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! 

Eze, Modern Meets Past

  I don't gush about little towns much, but there's this place in France called Eze.  I saw this on TV years ago, and I've never lost interest in this place.  It's a tiny medieval town not far from Nice on the French Riviera.  I have to give them an A+ for location.
Eze has been around for hundreds of years.  This place has been home to Moors, Christian Crusaders, and it's even belonged to Genoa before.  Now it is a tourist attraction, but I have to mention it, because its a really good one.  The buildings here look like they've all been carved out of caves.  They may have been, for all I know.  There are castle ruins on the tippy top of the town, and beautiful churches to look at that come from medieval times.  The streets are all still made of stone, and there is no room for cars.  You must park outside the village to come in.  There are very few residents in this tiny village.  Most of what you see are shops and restaurants, with some top of the line perfumeries and a fabulous hotel called Chateau Eze.  The view from the hotel alone is worth the trip.
The beautiful little village sits near Nice and Monaco on the coast of France. The area was once ruled by the King of Monaco. There are many activities in the area that are coastal related like boating and the beach.  But there are also some unique things that they do around Eze.  There is paragliding, and spelunking in the caves below the village.  
 
You will have to go to a tour agency to do these things, but what other time in your life will you paraglide off of a 427 foot high cliff over the French Riviera?  I think it's worth it.
The little cave like shops and restaurants are amazing to look at, much less to visit and shop in.

Even though the merchandise isn't hundreds of years old, the shops look like they are.  The streets are so narrow, you have to walk. 











Not far from the castle ruins is a wonderful botanic garden which would remind most people of something that they would see in Arizona.  It sits high atop a cliff with cactus and a fabulous view of the Mediterranean.  I can't stress how great the view is from this little village.
So, if you want to get a little out of the way while wandering the French Riviera, Eze is a great spot for that.  I do recommend that you don't go there in the high summer season.  The off seasons of Spring and Fall are the best and least crowded times to go.  The main thing is, if you love something kitchy, you like history, and you love a good view--go to Eze.  Let the people of the locals shops, restaurants and hotels treat you like royalty, and relax, stroll and enjoy the view without the interference of cars, buses, taxis, trains, planes, or boats.  Take a glide, climb a cliff, play some golf, or check out the caves below the 427 foot high village.  Just remember, you know it's worth it when your view before you go to bed looks like this:
   Enough said.  Buy a ticket to Nice and rent a car to drive to Eze.

http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/alpmarit/eze/eze.htm
http://www.eze-riviera.com/village/accueil_village.html
http://www.slh.com/destinations/europe/france/eze-village/chateau-eza-hotel/?refcd=MS9828136994b_chXFteau_eza_france&tsacr=MS1151250770&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hotel_names_-_country&utm_term=ch%C3%A2teau_eza_-_france
http://www.eze-riviera.com/infos/ang/welcome.html
http://www.france-travel-secrets.com/eze-france.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/5006850/Eze-France-The-perfect-break.html
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings

Enjoy! 

Monasteries in the Clouds

On my travels around the world, I missed this one, but there are the special few who have taken the time and have told me that it was abundantly worth it.  So, while in Greece, I recommend getting out of Athens and off the islands for a little while and visiting a surreal place where the rocks jut straight up out of the ground and have monasteries on top.  This is the Meteora area of Greece in the center of the mainland.
Now, it would be amazing to see one monastery perched on top of the spires of Meteora, but at one time there were at least a dozen.  There are still six that are active and accessible.  That's amazing.  I hear that there are two that everyone should visit.  The first is Moni Megalou Meteorou, or Metamorphosis  .

The other is Moni Agia Triada, or Holy Trinity.

Metamorphosis is the biggest and sits atop a 2,000 foot spire.  It's church is full of frescoes depicting martyrs and their deaths.  There is a collection of skulls and other bones that are displayed for public viewing.  It's an interesting look and the monks view on death and martyrdom.  It is a little graphic, but well worth a look.
Holy Trinity is currently home to only two monks who love to have visitors.  They will show you around personally and show you where all the best views are.  They serve tea and candy and tell stories about the old days when the monastery was far busier.  Although the atmosphere is vastly different than at Metamorphosis, it is harder to get to with narrow steep stairs and it's quite a climb to the top.

Meteora is located in the Thessaly region of Greece.  You can grab a tour bus in Trikala.  It's approximately 5 hours from Athens.  It's a great day trip into the uncommon.  Make sure you bring your camera, but make sure you don't wear anything offensive.  The monks prefer that visitors come dressed conservatively as part of their religious beliefs.  Check ahead for the hours, or you may be surprised to hear that they are closed for one reason of another, and have wasted a trip.  Also, be prepared to climb some steps.  It's not easy getting to most of the monasteries.  Face it, the reason that they're so interesting is because they are perched on top of 2,000 foot spires.
So, be prepared to walk, dress accordingly and spend some time on the road from Athens.  Take your camera and a little cash to get in and have the driving, climbing, and cultural visit of a lifetime with a view that you'll never see again.  Embrace the spires of Meteora, or suspended in the air and take a little walk on the unusual side.

http://www.travelwithachallenge.com/Greece-Meteora.htm

http://www.infohub.com/vacation_packages/30029.html

 http://www.partner.viator.com/en/3888/tours/Athens/3-Day-Trip-to-Delphi-and-Meteora-from-Athens/d496-31408

http://www.greeklandscapes.com/greece/meteora/meteora.html

http://www.great-adventures.com/destinations/greece/meteora.html

http://www.greecetravel.com/meteora/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
 

  Don't miss it!
Enjoy!

Mountain Parks vs. Theme Parks

I'm one of those people who likes to ride rides and do stupid stuff in the name of fun.  I've spent a lot of my life climbing mountains, riding motorcycles, riding mountain bikes, and riding fun things in theme parks.  Back in the 1980's however, I discovered something completely different.

Mountain adventure parks are created in the same locations as ski resorts.  They're different from anything else.  They are seasonal, and they tend to have more dangerous rides than a theme park. Personally, I like that, and so do a lot of people. These parks do really have their perks though.  I can't say enough good about them.

My local mountain adventure park is Jiminy Peak, on the Lanesborough/Hancock city line in northern Massachusetts.  This place is fun.  That's the simplest way to describe it.  They have two parks within the resort.  They have the mountain adventure park with the alpine slides and mountain coaster, along with bungee jumps for the kids and scenic ski lift rides and Segway tours for the older folks in the crowd.  They also have a giant swing that really gives you some butterflies in the stomach.  The other park is the aerial adventure park.  This place lets you climb through the trees on ropes, cables, hanging logs and ladders and such.  It also has zip lines and a zip line ride, just for the fun of it.  This one is for the in good shape crowd, but it's a lot of fun.

Now, the good thing about these rides is that you are always in control.  Alpine slides are speed controlled by the rider.

Mountain coasters are driven by gravity.  You are hauled up by a tow line and then you glide down the mountain and you control the brakes.  The aerial park you choose your course and go at your own speed.

I find that the lines are shorter, in part because the parks are not as heavily advertised as the theme parks are.  The other perk of the mountains parks is that you can leave and come back.  If you want to go down the road and get a burger instead of paying the higher prices at the restaurants in the park, you can do that and return without having to pay to get back in.  All you have to do is keep your bracelet on.  It has that sense of freedom that you don't have in a theme park.

Then there's the best reason for me to choose a mountain park over a theme park.  The view.

As the economy gets more demanding, more of the ski resorts are turning to a summer park to keep things rolling year round.  If you live in an area where there are ski resorts, check out their summer activities and see what's going on.  You'll be glad you did.

http://www.jiminypeak.com/
http://www.attitash.com/summer.html
http://www.glenwoodcaverns.com/index.php
http://www.skibowl.com/summer/
http://www.bransonzipline.com/
http://www.parkcitymountain.com/summer/index.html
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings 
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html 
 
Just look up a resort in your area, and see what they have to offer!
Enjoy!

It's Nothing Like You Thought Iceland Would Be

It doesn't look like much.  Things in Iceland really never look too impressive.  Nature is the biggest show in the country.  This is where I spent a lot of time in Iceland.  This farmhouse is only used by it's owners twice a year.  Once to let the sheep out to run free for the summer, and the other in the fall to round them up.  In the summer, hikers like me, rent it.
Why?  Because Iceland is more than just Reykjavik.  Because Iceland is a beautiful place that seems like something out of a dream.  It's completely different from anywhere else on Earth.  Oh yeah, and there aren't any trees.  There are a few, but the Icelanders put in an awful lot of work to get them to grow there.  A barren yet beautiful landscape is what Iceland is all about.  And waterfalls.  Lots of waterfalls.

This one is right in back of the house.  It was in a narrow gorge 50 feet from the door and it was about 30 feet high.  It was amazing.

 I have to say, the main reason that I came out to the highlands of Iceland was to hike in The Eldgja, a national treasure that is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.  This area is rumored to be 15 miles long and is the site of a volcanic eruption.  It's a rift across south central Iceland.  It kind of looks like the Grand Canyon, but unique and amazing.

 It's worth the walk through absolutely nowhere.  The walk to the Eldgja is amazing.

 It seems like the road to nowhere, but the scenery is something that you can't see anywhere else in the world.  The quiet is so tranquil that you forget that the rest of the world is out there.  

 The bridges are for people.  The vehicles have to drive through the rivers.  There are signs with instructions on how to drive through a river.  It's surreal and exciting.

 Then, out of the blue, there's a sign telling you that you've reached the Eldgja.  It's perched alongside the dirt road like it's the most normal thing in the world.  It is the only sign marking it in this region of Iceland.
I know that most people shy away from vacation spots like Iceland.  That is one of the reasons that it so appealed to me.  But, I guarantee once you've seen this place, you'll want to come back again and again.  Sure, The Blue Lagoon is nice, but the highlands is an experience that you'll never forget.
If you come during the round up time, you'll definitely never forget it.  There are many places that take you on a round up as a vacation tour.  It's worth every penny.
You need another reason to come to the highlands of Iceland?  Beyond the beauty, the quiet, the waterfalls, the surreal landscape, and the unexpected adventure?  Well, if you come in the summer, it never fully gets dark, and that's just incredible.
Try this one on for size.  You won't regret it.  You can spend a little time at the Blue Lagoon too if you want.  It's pales by comparison to the highlands.

 http://www.inthesaddle.com/rides/view/57_roundup_land-of-ice-and-fire_iceland
http://www.travelnet.is/Accommodation/South_Iceland/Farmhouses/
http://www.farmholidays.is/
http://www.visiticeland.com/Accommodation/SummerhousesCottages/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://pixels.com/profiles/terri-dixon.html
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings

Enjoy!