One for the Road: TR and the River of Doubt

by Erik Olsen on

When I took a trip up the
Amazon years ago, the one thing that really blew me away is how big the sucker is. I mean, there were sections of the
river that were so broad, you could not see the other side. Another thing that amazed me was how dense the jungle is in
certain sections, how desolate and, well, jungly, it is. Not that I didn’t expect there to be jungle and those weird
sounding ooo ooo ooo aaahh jungle bird sounds, but, man, they’re totally real.

As fascinating and unknown as the Amazon is to us now, it was even more so during
Teddy Roosevelt’s time. And the President, man, that guy
had some cojones. I may be wrong, but I believe one of his nicknames was El Cojones. Bush has a similar
nickname, but for a different reason. Anyhow! I came across this new book about Roosevelt’s trip to the Amazon that I
am very eager to read called

River of Doubt. The book examines TR’s epic journey up the river and how it changed his life (for the worse,
actually, becaues he got quite sick during the trip). Also, for more on the subject, NPR
takes a look at the book and what the trip
meant to Roosevelt’s life.

Greenland or Bust

by Erik Olsen on

It’s getting far too cold right now to entertain a destination like
Greenland, but that doesn’t detract from its ultimate allure. I confess
I’ve had Greenland on the mind for several years now, and have long imagined setting up a trip with friends to paddle
there, especially around Kangia fjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the spirit
of great adventures, then, let’s head to Greenland via this fine piece
at MSNBC. 

Greenland, you probably already know is not very green (and the name “whiteland” was already taken by a small band
of extremists in Idaho). But it is the world’s largest island, and as such there is bound to be some tourism there,
albeit not much. Just 30,000 tourists visit Greenland each year, with the bulk going to the city/town/village of
Ilulissat, a word meaning “icebergs” in Greenlandic, a language
you probably never learned in high school….unless you are Inuit.

Well there is a fair amount to do in Greenland…though perhaps not commensurate with its size. In that sense you
might compare it to, say, the moon. But you can still kayak, hike, fish, build an igloo, explore the history of the
place. In short, there’s enough to keep you busy and make you tired so that at night, as you settle down in a warm
place, the Schnapps will taste extra good going down.

Artists of Brücke at MOMA

by Erik Olsen on

The NYC It’s a big weekend here in NYC, what with the marathon here and all. And I’ve had
several friends and aquaintances write and ask me what’s going on. What can they do here in the city for
fun. Well, for the art buffs among them, I will probably send a group to the Museum of Modern Art,
or MOMA.

And so as I was checking out the MOMA site, I came across this very well-done site and
guide to the German Brücke movement. The site
covers its political and artistic ramifications, and delves into the majority of the Brücke
artists’ visual work. The site nicely provides separate branches of information for each artist, and
really delivers a solid survey of what German Expressionism is all about. Some highlights include: a pop-up
political map of Germany with three overlays, voice-over audio files, and Franzi Reclining.

One for the Road: Michelangelo’s Mountain

by Kelly Amabile on

The quarries in Carrara are where Michelangelo used to travel to get the marble he used for his masterpieces. In
Michelangelo’s
Mountain: The Quest for Perfection in the Marble Quarries of Carrera, author Eric Scigliano retraces the journeys
of the renowned artist, focusing on his trips to get marble for famous sculptures such as the Pieta, David and Moses.
The book also tells the tale of Scigliano’s ancestral connections to the quarrymen of the region.  Publisher’s
Weekly notes that the book may be a bit too much historical detail on top of personal story, but it has still
received praise as a captivating read unearthing an original and creative concept. From Kirkus Reviews: “A
lively blend of art history and travelogue….An affectionate, gracefully written portrait of a little-known place that
has suffered much pain to bring the world great beauty.”

Honolulu’s Chinatown

by Adrienne Wilson on

By the time I made it into Chinatown many of the shops had
closed. It was only five o’clock in the afternoon, so I was pretty surprised, but there were a few open
here and there. My two main reasons for going into the historic 15-block area of Oahu was to get my friend a tacky
tee-shirt he requested and also to see if anything major had changed since I had been there five years ago. Chinatown
never really rocked my socks off in the first place and it didn’t do anything differently this second go round. As a
tourist attraction I find the area is most lively when there are events and performances taking place. All of which may
have happened earlier that day, but since I arrived later that afternoon who knows? See the calendar of upcoming events
here.

Touring Chinatown on an everyday basis as a neighborhood spot can have its rewards though. Whether you’re stopping
into the market for fresh veggies and seafood or grabbing a bite to eat in one of the many inexpensive
and delicious food joints you’re bound to find something to tickle your fancy.