Lesson in tolerance [Providence]

Seemed appropriate to start the year with a lesson in tolerance. On Christmas Eve we visited the Touro Synagogue in Newport, RI. It's also a National Historic Site and the oldest synagogue in theOkumaya devam et
Ice-Nine [Boston]

For those who don't remember their 60s popular literature, ice-nine was a scary chemical in Kurt Vonnegut's novel "Cat's Cradle." Anyway, it's taking over the East Coast. When we left Boston onOkumaya devam et
Friends on ice [Vienna]

In stopping off in the DC area we were reminded of the only thing that makes us second guess our decision to move-- the good friends we left behind. Impossible to replace decades-long friendships.
Crazy [Richmond]

Sometimes it's the smallest detail that sticks when you visit a historical site. Cold Harbor, Va. was a sprawling landscape of carnage that included several major battles in one June 1864 fortnight.Okumaya devam et
Hatteras/obx

Winding down the obx (Outer Banks) basking in the warm 60's weather. Saluted the Wright Bros at Kitty Hawk, pondered the lost colony at Ft. Raleigh (whatever happened to Virginia Dare?), and enjoyedOkumaya devam et
Bank Hopping [Ocracoke]

Got a taste of island commuting as we worked our way down the Outter Banks. We spent half a day either waiting for a ferry or riding one. Along the way we picked up a hitchhiker/commuter who worked onOkumaya devam et
Before Jim Crow [Beaufort]

We covered a lot of ground today but most of it was wet and obscured by incessant rain. Our only stop was one of the newest parks in the system. The Reconstruction Era National Monument in Beaufort,Okumaya devam et
Fort-itude [Savannah]

We visited the first of a string of forts dotting coastal Georgia and Florida. First up, Fort Pulaski. With a drawbridge, allligator patrolled moats, two-foot thick walls and the guiding hand of aOkumaya devam et
Forts and Plantations [Jacksonville]

Three more forts today-- Caroline, Castillo de San Marcos and Matanzas. Plus Timucuan, an ecological and historical preserve. The forts told various stories of colonial mahem and hegemony between theOkumaya devam et
Canaveral seashore/ De soto [St Pete]

Started out the day exploring the Cape Canaveral seashore donated to the NPS by NASA in the 60's. One of the last wild Fla seashores, terrific 30-40 foot Indian oyster shell middens. On to BrandentonOkumaya devam et
Gators and manatees [Everglades]

Today we began the final push to complete the last few Florida parks we haven't seen before the looming government shutdown Friday night. So today was spent in Everglades NP. Awed with the amazingOkumaya devam et
Bike to Nature [Everglades]

Deployed our folding bikes this morning for a 15-mile ride through the Everglades. This no-autos trail gives a good feel for the Everglades sea of grass. And it is loaded with wildlife. We broughtOkumaya devam et
Another Fort & Ferry [Dry Tortugas]

Up early to catch a two-plus hour ferry ride to one of the largest forts on the E coast; Dry Tortuga Nat'l Park. Huge frigate birds gliding over this island reef; at least 100 of them. PrettyOkumaya devam et
Turtle Rescue [Florida Keys]

Having notched the last of the ten Florida National Parks on Friday we headed back to the mainland to visit our friend Krista Eaton in Miami. By chance we passed Florida's first sea turtle rehabOkumaya devam et
In search of the wild manatee [Ocala]

Drove up to Crystal Springs, Fla. in search of manatees. The ranger station, empty like the park, had a flyer telling us to go to Homosassa Springs State Park if one wanted to see manatees. We droveOkumaya devam et
Yearling [Cross Creek]

Visited Marjorie K. Rawlings home at Cross Creek, Fla. Just one of my favorite books! (Debra and Krista, this one's for you too!) She captures rural, old Florida; it's quirky neighbors, the hardshipOkumaya devam et
Fort-Weary McClearys [Pensacola]

More coastal forts. Fort Pickens, built by slaves and, briefly, prison-home to the Apache chief, Geronimo. Ft McRee, which we fortunately didn't have to see because it was swept into the ocean decadesOkumaya devam et
Ethnic Cleansing [Auburn]

Horseshoe Bend Nat'l Battlefield is one of those parks you want to hurry through. The things that happened there are that horrendous. Andrew Jackson learned the art of ethnic cleansing here where overOkumaya devam et
Bama, Tuskegee

A couple day diversion up to Alabama continues (as New Orleans stuff not open on the weekend). I hate to draw stereotypes, but do see hound and pit bull dogs running loose, heard a hound baying allOkumaya devam et
Selma

Up to now, every Park we've visited was history, natural or human. Selma is different. This is our living history. The Selma to Montgomery HistoricTrail recounts in pictures, film and audio theOkumaya devam et
The big easy [New Orleans]

We could almost say, another ferry, another fort. We visited the swamp hangout of the "entrepreneur" (pirate) Jean Lafitte and the 1815 battlefield of his earstwhile buddy, Andrew Jackson.
Lafitte isOkumaya devam et
Cajun Resilience [Lafayette]

Spent our last day in Louisiana hop scotching west from one Cajun cultural center to another. Three in all. We were vaguely familiar with their story thanks to Longfellow's Evangeline but really hadOkumaya devam et
Whooping it up [Corpus Christi]

Took a small boat tour out of Rockport TX to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. This is the only place the remaining wild whooping cranes fly to in winter from Buffalo Wood Provincial Park inOkumaya devam et
Manifest white destiny [Brownsville]

The US honed its country eminent domain skills in the first battle of the Mexican-American War at Palo Alto. US troops baited the Mexican Army into crossing the Rio Grande. What's interesting is thatOkumaya devam et
Mission Mania [San Antonio]

In California the 20 Spanish missions were each spaced one day's ride apart up half the length of the territory. In Texas the Comanche were such a constant threat that they crammed six of them into aOkumaya devam et
GezginBeautifully said...