My husband, John, and I had been told to arrive 30 minutes before our scheduled dinnertime at the Old Post Office Restaurant, a beautiful dining establishment overlooking Eagle Harbor in Ephraim. Fish boils start outdoors behind the restaurant. When we arrived the fire was already going strong and the large kettle was boiling. We joined the other people seated around the fire. Earl, the Boil Master, arrived and explained, “A basket containing potatoes and onions has been cooking in the kettle and it is now about time to add the fish.”

Earl showed the generous cuts of whitefish steaks in a wire basket to the crowd and then it is placed in the pot. The fish is fresh caught everyday and is usually whitefish but lake trout can be used. It takes 10-11 minutes for the fish to cook during which Earl, the Boil Master, becomes Earl the wannabe comic.

Earl has a standup routine of fish jokes that he admits “smelt.” He answers his own fish questions. “ What song do fish sing at Christmastime? Salmon Enchanted Evening.” “What does the fish say when it hits the cement wall? Dam.” “How much does a pirate pay to get his ears pierced? A buck-an-ear.” And so it goes to the laughs and some groans from the hungry diners.

At just the right time Earl throws kerosene on the fire which, of course, causes the fire to blaze up and water to boil over. As the water boils over it takes with it a lot of the fish oils with which is one reason even those who shun fish love the fish from a fish boil. The fish is very light, delicate and fresh. Not being a fish-lover I can testify to that. It is delicious.

After the boil we moved to the restaurant where we had a dinner of fish, potatoes, and onions drizzled with generous amounts of melted butter. Accompanying the meal was the restaurant’s special cole slaw, rolls and finally that other Door County tradition – homemade cherry pie.

Door County is that pinkie-like peninsula that juts into Lake Michigan making fishing and other water activities the main attractions. But the land is also perfect for growing cherries. Door County’s other foodie treat is anything made with cherries.

John and I toured the Lautenbach’s Orchard County Winery and Market where they are all about cherries. We sampled cherry preserves, cherry BBQ sauce, cherry honey mustard pretzel dip, and, of course, wine with a hint of cherry. It is a wonderful fourth-generation family place where some of the wines are named for the grandchildren. It is also where we caught the Door County Trolley for a scenic tour of the area.

Door County has something for everyone – beautiful scenery, plenty of outdoor activities, history, and a great place for foodies to enjoy a fish boil and other fresh produce.

For more information check www.oldpostoffice-doorcounty.com, www.orchardcountry.com, and www.doorcounty.com.

I’m not a skater. I’m one of the L.A. Derby Dolls Enforcers (http://derbydolls.com/la/): a game official. In the seventies and eighties “Old School” banked tracked roller derby officials were there to break up the “fights” and perhaps get into a couple themselves. In today’s banked track roller derby, the game is played by the strict rules of the World Organization of Roller Derby and enforced accordingly by volunteer referees like me.

Roller derby is truly an all American sport (derby and basketball are the only two sports created by Americans without being based on any other sport) But the modern incarnation is a worldwide phenomenon with flat track and banked track leagues all over the globe. 21st century roller derby – lightning fast and full contact, but with no scripts, no elbows, and absolutely no hair pulling – can be traced back to Austin, Texas where the sport was brought back to life in 2000.

Eight teams representing six states will be competing for the title of Battle on the Bank III Tournament Champions during the second to the last weekend of the fair. The first two days are comprised of shortened bouts (match-ups). The tournament culminates on Sunday with two full length bouts. The excitement of a roller derby bout is hard to match – not even the Tilt-A-Whirl can beat the fast paced, hard hitting sport that I, and thousands of others, have grown to love.

Admission to the tournament is free with your ticket to the San Diego County Fair.

To learn more about Battle on the Bank, including an explanation of the rules, bout times and team rosters, visit http://battleonthebank.com/Home.html.

Information on the San Diego County Fair can be found at http://www.sdfair.com/.

Cover Photo by Marc Campos
Story photo by Charlie Chu

In addition to her duties as a Level One Enforcer for the LA Derby Dolls (where she is known as Fleur de Kille), Marsha Lenox writes and performs stories for Story Salon, the longest running storytelling venue in Los Angeles. Her story ‘The Next Heifetz’ was published in The Story Salon Big Book of Stories. Her articles and essays about traveling and homeschooling have been featured in newspapers and magazines, from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to California Homeschooler. Marsha is also a freelance editor.

An amazing art deco head just sat in the front yard of a brownstone in East 82nd Street. On top of it, the work of art languished near the trash cans. I have no idea if this was the owner’s very special version of a garden gnome or if it was actually meant to be taken away by the trash collectors. What ever the purpose it made for a great picture.

I crossed over to the Guggenheim Museum and after visiting that, continued south on 5th Avenue. Being a museum fan, my eyes were immediately drawn to a rather small plaque on an ornate wrought iron gate which read: Neue Galerie, Museum for German and Austrian Art. Closer inspection revealed that I had stumbled upon a very fascinating museum exhibiting paintings and other art work by Schiele, Kokoschka and Klimt.

What’s more, the museum (1048 5th Avenue) is located in a land mark mansion built in 1914 by the firm of Carriere & Hastings and is a work of art all by itself. The stair case leading up to the two upper floors with its wrought iron banister is a sight to behold. The building breathes fin de siècle refinement and art.

The ground floor holds yet another attraction: The Cafe Sabarsky. The wood paneled room has become a favorite spot for New Yorkers. Entering the cafe, you are greeted by a piano player and you can easily imagine having stepped into an old Vienna cafe.

The menu is deliberately in German and for astonishingly reasonable prices visitors can enjoy a Kutscherkaffee, Sachertorte, Kaiserschmarn and other rich, Austrian specialties.

I find museum shops often disappointing, but not this one. They offer beautiful art books, objects and other things that are actually useful. I bought a wonderful calendar of Klimt paintings which will give me pleasure long after the year is over.

After all the schlag (whipped cream) in the cafe, I had to walk the calories off and topped my walking day in Manhattan with a brisk round in Central Park.

Inka is German and used to be an international attorney with offices in London and Spain. Retired two years ago because I wanted to be a traveler and writer and now live between Didim/Turkey and Miami with plenty of travel in between. Next destinations: Istanbul, New York and Petra/Jordan. Inka’s first novel has just been published and can be found here

Hour-long balloon flights that begin at sunrise with set-up and launch give passengers a bird’s-eye view of multi-colored sandstone formations, mesas, buttes, deep canyon mazes and natural arches. Rates are $235 for adults and $195 for youth six and up.

“Its obvious why Hollywood chooses this set for westerns and contemporary movies, said Brandon Lake, Co-Founder of Moab Adventure Center. It’s truly one of the natural wonders of the world.”

Sights include the rugged red rock canyons carved by the Colorado River, fanciful rock towers and arches and often such wildlife as desert big horn sheep, mountain lion, pronghorn antelope and bald and golden eagles.

Lou Bartell who owns and pilots the six-passenger balloon explains how he showcases this region.

“I enjoy contour or close-to-the-ground flying. This gives a very unique perspective of the landscape. The sensation of climbing over a sandstone butte then suddenly watching the ground drop hundreds of feet below you can only be compared to rock climbing. The biggest difference with a flight in Moab to anywhere else is that you are actually a part of the landscape, not just an observer. Conditions permitting, I also like to fly up to 4,000 feet above the valley floor to give everyone an overview of the entire area.”

Bartell assures his guests that credentials for hot air balloon pilots are similar to those for manning fixed wing and rotor-wing aircraft. Pilots must complete a private and commercial ground school and hours of practical training. Bartell maintains a class 2 FAA flight physical for his commercial and instructor ratings. The balloon is a commercially registered FAA aircraft requiring 100 hours of inspections annually. All repairs and maintenance must be performed by a certified FAA repairman with an FAA repair station license.

The rate includes the flight itself, return transportation to the launch site, a post-flight toast ceremony and digital on-ground and in-air photos (upon request). Moab hot air balloon rides can be combined with two other Moab Adventure Center activities for a 10 percent savings on each.

For details please visit http://www.moabadventurecenter.com.

Moab Adventure Center (www.moabadventurecenter.com) is a division of Western River Expeditions (www.westernriver.com), an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. The company is the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT. Its programs are available from March through October.

Established in 2004, Moab Adventure Center serves active travelers with half, full, and multi-day adventure programs including Moab rafting, Hummer safaris, Arches National Park Tours, canyoneering, Moab mountain biking, Colorado River jetboat tours, horseback riding and hot air balloon rides. In addition to activities, the Adventure Center also offers Moab lodging and Jeep rentals as well as complete Moab vacation packages.

Surrounded by an immense red rock playground, Moab, Utah, is unlike any other place in the world. Its postcard-perfect desert is adorned with giant sandstone formations, canyon mazes, and thousands of natural arches. Several national and state parks are accessible from Moab.

Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah rafting, and Idaho rafting trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. Today it pursues a “guiding green” philosophy and belongs to some of the top environmentally conscious organizations in the world: Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association, American Rivers, Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics, Utah Rivers Council, America Outdoors, and National River Cleanup Week. See: http://www.westernriver.com/guiding-green/

Moab Adventure Center was recently honored as the 2010 recipient of “Best of State” in the category of adventure travel through Utah’s Premier Recognition and Awards Program. Western River Expeditions has also won this coveted award for seven consecutive years.

The Moab Adventure Center is located at 225 South Main Street, Moab, Utah 84532. For information and reservations please call (435) 259-7019 or (866) 904-1163 or send an email from http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/contact/.

Funjet Vacations offers flight + hotel and hotel-only vacation packages to Hawai‘i’s Big Island, Kaua‘i, Lana‘i, Maui, Moloka‘i and O‘ahu. During the four-week sale, travelers will save with reduced hotel rates and other values like free nights and kids stay free.

On the islands of Maui, Kaua‘i and Hawai‘i’s Big Island, vacationers will see more of the islands for less with a FREE rental car for 5 days.* And, there is no need to worry about parking; free parking (a $100 value) is included for five days as well!

For those who choose to visit O‘ahu, complimentary roundtrip airport/hotel transfers will be included with your trip when you stay at select hotels and include a flight and at least three nights hotel with your vacation package.^

Funjet Vacations Hawai‘i offers are only available to book April 30 – May 27, 2010, for travel May 1 – October 31, 2010. There’s no place on earth like the Islands of Hawai‘i. Whether you’re a new visitor or returning, the six unique islands offer distinct experiences that will entice any traveler.

For more information and to purchase, travelers should contact a local travel agent, visit www.Funjet.com or call 1-800-4FUNJET.

+Savings varies by hotel, departure and length of stay. Sample savings amount is ‘per couple’ based on a 5-night stay at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa in the ‘Premium Deluxe Ocean’ room category along with a complimentary rental car and parking. *One car per reservation. Free rental car applies only to Dollar rental cars and applies to rental rate only; local taxes, incidental charges and optional insurance are not included. Vacation must include a minimum of five consecutive hotel nights in Maui, Kauai or Hawaii’s Big Island to qualify for this offer. Maximum of five rental days free, car type provided is economy. Upgrades and additional days are available at customer’s cost. Free car offer is available for travel through October 31, 2010. Free car will price at about $0.10. Rentals of 1-4 days will not receive a discount, and no matter the length of the reservation, only five days rental car will be free. Free roundtrip transfer applies to the Oahu Full Basic Ground Transportation for all hotels excluding JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa Ko‘olina and The Kahala Hotel and Resort in which case shared roundtrip transfers will be provided. Transfers are not available for guests staying at Turtle Bay Resort. Vacation must include a minimum of three night consecutive hotel nights in Oahu to qualify for this offer. Free transfer offer is available for travel through October 31, 2010. Offers not available on group reservations. All offers are based on availability and are subject to change without notice. Offer is not retro-active and other restrictions may apply.

About Funjet Vacations
Funjet Vacations is the flagship brand of the family-owned Mark Travel Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee. Funjet Vacations is celebrating 36 years of business in 2010 and specializes in providing the customer with “The Best Experience Under the Sun” and a vacation package that meets their needs and is an exceptional value. Funjet Vacations is also “The Travel Agent’s First Choice” by offering unmatched value to the travel agent community through commissions, great rewards and outstanding personalized service. Individual and group Funjet vacations are via nonstop charters and scheduled airlines to hundreds of destinations including Mexico, the Caribbean, Las Vegas, Hawaii, California, Florida and Europe. Travelers can choose from air-inclusive, hotel-only or air-only vacations and add tours, attractions, shows and more to their vacation package for added value and convenience.

Seattle, Washington—Beginning Sunday, April 18th through Thursday April 29th, Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar – at both the Seattle and Bellevue locations – will participate in a new chef driven promotion named Seattle Restaurant Week. Along with a group of more than 100 local restaurants, Chef/owner John Howie’s venues will be serving three-course dinners for just $25 on Sunday through Thursday evenings. Seattle Restaurant Week kicks off the largest celebration of dining that this region has ever experienced.

Worth noting – the Seattle location of Seastar offers a special experience to guests during this inaugural kickoff. Every night during the promotion, Seattle Seastar will feature the wines of one of Washington´s great wineries, with the winemaker there to answer questions, fill guests in on upcoming vintages and talk about special events. Scheduled wineries and winemakers include Efeste, Waters, Milbrandt, Dusted Valley, Seven Hills, Buty, DeLille, Betz and Hedges. Specific dates are listed at http://seastarrestaurant.com

Information on Seattle Restaurant Week is available at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com, Facebook and Twitter. Price per person does not include drinks, tax or gratuity. For reservations contact:

Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar – Bellevue
205 – 108th NE (Civica Bldg.)
Bellevue, Washington 98004
Phone: (425) 456-0010

Seastar Restaurant & Raw Bar Seattle
2121 Terry Avenue, Suite 108
Seattle, Washington 98121
(206) 462-4364

For more on Seastar Restaurant in Seattle

The festivities begin on Friday, April 16th when bluegrass musicians will gather in the historic Public Square late afternoon for street jam sessions. Visitors are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in on the fun. On Saturday and Sunday, the Main Stage Tent in Hancock Park is where the action is with performances by headlining acts Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Jesse McReynolds & the Virginia Boys, and Ginny Hawkers & Tracy Schwarz with Kari Sickenberger. Tickets to the performances are $15, except Sunday morning which is free of charge, and include a wristband that will allow visitors to come and go throughout the day. All tickets are sold at the festival. VIP seating in the front rows is available for $50 per day and can be purchased by contacting Dobbin Buck at 404-975-9215.

Shoppers will be able to purchase one-of-a-kind, handmade items directly from some of the mountain region’s best artists at the Mountain Marketplace, which is sponsored by the John C. Campbell Folk School. Booths will feature traditional craft exhibits; artists demonstrating skills in blacksmithing, basketry and more; and a wide selection of work from painters, furniture makers, musical instrument makers, potters, and quilt makers.

Additional highlights of the festival include:
· The Live Country Auction on Friday evening that will feature works by area folk artist Billy Roper, along with works by other local and juried artists taking part in Bear on the Square’s Mountain Marketplace. Live music will be provided by premier bluegrass band BlueBilly Grit.

· Friday Master Class Workshops are returning to the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival. These in depth, two-hour long workshops will feature some of the music industry’s top bluegrass and old-time musicians and instructors and are designed to be very hands-on and informative.

· On Saturday, the folk dancers from the John C. Campbell Folk School will be performing in the square.

· Extensive music workshops will take place on Saturday and Sunday in the Workshop and Demonstration Tent and the Hummingbird Gallery.

· The Sunday morning Gospel Jam.

· Children’s activities include an original play, “Goldilocks and the Three Bears”, a “Little Pickers” hands-on musical tent complete with banjos, fiddles and other folk instruments and a Teddy Bear Picnic.

· Delicious dining options complete the offerings during the festival.

For additional information on the Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, including a full listing of times and performances, please visit http://www.bearonthesquare.org.

For information about accommodations, dining and other area attractions, please visit www.Dahlonega.org.

About Dahlonega, GA:
Located about 70 miles north of Atlanta, Dahlonega is Georgia’s “Golden City” and the gateway to the Appalachian Mountains. Known for being the site of the first major U.S. gold rush, the historic downtown district is now home to The Gold Museum, gold mines, and gold panning facilities. Dahlonega has evolved into a center for the performing and visual arts in the North Georgia Mountains and hosts a number of artistic and cultural festivals each year. Many wineries have taken notice of Dahlonega’s prime growing conditions and have made the area their home. The rich, fertile hillsides and the favorable mountainous elevations make the area the perfect place to grow and ripen a wide variety of European, French hybrid, and American winegrapes. Recreational activities are available year round and include miles of hiking trails and the Southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, camping, golf, horseback riding, cycling, trout fishing, and more than 30 waterfalls to explore. Quaint shops around the Square attract some of the region’s top artists and are filled with regional art, antiques, unique jewelry and collectibles. Delightful bed and breakfasts, country inns, mountain cabins and resorts offer a plethora of accommodation choices for every budget.

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 25, 2010) – One of the most widely anticipated theme park entertainment experiences ever created – The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort – is set for a public grand opening on June 18.

Today, Universal Orlando Resort also revealed details about what is expected to be one the most exciting theme park experiences ever created: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. It will be one of three themed attractions within The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is the heart of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This all new adventure combines a powerful storyline with spectacular new technology so effectively that guests will be completely immersed in the experience.

And as they live their adventure, guests will feel things no one has ever felt inside a theme park attraction, move in ways no one has ever moved, experience film like no one else ever has, explore vast sets punctuated by amazing special effects – and have an adventure only possible in Harry Potter’s world.

The new attraction lies deep within Hogwarts castle, a majestic structure that towers over The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – the only place in the world where the wonder, excitement and adventure of the Harry Potter books and films comes to life.

The Adventure
Imagine…
…meeting Harry, Ron and Hermione as if they were in person
…soaring over Hogwarts castle with Harry
…being swept into a Quidditch match
…feeling the chilling effect of a Dementor
…exploring your favorite places inside Hogwarts castle
…living adventures you’ve only been able to imagine – until now.

The Story
Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey draws you into the excitement and chaos of Harry’s life. As you venture through Hogwarts castle, you meet Harry, Ron and Hermione who convince you to skip a planned lecture and follow them. Upon taking their advice, you travel by Floo powder, and begin the adventure as you soar over Hogwarts, narrowly escape a dragon attack, have a close encounter with the Whomping Willow, get pulled into a Quidditch match and more.

“Guests will experience firsthand a completely new adventure featuring the iconic characters, amazing creatures and recognizable locations they’ve only read in the books or seen in the films,” said Thierry Coup, creative director for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The Location
The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey experience starts as soon as you walk through the gates of Hogwarts. Within the towering Hogwarts castle, you explore a truly magical place. You journey through iconic locations taken from the films and take in the extraordinary detail of each scene. They include:

· Dumbledore’s office: Here, you meet the Headmaster as he welcomes you to Hogwarts
· Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom: Where you first meet Harry, Ron and Hermione
· Gryffindor common room: You meet three additional characters who prepare you for your journey
· Room of Requirement: Here, with hundreds of floating candles above, you take your seat on an enchanted bench and begin the Forbidden Journey
· Other locations: In addition, guests will pass through the Dungeon passageway and hallways of Hogwarts where they will have the chance to see hundreds of wizard portraits from the films, including several magical talking portraits created exclusively for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, including the four founders of Hogwarts. Guests will even get a glimpse of the Sorting Hat.

The Innovation
This is more than just an attraction and it is unlike any theme park experience ever created. It’s a revolutionary, 360-degree theme park experience and first-ever combination of live-action, advanced robotic technology and innovative filmmaking – specially designed and developed for this brand-new adventure.

“We have created an entirely new way to place our guests into the heart of one of the most compelling stories of our time,” said Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative. “What we have done will forever change the theme park attraction experience.”

The attraction’s newly created ride system envelops guests in filmed action scenes and moves those scenes with them as they travel through the ride, allowing more time in the center of the adventure and with their favorite characters. This fusion of robotic technology and filmed scenes has never been achieved until now. In some cases, technology had to be invented to achieve the highest level of guest experience. The combination of pioneering, state-of-the-art technology, innovative filmmaking and surprises around every corner make this attraction the embodiment of the Harry Potter book and film series—and the future of theme park entertainment.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey Quick Facts

• Storyline: As you venture through Hogwarts, you meet Harry, Ron and Hermione, who convince you to skip a planned lecture and follow them. Upon taking their advice you travel by Floo powder, and begin your adventure as you soar over Hogwarts, narrowly escape a dragon attack, have a close encounter with the Whomping Willow, get pulled into a Quidditch match and more.
• First-ever combination of advanced robotic ride system technology with innovative, immersive filmmaking
• Award-winning composer John Williams oversaw the creation of the attraction’s score
• The queue includes the following Harry Potter book and film elements: Headmaster Dumbledore’s office, Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, Gryffindor common room, Room of Requirement, and the greenhouse; talking portraits including the Fat Lady and the never-before-seen four founders: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw; the Sorting Hat, the One-Eyed Witch statue and the Mirror of Erised.
• Duration of ride: The full attraction experience, including the queue, takes about an hour.
• Number of scenes in the attraction: 12
• Characters (featuring Harry Potter film talent): Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Albus Dumbledore, Rubeus Hagrid and Draco Malfoy.
• You may also catch a glimpse of Fred and George Weasley, Ginny Weasley and Neville Longbottom

For the latest news about The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, visit www.UniversalOrlando.com.

NEW YORK, March 5, 2010 – Romance in New York has been captured in countless Hollywood productions. Now, amateur filmmakers can have their love immortalized with I LOVE NEW YORK’s new competition to discover the best New York State love story. I LOVE NEW YORK (www.iloveny.com), New York State’s tourism promotion agency, and New York University’s Tisch Graduate School of Film are collaborating to sponsor a team of New York University (NYU) filmmakers to produce a movie about “Love in New York.”

To identify the best “Love in New York” story for NYU’s film producers, the Empire State has created a contest asking New Yorkers to share details on how the state played a role in meeting and falling in love with their significant other. Love story submissions can be unusual, funny, weird, romantic, and more, as long as encounters took place in New York State. Five love stories will be chosen and winning stories will be incorporated into a film promoting I LOVE NEW YORK and featured online at www.iloveny.com.

The submission deadline is April 1, 2010. To enter, contest participants must present a short video link (five minutes or less), or a brief essay with images to nylovestories@gmail.com.
For more information, visit http://iloveny.com/love.

The hotel is remarkable for several reasons: first, of course, the unique location. Secondly the hotel is located in a building which was erected to house Barclay’s Bank in 1985. So, you can actually sleep in a bank. Being an ex-bank means, that the rooms and particularly the bathrooms are extremely ample by New York standards.

Following the general trend, the hotel is minimalist, something I normally do not enjoy. I like a hotel to be a cozy home from home not a cold art exhibition where I have to sit on rock hard sofas and bang my knees on sharp steel edged tables. The Andaz’s style has rounded edges, warm gold and brown colors and feels very comfortable and welcoming indeed. That’s the general philosophy of the stuff too: make the guest welcome. There is no reception desk, arriving guests are personally greeted by an employee at the door who, from a hand held computer, can find all their details and then accompanies them to their room.

The rainshower in the bathroom is to die for and the contents of the minibar – with the exception of alcohol – is included in the room price as are all the goodies in the bathroom. A spa  provides 15 minute massages and other treatments as well as quick manicures and pedicures.

And the price? From $295 per night decidedly modest by New York standards. A great find. Even better is that the historical South Street Seaport is within walking distance in one direction and Ground Zero, where you can pay your respects, lies in the opposite direction.

Not far is the historical site of the buttonwood tree where the traders gathered and where in 1792 the Buttonwood Agreement came into being which later lead to the formation of the New York Stock Exchange. I looked, but couldn’t find a plaque for the original buttonwood tree. Another reason why, when I come back to New York, I’ll stay at the Andaz and look again.

Inka is German and used to be an international attorney with offices in London and Spain. Retired two years ago because I wanted to be a traveler and writer and now live between Didim/Turkey and Miami with plenty of travel in between. Next destinations: Istanbul, New York and Petra/Jordan. Inka’s first novel has just been published and can be found here