Memories of Summer

Now that Fall has arrived and the days are getting cooler, let's take a moment to remember something from the Summer that we can take with us through the long winter. This is mine:

Fresh berry gelato along the German autobahn - mmmm, hit the spot on this sweltering day.

I love ice cream and I have got to say that this was absolutely the best I've ever had. There were fresh berries folded into it and the gelato itself was smooth and delicious. Surprisingly it came from what we could call in the States a truck stop - the Landzeit Autobahn-Restaurants. Wonderful, gourmet food to replenish you on your way. Well-stocked store including many gifts and very clean restrooms also.

Viszlas!

Watching their master, so well-behaved.

I was very excited in Hungary because I saw this beautiful pair of Viszlas. You see, I owned a female Viszla and she was a great dog. When she was my companion, I never dreamed I would be going to her native country and be able to see her cousins. Hungarian or Magyar Viszlas are excellent hunting and companion dogs.

I'm sure these dogs' owner at first thought I was crazy. I was pantomiming that I used to have a dog like his and asked to take a picture. Smiling broadly, he put the dogs on "stay" and backed out of the field of view.  Ah, dog owners are the same everywhere.

Taking It To The Streets

Home away from home.

In the Southwest desert, we stay in during the summer and come out to play when the rest of the country's thoughts turn to shoveling snow. Now that Fall has officially started, at least on the calendar if not the temperature, it is time to hit the road. Stay outta my way!

Why do I love the ocean so, yet live in a desert?

A couple of blogs ago I wrote how I love the wide open spaces that is the American Southwest. The American Southwest conjures up images of cowboys and Indians, horses and cattle, along with vast landscapes dotted with mesas and distant mountains.

Yet, I love the ocean. It is the one thing I miss about moving from the coast. Every time I go nearby, I must, absolutely must, go to the ocean and stand awhile. This was taken last summer near San Diego, California.

From the Strand near Coronado, California

I guess the desert is vast like the ocean.  I like seeing the horizon and feeling a part of something bigger. I hate small spaces and feel free in the open.

Make It Happen!

Three words, four syllables, twelve letters, Vanna would only need to sell you three vowels. There are no accents or umlauts. Three simple words.

Yet they can mean so much.

Make It Happen!

Make what happen?

Well, lose weight, exercise, love yourself, get that job, go on vacation, love others, and the list is infinite.

What do you want to happen?

In the wise words of Captain Picard on the Star Ship Enterprise:

Obviously  not one of my own photos. Photographer unknown.

You'll be happier and make those around you happier also.

Give Me Wide Open Spaces

I was doing a bit of dirt road driving this past weekend

Out my window.

 and took a few shots of the wide open space I have come to love. Don't get me wrong, I like to visit old, interesting and yes, crowded cities, but I don't want to live anywhere but here.

Looking over the prickly pear at the road I drove in on.

I felt the need to follow this road to the top and take a closer look. What my photo cannot capture is the narrowness and the steepness of the road.

That guard rail looked a lot shakier when I was next to it.

At the top of Humboldt Peak next to the Radome is a Forest Service lookout tower. Yes, these wide open spaces are in the Tonto National Forest, the fifth largest NF in the country.  No one was there except for this large, black bird, a Raven I think.

National Forest Look Out

Watching for fires.

Part of the fantastic view, which made the scary drive worth the risk. Below is Horseshoe Lake, made by a dam on the Verde River in Arizona.

Looks so small from up here.

Yes, big cities have museums, theaters, and great restaurants, but nothing can compete with fresh air, blue skies, and the sounds of the wind.

Empowerment

When I took my first trip to Europe, I was a bit timid and overwhelmed. I was glad to be with my brother and a tour group. But it only took me a few days to become comfortable with my surroundings, so much so I decided I could follow my own way for a bit.

Our group was on "free time" and my brother and some others wanted to sit in a cafe and eat. I at first sat with them, but quickly became quite agitated that a) I was not hungry and b) why was I "wasting" my time sitting with these people when I could be out seeing something.

Therefore, I quite literally jumped up, made an excuse of some sort, and set off on my own. Bear in mind that I am in a country where I don't speak the language and I'm about to take off on my blister-laden feet through the sweltering heat that is July in Prague.

Knowing a little bit of the history by now, I knew that one of the Czech Republic's most holy relics, the Infant of Prague, was contained in the Church of our Lady Victorious. I also knew that our tour would not take us near there.

If you are familiar with Prague, you know that the Vltava River runs through the city and you can cross it via the St. Charles Bridge. When I left my group, I was in the old square in front of the astronomical clock tower and had to find my way to the Bridge and then to the Church.  I will talk more of these sights in later blogs.

My first delight was in finding the Havelska Street Market. The booths were filled with all sorts of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as souvenirs. I picked up a small clock which was reminiscent of the astronomical clock for less than I had seen in the regular shops. I also indulged in a small bunch of the best grapes I have ever eaten. They were warmed by the sun and full of flavor. I munched on them as I continued my walk to the Bridge.

Havelska Street Market, Prague

Just look at those old buildings and cobblestones! Although it was as I said a sweltering heat, everyone was friendly, polite and generally in a good mood. I stopped and looked at every stand before I remembered I was on a mission with a time schedule; I had to be back in the old square by 4pm to meet up with the bus back to our hotel.

I continued on my way and felt a bit lost in searching for the river. All the streets curve and the buildings are high so you can't really get a good bearing. Lucky for me I am one of those people who can usually remember where I've been and have a good sense of direction. I made it to the church and back to the meeting point with time to spare.

I say all that to say, as I was crossing the bridge back I was struck by the thought, "I am doing it." I had navigated an unknown city, without knowing the language, and I did it all on my own. No one to fall back on, no one to ask what to do next. I was completely independent.

It. Felt. Wonderful.

This feeling stayed with me through trip. But it wasn't just the independence; I was doing more physically than I ever thought possible. The heat was oppressive, my feet were blistered, my muscles were sore, I was jet lagged, and yet I carried on.

Never give up. Since then I try to incorporate this into my day to day life. Live life to the fullest.

You Don't Have To Leave Town

I had to travel half way around the globe to come to the realization that you don't need to leave your own city to have a marvelous trip. When you are in a strange city, whether it is in another country or across your own, you look at it with different eyes.

I found myself taking pictures of buildings and bridges and statues and landscapes that if I lived there, I probably never would. Why take a picture of a Frank Gehry building, if it is two blocks from where you work?

The Dancing House in Prague, also known as Fred and Ginger or the less polite Drunken Building

And how often do you go to the zoo or a museum in your own town?

Ad for Phoenix Art Museum

If it's not as often as you would like, then I challenge you to get out and be a tourist where you live. The advantages are great - you speak the language (presumably), you probably know your way around, you won't necessarily need a hotel or restaurant (although I'm always easily talked into indulging in both of those), and you won't have to go through security at the airport.

Take pictures and buy souvenirs so you can always remember that there really is no place like home. Besides, think of all the people getting on jets and flying in just to see what you take for granted.

A Different Kind of Sign

Yesterday I wrote of two rather bossy and restrictive signs. Today I will share with you a different kind of sign, one that doesn't tell you what you can't or mustn't do, but one that invites you to soar.

Yes. This is good.

To give credit where credit is due, I saw and photographed this sign while at a Subaru dealership. It is apparently their guideline. Yes, we bought the Outback, and yes, they did go beyond expectations. We should all apply this more and what a wonderful world it would be because basically it is saying to put others first and do what must be done. Bravo.

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign OR Stuck in the Middle

Can't decide which theme song this deserves - either Five Man Electrical Band's "Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign" which goes on to say "blocking out the scenery, messing my mind, do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign." Or perhaps Steelers Wheel "Stuck in the Middle With You" because I was stuck in the middle of two signs.

This morning I was walking down a paved pathway that went next to a golf course and behind a condominium building. Beautiful morning and although I had no intention of straying from the path, it was a little annoying to see these two signs directly opposite each other either side of the pathway.

Not golfing, can't go here.

I don't live here, so sorry, can't cut through here either.

Luckily, I wanted to stay on the path and my morning was delightful and without incident. Who  knows what dire events would have occurred if I had strayed.

Montezuma's Castle and Well in Arizona

I was here recently with a friend of mine. This is a very well preserved ruin left by the Sinagua Indians (the name means without water).

Cliff dwelling ruins at Montezuma's Castle in Arizona

More cliff dweller ruins at Montezuma's Well in Arizona (within 10 miles of Montezuma's Castle)

The natural well itself that lies under the above cliff dwelling.

These are just a few of the spectacular ruins in the American Southwest. Originally discoverers thought they were left behind by the Aztec, which explains the names given to these two sites.

Montezuma's Well is quite primitive, but Montezuma's Castle has a visitor's center and gift shop for a myriad of southwestern books and souvenirs. It is also next to Cliff Castle Casino, so don't be surprised to see buses of tourists stopping here. This is also because it is a good stop between Phoenix and Flagstaff. Worth a visit, but be advised that it is very hot in the Summer months. http://www.americansouthwest.net/arizona/montezuma_castle/national_monument.html

One Hundred Million Years From Now

I was watching a nature show on the Animal Planet channel called The Great Rift. It had some amazing photography. Why am I telling you this? Well, the narrator made a comment like "In one hundred million years from now" blah blah blah.

Come on. You could say anything after that statement because none of us will be here then! In one hundred million years humans will be able to fly because evolution will have taken us that far. Who can dispute it? Who can confirm it? No one! That's the beauty - you can say anything!

So, I say that in one hundred million years from now, my descendants will have cured the common cold as well as cancer, negotiated world peace, ended hunger and obesity, and in an act of supreme gratitude, they were rewarded with the title of Greatest Grandest Poobah and given some beach front property in Arizona where they raise unicorns.

Who Am I and Why Is This My Kingdom

My name is Misty and I although I am from the west coast of beautiful California, I consider the world to be my own personal kingdom for me to travel through as I please. There is just too much Out There to be content to sit at home without even trying to see it all. I have traveled to several cities and countries on two continents and look forward to visiting the other five - yes, I plan to some day go to Antarctica, why leave one out just because it is difficult.

This blog will chronicle not just my tourist-of-the-world sights, but also the people I've met along the way. This blog will also not be in an particular time frame order. As I've said before, I travel as I please, so I also write as I please. Life would be way too boring if it were confined to the linear. Think of me as a time traveler with ADD on crack with a bit of royalty thrown in for balance and decorum.

A Horse Is A Horse, Of Course, Of Course

I admit it - I have loved horses since the first time I saw one.  I love all of them from sleek racehorses to muscular work horses. I equally love to watch The Black Stallion and Budweiser commercials. When I was a child, I would actually tell people that I wanted to be a horse when I grew up!

So, on my trip to the Bavarian region in Germany it was no surprise that I found horses to photograph.

Nice Bavarian painted home in the background.

No, that is not my arm.

I could live here.

 Horses are the same world over - beautiful, magnificent, gentle creatures.

That's What She Said

Wow, that is huge! Yes, that is what I said when I first saw the American Airlines One World Boeing 777-200 in which I would be taking my first trans-Atlantic flight.

I think that engine is larger than my Nissan pick up truck!

Look how little those windows appear!

I was a bit nervous about this flight  - ten and a half hours from LAX to Heathrow. And because I am on a budget, this was in economy. Luckily I was on the aisle and the people around me were very nice. I kept myself occupied with the in flight movies, including old episodes of The Office - one of my favorite shows, right up there with Seinfeld.

I also found the in flight map that showed our progress, speed, altitude and outside temperature. Because it was a night flight I could not see anything below, but I know I went over some very interesting places. They should give you a dvd with the recorded flight as you leave. That would be so awesome - American Airlines? Are you listening?

Looking forward to many more flights to visit the rest of my kingdom!

Passing Through Bratislava, Slovakia

Alas, this trip I was with a tour group so had no say over where I went or how long I stayed. This spectacular bridge was my first sight after leaving the bus:

Novy Most or New Bridge over Danube

That is a "boatel" in the foreground. It's a hotel on a boat. Looks like a fun place to stay and within sight of the castle:

Bratislava Castle

From there we walked to a nice park that had restaurants, shops and hotels along it's cobblestone paths.

This beautiful building was the main focus of the square:

Through the middle is a long row of pools that people were able to take a break from the heat by cooling their feet. Next to the pools was a very large chess set.

Nearby was also a statue of Hans Christian Andersen which surprised me because I never associated him with Slovakia, but apparently they liked him there.

Hans Christian Andersen

I wish I had more time to spend in this delightful country. One day I would like to go back. It wasn't just the beautiful countryside and buildings, it was all the history from kings to communism. Nothing makes history come to life like visiting the locations.