Salem Witch Hunts Revisited

by Adrienne Wilson on

When I was a little girl I was extremely interested in the Salem Witch Hunts. The idea of young
girls my age falling sick with incurable fits in 1692 and later being outcast in the
community as witches, completely captured my attention. Later on in high school, when my thoughts had been
taken away from the subject I met a girl who practiced witchcraft - white and black magic. She was your
average looking girl and also a cheerleader which seemed rather strange to me, but a nice girl. She presented me
the chance to let her cast a “good” spell on me, provided I give her a piece of my hair. I kindly refused the
offer. Meeting her did take my mind back to Salem and the said witches that once existed.

And something took my mind back there today. Though I can’t recall what it was I decided to revisit Salem and
how it caught my attention the first time around. Reading about it again still has the same effect, but what
may ultimately fill this desire to learn more is to pay a trip to the
Salem Witch Museum. The museum gives visitors a highly
dramatic overview of the witch hunts and the townspeople who were imprisoned by the superstitious Puritans. One of
their latest exhibits explores modern witchcraft and the stereotypical witch. This is something I’d really love to
check out. In the meantime other curious minds can visit the museum’s web site or
National Geographic, which has an
awesome interactive piece that really sets a spine-chilling mood.

Happy witch hunting and broom travels.

Hanging with Polar Bears

by Erik Olsen on

For all those who didn’t get their fill of winter, you might check out
Chris Moss’
account of a boat trip WAY up high into the Norwegian Arctic. There, he heads to the Svalbard archipelago and
encounters not only the bleak whiteness of the region, but also catches a glimpse of some of the local fauna, including
the white-furred Arctic fox “a cheeky little scavenger” as well as walruses and monster polar bears, who catch whiff of
the passers-by and needless to say contemplate a little human hors d oeurve. Moss captures the spirit of the place
nicely, and peppers the piece with fascinating hiistory, including notes on his visit to Smeerenburg or “blubber town”,
where blubber ovens and whale bones are scattered like refuse over the landscape.

The Whale Hunters

by Erik Olsen on

Regardless of what you think about the ancient tradition of hunting whales, you have to admit that it’s an
impressive feat worthy of a Hemingway novel. Of course, Papa never wrote about this act of man v. beast, but in a
classic and superb Outside Magazine article Perfect
Storm author Sebastian Junger tries to do it justice. (Hey, what’s Junger up to these days, anyway? haven’t heard
from him in a while.)

He travels to Bequia, one of 32 islands that make up the southern Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
where grizzled men pursue humpbacks as part of a centuries-old tradition. You will read the story of
Ollivierre, who, unlike his kindred spirits in places like Greenland, Alaska, and
Siberia, takes down whales the old fashioned way: using a sailboat and a hand-thrown harpoon.

Again, you may find the idea of killing harmless cetaceans repulsive and anachronistic (I do), but if you read this
story, you will at the very least find a modicum of respect for Ollivierre, who
heads out to sea to take on the earth’s largest animal with nothing but guts and simple tools.

Museum of Stripping

by Erik Olsen on

It may be a leap to think of strippers as artists, but Dixie Evans, the curator and director of the
Burlesque Hall of Fame, doesn’t think so. In fact, she’s built an
entire museum to prove it. Yup, a few miles from Barstow sits her museum dedicated to the art and business of
stripping.

The museum is loaded with stripping artifacts, including sexy photos, G-strings, elaborate costumes, boas, and, one
would guess, a few metal poles. Her point is that we should celebrate stripping as an art form, a means of personal
expression, a viable and efficient dollar bill redistribution mechanism. And perhaps it is. I’ve seen…um, I mean a
friend has told me…that some women perform genuine acts of choreographed beauty on stage. Sadly, some of the more
impressive acts in the history of stripping – i.e. the famous ping pong ball routine developed in Bangkok, will most
likely not be a part of the exhibit.

This might be an interesting, and titillating, experience for those who happen (God forbid) to be traveling to
Barstow.

Krakow’s Salt Mines

by Adrienne Wilson on

Salt mines might not ring a sound for an exciting stop on your next vacation, but the mines
found in Krakow are by all means worth a visit.  I’ve been to a salt
mine or two before in Romania, but they didn’t look anything like the ones found in this CNN piece. The
Wieliczka Salt Mines in
Poland are only a stones throw away from Krakow and it’s more like an underground city than anything. Not too
long ago the mines used to be a station for Nazi’s manufacturing aircraft parts, but these days it is used for
banquets, weddings, and conferences.

Galleries, chambers, lakes, murals, and ballrooms can all be found in the seven century old mine with extremely
unique designs. So unique that the mines have been protected by UNESCO since 1978 and nicely funded. Dazzling
chandeliers and figurines also made of salt crystals can be found nestled into the ceilings and the walls of
the mines.