The Traveling Bard

Six people you always see at airports but wish you didn’t

2010-06-21T13:32:00.001-07:00

The Luggage Lunatic

In an age where seat pitch and width are shrinking, carry-on rules are getting stricter and free check-ins are quickly disappearing, you still see the luggage lunatics the second you roll up to the curb. Unless you’re moving to Ouagadougou for good, there is no reason to pack like this. Ever. You’re not Imelda Marcos. Let’s tone down the luggage.

The Octopus Parent

You know who I’m talking about. Poor man/woman carrying two kids in the dual configuration, holding hands with yet more kids of walking age – multiple wheelie suitcases and back-packs in tow; at least one kid crying at all times almost acting as a siren warning you to get out of the way. I have nothing against this group of people and the only reason they make this list is that I want them to get some relief.

The Muse

Lack of experience? Lack of knowledge? Lack of a clue. This species of traveller is fascinated and confused by everything. They usually stand around gawking at things – one hand scratching their head, while their heads bob up and down between airports signs and their travel documents. Hint: there are no directions to your gate on your boarding pass. Do not ever line up behind one of these people and follow at a distance, as they are known to perform Crazy Ivans at random.

The Voyageur Idiot Savant

I don’t know what it is about these people but they are everywhere. Usually they are men trying to impress their kids or the significant other with their wealth of aviation and travel knowledge. I recently overheard a guy telling his girlfriend/wife how revolutionary the 747 was “blah, blah, economies of scale, blah, blah hub to hub” and so on. When she asked which plane he was talking about he pointed and said that one over there! The real kicker was that he was pointing at an A320, which wasn’t even the biggest plane in sight.

The Turnstiles

I’m not sure who created these jobs or why they are still around but you see them at every airport; people whose entire role it is to direct travellers to various line-ups – be it customs, security or check-in. I’m baffled. Where does one even go to apply for such a job? Surely a well-placed sign would do the trick… then again the patent lack of logic and flailing hand gestures some of these folks exhibit is worth the price of admission. On second thoughts, let’s keep these people.

The Blackberry Ninjas

These lovely individuals spend every free second they have looking down at their mobile devices furiously thumbing away. Luckily half of this genus consists of business travellers so they at least know where they’re going and how to get there without obstructing other travellers. These folks look up occasionally and grunt when asked questions but beyond that are a waste of space. If you happen to be seated next to one on the plane there is a more than 50% chance that (s)he will still be hammering away during take-off.

Source: airceo.com

The Editor

Isle of Palms and the rest of South Carolina

2010-06-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

The last stop on my News21 road-trip across South Carolina was in the Mt. Pleasant and Charleston area along the coast. I had to cross this beautiful bridge (I took a video of it on my phone but have yet to find out how to get it from my phone to YouTube) and was right at my hotel.

As soon as I got to the check-in counter I asked the lady how do I get to the water. She kindly took out a map and used a marker to plot my course, at the same time providing verbal directions. I threw my luggage on my bed and grabbed the camera equipment, thinking this would be another grand opportunity to shoot some B-Roll. I headed out and took the proper right turn and followed it all the way (across another bridge), noticing the sunset and water appearing right before my windshield.

I paid for parking and let my feet find the soft, smooth sand of the Carolina shoreline. The water of the North Atlantic ocean was warm and inviting. Fishing poles were cast from the pier into the water below. Families were relaxing and kids were playing soccer. Couples walked hand-in-hand along the waterline watching the sunset paint the sky with its shades of orange and purple. Daring teens jumped onto their skimboards in the water, only to fall mere seconds later.

Watching the sky grow darker, I picked up a collection of seashells that I knew would find themselves in the trash can later. For me, this was the best way to end one hectic trip across a state that I had never visited before. The people were truly hospitable and showed their Southern comfort at every moment, sadly not as much on the roads. I believe I have never seen as much green in my life than I did during this trip. I honestly lost count of how many times I pulled over to the side of the road to take pictures of the verde land or the cliche river bridges, and water in general. Despite the green pastures sprawling everywhere, it made me miss the dry-heat I have taken for granted growing up in the Valley of the Sun my entire life. Although I never did get to have a taste of the infamous Southern food, I sincerely felt like I left South Carolina with a satisfactory taste in my mind.

These were some of the photographs from my trip down South.

Rock Hill - South Carolina: as seen through VidMap

2010-06-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

I am experimenting with another FREE multimedia web tool that was mentioned during the News21 weekend seminar. It is VidMap and it is a site that allows you to upload your own video from the computer or YouTube.

This video is taken as you are driving, walking, cycling, racing, basically, any kind of video that is a commute from the street perspective.

It is simple and easy to use. Once again, I am providing step-by-step instructions on how to create your very own VidMap.

Note: Before I begin, I uploaded my video into iMOVIE and muted the natural sounds, then added music from iTUNES, shared it to my YouTube account and then uploaded to VidMap.

1. First you must register with VidMap and an automatic activation e-mail will be sent to your inbox with a link to click.

2. It will then ask you to either upload from your computer or Youtube. After you upload your video it will appear under My VidMaps. You click on it and it will pop up beside a google map.

3. The tough part -- waiting for your video to upload -- is done. All you need to do now is zoom in to the location of your video (I prefer the Hybrid function because it gives you land and street names) and plot your start-point (click the blue + sign first) and then left-click for the GREEN button to appear on the map.

4. Then find your end-point and left-click or drag the RED button to appear on the map. You may have noticed some clear buttons that appeared, simply click on those and delete them, they are known as Way Points.

5. Click the SAVE check-mark on the side and then click PLAY to see your VidMap in action.

Here is my example of a VidMap. It is a drive down Main Street in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Using Multiplottr to create location maps

2010-06-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

I am researching some multimedia tools to use for my multimedia journalism project this summer and I came across the site: Multiplottr.

I thought it would be a good visual for my project to plot my interview locations since I'm driving all over the state for my New21 project on employer sanctions.

I wanted to provide you with step-by-step instructions on how I created my South Carolina map.

1. Register with your e-mail, otherwise you won't be able to save your maps. Remember, this is a free tool.

2. Start typing in your location addresses (include city, state and zip code), give them a short description and choose between a number or traditional point marker.

3. Click Add to Batch after each entry until you are finished with it, then click Submit.

4. Scroll to bottom to see the finished map. Above the map is the area to Save after you given your map a name, description and choose whether or not you want to keep it public, public and allow people to edit your map or private.

5. Click MyMaps to see a list of all your maps and to further edit your map by adding lines, shapes, distance in measurements or custom markers.

Here is my finished map of all the locations I traveled to in order to conduct interviews.

World Music

2010-05-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

When you're traveling do you tend to notice yourself always looking around -- your eyes darting from site to site, monument to monument, from paintings to statues and the picturesque landscapes? You're seeing this new state, country or city with excited eyes and, let's be honest, most of the time through the lens of a camera.

However, one of the other best parts about traveling and experiencing another culture (besides the food) is being able to listen.

I believe most tourists and travelers, yes, there is a difference, tend to forget about the other senses that make their adventure all the more enjoyable. Sure you get to taste the authentic version of the native cuisine or see sites you would never see at home but you need to hear the country as well.

Whether you're in the jungle or on a mountain, listen to the calls of animals around you. If you're in a street, listen to the cars, people communicating and the natural noises that call this part of the planet their home. And my most favorite sound is the music of that particular culture: the drumming, the strumming, the beats and tones, and the lyrics in that country's language. The instruments that you rarely see or hear where you're from.

These are all sounds that you won't be able to take back in pictures. However, you may be lucky to find a CD.

Right now, I am into the sounds of Africa and Hawaii.

These two albums have been on repeat in my iTunes recently.

The flutes, the drums and the native chants make you wish you were absorbed in the painted texture of the African deserts letting your body dance itself across the land.

I can say that you have never heard the brilliance of a guitar until you heard the sounds that strum off a slack key guitar, especially when it is accompanied by the rich, deep tone of the Hawaiian language. You feel as if you are on some remote beach, under the shade of the palm trees watching the waves roll in and brush over your feet while listening to this music.

Next on my list of places to travel to instrumentally: Asia & New Zealand.

Do you have any music from a place you've traveled or would like to travel to that you admire?

We still call it Squaw Peak

2010-04-24T16:09:00.001-07:00

For the past couple of weeks, I have been on every mountain within 30 minutes of my home. However, my friend Nicole asked me if I have ever hiked Squaw Peak (aka Piestawa Peak) and I replied that I had not. She got really excited (partly because she is from Michigan and has only lived in Az for less than a year, whereas I have lived here my entire life) and because she could finally take me somewhere I have not been since it's been the other way around for quite some time.

So, on Earth Day 2010, I got to share a lovely hike on a new mountain with a good friend of mine. Here are the pictures.

lizard #1

lizard #2 (chuckwalla)

the clouds from the storm creeping in

the mountain ranges

my friend resting before final ascent

the shadows cast from a mix of sunshine & clouds

my friend at the top

me at the top

the apex we rested on at the top

Desert Wanderings

2010-04-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the lack of recent posts but I have been dealing with work and school. However, I have also made quite a few trips to the many mountains surrounding me. I wanted to do a photo post of some of my hikes.

These were from the WaterFall Trail hike I made to the White Tank Mountains.

Due to our incredibly wet winter this year the waterfall actually had water (if you lived here long enough you would know the rarity of such an event)!!

I found a Coontail Rattlesnake on the trail side and it made it's way across the path.

The skeleton of a saguaro.

+++

The next hike was over at the Thunderbird Conservation Park.

View from atop the mountain. Classic blue, Arizona skies.

+++

I persuaded my family to head on down to the city to hike South Mountain in Phoenix.

Cacti on the side of the mountain.

A lovely bird resting on a rock.

Blooming flowers everywhere.

A gnarly looking saguaro cacti.

A fuzzy looking cacti.

Right now in Arizona...

2010-03-09T16:35:00.001-08:00

This is one of the wettest winters we have had in a long time. Every other weekend the rain seems to creep in and soak us through. We as Arizonans are "happy" for this rain because of our constant state-of-drought we are in. However, many whispers and complaints can be heard among us all that we are sick of it. We want our sunshine back.

The never-ending stream of clouds in the sky has reminded me of my trip up Mount Stanserhorn in Switzerland. This is atop the mountain looking down. We were enveloped in a blanket of clouds. A very good metaphorical image for what I feel like I have been seeing these past few weekends.

I made the FiNAL round for COSTA RiCA

2010-02-22T10:01:00.000-08:00

All I need is for you to click this link, and scroll to the bottom, click the circle by my name and VOTE for ALLiSON CARLTON!

Click here: http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/vote-and-send-someone-to-costa-rica/

Retro Airline Posters & Modern Facts

2010-02-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share this brilliant site I found that has galleries of historic airline poster art.

This is of the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Plaza de Mayo was a central place of many key moments for the country, most well-known for its significance in the May Revolution events that led to the country’s independence. There is a week of celebratory events that end on the May 25 celebration of el Día de la Revolución de Mayo.

The structure in the center is the Pirámide de Mayo stands across from Casa Rosada, the President's house, in the square and is the oldest national monument reminding the country’s citizens of that historical revolution. However, it was also the place where Eva Peron helped pass Argentina’s women’s suffrage law. Since the earlier events, the plaza has gone through bombings, protests and to this day is still filled with crowds putting together demonstrations.

The recognized birds of each continent. The Bald Eagle and the Parrot. The Bald Eagle is the national bird of the United States of America and can only be found in this region. South America is known for its variety of parrots, especially the Macaws found in the Amazon, and is sometimes called the "bird continent" for its diverse range of birds.

The historic Tower Bridge of London, England. There are those who say it is supposed to be good luck if you witness the bridge opening. The original London Bridge now resides in Lake Havasu, Arizona. It was taken apart piece by piece and transferred to Havasu and entirely rebuilt.

The infamous Eiffel Tower of Paris, France. Construction of the Tower began in 1887 and it was inaugurated in 1889. There were protests against Gustave Eiffel's grand architecture. Here is one response to the construction of the Tower.

Will the city of Paris thus continue to be associated with the strange and venal imaginations of a machine-maker, bringing upon itself dishonor and an ugliness that can never be corrected? Because the Eiffel Tower, which even commercial-minded America does

not want, is – make no mistake – the dishonor of Paris. Everyone feels it, everyone says it, everyone is profoundly distressed about it, and we are but a weak echo of the general opinion, so rightly alarmed. In the end, when foreigners come to our Exhibition, they will cry out, astonished, ‘What?

I think it's safe to say that foreigners to do not cry out "What?" when they see the Eiffel Tower in their own eyes stretching high into the sky. It has now become the trademark image of the City of Love. For those wishing to save some money, they can purchase a ticket for the elevators from the second level to the top. This takes a good chunk of money off the entire ticket price, but means you have to walk the stairs up to the second level, but I say, why not?

To tell others that you walked the Eiffel Tower can be a great story and give you a glimpse of the Tower from an entirely different perspective and provide more picture opportunities. Also, if you are lucky enough, you may catch the Eiffel Tower light up at night. It takes 20,000 bulbs to make this beautiful image sparkle, but recently, the French are cutting the 400 hours of sparkle down to 200 to make monuments more environmentally safe.

Here is my video of the event that I took while on a river cruise of the Seine. Apologies in advance for the sideways video, this was when I first discovered the movie setting on my camera.

FREE TWO WEEK TRIP TO COSTA RICA

2010-02-13T09:49:00.000-08:00

I want this two week trip to Costa Rica that Nomadic Matt and Gap Adventures are giving away to one lucky winner because I am going to be graduating from my journalism school in May and want to be able to apply all those skills I’ve acquired over the past four years, not to mention all that tuition money that went into that bachelor’s degree. I’ve done the hard-hitting journalism, now I want to do the travel writing that is my true passion.

To be able to go from seeing and writing about the Arizona desert and its places to a completely opposite setting of vast green and rolling hills and sites in Costa Rica would be an appreciated opportunity and one fully taking advantage of. I would hope to see an entirely different scene spread out before me and face the challenge of how to put such a different, yet breath-taking view into words. It would allow me, number one to use such different adjectives and description in my writing (haha!) that I haven’t been able to use before, but also be able to allow myself the chance to feel, taste and hear new sounds that don’t come from the Sonoran land I grew up in my entire life.

Coming from a desert that has its own environmental issues that create a lot of public opinions to be heard, whether it be about our drought, to our nuclear facilities or questions on why we have not utilized the solar power the state could monopolize on and traveling to a country that has been able to create an economy just around ecotourism would be a lovely educational insight. To understand the way Costa Rica preserves it’s lands (i.e. Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and Manuel Antonio National Park) with the largest amount of protected parks and share that knowledge through writing is what my goal is. I hope to gain introspective from talking with those I meet during the trip and include that in my writing. No sense in traveling if not to learn and share with others what you have learned. We will have fun, but remember we have a responsibility to share it with those who don’t have the same opportunities.

I would hope to teach others through a multimedia perspective (i.e. photo slideshow, video clips) and my travel writing how they can travel and reduce their carbon footprint on the land they visit.

Also, the fact that Costa Rica is a Latin American country (Number 1 in EcoTourism), will also allow me to show those in Arizona, a different perspective on the Latin people than what we see hear. Being absorbed by the culture and language, and how the people live will give others a chance to see that Latin America is not only diverse in its land and sites, but also its people. To understand the way others live, to see the way others lives, brings a deeper understanding to the people in this world. I hope to remind others that even though there are differences, we are all the same. This trip will give me much to write about and much to show through images and sounds.

I have all the necessary platforms to share what I will learn and take from this exciting trip. I hope I get the opportunity to experience this and share it with others.

To learn more about this exciting trip, visit Nomadic Matt’s Amazing Travel Blog. Follow him for travel tips and more opportunities such as this.

Please help me win a dream trip of mine to New Zealand

2010-02-12T23:16:00.000-08:00

I need you to click this link (no virus, promise)

http://createyourownadventure.com/tour/I5BFNy22Acj5/

and click on the 5th star on the left-hand

side (very far right star)

and then click on facebook share and get the word out that i need help to win this trip

and re-tweet if possible! follow me on twitter, if you like @ACarlton

Greatly appreciate your support.

A glimpse of Argentina's Cerro Campanario

2010-02-07T10:25:00.000-08:00

When I was visiting my friend in Argentina last year, we decided to visit the city of San Carlos de Bariloche , which is known as the Switzerland of South America. One of the first places we visited after checking into the Greenhouse Hostel was Cerro Campanario.

Rather than taking the ski lift up to save us both a few Argentine pesos, we decided to hike the mountain. We were both in great, athletic shape (she a soccer play, WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED!? & me a volleyball player), however, we did have to stop throughout the climb because of the elevation and the angle of ascent.

Once we made it to the top, this was the welcome we received:

This site has been rated one of the Top 10 Views of the World by National Geographic.

Here is a panoramic video for your viewing pleasure. I hope one day that you get a chance to see this view, which is made all the more mesmerizing after a nice stroll up the mountain.

Blog Lovin'

2010-02-06T11:33:00.001-08:00

Follow my blog with bloglovin

A Walk in the Woods

2010-01-29T09:48:00.001-08:00

I want to start off first by apologizing for the lack of recent posts. I haven't been able to get out of my house in over a month due to the foot surgery I had on Dec. 14. To make up for my winter break of house-arrest and one-foot hoppin', I decided to travel in my mind. One of the most prominent, if not THE most prominent, travel writers of my generation is Bill Bryson. He has written books such as In a Sunburned Country, which discusses his time spent in Australia, and Neither Here Nor There, which is about a backpacking trip he took in Europe. In total, Bryson has written about eight travel novels.

The book I read was, A Walk in the Woods. This book is all about Bryson's decision to reacquaint himself with his home-country after having lived in Europe for so many years--20 to be exact. His long-time friend Katz decides to join him and after quite an investment on the correct equipment, they set-off for Georgia to begin the trail, which ends in Kathadin, Maine. Throughout their journey there is a mix of humor (provided mostly by Katz and the interesting hikers they run into) and education (on the forests and Bryson's dire request for conservation). The only upsetting part about this entire book was the small--well, huge--fact that Brsyon and Katz never completed the entire trail.

After running into a large-than-life map of the AT (Appalachian Trail) they realized they would never be able to complete it, blaming it on their size (these are two large, adult men). They skip a pretty large portion of the trail and then decided to leave the more rough terrain and return a couple months later at the 100-mile Wilderness Trail to finish it off in Maine. During their break, Bryson has the urge to continue hiking, so he drives to certain sections of the trail and explores those paths in daily section hikes.

When the two months ends, Bryson and Katz are at the Maine trailhead eager and ready to begin. However, Katz and Bryson soon become split-up after a rest on top of a mountain. After a day spent alone, Bryson runs into a beaten-up Katz who exclaims his wandering in the trees that scratched and tore at him. After Bryson asks Katz if he wants to quit, Katz immediately replies YES and they find a road, get a ride and go to their meeting point with Bryson's wife who drives them home. To make this whole trip meaningful, Bryson comes to a deep, thoughtful conclusion that they didn't need to hike the trail from beginning to end. That they had indeed hiked the Appalachian Trail, which is a true statement indeed.

The book is a quick, easy read and the relationship between Bryson and Katz gives it a human-touch--as if the fact that you feel like you are experiencing all those steps through snow, taking those deep breaths as they ascended a mountain side, wishing you could eat real food and seeing all those views from Bryson's great imagery-filled words are not enough, I highly recommend taking A Walk in the Woods yourself.

Language Barrier

2009-12-13T20:26:00.000-08:00

I never thought the language I spoke would be used against me at any moment in my life, and yet here I stand in a train station with my twin sister looking at me, waiting for me to say and do something. The natives walk past us, hopping the bars to catch their ride without even paying. I stare at the back of a French woman in front of me in her ticket booth waiting for her to turn around. It’s the first time I don’t have the solution to a problem. I am lost in confusion.

“What should we do?” asks my sister, with a cold look and open arms, her hands glaring at me. I am two minutes older, but she has always been pegged by others as the older one. However, I have been the one to step up as the leader my entire life when it comes to our relationship and this trip was no different.

I stood there thinking to myself, allowing these lifelong rumors I’ve only heard in history class sink in as truthful facts. France was our last stop on this European tour we had started over a week ago. The Notre Dame was not as climatic in size as I had imagined and seen in the infamous Disney movie I grew up with. Even the hunchback tale was squashed as merely a myth by our tour guide. My face had a disappointing look upon it, as she simply laughed at the inquiry. The romantic Seine River was more like an eerie, murky loch where party kids gathered in the late hours of the day to decorate the brick walls with art you would never find in the elegant Louvre Museum. Crowds ruined any opportunity to have that perfect moment to reflect atop the Eiffel Tower with them pushing for a glance themselves.

With all these memories to ponder, it was no surprise that we would be confronted with another hardship. “Can we have two tickets for the train,” I asked the lady with eye shadow and heavy, bold lipstick that morning. So terribly heavy it seems because she stared back without moving her lips to utter a word. She seemed repulsed as she looked us up and down. I took my sister’s euros along with mine and held them up for her to see, pointing at the bus schedule overhead with a nod. Not only was English not as universal as I had thought, but body language was not either apparently. She turned her back to us without a second thought, eventually leaving her post. That’s where we found ourselves torn. Do we stay there, or walk back to the hotel, embarrassed and defeated?

Just as we were questioning the possibility of joining in the French tradition of jumping the bars to catch the train, a man walked into the ticket booth. He glanced in our direction and headed over. It seems that the lady let someone who spoke English know that we needed something. “Can we buy two tickets for the train, please?” I asked with a hopeful inflection at the end. “Sure,” the gentleman replied. We each slid in our euros and took our tickets, walked through the bars without guilt and climbed the stairs to the right and waited for the next train to the city.

The words my sister spoke next were not a shock to me at all. “Why do they still treat us like that?” she asked. I half expected that, and deep down I hoped it was rhetorical, but she kept looking at me, again, awaiting my answer. “I don’t know,” I replied. “I always heard that the French hated us, but I don’t understand how they can ignore another human being who has done nothing personally to them. I never went to war with her.” The train pulled up just then, and nothing more was said. Silence we knew was accepted universally.

The Marguerite and Jack Clifford Gallery

2009-12-10T14:37:00.001-08:00

Media history sits tucked behind the giant state-of-the-art television screen of the First Amendment Forum on the second floor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

A single wall of glass panels mimics those of the cases that can be found inside the dimly lit Marguerite and Jack Clifford Gallery that holds an assorted collection of loaned and donated items representing and honoring the history of media in all its iconic forms: radio, television and print.

According to a Cronkite News article, the gallery is named after Clifford, who launched his television career in Phoenix in 1957. The article states that he founded and was chairman of both the Food Network and Northwest Cable News and is currently a member of both the ASU Foundation Board of Trustees and the Cronkite Endowment Board.

When one walks into the gallery, they leave a world of innovative technology that the Cronkite School contains and travel back to journalism’s vast beginnings of cassette tapes and film cameras. Their first encounter is a guestbook and pen. Visitors from Sony Electronics, Msnbc.com, to the City of Phoenix Downtown Dev. Office and the Thunderbird HS Newspaper Staff, have scribbled their names and messages onto the pages.

Some of the highlights of the gallery include one of the last old-style AP wire machines on loan from Dean Christopher Callahan, who also loaned the gallery many different type-writer models. There are also vintage radios, film reels and classic video cameras, even the microphone that Edward R. Murrow used while broadcasting from Europe, as well as some of Walter Cronkite’s smoking pipes. Pages of newspapers that report on the world’s most memorable moments are shown for visitors to reflect upon before they exit back into what many have deemed the new age of journalism, where most of these gallery items no longer exist.

Flagstaff: Little America Hotel

2009-11-29T11:15:00.000-08:00

After a 2.5 hour drive with my parents on the 1-10 and the 1-40, we made it to our one-night place of stay. Glowing radiantly white against the backdrop of pure, Flagstaff night was the Little America Hotel sign right off the interstate. The blue outline and red letters let the patriotic theme stand out. A stark contrast stood beneath it: a large penguin. This image could be a testament to the young man who founded the hotel chain. History says, that after camping in the Wyoming wilderness during a blizzard in the 1890s, he wished he had a warm, inviting refuge to sleep in. Decades later, he saw a picture of Admiral Byrd's "Little America" while in Antartica, and soon the memories of his time camping in the snowy blizzard wishing for a haven sprang up in mind. He decided to build his own and with the help of Byrd's inspiration came Little America hotels, which are now spread throughout the western parts of the United States.

As soon as the car doors opened the freeze could be felt. We ran to the lobby where a giant fire crackled in the back and checked-in. Christmas displays were already up behind protective glass and their hotel shop appeared to be a December calendar photo with pine trees decorated for the season and holiday gifts available for purchase.

We left to find our room among the 247 the hotel offers. Passing the

small gym, and climbing up one level of stairs we located number 229. The room offered a plasma t.v., two queen-sized beds, a table and seating area, as well as a vanity seating area outside the bathroom, which includes plenty of sink-space, shower and toilet.

Little America also provides rooms with fireplaces and wet bars. In the morning, if you have brought warm clothes, there are two miles of walking trails around the 500-acre property to get some healthy exercise in if you don't feel like hitting the gym. A breakfast buffet is also available in the hotel's restaurant, Western Gold Steakhouse. Evening time can be spent watching t.v. or having small-talk in front of the fireplace at the Tiffany Tree Lounge, where live music is played. The hotel is located in a quiet setting, but is a close enough drive to the downtown Flagstaff area. Whether for one night, a weekend or a family vacation, Little America is haven of warmth and comfort the founder dreamed of providing.

New Banner

2009-11-28T12:47:00.000-08:00

I must give credit to one of my really good friends, Erika, for making the new banner for this blog. She is amazing, gifted and talented. Thank you, Erika! Much appreciated.

Northwest Valley

2009-11-27T14:24:00.000-08:00

Ten years ago, the settlers of the Northwest Valley would never have dreamt it to look as it does now: bustling intersections, a brand new football stadium, a man-made lake and an antique shopper’s paradise.

The city of Glendale has seen its fair share of transformations. Some of which include a prominent grammar school in the early years to today having Arizona State University West, Glendale Community College and the Thunderbird School of Global Management within its borders. The Santa Fe Railroad that once steamed through the city will look toward the future as the Valley Metro Light Rail is completed in 2011. The more modern part of the city consists of the Arrowhead Mall, the new Westgate shopping and dining region right next to the Cardinal’s University of Phoenix Stadium and the Jobing.com Arena, where concerts and hockey take spotlight. However, with so many changes, the community has been able to hold onto its heritage in the tiny downtown district. Some of the historic homes are actually antique shops full of books, furniture, clothing, dolls, paintings and more while other homes have been turned into restaurants with eclectic menus. Winter brings the traditional Glendale Glitters attraction, where lights sparkle in the trees and shops stay up late, booths overtake the lawn with food and merchandise, kids enjoy rides as dancers and singers perform in the amphitheater. Do not forget to visit the Cerreta Candy Company and take the factory tour, where visitors can get a first hand look at how the fudge and fine chocolates are made.

You won’t ever find yourself indoors while in the city of Peoria. It is a mecca for those who love nature, sports activities and those who want to learn something new. The Peoria Sports Complex hosts the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners for their Spring Training and is also the site of the Dolly Sanchez Egg Hunt, 4^th of July All-American Fest, and Halloween Monster Bash and Balloon Illumination events. The ice skating rink and roller rink are located close by, as well as the Rio Vista Recreation Center and Park where a gym, sand volleyball courts, fishing lakes, playgrounds, baseball fields and skate park can be found. Those who can’t get enough, head up north to West Wing and Sunrise Mountains where new hiking trails have just been constructed, or even farther up north to Lake Pleasant Regional Park for boating, fishing, hiking, camping, and picnicking. The park itself sponsors many activities from scuba diving, stargazing, nature tours and even running events. If adrenaline is still pumping, enroll in Turf Soaring School, and glide through the blue skies or watch the speedsters at the Canyon Speedway Park.

Surprise, surprise, surprise…it just keeps multiplying and multiplying and it isn’t any wonder because the city already has an active shopping center and sports complex. The White Tank Mountains are the backdrop of Surprise and provide hiking trails, the Waterfall Trail being amongst the more popular and numerous events suitable for every age. For the more artistic bunch, The West Valley Art Museum offers collections of over 4,000 items from around the world, exhibitions, musical performances, and activities such as classes and workshops. If you like straying from the pack, visit the Speedworld Motorcross Park where you can practice or watch the throttles reach their maximum performance.

2009-11-26T20:43:00.000-08:00

9 de Julio

The obelisk on Avenida 9 de

Julio stands piercing the clouds.

Pointing to heaven as hell circles below a

bustling intersection of cars and pride, six

lanes driving in every direction and

she stands unnerved, hopefully looking

at the obelisk gleaming in the harsh sun

Eight years have passed since she was here last

She wondered if her country would remember her

The avenue had not changed, the flag predominantly

Waving blue and white in a wistful pattern

Opposite the independent symbol before it

Sending a shiver down her spine

Her loose ends sway around her face as

She walks to the crowded corner of Corrientes

Pausing at the red light, the cars speeding by

Horns honking and people talking

Reminding her of the soccer stadiums

The roaring crowds never sitting

Pushing up against the people in front

Truly feeling a part of their team

Aguante Argentina!

Echoing from every corner, from every

Seat filled with official colors

Her adrenalined body quivers as she

returns….

the green light catches her eyes

The people behind press up against her

Pushing her forward into the street

A smile drives itself across her face

As she begins her way,

on the Avenida 9 de Julio

towards home.

2009-11-21T17:08:00.000-08:00

My first attempt at a video post. Will be updating soon.

Southwest Valley

2009-11-17T18:39:00.001-08:00

It is not debatable that the Southwest Valley has been growing faster than a saguaro’s arm ever could. Developments have sprouted up and spread as far as the White Tank Mountains and beyond with the lure of affordable land and homes bringing thousands just like the Gold Rush. The cities and towns of Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield, Wickenburg and Gila Bend comprise most of this area that is filled with activities for those interested in the arts, outdoors, sports or indulging themselves in the many shopping centers that are springing up.

Buckeye was once the home of author, Upton Sinclair, but is now known as one of the largest growing neighborhoods in Arizona with 22 master planned communities and the future site of a 900-acre Buckeye Town Lake. Head south on the State Route 85 toward The Buckeye Hills Regional Park, which is composed of 4,474-acres to hike trails in the lush desert landscape, pitch a tent for camping, enjoy a family picnic or try for a bull’s-eye at the shooting range.

Goodyear is a prime living arrangement for the family team. The Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds host their Spring Training in the city, which is conveniently located 20 minutes from Downtown Phoenix. Take the family out to a game or visit one of the many community parks: the Splash Pad, the Skate Park, Roscoe Dog Park, or any of the other neighborhood playgrounds. The outdoor sports enthusiasts can enjoy the Estrella Mountain Regional Park, which provides bikers, horseback riders and hikers miles of trails to blaze in a perfect desert landscape. The surrounding area, Casey Abbot Recreation Area, has volleyball courts, an 18-hole golf course, picnic areas and a jungle gym for the kids. Every two years, Goodyear hosts the Luke Days, an air show that draws many crowds and if you want to see the largest collection of bibles, look no further than in the Grand Lobby of the Hampton Inn and Suites, and in the summer cool off with Movies in the Park and Dry Heat Comedy. For those not interested in recreation, stay tuned for Estrella Falls, the newest mall will be opening in fall 2011 and spans 105-acres in the budding city that still has reasonably priced land available.

A small suburb is maturing within the farming community of Litchfield Park, situated 16 miles from Phoenix near the 1-10. The city is recognized for its family atmosphere and easygoing lifestyle. Throughout the year the Recreation Services holds “Arts in the Park Live”, a free concert series with performances by diverse bands that play everything from blues, jazz, country to even big band swing. Art festivals are always marked on calendars and the recreation center provides a variety of programs for the youth, adults and senior citizens so everyone can become involved.

Kartchner Caverns State Park

2009-11-16T22:00:00.000-08:00

Nestled in the middle of a transition zone between the Sonoran Desert and the Chihuahuan Desert, Kartchner Caverns State Park offers a great weekend get-away for any family. At 4,600 ft, the park is surrounded by hiking and walking trails, and 62 camping sites. However, the must-see attraction is the caverns hidden beneath the Arizona desert that average 68F and 98 percent humidity year round. They are home to some of the greatest formations in the world and the origin of a story that must be heard.

It has been six years since I first stepped foot in the Big Room. It started out as a family surprise, a day trip my parents wanted to take us on, it ended as an unforgettable experience. I will never overlook that moment in the Big Room when I realized just how small I really was in such a big world. I felt like I was on another planet as I glanced at all the rainbow colors reflecting off the water. The thousands of extraordinary formations surrounding me were water coated and the lights reverberated everywhere. The air was moist and thick. I had to take off my sweatshirt. I remember asking myself, “How many people would ever think such an amazing place like this exists?” My eyes could not stop wandering. This felt like a secret place, there were no outside sounds except for the dripping of water in a far off corner. The best part: it wasn’t a secret.

According to the cave’s history, the story goes that in the bottom of sinkhole, Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts, found a narrow crack leading into the hillside at the base of the Whetstone Mountains in 1974. Warm, moist air flowed out, signaling the existence of a cave and they needed to find it. After several hours of crawling, they entered a pristine cavern. Their tracks are still present and clearly visible in the mud to this very day.

After four years of secret exploration, the two young cavers told the property owners, James and Lois Kartchner, about their amazing discovery. They wanted to preserve the original and extraordinary formations the caverns were home to. The cave’s existence later became public knowledge in 1988 when Kartchner Caverns was approved as an Arizona State Park.

Kartchner Caverns offers unforgettable guided tours that provide an observation of the natural wonders discovered years ago. Today, anybody can become a caver, an explorer, a discoverer of any sort and travel through the very same vast, air-filled rooms Tenen and Tufts did. The whole family will witness the colors, the sounds and the sights that they will always remember and share together. It is truly a site of the south that should not be ignored.

An unexpected history lesson

2009-11-09T19:32:00.000-08:00

His smile revealed teeth that were as bright as the White House’s exterior. He was pushing a dollar bill into my hand and his dark complexion contrasted the glowing spirit that left me bewildered. This man was homeless. Money was being placed into my palm, not his. I could see his makeshift bed of faded blankets behind him on the concrete bench that wrapped around the replicated Liberty Bell memorial. A group of three or four other homeless looked as if they were guarding the bench; their eyes fixated on us but wavered every few seconds. They had to. The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless says at least 17,800 people are homeless in Washington, D.C. over the course of a year. Iron and concrete benches, metro train stations, every corner outside the centuries-old government buildings and the grass are claimed in the morning, at noon and night by the homeless to nap or sleep on. Escaping my memory was his name but what he taught me escaped any defining notation.

My two friends and I had just figured out the metro train system that brisk September weekend where leaves crunched beneath our feet and a breeze tickled our skin. The orange line was our line. Taking us everywhere we needed to go from Capitol Hill to Arlington Cemetery across the Virginia border. We conquered the Smithsonian and climbed the steps to Abraham Lincoln. Pages and pages of history books were catching up to the current time we spent in the national mall. Staring at the homeless did not become normality. Police officers could do nothing as the problem is rampant. Joggers ran past them and tourists, including ourselves, easily disregarded them. Homelessness may be an issue but in the country’s capital it had become a daily sight just as much as the World War II memorial and the Washington Monument.

After reaching one of our stops, we exited Union Station. This magnificent building has played host to 17 Presidents and countless foreign dignitaries, according to its Web site. However, the site also mentions what may be most impressive, the fact that Union Station's marble floors echo with the footsteps of over 25 million people each year, making it the most visited site in all of Washington, D.C. Union Station is the most exciting and dynamic shopping destination in the country. Maybe that is why the homeless man came walking toward us as we stepped outside the door that evening. If people were leaving this building we had to have some sort of expendable money, right? Confidence exuberated in every step he took. And when he offered his hand that reached out in business-like form from the sleeve of his shaggy shirt, my hesitant hand remained next to my side. This was not the first time he acted his part I assumed and this would not be his last. To present himself accordingly, he stood straight-backed with his two feet close together and offered his best thirty-second pitch. Masterfully.

Three pairs of eyes were upon him and he did not falter. Words of a well-prepared monologue poured out of the experienced actor, a political speech if you will at a vital campaign stop. One of us, he said, would have the opportunity to win or lose. First things first: money. He needed the evidence that we were not wasting his time. I pulled out my bill and he pulled out his. If you win, he began, I give you this but if you lose, you give that to me, his finger pointing at the dollar resting in my hand. That’s all. What do we have to do, my friend asked. That White House smile appeared. No, no, he said, only one of you gets thirty seconds to find the misspelled word on this replica of the Liberty Bell. Immediately our bodies shifted to look at the sculpture to our left that we had not even given notice to as the homeless man led us from the station. So who will it be, he inquired with a grin. Both my friends turned to me and without a word I had been nominated for the simple fact that they knew I was a grammar geek. They left my side and joined the homeless man who nodded his head. Go.
Within ten seconds I knew the word. But I felt like amusing my friends longer and kept circling the tarnished bell with its signature crack. Inside my head were thoughts on why this word of all words would be misspelled in the first place. I did not know the answer and yet, the homeless man had. Worried looks decorated the two faces across from me while I saw the hope bursting from the squished up cheeks of the homeless man whose smile never seemed to cease. His fellow friends watched the show from their concrete-bench bed. Starting to count down 5, 4, 3, he began walking toward me confidently again. Two and one. I stopped. So, he said, do you know the word? Certain and full of myself, I answered: Pennsylvania, it is spelled with only one “n” when it should have two. Correct, he stated without hesitation and disappointment in his tone. Continuing, he explained that the spelling had not been adopted at the time and presented his dollar bill to me, placing it into my palm. Without pause I looked at my friends who instinctively had the same reaction.

A closed fist shocked the homeless man. Insistent, he began to follow us and attempted to give us the money but we refused. I said, no, no, that it was quite alright and thanked him for allowing me to use my grammar skills. Even deeper inside was the embarrassment I felt for not knowing the history of the bell and its grammatical error. Laughter left his lips as we left his location. He returned to his friends and as we rounded the curve of the concrete wall, the corner of my eyes witnessed him moving back to his spot, straight-backed and two feet grounded in place. Normal workday people would be returning home through the doors of Union Station as the sun set a pink and red backdrop to the national mall. He, on the other hand, would be working overtime, awaiting the next contestants to his game until the very last person disappeared into the darkness. But it wasn’t really a game for him. He depended upon that one simple fact for his day to day necessities. Pensylanvia was a lifeline.

Whether it is the shoe shiner offering a quick polish outside the restaurant door or the homeless man who took claim of the misspelled word engraved upon the replicated Liberty Bell outside Union Station, I learned that they are just as much a part of the history that Washington D.C. stands for, helping us remember times gone by. The museums with their entrance fees may share textbook pictures and artifacts behind glass smudged with fingerprints from school kids and tourists but until the history walks up to you in the most unexpected way, you will never learn just how much the past remains in the present.