Wednesday, September 18, 2024

09-18-24 A QUICK DRIVE NORTH FROM SAVANNAH TO CHARLESTON SHOWS MORE OF THE HISTORY & CULTURE OF THE SOUTH

CHARLESTON IS A QUICK TWO HOURS FROM SAVANNAH. MUCH LIKE SAVANNAH, IT HAS SO MANY THINGS TO SEE AND DO YOU WILL NEVER BE WONDERING - NOW WHAT DO WE DO? FOUNDED IN 1670, THIS GRAND SOUTHERN CITY HAS A COMPLICATED HISTORY - SLAVERY, SMALLPOX, MALARIA, HURRICANES AND MANY OTHER MALADIES PLUS THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND THE CIVIL WAR AFFECTED THIS CITY. TODAY IT HAS IT ALL - AMAZING FOOD, FREINDLY PEOPLE, AN ECLECTIC ART SCENE AND WATER EVEYWHERE.

FIRST - WHERE TO STAY

We enjoyed Charleston several years ago. I posted about Charleston and The Inn at Middleton Place where we stayed in August of 2012. This hotel is noted as a winner of the highest design award from The American Institute of Architects. It is a modern hotel sensitive to the local history of the area. However, it was about thirty minutes from downtown Charleston. The hotel was exceptionally well designed, had great food and amazing views of the Ashley River and the surrounding former plantation. The current day price is around $340 a night. If you want to experience the intimate diversity of Charleston up close and personal reserve one of the many super cool AIRBNB's all over the city for reasonable prices. On the other hand, The Middleton will afford you and yours a great place to stay and relax after a busy day of walking and enjoying Charleston.


Charleston has great restaurants, great museums, interesting walking tours, a birds of prey sanctuary, all manner of other interesting tours, Cypress Gardens where you can enjoy being rowed around in a black swamp and many other things to see and do. Just click the SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW link above.

A few quotes on this quintessential very old and very modern city:

“Charleston is one of the best built, handsomest, and most agreeable cities that I have ever seen.” – Marquis de Lafayette


“I’m going back to dignity and grace. I’m going back to Charleston, where I belong.”– Rhett Butler, Gone With The Wind


“Walking the streets of Charleston in the late afternoons of August was like walking through gauze or inhaling damaged silk.” – Pat Conroy


“Come quickly, have found heaven.” – Artist Alfred Hutty


Anyway you ponder Charleston you will be glad you walked its streets, ate its food and saw its beauty.


See ya next week with more places to wander through.


D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT


 VIDEO OF THE WEEK


From a native of Charleston - multi-award-winning Darius Rucker performs one of his biggest hits originally written by Bob Dylan - Wagon Wheel.









Wednesday, September 11, 2024

09-11-24 SOME COOL PLACES TO GO & EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF AUTUM IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH


Fall is just around the corner - Official Start of Autumn is September 22. Right now, there is bright sunshine with occasional clouds & rain with temperatures in the low 90's. Officially, the hurricane season runs from June to November. However, I'm going forward with a positive outlook that the bad stuff is done! It's time to update and actually do things on your bucket list. Most people's Bucket Lists have places they want to travel to - Italy, Spain, France-Provence, and on and on. All those places to visit and experience the cultures, the people, the food, and other amazing things in our world run up and down our lists. Today's post, however, is about the greatest country on the planet - the Good Ole' USA Southern Style!

Because America is so large and diverse, there are many places you can visit to see the natural and built beauty of this country. The photo to the right is the famous Frank Lloyd Wright residence and studio Taliesen West about thirty minutes outside of Pheonix. You can travel to Napa Wine Country or the incomparable Southwest of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, or the Carolinas, containing the most amazing residence ever built in the US - The Biltmore Mansion, just outside the very hip town of Asheville, NC. Throw in Texas or Arkansas or the Great Western places in Montana and Wyoming such as Yellowstone or Glacier National. You can keep very busy seeing amazing places in this so-diverse country. I have always believed that great travel involves great planning combined with serendipity.  

Here are thoughts on some places that should be on every Vagabond's Bucket List.

ASHEVILLE - BILTMORE

It's a long drive to Asheville from my hometown, Tallahassee, but the drive is beautiful most of the way. Or you could stop off somewhere halfway in a very cool and inexpensive ($90 a night) AIRBNB in Marietta Square, Georgia a few minutes north of Atlanta with all five-star reviews - The Grand In Marietta Square. Then make the drive to Asheville where the Biltmore Estate has existed since 1895. The privately owned residence is the largest single-family residence in North America. Logging in at 178,926 square feet with 250 rooms, 33 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces this mansion is one of the most impressive works of architecture I have ever seen. It sits on 8,000 acres surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains with scenic areas everywhere for walking, biking, carriage rides, hiking, horseback riding and more. 

We stayed in a small boutique Hotel Indigo - great design, great staff and great views priced at $200 a night. And it's only about ten minutes from the Biltmore. Or, if you really want to just relax in pure luxury and impress, a room at The Inn on Biltmore Estate is your choice for a nice $670. For less money check into The Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate for a paltry $380! We had a delicious lunch there. 

SAVANNAH - EASY GOING

If you want to take a trip that is easy and reasonably priced - Savannah is the place. You can stop about halfway at Amelia Island for lunch. Amelia has numerous great restaurants. Just click Florida Trippers for a list of great restaurants serving fresh seafood and other culinary delights. Then head up to the oldest city in Georgia - Savannah. This beautiful ancient, yet modern city has it all - great food, great museums, beautiful streets for walking with amazing scenery everywhere. It also has a plethora of hotels, large and small, as well as AIRBNB's for every budget. The Andaz Hotel is right downtown convenient to great restaurants, museums and other amenities.  Today's rate is around $260 depending on when you go and what room design you select. Or if you want to save your money for food and other stuff, check out a list of AIRBNB's for the budget minded vagabond. This classy city has twelve great museums exhibiting works from ancient history to ultra-modern. First on my list is the SCAD Museum featuring innovative sculptures and paintings such as the yellow boot above.

“If you go to Atlanta, the first question people ask you is, "What's your business?" In Macon they ask, "Where do you go to church?" In Augusta they ask your grandmother's maiden name. But in Savannah the first question people ask you is "What would you like to drink?”



Next week - more on travel for those wandering souls consumed with wanderlust. 

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

Today's video features a founding member of the multi-award-winning group Florida-Georgia Line Brian Kelley. He performs a cool tune extolling the virtues of Georgia's oldest city - Savannah.



Wednesday, September 4, 2024

09-04-24 - BUCKET LIST Numéro deux - FRANCE IS THE PLACE TO BE IN THE FALL

TODAY - PART TWO OF MY BUCKET LIST IS FOR ALL VAGABONDS, WANDERERS AND EXPLORERS DESIRING TO GO TO PLACES FAR AND WIDE. THE NOMAD ARCHITECT IS GOING TO FEATURE PLACES IN ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD, YET BEAUTIFUL COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD - FRANCE!

BEFORE WAXING ELOQUENTLY ABOUT la FRANCE, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT I ADDRESS THE ATTITUDES THAT AMERICANS AND OTHER VISITORS HAVE ABOUT FRANCE - THE HISTORY, THE ARCHITECTURE, THE LAND, THE FOOD, THE WINE, THE PEOPLE - ALL MAKEUP THE ESSENCE OF A COUNTRY THAT HAS CREATED GREAT WORKS OF ART FROM MONET TO KANDINSKY, AN AMAZING CULTURE ANCIENT AND MODERN AND SOME OF THE GREATEST FOOD EVER CREATED.

LOVE & HATE

“How can anyone govern a country that has 246 varieties of cheese?” Charles de Gaulle

"To err is human. To loaf is Parisian" - Victor Hugo

“It is perfectly possible to be enamored of Paris while remaining totally indifferent or even hostile to the French.” -James Baldwin 

“In Paris, they simply stared when I spoke to them in French; I never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.” - Mark Twain 

"A walk in Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life" - Thomas Jefferson

“The flavors melted in my mouth- warm chocolate and melted butter and the flaky sweet crust. This was what I loved about France. A keen appreciation for the simplicity and sweetness of life. The French seemed to savor their minutes along with their food.” — Melanie Dobson - Author


We landed in Paris and checked into the ultra-modern Hotel Mayet. Our room was almost Lilliputian but was beautiful and comfortable and located perfectly not far from The Eiffel Tower and other places to see. Today's price is reasonable for Paris - $250 - $290, depending on when you go. Right after we checked in, we had dinner at a small restaurant next door. After dinner, we decided to just take a leisurely stroll. As we turned a corner, there it was - the world-famous shining Eiffel Tower right in front of us. We held hands and smiled walking together. One of the unique architectural features of central Paris is that there are no tall buildings, except for the Eiffel. All tall buildings are on the perimeter of the city. 


Provence

After taking a train we checked into a small, intimate place in Avignon which, unfortunately, has closed. It was a great old house re-designed by a Swiss architect with an intimate courtyard perfect for relaxing and talking. If you want to see what this unique Bed & Breakfast was like just click Lumani for The Nomad Architect's description. Then we rented a car and drove a quick 45 minutes to a repurposed farm turned into a high-end hotel in the center of its own wine vineyard just outside the small town of Menerbes in Provence - La Bastide de Marie. In all honesty, this place with only twelve rooms or suites is not low priced - $330 - $400. But sometimes you just need to spend more to get more. This five star "bastide" has it all - incredible romantic rooms and suites, amazing food and wine, the Pure Altitude Spa, an outdoor pool, a massage room and about seventy acres to hike and roam around in. I do not say this about most places we stay, but La Bastide de Marie was one of the most comfortable, beautiful and romantic places we have ever enjoyed.


Trust me, this place will change your way of thinking about elegant travel.

Next week - more Bucket List thoughts for wandering nomads coming your way!

D.L.Stafford

Video of the Week - Perfect for France and Romance - Multi-Grammy Award winning Nora Jones gives a very smooth performance and video of one of her great romantic tunes - COME AWAY WITH ME. We had the pleasure of seeing the smooth and cool jazz artist several years ago.
























  

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

08-28-24 I DECLARE TODAY BUCKET LIST PART UNA!

SUMMER IS ALMOST OVER. SCHOOL HAS STARTED BACK. TEMPERATURES ARE SLOWLY DRIFTING DOWNARD. EARLY FALL IS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES OF YEAR TO TRAVEL TO PLACES NEW AND OLD. CROWDS ARE SMALLER, PRICES GO DOWN, WEATHER IS NICER, IT'S EASIER TO SEE THINGS, AND TRAVELING IS JUST SIMPLER. TODAY, THE NOMAD ARCHITECT IS GOING TO DO A LIST OF SPECIAL PLACES THAT SHOULD BE ON YOUR BUCKET LIST. THIS IS A GREAT TIME OF YEAR TO GO GO GO! IMHO! TODAY - PLACES WE HAVE VISITED. 

ITALY

If you are familiar with this blog at all, you must know that I fell in love with Italy several years ago on our first trip to a country that prides itself on being the cradle of Western Civilization. Italy is slightly smaller than California. It's easy to get anywhere quickly and efficiently via one of the best train systems in Europe. Here are a few places that are Bucket List worthy.

Tuscany

One word describes this  
unique part of Italy -Romance! This is the place to enjoy a great experience with the one you love. Everywhere you go is another winery. With seven different wine regions producing some of the most famous wines in the world, you never run out of choice for different wine tastes. Just click on WINE TRAVELER for information on wineries, getting around Tuscany and information on towns, large & small, in this beautiful area.

Where to stay you might ask. There is a small romantic hotel of only 22 rooms in the heart of this fascinating place of romance, beauty and pleasure - Castello di Tornano. I have mentioned this amazing small hotel many times in earlier posts. In 2001 it was repurposed from a noble residence, built in the eleventh century, to an utterly charming place of 22 rooms in the heart of the Chianti Region. And the deal clencher? $120 - $190 depending on when you go and how long you stay. 


USA HOORAY!

I’m always posting about places in Europe. However, there are places in the good old USA that can get you excited about travel in our diverse country. One such place sits right on the Pacific in a beautiful forest with views to die for.

Southern Oregon 

Wild Spring Guest Habitat is a quick three hours from Eugene. We flew into Portland International and drove to our first AIRBNB - Bright Airy Studio In The Trees in Eugene to relax and recover from a fairly long flight. The next morning, we drove to one of the most romantic places to lay our heads and enjoy each other for our 40th Anniversary. Our Cabin Suite was large and comfortable with a small living room space, a king-size bed and a massive stand-up shower. We stayed five days and enjoyed the beautiful spa hot tub with magical views of the Pacific. They have beautiful walking trails for hikers. They even have a Walking Labyrinth in a grove of 100-foot trees with benches to sit and enjoy the beauty of this place. The Habitat is located about sixty miles from the Northern California state line just outside the small town of Port Orford which has several unique museums containing exceptional works of sculpture and painting.  And the price - including a delicious breakfast every morning - Around $240.



One reviewer posted this small statement about this amazing place:

There's a moment outside time where the wild dreams unravel, and the soul is free to dance unencumbered by the weight of shoulds and coulds. This is that place where those souls gather to celebrate in tall trees." Jaya

That's it for Part One of BUCKET LIST TRAVELS. Next week, more to come! In the meantime - Make some reservations!

D.L.Stafford

Video of The Week - One of the most innovative artists to ever take a stage - PRINCE performs CREAM with just his acoustic guitar for accompaniment. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing him perform this set in the early 2000's.







Sunday, August 25, 2024

08-25-24 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL VIRGOS - I'M CELEBRATING WITH SOME MUSIC I LOVE TO SHARE

SINCE I WAS A WEE LAD, I HAVE BEEN OBSESSED WITH GREAT MUSIC OF EVERY GENRE YOU CAN IMAGINE - ROCK, POP, JAZZ, PROGRESSIVE, CLASSICAL, EVEN FOLK. I ACTUALLY SAW PETER, PAUL & MARY IN TULLY GYM - Florida State University 11/5/65. I SAW THE BEATLES IN THE GATOR BOWL - Jacksonville, Florida 09/11/64. IT WAS A HAPPENING! AT LAST COUNT, I HAVE SEEN OVER 140 MUSICAL ARTISTS, MOSTLY WITH MY BRIDE OF 51 YEARS. I SAW IKE & TINA TURNER IN DOAK CAMPBELL STADIUM 10/08/71 WITH, AT THE TIME, MY FUTURE ONE AND ONLY. THE RUMOR WAS THAT MORE PEOPLE ATTENDED IKE & TINA THAN THE HOMECOMING GAME AGAINST MISSISSIPI STATE THE NEXT DAY - WE WON 27-9. NOLES WERE NOT VERY GOOD THEN. BOWDEN DIDN'T SHOW UP 'TILL 1976.

Of course - the downside of listening to music extremely loud since I was a kid is that I have been wearing a great pair of hearing aids for almost 4-5 years now. I still listen to great music every day. My kids find new music that I love too. Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers, The Avett Brothers, Alabama Shakes and many more find their way to my phone and my laptop. I also have around 250 LPs of classic rock like Vanilla Fudge, Blood Sweat & Tears and, of course, the Beatles.

TODAY IS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC

Here are just a few of my favorite performances by musical artists young, old and in between. It's my birthday - Read on and Listen!!!

1- THE BEATLES - This live tune, GET BACK, is from the last live concert ever by The Fab 4 - 01/30/69 performing atop The Apple Building, 3 Saville Row in London.

 

The earth is 4.8 billion years old; and in all that time just imagine how lucky those of us were, who happened to live in the tiny fraction of time to witness the Beatles! - Anonymous.

2 - Buddy Rich & His Orchestra - One of the greatest jazz drummers in history gives a killer performance of Birdland, written by Weather Report in Cologne Germany 03/08/80. WE saw this amazing drummer and his band in the early 70's while in architecture school at Auburn University!


Rich was the greatest drummer to ever have drawn breath - Gene Krupa - Jazz Drumming Legend.

3- TOM JONES
I have seen Tom Jones five times - first time in the early seventies in Tallahassee. He was amazing then and is still touring for crazy fans at the age of 84! Here he is performing one of the greatest covers of all time - KISS - originally a major hit by Prince.


“Hugely entertaining and some of the musical performances would ultimately become once-in-a-lifetime events.” – Chicago Sun-Times 9/29/07

4 - The Best Opening Scene in Film History - John Travolta - Stayin' Alive - Bee Gees
I remember this movie from 1977 when John Travolta had great hair! LOL! The opening scene of the star walking down the street with a can of paint in his polished shoes with the great tune Stayin' Alive by The Bee Gees is simple yet iconic! IMHO!


"Saturday Night Fever'' was Gene Siskel's favorite movie, and he watched it at least 17 times. We all have movies like that, titles that transcend ordinary categories of good and bad, and penetrate straight to our hearts - Roger Ebert.

5 - PRINCE
No music list will ever be complete without at least one Prince tune. I saw this brilliant artist in Tampa in 2004. After a mesmerizing, rocking 2-1/2 hours he closed with Purple Rain. OMG! It lasted almost thirty minutes. Every single note was utter perfection.


When someone asked Eric Clapton what it was like to be the greatest guitar player in the world, he responded: "I don't know, ask Prince."

6- THE AVETT BROTHERS
Since the early 2000's, The Avett Brothers have been putting out great music. From North Carilina - they combine, folk, rock, bluegrass, honkytonk and ragtime for great award-winning tunes. My kids told me about this group. I listened and became a fan. I saw them in 2017 at Cascades Park in Tallahassee. Fabulous! Ain't No Man rocks smooth!


Always remember there is nothing worth sharing, like the love that let us share our name - Seth Avett.

7- Delbert McClinton
I have always said about great country music - Great country music always tells a story. And the dudes and dudettes from Texas tell it better than anybody. Here is the great country, blues, rocker Delbert McClinton performing LONE STAR BLUES!


In the early ’70s, way before the term Americana was coined, some artists were already deep into the sound. Delbert McClinton is near the top of that list. There just aren’t many of his peers still active, vibrant, and releasing new music - McClinton famously taught John Lennon the basics of the harmonica when he toured in Bruce Channel’s band in the early ’60s with The Beatles - American Songwriter.

8 - Tina Turner
One of a kind - The incomparable "Queen of Rock and Roll" knew how to deliver any song, fast or slow - loud or soft, with power and artistic beauty. She performed internationally and recorded the greatest cover ever - written by John Fogerty of Credence Clearwater Revival - Tina Turner performs PROUD MARY for 80,000 of her closest friends at Wembley Stadium.


I loved her version of Proud Mary! It was different and fantastic. I was also so happy because she chose my song, and it was her breakthrough record. I was so honored - John Fogerty.

9 - BEETHOVEN'S 5th
Ludwig van Beethoven - the master composer said of music - "Music should strike fire from the heart of man and bring tears from the eyes of every woman". I couldn't agree more. Here is, IMHO, the greatest Classical/Romantic work ever composed - The First Movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony. Beethoven was almost completely deaf when he composed this amazing work.


Beethoven's Fifth Symphony is the most sublime noise that has ever penetrated into the ear of man - E.M. Forster - Novelist.

10 - QUEEN
I close this list of great music with one of the greatest rock tunes ever recorded by one of the greatest rock bands in history - QUEEN combines perfect harmonies with an amazing arrangement of a classic rock tune - BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY! This tune has had over one billion views on You Tube!


I won't be a rock star. I will be a legend - Freddie Mercury

Like anyone asked to make a list of their favorite songs, I have left so many off. I just wanted to show all the diverse music I have listened to and loved throughout my life.

Happy Trails and turn it up!

D.L.Stafford

And one last thing - I grew up singing in church - Written many years ago, here is one of the greatest gospel songs ever recorded by The Gaither Vocal Band and Ernie Haase & Signature Sound together- SWING DOWN SWEET CHARIOT!


Gospel music is the purest thing there is on this earth - Elvis Presley.




Wednesday, August 21, 2024

08/21/24 “Airbnb is not about the space you rent; it’s about the experiences you create.” – Nathan Blecharczyk - Founder

TODAY, I AM GOING TO ADVANCE THE NOTION THAT SERIOUS WANDERERS & VAGABONDS SHOULD SEEK OUT SOME OF THE BEST PLACES TO LAY THEIR HEADS AFTER A DAY OF WALKING AND EXPLORING - AIRBNBCHECK OUT THE VIDEO BELOW FOR SOME OF THE DIVERSITY YOU CAN ENJOY WITH ONE OF THE FIRST ONLINE MARKET PLACES FOR SHORT & LONG TERM RENTALS AT LOWER PRICES. SORRY FOR THE SPANISH. I COULDNT MAKE IT CHANGE TO ENGLISH.

 

The First One - Oregon

The first AIRBNB we ever stayed in made an impression. Margot's Place was elegantly designed with numerous skylights over the bed and a nice shower in the bath. It was a garage apartment designed by an architect who lived in the house located in a high-end area of Eugene Oregon. After landing in Eugene, we stayed one night in this very cool spot to rest before heading to our ultimate destination. The owner left us some nice muffins, coffee and fruit at our door for breakfast the next morning. The price today - $78 - $85 per night depending on when you go. 

Spain

My second favorite country, after Italy, is España. The city of Barcelona is unlike any place in Europe. Art, architecture, food, people - all the best you could ask for. On this adventure, our kids met us in Barcelona. With five of us, we needed a place where we could spread out, so I reserved a beautiful, well-designed, three bedroom - two bath AIRBNB - Stylish Apartment C in City Center   located in downtown Barcelona within easy walking distance to many museums and other attractions. And, as luck would have it, a small high-end grocer was across the street. And, for a three bedroom, two bath located downtown, the price was very reasonable.

One of the most famous cathedrals in Europe, La Sagrada Familia, is just a 20-minute walk from the AIRBNB.   It was designed by Antonia Gaudi, considered by many architectural experts to be the greatest architect of the 20th century. Design and construction started in 1882. It will be completed in 2026. Gaudi spent 43 years working on the design and construction of this powerful, graceful structure. 

Athens

I mention this place because the AIRBNB we rented, Great Design Acropolis Apartment, was one of the best designed, most luxurious places we have ever stayed. Athens? It's just a giant dirty city, kinda like Rome. It does have the Parthenon, the Acropolis and other ancient buildings showing the brilliance of architecture built as far back as 447 BC. Experiencing those ancient places was truly amazing. But, Athens is not a beautiful place to hang your hat. We were there long enough to see the ancient world. Because of the location, access to all the interesting buildings, museums and other attractions was simple and quick. And, even in today's high-priced world of travel, you can land this place for a paltry $110 a night.

The Good Old USA

AIRBNB is everywhere with prices that leave money in your pocket - even in the greatest, most expensive country to travel in on the planet. We stayed in this uber cool place in the middle of Savannah last year - 
The Jesse Mount B&B Carriage House Off Jones St. . Up the stairs you will find a spacious studio carriage house on West Jones Street, located in the heart of Savannah within easy walking distance of great restaurants, museums and other attractions. With a stunning courtyard, large bathroom and plenty of room to relax it is perfect for a romantic few days to enjoy the oldest city in Georgia. It currently rents for a cool $99 per night.

Just a few examples of great places to stay with AIRBNB and save your cash for culinary delights and libations.








 





Oh, so true for this Wandering Vagabond. Trust me - Try it - you'll like it!

D.L.Stafford

VIDEO OF THE WEEK

All travelers have weird and even scary things happen while traveling. Here is a funny story from Comic Great Jim Gaffigan about the travail encountered checking into a hotel. In my experience, this never happens when you check into an AIRBNB.



Wednesday, August 14, 2024

08-14-24 READY, SET GO!! SOME THOUGHTS FROM ONE NOMAD & MANY OTHER WANDERERS - GOTTA LAUGH!

ABOUT ONCE A YEAR I POST A FEW THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ON GETTING QUICKLY, HAPPILY & SAFELY FROM POINT A TO POINT B WHEN TRAVELING HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE. THESE THOUGHTS & OPINIONS ARE BASED ON YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DRIVING WAY TOO FAST AND GETTING IN TROUBLE WITH VARIOUS WELL-MEANING LECTURERS & TICKET WRITERS! LOL!



Even if you think we have gone completely Orwellian, and you may be right, just read on for some critical thoughts on traveling around our planet.

Some days when I read or listen to the news from our new, ever connected, social media driven, X enlarged, Instagrammed, and Facebooked world of constant, yet vapid, sources that tell us about our ever-shrinking world, I wonder where it all will end. If you are a cynic, you believe George Orwell was spot on - "Big Brother is Watching You - 1984" - he just missed it by a few years. 

I mean, a recent survey showing that ten percent of 1,000 college graduates polled believe Judge Judy is on the Supreme Court is NOT funny. We live in an increasingly banal world influenced by too many empty suits (All Politicians) and the famously unaccomplished (The Kardashians). Marshall McLuhan's admonishment "the medium is the message" is now officially on warp speed. We scratch our heads and ask, and ask and ask - What in the bloody hell is going on? And we get few answers from the institutions that we grew up believing in.

Humor is the Life Saver

After Extensive Research of people much smarter or at least more famous than me I have found some thoughts by famous and not-so famous travelers and wanderers that will give all vagabonds some needed levity as they fly, ride or drive around this planet of diverse souls with different and often unique life experiences. 

1) Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason - Jerry Seinfeld.
2) When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money - Susan Heller Anderson.
3) I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train - Oscar Wilde.
4) On a New York subway you can get fined for spitting, but you can throw up for nothing – Lewis Gizzard.
5) When you come to a fork in the road, take it - Yogi Berra. 
6) Be advised that there is no parking in Europe - Dave Barry.
7) I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” –Mark Twain
8) My parents complain I travel too much. I mean, I could be a drug addict, do they realize how lucky they are? - Unknown
9) The only way to explain how some people dress for the airport is they think no one else will be there – Andy Borowitz
10) Airline travel is hours of boredom interrupted by moments of stark terror - Al Bolisk
11) You want to know what it’s like to be on a plane for 22 hours? Sit in a chair, squeeze your head as hard as you can, don’t stop, then take a paper bag and put it over your mouth and nose and breathe your own air over and over and over – Lewis Black.
12) The man who goes alone can start today, but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready – Henry David Thoreau.
13) If you don’t have a stupid travel story to tell, you did something terribly wrong! - Unknown.
14) Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else – Lawrence Block.
15) Do you ever stress about money and then book another flight? - Unknown.
16) I wish travel therapy was covered by my health insurance - Unknown
17) Work tip: Stand up. Stretch. Take a walk. Go to the airport. Get on a plane. Never return - Unknown.
18) The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page - Saint Augustine.
19) Don't speak the language. Already said 3 times "what". Now just smile and nod and hope for the best - Unknown.
20) I always know how much fun we had on a trip based on how many U-turns we made while looking for our hotel - Susie Stafford.

Two videos today that should make you laugh!

1) Grammy Winner Lewis Black on touring Canada.


2) Grammy nominated Nate Bargatze on trying to check-in for a DELTA flight!


D.L.Stafford