#Old Harbor Life-Saving Station Museum

[casbookproject]

Frank Wisner

(https://www.cia.gov/legacy/museum/office-of-policy-coordination-established-to-manage-covert-action/)

Wisner was born in 1909 to a wealthy family with a lot of land in Missouri, one of the states in the US South governed by Jim Crow laws. He grew up in an insular, privileged household. As a child, he didn’t even put on his own clothes—he would lie down, raise his arms and legs, and his black maid would put his shirt and trousers on for him At the University of Virginia, he was tapped to the join the Sevens, a secret society so baroque that it only revealed the names of its members at their death. Afterward he became a lawyer at a white shoe firm on Wall Street. Restless, and driven by an intense sense of moral purpose, he enlisted in the Navy a year before the Japanese attacked the United States at Pearl Harbor. The OSS(pre CIA) liked to hire elite corporate lawyers from the best schools, and Wisner was perfect for it. He got into the intelligence service with the help of an old professor and took to the the life instantly. When he was out on covert operations he would not only gather information but also extensively partying (lots of drinking) with royalty and Soviet agents.

"Frank Wisner, who had a story he would tell every time he was trying to explain why he did what he did for the United States government. Wisner had flown into Romania in September 1944 to work as station chief for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the temporary spy agency that Washington set up during the war. Once there, he heard, and believed, that the Soviets were scheming to take control of the country, but his bosses back home were in no mood to hear that their allies were up to no good. In January 1945, Stalin ordered that thousands of men and women of German descent be taken back to the Soviet Union to be “mobilized for work.” Wisner knew some of them personally. As the forced evacuation began, he rode frantically around the city, as he told it, trying to save them. But he failed. Thousands of people were herded onto boxcars and sent to labor camps. According to his family, those scenes would haunt him for the rest of his troubled life" (pg. 45).

In Berlin in 1948, Wisner was working on the big issue of the day in Germany—financial affairs in the divided country. Wisner pressed hard for an adversarial stance toward Moscow. He supported the creation of a new currency in the Western-occupied areas. In June 1948, the Allied governments decided to unilaterally issue a currency for West Germany, the deutsche mark, catching the Soviets off guard and likely forcing the long-term split of the country into two. By 1951, Wisner’s OPC had been absorbed into a newly formed Central Intelligence Agency and became the head of clandestine operations. From the beginning the CIA had two basic divisions. On one side was the gathering of intelligence through espionage. Their job was something akin to providing a private news service for the president. On the other side was covert action—the rough stuff, the active attempts to change the world. That was Frank Wisner’s territory. Through out his career he caused several successful coups and operations but the majority of their plans failed. This would often cause many to be killed, many of the troops he sent into regions never made it back out. Though the US denied this publicly, the CIA had been encouraging the Hungarians to revolt, and many did so thinking they would receive support from Washington. When the Dulles brothers decided against this course of action, seemingly hanging the protesters out to dry, Wisner felt personally betrayed. His behavior became increasingly erratic. William Colby, a senior CIA officer in Rome, said in 1956 that “Wisner was rambling and raving, totally out of control. He kept saying, all these people are getting killed.” His son noticed that he appeared overworked and was deeply emotionally involved in the events in Europe. In 1957 Wisner warned the Dulles brothers that the rebellion would be an unpredictable, potentially explosive affair. They ignored his concerns, and gave Wisner the authority to spend $10 million to back a revolution in Indonesia. The revolution failed. "Frank Wisner began to act increasingly erratically toward the end of 1958. Sometimes he would appear too excited, talking too quickly. Sometimes his eyes would just glaze over. Back in Georgetown, he saw a psychiatrist. He was prescribed a generous dose of psychoanalysis, and underwent shock therapy." (pg. 99)

On October 29, 1965 in Galena, Maryland—Frank Wisner found one of his sons’ shotguns while staying at the family farm, and used it to kill himself.

[jontycrane]

Provincetown

A charming coastal town at the tip of Cape Cod, Provincetown was one of the first places in America to be visited by Europeans, back in 1602. The Mayflower pilgrims were frequent visitors from the early 1600s onwards, from their settlement of Plymouth across the bay. It grew in the 19th century from fishing and whaling, and started to attract writers and artists from the turn of the 20th…

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#Boston to Provincetown ferry #Cape Cod #Long Wharf #Old Harbor Life-Saving Station Museum #photography #Pilgrim Monument #Provincetown #Provincetown Causeway #Race Point Beach #Race Point Ranger Station #They Also Faced the Sea #travel #USA

[one-leaf-grimoire]

crocodile tears

Chapter 1: in which marina has the worst day of her life

Hi! And welcome! Yes, I am publishing the first chapter of this fic on my Black Clover blog, I know it’s a little bizarre. Ahem. Anyway- I hope you guys will read this and enjoy it if you like jojo! I know there’s plenty of overlap between these two fandoms. DM or inbox me if you’d like to be added to the taglist! 

Synopsis: Marina considers herself to be a normal teenager, despite both being the daughter of a senator and the center of many bizarre happenings throughout her life. However, everything gets turned upside down when her whole family is kidnapped. In that moment of fear, something within her awakens. Little does she know, this power is called a Stand, and she has caught the eye of the worst person imaginable. Marina must learn to master her stand, and decide where her loyalties lie: with the man who saved her life or with her newfound friends?

Warnings: Violence, frightening scenes, language, and Dio being toxic lol

March 6th, 1988

Cool water enveloped her body. Everything was cloaked in a sea green haze.

She was laying on the bottom of the riverbed, staring up at the muted sun. A crocodile swam by, almost lazily. It did not notice her, and she didn't feel scared.

It was just a crocodile.

"Marina... Marina, wake up already!"

Something cold and clammy grasped the 17-year-old girl's foot. Marina let out a scream and quickly recoiled under the soft white linens on her bed. "Five more minutes, mom!"

Marina’s mother scowled at her only daughter. She was already dressed in long, light pants and a tropical looking shirt. An over-sized hat adorned her head atop dark brown hair, a few shades lighter than her only daughter's. "Marina, we have five minutes before the ship docks. Dad's already gone up to eat."

"Well, that's just Dad," the girl grumbled back, pulling the covers more tightly around her shoulders, as if this cocoon would keep her safe from her mother's impending wrath. "He gets up early every day, that shouldn't mean that we also have to be up at the crack of dawn."

"It's not the crack of dawn, it's nearly ten o'clock already. The ship is running a little early, so we'll have more time to explore Alexandria."

Marina's only reply was a grunt. Her mother sighed. "What is it with you this morning?" She shook her head and swung her bag over her shoulder. "I'll be up on the top deck watching us dock. It's nice and warm outside, so dress accordingly. We'll see you in five minutes, or it's going to be a very long time before you get to go on another cruise, young lady." A few moments later, and the door shut.

Marina groaned and finally blinked her eyes open, immediately feeling the pounding pain of a migraine wash over her temple. Ouch... did I have a nightmare last night? Usually I sleep like a baby on these cruises.

Marina and her family had been on numerous cruises throughout her life. Her father, Mitchell Porosus was a state senator, and earned a comfortable paycheck, so the Porosus family was able to go on trips whenever congress was on a break. Marina wished her dad was around more, but overall the family dynamic was happy and harmonious. Marina had her 17th birthday recently, and this cruise was supposed to be a celebration of that. 

“You know what that means?” her father had told her that day. “You’re the same age as the Dancing Queen! You know, the song? Dancing Queeeen, young and sweeet, only seventeeen-”

Of course they were in public when they said that, so Marina was horribly embarrassed by her father’s terrible singing voice. For someone with a public reputation, he sure didn’t mind ruining it!

But in the end, it was sweet. Her father loved ABBA and Elton John, and Marina imagined that the two of them would dance to Dancing Queen or Tiny Dancer at her wedding.

Marina loved her dad and mom, and that was the reason why she finally dragged herself down from the bunkbed. From their room on the second level, she could see the dock inching closer and closer. With a yawn, Marina turned and walked into the bathroom, where she finally was able to look upon her tired face in the mirror. Her short, black hair was frizzled, but a few brush strokes later reverted it to its usual sleek form. Marina stretched her arms above her head, wincing a little as she heard her shoulders pop. Jeez, good thing I don’t have a swim meet today, my joints are all out of whack. Her blue-grey eyes, still bloodshot from a fitful sleep, harbored a major case of the dark circles. Nothing a little makeup couldn't fix.

A few minutes later, Marina was finally dressed in some high waisted jeans and a non-descript tank top. She had her trusty mirrored sunglasses on, yet the sunlight from the window was enough to make her eyes water. Leaving her room, she walked down the hallway, strutting with her hands deep in her pockets, her fingers running over the ID card given to her upon embarkation. Marina Porosus.

"Finally, there you are," her father greeted when she made it down to the gangway. "Ready to see Egypt?"

Her father was a tall man, with jet black hair like Marina's. While her mother's eyes were a warm brown, his were blue. He looked like your stereotypical senator, even if he didn’t act like it.”

"Do they even have any pyramids in this town?" Marina asked, a bit apathetically.

Her mother shook her head. "No pyramids, but there used to be a library here, the library of Alexandria!"

Marina raised an eyebrow. "Used to be? Well, what's here now?"

Her parents were at a loss for words. "Well, why don't we go see!" her father exclaimed optimistically, throwing his arms around his daughter and wife. 

For the first time that morning, Marina smiled. Even if it was just her parents and her, the three of them would have a good time.

Alexandria was lively place, full of noise and life. Most of it was centered around the port, where the single cruise ship was docked. It was like any other port Marina had visited, except the air was much more dry than the Caribbean. Even Italy was more humid. Marina walked behind her parents as they made their way farther inland. “There’s some ancient ruins I want to check out,” her father said excitedly. “And are you still curious about the Library of Alexandria, Marina?”

Marina shrugged. “Was I curious to begin with?”

“Yes!” her father asserted. “Anyway, there’s a museum all about it farther inland. The walk is a little long, but it’ll be fun!”

Marina sighed, shaking her head a little. She knew her father had enough money to rent a cab, but he was stubborn and insisted that walking “built character.” 

“Tarot card readings! Have your fortune told by the Tarot!”

For some reason, Marina’s feet stalled. Slowly, she stopped, then turned her head towards the source of the voice.

No... it wasn’t the voice that drew her there.

It was... something else.

Like magnetism. Gravity. Marina’s gaze fell upon a short, clocked figure, sitting at the mouth of an alley. The voice was feminine, wracked with age, but Marina couldn’t be sure. For a moment, she almost kept walking, but a moment of hesitation was all it took.

“Dad! Can I get my fortune told?”

Her parents stopped and looked back at her. Her father eyed the fortune teller suspiciously. “Ah, Marina, you don’t believe that stuff, do you?”

“So? It’ll still be fun.” Marina looked back over at the fortune teller. She still had that weird feeling, like that person was someone she knew. “Anyway, Tarot Card readings originated in ancient Egypt, so isn’t this a good experience to have while here?”

Well, her father couldn’t deny that. “Here-” He handed the cloaked figure a twenty dollar bill. “Will this suffice?”

“Certainly.” A deck of cards appeared from under the sleeve of their cloak, and instantly shuffled itself. They spread out across the makeshift table. A wrinkled hand gestured at the line. “Go ahead... pick three, my dear.”

Slowly, Marina reached down. With one finger, she slid one card forward, then another, and then a third. The fortune teller swept them up immediately and placed them face up. Marina’s eyes narrowed as she saw the pictures on the cards, but couldn’t read the writing on them. “So? What does it mean?”

With a soft chuckle, a withered finger pointed at the first. “This card represents your past... This is the Six of Wands card! Confidence, recognition, and success... you’ve known all three throughout your life.”

Marina gulped, shrugging a little. Maybe... but everyone’s had some sort of success in their life! That seems a little too broad.

“And this is the present-” They gestured at the middle card. “This is the Tower Card... it represents catastrophic change, and... awakening.”

Awakening? That’s interesting... I don’t know what that could be.

“Tell me...” Marina looked up to see an eye peering out from behind the hood. It narrowed curiously. “This card is one of the Major Arcana... it represents a milestone in your life. You must have noticed, then... even if you don’t know quite yet...”

Marina wasn’t sure she liked the way the fortune teller was spinning this. I haven’t noticed anything like that! “Okay... and the last card is the future?”

“Yes, yes...”

The fortune teller’s finger fell upon the face of the last card. Unlike the first two, it was reversed, facing away from Marina. “This card, when reversed, represents dissatisfaction, delays, and... an endless, fruitless search for closure.”

Marina felt a chill go down her neck.

“The World.”

The family left the fortune teller behind after that. Even as they searched farther inland, visiting temples and museums, Marina could not shake the slowly growing pit of dread in her stomach. 

A few hours later, it was almost time to get back on the ship. The problem was that the small family had made their way a little too far inland and were now in real danger of being left behind. 

"This is all your fault, dad!" Marina scolded as she jogged behind her parents. There was a taxi station nearby where they could get transport to the port. "You always geek out over this historical stuff and make us late to things!"

"Well, your mother wanted to get that hat from that store back there, too, so I'm not the only one to blame," he yelled back. "In any case, we can just hop on a taxi and-" His face fell, and the family skidded to a halt. The entire plaza was slammed, bumper to bumper traffic as far as they could see. "Mitchell, we're definitely going to miss the boat," her mom said quietly. Of course, Senator Porosus stayed enthusiastic, shaking his head. "No, we'll make it if we run."

Marina groaned as her father and mother started to run again. "Seriously?" It wasn't that Marina couldn't keep up; she had been swimming her entire life and had great stamina. It was just so damn hot out.

"If you hurry, we'll make it back in time for dinner," her mother encouraged, spurring Marina on into a true run.

With her dad leading the way, the trio raced down the street towards where they thought the port was. There were a lot of people walking on the sidewalks, but it wasn't hard to weave between them without disturbance. Marina craned her neck and, with a ton of relief, spied the top of their ship up ahead. "I can see it, Dad!" she exclaimed, already thinking about what she was going to eat for dinner tonight. "We're going to make it!"

"Here, let's cut through this road." He pointed at an alley that seemingly cut over to where the embarkation area was. "We can beat some of the line as well."

"Perfect!" Marina changed course and ran ahead of her parents and into the alleyway.

For a moment, the sounds of the busy streets died away, leaving only three pairs of footsteps slapping their way down the stone path. The buildings on either side were tall enough to block out the afternoon sun, leaving them in a comfortable chill.

Up ahead was a corner. Marina quickened her pace and turned into...

A dead end.

"Shit," her dad exclaimed, earning him a sharp kick in the shin from his wife. "Ah, excuse my french. Back luck, huh." He shrugged, ever optimistic. "Well, I guess we can double back and keep running."

"Yeah," Marina’s mom agreed.

Marina sighed. What a let down! Well, it wouldn't take too long to get back, at least, at this rate we’ll make in in time-

Marina turned around to see that five men, all armed with guns, had cornered them in the dead end.

"Look at this, just the man we were looking for!” one of them pointed at Marina’s dad. “This is the senator we were told to capture? He doesn’t look like much.”

“Don’t worry, this is him... Senator Porosus, a friend of yours sends this message:” one of the men grinned. “You’ve been in my way for too long, Mitch. It’s time for me to put the fear of God in you. Enjoy your extended stay in Egypt!”

“What? Who hired you?” Mitchell gulped and pulled his wife and daughter behind him. Marina felt her mom's cold hand clutch her arm. This time, she didn't try to shrug it off. “I’ve done nothing but get along with everyone. They all want to see me reach the top! I’m gonna be President one day-”

“We’ll see about that.” The man in charge raised his gun. “For now, come to our truck. We’ll make you and your family comfortable until someone generous pays your ransom.”

Oh no, they had a truck somewhere.

"Look... I don’t care what you do to me.” Senator Porosus said, his voice shaking a little. For someone in so much danger, he was staying pretty composed. “But leave my family out of it!”

“Mitchell-” Marina’s mother whispered, her grip on Marina loosening slightly. “Just do what they say, and-” She was cut off with a scream as one of the men yanked her away from her family.

Marina's eyes widened. Shit! This is actually happening- It was like a scene from a movie, some horrible, scary movie, and panic spiked through Marina’s veins. "MOM! DAD!" Someone grabbed Senator Porous as well, and now two more were advancing towards Marina.

"Don’t even try, you’re just going to get hurt!” one of the guys said with a twisted grin. Marina screamed and struggled anyway as her arms were twisted behind her body. 

No... NO!

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. This was supposed to be their last stop before flying home, where Marina would finish up the year and enjoy the summer with her friends. But now-

Catastrophic change... and-

With one last burst of strength, Marina wrenched her arm away, freeing herself for a moment. She turned around, her eyes wide and crazed with adrenaline.

Awakening.

The gun leveled at her head was suddenly crunched into a flat piece of scrap metal. The man holding it didn’t have a moment to realize what had happened, because numerous spots of his arm suddenly burst with blood.

He opened his mouth to scream, stumbling back, but it was as if something was clamped down on his arm, hard. Bones crunched as he was suddenly wrenched to the side, and the movement sent him flying into the nearby brick wall.

Marina froze.

What- what on earth-

But then something hit her in the back of the head, hard, and she fell back down to the bottom of the river.

The crocodile continued to circle high above.

And that’s chapter one!!!! I hope you guys are intrigued 0.0 Please comment/inbox/etc if you have any theories or thoughts, I always appreciate them! I’ll probably post the next chapter on Friday. I changed a couple things to make the story flow better than it did when I first released it. Anyway, see you next time!

Also, did anyone catch the meaning of Marina’s last name? hehe...

#jojo's bizarre adventure #fic #crocodile tears #oc: marina #jjba

[favoriterussianhacker]

Best (Cheap) Date Ideas in NYC

Dear Single Gentlemen of New York City,

 Finding Mrs. Right isn’t easy, and it’s certainly not cheap. That’s why I’m here to extend an olive branch and share some insider tips on great date ideas that won’t break the bank.

 Tip #1: Never underestimate the power of a good walk.

 These are the BEST walk-friendly locations in NYC:

 1. Battery Park (Downtown Manhattan):

Battery Park is conveniently located, great during all times of the year, and has something for everyone.  

 Grab a drink or two at Pier A Harbor House ($$). If you’re visiting during the warmer months, opt to sit outside. This is the BEST place to catch the sunset over the Hudson River. You’ll get unobstructed views of Lady Liberty, Governor’s Island, Brooklyn, and the Verrazano Bridge.

 When you’re done with drinks, make sure to check out these attractions:

American Merchant Mariners’ Memorial

Castle Clinton

SeaGlass Carousel

Staten Island Ferry

 2. Hudson River Park (Downtown Manhattan, West Side Highway):

Hudson River Park is one of the most underrated locations in Manhattan. It has stunning gardens, ample rest areas, and (easily!) one of the best bike lanes in the city.  

 Start at Pier 45 (Enter: Christopher St) and walk down to Pier 25 (Exit: Canal St/Franklin St). Go towards the tallest building in town (1 World Trade).

 Stop to grab a drink at Grand Banks ($$$). This location has major “wow” factor because it’s a retired sailboat-turned-oyster bar. After you’re done with drinks, consider playing a game of mini golf at Pier 25 Mini Golf.  

 Looking for more budget friendly options?

Take your date to people watch at the volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts nearby.

Bump up the adventure factor by renting a *FREE* kayak at the Pier 26 Downtown Boat House (May-October only).

3. Washington Square Park (West Village):

The famous marble arch, the fountains, the performers – what’s not to love about Washington Square Park? Smack in the middle of my favorite Manhattan neighborhood, WSP offers a relaxed atmosphere with historical finds around every corner. Make sure you check out these famous landmarks when you’re in the area: 

Mark Twain House (14 W. 10th St)

The narrowest apartment in NYC (75 ½ Bedford St)

The Friends Apartment (100 Bedford St)

Grove Court (Gated complex between #10 and #12 Grove St)

Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment (64 Perry St)

And many, many more here: https://freetoursbyfoot.com/things-to-do-in-greenwich-village/

4. Brooklyn Bridge Park (Brooklyn Heights):

There is something so romantic about Brooklyn Bridge Park. It totes a lot of the same perks as Hudson River Park (free kayak rentals, gorgeous views, sailboat restaurants—the Pilot), but has more of that “rustic charm.” It’s also one of my favorite places to have a picnic. Which brings me to Tip #2:

Tip #2: Skip the restaurants and opt for a picnic instead.

 Put in a tiny bit more effort and reap the rewards. Your date will be impressed because you went the extra mile, and you won’t be burdened with a steep restaurant bill.  

 Here’s the ultimate picnic game plan:

Make sure you have an insulated lunch box/container.

Buy (2) small travel mugs or thermoses. Fill them with chilled wine.

Make sure you know which type of wine your date prefers*

Make sure you don’t  get caught drinking in public*

Buy assorted pre-cut cheeses at your local grocery store.

Buy a box of crackers.

Bring plastic utensils/napkins/paper plates.  

Bring a picnic blanket or a few beach towels.

 Consider the above purchases investment pieces. Even if your date doesn’t go well, you can always reuse a picnic blanket or thermos.  

 Tip #3: Take advantage of discounted rates at museums, zoos, and botanic gardens.

Drinks are great, but have you ever seen the mummy exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum? Why not check it out?

Museums:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (+Met Breuer, Met Cloisters) are “pay-as-you-wish” for residents of New York with valid state ID.

Brooklyn Museum – Free the first Saturday of every month (5-11:00 PM)

The Frick Collection – Free the first Friday of every month (6-9:00 PM)

The Jewish Museum—Free every Saturday

The Morgan Library and Museum – Free every Friday (7-9:00 PM)

Museum of Art and Design – Pay-as-you-wish Thursday (6-9:00 PM)

Museum of Modern Art – Free every Friday (4-8:00 PM)

National Museum of the American Indian – Always free

New York Historical Society – Pay-as-you-wish Friday (6-9:00 PM)

American Folk Art Museum – Always free

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum – Pay-as-you-wish Saturday (6-9:00 PM)

Zoos/Aquariums:

Bronx Zoo – Free on Wednesdays

New York Aquarium – Pay-as-you-wish Wednesdays (3-5:00 PM)

Staten Island Zoo – Free on Wednesdays (after 2:00 PM)

Botanic Gardens:

New York Botanic Garden – Free grounds admission on Wednesdays and Saturdays

Queens Botanic Garden – Free admission daily (November – March). Free Admission Wednesdays (3-6:00 PM)

Brooklyn Botanic Garden—Free admission from 8-12:00 Noon on Fridays (March – November). Free on Winter weekdays (December-February).

Tip #4: Take the road less traveled.

Here are some more “obscure” NYC locations/date ideas that are perfect for the girl or guy in your life that loves adventure:  

Take a free ride along the Hudson River via Staten Island Ferry.

Take the tram from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island. Here, you can explore the abandoned smallpox hospital, the Franklin D. Roosevelt ‘Four Freedoms Park,’ and the Roosevelt Island lighthouse.

Take the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Tour the Statue of Liberty and the National Museum of Immigration. *Note: must book tickets in advance.

Take a tour of NYC’s abandoned City Hall Subway Station.

Visit the Stephen A. Schwarzman ‘Main Branch’ of the NYC Public Library. Make sure to check out the Rose Main Reading Room.

Visit the “Portal down to Old New York,” a series of preserved remnants from 17th Century New Amsterdam.

Visit Coney Island. Take a ride on The Cyclone, walk along the boardwalk, and make sure to stop and grab a Nathan’s hot dog.

Try your luck at the Broadway lottery and see if you can snag an orchestra seat for well below retail value.

I hope that these tips and tricks serve you well. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to submit them via the “Ask Me Anything” box. 

Thanks all, and happy saving! 

-Your Favorite Russian Hacker 

#new york #newyorkhacks #date ideas #dating #nycdating #tourism #nyctouristattractions #travel #adventure #advice

[followingmygps]

Discovery Waypoint | 42°04'48.0"N 70°12'59.1"W Following My GPS exploring the Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station, a historic maritime rescue station and museum, located on Cape Cod at Race Point Beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Built in 1897, it was originally located at Nauset Beach near the entrance to Chatham Harbor in Chatham, Massachusetts. . . . . . #visitcapecod #provincetown #oldharborlifesavingstation #findyourcape #capecodlife #capecod #capecodimages #capecodphotography #capecodinstagram #igerscapecod #bestofcapecod #fulltimerving #discoveramerica #travelpics #travellife #travelinspiration #travelblog #travelphotography #fmgphoto #followingmygps #travelphotography #traveller #photography #travelamerica #lifestyle #LifeWellLived #travelmagazine #roadtripping #exploring #roadtrip (at Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVOMPA7J5S6/?utm_medium=tumblr

#visitcapecod #provincetown #oldharborlifesavingstation #findyourcape #capecodlife #capecod #capecodimages #capecodphotography #capecodinstagram #igerscapecod #bestofcapecod #fulltimerving #discoveramerica #travelpics #travellife #travelinspiration #travelblog #travelphotography #fmgphoto #followingmygps #traveller #photography #travelamerica #lifestyle #lifewelllived #travelmagazine #roadtripping #exploring #roadtrip

[brentemersonarizona]

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Cape Hatteras National Seashore is the most delightful place on the East Coast. This 70 mile stretched place is packed with recreational activities. There is more to this national seashore than its untouched and splendid beaches emphasis Brent Emerson North Carolina. Rich in wildlife and antiquity, this park also pleas to other types of voyagers. There are also outdoor chases accessible here, comprising kayaking. Here is a list of a few things to do during your Hatteras vacation to make most of your holidays. Let’s find out:

Lose track of time at the beach

If you make a trip to Hatteras Island, you have to allocate at least a few hours of your tour to take rest on the place’s esteemed beaches. Scrutinize the shore in search of lost and elapsed wealth; grasp a panel and try your hand at holding a wave, or chill out below an umbrella with a cold drink. The beach is just a few minutes away from anywhere you are on Hatteras Isle, and best of all, it’s completely free to relish says Brent Emerson North Carolina.

Explore uncharted waters in a Kayak

Hatteras Isle is surrounded by water and is a shelter for kayak fanatics of all talent levels and age braces. Discover the lesser-known, corners and crevices of the islet employing either a solo or tandem kayak. Or, take a Hobie fishing kayak out on the aquatic and stab your luck at mooring the big one.

Take a Glance at the Pea Island Art Arcade

Over 100 native and regional entertainers are epitomized within this momentous imitation of the 1874 Chicama comico Life-Saving Place. Travelers can browse the Pea Island Art Galleries’ extensive contribution of watercolors, statuette, oils and acrylics, jewels, and untold other charmingly stimulating and alluring works of native art.

Click a picture in front of the Oregon Intel lifesaving station

It is one of the most distinguishing buildings on the Outside Banks. A predictable $700,000 was expended reinstating the external and internal of the edifice not so many years ago and during the restoration, the construction was elevated about ten feet off the crushed and located on supports, permitting sand to blow easily beneath. Consider clicking your pictures about an hour before sundown to relish the best illumination of the day emphasis Brent Emerson North Carolina.

Visit the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum

The museum is located near the ferryboat harbors to Ocracoke Isle, tells the story of the parts of rich nautical antiquity. About 600 shipwrecks have happened off the shoreline of Hatteras Islet as a consequence of Diamond Shoals, a zone of repeatedly unstable sandbars that spread 14 miles from the North Carolina coastline. Inside the museum, visitors can see old Coast Guard memorabilia, relics from the numerous hulks that have happened over the years.

Wrapping up

These are a few reasons to visit Cape Hatteras National Seashore shared by Brent Emerson North Carolina. You can also climb to the top of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse for a unique and memorable experience. Moreover, if you want to enjoy a relaxing stroll along the beach, travel to the seashore at low tide.

Originally Posted:

#Travel #AtlanticMuseum

[sciencespies]

Here's How Local Communities Can Help Save Mangroves

https://sciencespies.com/nature/heres-how-local-communities-can-help-save-mangroves/

Here's How Local Communities Can Help Save Mangroves

Smithsonian Voices National Museum of Natural History

Together, We Can Save the Mangroves

April 22nd, 2020, 6:00AM / BY

Margaret Osborne

Mangroves line a channel connecting the Belize River to the coastal lagoon system. These trees are hundreds of years old and provide important habitat to both terrestrial and marine species. (Steve Canty, Smithsonian Marine Station)

A boa dozes lazily in the boughs of a mangrove tree in Belize, while birds nest nearby and white mangrove orchids adorn the tree’s woody branches. Oysters, sea anemones and algae cling to its tangled roots, which dip beneath the water and give shelter to fish. Hundreds of plants and animals rely on trees like this one throughout their life.

Mangrove ecosystems are one of the most valuable in the world, not only for the habitat they provide for wildlife, but also because they prevent coastal erosion and absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Climate change and deforestation have driven mangroves into decline, though deforestation has slowed in the last decade.

Steve Canty, the coordinator of the Smithsonian Institution’s Marine Conservation Program and part of the Smithsonian’s Working Land and Seascapes, hopes to help create management strategies to further slow the loss of mangroves.

Steve Canty emerging from a cay dominated by red mangroves in Belize. (Loraé Simpson, University of Alabama)

Mangroves and fisheries are connected

Canty studies mangroves and fisheries in the Mesoamerican reef (MAR) region, which stretches through Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and Mexico. Fisheries are important contributors to the GDP of this area.

“They provide food security and livelihoods and are often the economic backbone of coastal communities,” Canty said. To effectively manage fisheries, Canty also needs to look at their habitat: mangroves.

Mangroves are important feeding grounds and nurseries for fish, meaning some fish species spend their juvenile years sheltering between mangrove roots before living on coral reefs or in the open ocean as adults. When mangrove forests decline, it can cause devastating effects on fish populations. One square mile of mangroves lost can cause 275,000 pounds of lost fish per year.

Fisheries in the MAR region are under pressure for several reasons, including a high demand for fish from the United States and habitat loss. Canty helps identify the best areas for fish recuperation zones, or no-take zones, to help fish populations grow.

He has 40 different research sites in Mesoamerica, from which he has collected samples of mangroves. He uses genetic analyses to determine how the mangroves at one site are related to mangroves at a different site. This tells him how connected the populations are, and whether they should be managed separately or as one unit.

Canty compares these data to how fish populations are related to one another across these sites and sees if he can detect patterns of connectivity. By taking into account both the mangroves and fish together, he can advise on how to create a connected network of marine reserves, rather than protecting isolated pockets.

Mangroves are important fish habitats. Preserving mangroves can help the productivity of nearby fisheries. (Steve Canty, Smithsonian Institution)

Mangroves are part of a tropical system

Seagrasses and coral reefs are also important habitats for fish and other species. They all are highly connected and depend on each other for health. But in the past, scientists have not always looked at these holistically.

“Where mangroves, coral reefs and seagrasses are connected and healthy, they can significantly increase the productivity of fisheries,” Canty said. “So, it’s important that you don’t disregard one. You have to treat it as a tropical system, rather than focusing on each individual piece.”

Now when thinking about a management strategy for the MAR, and determining the best spots for protected areas, Canty looks at all these pieces together, and includes scientists who are studying each aspect of the region’s ecosystem.

Mangroves provide habitats for many different species, including Magnificent frigate birds. These birds are also called man-o’-war birds because they steal food from other birds in the air. (Steve Canty, Smithsonian Institution)

Saving the mangroves

During his research, Canty found that the MAR region lost over 270,000 acres of mangroves between 1990 and 2010. That’s 31% of its mangroves in 20 years.

Canty credited this partially to a lack of a unified strategy between the four countries, and a disconnect between science and management. Scientists were concerned about climate change and other long-term environmental factors, while the people managing mangroves saw day-to-day development and agriculture as the biggest threat.

To bridge the gap, Canty started the Mesoamerican Mangrove and Seagrass network, an online platform for scientists, mangrove managers and community members to exchange ideas about how to conserve mangroves and seagrasses back in 2018.

Members of local communities are the most important piece, Canty said, because ultimately, they decide whether they want to protect or restore areas and can ask the network for help for their communities. The network allows for easier communication between these key players, and others, across all four MAR countries.

“Now if people have a question about mangroves, they have access to 30-35 scientists — most of whom are from the region — who are willing to provide them with the best advice they can,” Canty said. “And the network gives scientists studying different areas and species within the MAR a chance to share research and collaborate with each other.”

With MAR Fund, an organization that allocates funding to conserving the Mesoamerican Reef, and the Embassy of Germany in Guatemala, Canty helped organize a workshop last September to bring people together from the region to discuss mangroves.

Canty speaks at a workshop about mangroves in the Mesoamerican Reef region. (MAR2R-CCAD Project)

From that meeting, MAR Fund and Canty collected the ideas that attendees shared and produced a 64-page management strategy.

“It’s not just an issue of policy or management, it’s involving everything: research, management, protection, policy and fundraising,” María José Gonzalez, the executive director of MAR Fund, said. “You need to come together with all these elements and all these stakeholders to actually ensure that you will be able to protect and restore mangroves.”

Gonzalez and Canty hope this strategy will serve as a model for mangrove management across the globe.

“We have people talking to us about mangroves from further down in Central America and also South America, Africa and the wider Caribbean in general,” Canty said. “There’s a big push right now for mangrove restoration.”

The Global Mangrove Alliance, which the Smithsonian Institution is a part of, has a goal of increasing the world’s mangrove cover by 20% by 2030. Canty thinks the management strategy for the MAR region can be shared and replicated across the world to help reach this goal.

After sharing the strategy with partners across the world, Gonzalez said the next step is to create updated maps for mangroves in the MAR region. The maps can be used in conservation and research, and hopefully aid in creating protected areas. Though mangrove forests have been decreasing, management plans and international collaboration have helped slow the decline across the world, and Canty hopes that the MAR region will be no different.

“Mangrove ecosystems are important to the MAR in so many different ways,” Canty said. “When we work together, share resources and common goals, we can make a real impact.”

Related stories: Can Genetics Improve Fisheries Management? This Earth Day, the Planet’s Health is Your Health Discovery and Danger: The Shocking Fishes of the Amazon’s Final Frontier

Margaret Osborne is an intern in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History’s Office of Communications and Public Affairs. Her journalism has appeared in the Sag Harbor Express and aired on WSHU public radio. Margaret is an undergraduate at Stony Brook University, where she majors in journalism and German language and literature and minors in environmental studies. She’s spending her last semester in Washington, D.C. and will graduate in May.

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[thebluegrasstraveler-blog]

  New Orleans, a city steeped in rich history and its vibrant celebration of life! This year for Christmas, instead of buying each other gifts, we decided that since travel is our passion, this was the city we wanted to visit. Two days after Christmas with bags packed, off we went. No journey is ever exactly how you think it will be but for us, plenty of pre-planning helped to insure that we would enjoy a wonderful time in New Orleans without breaking the bank! We have another big trip that we are planning for later this year that requires a lot more of our resources than usual and we didn’t want this trip to interfere with that in any way.

Travel lodging: As a military member there are quite a few travel options that are available to those in uniform if you know when and where to look. Every military base that has billeting in the Department of Defense offers lodging on a Space Available basis. Since this was not peak season for tourism (or so we thought, more on that later) we decided to take book at the Reserve Naval Air Station, New Orleans for accommodations. At $65 a night and only a 20 minute drive to anywhere in the city, this was by far an easy decision for us. The rooms where very large with Queen size beds, walk-in showers, refrigerator and WiFi. if you have animals with you, they are pet friendly as well. They have a full commissary, Base Exchange, fitness center etc. all of which makes for a very safe, secure and super nice place to stay. They also have an RV park right on base with full hook-ups! We had already winterized the RV so that really wasn’t an option for us on this trip. In comparison to nearly $400 a night downtown this was by far a bargain! If you are a military member, Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve or Retired, I highly recommend looking into this option for you and your family.

Inside the Crescent City:

Belle Chase:

Our journey began the night we arrived into town. Staying outside the downtown area is an advantage for travelers because you get out of the immediate tourist areas and into the local community. We ate our first meal at Salvo’s Seafood and it is definitely the place to go! Our waiter (his name escapes us) was super friendly and the food as you can see was off the chain!  All you can eat (Yup, I said it!) Blue Crab, Shrimp, Sausage, potatoes and corn in a seafood boil. A local eatery that was actually the culinary highlight of the whole trip.

Also located in Belle Chase is Town View Cafe. a local eatery/bakery that has been in business at the same location for over 50 years. Open 24 hours a day and serving breakfast at anytime day or night. Almost everyone who walked in knew each other (except us of course) and chatted up with warm welcomes and small talk with each other. The ladies behind the counter welcomed us with open arms and we felt immediately welcome! Awesome experience for sure!

The French Quarter:

The oldest part of New Orleans and the place where the party literally never ends! We thought we were booking during a slow time in New Orleans but I don’t think there is ever a slow time in this city. The Sugar Bowl was being played in the Superdome and Clemson and Alabama football fans descended upon the city by the thousands!

Every street is loaded with bars and restaurants every few feet combined with alcohol at any time, in any flavor 24/7.  We tried Absinthe for the first time and realized that you have to be very careful. At 110 proof it needs to be handled with kid gloves otherwise it’s gonna bite you hard!! There are no open container laws (except no glass) and this guarantees a good time by all. Drink while you walk and see all the sites! Street performers keep the entertainment alive and live music from nearly every open door add to the festive air and celebration. From street musicians, escape artists, fortune telling, and artists the city’s vibrant charm is sure to please everyone.

DCIM100GOPRO

DCIM100GOPRO

The next morning, we got up and decided that we wanted to go to the world famous Cafe Du Monde. Now for travelers, here is a big tip, DO NOT stand in line. We ended up first in a line waiting to be seated in the main area, Two nice young ladies came by and informed us that we just needed to step around the corner and go inside to a smaller area. We walked around the corner and ended up in another line for carry-out (our mistake). Finally after a few minutes, Tiffanie walked into the Cafe Du Monde and immediately called me to meet her in a smaller room away from the main room, she had a seat! Did we cut line? Nope, just walked past unnecessary lines that people themselves created. It is strictly a first come, first serve area! The Cafe Du Monde serves one food and one food only. Beignets which are small, deep fried square donuts covered in confectionery sugar. Enjoyed with a dark roast coffee and chicory blend mixed with hot milk that make up the their Cafe Au Lait you quickly realize why the place is as famous and as busy as it is.

Jackson Square is a local landmark surrounded by some of the most historic buildings in the country. Buildings such as the Pontalba Apartments. The oldest apartments in the United States and St Louis Cathedral, where Pope John Paul II worshiped during his visit. On a whim, we stepped inside an old building that sold tickets for the haunted tours. The first floor was modern and very nice and inside a very nice lady let us explore the other three floors of this old home. She advised that the owners were fixing the upper floors up to Air BnB the rooms but we were more than welcome to look around. During our self-guided tour we discovered that it was rundown, in disrepair and absolutely beautiful.

Birthplace of Jazz and so much more:

New Orleans is known for its artistry and culture. We took a haunted tour at night narrated by a enthusiastic young actress known to us only as “Lucy”. who expertly wove history with myth, the paranormal and superstitions and made it a good learning experience into the cities past.  Local artists paint, draw and display their work on the square’s iron fence. Here is where we found a talented young man playing his trade performing a Houdini straight-Jacket escape for the people.

We have a sweet spot in our hearts for street performers and artists. As a young man on occasion I too played guitar along with friends on the streets of Bardstown and Lexington looking for tourists and passer-byes to throw a bit of spare money our way. These folks are living their art form and many are very, very good at it.

  Outside the Quarter:

On Frenchman Street is where to true party is. Open air markets, Jazz, blues and funk music pours from every bar and restaurant. Take note though, very few are free. Most require a substantial cover or tickets to get in and all have at least minimum one drink requirements. We had dinner at the Snug Harbor and where treated to the live sounds of legendary Jazz pianist Ellis Marsalus Jr. playing in the next room. If your like us and travel on a budget though, if you really want to hear and see great art in all it’s forms, Just walk! You can find the best shows as you just walk along and see amazing contortionists, skilled poets and talented musicians that rival the greats as well as visual art that could be displayed in any fine art gallery in the world and its all free!

The absolute highlight of the evening was the performance on the street corner of the Young Fellaz Brass Band! A talented group of young men performing their unique style of music that covers many genres, including traditional jazz, hip-hop, R&B, rock and pop tunes . All in an old style Dixieland jazz brass band!! they tore the music up and had everyone dancing in the streets!

  National WWII Museum:

Next up, the National World War II Museum. Here they have done an awesome job of telling the story of a nation that came together during one of the darkest times in history. There we met 92 year old WWII veteran, Reid Sonnleitner who served on a tug during the war. The fact that the few men and women still with us of the Greatest Generation are there and willing to volunteer to tell their story is so awesome. Small children can meet people of a generation that literally saved mankind.  In just a few short years those first hand accounts of the the most devastating war in human history will be lost to time and the world will will never be the same. Because of them we enjoy the freedoms and liberties granted to us as Americans and as a nation, we are forever in their debt.

      During one of our short lulls in the action while sitting in our room, we turned on the TV and began watching the news. After a few minutes we realized that all with all the  negativity that you hear in this world about how divided we are and yet no matter where we have traveled across this nation from the subways in New York City to Venice beach, to the Gulf of Mexico and the deserts of the American West and everywhere we go everyone is always friendly and accommodating and New Orleans was no different.   We shook hands, asked for pics and delved into complete strangers personal pasts to learn more about the great people that make up this amazing world.  We can’t wait until the next adventure to see who we will meet next. 

Check out Facebook or Instagram.

You can find much of what we saw and discovered at the websites below.

http://www.salvosseafood.com/

http://www.dodlodging.net/

https://www.hauntedhistorytours.com/

http://www.snugjazz.com

Happy Travels!!

Craig and Tiffanie

The Bluegrass Traveler

The Big Easy New Orleans, a city steeped in rich history and its vibrant celebration of life! This year for Christmas, instead of buying each other gifts, we decided that since travel is our passion, this was the city we wanted to visit.

#adventuretravel #cafedumonde #frenchquarter #jazz #louisiana #neworleans #salvosseafood #snugharbor #townviewcafe #wwIImuseum #youngfellazbrassband #Food #Travel

[naturesafariindia]

Good Time To See Tigers in India - India Wildlife Tour

A visit to Royal Indian Tigers

Tiger Tour in India with Birding Tour in India

Duration - 09 Nights / 10 Days Destinations Covered - Mumbai - Nagpur - Kanha - Bandhavgarh - Umaria - Agra - Delhi

Day 1: Arrive Mumbai.

Arrive Delhi by an International flight. Welcome, meeting and assistance on arrival and transfer to the hotel. Mumbai - is the vibrant and the pulsating capital of Maharashtra. For over a century, Mumbai has been a commercial and industrial center of India with a magnificent harbor, imposing multi-storied buildings, crowded thoroughfares, busy markets, shopping centers and beautiful tourist spots. The British acquired Mumbai from the Portuguese in 1665 and handed it over to the East India company in 1671 for a handsome annual rent of Sterling Pounds 10 in Gold! Later, these seven islands were joined together by causeways and bridges in 1862.

Overnight in Mumbai

Day 2: MumbaiBreakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Visit the 19th century Jain Temple with its silver doors, the Kamala Nehru Park and the Ferozshah Mehta Gardens known as the Hanging Gardens of Bombay and the Towers of Silence where the Parsis dispose their dead. Visit Mani Bhavan where Mahatma Gandhi spent 17 years of his life working for the freedom of India. The Prince of Wales Museum has an excellent collection of miniatures (closed on Mondays).

Afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Mumbai.

Day 3: Mumbai - Nagpur - Kanha 

Morning departure transfer from the hotel to the airport to board flight (9W 111: 0710 / 0825 hrs) to Nagpur. Meeting on arrival at Nagpur airport and drive to Kanha (275 kms / 7 hrs) Kanha - Kanha, 175 kms southeast of Jabalpur, is one of India’s largest national park and Asia's finest park. India’s one of the most successful conservation efforts of saving the Barasingha (Swamp Deer) was done here. Kanha National Park covers an area of 1945 sq kms including a core zone of 940 sq kms.

The setting of Kipling’s ‘Jungle Book’, it is a beautiful area of forest and lightly wooded grassland with many streams and rivers. It is the home of a variety of animals, including tiger, panther, and many species of deer, wild pig, bison, a variety of monkeys and other animals besides some 200 species of birds. It is also part of ‘Project Tiger,’ one of India’s most important and successful conservation efforts.

Overnight in Kanha.

Dotted across the landscape are the crumbling ruins of its past glory, be it chatris or cupolas, like palaces or old guard posts, all of which reinforce the magical and ethereal quality of this great wilderness. Lunch at the lodge, visit the sanctuary by Jeep with an English speaking Naturalist. Dinner and overnight in Ranthambore TIGER DEN RESORT

Day 4: KanhaBreakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the lodge.

Game drives are organized by The Park both in the early mornings and late afternoons by open jeeps and will be accompanied by a trained naturalist.Once the tiger is spotted anywhere in the jungle, through radio contact with the drivers, visitors will be driven to the location and then taken by elephant back to the actual site to see the tiger. This is an excellent arrangement and is very exciting.

The park is closed between July 01 and October 31 owing to the monsoons. Morning and afternoon proceed on a game drive to the sanctuary.

Overnight in Kanha.

Day 5: KanhaBreakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge.

Morning and afternoon proceed on a game drive to the sanctuary.

Overnight in Kanha.

Day 6: Kanha - BandhavgarhBreakfast at the lodge.

After breakfast drive to Bandhavgarh (325 kms). On arrival check in at the resort. Bengal Tiger

The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is relatively high. The possibility of spotting Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Leopard and Tiger is very good. The park is also densely populated with animals like the Chital (Spotted Deer), Sambar, Barking Deer, Nilgai (Blue Bull), Chowsingha (Four Horned Antelope) and is rich in bird life.

The terrain is rocky, rising sharply from the swampy and densely forested valley. The finest of these hills is Badhavgarh which is bounded by great cliffs and eroded rocks. The Bandhavgarh Fort, believed to be 2000 years old, stands at the highest point. There is a temple at the fort that is open to locals only few special occasions in a year. Scattered throughout the park, particularly around the fort, are numerous caves containing shrines with ancient Sanskrit inscriptions. The ramparts of the fort provide a home for vultures, blue rock thrushes and crag martins.

Overnight in Bandhavgarh.

Day 7: BandhavgarhBreakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge.

Morning and afternoon proceed on a game drive to the sanctuary.

The Forest Department has devised an ingenuous system of tracking the tiger at this Park. Every day, early in the morning, elephants and their "Mahouts" (drivers) are sent out into the jungle, in search of the Tiger. Once it has been sighted, a radio message is flashed to the Forest Ranger, who in turn informs the visitors in their jeeps, who are then taken on elephant-back, into the bush, to see the elusive Tiger.

Overnight in Bandhavgarh. 

Day 8: BandhavgarhBreakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge.

Morning and afternoon proceed on a game drive to the sanctuary.

Overnight in Bandhavgarh.

Day 9: BandhavgarhBreakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the Lodge.

Morning and afternoon proceed on a game drive to the sanctuary.

Overnight in Bandhavgarh.

Day 10: Bandhavgarh - Umaria - AgraBreakfast and Lunch at the Lodge.

Morning proceed on a game drive to the sanctuary.

Late afternoon drive to Umaria railway station (45 Kms) to board the Kalinga Utkal Express to Agra. Board the train at 1930 hrs.

Overnight enroute on board the train. Move to Delhi by Flight / Train Delhi for onward Journey.

Email ID: [email protected]

#tiger safari tour #tiger Safari India #tiger safari #tiger #tiger tour packages #wildlife tour #India wildlife Tour #wildlife tour package #wildlife safari india #wildlife tour in india #tiger tour in india #India Birding #safari tour in india #india bird watching tour #birding tour #india birding tour #india bird watching #India tiger safari

[shelleyseale]

Hit List: Top Things to do in Door County, Wisconsin

There are few places in the Midwest more delightful than Door County, in the upper peninsula of Wisconsin. With 300 miles of shoreline, you can watch a sunrise and a sunset over the water without leaving the county.

You can also stroll through acres of orchards, explore art galleries, devour cherry pie, sip on local wines and brews, splash in the lake or paddle along the bluffs, stroll through five state parks, visit 19 unique communities and tour 11 historic lighthouses. Here are my Top Picks of Things to Do in Door County!

Take a Boat Ride

You're at the lake — so you gotta get on the lake! Board a cruise along Lake Michigan or Green Bay, and you may even be able to see some of the shipwrecks from the boat (supposedly there are some 400 shipwrecks in these waters!). You can also take the Washington Island Ferry to Washington Island from the mainland, crossing "Death's Door" as you do so. The French bestowed that name on the treacherous waters that sent so many ships to the bottom. Other great ways to get on the water are to go sailing, rent kayaks or try your hand at stand-up paddleboarding. Then congratulate yourself on being part of the mere 1% of visitors to Door County who ever get off the mainland! The Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay is the perfect place to learn about the history of the area lighthouses, shipbuilding, shipwrecks and more.

Canal Station N Pierhead Lighthouse & Boat. Photo Credit: DoorCounty.com/Door County Visitor Bureau

Take a Lighthouse Tour

There are 11 lighthouses in Door County, many of which were built in the 1800s, and a semi-annual festival celebrates their history (including tours to some that are rarely open to the public), held in the early summer and fall. The Chambers Island Lighthouse has the most interesting history, in my opinion, while the Cana Island Lighthouse is the most unique. You have to be ferried across the ankle deep water by tractor just to get to the lighthouse! Another worth visiting is the "Bird Cage" - the old Baileys Harbor Lighthouse, with 150-year-old range lights and a new boardwalk that's been built between them.

Enjoy Tastings at Local Wineries and Craft Breweries

There are 8 vineyards and wineries in Door County, and there's even a Wine Trail with maps, festivals and other events. My favorite is Door 44, where husband-and-wife team Steve Johnson and Maria Milano left their legal careers behind to realize their dream of winemaking. If you might be surprised, as I was, to think about wine growing that far north, Steve told me that the climate here between June and October is almost exactly what you find in Bordeaux, France. Harbor Ridge Winery is another enjoyable stop, also run by a husband and wife team.

Winery touring and tasting in Door County, WI Steve Johnson (on the bottom right of the pic above), co-owner of Door 44 with his wife Maria, says that the key to successful winemaking is just to let the grape be the grape. "If you let the grape just do what it wants to do, you'll have a good wine." There are also many local brews and craft master brewers around here, so it's easy to find tours and tastings, as well as great choices for local beers on the menus. And for something different - not wine and not beer - check out Island Orchard Cider. Here they make a variety of ciders from their own 40 acre orchard on Washington Island. My favorite was the pear....mmm, delicious!

Island Orchard Cider

Visit Artisan Cheesemakers

What goes with wine better than cheese? And the state is well-known for its dairy farms and cheeses, so you won't want to miss visiting some of the world's best cheesemakers. Wisconsin is home to every single licensed cheese master - 6- of them to be exact. At Wisconsin Cheese Masters, you can find an exclusive selection where many cheeses are not available anywhere else. Owner Jim Pionkoski has a personal favorite: Marieke Golden, made by Marieke Penterman, whom Jim calls the best cheese maker in the U.S. and maybe even the world. Originally from the Netherlands, Marieke mainly produces gouda cheeses. The Golden is her only non-gouda, and Jim eats it every single day. "It's the only cheese I never get tired of," he says.

Jim Pionkoski of Wisconsin Cheese Masters, sharing his love of cheese. Another don't-miss cheese stop is the Door Artisan Cheese Company, run by Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Mike Brennenstuhl, who has been making cheese all his life. This "one stop shop" includes a beautiful market, extensive underground cheese caves where the magic happens, and an amazing restaurant, Glacier Ledge. You can take tours to learn how the cheeses are made and see the caves. Mike uses only local dairy farmers, and only buys milk for the process from farms that are certified AHA, meaning they are hormone free and humane. 

Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Mike Brennenstuhl and colleague showing us the cheese caves at Door Artisan. Check out Mike at work and telling the story of Door Artisan Cheese Company:

Stuff Yourself at Incredible Restaurants, from Casual Dining to Chef-Driven Foodie Spots

As mentioned above, the Glacier Ledge restaurant is highly recommended; I had one of my best meals of the trip there. They serve an internationally-inspired tapas style menu that's perfect for tasting and sharing.

A dish at Glacier Ledge restaurant at Door Artisan Cheese

For an opposite end of the spectrum at a long-time Door County institution, seriously DO NOT miss Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream! This adorable diner and ice cream parlor has been around since 1906, and it's located in what I personally found the most picturesque and explorable town in Door County - Ephraim. A mini jukebox adorns every table, and the burgers are honestly to die for. But be sure to save room for one of their old-fashioned ice cream treats like shakes, floats and sundaes. And if you're a root beer fan like me, you will love their housemade root beer. Best root beer I've ever had in my life!

Wilson's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor in Ephraim, Wisconsin For breakfast or a coffee fix, my  pick is Skipstone Coffee Roasters in Sister Bay, my second favorite Door County town. Their breakfast sandwiches are hearty, delicious and healthy; and they make all of their flavor syrups in house. It's pet-friendly, and if you're in a hurry for your next adventure they have a quick self-serve bar with a pay station.And no restaurant round-up of the Wisconsin peninsula would be complete without talking about Al's. Maybe you've heard of it or seen pics on Instagram, but Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant is the place with the goats on the roof. Every morning, the goats are led up a ramp to the sod roof of the restaurant, where they graze all day. You can even adore them from the two webcam streams that are affixed up there. Al's has been an icon for nearly 60 years, and it really is an authentic Swedish restaurant. Now, I have to admit I didn't eat there, but from everything I've heard the food is good. I just went for the goats - oh, and I also picked up a few things in the very nice little boutique there. Check it out!

Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant Goats

Experience a Traditional Wisconsin Fish Boil

OK, so technically this could go under the above "Eating out" section. But make no mistake - a fish boil is as Wisconsin as it gets, so much so that the experience definitely deserves its own category! There are numerous places that put on a fish boil, but I recommend Pelletier's. They serve a traditional fish boil every night of the week starting at 5 pm, along with a full menu of other items as well as lunch and breakfast service.

Pelletier's traditional Wisconsin fish boil Owner & Boil Master Matthew Peterson has been doing this for decades, learned from his father before him. The boil consists of freshly caught whitefish from Lake Michigan, cooked outside over the open fire along with corn and potatoes. The tradition comes from the Scandinavian settlers a century ago, and is very much alive and well in Door County. The drama of the "boil over" is pretty cool (advice: don't stand too close to the pot!). 

Go Gallery Hopping

Door County is home to an impressive number of galleries and artist studios. It's a great place to discover everything from a small, emerging artists to high-end galleries and accomplished artists who have made a name for themselves. Some of the places I would recommend making a stop would be: Blue Dolphin House, set on four-and-a-half acres of beautiful perennial gardens, in a building that dates back to 1860. Run by Peg & John Lowry, they've been in business for more than 50 years.

Blue Dolphin House shop & studio Deanna Clayton Studios - you'll need to make an appointment or check her website for opening hours. Deanna is an incredibly successful glass artist, using a centuries-old technique called pate de verre. With it, she creates some astonishing sculptures, which have been purchased and commissioned by patrons including many Ritz Carlton hotels around the world.

Artist Deanna Clayton in front of her studio Fine Line Designs Gallery & Sculpture Garden features original paintings, custom wood furnishings, glass, jewelry, ceramics and fiber art more than 90 renowned artists. Stroll the two-acre sculpture garden that showcases sculptures in bronze, stone, metal, ceramic, copper, and stainless steel. Unique, collectible artworks and original gifts are found indoors and out.

Fine Line Designs Gallery If you want more information on the art scene, check out the Door County Visitors guide!

Pick Your Own Cherries

Door County is the cherry capital of the U.S., and you can experience cherry picking yourself at one of the County's pick-your-own cherry orchards. Many families make it a fun tradition every cherry season. Check out the listings of places you can do this, along with many other resources, at Wisconsin Cherry Growers.

Cherry picking in Door County, Wisconsin Have you been to Door County? What are your favorite experiences there? Share in the comments below! Read the full article

#arts #beer #boats #cheese #cider #culture #doorcounty #explore #fishboil #history #lakes #lighthouses #restaurants #travel #USA #wine #Wisconsin

[sevensevens7]

Inspiration point

As the sun hit my back mercilessly, as I pulled dead ice plant from the ground, as i longed for a air conditioned classroom with WiFi, I asked myself what the hell am i doing when it came to me at during the end of the trip, on that hot September day, during a hot day on  anacapa island is when I realized exactly what I wanted to do as a career, become an Environmental Scientist. I had started that day happy because I had gotten out of a school day by participating in a field trip lead by my AP Environmental Science teacher Mr. K F. It was the first time that he had conducted the field trip in that school year so we had no idea into what we were getting ourselves into. It was a nice overcast morning we were supposed to meet by a harbor at island bay packer where we were supposed to catch a ride from there to anacapa, find the place was a chore since it was kinda hidden but I found it. When i arrived there i was expecting to see people from school but i was a bit surprised to see no one there. So i waited for what seemed like an eternity inside i had fears that i was a fool and had mistaken the day of the excursion. Thankfully those fears were displaced when i saw one of my friends S whom i had signed up with along with a couple friends. So eventually everyone that had signed up had arrived. One of the last to arrive was our teacher Mr.F i asked him when he arrived why he had told us to arrive so early with what we responded “ I knew some crackbabys were going to be late so i gave an earlier time this year.”which when we thought about it was really smart of him. After we took care of the necessary steps required by the school to participate on a field trip to an island that had a deadly virus created by rats or as Mr.F told us that day “pinche ratas.” we boarded the Vanguard it was a relatively small boat compared to the boats docked next to it, so seating was limited due to the small size and the unusual amount of people going to the island that day so naturally my group of buddies went to the top of the boat where it had the best vantage point to see all around, the trip from the docks  wasn’t all that bad or boring (there was a couple of interesting boat names that made it worthwhile) now the trip to the island was definitely memorable, as soon as we cleared the beach and got a couple of knots from the mainland we got some heavy fog it was so thick i couldn’t see more than 2 to 3 meters from the boat I thought it was a bad omen to have eerie fog but as soon as it came it went like wise the cloud cover disappeared as well. Which was good and bad it meant the boat could go faster but the sun was harsh that day. From when the clouds cleared and our arrival to the island we had a couple of visitors from under the sea first we had an entire herd of dolphins swimming at the side of the boat which were dark gray at the top with grey flowing at their sides and identified as blue dolphins by the boats lookout, then we saw what we had assumed to be a shark chasing a seal. When we finally arrived close enough to the island to see it in detail  I noticed three  things first there was a large lighthouse rising from the left part of the island, secondly where was the vegetation? Lastly where was the beach? The island looked brown from far away and from the side we came from we couldn’t see the beach. When we finally docked I was surprised when I learned that Anacapa is an island with nothing but cliffs surrounding it and the only way to get to the top was to go up a shitton of stairs. So we climbed and at the top we saw why the it looked brown instead of green. All of the plants were dry not a single green thing save one or two cactus’s there was also bird poop everywhere followed by the strangest smell which was only smell-able at the top. We walked to the park station at the top where we were greeted by a couple of park rangers who gave us some background on the island history and the people who lived there and its role in World War Two they also  told us exactly what we would be doing, they were going to make us dig up an invasive species that was killing the native species on the island we were also advised to stay away from the cliff side. So as soon as we got an explanation on what we were supposed to do we went and got gloves to protect our hands from damage and began to pull lce grass from the ground. After a while we noticed that we had accumulated a large amount of ice grass and we had nowhere to put the waste thankfully the brought us some bags to place them in so we began to place them in large bags that would be disposed of later by the national park so we worked and worked until we finally got a lunch break (it was during this break when i tasted the best sandwiches that i have tasted presumably because i was hungry from working) it was during this break of digging the invasive plant out of the ground when i began to think about environmental science as a whole. I enjoyed doing that kind of work i knew that even a small amount of work to restore a place all adds up eventually and that every small act counts, so it began to grow on me. Eventually we had finished for the day so we went on a hike to explore the island while we waited for the boat,before the hike we went to see the little museum they had of the place which contained the old glass of the lighthouse which was twice as tall as me with intricate patterns of glass after seeing it in detail we went on the hike,  it was during this hike that we took, when i finally realized that i wanted to follow a career in Environmental science i was in awe of the landscape and how beautiful it all look but more specifically it was when we arrived to inspiration point on the island, all it took was one look out onto the landscape to convince me i knew right then and there i wanted to help conserve nature and all the beautiful things found in nature, from Inspiration point you could see the ocean which was a strong dark blue except for the water close to the island which was cyan and under that section you could see the seaweed rising from the depths, the islands that were close also created an interesting panorama . The boat ride back took us around Anacapa across from the arch and to see the sea lions sunbathing the trip across the stretch was less eventful everyone was hella tired from the work we had done on the island i fell asleep during the ride so i don’t know if anything exciting happened. Before that day i wasn’t sure exactly what i wanted to do with my life, i was more interested in math than environmental science but I went home that day with the desire to help conserve natures beauty and knowing exactly what i wanted to do for my future.

AC

#esrm #inspiration #point #essay #anacapa #island #tags

[eat-travel-live-repeat]

The 7 Day Crete Travel Itinerary

Crete, the southernmost and biggest island in Greece, is a vast territory divided into four distinct regions with the northern and southern coasts separated by three different high mountain ranges that cut the island in half, and this One Week Crete Travel Itinerary will give you a taste of the four main cities, including the capital, and it will also highlight the best things you can do in each of Crete’s regions. Then, if you fall in love with this unique Greek island, it will be up to you to discover more and explore more. 

  The northern area of the island is more developed and populated, hosting two international airports, important ports, hotels, and touristic resorts. On the other hand, the south of Crete remains wild, unspoilt, and rather off the beaten track.

  Given its huge territory, and all the things you can do in Crete, one week in Crete might be just enough to discover the most famous landmarks and popular spots, so the best suggestion I can give you is to spend more than One week in Crete if you are lucky to have the chance. 

Keep Scrolling to discover, which are the best things you can do in this One Week Crete Road Trip.

    [toc]

  Days 1 – 2 : Explore the capital of Crete – Heraklion

Chances are that your entry gate to Crete is Heraklion’s international airport or its ferry port. Heraklion is the capital of the island and Greece’s fourth largest city, quite a record for such a remote island. It’s located on the northern coast while the whole region extends towards the South to meet the pristine waters of the Libyan sea.

  It’s a good idea to spend at least one day in the capital to discover the history and the past of Crete. Start with a visit to the Minoan Palace of Knossos, just a few minutes from the center of town. Here, you will discover the wonderful archaeological settlement where one of Europe’s oldest and most advanced civilizations once lived and thrived.

  Knossos Palace – Region of Heraklion

  After visiting the archaeological site, head back to the city centre to visit the Archaeological Museum of Heraklion, combining both visits on the same day is a great way to save money (a combined ticket is €16 and allows access to both sites). Checking both places will also help you better understand the mysteries of the Minoan civilization.

  Archaeological Museum – Region of Heraklion

  More time in Heraklion

Those who wish to extend their Heraklion stay a bit more, they can either remain close to the city center to visit some of the popular resorts of Malia or Hersonissos. Another good option it to rent a car and explore the south of the region, including the hippie beach of Matala or the fantastic Archaeological Site of Phaistos. 

  Insider’s tip: The island has a good road network on the northern coast, while the villages in the southern area are rather isolated. It’s not impossible to travel the island relying on the local public transport, however this will pretty much limit the places you can explore. Much of the south of Crete is not connected by the bus network, so, in this Crete Travel Guide, its highly recommended that you rent your own car, as renting your own vehicle, during your trip to Crete, will turn out to be the best way to explore Crete, and make the most out of this 7 Day Crete Travel Itinerary.

  Practical tips for a stay in Heraklion, Crete

If you’re spending one night in the capital, check the city centre hotels. Galaxy Hotel Heraklion is one of the fewer hotels in town with a swimming pool, something you’d be really thankful for if you find yourself traveling to Crete in summer.

  There are great places to eat in the city. Peskesi is a restaurant which proposes the traditional ingredients of the Cretan diet with a modern twist. Those on a budget will appreciate a convenient taverna such as O Tempelis. For a gyro on the go, check the popular meat joint Krasas in Heraklion’s main square or in their branch at the airport.

  Days 3 – 4 : Head East towards Lasithi

The eastern region of Lasithi is usually overlooked since tourists often prefer the beaches of the West coast over the more isolated east.

  One week wouldn’t be enough to fully explore the fascinating easternmost coast, a place with authentic traditions, a unique palm tree beach, and fantastic lonely monasteries. However, it’s still possible to discover the best of Lasithi if you spend two days, out of your 7 Day Crete Travel Itinerary, in the area. 

  Choose the capital of the region, Agios Nikolaos as your base and, from there, move along the coast to swim in some unique beaches or drive south to explore Crete’s mountains and traditional villages. 

  During your first day in Agios Nikolaos, start by exploring the close-by Spinalonga island, just minutes away from Agios Nikolaos, Spinalonga can be reached with a 10-minute boat trip departing from the small fishing village of Plaka or the bigger town of Elounda.

  Spinalonga is one of Crete’s most visited spots, it’s a fortified islet that you can tour in less than an hour, and better-known for being one of Greece’s leper colonies during the last century. 

  Important information to visit Spinalonga: The full ticket is 8.00 € and the fee needs to be paid on the island. The first boats of the day depart from Plaka at around 9.00 and the fee varies from 10 to 15 euros.

  Fortified Island of Spinalonga – Region of Lasithi

  An Afternoon in Agios Nikolaos

While staying in this small coastal town, you can either choose one of the city shores, or drive further east to visit Voulisma, one of Crete’s most beautiful bays in the heart of the Gulf of Mirabello. 

  Voulisma is a wide beach with golden sand and crystal shallow waters, ideal for families with kids but also popular among young people. The beach is only 12 km from the center of Agios Nikolaos and it’s an excellent day trip in the area.

  One Day in the Mountains of the East Crete

Spend your second day exploring the unique Lasithi Plateau, one of the highest settlements in Europe which has been inhabited at least since the Bronze Age.

  Drive along the plateau to check some unique traditional villages, such as Tzermiado and Agios Giorgos, marvel at the beautiful white sails of the windmills that made the plateau famous, or take a few hours to visit the Cave of Zeus in the village of Psychro.

  Windmills Lasithi Plateau – Region of Lasithi

  Practical Tips for a Stay in Agios Nikolaos, Crete

The best place to stay in town is the comfortable and convenient Porto Maltese Boutique Estate with stunning views of the sea and of Lake Voulismeni, right in the center of the city

  Make some time to visit the Folklore Museum and to walk along the pedestrian streets of the city, you’ll be surprised at the street art in the staircases that connect the different levels of the town.

  Undoubtedly, the best place to eat in Agios Nikolaos is Karnagio, right next to the lake. Be aware that you might need to wait in line of you don’t book a table in advance. They’re known for serving the best dishes in the area made with locally sourced produce and a lot of imagination.

  Day 5 : The Region of Rethymnon

When it comes to Rethymnon, you can either decide to spend two full days in the area and just one to the westernmost region of Chania. This option works great for those who don’t really care about beaches or are keen on visiting monasteries or archaeological sites.

  Yet, if you really long to see Crete’s best beaches, dedicate only a day of your One Week Crete Travel Itinerary to explore Rethymnon’s old town, and then move towards the extreme west of Crete, to the region of Chania (next in our itinerary).

  A perfect day in Rethymnon should include a morning wandering about the alleys of the old town so as to discover the impressive Venetian buildings, the Turkish mosques and minarets, the tiny Venetian Harbor, the Lighthouse and the Rethymnon’s Fortezza, an old-time fortress right by the sea.

  Old Town Rethymnon – Region of Rethymnon

  In the afternoon, you can take a bus in the city’s public station or simply drive for about 20 minutes to the South to visit the historic Arkadi Monastery.

  Arkadi Monastery – Region of Rethymnon

  Crete’s monasteries are a must for those interested in learning about the bloody days of the Ottoman occupation on the island. 

  Not far from Arkadi, the pottery village of Margarites is a perfect example of traditional settlement where life is still simple and times flies at a completely different pace.

  Practical Tips for a Stay in Rethymnon, Crete

Arguably the most convenient place to have a quick lunch in Rethymnon is in the familiar atmosphere of Kokkinos. For a more refined experience, instead, head to Prima Plora, right next to the sea.

  Choosing a boutique hotel in the old town can be a super romantic idea. Rimondi Boutique Hotel and Pepi Boutique Hotel are two of the best options hidden in the Venetian alleys.

  For a more budget-friendly stay, book a room in Archipelagos, where you can enjoy the beautiful swimming pool and great views of the city skyline.

  Days 6 – 7 : The best beaches of Crete: Chania Region

Home to a marvellous old town and a vibrant modern city, the region of Chania is one of the best places to enjoy a fantastic holiday in Crete. Chania offers countless opportunities for adventure, beach life, and cultural activities.

  Two days in Chania is quite a short time to visit Crete’s most interesting region, and it’s fairly hard to decide which activities to include or to leave out. 

  For that reason, I’ve decided to include the best beaches to see and the hot landmarks to discover, it’s up to you to decide which of them to include in your 7 Day Crete Travel Itinerary… or if it’s better to extend your stay and discover them all! 

Let’s take a look at the best things to do in Chania.

  West Crete Beaches

Balos Beach and Lagoon is probably a popular image of Crete that you’ve certainly come across on the internet. Its unique exotic landscape features harsh low hills and a unique turquoise lagoon with shallow waters and white sand. 

  The best way to visit the area is by boarding a day cruise in the nearby port of Kissamos if you’re not happy about driving off road.

  In fact, the second alternative to reach Balos includes a 45-minute drive on a dirt track right next to impressive cliffs plunging into the sea. Right after, you’ll need to hike for over 20 minutes down the hill to get to the coast. The experience can prove quite tiring in the heat of the summer, and definitely harder when climbing up on your way back. Despite the fatigue, the beach is worth the effort.

  Balos Beach – Region of Chania

  Elafonisi Beach is about 70 km from the city center, on the southern coast of Chania. This is another of Crete’s favorite shores and it’s also a natural protected area. Yet, Elafonisi’s most popular feature is the fantastic shade of pink that millions of crushed shells give to the sand. The whole look of the area is beyond compare.

  Always in the West, this time in the fantastic Akrotiri Peninsula, no more than 15 km from the city center, it’s possible to discover the beautiful Seitan Limania, a beach with the shape of a lightning bolt enclosed by high orange cliffs that highlight the deep blue of the sea.

  To reach the beach it’s necessary to hike down the side of a steep cliff. Since the shore also lacks organization, you should bring everything you need, including a lunch and drinks for the day. Don’t forget to wear comfortable walking shoes, leaving the flip flops for later.

  Chania’s Old Town

The whole history of the island can be discovered along the cobblestone alleys of Chania’s Old Town. Starting from the city’s archaeological museum, hosted in a former Catholic church which was badly burned and damaged during the Nazi occupation of Crete in WWII.

  The old town is also a fantastic place to learn about the Venetian period of the island, which lasted about 400 hundred years and left a characteristic architecture made of impressive aristocratic mansions, today turned into exclusive boutique hotels.

  Old Town Chania – Region of Chania

  Take some time to discover the former Jewish quarter and Etz Hayyim, one of the oldest synagogues in the Mediterranean with an ancient ritual bath and a tragic history too.

  The Turkish quarter of Splantzia is the most modest and yet bohemian part of town, home to traditional restaurants such as the top-rated Well of the Turk and the beer bar Plaka.

  Practical Tips for a Stay in Chania

If you’re planning to stay in the old town, you can splurge in one of the city’s best boutique hotels, either Serenissima, Casa Delfino or Hotel OFF are hosted in great buildings with a one-of-a-kind history and 5-star services.

  For a cheaper stay, check small boutique hotels such as Artemis, in the Jewish quarter, or Jonas Hotel in Splantzia.

For great food, check restaurants such as Tamam and Semiramis on the backstreets or walk all the way to the New Marina for a fantastic dining experience in Salis Restaurant.

For a quick and convenient lunch, check the Municipal Market (locally known as Agora), where you can sample native products or eat fresh homemade dishes from the most authentic Cretan tradition.

Best gyros in town? Oasis Souvlaki, has been crafting the best gyro wraps in Chania during the last 50 years.

  7 Day Crete Travel Itinerary – Summarised

  Day 1 – Arrival in Heraklion – Crete’s Capital City

Day 2 – Explore Heraklion

Day 3 – Head East towards Lasithi | Spend the day exploring Agios Nikolaos

Day 4 – Explore the unique Lasithi Plateau 

Day 5 – Explore Rethymnon

Day 6 and 7 – Visit the best beaches of Crete in Chania | Explore Chania’s Old Town

Day 8 – Trip to Crete Ends with loads of happy memories.

  There you go, here’s our 7 Day Crete Travel Itinerary to discover the best of Crete in One Week. The island has a lot more to offer if you have some extra time to visit, but don’t worry, chances are that after a first trip to Crete the first thing you’ll do once back home, is booking a second visit. 

  But before you leave, don’t forget to Pin these images, so you can refer to this Crete Travel Blog later.

    If you enjoyed reading this, and found this 7 Day Crete Travel Itinerary helpful you might also find these 7 Day Itinerary guides to be of use, in your Travel Planning. 

  The 7 Day Myanmar Itinerary

The 7 Day Kerala Itinerary

The 7 Day Israel Itinerary

The 7 Day Bhutan Itinerary

The 7 Day Leh – Ladakh Itinerary

One Week Trip to Crete – Greece | Travel Itinerary and Guide The 7 Day Crete Travel Itinerary Crete, the southernmost and biggest island in Greece, is a vast territory divided into four distinct regions with the northern and southern coasts separated by three different high mountain ranges that cut the island in half, and this 

#2020 #7 Day Travel Itinerary #Europe #Greece #Guest Blog #Itinerary #roadtrip

[followingmygps]

Daily Waypoint | N 42° 04' 47.9" W 70° 12' 59.2" Old Harbor Life-Saving Station Museum—The Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station is a historic maritime rescue station and museum, located at Race Point Beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Built in 1897, it was originally located at Nauset Beach near the entrance to Chatham Harbor in Chatham, Massachusetts. It was used by the United States Life-Saving Service (USLSS), and then by its successor, the United States Coast Guard (USCG), as the Old Harbor Coast Guard Station. The station was decommissioned in 1944, abandoned and sold as surplus in 1947, and was used as a private residence for the next twenty-six years. The property returned to Federal ownership in 1973, acquired by the National Park Service as part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Two years later, facing the threat of imminent destruction from extreme beach erosion, it was removed, cut in half, and floated by barge to Provincetown. The Park Service rehabilitated it and furnished it as it would have existed during its original use as a turn-of-the-century life-saving station. The Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station Museum opened at its new location in 1978. https://www.fmgphoto.com/Lifestyle/Architecture/i-4CdvpqH #oldharborlifesavingstationmuseum #oldharborlifesavingstation #lifesavingstation #capecod #oldcapecod #racepointbeach #provincetownma #provincetownmassachusetts #historical #uslss #capecodnationalseashore #uslifesavingstation #discoveramerica #travelpics #travellife #travelinspiration #travelblog #travelphotography #fmgphoto #followingmygps #travelphotography #traveller #photography #travelamerica #lifestyle #LifeWellLived #travelmagazine #roadtripping #exploring #roadtrip (at Old Harbor U.S. Life Saving Station) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDB_Z49M1k1/?igshid=irgzi0c8a55u

#oldharborlifesavingstationmuseum #oldharborlifesavingstation #lifesavingstation #capecod #oldcapecod #racepointbeach #provincetownma #provincetownmassachusetts #historical #uslss #capecodnationalseashore #uslifesavingstation #discoveramerica #travelpics #travellife #travelinspiration #travelblog #travelphotography #fmgphoto #followingmygps #traveller #photography #travelamerica #lifestyle #lifewelllived #travelmagazine #roadtripping #exploring #roadtrip

[tamboradventure]

29 Things to See and Do in New York City

Posted: 11/21/2019 | November 21st, 2019

New York City. It’s one of my favorite cities in the world and one of the most popular destinations in the US. Sprawling, busy, exciting — there’s a reason people call it the city that never sleeps!

It has something for everyone — including lots of budget-friendly activities for travelers looking to stretch their pocketbook. I lived in the city for years and still return often. Whether you’re looking for history, nightlife, food, or art, this city won’t disappoint.

To help you plan your trip, here are the best things to see and do in NYC — no matter your budget!  

1. Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island

At 151 feet tall, the Statue of Liberty is spectacular to see up close. But the real highlight of this duo is Ellis Island. Here you’ll learn about the immigrant experience and get a sense of the people who helped build the city. There’s such a great sense of history there that you can’t help but be impressed.  

2. Central Park

The perfect way to relax in the city and leave the crowds behind is to spend the day in Central Park. It’s free, there are lots of paths to walk (or run), bike lanes, lakes to row in, and a zoo. The park spans over 150 square blocks (840 acres) it’s easy to spend hours wandering around. During the summer months, there are often free concerts and theater productions (line up early for tickets to Shakespeare in the Park).

From the late spring to the early fall, there are free guided walks run by the parks service on Saturdays at 11am. I’m a big fan of laying out in Sheep’s Meadow on a hot, sunny day with a book, some food, and a bottle of wine.  

3. World Trade Center & 9/11 Memorial and Museum

Wander the somber memorial and then take in the view from the new “Freedom Tower.” On the elevator up, you can see pictures of the historical development of the city and how it’s changed over the years. To get a deeper understanding of 9/11 and the events that unfolded, visit the museum. It’s home to some moving exhibits that illuminate the significance of the tragedy and its impact.

180 Greenwich Street, Financial District, Lower Manhattan, [phone], 911memorial.org. Daily memorial hours are from 7:30am–9pm. Daily museum hours are from 9am–8pm (closes one hour later on Fri–Sat). The memorial is free to visit and entry to the museum is $24. Free admission on Tuesdays after 5pm (on a first-come, first-served basis).  

4. Wall Street

Take a photo with the famous Charging Bull statue (which was commissioned in 1989 and is made of bronze) and then walk to Wall Street and see where all those bankers destroyed the economy. While there isn’t much to see here (the Museum of American Finance is temporarily closed) it’s still an iconic part of the city and worth seeing with your own eyes, if only briefly.  

5. Battery Park

Named Battery Park for the old batteries (cannons) that defended the city, you can stop here for music and street performers in the summer, people-watching, relaxing, and some lounging in the sun with a good book. You can also explore the ruins of the old fort that kept watch over New York City. The Park is large and can get a little hectic but there are some tremendous views of the harbor that make it worthwhile.  

6. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge offers an easy 25-minute walk into Brooklyn and the waterfront park on the other side of the bridge. Stopping to take photos and meandering along the way will make the walk about 40 minutes — which is definitely worth it! You get a lot of wonderful views of Manhattan as you make your way across. I enjoy doing this walk at night when downtown is all lit up (and there are fewer crowds).  

7. Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal is the city’s historic train station. It was going to be torn down in 1975 but was saved by Jacqueline Kennedy, who raised money for its preservation. There are free historical tours on Wednesdays. I love coming to the main concourse and looking up at the “stars” in the ceiling and people-watching as everyone races to and fro.

Also, there’s an amazing eatery in the basement called the Grand Central Oyster Bar & Restaurant. And for fancy (and expensive) cocktails, visit the Campbell Apartments and step back into the 1920s (dress code enforced). The space was once the office of John W. Campbell, a member of the New York Central Railroad’s board of directors and finance tycoon from the 1920s.

89 E. 42nd Street, Midtown, grandcentralterminal.com. Opening daily from 5:30am–2am. Tours are held daily at 12:30pm for $30 per person with discounts available. Purchase at mas.org/tours or at the ticket windows.  

8. Trinity Church

Trinity Church is one of the oldest churches in America. The original building burned down in 1776, but the current church is still beautiful and one of the most iconic sights in the city. It has an ornate Gothic-style structure and is famous for its colonial graveyard, where you’ll find many famous Americans (including Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s founding fathers).

74 Trinity Place, Financial District, Lower Manhattan, [phone], trinitywallstreet.org. Opening daily from 7am–6pm.  

9. The Guggenheim Museum

This museum is home to a renowned collection of impressionist, post-impressionist, early modern, and contemporary art. The cylindrical museum (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) is considered one of the 20th century’s most important architectural designs. It’s one of my favorite buildings (and museums) in the city.

1071 5th Avenue, Upper East Side, [phone], guggenheim.org/new-york. Opening Sunday–Wednesday and Fridays from 10am–5:45pm, Saturdays from 10am–7:45 (closed Thursdays). Admission is $25 with discounts for students and seniors. On Saturday nights from 5:45-7:45pm, admission is by donation.  

10. City Hall

New York’s City Hall is a great piece of historic architecture. It also has a beautiful little park nearby that’s filled with office workers during lunch (in the summer anyway). To learn about the building’s history, art, and architecture, take one of the guided tours. On a tour, you’ll be able to see the rotunda, the city council chamber, Governor’s Room, and the City Hall Portrait Collection. It’s a great place to learn about the city and how it functions.

City Hall Park. Pre-reserved tours are typically offered for groups (10–20 people) on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10:30am and for individuals on Thursdays at 10am. There are also first-come, first-served tours on Wednesdays at 12pm.  

11. Rockefeller Center

Wander around Rockefeller Center to see where they film The Today Show, shop, snack, and take the elevator to the “Top of the Rock” for another bird’s-eye view of the city (which I personally think it better than the Empire State Building, since this view includes the Empire State Building in the picture). It will be busy at sunset and on the weekends, so come during the week to beat the crowds.

30 Rockefeller Plaza, [phone], topoftherocknyc.com. Open daily from 8am–12am (last elevator up at 11pm). Admission is $36 to visit the observation deck once, $50 to combine that with a tour of Rockefeller Center, and $54 to visit the observation deck twice in 24 hours.  

12. Times Square

No matter when you go to Times Square, it will be packed with people (usually other tourists). There are a few pedestrian areas where you can sit and take in the city but if you aren’t shopping or eating or planning to see a show then there isn’t much to do in the area.

While no New Yorkers hang out here, it’s still a fabulous place to people-watch for a few minutes from the top of the red steps of the TKTS kiosk. You can really get a feel for how busy the city is from here.  

13. The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met is one of the biggest museums in the world, and if you only see one museum in New York, this is the one I would recommend. It has a huge collection of art, historical artifacts, photographs, and other exhibits. There’s even a real Egyptian tomb in here! Personally, I enjoy its expansive impressionist and Greek exhibits. The museum can get a little chaotic and usually filled with people (especially on weekends) but since it is so big you can often find some quiet spots away from the crowds. You can easily spend hours here so budget a lot of time if you’re a history buff like me!

1000 5th Avenue, Central Park, Upper East Side, [phone], metmuseum.org. Opening Sunday–Thursday from 10am–5:30pm, Friday–Saturday from10am–9pm. Admission is $25 (includes entrance to the Cloisters and Met Breuer for three consecutive days). Free for kids 12 and under.  

14. American Museum of Natural History

Made even more famous by the Night at the Museum movies, this is another museum that requires a lot of time. The exhibits on nature, human history, and marine life are comprehensive and educational so I wouldn’t try to rush your visit. Also, don’t skip the section on space at the Hayden Planetarium, which is run by science guru Neil Degrasse Tyson. They have really detailed exhibitions on the origin of the universe!

Central Park W. at 79th Street, Upper West Side, [phone], amnh.org. Opening daily from 10am–5:45pm. Suggested donation of $23 ($13 for children ages 2–12). Note: Even though this museum only technically asks for a suggested donation, be prepared to pay to go into any special exhibitions and/or movies.  

15. The Frick Collection

This collection features paintings by famous European artists as well as 18th-century French furniture and intricate rugs from Asia. To be honest, you have to really love Dutch artists to want to spend time here (which I do). Fortunately, they also host a lot of wonderful temporary exhibits so there is often a lot of other art to see in addition to their main collection.

1 East 70th Street, [phone], frick.org. Opening from Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-6pm and Sundays from 11am-5pm (closed on Mondays). Admission is $22 USD, with discounts available to students and seniors. Visit Wednesdays between 2pm-6pm and the entrance fee is “pay what you wish.”  

16. The Museum of the City of New York

This museum will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about New York City. Architecture, parks, streets, culture, famous sights — you name it! There are multiple rooms that illuminate the city throughout the ages via interviews, maps, interactive exhibits, profiles of historical figures, and various artifacts. It’s the best history museum in the city. Also, there’s a fun exhibit here where you can create the future NYC (a la Sim City style). It’s great for kids!

1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd St., [phone], mcny.org. Opening daily from 10am-6pm. Admission is $18, with discounted rates for students and seniors.  

17. Empire State Building

This is one of the most historic landmarks in all of New York City. Built in 1931, the art deco interior is beautiful and the view from the top is breathtaking. You can get a real feel for how densely populated New York is as you stare out at the city. Get here early or during lunchtime to avoid the lines and tour groups. And don’t forget to bring your camera!

350 5th Avenue, Midtown, [phone], esbnyc.com. Price: $36 to visit the observation deck once, $50 to combine that with a tour of Rockefeller Center, $54 to visit the observation deck twice in 24 hours. Discounts available for children and seniors.  

18. Broadway Show

You can’t go to New York City, the theater capital of the world, without seeing a show. Current highlights and my favorites include:

The Lion King

The Phantom of the Opera

Wicked

Dear Evan Hansen

Aladdin

Chicago

School of Rock

Come From Away

Hamilton

The Book of Mormon

You can find discounted theater tickets at the TKTS offices around the city (Times Square, South Street Seaport, and downtown Brooklyn) for shows that day. They also have an app where you can see what they offer too! Expect to spend at least $100.  

19. The Cloisters

Few people make it up to the Cloisters (it’s all the way up near 204th Street), which is a branch of the Met devoted to medieval Europe. Even when I lived here, it took me years to finally see it — and I kicked myself for waiting so long! Built with Rockefeller money, the Cloisters was made from parts of five European abbeys between 1934-1939. The building and its stunning cloistered garden are serene and beautiful and a nice break for the hustle and bustle of the city. There are free tours each day that explain the history of the museum and the paintings and exhibits.

99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park, [phone], metmuseum.org/visit/visit-the-cloisters. Opening daily from 10am–5:15pm (closes early in the winter). Admission is $25 (includes entrance to the Met and Met Breuer for three consecutive days) and free for kids 12 and under.  

20. The High Line & Whitney Museum

The High Line is a former train track that has been converted into an urban walking park. It stretches almost 1.5 miles from 34th Street to the Meatpacking District. Lined with overlooks, gardens, public art, food stalls, and greenery, this walk is one of the best things to do in the city — especially on a nice summer day. Go for a walk, sit with a book, people-watch — the High Line is a must-see and a true favorite among locals.  

21. Lower East Side Tenement Museum

This is a fascinating museum that offers visitors a chance to visit former tenement apartments on the Lower East Side. You’ll learn how immigrants from around the world lived during the late 1800s and early 1900s as they tried to make it in America. It’s an insightful museum and a good follow-up to what you see on Ellis Island. You can only visit this museum via guided tours and they need to be booked in advance. Personally, I like the “Meet the Residents” tour, where live actors portray and share the story of newly arrived immigrants.

103 Orchard Street, Lower East Side, [phone], tenement.org. Open from Friday–Wednesday from 10am–6:30pm and Thursdays from 10am–8:30pm. Admission is $25 with discounts for students and seniors.  

22. Take a walking tour

NYC is home to dozens of walking tour companies — and many of them are free! Be sure to take one of the many, many walking tours the city has to offer to get a unique and cultural look at the city that never sleeps from a local guide. There are all sorts of focused tours on street art, history, food, and much more! I always take my friends on at least one when they visit. A few walking tour companies worth checking out are:

Take Walks

Free Tours by Foot

Bowery Boys Walks

For more suggestions, check out my favorite NYC walking tours.  

23. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Want to see lots of beautiful (and weird) modern art? You’ve come to the right place! Personally, I hate modern art. I just don’t “get” it. But, while I dislike modern art, the MoMA does have Van Gogh’s Starry Night as well as other post-impressionist art which makes it worth visiting. If you love modern and contemporary art, this (I’m told) is one of the best in the world.

18 W. 54th Street, Midtown, [phone], moma.org. Open Saturday–Thursday from 10:30am–5:30pm and Fridays from 10:30am–8pm. Admission is $25 with discounts for students and seniors. The MoMA’s Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden is free of charge to the public daily (9:30am–10:15am). On Fridays after 4pm, the museum is free  

24. Prospect Park

Spend some time outside of Manhattan and go explore Brooklyn’s version of Central Park (the Brooklyn Museum is right next down and it’s worth a visit too). Opened in 1867, the park covers over 500 acres and is a great place to have a picnic, read a book, people watch, or lounge in the sun.  

25. Bronx Zoo

Head north for a look at one of the oldest and biggest zoos in the United States. Opened in 1899, the zoo spans almost 300 acres and sees over 2 million visitors each and every year. Home to over 650 different species, it’s a great place to visit with kids. Gorillas, birds of prey, bison — there is a huge assortment of animals here and you’ll definitely learn a lot during your visit!

2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, [phone], bronxzoo.com. Open Monday–Friday from 10am–5pm and Saturday–Sunday from 10am–5:30pm (limited hours from November-April). Tickets are $22.95, but it is pay-what-you-want on Wednesdays.  

26. See a Yankees/Mets/Rangers/Knicks Game

Like sports? Then you probably already know that NYC has some world-class sports teams. I’m not much of a sports fan but games are fun when you have friends to share the experience with. If you have a chance and the desire, grab some tickets to a game!  

27. See a TV Show!

TV shows like Saturday Night Live, The View, Late Night with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight, and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon offer free tickets to their tapings (although they must be reserved well in advance). It can be very difficult to get tickets so try to get tickets for multiple shows to increase your odds. For more details, see the website of each show for details and to make reservations.  

28. Batsu!

Walk through the narrow aisle of the Je Bon Sushi restaurant in the East Village, and head down the tiny stairway to find this hidden dinner theater. This four-person improv comedy competition takes place within the structure of a high-energy Japanese game show, with slapstick theatrical performances. Go with friends to enjoy some sushi, sake shots, and a night of ridiculous fun.

15 St. Mark’s Place, East Village, [phone], batsulive.com/new-york. Tickets from $30.50.  

29. Ellen’s Stardust Diner

Since 1987, this diner is home to an incredible waitstaff of singers and dancers. Between tours and musical performances, actors and actresses wait tables at Ellen’s, where they belt out songs as they serve you slightly pricey, very American diner food (think shakes, burgers, and lasagna) in uniforms from the 1950s. It’s incredibly cheesy but good fun — especially if you’re a theatre fan!

1650 Broadway, Times Square, [phone]. There’s usually a line so be sure to plan ahead!

*** No matter how long you’re here for — and no matter what you’re interested in — New York City will have something for you. While it’s not the most budget-friendly city in the country, there are plenty of free activities and lots of cheap things to see and do to keep you busy and entertained.

And if you want to splurge? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

With so many things to see and do it’s no surprise that tourists love to re-visit this diverse, lovely, and eclectic city. But don’t take my word for it — put this list to the test and let me know what you think!

Get the In-Depth Budget Guide to New York City!

For more in-depth information and tips on NYC, check out my 100+ page guidebook written for budget travelers like yourself! It cuts out the fluff found in other guides and gets straight to the practical information you need to travel and save money the city that never sleeps. You’ll find suggested itineraries, budgets, ways to save money, on and off the beaten path things to see and do, non-touristy restaurants, markets, and bars, and much more!! Click here to learn more and get started.

Book Your Trip to New York City: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Get Your Guide Check out my detailed guide to planning a visit to NYC with suggested itineraries, places to stay, things to do, where to eat, and how to get around. Just click here to get the guide and continue planning today!

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. My favorite places to stay in New York City are:

HI NYC Hostel – One of the biggest and most popular hostels in the city with a ton of space, an outdoor patio, free Wi-Fi, events, activities, and a huge kitchen.

Jazz on Columbus Circle – My favorite hostel in NYC, with comfy dorms and a friendly environment.

Pod Times Square – Incredibly tiny private rooms, but with an excellent quiet location near Times Square.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Photo credit: 11 – Joyofmuseums, 16 – Jay

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Retire to Europe on $35,000 a Year in These 5 Places—Internationalliving.com

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Retire to Europe on $35,000 a Year in These 5 Places—Internationalliving.com

BALTIMORE/ July 31, 2018 (STL.News) It’s not hard to retire to Europe on $35,000 a year, or less. In welcoming, warm-weather, good-value escapes expat retirees find that their dollars stretch far. “When Americans on a limited budget compare the quality of life they’re able to enjoy in Europe to what their dollars buy in the States, it’s often a shock,” says Jennifer Stevens, Executive Editor, International Living. “Outside the big metro areas, you’ll find all sorts of good-value options in Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, and even Malta. These are communities where the weather is good so it’s easy to enjoy the outdoors, and where value is placed on good food, enjoying the arts, and on a relaxed pace of life—none of which costs very much.” Basilicata, Italy The Italians know how to enjoy life. In fact, they’re famous for it. The gorgeous scenery, the stellar food, the fabulous people and the fascinating history sum up the joys of Italian life— La dolce vita. Italy is full of classic postcard landscapes that appeal to all the senses. Living in Italy can be as expensive or as low-cost as you want it to be—it all depends on location and lifestyle. The big cities like Rome, Milan, and Florence can be expensive. But get outside the metro areas and prices drop significantly. Take Basilicata, a hidden gem tucked into the ankle of “the boot,” speckled with verdant valleys, deep forests, rolling hills, and alpine peaks. It offers a laidback, enjoyable lifestyle that can be affordable, where you’ll be welcomed and well-fed. “The boot” garners top honors in cuisine; prosciutto, parmigiano, pizza, porcini, and pasta…they’re famous because they’re so delizioso. Life here, as with so much of Italy, is relaxed, and there is a history of hospitality that will make you feel at home and help you adapt. A monthly budget for a couple in Basilicata comes to $1,600. Alicante, Spain Alicante is a port city on Spain’s south-eastern Costa Blanca. Home to about 330,000 people, it offers an unbeatable combination of comfortable city living and relaxed country friendliness. Alicante has two distinct rhythms. In the summer, the city transforms into a tourist’s playground where gelato shops spring up on almost every street, vendors walk the beaches selling ice-cold cans of beer, and a myriad of languages bubbles through the streets. Things slow down as the weather grows colder and the tourists head home. Yet winter is entirely pleasant as the temperature rarely drops below 50 F. Most days, the sky remains a crystal clear blue and the wide beaches become yours alone to wander and explore. With an international airport and train station offering high-speed connections to Madrid and beyond, Alicante is a great hub from which to experience Europe. And living here is affordable. A couple can live well in Alicante on $2,390 per month. Porto, Portugal Many European cities have been sought out by expats from the U.S. and Canada in recent years. But what Porto offers is an enchanting combination of Old World charm and First-World convenience wrapped in a consummately affordable and attractive package. The second-largest metropolitan area in Portugal after Lisbon, Porto is located on the Douro River, where it flows into the Atlantic. The city center is home to less than 240,000 people and has a small city’s feel and friendliness. But it’s also a thriving business city with an international airport. For all Porto’s natural and architectural beauty, fine food and wine, and pleasurable pastimes, it’s surprisingly affordable to live here—a monthly budget for a couple runs to $1,550. A cup of coffee in a café is a dollar or less, fresh fruit goes for $1 per pound, and a three-course lunch for two including wine at a mid-range restaurant will cost you just $20. And senior discounts are offered in many museums and other sites of interest. Aix-en-Provence, France Provence inspires retirement dreams with its rolling fields of lavender, sunbaked stone medieval villages tinged with the scent of orange blossoms, lines of stately cypress trees, and daily blue skies—it exudes the essence of beautiful living. Provence is a sweeping area at the center of the Alps-Provence-Cote d’Azur region of south-eastern France, bordering Italy and the glittering waters of the Mediterranean Sea. France’s second largest city, Marseille, is its capital, but visitors tend to gravitate to popular smaller towns, such as Aix-en-Provence—a wildly romantic little city of fountains and medieval streets that was once the Provençal capital. Most visitors are drawn to experience sophisticated pleasures like the opera, ballet, art galleries, and high-class restaurants. But, with a population of 142,000, Aix doesn’t concentrate solely on highbrow culture; it’s also a lively university city. Here, a couple can enjoy a great retirement on $2,695 per month. Valletta, Malta From countryside farmhouses to ancient walled cities and breath-taking coastal pathways to quirky, hidden-gem restaurants, the tiny island nation of Malta has a little something for everyone. At only 122 square miles, making it one of the smallest nations in the European Union, Malta packs a real punch—it’s home to a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and over 155 miles of coastline. And, thanks to its far southern location, the islands benefit from warm weather year-round. Here, the English-speaking population—a legacy of British colonization—makes it easy for North Americans to adjust to life. Malta has been a coveted destination for centuries and Valletta, Malta’s capital city, is an especially desirable location—the European Capital of Culture 2018. With rolling hills reminiscent of San Francisco, Valletta offers incredible views of ships entering and leaving its harbors. Built after The Great Siege of 1565, when the Ottoman Empire tried to capture Malta from the Knights of Saint John, Valetta was chiseled by the knights out of a barren rocky peninsula and lined with steep walls and imposing towers. Dollars can go surprisingly far here, with couples living comfortably on $2,600 per month. The full report can be found here: 5 Places in Europe Where You Can Retire on $35,000 a Year Editor’s Note: Members of the media have permission to republish the article linked above once credit is given to Internationalliving.com Further information, as well as interviews with expert authors for radio, TV or print, is available on request. Photos are also available. For information about InternationalLiving.com content republishing, source material or to book an interview with one of our experts, contact PR Managing Editor, Marita Kelly, +001 667 312 3532, [email protected] Twitter: @inliving Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/International.Living/ About International Living Since 1979, Internationaliving.com has been the leading authority for anyone looking for global retirement or relocation opportunities. Through its monthly magazine and related e-letters, extensive website, podcasts, online bookstore, and events held around the world, InternationalLiving.com provides information and services to help its readers live better, travel farther, have more fun, save more money, and find better business opportunities when they expand their world beyond their own shores. InternationalLiving.com has more than 200 correspondents traveling the globe, investigating the best opportunities for travel, retirement, real estate, and investment.

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#Experience Europe #France #internationalliving.com #Italy #Jenninfer Stevens #La Dolce Vita #Malta #metro Areas #Portugal #real estate #Retire to Europe #Spain #TodayNews

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This football star left his final game at halftime to go to war. He’s one of 10 NC service members we remember. | News & Observer

On the day Bobby Crocker went to war, he was just 18, a star fullback at Raleigh High School — a player so dominant that in his last game he ran for two touchdowns and passed in a third.

But on his last day in Raleigh — Oct. 2, 1943 — he couldn’t suit up. He had been drafted into the Marines, and his train left at halftime. So he sat in the stands, watching his teammates play a game they dedicated to him.

When Crocker stood to go, he boarded a train at Seaboard Station, its platform so close that fans could watch him all the way, standing in silence.

"If the stocky youngster fights as hard as a Marine as he played football," The News & Observer raved, "he will continue to make headlines."

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He did.

Bobby Crocker shown as a fullback for Raleigh High School before dying in World War II

Courtesy of Susan Crocker

Crocker died nine months later after being wounded on a transport near the Marshall Islands. In a letter home to his parents, typed by a friend three days before his death, Crocker described his injury as a "slight mishap" and asked if his brother Bill was still fooling with the girls.

"I notice in the last picture from him, he was sporting a new zoot suit," wrote the teen. "Is Betty still as pretty as she was when I left? … I believe if we can get rid of Germany in the next few months, I will probably be eating turkey with you next Christmas."

This Memorial Day, we highlight the lives of 10 service members from the Triangle: soldiers and Marines who fell in wars Americans fought with Germans, Japanese, Vietnamese, Iraqis and each other.

Their conflicts span a century and their battlegrounds circle the globe. Some died suddenly and young. Some carried scars into old age. And like Crocker, who rests in Raleigh’s Oakwood Cemetery, they share a fight to be remembered.

Lori Anne Privette

At 5-foot-1, Lori Anne Privette almost looked too short to be a Marine. Friends sometimes teased about her uniform, in which she could pass for a kid playing dress-up.

Related stories from Raleigh News & Observer

Memorial Day brings names in stone – and in memory

Former POW Lt. Bill Tschudy recalls captivity in Vietnam on anniversary of his freedom

These heroic dogs save lives. Here’s how a former combat medic is honoring them.

Staff Sgt. Lori A. Privette, a Marine, died in a training accident in 2004 when a Huey helicopter crashed in Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Courtesy of Dawn Privette

But as a staff sergeant, Privette regularly trained Marines who stood a foot taller, dressing them down with authority that made nobody snicker.

She joined the military right out of Smithfield-Selma High School, and as a Marine, she served on 130 missions in Iraq — 30 of them under fire. Then in 2004, on a training mission outside Camp Pendleton in California, her helicopter flew into a power line and crashed in a canyon. Privette died just short of her 28th birthday.

Back home in Johnston County, her family started a small garden in her memory, asking for bulbs and seeds rather than cut flowers for a funeral. So many donations arrived from around the world that the blooms covered half a football field. More than 120 people came to help plant them.

Grave Location: Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego; memorial tablet in Oakwood Cemetery, 701 Oakwood Ave., Raleigh.

Jesse Broyles served in the Marines during World War II. From 1963 to 1981, Broyles became known as the Peanut Man, selling peanuts on Capitol Square as flocks of pigeons flew near him.

1968 News & Observer File Photo

Jesse Broyles

Whatever happened to Jesse Broyles on Iwo Jima, he spoke very little about it. After his stint in the Marines during World War II, Broyles hardly talked to anyone, retreating into decades of solitude.

When he finally emerged after years of nightmares, Broyles was nearing old age, and he took on a new identity at the State Capitol that any gray-haired Raleigh native will remember: The Peanut Man, friend to the pigeons.

From 1963 to 1981, Broyles sold peanuts on Capitol Square as flocks of urban birds perched on his shoulders. He sat through rain and sleet without complaint. "I used to be a Marine," he reminded people.

Broyles named his feathered companions downtown. Speck, for instance. And he noted that the legislators darting around the Capitol never tossed a nut to a pigeon, eating the whole bag for themselves.

Broyles lived to be 104, dying in 2003 — six decades after he left the battlefield. He found peace on a park bench and kinship among creatures nobody bothers to love.

Grave location: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh

Read More

Past Times: Memories of the Peanut Man in Raleigh

Vernon Haywood, a Tuskegee Airman during World War II, became one of the first African-Americans to fly jet aircraft.

Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson, Ariz.

Vernon Haywood

As a boy in Southeast Raleigh, Vernon Haywood once stared at a blimp flying over his house, deciding that it looked like a lit-up sausage with windows.

Flight so fascinated him from that day on that he regularly walked 7 miles to the Fayetteville Street air strip just to watch the planes refuel.

As a Tuskegee Airman, he flew 70 combat missions over Europe in World War II, protecting B-17 bombers and never losing one of them to enemy fire. He served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars, always fighting racial barriers that considered blacks unfit to fly.

By the time he retired with a chest full of medals, speaking to high school students in Raleigh with silver hair and hearing loss, he was often asked how his life as a Tuskegee Airman compared to the 1995 TV movie version starring Laurence Fishburne and Cuba Gooding Jr. In 1943, would anyone mistake him for Fishburne?

"It was pretty close," he explained. "But they had to jazz it up a little bit."

When he died in 2003 at 82, the boy from segregated Walnut Terrace ranked as one of the most celebrated fighter pilots in history.

Grave location: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.

Civil War history buff Charles Purser, photographed in 2007, shows a headstone where a Union soldier is buried, even though the marker indicates a confederate soldier, John O. Dobson is there. The actual person is John O. Dolson, and his monument has been replaced.

Chris Seward [email protected]

John Dolson

In 1863, a Minnesota farm boy named John O. Dolson took a bullet at Gettysburg and died slowly in a military hospital, perishing to the sounds of screams.

As a last indignity, officials there recorded his death with a string of errors, misspelling his name, mistaking his unit and sending him to Raleigh as John O. Dobson – a Yankee buried in a Confederate cemetery.

More than a century passed before Charles Purser, a history sleuth, discovered the mistake through burial records and muster rolls, finally learning the story of the young man buried far from home. He arranged for Dolson’s proper burial, where his name was finally spoken aloud.

Today, Dolson’s grave has a rounded top rather than the pointed variety given Confederates. It stands out in a field of white stones, made special by its solitude.

Grave location: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh

Myrtle Mills Hilton, stenographer for the OSS, and Japanese Gen. Hideki Tojo. Hilton recorded his war crimes trial after World War II.

N.C. Archives

Myrtle Mills Hilton

Myrtle Mills Hilton carried a notepad, not a gun. But as a stenographer for the OSS, the spy agency that preceded the CIA, she scribbled down notes to some of history’s most terrible chapters, rubbing shoulders with the era’s most infamous characters.

She was born to a prominent Raleigh family and graduated from the school that became William Peace University. She traveled to Germany for the Nuremberg trials, helping to prosecute former Nazis. Shortly afterward, she followed the war to Japan, taking notes on the trial of Hideki Tojo for his role in planning the Pearl Harbor attacks.

She grew famously close with the Japanese general, bringing him candy bars from the Army PX. Decades later Tojo was hung for war crimes and Hilton’s friends in Raleigh still called her the "candy lady."

Grave location: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh

Marine Staff Sgt. Curtis Baggett won the Navy Cross, posthumously, for service in Vietnam.

Curtis Baggett

As a 31-year-old staff sergeant, Curtis Baggett led his men into machine gun, mortar and rocket fire carrying only a .45-caliber pistol.

In 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War, his Marine unit stood outnumbered in the village of Phong Luc. Using his pistol, the Raleigh native managed to overrun the enemy position and capture one of the machine guns. As his men kept inside a tree line with the confiscated machine gun, Baggett moved to the rear of an enemy trench, exposed and vulnerable until a rocket hit him in the chest.

His name appears on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C., and on tribute sites from men who served with him, describing him as a great guy. After his death on Feb. 6, 1968, he won the Navy Cross, second only to the Medal of Honor.

Grave location: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh

A 1940s photo of Hubert Poole at Montford Point, a segregated training base that operated outside Camp Lejeune.

Courtesy of Poole Family

Hubert Poole

Hubert Poole could never be sure if the harshness of his training stemmed from being black in 1943 or just Semper Fi toughness.

But at Montford Point, the segregated training ground outside Camp Lejeune, he grew into a better version of himself.

"It taught me that you’re not going to have things the way you want them all the time," he told the N&O in 2003. "You have to improvise, do hard thinking and pray."

As one of the first black Marines, Poole held no bitterness in his heart, even though he wasn’t allowed to fight at Guadalcanal or Guam in World War II and could only load ammunition, and who returned to Raleigh in uniform to be sent to the back doors of restaurants.

He became a notoriously tough social studies teacher and a must-get endorsement in Democratic Party politics. As the world changed around him, he kept improvising, thinking hard and praying — always a Marine.

Grave location: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh

William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison, unrelated to the ninth U.S. president, fought in both the Mexican and Civil wars. But his most memorable act came while serving as Raleigh’s mayor in 1865, when he helped save the city from destruction.

With Gen. William T. Sherman’s army at the edge of the city, and with other Southern cities in ruin, Harrison had hoped that the Capitol would be spared. He rode out in the pouring rain to meet the federals, surrendering on the condition that Raleigh’s residents and property be protected.

No warm feelings awaited. A Confederate lieutenant from Texas took a shot at an advancing Union general, and he was quickly hanged. But Harrison helped guarantee Raleigh would not suffer the fate of Columbia, S.C., its ransacked neighbor to the south.

Grave location: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh

Everitt Briggs died as a prisoner in Burma during World War II. A plane carrying his remains crashed and has never been found.

Everitt Briggs Jr.

In Oakwoood Cemetery, Everitt Briggs Jr. has the unfortunate nickname as "The Man Who Died Twice."

Briggs, a football player and Sigma Nu fraternity brother at UNC-Chapel Hill, volunteered for the Army Air Force on the day after Pearl Harbor. His service took him to India, where he flew a P-51 fighter over Burma and got shot down in 1943.

Briggs died in Rangoon, still a POW. Then, once the war had ended, a plane crashed while bringing back his remains, its location still uncertain.

After seven decades, Briggs waits to come home.

Grave location: Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh

The Tar Heel Detachment 733 of the Marine Corps League Department of North Carolina hosted a wreath-laying ceremony Memorial Day morning to honor all veterans at the War Memorial on the north lawn of the State Capitol. Travis [email protected]

Josh Shaffer: 919-829-4818, @joshshaffer08

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