From Food to Great Views; This Week's Fast Five!

 

1.    Nis, Serbia and the Skull Tower.  The area known as the Former Yugoslavia has always fascinated me.  The entire region is rich with history dating back many centuries.  It would be hard to discuss all the history in a city like Nis, Serbia in one little blog entry.  

That being said, Nis is rich with history and was the birthplace of Constantine the Great.  There have been thousands of changes over the years and the entire country has been under the rule of many nations and rulers.  So, check out the city, because it's rich if you love history.

I'm mentioning the little things I mention being a fast five.  I'm recommending the Tower of Skulls.  This is a historical site obviously based in death and resembling an ossuary.  It was created in 1809 by the Turks after defeating Serbian Rebels of the time.  It was a practice of the Turkish Warriors of the time and is the best preserved example of said practice anywhere

There are also a lot of other historic sites you can see and museums.  There's a lot to see and the entire group can be visited on one ticket that costs less the $10 USD.  

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/skull-tower-nis

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g295382-d553863-Reviews-Skull_Tower-Nis_Central_Serbia.html

https://visitnis.org/en/what-to-see/skull-tower/

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2020/08/the-skull-tower/134818

https://www.britannica.com/place/Nis

https://www.getyourguide.com/nis-l2081/culture-history-tc27/

1.  The Ancient Town of Kotor, Montenegro.   This is just one of those little discovered towns that has a lot to look at and some very unique places.  The city dates back to the days of Homer, so it's full of history as the UNESCO people decided, placing it on their list in 1979.  

The city has walls with ancient entrance gates, cathedrals and towers.  There are narrow ancient streets and so much history all around you.  There are three islets in the bay that is sheltered from the Adriatic Sea in this location, and two of them are natural.  One of them was created from shells, rocks, sand, and sunken ships by two brothers.  One of them has a monastery on it.  The unique idea of this town is that it's got beautiful views, lots of history, beautiful water and beaches and great local food.

Seafood is the food of choice in Kotor and it's brought in fresh from the sea.  Black ink octopus pasta dishes are only some of the delicacies.  

It has been said that it only takes a couple of days to investigate Kotor, but I'd say hang out a little longer.  It's not overrun with tourists like some of the areas of the former Yugoslavia.  You can take your time to look around and thoroughly enjoy the beauty of the location.  

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/tms/montenegros-bay-of-kotor

https://www.viator.com/Kotor/d23078

https://funkytours.com/why-visit-kotor/

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/125/

https://www.montenegroprospects.com/help-and-advice/things-do-kotor-your-ultimate-guide

3.    Visit a Death Site or in General Take Part in Some Dark Tourism.   This is a whole thing.  We spend a lot of time visiting historical sites so we can learn about our past and the past of the places we visit.  Makes sense, but most people wouldn't consider seeking out something truly dark as a tourist attraction.

Have I done this?  I have, and I don't regret it.  I like to study history, because I believe that we all need to learn from it.  The old saying that says, "If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it," has always hit home with me.  Therefore, it's cool to see palaces and old out of use forts, but the dark stuff is where we need to look and learn the extremely harsh lessons that come from it.

These sights are all over the world and part of lovely already curated itineraries.  While in Krakow, Poland we visited Auschwitz Death Camp and museum.  This was one of the most notorious preserved historic sites I'd ever seen.  It was so upsetting that I've never gone back, even though I've had the opportunity.  I'm glad I went.  I learned a lot.  I think everyone should visit a death camp museum once.  That should be all it takes to get the point.

Chernobyl is open for tours, or at least it was before the war.  Once again, there's a lot to be learned there.  Hiroshima has all you need to see about what happens when atomic weapons are used.  The list is endless.  I've been to an ossuary, sat on the Berlin Wall, and been to the 9/11 memorial to name a few of these darker sites.  

When planning a vacation, it sounds brutal and offensive to put such things on your itinerary.  After all, we take vacations to have fun, and I get that.  However, if you like to learn and want to be part of a society that wants to do better, the dark side of tourism teaches the most profound lessons.

https://www.dark-tourism.com/index.php/616-list-of-top-20-dark-tourism-destinations

https://www.exploreworldwide.com/blog/a-guide-to-dark-tourism-destinations

https://www.holidify.com/pages/dark-tourism-1582.html

https://travellingdane.org/2024/06/18/20-dark-tourism-sites-from-pompeii-to-ground-zero/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/dark-tourism-when-tragedy-meets-tourism

4.    The Lionfish Restaurant in Willemstad, Curacao.  This is an interesting concept and restaurant.  This place is into conservation, and they take it to the plates.  Lionfish is an overlooked but delicious fish.  It's a fact.  You do have to know how to cook it, but the people at this restaurant really do.  You can also learn how to cook Lionfish through classes offered on the island and even on the restaurant's website. Overfishing is something that a lot of places are dealing with, and the idea of eating a fish that is not being fished as much and has a large population just makes sense.

The great thing about the Lionfish Restaurant is that they are deeply involved in the production of the fish and the conservation needed within the commercial fishing industry.  Not only can they teach you how to cook the fish, they teach you about how they're using this menu to help with conservation and overfishing.  The food is delicious too.

Curacao is one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean and is a beautiful and active place to spend some time.  Eating Lionfish to help ease the strain on other fish in the fishing industry is just one more thing you can do while visiting this vibrantly colored island.

https://www.lionfishcaribbean.com/eatlionfish

https://www.lionfishcaribbean.com/lionfishcaribbeancuracao

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147278-d24991478-Reviews-Lionfish_Caribbean-Willemstad_Curacao.html

https://www.kurahulandavillage.com/place/lionfish-caribbean/

https://wewillemstad.com/

5.    Lamai Viewpoint, Koh Samui, Thailand.  Thailand has such cool things.  Koh Samui is a very popular area on an island off the coast of the peninsula that connects with Malaysia and it is a beautiful spot.  It is found at the top of Laem Mai Mountain and the views are amazing.  

But that's not all there is to do up there.  There's a cable car or funky funicular that you can ride to the viewpoint, or you can walk up.  It depends on exactly how much and what way you want to experience the mountain.  At the top there is the viewpoint and the Lamai Bar where you can get a drink and a snack to enjoy the view.

That's not all.  If you want, you can take the zip lines down the mountain when you're ready to go.  That's right.  Cable car.  Bar with an amazing view from the top of the mountain.  Zip lines on the way down.  If you're in Koh Samui, it's worth the trip.

Just make sure you check ahead.  During the high seasons in particular, the rides, the lines and even the bar fill up.  You may need to book ahead.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g2314594-d8614647-Reviews-Lamai_Viewpoint-Maret_Ko_Samui_Surat_Thani_Province.html

https://www.easydaysamui.com/things-to-do-in-koh-samui/lamai-viewpoint/

https://www.excursionsonsamui.com/tour/lamai-view-point/

https://forevervacation.com/koh-samui/lamai-viewpoint

https://www.thekohsamuiguide.com/

So, there you have it.  Just another group of cook things I found that you might want to look into if you're in the areas where they are.  Finding that special little thing while traveling can make a trip truly great.  Pack your bags, use your miles, and enjoy!

Some Brand New Notes on New York City!

 

One thing I've learned over the years is that there's always something different in New York City, and my last couple of visits have found yet something new that I've never seen before.

The Meatpacking District situation around 9th Avenue has been home to some elephants over the last couple of months.  I don't mean live elephants, but there have been 100 life-sized elephants hanging out in that neighborhood since early September.  By now the display is moving on, but what was it all about?

It was cool, but that wasn't all.  The exhibit is The Great Elephant Migration.  In partnership with Elephant Family USA, an international non-governmental organization (NGO) came up with it as part of the work they do to help the endangered species.  This fund raising venture benefits indigenous and community led conservation efforts and are meant to help create environs where people and species can coexist peacefully.  The elephants are made of an invasive plant called Lantana Camara and they made one elephant sculpture for each elephant helped by eradicating this invasive species so that the elephants could have the plants they needed to survive in the area.  

You can contact the Elephant Family USA to find more about what they do and how you can help.  Unfortunately, the Great Elephant Migration was due to pack up and go on to their next destination after October 20th.  The next stop for the Elephants is reportedly Miami Beach, FL in December.

https://thegreatelephantmigration.org/

https://thegreatelephantmigration.org/pages/join-the-migration

Escalators on the street in Manhattan?  Not that anyone would question it, but still not something I see every day.  This belongs to 55 Water Street.  The address has a crazy history, but in short it belongs to the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) and is a 53 story building located along the waterfront in the Financial District at the base of Manhattan.  Over the years, many things have happened to this building, including damage from hurricane Sandy, while it's been inhabited by such names as Goldman Sachs, Chemical Bank and Morgan Stanley at some point or another.

Right now, the building next to it says D.O. T.  Not sure what kind of office it is, but it's the government.  

But, what makes this place so special?  I suppose it would be the view.

The escalators go to the Elevated Acre, a New York City Park.  You can see for miles from this small, yet beautiful park, nestled between two tall buildings.  I thought it was something new, but apparently this park has been here most of the time since the building was erected.  It has had some problems over the years and needed to be refurbished, especially after Sandy hit.  It even was the topic of remodeling ideas at one point as an investor wanted to erect a shopping area where it now sits.  The public didn't want to give up their unique park, and the idea to demolish it quickly went away.

This well landscaped park has a lot more to offer than you'd think.  There are generous picnic area options, plants and trees on an elevated terrace, and even a field for people to play a game of soccer or throw frisbees.  Below the park is a veterans' plaza that is also a great place to hang out.  The park is open until 10 pm most days and is a city park and therefore, free.

I'd only recently heard about this great little park with its amazing views of the East River, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge, and the harbor.  It's a great little stop and well worth taking the 1, 2, or 5 subway to the Financial District and walking toward the waterfront to Water Street.

Do you love an interesting park?  I obviously do.  Here's a new one.  Little Island Park opened in 2021 and is one of the most unique parks I think I've ever seen.  It lives at Pier 55 right between the remains of Piers 54 and 56, also victims of hurricane Sandy.  This park was created by a group of artists in association with the Hudson River Park Trust and took over a decade from inception to opening.  

The construction is complicated.  There are 132 concrete pots, of which no two are alike assembled together to create one space.  Each pot weighs up to 75 tons.  There are hundreds of species of plants, grass, trees, and flowers.  There is a walkway with amazing viewpoints throughout the park.  There's an area where you can stop and have a snack or a drink and rest.  There's an amphitheater that holds up to 815 people on the river side of the park.  They've put a lot in this truly unique park just west of Chelsea Market and the High Line.

This park is crowded and you will feel the push to move along.  That was the only thing I didn't find fabulous.  The views of the Hudson are amazing and I always love a good view.  We took the L train to 8th Avenue in Chelsea and walked the rest of the way.

https://littleisland.org/

https://hudsonriverpark.org/locations/pier-55-little-island/

We like Asian food.  It's that simple.  Urban Hawker was a place that we'd never tried and we thought we'd give it a whirl.  Located on 50th Street, not far from Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center this is a food court that has a little something Asian for everyone. 

The style is Singaporean and the options are plentiful.  We saw Singaporean food, Indonesian food, Malaysian food, Indian food, and many other types of Asian food.  It's a food court, so there are several stalls that are available for you to choose from.  They also have a bakery and a bar.  It's something different to try and it's right in midtown.  You can take the Orange Line, B, D, F to Rockefeller Center and walk the two blocks or so to get there.

https://www.urbanhawker.com/

https://ny.eater.com/2022/9/23/23365517/urban-hawker-singapore-midtown-nyc-review

I've saved my favorite for last.  A couple days after our visit to Manhattan, I went back to the Bronx to take some pictures of the George Washington Bridge.  I made some great discoveries on this simple trip. 

It's called the Northwalk, and it's open for business.  This reinforced walkway goes across the top of the Bridge!  There's nothing I love more than to walk bridges and this one I hadn't expected to walk across, but I couldn't resist once I saw the opportunity.  My walk included a visit to part of the Palisades Park on the New Jersey Side of the Hudson River and was approximately a four mile walk round trip.  The views are amazing.  The experience is one of a kind.  I would happily take this walk again.

https://panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/en/george-washington-bridge/pedestrian-bicycle-info.html

https://njbwc.org/port-authority-opens-newly-renovated-and-vastly-improved-bicycle-and-pedestrian-walkway-on-north-side-of-george-washington-bridge-as-part-of-comprehensive-restoring-the-george-progra/

The walk now opens at 5 am and is open until midnight.  It is fast becoming a wildly popular place to walk, run, and bike.  I saw tons of people on the bridge and everyone was enjoying the weather and the walk.  From where I live in Connecticut, I took the train bus from Waterbury to Bridgeport, the New Haven Line from Bridgeport to Stamford, the local train from Stamford to Fordham, I walked six blocks to take the D Train from Fordham Road to 145th Street, and the A Train from 145th Street to 175th Street at the GWB Bus Station and followed the little signs the rest of the way for the remaining few blocks.  My return trip was the reverse.

I love to walk bridges and most of the bridges in New York are walkable.  Not all, but most.  This one was a surprise, because I intended to go to the park and take pictures of the bridge for a calendar I'm making that will be available soon on Imagings on Zazzle.  The park was hard to get to, but the walk was right in front of me.  Great time.

There you have it; my latest finds in New York City.  Always keep an eye out for new things that I run across in the city.  I'm becoming a senior very soon, and train tickets will be far cheaper.  I'll probably wear out Metro North and the New York City Subway.  So, let your imagination run wild and find awesome new things to try in NYC and Enjoy!

https://sideways.nyc/street/50th

https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionsNear-g46907-d9577663-50th_St-Weehawken_New_Jersey.html

https://www.thirteen.org/blog-post/little-island-new-york-city-pier-park/

https://nyc.eu/visit-new-york/parks/little-island/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-elevated-acre-new-york-new-york

https://marveldesigns.com/work/the-elevated-acre-at-55-water-st/117

https://njbwc.org/port-authority-opens-newly-renovated-and-vastly-improved-bicycle-and-pedestrian-walkway-on-north-side-of-george-washington-bridge-as-part-of-comprehensive-restoring-the-george-progra/

https://secretnyc.co/george-washington-bridge-path-nyc/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-to-do/new-york

https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/travel-guide/g44227360/free-things-to-do-in-nyc/?slide=2&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mgu_ga_toc_md_pmx_hybd_mix_us_17942344289

https://www.zazzle.com/store/imagings