Adventures for Anyone

Thursday, June 9, 2016

The Green Line...?

Where and what is the Green Line? I wasn't sure, but I certainly found out. I must say, I grew up with the Berlin Wall and was ecstatic when it fell. I've also seen the border walls in Israel and I understand, but I wish it didn't have to be. The same with that wall that everyone is talking about on the border of Mexico and Guatemala. From ancient times people have built walls for protection, or separation alone. The one in China should tell us just how long this practice has been going on. In the modern era, there aren't many of these areas left. There are borders, but not true divisions. However, there is a division running right down the middle of the island nation of Cyprus and it runs right through the capital, Nicosia or Lefkosia, depending on whether you're speaking Turkish or Greek.

I'm just fascinated by this concept. There is not a wall. There is a UN buffer zone or no man's land that runs 180 kilometers across the entire island. It's 7 kilometers wide in some places and covers 3% of the country. The north is Turkish. The south is Greek. There are Greek and Roman ruins all over this amazing island. Legend has it that this is the birthplace of both Adonis and Aphrodite. The coast is gorgeous. The mountains are amazing. It's just that when the island got it's independence from Britain in 1960 it was a short time of true independence. In 1963, fighting broke out between the Greeks and the Turks. It's never been solved, hence the Green Line.

I love strange borders and unusual situations. The Adventure for Anyone here is simply visiting. This is truly amazing. Nicosia/Lefkosia is the last city in the world to be divided in this manner. The Lerda Street Crossing is in the middle of the city and is the only place in the city where you can go back and forth from north to south Cyprus.

There are walled up streets in the middle of the city. There are walls with barbed wire on them. There is a Toyota dealership that sits in the no man's land that still has the cars in it from 1974. You don't get to see things like this every day. Visitors will tell you that the border is easy to cross. It's not as though your life is in danger or anything.

Nicosia/Lefkosia is a bustling city with a lot of things to see and do. They have all kinds of museums and shopping and restaurants. It's a busy city that divided between two countries that aren't that fond of each other. It's odd, but that's why visit.

For history buffs, this island country has got it all. Birthplace of Gods, and once conquered by Alexander the Great. And for modern history buffs, this island has been the hideout for more than one felled dictator. Hosni Mubarak fled to Cyprus when he left Egypt. But if that doesn't interest you, the ruins will keep you busy. They are all over the island.

It's hard to forget who owns what in Cyprus. It's blatantly obvious who owns the north, with the Turkish flag put across the side of a mountain. The best part is that it lights up at night.

But, the true Adventure for Anyone is on the west coast of Cyprus. This is the isolated and puzzling exclave of Kokkina. You can see on the map that there is a definitive partition with the Green Line. Off in the west is a little piece of land with a line drawn around it. That is Kokkina. There are no border crossings on land. You have to visit it by sea. It sits in Greek territory, but it is part of the Turkish run north. It reminds me of Kaliningrad.

There are beautiful hotels in Kokkina. It sits along sandy beaches with azure waters and beautiful views. It's a peaceful, relaxing and fun place to spend your time. You just have to take a boat to get there, because this is where the Turks came ashore to attack the Greeks during the conflict. They are cut off from the rest of the country, but this is the place to visit. You'll feel like you stepped back in time and landed at a great resort area.

Cyprus is amazing whether you visit the city or the country or the coast with the resorts. Both the Greek and Turkish people are fiercely independent. They have divided the country in two with the United Nations presiding. However, it's a great chance to get to experience both cultures in a small area. It's about the history, it's about the culture, it's about the ruins from the Greek and the Roman eras. It's an enigma in that the environment seems hostile, but the people are outgoing and friendly. The border is somewhat relaxed, but the Kokkina Exclave is still isolated. What I find amazing is that everyone seems so relaxed, even though the country is divided right down the middle by the infamous Green Line. So, take that adventurous trip that you've always dreamed of. Come to a divided country in the modern era. Come and meet the Greeks and the Turks and see their way of life on the largest island in the sea. Come and see Cyprus before they actually solve the dispute, or you won't get to see one of the strangest anomalies ever. Come and see the Green Line. Come and cross the Green Line. Come and see the isolated exclave of Kokkina and enjoy!

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/cyprus.html
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/cyprus
http://www.north-cyprus.travel/
http://blogs.reuters.com/photographers-blog/2014/04/10/los-in-time-the-cyprus-buffer-zone/
http://www.scribblesnaptravel.com/a-tour-along-the-green-line-of-nicosia-the-worlds-last-divided-capital-city/
http://www.cyprusgreenline.com/
http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/cyprus/crossing-green-line/
http://www.apolloncyprus.com/Kokkina.html
http://www.a1cyprus.com/
http://www.newpresidentholidays.com/
https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/north-cyprus-holidays/
http://www.cyprusparadiseproperties.com/
http://www.welcometonorthcyprus.co.uk/
http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/cyprus/north-cyprus/
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cyprus/safety-and-security
http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-04-22/photos-un-buffer-zone-cyprus-show-place-where-time-stands-still
http://www.worldpress.org/Europe/1124.cfm
http://www.northcyprus.co.uk/yeni-erenkoy/
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Thursday, June 2, 2016

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

I always wonder what it is that makes people think the way that they do. My son and I went down the street to watch a college baseball game tonight, and when I got home my husband was wondering why we would go. It's true that I'm not a baseball fan. You can't pay me to watch a game on television. But, when someone asks me if I would like to go to a game, I'm right there. It never occurred to me that anyone wouldn't understand why I would want to go. But, now that my own husband seems confused about this issue, I thought I would write about it for any of you who might wonder the exact same thing. I thought that I would write to explain to those who have never gone to a professional or college baseball game why they should give it a try.

Let me start by explaining a few things. I'm a football fan. Anyone who knows me at all knows that I am a die hard Green Bay Packer fan. I park myself in front of the TV every time I get a chance when my Packers are playing. I'm not a baseball fan. I grew up with my family watching and rooting for the Chicago Cubs. It is what it is. So, if I had a baseball team, it would probably be the unluckiest team in baseball. But just last year, my son and I stopped off in Cleveland just to go to an Indians game. Why? Because Cleveland is fun. Those people know how to have a good time doing anything. Cleveland is a fun place to watch baseball.

Last summer, my son and I also went to New Britain, Connecticut to get a last experience watching the Rock Cats before they moved to Hartford and became Yard Goats. But, why do we do it? It's not because of baseball. It's because of the whole experience. It's about the activities. It's about the food and souvenirs. It's about the crowd in the stands. It's about all of it. It has very little to do with baseball.

Take tonight's game for instance. The Torrington Titans were playing the Pittsfield Suns and they lost 11 to 7. If I were a fan, I would have been upset. I would have been upset that the shortstop for the Titans can't catch. I would have been upset that the center fielder apparently can't throw home. But that doesn't bother me. I'm not a big fan. I do understand the game, but I'm not that into it.

No, tonight my son and I were enjoying the company of the two lovely ladies who sat next to us who are big Titan fans. They were wonderful company and they saved our seats for us when we went to the concession stand and my son chased down the two players who were selling the raffle tickets and purchased some for the ladies. We all laughed and joked about various things during the game and had a great time. The game provided a lot of entertainment too. There were two bats broken and many foul balls that went flying into the parking lot, the stands, over buildings, and everywhere. All that excitement that we really enjoyed and we aren't big baseball fans.

One of the activities for the night was that they had some kids go out and play a version of Bocci where they tried to get their baseball closest to the Titan's player. It was adorable. They also got us all up to dance at one point. That was a good time. My son's shop teacher was in another part of the audience and he and my son were texting jokes to each other throughout the game. We watched kids catching foul balls. We watched people out having a good time with their friends and family. We listened to the music in the down times. We had hot dogs and french fries and ice cream. There are so many things to enjoy at a baseball game.

Major league stadiums, like the Indians, have restaurants, bars, play areas for kids, shops, and all sorts of entertainment for those who actually paid to get in and see the game. People spend a lot of time in these extraneous areas during the game. For anyone who hasn't gone to a game because you don't watch baseball; you should give it a try. It's reasonably cheap to get into a baseball game. It's not nearly as high priced overall as say football.

My favorite baseball games are actually the minor leagues and college leagues. We have four minor league baseball teams here in Connecticut in Norwich, Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Britain. In Torrington we have the Titans College League. We also have several colleges around the state. There's a lot of baseball going on in a state that has no major league teams. I spent a lot of time in my younger years at New Britain games. The name of the team has changed a few times over the years, and they are now the Bees; but it's a great place to watch a baseball game.

Baseball is America's past time. There's a reason for that. It's a great place to go and hang out with family and friends. There's all kinds of entertainment, there's delicious junk food, there's good company, and there's the simple fact that you got out of the house and got away from the computers and the televisions for a while. I've spent a lot of time watching baseball games and I intend to watch a few of them this summer. I like seeing what it's like at the different stadiums. I remember listening to Harry Caray sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field many times over the years. It was classic Cubs baseball. I love the ambience at a baseball game. I love to watch the crowd. It's just something that everyone should do with their families and friends, and for God's sake take your kids. Not all travel is grand vacations. Sometimes a short trip to a baseball game will give you just as many great memories as a grand trip. Memories are precious, and the ones I have of going out to baseball games are great. I wouldn't trade them for anything. Go out and make some memories. Take in a baseball game and learn what it's like to experience it live and in person with those you love. Enjoy!

http://www.torringtontitans.com/view/torringtontitans
http://bridgeportbluefish.com/
http://nbbees.com/
http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t538
http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t571
http://www.milb.com/milb/standings/index.jsp
https://www.facebook.com/minorleaguebaseball
http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/
http://www.minorleagueball.com/
http://baseballnews.com/summer-collegiate-leagues/
http://www.thefuturesleague.com/view/futuresleague
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Her Name Was Ronda...Spain!

There are few places more dramatic than Andalucia. Southern Spain's rocky, mountainous, ancient region is covered with great cities to visit between the wine regions of the north and the Costa Del Sol on the Mediterranean. From Seville to Cordoba and all the way to the English outpost of Gibraltar; the scenery is amazing. One of the most amazing spots along this path is Ronda. Ronda is the city on the cliff overlooking the Guadalevin River as it cuts it's way, lower and lower through the gorge that runs through the center of this dramatic cliff town.

This amazing town was originally settled by the Celts. Later it was ruled by Rome, then taken over by the Moors. Eventually the Christians took the place over and nowadays when you visit; you can see things from all of these eras. The Roman Bridge is the old bridge and has commanding views of the gorge as you enter and exit the city. There are also walled areas of town that were built by the Moors.

The Moorish King left something behind that is definitely an Adventure for Anyone. There is a passageway from the palace at the top of the cliff to the river in the gorge below. It contains 365 steps, so it is a walk. This is the water mine. The palace needed fresh water, and that was how they did it several hundred years ago. These days you can't go in the palace, but you can hike the steps to the river. It gives you astounding views of the city above.

Ronda is filled with plazas, casinos, churches, palaces and amazing views of the gorge. One of the most famous views of the city is of and from the New Bridge. This baby spans the gorge at over 100 meters up. I doubt that you will ever see a view quite like either the view of it or from it. If you hit town at the right time, there may be people bungee jumping from the bridge. For you waterfall lovers, there is one under this bridge and it is gorgeous.

Plaza de Toros is another must see. Most of the year this bullring is a museum. We all know how popular bullfighting is in Spain and in Ronda they hold the title of being home to modern bullfighting. The Pamplona crowd did it the old fashioned way. Traditional dress and lots of pageantry surround the bullfighting in this city. ‘Feria Goyesca de Pedro Romero’ is the only fair in the world held in honor of a bullfighter. It takes place in September, and is the biggest event in Ronda. Ronda is equally as well known for it's bullfighting as other centers in Spain and was famous enough that they once drew celebrities like Ernest Hemmingway and Orson Wells.

Everything in Ronda is a little more dramatic than most places. The views from most of the edges of town are something that you will never forget. It is the best part of this Adventure for Anyone. There are fortresses on these cliffs that have amazing views and should not be missed. There are so many places to get a good view, and the Parador Hotel, perched next to the new bridge is probably the best place to stay. There are any number of great hotels in the area, but none of the others have quite this good a view.

Southern Spain was home to the Moors for hundreds of years. Their architecture is just part of the must sees in this town. Everything from palaces to water mines to public baths are testament to the time that they spent on this clifftop.

Museo Lara is one of the unusual spots in Ronda. This museum houses some very odd exhibits. In addition to the typewriters, and microscopes; they have an exhibit about witchcraft and the Inquisition. It's macabre, there's not doubt about it.

There's a lot to see and do in Ronda. It's one of the fastest growing towns in Andalucia, because of the tourism there. It's got more history than I could ever talk about. The architecture is one of a kind. The views of the gorge and the mountains are amazing on a bad day. It has unique festivals, great hotels, and a watermine. There are tons of day trips that will bus you out there for a walking tour, but I say you should stay overnight. This is one of those towns that you do a city tour and walk away. A while down the road you will be curious to see if maybe you missed something and you will read about the town that you've already visited. When you see all the things that you probably missed on your day tour and you are already at home across the pond; you will feel slighted. Take the time to spend more than a day in Ronda. There's so much there to experience that you don't want to miss it. Have some Tapas, try some Flamenco, shop in the plazas, walk the walls and the narrow streets, and join in a pilgrimage. So take the time, stay the night and enjoy!

http://www.real-ronda.com/about-ronda
http://www.rondatoday.com/
https://glampinghub.com/spain/andalucia/ronda/
http://www.visitcostadelsol.com/things-to-do/el-tajo-de-ronda-p33461
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/ronda
http://hikeandbikeholidays.com/blog/ronda-tourist-info#.V0aOJeTES70
http://www.spain-holiday.com/Ronda/articles/the-12-things-you-must-see-when-visiting-ronda
http://www.rondatoday.com/things-to-do-in-ronda-during-your-stay/
http://www.andalucia.com/ronda/home.htm
http://www.booking.com/searchresults.en-gb.html?aid=315676;label=and-ronda-hotels;sid=ea2906284d665152208f139b1e96f0bb;dcid=4;dest_id=-399659;dest_type=city;highlighted_hotels=14699;hlrd=6;redirected=1;source=hotel;track_hp_back_button=1#hotel_14699-back
http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/andalucia-ronda.html
http://andalucia.com/bullfight/home.htm
http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/festivals/feria-pedro-romero/
http://www.andalucia.org/en/events-calendar/the-pedro-romero-fair-and-goyesque-style-bullfights/
http://www.insideronda.com/event/detail.php?id=4
http://www.travelinginspain.com/baths.html
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museo-lara
http://www.thehotelguru.com/best-hotels-in/spain/ronda
http://www.hotellafuente.com/
http://www.spaindaytours.com/bus-tour-costa-del-sol-to-ronda.html
http://www.euroadventures.net/spain/private-day-tours/ronda-walking-tour.html
http://www.welovemalaga.com/product/ronda-walking-tour/
http://www.malagatours.com/
http://tomatours.com/mr-hendersons-railway-ronda/
http://www.kensingtontours.com/Travel/Tours/Spain?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BING-LeadGen-Spain
http://www.cafepress.com/artisticcreationsbyninakindred1
http://www.zazzle.com/imagings
http://terri-dixon.pixels.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresforanyone?fref=ts
https://www.fictionpress.com/u/530752/Nina-Kindred

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Milestones Are Upon Me Again

Let me be the first to say that I never know what I'm going to see or where I'm going to see it. I started the blog four years ago with the idea that I would write once a week for one year. I figured that I would run out of things to write about and that it would be a good exercise for me to keep me writing. I had no idea how many things I would find to write about. It's been a never ending process.

One thing that I would like to say is thank you to the reader that sent me the material on Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. That led me to a trip that I still fondly dream about. It was one of the best trips of my life, and my family would agree. I intended to stop writing this blog a couple of months before taking that trip, and it made me keep writing. I'm glad it did. I'm glad I found out about this place. I'm glad I could share this place with my readers.

Travel is the one thing that will broaden the mind like no other, and that's why I love it so much. Have you ever known that person that sits around and says that they won't go to all these places because of the politics? I say travel to one of those countries, and realize that the people have no more to do with their politics than we do with ours.

I remember that lovely day back in 1991 when I sat atop the Berlin Wall. I learned a lot on that trip too. I went to church with Pope John Paul II. I ended up in Vilnius, Lithuania during an uprising, and I spent a lot of time in Poland that trip. What I learned in that one trip could not be matched in any other way. I still think about it, and I still love that trip.

I remember the wonders of Iceland when I went hiking up there. I spent a lot of time in the wilderness of that amazing country. I learned a lot about glaciers and volcanoes and sheep. It's the one country that I swear I would move to if my family would go with me. I remember when I went, my friends and family wondered what on Earth I was thinking. I told them all that they would have to go to understand. It's one of the rare places that I've ever visited that I have a hard time explaining in words.

I remember the Havasupai Indian Reservation down in the Grand Canyon. It was a real village with restaurant, store, clinic, school, museum, hotel, campground and around 600 people. My whole life I had no idea that there was a town in the Grand Canyon. They had beautiful waterfalls as well. It was one of the longest single hikes I ever went on, but it was well worth it.

There was the time that I discovered that you can get prescriptions and eyeglasses really cheap in Mexico. My son loved his $85 glasses. It was an adventure for both of us, and I would gladly go there to get my meds all the time if I lived closer. My parents have saved thousands of dollars over the years. I got a lot of responses on that one, and I'm so glad that I could help people find ways to afford their medications.

But, no matter what I'm sharing, you can rest assured; I had a good time. Whether it's antique planes, Christmas lights at the local amusement park or one of my endless trips to New York City, I love to travel. And I love to share my personal travels and my travel ideas with all of you. I hope that you continue to follow me on my personal journey to learn more about the weird, fantastic, amazing, historic, and wild places around the world.

Sometimes when you hit the road with normal things in mind, you stumble on the most amazing things ever. It's all about the journey and the things you find along the way. Travel is an adventure, and just because you've seen a lot certainly doesn't mean you've seen it all. I never would have thought that I would go to Hell. I also didn't think that a few months later it would be for sale. It's all part of the Adventure that spawned Adventures for Anyone. I hope you've enjoyed the last four years. I have, and I now am hoping to be able to do this for four more years. As Mark Twain once said, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness." I hope you continue to follow me and Enjoy!

A Hidden Gem in Croatia

Back in the 1990's there was a huge civil war in a country that used to exist called Yugoslavia. When the Berlin Wall came down and Russia had it's August Coup, Communism was falling all over the place. When it all fell apart in Yugoslavia, the factions that had lived as a communal country for all those years, couldn't seem to get along and it made a really messy war. Of course, the US got involved to help, but I'm not sure that we did all that much good. In the end, there was a big mess to clean up and a whole bunch of separate countries. Among them was Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Macedonia, and Croatia. Croatia has been placed firmly on my to do list.

Zagreb is the capital of Croatia and is one of the great historic cities of Eastern Europe. It survived the war and today is ready for tourists with guides and trams and all the historic sites that you'd ever want to see. I do love an old European capital, but that wasn't what I wanted to talk about today.

We all know how much I love to get out of town, and the only thing that I love more than that is waterfalls. So, while in Croatia, you have to visit Plitvice National Park. This well known wonder is full of lakes and waterfalls. There are 16 lakes in this park and 16 cascades to go with them.

There are boats, helicopters, wooden walkways, and many other ways to enjoy the lakes, waterfalls and other parts of the park. There are three hotels within the main park to stay at and the park is open year round. Obviously it's best to come in the summer months in order to see the amazing turquoise waters of these amazing lakes. It's some 380 meters from top to bottom of these lakes, it all falls in 8 kilometers, and it's one of the largest collections of lakes and waterfalls in a single place in the world. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is well cared for by Croatia.

But that is only the obvious part of this trip. I found a surprise, at least for me.

The village is called Rastoke, in Slunj. It's on the way from Zagreb to Plitvice Lakes. This little village is full of water. There are buildings on the river. There are old mills that still grind grain. There are hotels and restaurants. There's a giant gorge full of waterfalls right down the middle of town. This little place is one of the most scenic villages I've ever seen.

This amazing little village was all but destroyed during the war. Afterward, they rebuilt it just as it was before. Technically, it's part of Plitvice Lakes Park, but it's a town that loves to see tourists, and it's right on the way to the other park. Pedros Restaurant on the water is the place to eat. There are plenty of shops as well. You can also do all kinds of adventure sports in this village. You can zip line, raft, ride ATV's, hike, swim and even kayak and bike. This is my hidden gem of Croatia. I'd never heard of it before, and as of now; it looks like a great place to visit that might even be a little off the beaten path and less full of tourists.