How Air Travel Has Changed

Showing my age here, but when I was young flying was expensive and for people who had more money than we did. My husband and his family went for a visit to England (his mother was British) on a ship rather than an airplane. Flight attendants (everyone called them stewardesses then, and they were all female at that time) had stringent rules about attire and weight.

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But times change (thank goodness), and over the years the attire (and sex and some of the rules) for flight attendants have changed. Here's a video of flight attendant uniforms through the years.

Have a great day!

Myrna

Tiny Houses 2016

I know we've discussed tiny houses here before, but it's been a long time. Recently, one came down my street (I believe the owners were relatives of a neighbor, but I don't know that neighbor well enough to ask nosy questions). I suppose that while many tiny house owners treat them as full-time houses, others use them the way RV owners do. And since they're becoming a bit more common and accepted, I thought I'd look into things a bit.

The wheels are essential for moving the house around, so that's definitely a feature most houses don't have.

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Owners of tiny houses have unique requirements. If you're traveling with one, you have to be aware of bridge heights, how to access utilities and where you can park one. Here are a couple of sites that address those issues:

https://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/tiny-house-lifestyle/5-tips-for-tiny-house-travel/

https://www.tinyhomebuilders.com/faq

The ones below are in a vacation area and are (I'm assuming) rented out as cottages (the kinds of buidings that I've seen for years in northern Wisconsin,). Technically, they're not part of the tiny house movement, but I've included them just because they're so bright and pretty.

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More realities on tiny house living:

http://www.popsugar.com/home/What-Really-Like-Live-Tiny-House-41739508

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/smartertravel/what-its-really-like-to-l_b_9159640.html

I'm always fascinated to see how the interiors come together, as in this video:

Here are some really interesting ones. 

I don't think I would like to live in a tiny house, but vacationing in one could be fun and interesting.

Have a great day!

Myrna

Pinball Obsession

In my house, we're pinball fans. We're from Chicago, once the pinball manufacturing capital of the world, both of us grew up when pinball was in its glory days (and inexpensive), and we've had a few awesome pinball experiences, like the time we went camping in Smoky Mountain National Park during the gas shortage of the 1970's. After a few days of hiking and camping without access to showers, we decided to pay a visit to Gatlinburg to find a hotel room.

We were in luck. The gas shortage meant that many people weren't traveling, hotels were bargain basement cheap and...at the time, Gatlinburg, a tourist town, had tons of establishments with old pinball machines (and like the hotels, they were uber cheap). We had a good time. Of late, however, pinball machines are scarce. They've been replaced by other types of games. 

But there are still some great places to play. Here's a map of the U.S. with a pinball roadtrip in mind (at the bottom, there is an interactive map).

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And here's a worldwide pinball map where pinball users keep track of the locations of various pinball machines.

But even if you're not a pinball fan, you might find this video interesting. Apparently, there was a time when pinball was illegal in New York.

If you're not into pinball, what types of games (or sports) do you like to play? Cards? Board games? Athletics? It's all good.

Have a great day!

Myrna

Mural Art and the Walldogs

Recently I was in Delavan, Wisconsin during the week when the Walldogs were there. If you're wondering what Walldogs are, historically (dating back to around the 1880's, I believe) they were (are?) people who paint signs or advertising on buildings or barns. Coca Cola famously began hiring artists to pay businesses to let them paint advertising on their buildings beginning around 1895 and continuing through the mid-twentieth century.

The trend gave way to other types of advertising, but in recent years this type of mural painting has returned and become a movement. From my somewhat limited perspective (this was my first time to see these), the Walldog experience is something that brings a community together, attracts tourists, and is simply fun. The Walldogs spend several days in a town, and at the end of the week, there are all these awesome murals which remain for people to enjoy (these days they're not about advertising, and from what I could see, they're more about commemorating the history and highlights of the town.

Delavan, Wisconsin is known for numerous things. It has a lovely lake, There are six Frank Lloyd Wright houses and a boathouse on the lake there, and there are many vacation homes. But (besides the lake and vacation fun) two things that Delavan is probably most noted for is The Wisconsin School for the Deaf (founded in 1852) and circus history.

Between 1847 and 1894 circus performers from over 26 circuses called Delavan their winter quarters (the pastures and water available there were good for the circuses' most valuable assets, their horses and other animals). The P.T. Barnum Circus, known as The Greatest Show on Earth was founded here in 1871. There are several colorful statues of circus animals in the middle of the town to commemorate this bit of history, so when the Walldogs came to town, it was clear that at least one mural would be circus-oriented.  But there was more, as you can see from these few photos we managed to take.

There were a number of others we didn't get to see (there were a total of 18 murals, and we had to leave early, so we didn't get to see the completed projects, either), but we'll be back another day. They're going to add a clear finish to them to make them last, and I've been told that with luck, they'll be good for 25 years. In the meantime, here's a link to an image gallery with more of the process and the completed murals. We spoke with people who have become Walldog painters (whole families are involved) and it looks like fun!

Here's a video of some of the artists at work:

And here's the Walldogs site where you can read more about the movement, find out how to get the Walldogs to come to your town, and locate some of the other places they've been where the murals are still there for people to enjoy.


Right now I have an urge to visit more of the towns where the Walldogs have left their mark.

New York Vs. London, Fiction-wise

The Fairmont Hotels has posted an infographic comparing London and New York locations that have appeared in fiction, as well as some other interesting comparatives (number of restaurants, bars, museums, film festivals, theatres and so on). It certainly makes me want to put my traveling shoes on. Take a look.

Produced by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

American and Australian Words

As someone pointed out in the comments section of this video, the Australian terms are pretty much the same ones a person would hear in England. Another person felt that the man in the video was using incorrect terminology (their explanation was that he was using lower class versus structured English). I don't know if that's true, but they're such a cute couple, and I enjoyed the fun.

If anyone wishes to add any corrections (or chime in on whether these are correct or not), that would be awesome.

Have a fantastic day!

Myrna

Travel Via YouTube

Summer is coming, but I'm not going to be able to go anywhere for awhile. Fortunately, there's YouTube and armchair travel. Today I visited Machu Picchu via this awesome supercut by Devin Supertramp:

And a trip to Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland by the always dependable Rick Steves:

Lastly, Arches National Park in Utah is one of our favorite places, but since I haven't been there for awhile, here's an awesome video by Ian Boyd.

An Aerial Tribute to Arches National Park from Ian Boyd on Vimeo.

Happy Traveling!

Myrna

Up for a Trip to Europe, Anyone?

This awesome video shows flight patterns over Europe.

Europe 24 from NATS on Vimeo.

I'm not planning a trip any time soon, but I do love fun luggage tags.

From Travelsmith

Also, here's a panorama of Paris with Yves Montand singing "Sous le Ciel de Paris." 

Enjoy your travels even if it's only armchair traveling with a good book!

Myrna 

It's Snowing Here. I Wouldn't Mind a Trip to Liguria

Liguria is a coastal region of Italy (northwest). It's where pesto originated, specializing in flowers, wine and olive oil, it also has fabulous beaches. (Flowers, beaches and wine? I'm ready to pack my bags).

Source:  Konrad Jagodzinski

Here's a video that might tempt you if you aren't already tempted. It's called Little Liguria (I'm assuming the title is due to the film process that makes everything look small).

Little Liguria from Filippo Rivetti on Vimeo.

Here's one more time lapse of Liguria (a completely different tone from the last but also beautiful).

Dinner (or Marriage or More) in the Sky

Let's suppose that you had a lot of money. Would you be interested in Dinner in the Sky? It's been around for several (or more) years, and if you haven't already heard of it, the concept is that a crane hoists diners and staff into the air, usually in very scenic areas. (There's also Marriage in the Sky and Showbizz in the Sky, which may feature other adjacent platforms with performers or the bridal party). I'll admit that I'm fascinated by the concept and the fact that it must be a monumental experience to see Paris, for instance, from a viewpoint that no one else has, but despite a number of climbs to mountain peaks where my feet are on steep and rocky, but solid ground, I'm not usually fond of heights. I'm not sure I could do this without hyperventilating.

Image of a dinner over Edinburgh by Graeme Pow

The video below offers a bit of an explanation of what this experience is about. Dinner in the Sky began in Belgium but has now spread around the world. And they appear to expanding into even more venues. A visit to the website (link above) reveals Golf in the Sky, Theater in the Sky and more. 

And a wedding

Would this be on your bucket list if you had the money?

Taking a Trip to Disneyland?

I've been to Disney World (once) but never to Disneyland. I'm more of a camper, hiker, nature and landscape nut, but I have friends and acquaintances who live for the Disney experience (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration. They just love doing all things Disney).

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So I'm not the best person to give advice on going to Disneyland. Fortunately, there are people on the internet who know what they're talking about. Here's a video that tells you some of the secrets of Disneyland so you can be a pro when you go there.

You Can Take the Teacher Out of the Classroom, But Sometimes...

...you just can't take the classroom out of the teacher. Or...something like that. The truth is that as much as I love writing and romance and brainstorming and letting my mind wander through imagination land (yes, that's a real place, I'm sure of it), sometimes I just get super-nerdy and hung up on cool facts. Ok, it happens more often than sometimes. It happens a lot. And I totally apologize for that. But I hope you'll bear with me, because most of the time I keep all that stuff off the blog. Except for now and then. Most notably when C.G.P. Grey comes out with a new video.

This one is titled How Many Countries Are There? I really had no clue, and I was surprised how complicated the answer was.

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See what you think. 

On the Way to a Wedding: Paris to New York

Casey Neistat left Paris Saturday morning for a friend's wedding that was being held at 4PM that same day in New York. This charming video takes you on his journey (there's a bit of language, just so you know). Enjoy (love the music, too). I won't give away the ending, but let me just tell you that in the same situation, I wouldn't have made it.

If You Don't Have the Time to Travel to California...

I've been to California quite a few times. It's a big, beautiful state filled with amazing scenery and lots of national and state parks. There are redwood trees, mountains, lakes, unusual lakes (Mono Lake?), wine country, Disneyland and the ocean, of course. A person could travel to California many times and still find something interesting or beautiful and new each time.

But not everyone has the time or money to be able to get there. In that case, this video of a road trip between San Francisco and Los Angeles is a good if brief introduction to some of the more populated areas.

Fun in Bar Harbor, Maine - Part 1

I'm sure I've mentioned that I love Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park in Maine. In part that's sentimental. I first visited there many years ago as a young, footloose camper/adventurer, and the place won my heart. But it's also truly a beautiful piece of America, perched on the coast of Maine (according to Acadia Magic, Cadillac Mountain--1,530 feet tall--is the first place to view sunrise in the United States October 7th through March 6th when the sun rises farther to the south). There's something for everyone here. You don't have to love seafood, although there's plenty of that if you enjoy it. And you don't have to enjoy sailing or cruising, although you can do that, too (whale watch tours and dinner cruises are among some of the choices).

The air is clean; the rugged, rocky shoreline and the mountains are beautiful. There are lighthouses and lobster fisherman, hiking, biking, gardens, history, museums, and 57 miles of carriage trails where no cars are allowed but walkers, runners, bikers, horseback riders and carriages are. If none of that suits you, there's always shopping in Bar Harbor (if you like shopping--not much of a shopper myself) and looking at the stars. You can climb mountains the easy way (driving, walking up the smaller ones) or the hard way (several of the trails, especially Precipice Trail, access the summits via a series of ladders pounded into the face of the rock). And despite the fact that it's a very popular place, there are plenty of secluded spots where a person can just sit back and enjoy the glorious view.

Here are a few images from the trip:

Just enjoying my view of the shoreline

Trying not to get my feet wet crossing over the rocks

Jordan Pond - you can hike around it, or climb the bubbles (the two peaks visible at the end of the lake) or enjoy scones and tea on the lawn. We've done the hiking and climbing but haven't had tea there yet. 

We hiked a trail around a smaller pond (this was supposed to be a short hike of just over a mile, but most of the trail was heavily covered in roots, so it took a bit longer than anticipated. At the end, we were rewarded with this lovely little waterfall, and the way back was over these split rail planks).

We had a nice view of Frenchman's Bay from our balcony where we could watch the cruise ships come in.

As always, I loved it there. And early September when things begin to wind down before winter is a great time to visit.

Acadia National Park, One of My Favorite Places

A little more than a week ago, we took off for the east coast and a trip to Bar Harbor Maine and Acadia National Park. I've been there many times, but it never gets old. I find something new every single time. (More about that in another post). For today, here's a catch-all video that will give you a taste of what Acadia is like.

Sunsets in Michigan

While we were in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, we tried to get some sunset shots.

But nature didn't always cooperate. One day the sunset wasn't much to look at, but we saw a large family of ducks instead. (They look as if they're going on a field trip).

If You Come to Chicago...Fashion in Art and...

The city of Chicago has many fine museums. Today, let's look at two of them which have fashion-related displays.

The Art Institute of Chicago currently has an exhibition on Fashion in Impressionism (and if you can't get here, visit the website for a bit more).

The Chicago History Museum has the second largest costume collection in the world. They also have other fine exhibits and a wonderful research center. 

Here's an (older) video on the museum's costume collection:

The Lake was...Pink!

If you live in Australia, you probably already know about Lake Hillier, but if you don't, then you may be wondering (as I was) what would make a lake turn pink. Here's the explanation.

Art in Borgloon (Belgium)

I was thumbing through an architecture magazine the other day and came across a photo of this structure.

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Another view

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The sculpture, shaped like a church (which exists a short and visible distance away) is titled "Reading Between the Lines" because it's made from layers of steel which, depending on the angle one is viewing it from, make it appear to be a solid mass or a structure one can see through. It is apparently situated in (or near?) an orchard, and you can view some other beautiful images of the structure at this site (the view looking up into the ceiling is stunning). 

Here is a very brief video of the structure being built (no audio):

If you'd like to see an image of the structure with its real-life church in the distance, there's an excellent article with images here. 

It's located in rural Borgloon in the Limburg region of Belgium, and this is also in the vicinity.

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And this:

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All of these are part of the Z33 Art Centre's Art in the Public Space program.

The structures below, the work of Dré Wapenaar, are tree tents where you can spend the night.

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I believe that the duck (below) has been deflated (not positive about that). Still, there appears to be lots of fun art in the area. I think I may have to add something new to my bucket list.

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