Holy water may be blessed, but don’t carry it on the pope’s plane: The pope says so

by Jamie Rhein on

A friend of mine told me this summer about how his small jar of apple butter was confiscated at the TSA security check. He was hoping to bring it from Minnesota back to Montana..

Another person recently told me that the snow globe she was bringing back as a souvenir from her vacation to California this summer was also confiscated by TSA. Unfortunately, she read the post about snow globes not being okay in a carry on after she lost her treasure.

Turns out, there is something else to think about when you pack. If you have holy water on you, even if it is blessed by the pope, better be safe and tuck it into your checked bag–particularly if you are traveling with the pope on his plane. Put it in your carry on and it might be confiscated.

Pope Benedict XVI, recognizing the hazards of holy water in a carry-on, is warning people that even the smallest amount could be a problem reports this Reuters article. Pope Benedict was specifically referring to people traveling with him to Lourdes, France from September 12-15.

People travel to Lourdes on a pilgrimage to see the spot where the Virgin Mary appeared to a peasant girl in 1858. Picking up holy water as a souvenir is part of the occasion.

Like the pope, Air France has warned against bringing holy water onto the papal plane as well.

As for other airlines, other planes, and other occasions where you may be bringing holy water home with you, I’d pack it in a checked bag, or take your chances with a bottle if it’s no more than 3-ounces.

But, remember the apple butter and the snow globe and those half empty bottles of bottled water dumped into the trash by TSA. There’s no telling what might happen when you hoist that carry-on onto the conveyor belt that passes through an X-Ray machine.

10 tips for smarter flying


Outdoor theater production in China blends modern with traditional cultural art forms

by Jamie Rhein on

China’s blend of art traditions, mixing the modern with the traditional, and the secular with the religious, is quite evident in the production of “Zen Shaolin” that is being shown at an outdoor theater in Henan Province.

From what I read in the New York Times article about the production, for anyone heading to China, or who is in China now, I’d take this in if I had the chance. Earlier today, I posted a video of the production of Swan Lake by the Guangdong Acrobatics Troupe of China. Multiply that several times, and you might come close to what I imagine “Zen Shaolin” must be like.

“Zen Shaolin” has a cast of 500 people, for example, and was created by Tan Dun, the guy who composed the music to “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.”

How big is the backstage, I wonder? Along with the cast of hundreds, the backdrop is a valley in the mountains near Shaolin Temple. How cool is that?

The set is elaborate as to not be dwarfed by the surroundings, and from the description of the storyline, the production blends ancient Chinese tales, martial arts, Zen Buddhism and modern day sensibilities.

One of the reasons for the creation of this outdoor theater production is to bring tourists to the area. There have been 300,000 who have come so far. Just another version of the story “If you build it they will come.” That is if you have a good idea and the timing is right.

In the case of “Zen Shaolin,” I’d say it sounds like pay dirt. (For more photos, check out the NY Times slide show)

Football season: Big Ten football towns. Kick-off weekend things to do with team spirit

by Jamie Rhein on

Until I moved to Columbus and close to The Ohio State University, I didn’t fully understand football season. Now I do.

If you live in a town with one of the Big Ten Universities, you can’t help but notice when football season starts, even if you are fuzzy on the details of how the game is played. On a Saturday when the Buckeyes are in town, I keep that in mind. Can you say traffic jam?

Still there are advantages of living in a Big Ten town. The team name offers an identity that’s fun to join in, no matter your background. It ties people together. If you live in central Ohio, you’re automatically part of the OSU gang. Put on an OSU T-shirt and people know where you’re from. Even I own a Buckeye T-shirt.

Because this weekend marks the start of the fall football season, here’s a mini guide to the Big Ten teams. If you happen to be traveling through one of these cities or towns this fall, these details may help put you in the football know.

(There are actually 11 Big Ten Universities. For an explanation of what makes a Big Ten, click here.)

These are listed in alphabetical order. Each listing includes places that caught my fancy when I was looking through the Web sites.

1. Indiana University: Bloomington, Indiana: Team name–The Hoosiers- Place to eat on game day: Coaches Bar &Grill . Insider place to see on the campus BESIDES the football stadium: Hoagy Carmichael Room. Carmichael attended the university and his contributions to music are found here. Tailgate Party Location: Hoosier Village

2. The Ohio State University: (OSU): Columbus, Ohio: Team name–The Buckeyes. Place to eat on game day: Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe. Must see place on the campus BESIDES the football stadium. The Wexner Center for the Arts: Upcoming major attraction: Andy Warhol: Other Voices, Other Rooms.

3. Michigan State University: East Lansing, Michigan Team name: Spartans— Place to eat on game day: Spartan Sports Den Bar&Grill. Cool Sounding Place that deserves a shout out: Clarence E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum

4. Northwestern University: Evanston, Illinois. Team name: Wildcats. Place to Eat: This page from the Chowhound offers suggestions. Unusual Thing to Do: Paint the Rock that graces the campus.

5. Pennsylvania State University: State College, Pennsylvania. Team name: Nittany Lions Place to eat that’s a town landmark: The Corner Room Not to miss place on campus: The Creamery. Yummy ice-cream and honey butter.

6. Purdue University: West Lafayette, Indiana. Team name: Boilermakers. Thing to do to take in fall colors on campus: Do the Trees of Purdue walking tour.

7. University of Illinois: Urbana, Illinois. Team name: Illini Show your spirit song lyrics. On campus museum that celebrates the world. Spurlock Museum

8. University of Iowa Iowa City, Iowa. Team name: Hawkeyes. Place on campus to show team love: University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame.

9. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Team name: Wolverines Unique way to see the campus. Look for the public art. There is a page with five sections dedicated to outdoor art. I’ve been to Ann Arbor. It’s aesthetically pleasing for sure.

10. University of Minnesota: Twin Cities, Minnesota. Team name: Gophers. Way cool sounding place on campus: Raptor Center. It’s connected with the College of Veterinary Medicine and rehabilitates raptors with the aim to return them to the wild.

11. University of Wisconsin: Madison. Team name: Badgers. Collection on campus after my own heart. Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection, one of the largest university textile collections in the United States.

This link lets you know what majors are each university’s specialty.

Plano, Texas: The most affluent city in the U.S. What’s in it for the traveler?

by Jamie Rhein on

Over at one of our sister blogs, Wallet Pop, Plano, Texas is being touted the most affluent city in the United States.

That Texas! Texas has two of the cities where people have a fighting chance of making the best living.

Plano may have turned into a suburb of Dallas over the years, but there are distinctive Plano-type things to do, even for folks with a more modest income. The city’s official Web site does give reference to spouses which alludes to trips taken by people who head to Plano for business meetings and bring their spouses in tow.

Here are three places I’d go if ever I was in Plano.

  1. The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary– Technically, this attraction is not in Plano, but in McKinney. It is, however, close enough that I’ll included it, otherwise I would not have ended up with three things. Here is where you can learn about Texas’s natural environment through walking trails and indoor exhibits. One permanent exhibit is on Texas’s venomous snakes. Currently, there is a butterfly exhibit that will run through September.
  2. The Heritage Farmstead Museum – An historic Blackland prairie farm that was turned into a museum to highlight life on the Texas prairie back in 1891.
  3. Interurban Railroad Museum– This restored train station is where you can learn about the history of Plano and about the train that used to go between Dennison and Dallas. It’s free, so, what’s the harm in checking it out?

From the extensive attractions list you can surmise that Plano is close to Ft. Worth and Dallas. If you expand the distance you’re willing to travel, you’ll find loads of things to do. I’d go to the Ft. Worth Stockyards National Historic District.

I checked on the Frito-Lay Web site to see if there is a tasting show room or some such thing since Plano is the company’s home. Nope. Didn’t see one.

For more Plano facts, check out Wallet Pop’s post.

Ten top cities in the U.S. for making a living. Tourist spot in each

by Jamie Rhein on

There is a newly published Forbes.com article on the top 10 cities for making a living in the United States. Each has something to offer travelers as well. Here are the top cities and one place to go to in each. These are the first places that immediately came to mind. It’s an odd assortment.

1. Houston, Texas. I’ve been to the Holocaust Museum in Los Angeles and found it incredibly worthwhile and moving. From the description of the Holocaust Museum in Houston, it sounds similar, although there is a section that includes first person accounts of the Holocaust survivors who live in the city.

2. Minneapolis, Minnesota. As I’ve posted before, the outdoor art in Minneapolis is fantastic, particularly, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

3. Boston, Massachusetts. The Freedom Trail that winds through the old part of Boston highlights the important places during the American Revolution. Here’s a tour that looks like a fun way to take it in. When I walked the Freedom Trail in Girl Scouts, we were on our own. I wish we had been on this tour.

4. Washington, D.C. For my next trip to D.C., I’d take Jeremy’s suggestion and head to the Brickskeller, a beer lover’s paradise. Sure, I’d take in the sites, many I’ve seen before, but Jeremy’s post offers something new.

5. New York City When I was sweltering in line in Central Park at the Delacorte Theater, not getting tickets to “Hair,” an experience that I recounted in a recent post, a Danish man and his daughter visiting NYC wanted recommendations on what to see. I suggested Ellis Island. The ferry trip there also swings by Liberty Island for a close look at the Statue of Liberty, and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum is superb.

6. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I’ve only driven through this city, but have plans to visit the Andy Warhol Museum one fine day.

7. San Francisco, California. I must have a thing for taking boats to landmarks. I just love the tour of Alcatraz Island, that includes the famous prison that has been the backdrop for escape stories and intrigue.

8. Dallas, Texas. I went here to attend a cousin’s wedding and picked historic Dealey Plaza, the location of the grassy knoll and the Texas Book Depository, the scene of John F. Kennedy’s assassination, as my must-head-to-before-I-leave-town destination.

9. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It’s not that I am overly fond of beer drinking, but the Miller Brewing Factory tour of is a lot of fun, particularly if there is a polka band involved.

10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Liberty Bell may be just a bell, but there’s something about that crack in it that makes for an icon to see if you can swing it.

To find out why these cities are top notch for making a living, read the article. One hint: It involves money.