No travel advice today. Take a listen to this amazing piece of music by BENSON BOONE - MOMMA! Just click the link.
https://youtu.be/SB69blyX46c?si=aAevZ_6ROemeI8LE
DLStafford
thenomdARCHITECT
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Thursday, May 22, 2025
SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW - GOING PLACES THAT CHANGE YOU
Somewhere Over The Rainbow
This was the first post and official launch of my erudite Travel Blog on March 5, 2011with some updated revisions from
THE NOMAD ARCHITECT
Stop the World, I do NOT want to get off. I am not exactly a techno-geek, so I am sure I have made many technical mistakes putting this thing out there. But, I boldy went where I had never gone before - the blogosphere. The real idea behind this blog is actually twofold: 1) We have done a fair amount of traveling and will be sharing our experiences past, present and future and 2) Here's what makes this blog different - Some people think that where they stay when they travel isn't important, as long as it's clean, has a good bed and good water pressure. Well, if you subscribe to that philosophy, then this blog is probably not for you. I believe that where you stay, the uniqueness of a place and the quality of the environment can actually change your mindset, even your reality of a country, its people and its culture. And I am not just talking about 300 count Egyptian cotton bedsheets! I am talking about places that have a unique architectural and even artistic quality that make traveling transcend the idea of a vacation.
In the interest of full disclosure and in deference to my wife and best friend who has been married to this architect for fifty-two years, I invite you to think about and consider that travel with any architect can be enlightening, interesting and, at times, weird. I have obsessive interest in how things are designed and built. Those obsessions can create raised eyebrows and wrinkle forehead questions from my bride - What are you talking about? when I comment on the uniqueness of a doorknob or some other detail that is really not that interesting to others.
IMHO - If you want to see the world of great art, architecture, amazing food, and a culture full of friendly people and ancient and then GO TO ITALY! And, if you play your cards right you can enjoy an enlightening trip that won't break the bank. More on other places, including the good old USA will come later.
Planning Takes Time and Patience
For those Nomads that need a little help finding places to stay, here are three sites you can peruse for cool places with cool prices. Check out The Nomad Architect Blog for more planning references.
- I-Escape. I love this site. It is so easy to use and provides great details,
good and bad, for each property. If you are planning to go to Italy, I highly recommend a few days in Tuscany. The hotel in the photo is where we stayed for about three days. It was the perfect place to enjoy this part of Italy. In the castle-hamlet Castello di Tornano you will find comfortable beds, huge showers, great food, amazing architecture, great staff and great views. And the price is a sweet $185 a night.
- Tablet Hotels. This is one of the best hotel/B&B sites around. It lists both professional and guest reviews. It has multiple filters including location and price. One example - Check out the Marina Di Petrol O Hotel & Spa in Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, a quick hour from Palermo. At this waterfront boutique you can enjoy a beachfront room with balcony, a huge stand-up shower, an infinity pool and a world class spa. And the price? Around $110 a night! Just one example of a cool place for a cool price.
School of Design alumnus, is the leading player in the search engine world for travelers who want something different. The site has built up an impressive lineup of rooms, homes, villas, apartments and even private islands at all price levels. Check out a very cool Entire Rental Unit in Valencia, Spain for four at $177 a night. That leaves a lot of euros to spend on tapas and sherry. I can attest, after staying in many AIRBNB's, to the quality and pleasure of staying in places with helpful owners who will show you all the places to eat and see.
Please sign up for E-Mail Updates and feel free to comment and offer suggestions for the blog or places you have found in your travels. I have included a Video of The Week with either a favorite artist that I never go anywhere without or a video relevant to this blog. Here is one of the funniest stand-up comics today - Jim Gaffigan on Travel.
Travel Quote of the Day:
To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries - Aldous Huxley
Ciao DLS
thenomadARCHITECT
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Easter Sunday is the day all Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ - A simple quote from the great evangelist Billy Graham:
"God undertook the most dramatic rescue operation in cosmic history. He determined to save the human race from self-destruction, and He sent His Son Jesus Christ to salvage and redeem them. The work of man’s redemption was accomplished at the cross.”
Don Francisco wrote an anthem of celebration in 1975 at the age of thirty. He was awarded two Dove Awards in 1980 - Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
And to celebrate this greatest of days - one of the greatest gospel singers in modern history delivers the story of power and grace of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as remembered by Saint Peter. David Phelps delivers HE'S ALIVE with help from The Gaither Vocal Band and many other great singers.
Celebrate Easter with the people you love!
D.L.Stafford
thenomadARCHITECT
Friday, February 14, 2025
2-14-25 - VALENTINES ALL OVER THE WORLD - ROMANCE & LOVE EVERYWHERE!
HAPPY VALENTINES TO ALL NOMADS EVERYWHERE!
Believe it or not Valentines is celebrated almost everywhere. This most romantic day of celebration was started in the USA in the 1840's. Of course, the cynics among us call Valentines Day just another day when retailers, women's clothing stores, places that sell expensive gifts, particularly jewelry, and other business make a lot of money. I used to be one of those sceptics concerning this worldwide holiday, but, as I have gotten older, I have come to realize the importance of treating my one and only special on this special day.
First a Little History
Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Valentine and through later folk traditions, it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love the world over.
Valentines Day is celebrated in America, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, England Puerto RIco, Canada, Japan and even The Soviet Union. All these countries honor the day of Romance and Love on February 14. Other countries celebrate on different days. The day of Romance and Love is forbidden in Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia or Pakistan. Surprise, Surprise! The bottom line is that this day is celebrated in most countries on our planet.
Shakespeare penned a nice little lyric back in the day.
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber-door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more."
-William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act IV, Scene 5 1600-1601
So now that we know from whence this blessed celebration came, what do we Romantic Vagabonds do on this special day? After perusing some online lists and adding a few of my own, I came up with a relatively short simple list of activities you can celebrate with your significant other.
What Vagabonds Should Do On Valentines Day
- Always have roses around to set the mood for the day.
- Start a couple's bucket list or recreate a new one together.
- Eat breakfast in bed or a fancy dinner out.
- Make a tasty culinary adventure for your mate with candles, unique epicurean delights and throw in some roses to create the mood.
- Slow dance to your favorite romantic songs.
- Book a romantic getaway.
- Have a picnic.
- Go to a nice Wine Shop or Winery & do some tasting.
- And last but not least:
- Tell your mate you love them from the depth of your soul & heart.
- Give your mate passionate kisses.
Of course, if you really want to impress your beloved, make some reservations to fly to the most romantic place on earth - Italy. You can find great places to kindle the fire in this romantic country all over this travel blog.
Joyeuse Saint-Valentin, Buon San Valentino, Feliz día de San Valentín, Alles Gute zum Valentinstag - Happy Valentines Day to Vagabond Lovers Everywhere!
D.L.Stafford
thenomadARCHITECT
For this special day - Paul McCartney shares a beautiful, simple, elegant tune with hand communication - MY VALENTINE.
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
02-12-25 TODAY IS NOT ABOUT TRAVEL - IT'S TAKING A LONG & SHORT VIEW OF THE WORLD OF POPULAR MUSIC
FRANK ZAPPA, THE MASTER OF CULTURAL INCONGRUITIES SAID:
"MODERN MUSIC IS PEOPLE WHO CAN'T THINK SIGNING ARTISTS WHO CAN'T WRITE SONGS TO MAKE RECORDS FOR PEOPLE WHO CAN'T HEAR."
Just a tad cynical you might say. However, listening to Zappa's only Top 40 hit VALLEY GIRL featuring his daughter Moon Unit as THE Valley Girl helps us understand where modern music can take us - a different way of seeing our world - up, down and sideways. To be, as they say, all up front and real, I am a child of the sixties. I saw the BEATLES in '64 and Led Zepplin in '69. That is a wide slot from the greatest pop/rock ever made to the greatest pure rock and roll. I love all music genres from Texas Country to Beethoven when it's written and performed well.
The 2025 SUPERBOWL LIX displays modern music of today from the best to the absolute worst. Let's start with the worst. I also must say - I loathe Hip Hop, so my opinion of the worst of the worst this past Sunday is tinged by that opinion.
No. 1
The multi-Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar's performance of Not Like Us is in my "I Just Don't Get It Category of Music". His performance, with a crowd of dancers and other famous and not so famous actors and singers, was painful to my ears and my eyes. Opinions were positive and negative. Most of them negative. One X writer stated - By far the worst Super Bowl halftime performance I’ve seen from any artist! Sorry - No clip. You can find it on You Tube.
No.2
Lady Gaga is an amazing talent. as the late great Tony Bennet said - " Gaga is the Picasso of the entertainment world. She's very intelligent." The song she performed in the middle of downtown New Orleans just before the big game, with thousands watching, was powerful, emotional and enhancing in every way - Hold My Hand was completely inspiring, especially to the people of New Orleans.
NO. 3
And last but certainly not the least- I did not know who this artist was until this Super Bowl. I did some research and realized he is a major talent! Born in Louisiana, from a family of renown performers, he started playing drums at the age of eight then piano lessons started at eleven and lasted seven years. Ultimately, this multi-award-winning artist attended Julliard and received a masters degree in jazz studies. This incredible talent combines jazz, rock, pop and classical in his music. Jon Batiste performed a beautiful and inspiring National Anthem at Super Bowl LIX was beautiful and inspiring.
So let freedom ring. From Elvis to Mumford and Sons, modern music is in a constant state of change for all listeners to hear.
IF YOU CAN'T HEAR THE MUSIC, YOU WON'T SEE THE LIGHT - Anonymous
Spring is on the way my Fellow Nomads!
D.L.Stafford
thenomadARCHITECT
And one last number from one of my favorite bands performing at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre - Multi-award-winning British Folk Rock Band Mumford & Sons performing I Will Wait. This amazing rock-bound venue should be on every music lover's Bucket List.
Friday, January 24, 2025
01/24/2025 - WRAP UP, TAKE A WALK, DON'T DRIVE, WATCH BLUE BLOODS - DREAM OF SPRING MARCH 20, 2025
But relax my fellow Nomads, it's only 55 days 'till March 20, 2025, the first day of Spring. The cool/warm temps, the azaleas, the woods, the trees we enjoy in this beautiful part of the world will make us quickly forget those 18–20-degree days of January.
For some comparisons to other places near and far - here are some examples of Winter in places where people actually live.
Vostok Station - Antarctica / -13 deg F / 01/23/2025 / -128.6 deg F / 07/21/19 83
Siberia Federal District - Russia / -13 deg F / 01/23/2025
International Falls, Minnesota / -3 deg F / 01/23/2025
Frazer, Colorado / -7 deg F / 01/23/2025
Hell, Norway / -28 deg F / 01/23/2025
Utqiagvik, Alaska / -6 deg F / 01/23/2025
Northern Wyoming / -27 deg F / 01/23/2025
Pensacola, Florida / 20 deg F / 01/23/2025
Tallahassee, Florida / 26 deg F / 01/23/2025
As you can imagine, it gets really cold on planet earth, and we shouldn't complain about our few days of freezing temperatures, icy roads and insane utility bills.
Here is some erudite commentary by Southerners on cold weather:
It’s colder than a brass toilet seat on the shady side of an iceberg.
It’s so cold, I saw a politician with his hands in his own pockets.
It’s so cold, we got dogs stuck to fire hydrants all over town.
So, enjoy these few days of brrrr! weather, warm is on the way my fellow Vagabonds. Warm weather brings out our desire to see and experience places old and new - so start planning your trips for Springs, Summer and Fall.
Happy Warm Trails to You!
D.L.Stafford
thenomadARCHITECT
For a nice tune celebrating love in winter enjoy the multiple award-winning British Folk Rock Band Mumford and Sons performing Winter Winds.
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
12/31/24 & 01/01/25 - HAPPY NEW YEAR'S TO ALL VAGABONDS, WANDERERS, ROVERS & NOMADS - 2025 WILL LIGHT UP OUR LIVES!
WOW! 2024 - AMAZING! INFLATION, WORLD IN CHAOS, NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT WE OLDER FOLKS DON'T UNDERSTAND BUT OUR SIX-YEAR-OLD GRANDSON USES LIKE WE USED ALL THREE OF OUR TV CHANNELS BACK IN THE DAY! LOL! SOME THINGS JUST NEVER CHANGE. BUT 2025 IS WAITING FOR US TO VENTURE FORTH WITH OUR FRIENDS, OUR FAMILIES AND NEW AQUAINTENANCES WE MAKE ALONG LIFE'S EVER-CHANGING ROAD TO THE FUTURE.
To take all fervent readers of The Nomad Architect from 2024 to 2025 I have found some nice tunes that, hopefully, will motivate all nomads to stand strong and venture forth as we roll through our world as it is today and will be next year.
First Up - Keb Mo is a truly Unique Blues Artist. He brings interesting thoughts into his music. Here's one that is forewarning and humorous as we slide into the new year. The multi-Grammy winner gives us a nice listen - Keb Mo performing The Worst Is Yet To Come!
Next - I have become an ardent fan of Postmodern Jukebox. Their tag line is - Today's Hits Yesterday. Very cool music performed by a talented team of singers, dancers and players. Here is their take on the 1947 classic - What Are You Doing New Years Eve?
Last But Not Least - Enjoy the song that has been associated with New Years since 1788. The Tenors perform a unique version of the classic - Auld Lang Syne.
That's it for the 2024 Christmas Countdown, from The Nomad Architect, with a bit of New Years thrown in. Until next December 1, 2025, weekly posts will be made on travel and other subjects. And I wish every listener and reader a Happy New Year!
D.L.Stafford
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