Yup, that’s where I’m headed — Portugal! I’m off to the city of seven hills, to
ride the funicular, listen to some fado and meander through the Alfama, Baixa and Barrio Alto neighborhoods. I want to
walk along the Tagus, taste some port wine, learn about the azueljos tiling art and visit the ruins of Castelo de Sao Jorge. I’ve become
familiar with the names of places by thumbing through guidebooks but I’m careful not to read too much. I really just
want to get there and let my visit unfold as it may. Over the next few weeks I’ll teach myself the basics of Portuguese
so I can get by as I roam the streets. I’ll spend a little time learning about Sintra, Cascais and Estoril, since I’d
like to take a daytrip out to one of these nearby locations during my visit. I’ve got a library copy of Jose Saramago’s
Journey to Portugal sitting on my desk, which
I’ll only have time to skim through before I leave. I’ve booked a hostel for my first night, and know I’ll stay in
Lisbon about four days or so when I arrive in mid-February. Visiting in the off-season should make navigating
this historic port city peaceful and easy. (Hopefully!) After that, all I know it that I plan to head south — maybe to
a coastal town along the Algarve, maybe west to the Alentejo, for a visit to Evora…I’m not exactly sure. If you’ve traveled to Lisbon
or southern Portugal, please share your favorite memories and experiences. I’d love to hear from you as I prepare my
journey.
The Internationalist
Developed for and by today’s college student, the Internationalist
magazine is another cool online journal of culture and currents. News and events range from locations all over the
globe and provide the 101 to deep, dusty, long-time debates. Topics include media, environmental affairs, reviews of
global scientific discoveries and research projects and lifestyle, touching on Venezuelan hyean wrestling clubs to
Japanese care facilities. As you can tell there are a number of subjects anyone beyond today’s college student could
get lost in. The website is updated weekly and print editions are available quarterly.
I browsed the
archives for a couple of minutes and found this poetry piece by Kevin Klein about his kid
brother, also a tomb guard in the Arlington Cemetery. To know
someone as close as your brother who performs such a disciplined duty of guarding a tomb of unkonowns has to be
fascinating. I could never imagine my brother doing such. Anyways, Kevin’s poem provides insight of his own feelings as
well as other members of the family. And if you’ve ever had the opportunity to watch the tomb guards in action I’m sure
you were just as intrigued by their absolutely perfect gliding walk across the rubber mat, clicking heels, and spinning
of their bayonets. When I watched I stayed for three shift rotations, waiting for one of them to deeply exhale, cough,
falter, or make a mistake. They never do. I waited, wondering what goes through their minds.
Check out
Kevin’s poetry piece at the Internationalist
or plan your visit the Arlington National Cemetery.
Travel Brochure Graphics
It has been a long long time since I last
mentioned this site, and it never hurts to call out something so cool.
Travel brochure graphics is the brainchild of David Levine, who has
been collecting travel ephemera since 1992. He’s been kind enough to scan much of his collection into digital format
and to post the stuff online for our enjoyment. Just take a minute and peruse the long, long lists of beautifully
illustrated old travel posters and brochures here. This is not only history, but a dose of an evolving art as well.
From Austria and Asia to Yugoslavia, the stuff just goes on and on. And I have to say I kept thinking to
myself how cool it would be to have one or two of these things hanging on my wall. In particular, take a look at some
of the old USSR stuff.
Really neat.
A Look at Aviation in Jamaica
While
some U.S. airlines are shutting down, falling to pieces, and walking the tight rope line to bankruptcy court, other
countries are reflecting on the history of aviation and the fumbling, now forward and continuing growth of their
airlines. For those who give a hoot or enjoy reading lengthy historical pieces on aviation, the Jamaica Gleaner currently features a part
two in their ‘History of Aviation in Jamaica : Wings to Fly’ piece. These small pieces of information may not help you
plan your honeymoon or find great fares on a flight, but you’ll take them and save them for a quiet night at home when
you’re watching Jeopardy. For example, the first successful flight of a Jamaican-built plane did not occur until 1970.
Did you know that? Did you care? From flying in war all the way to commercial air there might be a thing or two to
learn.
Mini Madurodam
Have you heard of this place? Have you SEEN it? Madurodam is Holland’s smallest city, but I’m guessing it has to be one of the
smallest in the world too. Homes, businesses, cars, gardens, windmills and all things Dutch are replicated in minute
detail on a 1:25 scale. It was opened in 1952 as a war monument and charity foundation. This mini amusement park
features more than 700 buildings, bridges, trees and trains that can be seen (in their life-size versions) throughout
the Netherlands — it features monuments, landmarks and public institutions from cities like Utrecht, Rotterdam, The
Haugue and Amsterdam. All this and it’s the first city in the world that runs completely on solar energy! For over 50
years this miniature city has been entertaining guests with its quaint charm and an ongoing series of rotating exhibits
and special events. Coming up next is Magic Ice, a collection of ice sculptures that depict a frozen city of Dutch and
Chinese buildings, which will run through May 7, 2006. If you can only stop in one city in the Netherlands, consider
this one so you can see a mini version of the entire country all in one place. Hope your eyesight is good!