Okay, who out there knows why Baltimore (local dialect dictates the proper pronunciation to be: “Ball-ee-more”) is known as Birdland? Orioles and Ravens are the baseball and football teams here! The city is also known as “Mob City” because this is the 2nd biggest commercial port in the Mid-Atlantic region and was therefore run by Continue Reading »
How often have you read stories regarding the history of the United States, and wondered what it might have been like to actually be there? We build a mental picture in our minds filtered through our imaginations from our reading, or we see grainy pictures of those who lived in those historic times, but we Continue Reading »
…..unless you’re a slave. Charlottesville, with the University of Virginia designed by Thomas Jefferson, and Monticello, his home, are testaments to the man’s creative genius. As the theorist of the American Revolution, architect, scientist, diplomat and statesman extraordinaire, he had to have a large worldview. He loved all things Classical and French, yet he continued Continue Reading »
LOVING IT BECAUSE: 1) Every dark blue helicopter lettered, “United States of America”, flying to and from the direction of the White House could be my favorite prez…Shalom, Mensch. Welcome back from Israel. Peace out! (and Hag Sameah to everybody else re: Pesach and Easter); 2) The fantastic FREE museums and zoo. Each of Continue Reading »
We always wonder how welcome we will be when visiting family members whose homes have been “volunteered” by other family members. This is especially true when you last saw them in ballroom dancing class in Middle School. However, we learned quickly that those “Stanton Boys”, Sal’s cousins and their families, have adopted their ancestors’ Southern Continue Reading »
We finally explored the North Carolina cities of Chapel Hill/Durham, spending a few days just walking and wandering as our water pump on the van failed there. This outdoor area pictured in front of the Co-op Market in Carrboro (an appealing neighborhood next to Chapel Hill) was the only place that seemed to invite the Continue Reading »
Spring Break at RPI brought Jacob to Boston to meet with his mom for a family vacation. Irish eyes are smiling for St. Paddy’s Day. Pick a designated driver and join the silliness. Belt out a song…. …Chug some green Guinness, or an Irish Coffee if there is still snow on the ground like Boston… Continue Reading »
Charleston is booming. We can see why. Set on a peninsula at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, there is a lot of waterfront to walk, seafood to sample, dolphins pods to follow, sailboats to dream about, and parks, cemeteries and gardens to wander through. Although thoroughly charming, it is not provincial like Continue Reading »
We wonder how much of our bias toward Charleston as a wonderful city to visit and perhaps to reside, is influenced by getting to hang out for two weeks with my delightful pal and cousin Ed, on Seabrook Island. South Carolina went from drought conditions before the month of February with only 2 inches of Continue Reading »
Along the “Lowcountry” a stretch of sea islands and coastline is deeply effected by the sweeping tides. Our RV is bouncing along, winding up the coastal waterways, following the lazy yet pristine water along miles of undisturbed marshes and acres of natural woodlands. This area is teeming with wildlife, and larger trees, commonly Live Oak Continue Reading »