Holes in the Ground are Different in Lalibela, Ethiopia

Well, that's something you don't see everyday.  The picture above is from Lalibela, Ethiopia.  What you see is not just a statue of a cross carved in the rock in the ground.  That's a church, and the people around it are awaiting their Sunday morning services.  That's right.  It's a church, carved in the ground 800 years ago, by a monastic society that was trying to survive oppression.  Ethiopia is largely Christian in a hugely Islamic arena, and sticking to their guns was difficult during certain eras in history.  The idea of hiding the church in the ground and carving it from rock was to hide and make a permanent institution.



There are eleven churches carved in the mountainside in Lalibela.  It's quite humbling to be in the area and see the magnificence of these churches.  They've been referred to as the eighth wonder of the world, and can only be compared to the city of Petra in Jordan.  The most amazing thing about these churches that have been standing in these holes for the last 1,200 years or so, is that they are still in use.  In a world of Islam, the Ethiopians are still primarily Christian and they still have services in these churches.
  
The detail is amazing.  Just imagine, these places were carved by hand out of the rock where it stands.  This building used to be a solid piece of stone.
Now, the village of Lalibela was named after King Lalibela, who was the person who started having the churches carved.  Asheten Mariam is the most remote of the churches and was carved by King Lalibela's nephew.  Bete Medhane Alem, Bete Mariam, Bete Meskel, Bete Emanuel, Bete Rafael, Gabriel, Bete Mercury and Aba Libanos are several of the churches that you will want to see.  Bete Giorgis is the one with the cross on top and probably the most photographed of all the churches is a must see.
 



The interior of the churches do not look like caves, as one might expect.  They are ornate and posh, to say the least.  When you are inside, you would never think that you are standing in a carved out building in a hole in the ground in Africa.  It's an amazing place to be.



I mean, this is how you get there.  It's like a hike through a state park gorge in New York.  The contrast is phenomenal.  The experience is truly biblical.  The people are amazing.  The only catch with this one is that it's remote.  The best way to go there is to contact a tour company.  Most tours fly their customers in and out of the area, and most tours will spend a few days in Lalibela in order to see all of the churches.
 
One of the advantages of going on a tour is that they think of things that no one else does, because they are familiar with the area.  There are many amazing things to see in Ethiopia.  There are ancient stone masterpiece bridges.

 
There's the beautiful countryside.  Ethiopia is famous for having some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Africa.


And one of my favorite parts of any trip is to experience the culture.

 
But, there is one thing that Ethiopia has that no one else on Earth does.  It has Axum. Axum was the capital of the great Axumite Empire which lasted until around the first century BCE.  It's also still home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world.


This building is the Church of St. Mary of Zion in Axum.  This is one of the better views that you'll see of it in a picture.  This is one of the holiest sites in Christendom according to millions of believers around the world.  It is reported that the Arc of the Covenant is housed here.  The place is surrounded by security, and no one is allowed inside except the one high priest who holds the job of guarding it.  Is it really in there?  I don't know.  Is it worth a trip to Axum to check it out?  Yes.  Will you get inside the church to see it?  No way on Earth, baby.  Take a picture and cherish the fact that you got that close.
 
So, Axum will most likely be on your tour that you take to go and see the churches of Lalibela.  Sit back and enjoy the thing that you never thought you would go to see.  Enjoy a country full of traditional people, religious traditions, and I hear, great food.  Go and see the beautiful, the amazing, the unforgettable Ethiopia and the churches of Lalibela.

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ethiopia/lalibela
http://www.ethiopiatravel.com/Lalibela_eng.htm
http://www.realadventures.com/listings/1128334_Ethiopia-tour-Lalibela-Gonder-Omo-Dallo-Ertale
http://blueskyethiopia.com/lalibela_tour.html
http://www.ethiopiatravel.com/simien_mountains.htm
http://www.ethiopiatravel.com/Axum_eng.htm
http://sacredsites.com/africa/ethiopia/sacred_sites_ethiopia.html
http://www.galenfrysinger.com/axum_ethiopia.htm
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ethiopia/axum
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html

Enjoy! 

Circus Capital of the World

Have you ever been to the circus?  Well, you've never been to a circus quite like this. 




This is Peru, Indiana about 100 years ago.  The town became known as the Circus Capital of the World, because all of the traveling circuses that were so popular at the time around the country used to stay in the area during the off season.  Every show including the greatest show on Earth spent some time in this little burg that to this day only has about 11,000 people in it.  
Since the heyday of the circuses, lots of things have changed, but Peru still holds on to its Circus heritage.
  

                  This is one of the exhibits at the Circus City Museum.  This place has exhibits going back to the heyday of the circus and celebrates everything circus.  There's stuff in there about Emmett Kelley and Ringling Brothers.  It's quite a treat.
          
This is a calliope from Dave Morecraft's Manufacturing and Restoration.  That's right, if you need a calliope for your circus or other attraction, they're probably the place to look.  It goes right along with the circus theme that exists in Peru.
                                                                                                                                              

   
But that's not all.  For two weeks in later July every year, you can go to the permanent circus building in Peru and see a show like no other.  The circus is in town, and like nowhere else on Earth, the performers are volunteers between the ages of 7 and 21.  The kids train all summer in camp with the help of highly trained coaches to put on this circus during the Circus Festival in July.  They do it all from clowning around to being the MC to flying on the trapeze.  You'll be amazed at what you see.
  
    
I certainly know I always was.  And it doesn't necessarily stop there.  Some of the kids go on a road show and some kids actually end up joining a real circus.  It's amazing what can come of it all.  Not to mention for the rest of us, they are always looking for volunteers to make costumes and many other things that are needed by the circus.  If you like and have the time, you can help out with the show.
Peru is a small town in the center of the state North of Indianapolis by about an hour.  The circus and the wonderful festival that goes along with it are a great side trip when in the area during July, and if you like to be scared you can come back in October for the Ringmaster's Revenge, the haunted house that the Circus Hall of Fame puts on for Halloween.
So, step outside that normal view of the circus, and come to Peru Indiana and see what the kids can do.

http://www.circushalloffame.com/
http://www.perucircus.com/performers.asp
http://voices.yahoo.com/peru-indiana-circus-capital-world-294662.html?cat=7
http://voices.yahoo.com/the-circus-other-things-peru-indiana-32522.html?cat=16
http://www.in.gov/visitindiana/blog/index.php/2011/07/10/perus-circus-city-festival/
http://www.squidoo.com/circus-city
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
 
And by the way, if you're in the area, the old Grissom Air Force Base has been turned into an air museum, and is also a really cool thing to visit.  Another great area to go to is Mississinewa Dam and Reservoir, where the lake is large, the camping is great and the boating is positively to die for.

Enjoy!

Sea Planes and Plane Crashes in Maine

This is what you will see in Greenville Maine on the weekend after Labor Day.  Most Generally.


Nice, huh?  Well, this year it was a little different.  I went up there to see all the planes flying, and unfortunately, we were struck with a storm the likes of a hurricane.  I'm sure that they were able to hold some of the activities on Sunday, but I had to get home and go back to work.  Bummer.

Now, do not let my one somewhat depressing experience diminish what I am about to write about.  The town is Greenville, Maine.  It's not on the coast.  This place is off of I-95 about 50 miles toward the west part of the state and it's north in the woods.  It's on the way to Canada to the west.  It sits on Route 15, which is one of only two paved roads in the area.  It's remote.  It's one of my favorite places in the world.  So one little festival won't ruin this place for me.  




This is Moosehead Lake.  This is the way life should be, just like Maine's slogan.  The lake is nearly 40 miles long and the width varies due to it's sprawling bays and coves.

And this is Mooshead Lake.  This is how it looks from the air.  One of the most fun things to do in Greenville is to fly.  That's why they have the Sea Plane Fly In every September.  They've been doing it for 39 years, and people bring their sea planes from all over to compete in contests and show off their planes.  On a regular day, there are pilots around that will be happy to take you up to see the world from a different view.  It's the best way to see the north woods, since a lot of places aren't exactly accessible by car.

This is the Katahdin.  This boat has been around since the early 1900's.  It comes from the time of timber barons, when the wealthy used to vacation in the area and spend the entire summer at resort hotels.  There were several of these behemoth vessels to guide the logs across the 40 miles of lake for the timber companies.  The rest of the boats actually burned.  I know, they were on the lake.  The Katahdin is the only surviving boat and is now a wonderful way to enjoy an afternoon and see the lake.

This is the dock area of the Black Frog.  These guys do it all.  They have docks to tie up to, they have rooms to rent out, and they have great food.  The waitresses are friendly, and the humor of the place will keep you coming back.

My other favorite place is Auntie M's.  This is where you have breakfast if you're smart.  They have things that I've never seen on a breakfast menu before, and they also have fun and great service.  If you want to know some of the history of the area, and don't want to visit one of the three museums in town, this is where you go.  They'll tell you all about the historic photos on the walls.  This is also where the current timber corporations truckers get their bag lunches on their way to work.

But, the food and the festivals, the boats and the planes are not the only reasons to go to Greenville.  

That's right, he's my signature photo and he comes from Moosehead Lake.  The locals will tell you that there are more moose than people in the area.  If you want to rustic up your house with some moose stuff, there are several stores in town that would love to help, from the Indian Store to Moosehead Traders.  The best part about shopping in Greenville?  There are no Walmarts.  There is no McDonalds--the one they had went under and is now a wilderness guide service.  Everything in this town from the stores to the restaurants is home grown.  There are no chains.  It's refreshing.

There are several wilderness guide services in town as well.  They'll take you fishing for landlocked salmon.  They'll take you white water rafting on the Penobscot River.  They'll take you canoeing and kayaking all over the place.  They'll take you looking for moose. They'll take you backpacking, camping, hiking on the Appalachian Trail.  Oh yeah, it runs right through the area.

Beautiful, huh?  But, if you don't want to walk, take an ATV.  This is a huge sport in the area, and you can rent and ride or take a guided tour.  It's one of the things that Greenville does better than most, and everyone should give it a whirl.  If you feel like coming up in the winter for a thrill, this is also a huge snow machining area.  The same companies that do the ATV's will be happy to help you with snow machines in the winter.

Now, there's more to Greenville than just the outdoors.  This is quintessential small town.  They sell the work of local artists, they have pancake breakfasts at the local Masons Lodge, they have town banquets for special occasions, they make broasted chicken and banana bread french toast.  They have car races on the icy lake in the winter, they get their supplies at the local trading post,  and they will make you feel welcome everywhere you go.  There are many residents of Greenville that weren't born there.  They moved there because they loved it.  They come from all over, and they will tell you that it's a great place to live.

Now, if you're brave enough to come up in January, you will be able to take part in something that doesn't happen anywhere else in the world.  Back in the 1960's an unusual event happened that changed Greenville forever.  A B-52 Bomber Airplane crashed up on Elephant Mountain, just outside of town.  It was winter, and the townspeople had to make a path to get to the airplane to search for survivors.  they found two, which was pretty good, all things considered.  After this crash, the Strategic Air Command came and salvaged everything that they deemed necessary from the plane, and they left the rest up there.  Every January, the town has a memorial ride up to the the crash site.  I know it sounds weird, but it's a truly unusual adventure.  Now, if you're like me, I don't want to go to Maine in the winter.  So, the rest of the year, you can drive up to the site and see the wreckage.

You leave town on Lily Bay Road, it's the other paved road.  Just outside of town you'll find Prong Pond Road.  This is a dirt road, and you'll see this sign.  Follow the signs for a while.  It's a drive, for sure.

Eventually, you'll come to this.  There you enter the trail into the woods, where you will find this.

This.


And even this.

It's a memorial, and it's one of the strangest tourist attractions I've ever seen.  It's also worth all the trouble to find it and get there.

The beauty of this place amazes me, from the bogs where people go to see moose,

 to Mount Kineo Island where the locals go to play golf and build amazing homes,

to a downtown that screams small town America.  There is no place like Greenville.  It will puzzle you with it's random port-a-johns, and it's stop signs that are made to keep you in a field somewhere, but it will make you want to learn it's secrets.  It will make you want to drop everything and move there.  It's the friendliest and strangest place on Earth, and you'll never want to leave.

So, pick up a phone or get on the web and make a reservation at one of the many lodges, camps, or motels in the area.  Don't worry about big impersonal hotels either.  They're all small, where the people who run the place will remember you, and will help you have the best vacation ever.


http://www.seaplanefly-in.org/
http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2012/09/press-release-oldest-fly-in-breakfast.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfYtkNLGjec
http://www.kineoview.com/
http://www.blairhill.com/
http://mooseheadhills.com/
http://www.moosemountaininn.com/
http://wilsonsonmooseheadlake.com/
http://www.greenvilleme.com/default.aspx
http://www.mooseheadlake.org/
http://www.mainevacations.net/greenville.htm
http://moosehead.net/history/B-52.html
http://www3.gendisasters.com/maine/11043/greenville-me-usaf-b-52-bomber-crashes-on-elephant-mountain
http://www.mooseheadmotorsports.com/
http://www.maineoutfitter.com/rentals/maine-atv-rentals-tours.html
http://www.visitmaine.net/atv_maine.htm
http://www.moosehead.net/fishing/index.html
http://maineoutdoors.com/fishing/moosehead.html
http://www.maineguideflyshop.com/moosehead.html
http://www.katahdincruises.com/DatesRates.php

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g40658-d1461770-r131171289-Auntie_M_s-Greenville_Maine.html

http://www.theblackfrog.com/
http://www.indianhill.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
https://www.facebook.com/MooseheadMemories/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4tQpLC5xg5VuQEL6zVr3Lw

Enjoy!



 

 








 

Star Wars Fans the World Over, Come to Tunisia

So, have you ever been to Tunisia?  If so, I bet it didn't look quite like this.




 



  It may have looked more like this.  But, like I always say, get away from the tourism.  Get out of Tunis and go to Tatooine.  This is where Luke Skywalker was from in Star Wars.  The picture above is of the set of his old home in Star Wars IV, A New Beginning.
And that's not all.  Luke Skywalker's homestead has been lovingly restored and turned into a hotel, called the Hotel Sidi Driss.  It's not the five star accommodations that you'd think would be linked to one of Hollywood's most iconic movie series.  It's the real thing.  It's the kind of accommodations that were used by the Berbers centuries ago during wartimes.  These rooms are caves.

This is some authenticity that you won't find anywhere else.  There are many well preserved sites that were used in Star Wars in Matmata, the town that hosted the movie moguls in the seventies and again for Episode One.

This is the igloo that represents the outside of Luke's home.  It's only recently been refurbished for tourists to check out.

This is Chott El-Gharsa where Qui-Gonn and Daurth Maul first battled on Tatooine.  
 
And this is Anakin's slave house set at Mos Espa which was also where the pod racing arena was located.
The area of Matmata is overrun with Star Wars sets.  It has everything that a true fan is looking for.  There are small restaurants, a hotel, and great memorabilia from the movies.  You never know what you're going to run across though.  Ewan McGregor once stopped by while filming Long Way Down with his best friend and hero of mine, Charley Boorman.  Strangely enough, he claimed that no one recognized him.  I thought it was kind of funny that Obi Wan Kenobi stopped by and no one noticed.
So, in a beautiful country that is most well known for having it's government overthrown last year, there is something truly unusual to see.
Tunisia is a country full of Egyptian and Roman ruins.  It snaps back and forth between modern and ancient.  It's a deeply religious Muslim country that currently is somewhat in flux.  It has Mediterranean seaside resorts and bustling cities.  But one thing that you can do in Tunisia that you can't do anywhere else is go to Luke Skywalker's house and sleep in a cave.  If you really love Star Wars, you can't miss this.

http://www.tunisia-tourism.org/star-wars-set-in-tunisia/
http://www.gonomad.com/lodgings/0009/starwars.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guAohSZse7Y
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2011/09/16/star-wars-sets-still-intact-on-real-life-tatooine-but-tunisia-not-taking/
http://inhabitat.com/star-wars-fans-restore-luke-skywalkers-igloo-shaped-home-in-tunisia/
http://www.tunisia-tourism.org/topics/destinations/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html 
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings 
 
Enjoy! 

The Highway is Route 61 -- That's the Real South

Sometimes, my Midwestern heritage makes me think about other cultures that are overlooked in New England where I currently live.  There's a wonderful area of the world that runs between Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana that showcases a magnificent part of American history that where I live is all but forgotten.  The fact that it is forgotten where I am is an awful shame.  Route 61 that runs down the side of the Mississippi River Delta is one of those places that is one of a kind and an adventure for sure.  The famous crossroads of blues at the intersection of Route 61 and Route 49 is in Clarksdale, Mississippi.  This is Ground Zero for the world of blues.

  









Speaking of Ground Zero, this is it.  This Juke Joint style club is a showcase for true blues musicians, and is one of the most popular blues spots in Clarksdale.  That says a lot, since there are blues joints covering almost every square inch of Clarksdale.  It may not look like much, but it's been on several TV shows on both the Food Network and the Travel Channel.  They serve southern style food and blues music.  If you're lucky, you may even get a chance to meet the owner.


That's right, actor Morgan Freeman is one of the owners of this fine establishment. 
There are many other Juke Joints on Route 61  


This is Po' Monkeys, and it's been in one form or another of existence since 1963.  That's right, it looks like a shack.  They do showcase a lot of local talent though, and the food is down home delicious.
Blues is a culture, and the music is it's voice.  The southern comfort food is it's smell and the people who have lived in this area for generations are it's personality.  You can find any number of wonderful Juke Joints, Blues Clubs, and museum's along this historic road.  


I rarely include a map, but this 250 mile or so stretch of road is amazing.  It's like a trip to another country, and a step back in time.  It really helps you put your own life in perspective.


There's a style to this part of the world, and a personality.  There's a laid back feel that makes everyone comfortable.  People seem a little more real.  Food seems to taste a little better.  The weather matters a little less.  Appearances are not the most important thing.  And sports are the most exciting thing around.
The biggest collection of blues items and music probably in the world is in a little town called Oxford.  Have you heard of it?  If not, then you've never heard of Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi.  In that case, you've probably never paid any attention to football.
Oxford is home to such present and past artists at John Grisham and William Faulkner, but to football fans that can't compare to the fact that Eli Manning and his father Archie Manning call this small town home.  Ole Miss has been the training grounds for some of the NFL's most famous athletes, like the Mannings and Brett Favre.  If that doesn't excite the football fan in you, then come on down for the homecoming game and one of the biggest college weekends anywhere in the country, and certainly in the south.
The football homecoming game at Ole Miss is legendary.  It's the busiest weekend of the year in Oxford, and the tailgating is every bit as great as the game.  For college football fans, this is your mecca and it should not be missed.  Book early, because by the time that weekend comes there will be nowhere to stay.
Now, on the other side of life in Oxford, it's that part of New Orleans that you've missed.  You know when you turn on the TV and see all of those travel people in the French Quarter with no crowds?  Forget about it.  Come to Oxford's historic town square area and enjoy the peace that you can't get in the big easy.  
  
Somewhere between Memphis and New Orleans is a whole world of music, food, architecture, and college sports that is a wonderland to explore.  It would be an awful shame to miss out on it.  There are a lot of places that people want to go to because they're big, bustling and sophisticated.  Many people rush to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York to see the latest and the most chic.  I say come and try out some tradition and real life atmosphere.  Try out some grass roots music and some down home food.  Meet some people who live their life here because they love it.  Share someone's day instead of staring at things on display.  The south is a wonderful one of a kind place, and it doesn't get any more original than along the blues highway, Route 61.

 http://highway61blues.com/highway_61_blues_museum.htm
 http://www.banktravelmanagement.com/Article.aspx?id=212
 http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/road-trips/blues-highway-road-trip/
 http://www.roadtripusa.com/routes/greatriver/mississippi/mississippi.html
 http://www.jukejointfestival.com/index.php
 http://www.msbluestrail.org/blues-trail-markers/po-monkeys
 http://visitsouth.com/articles/article/favorite-mississippi-juke-joints/
 http://www.oxfordms.net/visitors.html
http://live.oxfordms.com/recreation-oxford-mississippi/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings 
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html 

Enjoy! 

Chicago is not the Kind of Place I Would Normally Write About, But...

Above is a picture of Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle.  If you've ever done the right thing as a tourist in Chicago, Illinois, you'll know what that is.  It's one of the most beloved exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry.  It's not alone.  There's also a simulated coal mine to explore, a WWII submarine to tour, and many other things from tornadoes to giant hamster wheels to keep everyone in a family entertained.  It's the most extreme museum of it's kind in the western hemisphere.  I didn't know that as a kid.  I just knew that I was damn impressed.
Was this the reason that I decided to mention Chicago in this blog?  No.  The reason that I decided to mention this is because a friend of mine said that I should talk about some of the more unusual things about Chicago.  She was right.  So here it goes.

  Now, everyone's heard of something about Chicago.  Most of us remember Millennium Park from the last presidential campaign.  That park is however, the centerpiece of downtown Chicago and host to many notable events.  
Chicago is also famous for it's sports.  It has them all, and they are all world renowned.  Heck, I've gone to see the Bears a number of times.  I've also spent a lot of time watching the Cubs.
Chicago is also famous for it's music and art.  Jazz, Blues, Rock, and many others ring through the streets downtown at night.  Comedy is big there too.  Many legends of comedy have come from Chicago.  The Art Institute keeps the arts alive and well in the city from painting and sculpture to theater.
 
In reality, Navy Pier is just the beginning.  The reason that I've decided to mention Chicago is because of a couple of the little tours that people should really try.  We all know about the big stuff.  It's the little stuff that makes you feel like an insider.

 
There are a few companies that offer what is called architectural tours along the Chicago River.  This is the kind of city that makes something like that interesting.  Chicago was burned down at the turn of the last century, and then it started to make taller and more inventive buildings, until it became a breeding ground for notable skyscrapers.  These tours take you to up to 40 sites and tell you all about the amazing buildings that you're seeing.  The river is a beautiful place lined with parks as well as giant buildings and criss crossed with draw bridges from days past.  It's a fabulous way to spend an afternoon.  
 
This is the Wrigley Building, a stopover on the tour.
 
This is the world renowned Marina Complex.  All of these buildings and so much more are on these little river tours.  They are a great way to spend the afternoon.  It's relaxing and the view is positively indescribable.  It's a little gem of a thing to do in a town that can quickly get out of control with touristy things that everyone else is doing.
 
Here's another one to remember.  Chicago Pizza Tours takes you to several of the most notable pizzeria's in the city, and let's you not only taste them all, but also let's you go behind the scenes and see how they're made.  If you're not on a diet, and love pizza, then this tour is for you.  Chicago is famous for Chicago Style Pizza, but a lot of people don't realize that the city is full of different styles of pizza and is ground zero for the true pizza lover.  I don't endorse a tour very often, but this one is great.  
   Pizano's is only one of the amazing places that you'll see how the pizza is made and get a slice of heavenly pizza.  Really, this one is a can't miss if you love pizza.
  
So, if this is the view that drew you to Chicago, then take the time to appreciate it.  The sports are great, the shopping is magnificent, and the museums are some of the best in the world; it's the view that puts the city over the top.  It's the food that makes you remember not only how it looked, but how it smelled.  Take the time to look at her buildings and taste her most famous food.  Then, and only then have you truly experienced Chicago.

http://www.chicagotours.us/

http://www.chicagopizzatours.com/

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chicago/

http://explorechicago.org/city/en.html/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
 

Chicago is one of those places that will stay with you for a lifetime.  I was blessed to grow up near such a wonderful place.

Enjoy! 

Honduras? Why? Let Me Tell You About Something...

  Isn't this beautiful?  This is Roatan, one of the islands of Honduras.  This is an island that boasts being one of the best dive spots in the world.  There are tons of guides and businesses that will help you go diving on this wonderful little island.  There are several wonderful resort hotels, such as Palmetto Bay and Infinity Bay.

The island of Roatan is only three miles wide and is the top of an undersea mountainous coral reef like environment.  The water is crystal clear, the wildlife is amazing to look at under the water, the coral is beautiful and vibrant, and the water runs deep for plenty of fun and investigation.
Diving can be done for under $100 dollars a day if you know what you're doing and where to get all the best deals.
But, why am I writing one of my blogs about something that would take a lot of training to do?  Scuba at this level takes a lot of training and experience.  Do I recommend it?  Sure I do, because it's a fabulous way to look at the world underneath us, which is just as amazing as looking at space.  Is it something that I focus on for my blog?  No.
Here's the thing that anyone should try when visiting Roatan.  They have a unique experience, one that can only happen there.  They have a submarine that you can go in.  I don't mean one of the tourist subs that Hawaii, a lot of the rest of the Caribbean and Mallorca have invested in to take tourists out and show them Nemo swimming around a reef or looking at ship wrecks.  
 
This is Idabel.  She's got room for two passengers plus the captain to ride, and she goes theoretically to 3,000 feet deep.  So far, the deepest that she's gone is reportedly 2,660 feet, but she's a safe ride.  Karl Stanley, Captain extraordinaire, helped design and build this fabulous underwater vessel, and he takes tourists on the ride of a lifetime to fund his underwater research.  There are a few different dives that can be purchased.  The perk here is that not only do you get to go in a submarine, but you get to dive deep enough that the subs lights need to be used to see the deep water creatures that live in the dark recesses of the ocean.  It's not the usual trip, folks.  You get to do what the researchers do.  You get to see things that most other people will never get to see.
   
   
All of this, and so much more awaits you under the sea.  There are excursions available that go as deep as 2,000 feet.  There's really no where else on Earth that you can get that close up a view of the actual deep sea world as a tourist.  I can't believe that it's been kept so quiet.  It's definitely something that anyone can do and everyone should.
So, if you happen to find yourself in picturesque Roatan off the coast of Honduras, don't forget to check out the Roatan Institute of Deep Sea Exploration, and take part in researching the world undersea that we still know way too little about.  Captain Karl will be happy to introduce you to his world.
  So, wanna get away?  This is the view that will be only the beginning of your undersea adventure.  Even if you are a diver, you'll want to go even deeper in Idabel, and see what you haven't been able to in a dive suit.  You only live once.  Do it right.

http://www.stanleysubmarines.com/
http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/10/21/11359/481/travel/Roatan%27s+Only+Homemade+Submarine+in+Limbo
http://www.roatanresorts.com/
http://travel-to-honduras.com/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/honduras/bay-islands/roatan
http://sidewalkmystic.com/Roatan-Diving.htm
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html

Enjoy!