This is the Hennepin Canal, not far from Tampico, Illinois. Why would you travel here? Well, this is a working piece of history.
The canal was originally conceived as a way to connect the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers in Northern Illinois in the late 1800's. By 1892, the canal was underway. By the time it was completed in 1907, it did indeed cut over 400 miles off the journey between the rivers to the Mississippi where goods could then head to the Gulf of Mexico, but it was too narrow for the modern boats of the time to use. Therefore, the canal was obsolete before it was finished. By the 1930's the canal was mainly used for recreational traffic.
The Hennepin Canal was one of the first to use cement containment walls and has Marshall Gates which are unique to that canal. For the engineer, simply looking at the structure of the canal is worth the trip. Much of the innovation that went into the canal pre-dates even the Panama Canal.
These days, the Hennepin is used for recreation. It is supported by The Friends of the Hennepin Canal and they are constantly working to fully restore the workings of this magnificent old beast.
The sights along the way are some that you won't see anywhere else these days. Most canals are all but lost. They're nothing more than historical markers along the sides of country highways across the Midwest.
The Hennepin Canal is being preserved for all to enjoy. There are hiking, biking, cross country skiing, and horseback riding trails along the way. You are welcome to bring your canoe, kayak or boat along, as long as you follow the speed rules. There are campgrounds along the way that are open from April 15th to October 31st every year. There are some great towns along the way, like Tampico, where you can enjoy the local ambiance.
Tampico is where Ronald Reagan was born and they have a museum dedicated to that.
Tampico is the kind of small Midwestern town where the sidewalks roll up at night and everyone knows everyone else. It's the kind of place with small shops and restaurants that make you want to spend a lifetime there.
So, If you want to spend some time in good old fashioned Midwestern America and kick back and relax, the Hennepin Canal is 50 miles and 32 locks of pleasurable vacation for you. There's no place else like it. That's why I like to tell folks about it.
http://www.tampicohistoricalsociety.com/R_Reagan_Birthplace_Museum.html
http://www.friends-hennepin-canal.org/
http://www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R1/Hennpin.htm#Boating
http://www.tampicohistoricalsociety.com/Home_Page.html
http://www.tampicohistoricalsociety.com/Hennepin_Canal_Photos.html
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
Take a trip back in time in Illinois. There's more there than Chicago.
Enjoy!
Monasteries and Convents are being turned into boutique hotels in Rome. Beautiful, right? Well, why not stay in the real thing. That's right, take your Rome experience to the hilt. Stay in a monastery or a convent. There are around 200 of them right in the Rome area and most of them rent out rooms.
Why would you do such a thing? What if you're not Catholic? Doesn't matter. You, my friends are supposed to be travelers. travelers like to get involved in the places that they visit, and there's no more Catholic place on Earth than Rome, so go see how it all works. It's not enough to just see the places. I'm a believer in going there to understand things--understand the people.
There is so much beauty in Rome. There is so much history to explore. If you stay in a convent or monastery and meet the nuns and monks, you will have a view of the place that few are ever going to have. Looking at Rome through the eyes of the deeply devoted is like being in an art gallery when one of the artists shows up. It's a unique view of the world around you at the time. Embrace it.
Imagine, being able to go and ask someone about something that you've seen or are going to see in the city, and they can tell you exactly how to appreciate it. Imagine, being able to take some quiet time and get in touch with your spiritual side when you return from a day of sight seeing. Imagine, getting to know your hosts and hostesses and how they live and why. You will never forget it. That is why you should stay in a convent or a monastery, particularly in Rome.
The rooms tend to be simple in these locations. Sometimes you may share a bath. There may be a curfew or a quiet time. But, you also may be able to eat in the dining room with your hosts, you may be able to attend mass with them, and you may just learn something special that you will remember for the rest of your life. The beauty will stick in your mind. And so might the faces and names of those who have shared their lives with you for a short time.
So, come to Rome. See the sights. Go and ask your new friends at the convent or monastery about them. Learn what they really are. Learn what they mean to those who follow the faith that's made the city what it is today. Be part of your vacation, don't just look at it.
http://www.ehow.com/how_2127011_stay-monastery.html
http://www.aviewtoathrill.net/2011/01/16/monasteries-and-convents-unconventional-lodging-at-its-best/
http://www.reidsguides.com/t_h/t_h_convents.html
http://www.goodnightandgodbless.com/
http://www.brigidine.org/brigidineorg/default.aspx?idt=145
http://www.monasterystays.com/?a=search#type=region&id=21&arrive=2012-10-19&depart=2012-10-26&people=1&venue=VEC113
http://www.go-to-italy.com/English/Religious.htm
http://italytravelista.com/where-to-stay-in-rome-convent-and-monastery-accommodation-in-rome-travel-to-italy/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
Also, look to a book that I found called "Good Night and God Bless." It's a guide to this kind of unusual accommodation. It tells you the details about how to find it, book it and do it.
And, be aware that you can book stays in monasteries and convents around the world. Also, you can stay in Buddhist monasteries as well.
Enjoy!
It's certainly one of the most incredible communities I've ever seen. Now, if anyone has read my blog, my books on Fiction Press, or seen My pictures on Facebook, you know that I love a great water community that isn't entirely about the beach. Sausalito is most famous for it's fantastic historic houseboat community. They are unique, they are artistic, they are beautiful, and if you're lucky you can rent one for the week or the month. That's right, you can stay in one of Sausalito's beautiful houseboats, instead of a hotel. That's what I like about this place.
Check it out. These houseboats are all available as vacation rentals. They range from cheap to expensive, but what a way to stay for a vacation.
Sausalito is a beautiful little town, day or night, and it's just a ferry ride to San Francisco.
There are a ton of things to do in the area. Number one for me is always the sea plane ride.
Sea Plane Adventures will take you on any number of flightseeing tours around the bay area. There is no better view of a seaside metropolis than by plane, and there's no more fun plane to fly in than a sea plane.
But who am I kidding? The San Francisco Bay area is full of things to do.
Whale watching is a great activity.
You can learn to sail, and go sailing. You can also get with a tour company and go sea kayaking in a number of locations.
At Spaulding Wooden Boat Center, you can not only sail, but you can see how the old style wooden boats are made. It's a piece of history being preserved in the area and well worth the time to go and see.
Then there's the Marine Mammal Center, dedicated to healing and preserving the animals in the area. If you get a chance to spend any real time in the area, there are always ways to volunteer at this amazing organization. You can help make a difference to at least a sea lion that's been caught in a net.
Now, if you love art, Sausalito is a long standing artist community. There are several galleries, most of which offer original art by locals. Every year for Labor Day there is also the Sausalito Arts Festival that you can attend. If art isn't your thing, but opera is, there's the Golden Gate Opera with a variety of shows for all ages. But, if structure and architecture is your art, there's the tall ship society with their old time ships, and of course the most famous addresses in town, the houseboats.
Sausalito is a refreshing, relaxing place to spend your time. It has one of the most amazing views in the country, it's only a ferry ride to San Fran, and there's a ton of stuff to do. The locals are open and friendly, there's a lot of gourmet food to try out, and the night life is fun too. This is a bucket list item, folks. This is a chance to go somewhere and live like the locals do. This is a chance to feel like you've come into the inner circle. Don't miss Sausalito.
Come check out Sausalito and a whole different way of life.
http://www.everyscape.com/view/sausalito/
http://www.spauldingcenter.org/
https://www.sfbaywhalewatching.com/
http://www.seaplane.com/
http://www.seatrek.com/pages/localtrips/localtrips.htm
http://modernsailing.com/basic_keelboat.php
http://www.sausalitowoodenboattour.com/
http://www.ci.sausalito.ca.us/Index.aspx?page=65
http://www.vrbo.com/110519
http://www.sausalitoartfestival.org/
http://www.sausalito.org/visitor/attractions
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rentals/california/sausalito/r1762
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
Enjoy!
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!
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!
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!
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!
