood that we would walk many miles before we arrived back at our hotel for the night. We took the http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/03/paris-march-2006-day-5-march-18-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-114438732761640898Fri, 17 Mar 2006 06:17:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.327-04:00Waking up late was starting to become a habit, but I wasn’t about to miss a free meal. The package through Gate 1 Travel included breakfast with our hotel room every morning of our stay. Although breakfast ended at 9:30 a.m. my eyes didn’t open until 9 a.m. I left Matthew slumbering and without caring how I looked, went downstairs to appease my stomach’s morning call to action.Breakfast is my http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/03/paris-march-2006-day-4-march-17-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-114378369245253237Thu, 16 Mar 2006 05:06:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.237-04:00My eyes have never looked so bloodshot. It was almost demonic looking. I felt fine for most of the flight, but after waking up from breathing rather dry air for almost four hours I wasn’t the happiest traveler. After a quick jaunt to the lavatory, I felt a little better, but longed for an actually shower and a gallon of water.The captain was making his announcement about our decent into http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/03/paris-march-2006-day-3-march-16-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23852538.post-114343703248422428Wed, 15 Mar 2006 05:19:00 +00002006-10-16T22:11:58.172-04:00This was my first vacation where I had nothing scheduled. Sure, I had things that I wanted to do, but I adopted Matthew’s relaxed attitude and went wherever my interest carried me. He and I were very different travelers until this trip. I like schedules, maps and timetables, but he doesn’t mind giving the map to someone else, waking up at noon and going wherever the best recommendation takes http://backpackingwhileblack.blogspot.com/2006/03/new-york-city-march-2006-day-2-march.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Dre')0