ASK MISTER ROBOT is Traveling Boy’s Q & A about a variety of topics that keep people awake at night. The answers come from Mr. Robot, an AI model, who scours the internet for answers. Don’t take his answers like gospel truth, rather consider his answers as an educated opinion. We welcome your questions and invite you to join in the conversation.

QUESTION: What are the types of commercial airplanes the public can choose from?

The public can choose from several types of commercial airplanes when booking a flight, depending on the airline, route, budget, and travel experience they want. These range from small regional aircraft to massive double-deck international jets.

A. Types of commercial passenger airplanes

1. Turboprop aircraft

Small aircraft · Short routes

Examples: ATR 72 and De Havilland Canada Dash 8.

• Usually carry 30–80 passengers.
• Common on short regional routes and flights to smaller airports.
• Generally slower and often noisier than jet aircraft.

2. Regional jets

Small jets · Short to medium routes

Examples: Embraer E175 and CRJ900.

• Typically seat around 50–100 passengers.
• Connect smaller cities with major airline hubs.
• Usually have a 2–2 seating layout, with no middle seats.

3. Narrow-body jets (single aisle)

Short to medium-haul · Most common choice

Examples: Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family.

• Commonly carry around 120–230 passengers, depending on the model.
• Used for domestic flights and many international routes.
• Offer economy, premium economy on some airlines, and sometimes business class.

4. Long-range narrow-body jets

Longer routes · Single aisle

Examples: Airbus A321LR and Airbus A321XLR.

• Can fly routes that previously required larger wide-body aircraft.
• Often used on thinner transatlantic and other long-distance routes.
• Typically offer fewer onboard amenities than premium long-haul wide-body aircraft, although configurations vary.

5. Wide-body jets (twin aisle)

Long-haul · More spacious cabins

Examples: Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Airbus A350, and Boeing 777.

• Often carry 200–400 or more passengers.
• Common on intercontinental and long-haul flights.
• May offer lie-flat business-class seats, premium economy, larger overhead bins, and more cabin space.

6. Very large, double-deck jets

High-capacity · Major international routes

Examples: Airbus A380 and Boeing 747.

• Designed to carry hundreds of passengers.
• The A380 has two full-length passenger decks.
• May offer premium lounges or onboard bars on certain airlines, particularly in premium cabins.
• Fewer airlines operate these aircraft today, and the Boeing 747 is increasingly rare in passenger service.

B. Types of flights and travel experiences you can choose

The airplane model is only one part of your choice. You can also select the type of service and cabin you fly in.

Economy class

The most affordable standard option, with basic seating and services that vary by airline and fare.

Premium economy

Wider seats or more legroom, usually with additional service benefits. Available mainly on selected aircraft and routes.

Business class

On many long-haul flights, features lie-flat beds, upgraded meals, lounge access, and priority services.

First class

A high-end option with exceptional privacy, personal space, and premium service. Offered by only some airlines and on selected aircraft.

C. Can the public choose the actual airplane?

Yes, to a degree. When booking, you can often choose an airline and flight that operates a particular aircraft model. However, airlines can change aircraft before departure.

• For comfort: Look for aircraft such as the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350, and compare the actual seat configuration.
• For a short domestic trip: Boeing 737 and Airbus A320-family aircraft are common options.
• For a premium long-haul experience: Compare the business-class cabins on the Boeing 777, 787, Airbus A350, and A380.
• For aviation enthusiasts: Search for specific aircraft models when choosing flights, and confirm the aircraft listed for your departure.

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Imagine a sunny morning when you’re about to leave home for a long-desired road trip. You’ve picked your destination, planned out your route, and packed up your car. While nowadays road trips are easier to plan and undertake thanks to modern vehicles and the equipment they carry, the road isn’t as predictable as the destination may be. Because of the conveniences modern vehicles offer, travelers are better prepared to navigate through different weather conditions during one journey.

Although road trippers may keep in mind that temperatures and road conditions change across regions and elevations, they may still be surprised by heavy rain, colder temperatures, mountain road conditions, or unexpected snow. Weather conditions can be unpredictable, especially when traveling through different areas of the country. However, being prepared can help you avoid even the slightest weather-related inconvenience on your next road trip.

Today’s Road Trips Are More Weather-Dependent

The main reason road trips are so popular is the flexibility and spontaneity they offer, something you don’t get when you book a flight. Cross-country road trips, like taking Route 66, offer a unique experience that travelers increasingly enjoy. Mountain getaways and winter escapes become more fun when you start in a sunny place and then travel up a snow-covered mountain. Everyone enjoys a beautiful scenic fall foliage drive, especially when taken through a national park. Whether you go on a spontaneous weekend adventure or plan a coastal-to-inland journey, being well prepared for different weather conditions is the key to a successful trip. As travelers take longer, more diverse trips to see as many attractions as possible, changes in elevation and geography can dramatically affect road conditions.

Why Traditional “All-Season” Thinking Isn’t Always Enough

Preparing for a road trip isn’t just about packing your bags and mapping out routes. Your car needs just as much preparation as you do. The main reason why all season tires are the most common choice is that they can be perfectly suitable in moderate climates. However, while all season tires are designed for different everyday weather conditions, travelers who regularly encounter genuine winter conditions prefer tires with additional snow capability, like all weather tires. This is because all weather tires hit the sweet spot between standard all season tires and dedicated winter tires.

The Technical Difference – Why All Weather Tires Matter

There are plenty of reasons why all weather tires are more convenient for frequent travelers who drive through different weather conditions. They feature a more winter-oriented, aggressive tread design with extra siping that helps the tire grip slush, wet roads, and light-to-moderate snow. Additionally, they use special rubber compounds that help the tire stay effective across a broader temperature range.

All weather tires carry the Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol, which is an official winter rating that proves that a tire meets official performance and safety standards for severe snow. The 3PMSF designation indicates that a tire meets standardized snow-traction performance standards, but it does not mean it performs like a dedicated winter tire in every snowy or icy situation.

One Set of Tires, More Freedom to Explore

Maybe you like frequent weekend getaways, or you are planning a longer road trip that will take you across multiple states. This is where having a single set of tires comes in handy because you don’t have to plan your trips around seasonal tire changes. You don’t have to worry about taking your car in to get the tires changed depending on the season, and you don’t have to worry about storing a second set. With a single set of tires, you can load up your vehicle and stop worrying that bad weather will force you to change your itinerary. Overall, having the right equipment gives you more confidence on a long trip that takes you through different weather zones.

Where All Weather Tires Make the Most Sense for Travelers

Maybe you live in a sunny valley and need to drive across a cold, snowy mountain road to get to your office or class. Or you’ve decided to visit a national park, which means you’ll need to take long routes, cross multiple elevations, and go through different weather systems. Perhaps you visit family members every week, and this takes you between warmer and colder regions frequently. Some travel for work or school, some for family obligations, and some simply for leisure, and everyone hates canceling a trip because of bad weather.

Know Their Limits

All their benefits aside, all weather tires also have certain drawbacks. While they are an excellent choice for light-to-moderate snow, they are not suitable for every weather condition. In severe snow, ice, or prolonged winter conditions, it’s better to use dedicated winter tires as they provide superior ice and snow traction and maintain excellent flexibility in freezing weather. Even though all weather tires are suitable for a range of weather conditions, it’s always best to consider your destination, climate, and route, as well as your vehicle type and driving habits. It’s also recommended to carefully inspect your tires before each trip. Check their condition by inspecting tread depth, punctures, scuffs, and pressure, and always make sure you have the correct tire size.

The Road Ahead: Preparing for the Journey, Not Just the Destination

While we go on a trip to reach a certain destination, being on the road is a major part of the experience. Modern-day road trips require flexibility, but travelers enjoy them because they can be spontaneous. Some of the best memories come from switching up the plan and taking an unexpected turn to see a fun attraction or a beautiful sight.

We cannot control the weather, but we can prepare for a long-distance trip by checking the forecast and ensuring our vehicle is properly equipped. As long as the vehicle is set up correctly, including the tires, we shouldn’t be apprehensive about our next trip.

• About the Author: Moughees Butt

  “Thirst to learn and explore till he finds ecstasy” are Moughees’s pivot charms! He loves to craft and comprehend deeply anything happens around!

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QUESTION 1: What are some of the “things” or activities that the people of Monaco do for fun?

ANSWER: Sea rowing and a meal at the Monaco Yacht Club – even if you are not a member – by eating at the rowing club’s café, which is in the same building. Observatory Cave – in the Exotic Garden, 100 m above sea-level, at the foot of the cliff, there is an underground cavity adapted for visits. And Condamine Market – a daily morning market, located at Place d’Armes near the Port Hercule. It’s a colorful Provençal market and center of Monégasque life with local specialties to sample or buy such as barbajuans. The open-air market features fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers, and the covered market offers butchery, fishmonger, bakery, etc.

QUESTION 2: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Monaco?

ANSWER: Ecole Bleue – diving school for children by free diving world’s champion Pierre Frolla. Considered as an international reference in the field of children’s diving, the Ecole Bleue offers a full range of courses and training sessions, dedicated to exploration, respect and protection of the underwater world.

QUESTION 3: Share some aspect of Monaco as regards to what it has contributed to the world.

Crepe Suzette at Le Café de Paris. Fifteen year old Henri Charpentier, an assistant waiter, was called upon to serve crepes (a French invention) for a special dinner party, hosted by the Prince of Monaco. The crepes were precooked in the kitchen with the dish completed by heating them in a sauce made from orange peel, sugar, and a combination of liqueurs in a chaffing dish in front of the guests. Unexpectedly, the alcohol caught fire, thus flambéing the sauce and serendipitously creating a new taste sensation. The guests were delighted. The Prince of Monaco asked Charpentier what he planned to call his new creation. Charpentier offered “Crepes Princesse.” But the Prince, in honor of his guests’ young daughter, asked if he would name them Crepes Suzette, and hence, a classic was born.

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Someone in FaceBook posted these observations below. Do you agree or disagree? Please share your thoughts.

As I had my morning coffee, I realized that everything is about to change. No matter how I vote, no matter what I say, something evil has invaded our nation, and our lives are never going to be the same.

I have been confused by the hostility of family and friends. I look at people I have known all my life–so hate-filled that they agree with opinions they would never express as their own. I think that I may well have entered the Twilight Zone.

You can’t justify this insanity. We have become a nation that has lost its collective mind!

• If a man pretends to be a woman, you are required to pretend with him.
• Somehow it’s un-American for the census to count how many Americans are in America.
• Russians influencing our elections are bad, but illegals voting in our elections are good.
• It was cool for Joe Biden to “blackmail” the President of Ukraine, but it’s an impeachable offense if Donald Trump inquires about it.
• People who have never owned slaves should pay slavery reparations to people who have never been slaves.
• People who have never been to college should pay the debts of college students who took out huge loans for their degrees.
• Immigrants with tuberculosis and polio are welcome, but you’d better be able to prove your dog is vaccinated.
• Irish doctors and German engineers who want to immigrate to the US must go through a rigorous vetting process, but any illiterate gang-bangers who jump the southern fence are welcome.
• $5 billion for border security is too expensive, but $1.5 trillion for “free” health care is not.
• If you cheat to get into college you go to prison, but if you cheat to get into the country you go to college for free.
• People who say there is no such thing as gender are demanding a female President.
• We see other countries going Socialist and collapsing, but it seems like a great plan to us.
• Some people are held responsible for things that happened before they were born, and other people are not held responsible for what they are doing right now.
• Criminals are caught-and-released to hurt more people, but stopping them is bad because it’s a violation of THEIR rights.
• And pointing out all this hypocrisy somehow makes us “racists?!”

Nothing makes sense anymore, no values, no morals, no civility and people are dying of a Chinese virus, but it is racist to refer to it as Chinese even though it began in China.

We are clearly living in an upside-down world where right is wrong and wrong is right, where moral is immoral and immoral is moral, where good is evil and evil is good, where killing murderers is wrong, but killing innocent babies is right.

Wake up America, the great unsinkable ship Titanic America has hit an iceberg, is taking on water, and is sinking fast. The choice is yours to make. What will it be? Time is short, make your choice wisely!

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Raoul’s 2 Cents. July 31, 2026

What’s in a Name?

I had to fill out a waiver form at the Red Cross before I was allowed to donate my blood. There was a question about my gender. Was I male, female or would I rather not say? If I had the option not to say, then why ask it in the first place? When will we get over this silly interpersonal questioning? I was also asked about my choice of pronouns. I wonder if this inspired Hamlet’s “To be or not to be?” retrospective. These questions opened the rabbit hole to the fascinating world of names.

Do you like your name? Don’t be too hard on your parents if you don’t. Naming a person can be very confusing and challenging. I think first time parents over-think naming their child. They buy books about the history of names and consult hundreds of people who really don’t care what these parents name their kid. If they had a choice, parents don’t usually want a common name. Hate to break it to you, but if you do have a common name, you’re probably not the first kid. You’re just an “after-thought.” (Suck it up, butter cup!) Imagine a crowd of people and you shout a common name and half of the people respond to your call — all of them probably NOT the first born either.

Of course, most kids are named after their parent’s most favorite person in the world. Like Abraham (Lincoln) or (Queen) Elizabeth … good Christian names. But if you’re named after your father or mother, your parents didn’t lack creativity — you were just an “after-thought” as well.

Speaking of creativity, I know of two Chinese parents (last name is Pe) who were a little too creative. They named their son Edgar Allen. Poor kid. In the Philippines, many family members share the same first letters. I know of a family with 10 kids — all their names start with “R.” The parents constantly rattle off several names before they remember the right name.

One of my earliest battles for recognition had to do with my baby name. They called me Peewee. Whoever started it should be tarred and feathered! I heard one reason was because I was too darn cute — tiny eyes, big puffy veined cheeks and a disarming smile. I guess I looked like a pot bellied baby Buddha. But when I grew taller than my parents and they still called me Peewee; well that was pretty humiliating. I remember demanding I be called by my proper name and I refused to be called Junior. Yeah, you guessed it — I wasn’t the first born. I too am an “after thought.”

During the old days, a family’s trade was passed on to the children. The local blacksmith was named Mister Blacksmith. The baker was Mister Baker and all of his kids were destined to be bakers. Even Jesus was known as the carpenter’s son. But I doubt his last name was Carpenter – Jesus H. Carpenter – nah! That doesn’t sound right. And I doubt his brother was named Richard who played the piano and a sister named Karen who sang. In poor countries I think this line of name choice is still being practiced but they may be transitioning due to exogamy (marriages outside the family/lineage). For instance, I have a friend whose father ran a candy factory. No, he wasn’t Willie Wonka and neither was my friend’s name Candy. His name is Shoemaker and he’s a musician. Hard to put his face with his name.

Isn’t it strange that there isn’t a Miss Real Estate? Aren’t you glad there isn’t a Doctor Epidemiologist nor a Professor Microscopist … Oh, but isn’t there a Mister Hannibal the cannibal? And how many McDonalds are out there to remind you of hamburgers?

What if we get rid of pronouns altogether and just address people by their full names … would that simplify this branding problem? The South Koreans do it all the time (at least that’s what I read in the closed captions of their movies) — they always address each other by their full names. It could be worse. How would you like to be a Smith? … a Mister John Smith? If that’s your name, you must feel pretty anonymous: “Hey look it’s John Smith!” And everybody would look around and you’re right in the middle and nobody even sees you.

Random Thoughts
Or how about having one of those incomplete names like Lee. When you meet a potential wife named Norma, she’d have to think twice about how her new name would sound if she marries you. Did you know Bruce Lee’s Dad’s name? I don’t know about you but It’s always been a Mister Lee to me. Did you know that Stephen King named his son Joe? How many lawyer daughters are named Sue? How about Ben Dover or Constance Noring? My friend Bernie was named after a saint … a dog saint … Saint Bernard!

I noticed there aren’t any more Hitlers or Judases. Does Santa Claus have a real first name? And I know of only one Engelbert Humperdink — thank god!

Of course, with the influx of people migrating from different parts of the world, complex names have multiplied tenfold. In Africa there is a tribe that prides itself with the most complex sounding names — full of guttural sounds and clicks. But I bet if you call them “Hey you!” they will still respond to that.

Conclusion
Joking aside, we live with identifiers we call names. The minute we are born, our names separate us from the rest of the world. Each name has the potential for greatness. Each of us is special in God’s eyes. Names celebrate who we are supposed to be, whose family lineage we come from but it’s up to us to make our names inspire the next generation.

TGIF people!

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name will carry.” — Bill Cosby

“Tigers die and leave their skins; people die and leave their names.” — Japanese Proverb

“I don’t remember anybody’s name. How do you think the “dahling” thing got started?” — Zsa Zsa Gabor

“I’d be stupid not to take into consideration that there are certain things people will not consider me for because my name is Lopez. And I know I can do any kind of role. I don’t want anybody to say, Oh, she can’t pull this off. So those are barriers that you have to overcome.” — Jennifer Lopez

“Nicknames stick to people, and the most ridiculous are the most adhesive.” — Thomas Haliburton

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” — Proverbs 22:1

“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12

“Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.” –Genesis 2: 19-20

Memes of the Week

Thanks to Norm, Jennifer, Dan and Art.

I found these:

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

SUBSCRIBE

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It was not an ordinary rocking chair. This one was upholstered like a sofa, only narrower in width – more like it might be called an overstuffed rocking chair.

It was my dad’s favorite chair. He placed it near the radio that he loved even more than the chair. He adored Fibber McGee and Molly, George Burns and Gracie Allen, the Jack Benny Show, One Man’s Family, and many others. He loved to laugh at the comedies and liked it even more if we laughed with him – we could always put off our homework. He was glued to that chair during USC’s football games. He followed them with a chart of the playing field that he marked. He had made a special board that exactly fit the arms of the chair and his girth so that he could place his chart there.

The radio was a small Philco, done in the gothic style, like a small, rounded church without a steeple. We had had it for about six years, and I had listened to my first radio programs on it: Whoa Bill and Orphan Annie.

After my dad came home each night, carrying his black lunchbox and giving a heartfelt greeting to the family, he gradually settled into his rocking chair to read the Herald Examiner. Being mildly conservative, he liked that newspaper, and it was delivered every afternoon to our doorstep by a reliable paperboy.

Sometimes, when my mother was out in the kitchen washing or drying the dishes, my dad would call to her and ask her to listen to it with him and enjoy the program. She came in reluctantly, carrying a drying towel. He opened his arms wide, grinning, beckoning her to sit with him. She sat on his lap, his arms around her, and they enjoyed the program, laughing together. I thought it was funny that my mother nestled on my dad’s lap. At the same time, I was happy about it because it was a rather comical expression of love.

When my sister and I were very young, we playfully attacked my father in his chair. While we tried to climb into his lap, he pushed us back. It was all very friendly and lighthearted. I would almost make it past his knees then he’d shove me down and turn me upside down. I was heading for the floor and my sister was making headway toward his lap. The struggle went on. We were all laughing, including my mother who was watching. I was surprised at the indomitable strength of my father’s arms and hands. We were a giggling mixture of arms and legs, chaotic motion and a little sweat. Finally, he said “I think we better stop now; I want to read my paper.” Exhausted ourselves, we stopped.

I was fond of that old chair too. When I was by myself, I often rocked in it, enjoying its rhythmic motion. At other times, I wanted to test the chair’s capabilities. I wondered how fast I could get it to rock. I was on a horse galloping over imaginary plains. Then it happened. It was one vigorous rock too many. Over I went, backward. The back if the chair hit the floor and so did I! The heavy cushion came loose and fell across my face. I inhaled the musty smell of it. I was alone, and there was no one to help me. As I recall, I struggled out of the situation, crawled over the floor and was safely out of the predicament. With some effort, I righted the heavy chair and replaced the cushion. As all kids eventually do, I had gone too far.

In my imagination, I still see that old rocking chair, its bulk and its dull indescribable pattern. I think about its comfort, and picture my dad sitting there.

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ANSWER: Home to Washington State University, residents and visitors alike enjoy a ‘room to breathe’ lifestyle with plenty of athletics, arts and culture that a university provides. Top name concert, theater, and PAC 12 athletics set a sophisticated atmosphere in an otherwise small town. Brilliant blue skies and rolling Palouse hills beckon you to experience the outdoors with golf, hiking and biking over 35 miles of paved trails, rock climbing basalt formations, and photographing the unique topography. Fabulous eateries, farm grown products and a love for good local beer and wine make dining out a pleasure and provide the basis for The National Lentil Festival and other events.

QUESTION 2: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Pullman?

ANSWER: Why is this town laid out so funny? Downtown Pullman has the unique distinction of being surrounded by four hills, three rivers and two railroads. The present Grand Avenue was originally a wagon road north to Palouse. The common grid pattern was not an option due to the topography of Pullman. A rock bluff prevented east-west streets from continuing eastward, the river prohibited north-south streets from continuing northward and a steep hill discouraged streets from continuing westward. This organic layout resembles a four-leaf clover and confuses many who try to navigate Pullman.

QUESTION 3: What has Pullman contributed to the world?

ANSWER: A community blessed with an abundance of intellectual capital from the researchers at WSU and access to a highly educated workforce, Pullman has created a high tech industry in the center of the wheat fields. There are nearly 40 businesses making names for themselves in the global marketplace. One of these is Decagon Devices, recruited to design the soil probe and environmental sensors that were on NASA’s Phoenix spacecraft, which landed on Mars on May 25, 2008.

For further information about Pullman, click-on: http://www.pullmanchamber.com/

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About Brom Wikstrom: During the summer of 1975, at the age of 21, a diving accident left Brom a quadriplegic. He spent seven weeks in intensive care in a public health hospital, and the following year in Seattle at the University of Washington hospital. MORE.

The invitation came by post. I thought it was junk at first and stacked it with the rest of the mail until my wife Anne came home for lunch from her dental office. A handsome brochure touting the attractions of Peru is included along with a letter describing the dedication of a group sponsoring a conference on art and disability. I cannot determine how my name came to their attention but recognize this invitation as the chance of a lifetime and speculate for a couple days on how we might manage to afford the trip.

It will strain us financially but an adventure of this nature is too good to pass up and we are excited about the prospects of meeting artists and experiencing a completely different culture. A couple weeks of arrangements by phone, fax, e-mails and letters go by and we are booked and registered. Anne’s employer has given us the name of a colleague in Lima where the conference is taking place in case of an emergency.

Anxious weeks go by as we await our departure and research Inca history that we are certain to experience. We won’t require inoculations but are uneasy about encountering Shining Path guerillas or bandits of any sort. As we approach our departure time we feel as prepared as we can be but do have apprehensions about the unknown.

It’s a long flight to Lima and we’re unsure what day it is when we finally touch down but know that it’s late at night and with little effort we get through customs and locate our transportation. It’s apparent as we try to communicate with the cab driver that the language barrier is going to cause difficulty but fortunately we connect with delegates from Tucson who speak the lingo. Frank is blind and an accomplished singer and musician and his companion Marcia operates a theater company and is associated with VSA Arts.

After a few hours sleep, we rise for a quick bite in the hotel café and link with Frank and Marcia and volunteers from the sponsors for a tour of the city. We arrive at Plaza de Mayo, the main city square where the changing of the guard is in progress. It’s a ritual that doesn’t interest us much and we’re satisfied to tour a few shops and listen to the street performers. Frank tries out a flute and joins one group briefly for an impromptu concert.

We load into cabs and drive to the district of Miraflores and a large outdoor market. We are stunned by the vast assortment of items for sale and the high quality of the material. Some serious shopping ensues and I pick up a couple of items to add to my collections including a marvelously etched gourd.

We walk back to the hotel along Arequipa Avenue that is a wide boulevard that shows the flavor of the city well.

The congress is taking place at another hotel that is close enough for us to walk to and we enjoy exploring the neighborhood and getting our bearings while making our way there. The main thrust of the conference is theater arts and I’m thankful to be able to represent a visual component along with a talented artist from Cuba. Delegates gather and we meet many of the participants including Sharon and Laurel who are disabled travel agents from the U.S.

They introduce us to a local guide named Pepe who assures us that it will be possible to take a side trip to Cuzco and Machu Picchu! It will further tax our resources but we’re game for the adventure and put our faith in Pepe’s company, Apumayo Tours.

The conference consists of a series of panel discussions that are informative and compelling and describe programs offered locally and internationally for people with disabilities to become involved in the arts. We are pleased to contribute to the proceedings and share our experiences. Our evening is capped by a series of wildly confusing but very dramatic performances by conference artists at a theater in another district. The language barrier is formidable but we enjoy the show nevertheless and continue to meet other delegates including Jose, an artist’s agent who has a special treat for us tomorrow.

First we will again attend conference sessions but soon rendezvous with Jose, Sharon and Laurel at a local restaurant for lunch. There we taste the national drink, Pisco Sours that resembles a margarita with a froth of egg white and sprinkled bitters. Jose is post-polio and gets around on crutches and upon concluding our trip we will ship him a sports wheelchair that I was no longer using.

Our cab follows his car to the Callou District that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and enters a fairgrounds park that is between events. In a secluded area we get out to tour a large studio with an amazing collection of life casts of North and South American Indians. Dozens of the sculptures line a long gallery and a workshop demonstrates their production. Our private tour is also highlighted by a visit to the personal menagerie also maintained by the absent owner who is a friend of Jose’s, a certain Mr. Filipe Lettersten.

After the next day’s congress we make our way to the Lima Museum of Art. It is located in a lush park and I only need a little help up five steps to access the galleries. The permanent collection of paintings and sculpture is nice enough but the abundant archeological treasures blow us away. The age and condition of the ceramics and textiles of the pre-Incan cultures demonstrate a high degree of proficiency and we’re hard-pressed to think of these artisans as primitive in any way.

The Chancay society is featured in a special exhibition that is dominated by a huge unwrapped funeral bundle that must contain many priceless personal effects of the owner. Our afternoon is capped by a return to the market in Miraflores and gift purchases for loved ones at home.

The evening’s performance features a deaf mime from Germany and an incredible piece by a group from Spain whose energy and colorful costumes delight and inspire us all. On our late-night drive back to the hotel young beggars at a red light descend upon our car and thrust their arms into the car for a handout.

The last day’s sessions are short and sweet and we take our time saying farewells and exchanging gifts. The many volunteers have been extremely helpful in making our trip easy and I give out many lapel pins that I have had made with an original design. Our next stop is the National Museum. It is a rather ugly, totalitarian looking building but within are delicate glories that span time and space. The exquisite gold and turquoise carvings are incredible and the variety and richness of the ancient material is truly astounding.

We are obliged to get assistance up several flights of steps to the main galleries since it’s a Sunday and the elevators are inoperative. The trouble is well worth it as the special exhibit on the Lords of Sipan is incomparable and even features real skeletons. The collection now has its own museum near the site of the discovery.

Early the next morning, we rise and load into a cab that takes us to the airport. Our short, first class flight to Cuzco crosses magnificent scenery of deep, jungle ravines and high, mountain plateaus. It is a fabulous scene and we are amazed at our good fortune.

We touchdown in the Inca capital and immediately are ushered to a nurse’s station in order to check my blood pressure for signs of altitude sickness. No problems are detected and we meet with Pepe who introduces us to our porters and tour guide. Edgar is a full-blooded Quechua Indian and relates many facts about his proud heritage.

I am loaded into a van and begin with a tour of the city. Flute music issues from shops on the Plaza de Armas where we stop and have our first taste of coca tea. This beverage will aid in our adjustment to the altitude and the required ritual lends a spiritual aspect to its consumption. Blowing the vapors to the winds and sprinkling a few drops will appease the ancestors and we begin to realize the depth of faith exercised by the Christianized Incas.

Anne explores some markets and I chew on coca leaves and admire the Inca stonework that serves as the foundation for Spanish style architecture. The number three figures prominently in the ancient culture and is evident in the steps and recessed doors of the buildings. It is also reflected in the tenets of proper living as described by Edgar; Don’t be a liar, Don’t be lazy, Don’t be a thief.

We drive out of town and stop briefly at the enormous, stone fortress of Sacsahuman and Tambo Machay with its cascading waters that only the nobility could use. Edgar points out the terraced mountain fields that the Inca had constructed into the shape of a condor on our way to the small but historic town of Pisac. We purchase some modest souvenirs and continue our drive into the Sacred Valley to our hotel, the Posada del Inca.

The altitude is getting to me a bit and I am pleased to lie down for a nap before a light chicken and rice meal. We are pleased to visit a small chapel on the grounds and later are treated to a fireworks display ignited in celebration of tomorrow’s Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Later that evening, we visit a ceramic studio and meet the English-speaking owner. The work is wonderful but a little pricey and we really don’t have room in our bags so only purchase a small plaque. We are too excited about tomorrow’s adventure to get much sleep and will have to rely on adrenalin to get us by.

I enjoy a hearty breakfast and feel prepared for the day. It is a glorious, sunny day and we load and begin our drive towards the train station that will transport us to the Machu Picchu station. Along the way, Edgar points out the way Inca women rouged their lips with crushed cactus mites that generated a red substance. He also shows us a whole mountain that had been converted into the form of a frog with more stone terraces.

Folk artists offer us their products while waiting for the train that will carry us along the banks of the Urabamba River. Farmland gives way to ever-increasing jungle growth the further we go and the gentle river becomes a torrent as we descend deeper into the gorge. Edgar points out evidence of Inca civilization along the way and describes the rail line as a previous Inca trail. Several passengers get off at the halfway point to walk the rest of the way to the citadel.

The first of several obstacles greet us as we exit the train at Machu Picchu station. Steep steps lead to the buses that will take us to the park so we are obliged to traverse a long rocky trail instead. My porters take turns and team up for the hard parts and manage to get me aboard the bus that takes us up a harrowing twelve-kilometer drive to the site. Edgar is clear in his correction that these are not “Ruins”, and that Hiram Bingham was the Re-discoverer of the city.

He also makes a dramatic declaration about the mountain that overlooks the city after we have entered the sacred confines. The shape of the Puma Mountain becomes apparent and certain mysteries are revealed as we delve deeper into the extinct civilization. The manicured stonework is extremely impressive and our eyes take in the wonders with majesty.

A long flight of steps leads to the most sacred place, the Temple of the Sun. While my helpers take a well deserved break, we listen to Edgar’s description of the edifice. I decide to place one of my pins beneath a stone and Edgar makes the gift worthy by raising his arms and begging acceptance of the Inca. We ascend another long flight of stone steps to the Sacred Plaza and take in the awesome view through the Temple of the Three Windows.

This courtyard is the site of many ceremonial rituals that I cannot begin to imagine and I express my sincere gratitude to Pepe and the others who have made this remarkable experience possible. The weather is hot and I begin appreciate why the sun and the shadows it casts were of such significance to the Inca.

Anne is able to access other parts of the site while I find a shady spot and let my imagination carry me aloft, above these massive, unspoiled stones and into the cloud jungle. The large, ceremonial plaza below is easier to traverse and Anne and I get a few moments alone to reflect on the meaning for both of us. Too soon though, we rendezvous and after some group photos, we begin our descent.

A mild shower cools our sunburned brows and gives a shine to the rocks and cliffs as we move along the terraces that lead towards the exit. We pass under an enormous stone outcropping that serves as an effective barrier to this Shangri La. The bus-ride back gives me a lingering view of the palaces and we feel as if waking from a dream. We have a 3/4 of a mile trek along the rail line to the helicopter port and eventually get hoisted aboard the twelve-seat helicopter for the half-hour flight back to Cuzco.

The other fellows will take the train back and meet with us over a congratulatory dinner at a restaurant off the Plaza de Armas. We check into the Hotel Libertador, a luxurious place but not very accessible and relax over a late lunch with Pepe and some Coca tea. That evening on the plaza, we treat to a well-earned meal and express our thanks for the crew’s hard work on our behalf. We stay up late and review the experience over champagne in our room and say our farewells. It has been an extraordinary day that we will never forget and we’re sorry to see it come to an end.

Anne has a raging headache upon rising and even inhales oxygen once we’re aboard our flight back to Lima. Our familiar cab driver is happy to see us and takes us back to the Invertur Hotel where I am pleased to rest in bed while Anne visits the shopping market one last time and acquires several musical instruments.

That evening, Dr. Haro, a colleague of Anne’s boss, treats us to a fantastic meal. He is interested in the work I’ve recently had done on my teeth and gives me a cursory exam in the middle of the dining room to the amusement of the waiter.

The long flight back to reality is mercifully uneventful and we are delighted to return safely. We share our memories with our loved ones and present them with gifts that have much more meaning for us and begin to re-assimilate back into the twentieth century.

• Original article written in December ’98.

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Story and Photo by Corinna Lothar

January is heavenly in Greece. According to Greek mythology, Alcyone, the daughter of the king of the winds, married Ceyx, the son of the Morning Star. When Ceyx drowned in a storm at sea, Alcyone was so distraught that she threw herself into the sea in grief. Out of compassion for the loving couple, the gods changed them into kingfishers. In order for Alcyone to be able to make her nest and lay her eggs on the beach in peace, her father restrained the winds and calmed the waves for a short period each January . A lovely story; a lovely time of the year; a lovely place.

The place is Athens during the Halcyon days (named for Alcyone) in mid-January, the warm, sunny weather seems more like spring than winter. A perfect time to visit the land of the ancient gods: tourists are scarce and restaurants and museums are not crowded. The cool weather can be delightful, never too hot and occasionally refreshed by rain showers. The mountains are dusted with snow – — Greece has ski resorts — but Athens and the surrounding area profit from the kindness of the god of the winds.

Athens

Athens, the capital only since 1834, is lively, interesting and modern, ringed by pleasant suburbs with lovely villas along streets lined with orange trees. The narrow streets and houses in the old Plaka and Monastiraki districts in central Athens recall what the city once was like. Shops stocked with stylish clothing and jewelry, and flea markets crowd the narrow streets. A visitor comes unexpectedly on a Greek or Roman ruin, a tiny Byzantine church or an Ottoman mosque, remnants of Greece’s multiple rulers.

There’s no shortage of restaurants. Some specialize in Greek cuisine with Turkish influences, the heritage of the exchange of population which took place between Greece and Turkey just after World War I. Informal cafes are everywhere. Fish restaurants abound in Piraeus, Athens’ port, which can be reached by bus, tram or the underground. Athenian women wear the latest elegant European fashions and are friendly and helpful to a stranger unfamiliar with the language and the alphabet.

Syntagma Square lies at the center of the city, with the Parliament on the square. Every hour there’s a changing of the costumed guards. It’s like a stylized dance, wonderful to watch.

The elegant old Grande Bretagne Hotel, recently renovated, stands on the square, too, with a fine bar for a drink. The Syntagma metro station is worth a visit, even if you aren’t going anywhere. It’s decorated with stunning antiquities unearthed when the station was built.

From the square it’s only a short walk to the oldest parts of the city, to the shops, both elegant and trendy, to the municipal buildings and to the Benaki and Cycladic Museums. The Benaki is a private museum with a superb collection of everything Greek, from antiquties to modern paintings, to ikons and folk art and costumes. A delightful café — popular with Athenians — atop the building is a particularly pleasant aerie in good weather.

The glory of the city, and its symbol, remains the sacred rock, the Acropolis, connecting the ancient with the present. It rises magnificently above the city from a nest of scaffolding and cranes. Repair of the Parthenon has been going on since the mid-1980s. Since its creation in the 5th century B.C., during the golden age of Pericles, it has served not only as the temple to Athena, but as a Greek Orthodox Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary; a Roman Catholic Church during Frankish rule in the 13th century, and a mosque under the Turkish occupation in the 15th century. It remained intact for two thousand years until it was left in ruins by a Venetian bombardment during the siege of 1687.

The Erechtheion — named for one of the mythical kings of Athens — was built in the 5th century on the northern side of the Acropolis. On the Erechtheion’s south side, the figures of the Caryatids support the roof of a balcony.

The Caryatids.

The statues on view today are copies; the original five sculptures of the beautiful maidens are in the Acropolis Museum located below the Acropolis where the original sculptures, reliefs and other art works from the Acropolis buildings are on view. A sixth, along with the Elgin marbles, is in the British Museum in London.

Inside the temple was the 40 foot high statue of Athena made of wood, ivory and gold, the work of the sculptor Pheidias. The statue was lost during the Byzantine era, but a smaller Roman copy survives in the ever-fascinating National Archaeological Museum, which offers visitors not only a wealth of art from Greece’s classical period, but a magnificent collection of cycladic art.
From the Acropolis, there’s a splendid view of Athens below and of the hills surrounding the city. St. Paul stood on the rock just to the west to preach to the Athenians.

On the southern slope below the Acropolis lie the ruins of the Odeon of Herodes, built in 161 A.D., and the Theatre of Dionysius, where Aeschylus, Aristophanes, Euripides and Sophocles saw premiere performances of their plays in the 5th century B.C. In the summer, the theatre is used for plays, and concerts are performed in the Odeon.

Farther down the hill to the southeast stands Hadrian’s Arch, the entrance to the huge Olympian Temple of Zeus. Only 15 of the original 104 Corinthian columns of the temple remain. It was dedicated by the Roman emperor Hadrian in 132 A.D. He erected a gold and ivory inlaid statue of Zeus in the temple, and next to it he placed a huge statue of himself. Neither survives. The Arch marks the boundary between the ancient city and the new. On the side facing the Acropolis is inscribed “This is Athens, the city of Theseus.” On the side facing the Temple of Zeus, it states, “This is Athens, the city of Hadrian.”

At the foot of the Acropolis to the north lie the ancient Greek agora, the well preserved Temple of Hephaestos, the curious Tower of the Winds (a first century B.C. octagonal hydraulic clock with a bas relief of one of the eight winds sculpted on each face of the clock) in the Roman agora, and the oldest sections of Athens – the Plaka and the Monastiraki.

Every Sunday all of Athens seems to wander through the flea market of Monastiraki. The small shops lining the narrow streets are open every day, and on Sunday, the sidewalks are crowded with vendors of all sorts of goods old and new. Restaurants seat Sunday crowds at tables on the narrow sidewalks.

Nearby, on Aghias Theklas Street, is the shop of Athens’ famous poet and sandalmaker, Stavros Melissinos. Stavros retired in 2004, and his son, Pantelis, a poet and playwright, now makes the sandals and runs the shop. Lord Byron lived in a house on this street when he visited Athens in the 19th century.

Athens’ large, busy Central Market bustles in the Psyrri quarter adjacent to Monastiraki. Fruit, vegetables, meat and fish are colorfully displayed and vendors shout their wares from booths. Dozens of different fish are often displayed with miniature boats and shells, with whole lamb carcasses hanging above the butchers’ wares.

Day trips from the city offer a visitor the opportunity to admire beautiful countryside and to visit the ancient sights or some of the islands. Regularly scheduled bus and boat tours with knowledgeable guides, fluent in English, make the visits easily accessible. Rental cars are available but finding a way in and out of Athens can be difficult.

Several of the trips are available only during the summer season between April and October; others run all year. One such year-round trip goes from Athens into the Peloponnese, reached by crossing the narrow Isthmus of Corinth via the bridge high across the Corinth canal. The canal was begun by the emperor Nero but not completed until 1893.

Corinth

Ancient Corinth was the first city in Greece to mint coins. Because of its location near the trade route across the Isthmus, it was rich and powerful. Destroyed by the Romans in 146 B.C. (in the same year as the destruction of Carthage), it was rebuilt by Julius Caesar a century later.

Ancient Corinth was dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of fertility. A thousand women served the goddess as sacred prostitutes for rich visitors, earning money for the temple. Corinth earned a licentious reputation, and St. Paul preached in the city against its wickedness; his letters to the first Christian congregation became the books of the Bible called I and II Corinthians.

Corinth’s acropolis, Agrocorinth, lies 1500 feet above sea level and 1000 feet above the ancient city. The ruins are reached through three gates, each dating from a different century. It has served as a fortress for each conqueror of Corinth.

Mycenae & Epidaurus

The road to the ruins of Mycenae passes through the modern village of Mycenae, where the names of the cafes and restaurants along the road suggest the popularity of the ancient ruins: Elektra Bar, Orestes Café, Iphegenia Restaurant, Belle Helene Hotel.

The important Mycenaean civilization existed from about 1600 to 1100 B.C., when Mycenae was abandoned. The ruins of the fortified palace are grandiose. This was the home of the house of Atreus, from whence Agamemnon set forth in 1250 to Troy to avenge the theft of his brother’s wife. It’s a climb from the parking lot up the hill and through the fabled Lion Gate, the first example of European monumental sculpture.

Grave circles within the walls hold the tomb of Clytemnestra. At the top, all that is left are the outlines of the chambers of what was a mighty palace. The view, like the ruins, is unique. The hilltop palace was inhabited by the ruling class, while the merchants and artisans lived and were buried below, outside the walls.

Nearby is the treasury, or beehive tomb, of Atreus, an extraordinary circular burial chamber with a high dome and a single straight entry passage lined with stones. The entrance itself is surmounted with a 120 ton lintel stone; the dome is entirely covered by earth. Unlike their contemporaries, the Mycenaeans did not cremate their dead, but buried their kings with weapons and food for the journey to the other world. The tomb is also called Agamemnon’s, whose golden death mask is on exhibit in the Archaeological Museum in Athens.

Nafplio

To the south, lies the lovely Venetian seaside city of Nafplio. The first capital of Greece from 1829 to 1834 after the country’s independence, this charming town scrambles up a hillside to an imposing Venetian citadel. Just outside the harbor lies the fortified island of Bourtzi, another Venetian fortress, once the home of the local executioner.

Palm trees, water gently lapping against the harbor promenade, small shops and restaurants, a large central piazza with outdoor cafes, and flowers blooming in the winter sunshine give the town a Mediterranean air. The town’s Catholic churches were built originally as mosques by the Turks. A genuine Italian gelateria adds the perfect conclusion to a delicious lunch of mezze, washed down with a glass of good Greek wine and later a tiny cup of strong, sweet Greek coffee.

Athenians come to Nafplio for a weekend of sun and relaxation. The town’s proximity to Epidaurus and its summer drama festival makes it particularly attractive as a place to overnight.

Epidaurus

The great amphitheatre at Epidaurus in a remote grove of trees retains all its magic, including perfect accoustics. On warm summer evenings, with the hills outlined in the fading light behind the proscenium, ancient dramas come swiftly to life. The plays are performed in the only circular orchestra to have survived from 2,500 years ago.

Epidaurus was famed not only for its theatre, but as a healing center. The ruins of the sanctuary, which included a spring, a dormitory for the patients, a pit for the sacred (and harmless) snakes used in certain cures, are being restored and aren’t currently open to the public.

Delphi

The road to Delphi on the Greek mainland runs through an area once covered with cotton fields. Today, with the textile industry having moved to the Balkans, it’s a lovely drive through farmland at the foot of snow-capped mountains. A short coffee break in the pretty mountain village of Arachova, famous for the brightly colored carpets, is a jump into something like a Swiss mountain village. Shops selling carpets, embroideries and clothing line the main street. Houses tumble down the hill and the hotels and restaurants cater to skiers.

Delphi, the navel or center of the world in Greek mythology, is magnificent. There, the sibyl in her laurel smoke enduced trance would mumble prophecies from her tripod atop the sacred rock. A crack in the rock emitted the fumes surrounding the Pythia, as she was called. The priests would ask a question and interpret her answers in writing, but written without punctuation so that the prophecy, believed to have come from Apollo, could be read in several ways. The oracle was never wrong.

The site — when devoid of school groups and tourists — is both spiritual and sensual in its peace and beauty, the ruins ringed by mountains that come together like an upside down triangle. Apollo’s temple amidst fragrant trees and bushes, overlooks a valley planted with four million olive trees, which even in ancient times produced olives for cooking and oil for lighting. Beyond sparkles the sea.

The Sacred Way, climbing from the entrance of the sanctuary to Apollo’s Temple, was once lined with 300 statues and treasuries. On the way is the navel stone, representing the center of the earth where two eagles met, released by Zeus one from each end of the world.

On the hill above the temple of Apollo is the theatre which could seat 5,000 people. Beyond, is the well preserved stadium where the Pythian Games were held every four years. 7,000 spectators could watch the track and field events and listen to poetry and musical performances. On the hill below the sanctuary is the tholos, a 4th century circular construction, purpose unknown, which was once surrounded by 20 columns. Three columns have been erected to give visitors a sense of what the tholos looked like in ancient times.

Outside the sanctuary, on the side of the modern road, is the icy cold Castalian Spring, where anyone visiting Delphi was required to purify himself. The sybil would wash here before making her pronouncements, as did Lord Byron in the hope of divine inspiration for his poetry. Delphi’s museum is a treasure trove of sculptures, friezes and architectural remnants from the sanctuary, including the famous bronze sculpture, the Charioteer.

There are many other places that can be visited in a day trip from Athens, such as the temple of Poseidon on a rock at Cape Sounian overlooking the Aegean Sea, or a boat trip to one of the islands. The trip to Meteora and the monasteries built on rocky formations requires a second day.
Athens and the “the glory that was Greece” entices, excites and seduces still.

WHEN YOU GO

Accomodations:
The Athens Intercontinental is convenient and very comfortable with two excellent restaurants. The hotel has large, attractively furnished rooms. Both the public spaces and the rooms are decorated with unusual, interesting, and sometimes whimsical works of art. The rooms on the upper floors of the north side of the hotel face the Acropolis, offering spectacular views of the Parthenon shining in the sunlight and glowing in the nighttime illumination.

Athenaeum Intercontinenal Hotel
89-93 Syngrou Ave.
117 45 Athens
Tel. 30 210 920 6000
Fax. 30 210 920 5500

Sightseeing:
Chat Tours
www.chatours.gr

General Information:
Greek National Tourism Organization
www.gnto.gr

* Originally published April 2017

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1. What are some of the “things” or activities that people do for fun in Wales?

ANSWER: Try ‘coasteering’– it’s great – dressed in wet suites you jump of a cliff (around 30 ft.) into the sea, swim a little, then climb up the cliff to do it all again.

Walking is also great in Wales – with the 870 mile Wales Coast Park, making Wales the only country in the world you can walk around its entire coast.

2. What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Wales?

ANSWER: Did you know that Wales has 641 castles – some of which you can stay in!

© Crown copyright (2013) Visit Wales

3. What has Wales contributed to the world?

ANSWER: Slate – at the end of the 19th century almost all of the slate used for housing came from Wales. The history of slate mining is kept alive by the National Slate Museum in Llanberis. Also, famous poets, entertainers and actors like Dylan Thomas, Dame Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Sir. Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Richard Burton and more!

For further information about Wales, click-on: www.visitwales.com

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