28 February – 10 March 2019
It is impossible to accurately describe Mardi Gras unless you have experienced it with a local.
Mardi Gras is not what I have seen on TV over the years. Well, it probably looks like that down in the renowned French Quarter among the tourists and drunks, but Mardi Gras is definitely not like that in other areas of the city. It still is a crazy experience but not ridiculously crazy.
How did I see Mardi Gras?
(more…)June 23, 2016 Rockin’ and shudderin’ and blowin’ up a storm. Lightening is flashing across the night sky as a tropical storm sweeps in from the southwest over the low country of the Outer Banks here in North Carolina. Thunder rumbles ominously, continuously. I am in a three-story house built Read more
Church steeples of “The Holy City”
16-17 June 2016
First impressions and reactions? It is good to arrive into a relatively small city with reliable GPS and big parking spaces. But what I will remember the most is the sweat dripping down my face. Charleston’s sun is brutal, humidity is high and breezes are minimal in this subtropical climate. My niece will be glad to know that yes, I sweat. (more…)
15 June 2016
Forrest has left his bench.
I thought of Sherman marching to Georgia, the burning of Atlanta, Scarlett fleeing a burning city with Rhett, Kevin Spacey in his garden of good and evil, Forrest, Forrest Gump. I’ve been in Savannah for 36 hours and now think of Spanish moss, subtropical thunderstorms, 1980s music, beer, oysters and pralines. Life is good.
Savannah is a beautiful city of 22 green garden squares, huge trees draped in flowing ribbons of Spanish moss, lots of bars and restaurants, a cool river walk, and blocks and blocks of gorgeous architecture. In my time here, I have enjoyed… (more…)
9 June 2016
June. Heat. Tropical Storms. Potential hurricanes. High humidity. What was I thinking? I’m a desert sort of girl and though I have lived for years with our west coast fog and its humidity, the 65° temps of home make a huge difference in my comfort zone. However, I picked up my flash red car in Miami and after a nightmare inching and crawling out of town, I now rest in St. Petersburg. And why here? Three words: history, Chihuly, Dali. (more…)
Bat Outta Helles beer along San Antonio’s River Walk
I thought I would like San Antonio more than I did. The Alamo is a “Shrine” here. But across from this martyred plaza where Travis, Crockett and Bowie made their last stand are Ripley’s, Guinness, Coyote Ugly, Tomb Raider, Mirror Maze, and Tussauds. Hop On trolley-style buses, horse drawn carriages and a huge gazebo make this more a Disneyland Main Street than a Tex-Mex city. Canal tour boats and miles of River Walk remind me less of Texas than Pirates of the Caribbean. There is even a 622′ Tower of the Americas, a Seattle Needle knock-off if ever there was one. However, San Antonio is definitely worth a couple days visit. (more…)
Monks Mound, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
On the eastern and western sides of the great Mississippi River, lay two destinations for today’s exploration. Unfortunately, St. Louis lies between. The city skyline is memorable with its famous Gateway Arch and cable-stayed Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, the brick facade of Busch Stadium is admirable, the meandering Mississippi and its plethora of bridges is impressive. But all I see are the twists and turns of expressway interchanges, acres of elevated concrete, swarms of cars and trucks, stop and go and sit and wait traffic. The worst of Chicago or LA rush hour has nothing on St. Louis. (more…)