Remembering Lennon

by Erik Olsen on

The thing I remember most as a kid about John Lennon’s assassination in front of the
Dakota Building 1980 was the Time Magazine headline
that took a phrase from Don McLean’s American Pie: The Day the Music Died. Even back then, when I was very
young, Lennon’s death rocked my world. Why would anyone THINK of killing such a great guy, such a talented musician and
devoted proponent of peace? I still won’t say the name of his murderer. I refer to him mostly as “jerk” or other less
palatable names.

I’m hardly alone in my adoration of Lennon, as yesterday’s outpouring of remembrances of him show. Around the globe,
from

Sydney to Turkey to, of course,

Central Park in new York, well-wishers
came out in droves. I was also
interested, but not surprised, to see that
Yoko showed up at the Central Park
vigil. All the news and stories left me feeling really sad about his passing…I wondered to myself, as I have so many
other times, what he’d be doing today if he were still around. I’m sure he’d be making music, but he’d also be a
spokesman against things wrong with the world…perhaps joining Bono

 in the fight to help Africa. I miss him.

One for the Road: Nicholas – The Epic Journey

by Kelly Amabile on

It’s a snowy day here on the East Coast…perfect for curling up with a good book. You may not have this one yet, but
it’s an obvious suggestion for this month, if you’re the Christmas celebrating type. Why not go shopping online in your
pj’s today and pick up this fascinating holiday history lesson? In
Nicholas: The Epic
Journey from Saint to Santa Claus, author Jeremy Seal charts the story of Ole Saint Nick in a biographical
travelogue through the centuries. From sainthood to sleighrides, Seal travels from Turkey to Lapland to tell the story
of Santa Clause. The New York Times wrote a
review
you can check out too.

Olvera Street

by Adrienne Wilson on

Some of
my favorite childhood memories always send me back to the cobble-stone walkways in the colorful village on Olvera Street filled with shops and scents drifting
from a Mexican restaurant or two tucked inside. Comprised of 27 historic buildings and a traditional Mexican plaza area
a trip to this part of Los Angeles, truly feels like a small trip out of the city. (A breath of fresh air when living in
a city like L.A.) Whether the family was heading there only for a bite of authentic Mexican food or to experience a
fiesta taking place, Olvera Street holds a special place in my mind. Although this was some time ago, the area has
continued to provide a unique historical experience for visitors and residents alike.

Las Angelitas, El Pueblo’s docent organization gives free
tours to groups Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10AM – 12PM. Brochures with information on all the historic buildings
can be used for self-guided tours, where with the right amount of time you’ll be able to stroll into tiny shops for
Mexican wares similar to those found in old Mexico. If you’re there for the food and the food only, have a bite for me.
Specifically the taquitos and extra guacamole. Please.

Olvera Street is only a stone’s throw away from Union
Station, La Placita Church, and one block from Chinatown.

National Park Digital Guide

by Erik Olsen on

Being such a passionate fan of our country’s National Parks, I am always very psyched to see when something cool is
available to help the park’s visitor get to know them better. And so when I stumbled upon this
new National Park Digital
Guide, I figured it was a great thing to post about. I would’ve done this for the gadling Gift Guide yesterday, but
darnit, I only just now found the link.

The guide is made by the good folks at Maptech, and features extensive maps and information about 54 national parks.
The info here can help you plan out your next trip and even make arrangements for lodging and camping. Also for
science-oriented travelers, there’s lots of data on flora and fauna, geology and history, very nice stuff accompanied
by images and drawings of the parks. Pretty cool.

One for the Road: Imperial Grunts

by Kelly Amabile on

I mention this book simply because the New York
Times review I read about it peaked my interest. David Lipsky is critical of Robert Kaplan’s
Imperial Grunts,
but other reviews praise his account of traveling with Army Special Forces in Afganistan and the Phillippines. Readers
are going to have varied opinions on the details layed out in this 450-page monster, but I wanted to mention it
specifically because of the language used by Lipsky in his review, in which he claims Kaplan’s book is part of a a new
genre of what he calls anti-travel books: “They make you want to cancel airline reservations and change the locks.” If
you’re interested in learning more about Lipsky’s perspective on this, read his

review, or get a copy of Kaplan’s book and judge for yourself. You could also start with this
expanded excerpt that appeared in The
Atlantic in October. In the book, veteran correspondant Kaplan (who insists he is a traveler, not a journalist)
travels to seven nations, including Yemen, Colombia and Iraq, to provide an insider account of how US military missions
go down on the ground.