Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that people who live in Hanover do for fun?

There are numerous activities in Hanover that locals enjoy, including surfing on the Leine River right in the heart of the Old Town district. A surfable wave has been created there by installing a hydraulically controllable system, allowing water sports enthusiasts to engage in ‘rapid surfing.’

During summer, the annual Maschsee Lake Festival transforms the promenades around the Maschsee shores into one of Northern Germany’s largest open-air parties, featuring various stages and a wide array of entertainment acts.

In the winter, locals and visitors come together and drink mulled wine at the Christmas market. There are more than 100 festively decorated stalls selling culinary delights, as well as local goods, such wooden toys from the Erzgebirge.

Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Hanover?

One lesser-known fact about Hanover is its status as one of Germany’s greenest cities. The capital of Lower Saxony boasts over 2,100 acres of public green spaces, including the ‘green lung’ of the city, the Eilenriede, which alone extends to about 1,600 acres in the city’s center, nearly twice the size of New York’s Central Park. The city center also features Maschpark and Maschsee Lake, along with historic parks like the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, which include a renowned baroque garden.”

A hidden gem of the city is the singing manhole cover in the city center. A Germany-wide unique piece surprises onlookers with unexpected music and adds a playful touch to the cityscape.

Question: What has Hanover contributed to the world?

Hanover has made significant contributions to the world, particularly in the realm of music technology. It is the birthplace of the first vinyl record, the production site of the first music cassette, and the location where the first CD was pressed. These innovations have played a crucial role in Hanover being designated a ‘UNESCO City of Music’ in December 2014, a title that celebrates the city’s ongoing influence on musicians and music technology.

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1. Question: What are some of the “things” or activities that the people of Quito do for fun?

Answer:

The classic South American tradition of enjoying restaurants and cafes is evident in Quito. The Quitenos with a vibrant dining scene enjoy time around the table, exploring the art of conversation and lingering over steaming coffee.

The city at a whopping 9,350-feet above sea level, surrounded by steep-sided hills, volcanoes, and the Andes Mountains, affords the opportunity for adventurous outings such as a ride on the teleferico cable car up Pichincha Volcano, or a hike to the summit of Pancillo that dominates the city, and is crowned with the statue of Virgin Mary. Other pleasures are drives into the countryside and to the indigenous craft and produce markets. Quitenos are avid soccer or football aficionados, and support the city’s ongoing festivals.

2. Question: What’s one thing the public probably does NOT know about Quito?

Answer:

The official currency for Quito and Ecuador is the American dollar. All fees, charges, and store prices throughout the city are noted with United States currency. Quito does not acknowledge summer and winter, but goes by rainy and dry. The rainy season, roughly, December to April is a better time to visit, with warmer nights, sunny mornings, and easily avoidable afternoon rain showers. Quito has one of the largest and best preserved historic centers in Latin America, covering some 800 acres, and the first city in the world to be declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

3. Question: Share some aspect of what Quito has contributed to the world.

Answer:

Quito has impressive conservation agendas in place. In the northwest of the city there are several ecological reserves ideal for the observation of native and endemic birds, and is ranked among the most internationally recognized bird-watching area in the world. Quito was also honored by National Geographic in 2017 as among the 17 best nature destinations to visit.  Quito’s Festival of Lights in August, unique to South America, draws over a million visitors from throughout the world.  Quito is also noted as the world’s second largest rose producer, and near the top for variety.

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I have a great affection for swimming pools. Jumping into refreshing, crystal clear waters in Southern California has always had a way to soothe my senses. I’ve noticed when my Pacific Northwest friends and families realized that I had a swimming pool in my backyard in Burbank, some were curious and wondered why someone like me, a former Seattleite with a fondness for rain, should actually have a pool. I would remind them that having a pool down here is not uncommon. In fact, due to the heat, our pools are often not heated.

Once, after an exhausting final lap in my pool, I remembered a story when a former U.S. president was asked what we would like to show Mikhail Gorbachev when he visited Southern California. He said that he would like to take him for a plane ride over the San Fernando Valley to show him that American workers live harmoniously and have the freedom to afford swimming pools. And the former Soviet President supposedly replied, though it was never confirmed, for the plane ride never really happened, In my nation, our workers have the freedom to live without poverty. Yet, they managed to forge a mutual respect between one another, that led to a friendship, a friendship which ultimately thawed the Cold War.

Later, when first lady Nancy Reagan led Madame Raisa Gorbachev on a tour of the White House grounds, she was unable to show her its swimming pool, for a former president had turned it into a pool for the press. Eventually, the former president would find himself drowning in his own pool of remorse.

Fortunately, he was able to swim to the edge of the pool, in realization of the harm he had done to his nation. And, as this is an American story, where past misdeeds generally transition into the good, our former president reinvented himself, and joined the human race. With thanks to John Lennon, for allowing me to mutilate his lyrics in the song, Instant Karma.

The birth of the world’s first Swimming Pool…

The Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro.

The Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro is considered the earliest public water tank of the ancient world. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Great Bath was built in the third millennium BCE, soon after the raising of the citadel mound on which it is located.

And the birth of my first swimming experience…

The Green Lake Children’s Wading Pool in Seattle.

In the early days of my Seattle youth, nothing signaled the beginning of summer quite like the Green Lake Wading Pool. With the mercury rising, this little aquatic sanctuary in the heart of Seattle was the premier venue for us kiddos to wade, splash and beat the heat. As an unsteady swimmer, I found its shallow waters to be particularly enjoyable, for my feet could always touch the bottom of the pool.

Through the years, I’ve noticed some pools have themes…

Jayne Mansfield’s heart-shaped pool of love in Beverly Hills, built and designed by Mickey Hargitay.

While others have themes of history…

The indoor Roman swimming pool at San Simeon.

And, with some, you can look up and look down…

The swimming pool on a sheet of glass, at Houston’s Market Square Tower.

But, if it was during lunch hour, you’d barely see a soul on the streets, for most Houstonites have taken a reprieve in a cool, underground city to avoid the blasting heat. Houston’s underground is a bit of a reverse, though, modeled after, Montreal’s own winter underground world, where a Montréaler can simply traverse throughout it without even wearing a cold storage coat.

And then look down again…

The swimming pool used in Steven Soderberg’s The Limey.

This time look down at the vegetation in the Hollywood Hills, but be warned, it’s the swimming pool used in Steven Soderberg’s The Limey, and you might find yourself falling head-first into the ground. That is, if British actor, Terence Stamp has crashed the party and is in the hunt for the murder of his estranged daughter, who he last saw when he was in a British prison very long ago.

You can use a lagoon as your own swimming pool…

At an alluring lagoon in Bora Bora.

The Pacific Ocean island of Bora Bora is a paradise with its breathtaking lagoons, crystal-clear streams, lush jungle vegetation and soaring mountains. Bora Bora provides a genuinely remarkable experience in natural splendor, along with a unique Polynesian culture.

Or at a bay…

Isola di Procida.

In the Bay of Isola di Procida, Naples’ smallest island, is where you’ll find that the people of this quintessential Mediterranean paradise are more than just proud of what they gave to the world: UNESCO certified Pizza Napoletana’s marinara, Margherita, and Margherita extra.

So friends, Romans and countrymen, please take note:  Pizza Napoletana is the first and only real pizza on the globe. Anything else is a mere imitation, despite your preference for its crust and flavor in your mouth. With thanks to Amirali Mirhashemia for the enlightenment and the photograph, via Unsplash, above.

And, if you desire a spa experience in the Land of Fire and Ice…

Iceland’s Blue Lagoon.

Iceland’s Blue Lagoon is the island nation’s number one tourist attraction. Sadly, the Blue Lagoon is currently closed after the volcanic eruption that began at Sundhnúkagígar on March 16, due to its close proximity to the eruption site.

The countdown begins for the selection of the FIVE (5) best swimming pool in the world, but let’s start with an Honorable Mention…

The natural salt water swimming pool at Vancouver’s Stanley Park Seawall.

The saltwater Kitsilano Pool is located at Vancouver’s Stanley Park Seawall, formerly known to the Coast Salish people as Skwa-yoos. The Kitsilano Pool opened in 1931, and was originally billed as North America’s Largest Swimming Pool, with the size of 660 by 200 feet and 2 by 8 feet deep, covering 2.3 acres, and containing 1.3 million liters of water. It was filled by tidal water from English Bay, where mud sharks, octopuses and other sea life were occasionally found. It was designed as a spot for bathers to swim during low tide, and had a sandy bottom until the 1960s, when it was filled with concrete. Over 5,000 swimmers arrived on opening day to experience the new oceanside swimming pool.

The Stanley Park Seawall is a popular running and biking route. On the beach you can watch people fishing, sitting on logs, laughing, chatting, playing music and waiting for the final glimpse of the sun in the late afternoon or early evening. My own senses have always been endowed with tantalizing aromas from Robsons Street’s cutting-edge restaurants, where many seafood entrees were caught that very day at the bay

And at Number Five (5), the graceful and culturally vibrant swimming pool at…

The Costa Baja Resort & Spa in La Paz, Mexico.

As the first 5-star resort in La Paz, Costa Baja Resort & Spa is just ten minutes from downtown La Paz, set on the Sea of Cortez, overlooking a 250-slip double-basin marina and a white sand beach. At the resort and spa, you’ll discover that Baja Lower California Peninsula is much more than the birthplace of fish tacos and hot dogueros, (the La Paz hot dog). You’ll also find margaritas, stronger cerveza, colorful homes, music and folkloric dance and citizens with a higher literacy level than the U.S. Sometimes it’s hard to take it all in with the sun setting on the glimmering Sea of Cortez, which Jacques Cousteau christened the world’s aquarium, with one of the planet’s most abundant ecosystems. But, remember to bring your bathing suit and scuba gear.

La Paz is dubbed The Peace, so not exactly sure why I was unable to notice any murders, rapists, drug cartels and some real mean hombres. Perhaps I was too busy reading that the national cuisine of Mexico was inscribed by UNESCO on their List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. I beg to wonder if any of the rapists, drug cartels and some of those real mean hombres, ever smuggled over the U.S border: corn, beans, tomatoes, avocados, squash, chili peppers, wild turkey hens for Thanksgiving, vanilla, or Cacao beans – you know, the bean which gave the world chocolate. Now, I’ve just stolen and revised a line from T-Boy restaurant critic, Audrey Hart, who recently wrote and revised from Adam Sandlers’ Chanukah Song: “And what do they all have in common? All Mexican!“

Yet, I struggle to understand why La Paz experiences only a fraction of the robbery, rape, assault and murder found in most US cities, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. In fact, it’s so safe that the infamous drug cartel, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman made La Paz his hideout. And still I wonder, why is Mexico allowing reckless Americans into their country?

Number Four (4). The many swimming pools at…

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa at the Ka’anapali Beach Resort.

By taking a plunge at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, you will be on your way to a journey through long channels of clear water, where you will swim under water falls, with the destination of a swim-up bar, or, should I say, a secret swim-down bar, hidden in a grotto.

The history of Ka’anapali Beach dates back nearly 250 years to the legend of the king of Maui – Kahekili II – who would demonstrate his bravery by diving 400 feet into the sea from a cliffside Black Rock. Kahekili would force his warriors to do the same; showing him that they were fearless, loyal and bold. The very same iconic Black Rock still stands at Ka’anapali Beach today. The feat is emulated once a day at five p.m., when a diver stands at the top of the rock, recites a Hawaiian chant, offers a torch and lei to the ocean, then leaps into the sea without making a splash. And, after a day of activities, there was no better way to enjoy a five p.m. cocktail hour while swimming and marveling at the man’s heroic dive. PR reps, take note of this brilliant marketing strategy.

Ka’anapali Beach Resort is the original master planned resort in the Hawaiian Islands, and has become the benchmark for all other self-contained resort destinations. Its diverse location can appeal to any kind of traveler when it comes to activities. Not only has it been rated as a top beach in the world, which lends itself to multiple water activities, but the mountains of Maui are behind the resort, also rich with things to do.

Hawaiian Regional Cuisine is available at all Ka’anapali Beach Resort restaurants, which continues to welcome global visitors and make them aware of the beauty of Polynesian culture through the amazing cuisine, which has changed the way the world prepares food, by mixing traditional and inclusive combinations of flavors from a variety of cultural influences.

I’ve always been impressed how Ka’anapali Beach Resorts embraced traditional Hawaiian history and culture; taught the world that it is possible to mix culture, recreation and community in a world-class setting. Ka’anapali Beach Resort, in Maui, is an exotic location with a unique eco-system and rich culture that you can experience without leaving the U.S.

Number Three (3) on the list is the swimming pool at Sun Valley Resort.

The swimming pool at Sun Valley Resort.

As I sat on the edge of the resort’s famous outdoor circular pool, it was so cold outside that I couldn’t see across the surface, due to the fog and steam. I began to contemplate if I would have noticed Ernst Hemingway if he was in the pool, before realizing he was probably pounding away on For Whom the Bell Tolls, in the Ernst Hemingway Suite at the Sun Valley Lodge.

In 1935, Austrian Count Felix Schaffgtosch was hired by Averell Harriman of Union Pacific Railroad to find the perfect location for a grand American resort. It should be noted that the U.S. diplomat Harriman helped seal the Lend-Lease deal between the U.S. and Great Britain in the early days of WWII. After fruitless months of searching the mountains of the west, the count became aware of Ketchum, a dying mining town in Central Idaho. He quickly made a sharp U-turn to Ketchum, and was overwhelmed by what he saw. He immediately wired Harriman with these words: This combines more delightful features than any place I have ever seen in Switzerland, Austria or the U.S. for a winter resort. Harriman rushed over to join him, and purchased 4,300 acres of what was to become Sun Valley Resort. Harriman was determined to build Sun Valley into a resort worthy of its majestic setting, which would include a timeless four-story mountain lodge, complete with a glass-enclosed pool, world-class cuisine, ice-skating rink, impeccable service and nightly orchestra performances. After seven months of construction, Sun Valley Resort opened in the winter of 1936. And the PR was nothing less than brilliant, where Harriman shrewdly marketed the resort to the Hollywood elite, in an effort to drum up publicity. Celebrities such as Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman and Clark Gable, were invited to enjoy the resort without spending a penny in their own pockets. The PR spread across the globe and Sun Valley became known as the place of the stars. Soon local wildlife was sharing the mountain with Hollywood royalty. And the resort wasn’t just for relaxation either, as world-class athletes used the mountain for Olympic training.

Ernst Hemingway, an avid hunter and fisherman, was overwhelmed by Sun Valley’s vast great outdoors, which he found both recreational and inspirational, and could also be enjoyed with solitude and anonymity; unlike the new breeds of celebrities today, where no form of anonymity is ever warranted.

And the selections continue with Number Two (2)…

The Engadin Scuol Health and in Bathing Center in Switzerland.

The Engadin Scuol Health and Bathing Center has developed into one of the world’s major health and wellness destinations.

As my eyes took in the spa’s holistic waters, surrounded by the Swiss Alps, it was easy to see that the quotation: A picture is worth a thousand words; an advertising slogan by Fred R. Barnard, was really true.

Scuol lies cradled between the peaks of the Silvretta range and the Engadin Dolomites. This holiday area has retained its native cultural values and natural surroundings.

But, before plunging into its holistic waters, stand warned: never jump into the pool’s spa waters before showering first. You’ll find that North Americans are considered to be somewhat dirty, and, if the staff notices you haven’t showered first, there’s a chance you’ll be issued a one-way ticket back to the Canadian provinces or U.S. states.

Plus, you might miss the historic 2½ hour-long Roman-Irish Bath, a blending of two ancient cultures. The Romans believed in the health benefits of steam baths of varying temperatures, while the ancient Celts enjoyed a combination of bathing in hot water, followed by dry air. This rejuvenating bathing tradition encompasses 10 different stations, beginning with an invigorating massage, and ending with a 30-minute nap with the Swiss Alps as a backdrop.

I’m not going out on a limb when I proclaim Switzerland to be one of the world’s most spectacular tourist destinations. Within an area roughly the size of the state of Maryland, there is such an abundance of awe-striking beauty, recreational activities and cultural attractions that the nation has become a Mecca for visitors of every age and nationality.

The varied Alpine world of the canton of Graubünden is brought within reach by a dense network of railways that offers journeys so scenic that many visitors can’t resist hanging their heads out train windows to bask in a world of lush valleys, sweeping mountain peaks, glacier-fed rivers and lakes. And it is in this spectacular Alpine valley region, where you can witness some of the wildest and most breathtaking landscapes on the globe.

And closes, with the Number One (1) favorite swimming pool in the world…

The Molino Stucky Hilton in Venice, Italy.

At first, it seemed strange that we would be staying at a Hilton property in Venice, but that was before my eyes set on the palatial Molino Stucky, a former flour mill that has been painstakingly refurbished into a swank hotel, but still very much in the Venetian character. While luxuriating by the roof top pool, with Venice’s unforgettable city skyline in the distance, it occurred to me that I was experiencing something that even a Doge in all his glory would find unimaginable.

Earlier, after charging through the congested streets of Venice, I somehow managed to reached the Bridge of Sighs, where the crowd had grown so thick that (ironically) I could barely look above the mandatory Venetian straw hats to get a glimpse of the famous window. Of course, this is the window which prisoners would pass and take their final view of Venice before their descent into the darkness of the dungeons. A petite woman, almost hidden in the crowd, asked me to take a photo of the window with her camera; for she could not see what it looked like outside. As I returned her camera, she politely smiled a thank you and disappeared before I could say goodbye. My own personal sigh illustrated that I needed a break from the sweltering hordes of tourists, and it was best to take a reprieve.

My cruise pass allowed me two days of lodging at the Molino Stucky Hilton, which not only included dips into Molino’s almost unimaginable terraced swimming pool, but trips to Stucky’s Rialto Bar & Lounge, which offered complimentary regional snacks, coffee and the Venetian mainstays of spritz, grappa and Prosecco. Both the rooftop pool and Stucky’s bar and lounge, proved to be a welcoming venue to relax and refresh. Plus, my batteries were soon recharged for a further exploration of Venice’s major attractions. This time, hopefully, with less heat and crowds.

Venice is built on an archipelago of 118 small islands, formed by 177 canals in a shallow lagoon, connected by 409 bridge and remains the only functioning city in Europe in the 21st century where every form of transport is entirely on water or foot. Also the main public transportation means – motorized waterbuses (vaporetto) – which serve regular routes along the Grand Canal and between the city’s islands.

As a city built on water, Venice offers a strong relationship with its citizens in their natural element. So, one of the main activities for a Venetian in their leisure time is to be close to water. Most local people own a boat, either a sailing one, rowing one or with a motor. When summer arrives, everybody seems to take out their boats. There are also many traditional rowing or sailing boats, which were created from the local environment, that can be considered as a piece of art for their design and construction. Besides the great deal of rowing boats in Venice, the most famous one is the gondola, which is conducted in a standing position, something very unique to this city. Even the sailing boats have special shapes in both the hull and the sail, to be able to cross shallow waters.

To keep the boating tradition alive, there are many local associations, along with the City of Venice, organizing various events in the lagoon such as regattas, races, parades, etc. Many of the most important traditional feats, still celebrated in the city – Festa del Redentore, Festa de la Sensa, the Historic Regatta – take place on the water, offering citizens and visitors both sports and culture at the same time. In recent years, there has been an important movement entitled, the Vogalonga, a non-competitive race which started as a local protest against motor wave movements. It has become a worldwide appointment for all sorts of rowing boats. Motor wave movement is still a great issue inside the Lagoon of Venice because more and more people enjoy outdoor weekends between the island of the lagoon and at the sea, using motor boats with speed engines that erode salt marshes and damage the edges of the city.

And, the Molino Stucky Hilton in Venice will always remain in my heart, as well as the most essential stay at my favorite swimming pool destination in the world.

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The Wall was not only intended as a defensive structure, protecting the civilized Roman world from the unconquered barbarians in the north, but stood as a testament of Rome’s will and might. It was a propaganda statement, but also served as a census bureau, for the Romans were meticulous record keepers, and wanted to know who was in and who was out. It was the equivalent of a modern-day protection racket, for each person who would pass through the wall was taxed; you were protected, but you would have to pay for it. And tax and trade were among the many things that defined the Roman Empire.

But now, my real education, an oral one, of the history of Hadrian’s Wall would begin by booking a personalized tour with the passionate tour guide extraordinaire, Mr. Peter Carney. My day commenced with Mr. Carney driving us 16 miles from North West England’s city of Carlisle, to a place where locals simply refer to as the Wall. His narration began almost immediately, explaining why Hadrian’s Wall was built, what it did and how it changed the course of human and technological history. But this piece of history does not begin or end with the Wall; it’s as much about the history of the Roman Empire as well as the world we live in today.

The Wall That Bears His Name

Caesar Traianus Hadrianus, Roman emperor from 117 to 138 ACE, was known for his travels throughout the empire, devoting much of his time to civil and military constructions. He was considered to be a benevolent dictator as his interventions generally went unchallenged. And this included building projects, in particular, building projects in which he had designed. Prior to the advent of Hadrian’s Wall, he constructed the Arch of Hadrian in Athens, the Temple of Venus and Roman Arch of Hadrian and rebuilt the Pantheon in Rome. Many of the world’s most famous structures and monuments may lay claim as an homage to others, but were also intended to be an homage unto oneself, where the wealthy have branded their buildings with their own names and logos, even more so today. No lists required.

Hadrian had drawn the design for his Wall without ever having visited the new Roman province of Britannia before. Prior to his arrival, the province had suffered a major rebellion (119 to 121 ACE), comprising some 3,000 soldiers. This might have had something to do about his arrival in Britannia in 122 ACE, but most sources have indicated that it was really more for him to see the early construction of his Wall and then to revise it, and perhaps revise it again.

It was a herculean task to construct the Wall, almost unimaginable in its day, where Roman masons and auxiliary were relentlessly challenged by harsh windswept fields, wide rivers and rolling hills that were not conducive to Hadrian’s initial plans. But Hadrian and his builders, like the Roman Empire itself, could not be stopped, making brilliant use of local geographical features. The well-known Central Sector ran 12 miles along the crags, with the east Wall placed on a long ridge running eastwards to Newcastle, while the west Wall was often located on shorter ridges, allowing views of the north to improve the mobility of the army in the event of Celtic attacks in the frontier.

There is still no conclusive evidence to determine when Hadrian’s Wall was actually completed. An inscription suggests that at least one part of Wall was finalized around 128 ACE, six years after Hadrian left Britannia. He never saw what is believed to be the finished Wall, the Wall that bears his name… but his name and Wall will always remain the same.

Julius Caesar and Britannia

The first direct Roman contact with Britannia began when Julius Caesar undertook two expeditions in 55 and 54 BCE, believing the Britannic people were helping the Gallic resistance in what is today’s France. The first expedition was more of a reconnaissance one than a full invasion, only gaining a foothold on the coast of Kent, a county in South East England, unable to advance further due to storm damage to his ships. Despite what he thought was a failure, it was a political success, with the Roman Senate declaring a 20-day public holiday in honor of Caesar’s achievement of obtaining hostages and pacifying small tribes. The second invasion involved a substantially larger force where Caesar coerced many of the tribes to pay tribute in return for peace. This concluded with the surrender of the warlord, Cassivellaunus, and the installation of the more Roman-friendly king, Mandubracius. Caesar conquered no territory and left no troops behind, but established new trade partners and brought Britannia into Rome’s sphere of influence.

Remember Vindolanda

The Vindolanda site today contains a modern world-class museum using the latest interpretation techniques which convey the mysteries of Roman life at the Wall. The Vindolanda Writing Tablets, thin slivers of wood covered in unique Latin scribble, were found in the oxygen-free deposits, buried beneath the wooden fort’s floor. They are the oldest surviving handwritten documents in Britain.

In 2018 the museum was extended with an underworld gallery, housing collections of 2,000-year-old artifacts, which included everything from a wooden toilet seat to a children’s toy sword.

It could be a cold and lonely life for a Roman soldier stationed at Vindolanda, where heavy rains and chilling winds would often be a daily occurrence. Many of the solders had arrived from the warm climate of the highy populated Italian Peninsula, and for new Roman commanders and their families, it was akin to a blunt slap in the face in comparison to their early life of luxury in the capital city of Rome.

Vindolanda has attracted archaeological attention for more than a century, but many mysteries still surround it. Students and amateur archeologists volunteer their time and money for digs and lodging during the summer, but often never make it in due to the long list applicant

Claudius, the last person considered to be an Emperor

Emperor Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was born August 10 BCE at Lugdunum (modern Lyon, France). He was the first Roman Emperor be born outside of Italy, and was ridiculed throughout his life by speaking a rustic form of Latin. His pedigree came from the Julio-Claudian dynasty; Claudius from his father’s side, Julian from his mother’s side of the family. The mocking Claudius received upon speaking rudimentary Latin was not unusual, for he had been ridiculed most of life. At a young age, due to sickness, he had a limp and slight deafness, and was ostracized by his family and kept hidden from the Roman aristocratic eye. In a sense, this was was good for him, for potential enemies did not see him as a serious threat, thus saving him from the fate of assassinations and purges of earlier powerful Romans. By the time of Claudius’ adolescent years, his physical symptoms seemed to subside, and Rome’s senators and patricians began to notice his intelligence and scholarly interests. Nevertheless, Claudius did he best to remain out of view, pleased that there was no hope for advancement, which was exactly what he did not want.

But the new emperor, Caligula, his relative, did recognize Claudius to be of some use as a historian, and appointed him as his co-consul in 37 ACE to inflate the memory of Caligula’s deceased father, Germanicus. After Caligula’s assassination, despite Claudius hiding as an act of survival, he was declared emperor by the Praetorian Guard, as the last adult male of his family.

As an emperor, Claudius was considered to be fair and and efficient. He constructed new roads, aqueducts and canals across the Roman empire, and restored its finances after the excesses of Caligula’s reign. He issued new reformations; ranging from the mandatory death of a slave owner who kills his own slave, to public flatulation, believing it will lead to a healthful life.

But the manifestations of Claudius’ new physical condition were difficult to ignore: his head shook and his body buckled under weak knees. He slobbered and stammered when under stress, making his speech almost incomprehensible. Historians assume his stress was from the fear of his own assassination. Several coup attempts had already been made during the first year of his realm, and he was aware that it could happen at any moment. And so he did everything in his power not to offend his armies; rewarding the Praetorian Guard with coins and tributes, and resorting to bribery to secure loyalty. One of the major themes of the Roman Empire was expansionism, and Claudius made an important calculated decision: keep the generals busy and hide them from the Roman capital by sending them off to distant lands to conquer. And one of those distant lands was an island off the western coast of Europe which Julius Caesar had named Britannia.

In 43 ACE, Claudius sent the general and politician, Aulus Plautius, with four legions to Britannia, under the guise of an appeal from an ousted tribal ally. Claudius himself traveled to the island after the completion of initial offensives, bringing with him a massive army and reinforcements, which also included elephants, an unknown beast that had a demoralizing effect on the enemy. Claudius knew that no people could ever withstand the might of the Romans with their highly trained centurions, legionaries and auxiliary who would march into battle with precision, as a unit in tortoise shell formations, using advanced technical warfare, so advanced that the Celts had never even seen such a force before. It was akin to a Martian landing for the local tribes, witnessing Roman legionaries jumping from their fleet of vessels into rough waters, and then swimming fully dressed in heavy steel armor, carrying swords and supplies, prepared to battle the second they walked on the shore.

Emperor Claudius, whose dominionship began in 41 ACE, was murdered by poison in year 54, perhaps due to a conspiracy between the senate and the Praetorian Guard, but some assumed it was by his 4th and final wife, Agrippina.

The Final Conquest

The Roman conquest of Britannia finally ended under the command of Gnaeus Julius Agricola in 84 ACE, with the Roman armies’ slaughter of the Caledonians at the Battle of Mons Graupius. Celtic casualties were estimated to be upwards of 10,000 and about 360 on the Roman side. The battle ended the forty-year conquest of Britannia, a conquest that saw approximately 250,000 Celtic people killed. Thus, the new province of Romano-Britannia was officially born with Aulus Plautius as the first governor of the new province.

Things Change

From 43 to ACE 410, in the Roman province of Britannia, all people became Romanized and enjoyed the full rights of Roman citizenship. And Britannia’s former landscape, which had once consisted of broken paths, crumbling stick homes and savage Celtic warriors with only blue tattoos covering their bodies, became endowed with Romano-Britannic culture. Their world transitioned to a network of 1,500 Roman roads, some still used today, leading to well-planned city centers and forums with monumental architecture held together with the Roman invention of concrete. Fountains, bathhouses, arenas for music, plays and poetry flourished throughout the new province. Aqueducts fed new homes with running water for bathing, indoor sewage, and some with heated floors. And through trade, Rome’s new citizens would be introduced to unknown spices, unique tools and mechanics. People who lived in rural areas discovered new forms of agriculture, grains and advanced methods of farming. In times of famine, it was no longer necessary to raid a nearby tribe or neighbor to survive.

The new Romanized people were allowed to live and travel wherever they liked without any form of confliction, as did Roman citizens who settled in Roman Britannia, bringing new ideas and new cultures from the far corners of the empire. And they were all protected by the Wall which Hadrian had built.

Roman Emperor Constantine I: The Edict of Milan

In the year 313 ACE, Roman Emperor Constantine I, along with the Emperor Lininius, who controlled the Balkans, issued the Edict of Milan, a proclamation that promised religious tolerance and freedom to be a Christian to all of citizens of Rome. Constantine kept his word, where he himself converted to Christianity, and became known as the ‘First Christian Emperor,’ though many assumed he didn’t actually understand what it meant. Nevertheless, he is venerated as a saint in Eastern Christianity, and considered responsible for introducing this new religion to mainstream Roman culture, a culture who had once thought Christianity was just another new Jewish cult, this one dedicated to a man named Jesus who had once lived in an obscure part of the Roman world. Now, when new Christianized Roman legionaries arrived at the northen frontier, Christian Crosses were embedded on their shields, and the soldiers were morally shaken upon finding that the barbarity of druids, the high Celtic priests, actually preformed human sacrifices. As Rome transition Britannica to Christianity, as they had done to much of the known world, Constantine transitioned the Christian day of worship to Sunday.

Antonine’s Wall

Antonine’s Wall was a turf wall built on stones, initially intended to be Romano-Britannia’s furthest northern defense fortification and replace Hadrian’s Wall. But it was abandoned eight years after completion, when the Roman legions withdrew to Hadrian’s Wall in 162 ACE. The Caledonians north of the Wall were never fully defeated or occupied. The Roman sentiment was basically: ‘Why even bother with these savages, there’s really nothing up there anyway.’ Today tours are readily available to Antonine’s Wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

And in the end…

The Romano-Britannic province all seemed to work until it didn’t, when most of the Roman army pulled out to deal with far more important matters, such as to curtail invasions in Germania from the Franks, the Alemanni, the Goths and the Sarmatians, who stood at Rome’s doorsteps. The Western Roman Empire, whose empire had once spread from the damp gray of Britannia to the deserts of Arabia and to the river banks of the Nile, would eventually fall and become another empire, the Holy Roman Empire, with the Frankish king, Charlemagne, as its emperor.

The Romano-Britannic citizens were left with a scattering of Roman military with little real form of real protection from which would soon come from the remaining barbaric Celts in the north, the war-like Vikings of Scandinavia, the conquering pagan Saxons and Angles from Germania, endless tribal wars, a new Germanic language and a new Germanic name for their island: Angland.

John Clayton: The Savior of Hadrian’s Wall

John Clayton (1792-1890) was a lawyer, an antiquarian and the town clerk of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. During Clayton’s youth, his father purchased an 18th-century country mansion in Humshaugh, Northumberland, adjacent to Hadrian’s Wall. The ruins of the 2,000-year-old Roman fort, Cilurnum, ran through its front garden. Clayton enjoyed exploring and digging around the fort to the point of becoming an amateur archeologist. But, he became annoyed upon seeing local people loading the Wall’s stones into wheelbarrows for reusage in constructing their own buildings. This was not unusual for much the world was built from reusage, which included the stones and marble from the Roman Forum that helped build the Rome and Vatican City of today. But for Clayton, when his own stones were taken from his own property, it was something he could not bare.

John Clayton, due to his successful lawyer-ship, had become wealthy and began purchasing large portions of the Wall and forts, and preserved them by placing sods of grass on their top. At the time of his passing, Clayton owned five forts as well as most of the Wall within 20-miles of his residence.  I was informed by Mr. Carney that when we see contemporary maps dotted with English city names that end with: ‘-caster,’ ‘-cester’ and ‘-chester,’ it is an indication that the city was once the site of a Roman military camp or fort. Another example how the Roman world still affect us today.

Perhaps this obituary about John Clayton says it best:

He strove to become the Wall’s possessor. By purchasing these sites, he brought them under his protection. He stopped quarrying near to the Wall, forbade the use of Roman stone for new buildings, and moved buildings away from the archaeology. Today, he’s remembered as ‘The Savior of Hadrian’s Wall.’

Hadrian’s Wall Guided Walks with Peter Carney

Below is not a paid sponsorship for a Peter Carney Hadrian’s Wall Tour. It is an important suggestion to join one of his tours, and your memory will be enhanced, just as mine has, where the memory of my own tour is carried with me each day.

Contact: pe*********@ha***************.com
Website: www.hadrianswall-walk.com

POST SCRIPTUM: A few things that Julius Caesar left to the world

July, the Julian Calendar, Czar / Kaiser/ Cezary in Polish / Cezar in Romanian / César in French and Spanish / Caesarism / HMS Caesar / Caesarsboom (Caesar’s Tree).

For the Caesar Salad, however, it’s best to swing down to Old Mexico and visit Caesar’s Restaurant in Tijuana, and you’ll see its birthplace and how it was created by the Italian immigrant, Mr. Cesare Cardini, ninety-nine years ago. Here’s the history of Caesar Cardini’s Iconic Caesar Salad by T-Boy Food Critic, Audrey Hart.

‘Hail Caesar’ is a phrase that was used in the Roman Empire as a greeting, a way of showing respect to Julius Caesar. But after the phrase traveled to Germany and transition to ‘Heil Hitler,’ it appears to be less popular today.

PPS: Barbarian

You might have noticed that I use the term, ‘Barbarian,’ a number of times in the text. I’m aware that once a new word or names goes out to the world, over time it takes on a new meaning with different people. I studied the etymology of ‘Barbarian’ within the context of the Roman Empire. It means, during the life of the Imperial Western Roman Empire, any person regardless of race, religion and ethnicity was branded a barbarian if they did not adhere to Greco-Roman culture. But, looking at the name within the context of the ancient Athenian world, it means: any person who did not speak Greek, spoke an incomprehensible language which sounded similar to a noise that a sheep makes: ‘bah bah, bar bar, barbarian.

To see the first three installments in the series, visit:

What’s New and Old in London, Part I
What’s New and Old in London, Part 2
What’s New & Old in England’s North

The post Hadrian’s Wall: All Roads Really do Lead to Rome appeared first on Traveling Archive.

I’ve homed in on one answer to satisfy both the longed-for quest and the simple, practical request: Quebec City, which offers a distinctive change of scenery and feels foreign, indeed, and yet, is close at hand. For me and my confreres in Gotham, it’s an hour-and-a-half by plane or a day’s drive. (And you can turn that eight-hour drive into a two-day sojourn, adding some tempting New England pit stops along the route.)

I made my first trip to Quebec City (population, just under 3.5 million) in 2019, and despite having been to many other destinations in Canada several times apiece, Quebec City had eluded me.  And I can honestly say, shame on me. The city and its environs offer the sensation of a more “exotic” trip abroad, and yet, it is in our backyard—and everyone (and I mean everyone, including the bus boy clearing your restaurant table) is bi-lingual. There is much to see and do in this appealing town, not merely in the Old City (Vieux-Québec), which is a UNESCO World Heritage site (and the only walled city north of Mexico).

Founded in the early 17th century by the French explorer Champlain, it is also the only North American city with its ramparts preserved; its handsomely landscaped Citadelle, was an essential city armament, a necessity in yesteryear’s settlements—colonial outposts had to be extensively fortified. The Upper Town, perched on the hilly crest of the “highlands” of Cap Diamant, is home to many historic sites—churches, convents, monuments, and the imperial and historic Château Frontenac, a Fairmont Hotel. The Lower Town sprouted up around the atmospheric Place Royale and the harbor and it is punctuated by charming neighborhoods, European-flavored enclaves, cobbled alleyways, delightful boîtes, and tempting boutiques.

For me, the perfect place—both soothing and welcoming—to call home for a few nights is Le Monastère des Augustines, a former convent (there are still seven nuns in residence here), occupying the historic wings of the Hotel-Dieu de Québec monastery, founded in 1639. The three intrepid sisters who sallied forth from France to alight here and who established the first hospital on the continent (north of Mexico) were dedicated to healing the sick. In all, the Augustinian Sisters founded a dozen hospitals that are today part of Quebec’s public health care system.

The monastery, having been completely restored and renovated, provides a unique experience as a retreat-hotel focusing on holistic health. Its website states that it offers “a unique healing experience in the heart of Old Quebec,” and it is, indeed, a sanctum of culture, caring, and comfort. There are daily meditation walks; yoga and movement classes in disciples like Qi Gong; holistic health evaluations; aromatherapy; and spa-oriented treatments that focus on health and well-being, rather than on beauty-oriented indulgences. The facility is, indeed, dedicated to self-improvement and self-exploration. (There are also countless off-campus activities—should you feel the need to fly the coop, as it were—such as walking nature trails and hiking; biking in the gorgeous and vast Parc des Champs-de-Bataille; and even zip-lining is not too far away.)

This gorgeous, serene retreat is comprised of older buildings, which were once a part of the footprint of the original monastery and twentieth-century additions; the new facilities are architecturally cunning, complementing the existing stone edifices with massive swathes of glass walls and walkways connecting the two sections. There is an inner courtyard providing greenery in a tranquil setting.

Who comes here?  While most guests are from Canada—with a smattering from Europe—about 30 percent hail from south of the border, a number that will likely increase in the coming year. Solitary guests, couples, friends, and mother-daughter combos, all settle in for what is usually a two- or three-night stay. (True to its founding purpose, according to the wishes of the Augustinian sisters, Le Monastère also provides a respite to caregivers and health service workers.)

The hotel accommodations are of two types: “authentic” and “contemporary.”  The former (33) are a slight variation on the original, monastic rooms occupied by the sisters. (An example of an original room is on view in the hotel corridor—as a museum exhibit—and is fascinating to see.)  These rooms offer iron-work-framed beds, topped with handmade, patchwork quilts, stitched by locals, a sink/mirror, and cupboards for clothing. (Bathroom facilities are off the main hallways and are modern, well equipped and private.)  The contemporary rooms (32) are a bit more modern, if a bit stark, but still comfy. There are en suite bathrooms, good storage space, and a desk. NB: no phones or televisions. 

The history of the Augustinians is well chronicled throughout the monastery complex, which also features an extensive archive as well as displays that illustrate the evolution of medicine from about the 13th century onward. There are presentation cases of surgical tools and equipment, a vintage pharmacy chamber, and many exhibitions in armoires along the corridors; these feature artifacts that speak to the work the Sisters performed—including vitrines showcasing the paper flowers that they made to generate revenue. 

Also, to show off the structure of the original building and the juxtaposition of the new additions, you’ll find glass inserts in the floor that allow you to peek into the caves below.  Similarly, there are vitrines that display the original keys to the monastery’s chambers.  Tucked around many nooks are original pieces of furniture as well, all annotated as to origin, and perhaps, even the maker.  An occasional statue of a Madonna with Child will pop up around a corner, in between the paintings of religious subject matter that punctuate the serenity of the whitewashed walls.

You will assuredly get a good rest here and be in a peaceful and healing environment for self-reflection; the day’s mood is set at breakfast, which is held in silence in the no-nonsense dining room with its dozens of mismatched chairs. A herb incubator unit houses hydroponically grown herbs and lettuces at one end of the room, and those fresh herbs contribute to the organic, healthy, and inventive cuisine designed by Chef Christophe Perny.

And if food is high on your list, you’ll not be disappointed in the city.  I savored a few meals off-campus and would highly recommend L’Orygine, a popular, Old Town bistro with a focus on organic, creative cuisine, using ingredients from the province.

I would also recommend a trip to Le Grand Marché, Quebec’s gourmet food destination, featuring fresh-off-the-vine produce, seductive sweets, interesting teas, and a plethora of cheeses, meats, fish, chocolates, as well as a dining area. Take a stroll along Dufferin Terrace, a boardwalk-like promenade overlooking the St. Lawrence, and end with a trip down the hill on the funicular. Visit the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral, the Place-Royale (the cradle of French civilization in North America), the Parc de la Cetière fresco, a fanciful trompe-l’oeil fresco that depicts 400 years of Quebec history, and the countless, interesting museums in the area.

You will not run out of things to do, should you seek a bit of activity away from the tranquility of Le Monastère. The city has usually enjoyed about 4.4 million tourists a year.  Your visit will help keep that number steady and at the same time, you’ll find a bit of bliss here, as you delight in the “foreignness” just over the border.

Quebec-cite.com/en; monastere.ca/en

© 2022  Ruth J. Katz  All Rights Reserved

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Now, as I stood on the shores of Naples, I was about to experience the real REAL THING. I had prepared myself with plenty of research for this sacred occasion. The word pizza was first documented in AD 997. Baker Raffaele Esposito from Naples is often given credit for creating the first such pizza pie. Unlike the wealthy minority, Neapolitans required inexpensive food that could be consumed quickly. Pizza, sold by street vendors or informal restaurants, met this need. The early pizzas (known to the world as Pizza Napoletana) consumed by Naples’ poor were prepared with simple and fresh ingredients: a basic dough, San Marzano tomatoes, grown in the volcanic soil of Mount Vesuvius, a splash of olive oil and some salt with no cheese, basil and fancy toppings. The pie was then baked in a wood-burning oven made of volcanic stones from Mount Vesuvius.

Italy unified in 1861, and King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples in 1889. Legend has it that the traveling pair became bored with their steady diet of French haute cuisine and asked for an assortment of pizzas from the city’s Pizzeria Brandi, the successor to Da Pietro Pizzeria, founded in 1760. The variety the queen enjoyed most was called Pizza Mozzarella, a pie topped with mozzarella di bufala – yes, the Roman brought buffalos to the Italian Peninsula – San Marzano tomatoes and green basil. (Perhaps it was no coincidence that her favorite pie featured the colors of the Italian flag.) From then on, the story goes that particular topping combination was dubbed Pizza Margherita.

The art of Neopolitan pizza-making, was recently added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. UNESCO says the designation is meant to safeguard and raise awareness about forms of cultural heritage — often passed down from generation to generation — before they die out. The Naples-based Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (True Neapolitan Pizza) will only issue its trademark to restaurants that follow even more stringent guidelines. But the result should be a pizza for the senses with “the flavor of well-baked bread. The slightly acidic flavor of the densely enriched tomatoes, mixed with the characteristic aroma of the oregano, garlic or basil ensures that the pizza, as it comes out from the oven, delivers its characteristic aroma.”

Pepperoni and pineapple lovers are out of luck. The association says only two kinds of pie are authentic: marinara pizza with tomato, oil, oregano and garlic and margarita pizza with the addition of cheese and basil. Neapolitan pizza has a thin crust. The edge of the crust, when baked, grows larger. It actually looks like a bicycle tire.

When news of the UNESCO recognition broke in Naples, pizza-makers handed out free slices on the street to celebrate, according to the BBC. Two million people had reportedly signed a petition supporting the piazzaiulo application. “After 250 years of waiting, pizza is humanity’s heritage, its intangible heritage,” Neopolitan pizza maker Enzo Coccia told the BBC.

But, how was the pizza and what will I tell my East Coast friends? Well, it was pretty good. Though I prefer focaccia from my ancestral homeland in Genoa (courtesy of my grandmother) and Chicago’s Deep Dish Pizza. But most importantly, in the future when I’m told that I don’t know what REAL pizza is – I am armed and ready with a reply.

The post Pizza Napoletana: Naples’ Gift to the World. appeared first on Traveling Archive.

The sweeping Maya culture of Guatemala, full of boundless mystery and intrigue, left behind in its ruins a complex enigma that can lay hold of the sensibilities, fulfill a longing for adventure and discovery, and inflame a strange sense of tragedy and lingering spirits. Never a single all-encompassing empire, the Maya flourished between AD 250 and 900 and, like creeping jungle vines, spread across the Yucatan, Guatemala, and Middle America. A culture developed in its own unique way embracing aspects of life that were unpredictable.

Following in the footprints of the Maya in Guatemala’s Tikal National Park, is to experience a striking collection of pastels, subtle blends of greens and blues and enticing turquoise, as the sub-tropical rainforest wraps around ancient history in the form of stony temples standing for some 3,000 years. Flights of fantasy and puzzlement swirl about, while time is locked firmly in place in a continuance of ancient Maya civilization.

Hailed as one of the world’s great archaeological zones, Tikal National Park is an honored UNESCO’s Cultural and Ecology Park placed smack in the heart of the Guatemala Maya heartland in Peten, Flores. Although it is just a one-hour flight north of Guatemala City, the adventurous might choose to make the ten-hour drive to the sacred Maya city built for the glory of its rulers.

Unless you are an avid Mayanist, an educated and refined resident guide should lead the way exposing the world of the Maya and the collision of time. Led by Jose Antonio Gonzalez, educated in Maya culture and archaeology, with the valuable experience of living with modern day Maya, fluent in some of the 24 indigenous Maya languages, and with excellent English, we gazed in wonderment at the early morning view from the crown of the Two-Headed Snake Temple, built by ruler Yaxkin Caan Chac circa 470 AD. Standing some 213 feet tall, the temple faces east over the tangle of treetops, drooping Spanish moss and massive clinging vines lit by the soft dappled light of the rising sun. The tops of other temples protrude high above the rain forest like mighty sentinels overlooking their kingdom, while jays, noisy parrots, toucans and hummingbirds chirp, chatter, and caw in tight harmony. 

Gonzalez, a guide with Bella Guatemala Travel, a small prestigious company based in Southern California, explains that the Maya were master craftspeople, intellectually advanced with a strong grasp of mathematics, astronomy, and with a writing system. While Europe languished in the Dark Ages, the haunting ceremonial centers of the Maya, loosely called cities by some, were being carefully designed as the residences of rulers, nobles, and priests, with grounds used for religious festivals, stony buildings to house their courts of justice, and lively marketplaces.

Easily out numbering the ancient sites of Egypt, thousands of Maya sites have been mapped in Tikal with only a fraction of these excavated. The Tikal Park, a dense, lush, lowland featuring the largest rain forest in Central America, growing over gently rolling terrain and rich volcanic earth, is the largest urban center of the pre-Columbian

Maya civilization, stretching over 222 square miles in an exotic setting while exuding a strong sense of something lost and forgotten in time.

The Maya of today and the Rangers who work here claim Tikal has an unexplained presence of spirits, and describe ephemeral sightings of ancients at dusk. Sightings or not, only the aloof Keel Billed Toucan’s know for sure. The Maya temples, tombs, and pyramids, built to last another thousand years, stand proudly throughout Guatemala and Tikal guarding their secrets while scholars and Mayanists passionately discuss the decline of the Maya with theories that include overpopulation, natural disasters such as drought, a failure of trade, siege warfare, invasions, rebellion, and a civilization that simply outgrew its environment.

Today some 65 percent of Guatemala’s population is Maya, divided into nineteen ethnic groups with various Maya languages, Spanish not included, and noted among the world’s best textile weavers and wood carvers.

A Tikal bonus is the five-star Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel, designed to respect the environment and the hotel’s surrounding nature reserve. The owner, a wealthy romantic, once spent the night in a small hut on a slice of his far-reaching land and was mesmerized by the moon rising over the lagoon, and at that moment decided to build a small unique property and share the splendor with guests. Opened in 2012 Las Lagunas offers 16 elegantly appointed cabanas overlooking multiple large lagoons.  A forty-five minute drive from Tikal National Park, the property boasts one of Guatemala’s top chefs, a Maya museum, and a glorious natural setting.

GM and Executive Chef Muller, a Dutchman who once lived in Spain accents the splendor, producing beautifully presented international cuisine varied with Guatemalan classics. He said, “The first time I went to market I was so impressed I decided to create everything from scratch, made in the moment, and with our natural environment, natural flavors flourish.” A large open dining room overlooking Quexil Lagoon, invites guests to experience the natural environment, where below the wind gently riffles the water, crocodiles patiently wait for a snack, and somewhere across the lagoon a troop of Howler Monkeys stridently open their lungs announcing a setting sun.

The Maya explain, “There are no noises here, only sounds.” Regardless, in this little corner of the universe a sip of wine at sunset never tasted better.

Before you go

An enormous essential before booking is to view Brent Winebrenner’s highly regarded Guatemala documentary, On the Edge of Discovery, a five-star production featured in film festivals. http://vimeo.com/ondemandand/guatemaladocumenrary.

To experience the hidden corners of the country’s culture including the Maya market in Chichicastenango, one of Latin America’s topmost markets contact, www.bellaguatemalatravel.com. Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel, http://laslagunashotel.com.

The post Footprints of the Maya appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Founded by the Romans in the 7^th century, Dubrovnik’s walled village is located on a rocky cliff overlooking the Dalmatian Coast of the Adriatic Sea, in the Southeastern part of Croatia. The city was known as Ragusa until the end of WWI, when it took its present name.

My first glance of the UNESCO World Heritage Site came from the deck of a cruise ship, which approached from the Mediterranean Sea. From this vantage point I got a panoramic view of the giant stone wall surrounding the city. Jetting 100 feet high from the rocks that line the coast, the 20-ft-thick wall stretches more than 6,350 ft-long as it wraps around mediaeval ramparts, draw bridges, and other castle features. For those wanting a cool, birds-eye view, it is possible to walk along the wall to get a memorable look at the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” the nearby islands, and the Franjo Tuđman Bridge, with iconic triangular, cable-stayed profile.

The barrier took nearly 500 years to complete and was built to protect the town and its prized location from ambitious invaders. Today it is considered one of Europe’s finest surviving fortress walls. It’s easy to understand why George Bernard Shaw once said “if you want to see heaven on earth, come to Dubrovnik.”

After docking in the modern Port of Dubrovnik, I took a bus to edge of Old Town, where I found an exciting seaside atmosphere. There were kids eating ice cream on green lawns overlooking the water, shops full of tourists and pubs pouring beer. On one side I watched colorful fishing boats bob in the harbor beneath the fortress wall, and on the other side, I noticed hotels blending in with regular homes.

To enter Old Town I walked through the main Pile Gate, where I discovered a medieval world of densely packed brick buildings with arched doorways, marble inlays and red tiled roofs. Many of the buildings are mixed-used with private residences set atop quaint shops and charming outdoor cafes.

The town is dissected by a large and shiny limestone main street, which branches into a network of narrow, sloping alleys and steep stairways, teeming with plants. The bustling, cream-colored main street brightly reflects the sun’s rays during the day and turns them into a sandy glowing hue at night.

The landscape is also speckled with Baroque churches, monasteries and palaces, Renaissance fountains and facades, all intertwined with gleaming wide marble-paved squares and those steep cobbled streets, all of which have also remained unchanged for centuries. Old Town is also home to an 800-year-old Gothic church and Europe’s oldest pharmacy.

As I wandered in and out of the town’s walkways, I was overcome by the aroma of fresh seafood riding a warm Mediterranean breeze. The scent led me to a place called Pink Shrimp Street Food located in a charming little alley off the main street. Here I sat outside and enjoyed a fresh shrimp sandwich with salad and a mug of cold, Croatian beer.

As I ate my lunch I watched people from all over the world stroll up and down the cobblestone streets. If you are out at the right time, the place can be a peaceful village, while much of the time it is bustling with tourists. The place gets about 2 million visitors per year and a good chunk of these people come by way of cruise ship. During the summer, Dubrovnik can welcome up to six cruise ships on a single day.

Cruise lines such as Holland America stop in the Dubrovnik. In fact their ship Oosterdam is leaving on a 12-day Mediterranean Romance cruise October 15 (next month), that departs from Venice, Italy and stops in Dubrovnik. For more information, visit Holland America.

Go here for more info on Croatia and Dubrovnik

Los Angeles Intl Airport offers daily connecting flights to Dubrovnik. A good local tour company for the Los Angeles area is Adriatic Travel Inc., which specializes in Croatia and Dubrovnik.

The post A Day in Dubrovnik – A Stunning UNESCO World Heritage Site appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Tired of 300+ wine education books? The subject of wine can be overly complicated and seemingly endless. is all you need to know about wine in 90 minutes or less, the “Cliff Notes” on wine. Whether you are trying to identify your taste preferences or simply looking to pick up a good bottle for dinner, Monika Elling’s new book, Wine 123 is an intuitive guide to wine confidence.

Every UNESCO World Heritage Site in the UK

Courtesy Ferne Arfin, TripSavvy

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has been identifying and listing World Heritage Sites of special cultural, scientific and natural importance to humanity for more than thirty years.

Today, of the 1,073 sites on the planet, 31 are in the UK including its newest, The English Lake District, added to the list in 2017. They are landscapes, castles, cathedrals, prehistoric communities, bridges, factories and natural wonders. They are scattered across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but also Gibraltar and remote island territories in the North and South Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. And a further 11 sites are waiting in the wings in the early stages of nomination to the list.

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Pay Respects to Liz Taylor, Walt Disney at this Glitzy Graveyard to the Stars in Glendale

LA Times

This is one of the grand cemeteries in the world — in setting, in scope, in star power. Step inside Forest Lawn Glendale and honor the memories of Elizabeth Taylor, Walt Disney and Jimmy Stewart, among dozens of other famous names.

The 300-acre cemetery dates to 1917 when Hubert Eaton took it over in hopes of celebrating eternal life. It hosts funerals, art shows and weddings. Ronald Reagan married Jane Wyman in one of its chapels.

Grab a map from the info booth as you enter the lush and hilly cemetery. Out of respect for privacy, the map will not guide you to the stars’ graves, but other resources offer maps.

From the front gate, follow signs to the wonderfully gothic Great Mausoleum, where Elizabeth Taylor is buried and honored by a giant angel at the end of the hallway. L. Frank Baum, of “Wizard of Oz,” fame is buried to the west of the Great Mausoleum, with a hefty tombstone.

Michael Jackson? He rests in a private section not open to the public.

But Jimmy and Gloria Stewart are marked by humble graves that are open to public viewing – though not easy to find.

As you face the Wee Kirk O’ the Heather chapel, they reside up the hill to your left: space 2, lot 8, small markers near the statue of a man holding an arrow.

Clustered at the Freedom Mausoleum, you’ll spot the graves of Walt Disney, Spencer Tracy, Errol Flynn, George Burns and Nat “King” Cole.

Where: 1712 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale, Calif., about 15 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, in Los Angeles County.

How much: Free

Info: Forest Lawn Glendale, (323) 254-3131

Talking Turkey: Thanksgiving Trivia

Why is the Turkey bird call “Turkey”?

Turkeys (the birds) are originally from the Americas. The Europeans knew a similar looking and tasting bird, known nowadays as Guinea fowl, originally from Africa but introduced through the Ottoman Empire, who was called the turkey-cock or turkey-hen. When the Europeans arrived to the Americas and found the bird we now know as turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), they called it turkey by association. In other countries it is called different names, referring to the geographical origin, and mostly getting it totally wrong.

A Thanksgiving mix-up inspired the first TV dinners

In 1953, a Swanson employee accidentally ordered a colossal shipment of Thanksgiving turkeys (260 tons, to be exact). To get rid of them all, salesman Gerry Thomas came up with the idea of filling 5,000 aluminum trays with the turkey – along with cornbread dressing, gravy, peas and sweet potatoes. They were sold for 98 cents, and were a hit. Within one year, over ten million were sold.

Talking Turkey

The origin of “talk turkey” seems to come from colonial times. Historical accounts suggest the phrase came about from the day-to-day bartering between colonists and Indians over wild turkeys. Today the term ‘talk turkey’ means to discuss something frankly and practically. When someone ‘talks turkey’ they get to the point and the term often refers to settling a business deal

Gobble, Gobble

Male turkeys are called “gobblers,” after the “gobble” call they make to announce themselves to females (which are called “hens”) and compete with other males. Other turkey sounds include “purrs,” “yelps” and “kee-kees.”

Our National Symbol

Benjamin Franklin never proposed the turkey as a symbol for America, but he did once praise it as being “a much more respectable bird” than the bald eagle.

Beatle Beat

The Ramones band name was in reference to Paul Ramon, the pseudonym that Paul McCartney used to maintain his anonymity when checking into hotels.

In a 1995 interview, Joey Ramone explained: “In the days of the ‘Silver Beatles,’ Paul McCartney would go to check into a hotel room, using the name Paul Ramone. Dee Dee was a big Paul McCartney fan, so he changed his name to Dee Dee Ramone. When I hooked up with Dee Dee, we decided to call the band the Ramones.”

Time Capsule Cinema

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage – A Look Back

By Walt Mundkowsky

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The General (1926)

This shot from the movie The General is the most expensive shot in silent film history. Directed by and starring Buster Keaton, It was filmed in a single take — that had to be perfect — with a train and a ‘dummy’ engineer (notice the white arm hanging out the conductor’s window). Some of the audience who came to watch the filming thought the dummy was a real person and screamed in horror; supposedly, one person even fainted.

Hard Day’s Night 2017

 

Hands down, this Canadian gem is our pick for the most hilarious, madcap travel show on the cybersphere.

In this zany episode, the Travel Guys take on Las Vegas.

WATCH Travel Guys Take on Las Vegas

The California Bucket List: Your Daily Guide to the Best Adventures and Experiences in the Golden State

The California Bucket List is your daily guide to essential California adventures, from easy to edgy. Check in every day for a new must-do adventure, each tried and tested by one of the Travel section’s staffers and contributors. Or use the filters in blue below to seek out great spots in each of 12 California regions: North Coast, Shasta Cascade, Gold Country, S.F. Bay Area, High Sierra, Central Valley, Central Coast, Deserts, Inland Empire and the counties of L.A., Orange and San Diego.

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Butter

Last year, France consumed about 18 pounds of butter per capita, according to statistics from a coming report by the International Dairy Federation. That is over twice the European Union average, and more than three times the figure in the United States.

Dairy production in Europe, though, has been falling since European Union milk quotas ended in 2015, slumped after the summer of 2016 because of bad yields from fodder crops and unfavorable weather.

Meanwhile, as butter has shed some of its unhealthy image, demand has risen worldwide, especially in the United States — where the fast-food chain McDonald’s promised to put butter back in its recipes last year — and in China.

In France alone, butter consumption increased 5 percent from 2013 to 2015, according to a recent report by an umbrella organization for France’s dairy industry, Le Cniel.

Albert Einstein’s Quote about Living A Modest Life Sells For $1.3 Million

Albert Einstein is known worldwide for his phenomenal work in theoretical physics that gave the world the Theory of Relativity. However, the genius scientist has also made various intellectual statements and quotes that remain relevant even today and a hidden note that the physicist gave to a courier service messenger in Tokyo resurfaced, giving us lessons on Einstein’s theory of happiness. The handwritten note that Albert Einstein gave to a Japanese messenger in 1922 just sold for $1.3 million.

“A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success
combined with constant restlessness.” – Albert Einstein

The original note on paper is below, followed by a translated version.

Fall Festivals in Asia

Courtesy Greg Rodgers, TripSavvy

These fall festivals in Asia are exciting and widely celebrated — yet another list of good reasons that fall is a great time to travel in Asia.

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Steve Kerr: Golden State Warriors to Bring Values to D.C. After Trump Dis

Head coach also notes it’s a “no-brainer” that Colin Kaepernick is being “blackballed” in the NFL in recent interview

Coach Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors got a very public dis-invitation from President Donald Trump to visit the White House. What is normally a warm and non-political event for championship teams became a wholly political spectacle that played out in the media and on Twitter.

Now, with the Warriors schedule empty for their February 28th visit to the nation’s capital, the team is trying to find a way to still make a statement. Kerr spoke about potential plans on the Pod Save America podcast on Monday, and the interview was conducted by Dan Pfeiffer, a former Barack Obama aide.

“I don’t think we would have gone,” Kerr said. “And I think he knew that. Several of us had been very critical of the president in the past year, and it would have been awkward, for sure.”

Kerr also said the team might visit the childhood home of Kevin Durant in Seat Pleasant, Maryland and run a basketball clinic. He says they’ve received invitations from other D.C. politicians, and there’s also the possibility the team visits a historic monument or museum.

The head coach has been to the White House numerous times as a championship player and coach, and his brother also worked there during the Bill Clinton administration. Kerr also spoke about the differences between the fanbase of the NBA and NFL, and how that has fueled Colin Kaepernick being “blackballed,” and why NBA players are allowed to have a more open voice.

“That’s a no-brainer,” Kerr said of Kaepernick. “All you have to do is read the transactions every day, when you see the quarterbacks who are being hired. He’s way better than any of them.

“The NFL has a different fan base than the NBA,” Kerr continued. “The NBA is more urban, the NFL is more conservative, and I think a lot of NFL fans are truly angry at Kaepernick, and I think owners are worried what it’s going to do to business.”

Personal Translator Lets You Speak and Understand 80 Languages

See how it works:

Travis is the first translator with artificial intelligence, and the more it’s used the smarter it becomes. In each language combination, it chooses the most appropriate translation software: from engines like Google and Microsoft, to more local ones. Soon Travis users will be able to rate on an online platform the accuracy of translations delivered, so that the translator can improve. “We already have 6,000 users and are looking for more early adopters who want to make Travis even better. This year we want to reach 50,000 active users to make even better translations available to everyone through software updates in the device.”

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