Great Hall of the People, Beijing, Tiananmen Square

Great Hall of the People, Beijing, Tiananmen Square
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

This is the Great Hall of the People where the China Communist party members meet to make China's key governmental decisions. This enormous hall lies to one side of Tiananmen square in Beijng and across from the Forbidden City.

Bendixen's Shipyard, Eureka, Cal.

Bendixen's Shipyard, Eureka, Cal.
Originally uploaded by DBerry2006

Click on this picture for Dberry's great collection of historic pictures and postcards featuring Northern California destinations.

Pristine unused postcard. On the back is printed "Private Mailing Card Authorized by Act of Congress, May 19, 1898."

Higgins Ferry, Smith River, CA about 1903

Higgins Ferry, Smith River, CA about 1903
Originally uploaded by DBerry2006

The history of Northern California offers a powerful combination of Native American culture and lore, European exploration, gold mining and the farming and ranching that still characterize the splendid American landscape that stretches (very roughly) from Redding to Yreka to the Oregon border in the middle of the state and from Mendocino to Del Norte Counties on the California Coast and from Alturas to Klamath Falls Oregon in the high desert Eastern side of California.

Forbidden City Ancient Fire Extinguisher

Forbidden City Ancient Fire Extinguisher 738
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

These massive kettles were used to hold water to put out fires in the Forbidden City. For the more important building the huge copper (brass?) kettles were covered with .... gold.

Travel Like James Bond

If you like James Bond films you'll enjoy Budget Travel's tour of hotspots from the Bond Movies:
http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-dyn/content/article/2008/05/15/AR2008051502899.html

From Italy to Istanbul to Thailand, James Bond really got around as a tourist even though he generally was too busy dodging bullets to do much sightseeing. You can avoid most of the danger he faced with visits to these locations or avoid all of it as an armchair traveller:

Casino Royale (2006) One & Only Ocean Club, Paradise Island, Bahamas

GoldenEye (1995)Le Casino de Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Octopussy (1983)Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, India

From Russia with Love (1963)Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Dr. No (1962)Dunn's River Falls & Park, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)Ko Tapu, near Phuket, Thailand

Goldfinger (1964) Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Fla.

Quantum of Solace (release date: November 2008) The Palio, Siena, Italy

Beijing Lunch: Bugs on a Stick

Bugs on a Stick - Yummy! 751
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

At this food stall just off of Wanfujing Street in Beijing you can enjoy fried scorpions, grasshoppers, and other bugs on a stick which are usually deep fried. I tried the scorpions which tasted sort of nutty and crispy.

China takes food *very* seriously, and most regions have a cuisine they are noted for throughout China. Beijing is more noted for duck and meats, where in Shanghai soups and dumplings are more traditional fare. Hong Kong? Try the world's best Dim Sum.

Jim's Philly Cheesesteaks, Philadelphia PA

Jim's Steaks, Philadelphia
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

Blogging about pizza was making me hungry and also making me realize how important history and food can be to an enjoyable travel experience.

History and food intersect in Philadelphia PA in the form of the Philly Cheeseteaks - a delicious but artery clogging combination of chopped (or, less often, sliced) beef, smothered in melted cheese (usually Cheese Whiz), and served on a large hot dog style bun.

This is not exactly fine dining, but you'd be missing something to visit Philadelphia without enjoying one of these local bad boys.


It took some research to settle my curiousity about competing claims as to who invented the Cheesesteak. No less than the New York Times says it was probably Pat and Jim Olivieri, formerly of of Pat's King of Steaks.

Jim's Steaks is one of Philadelphia's most popular restaurants, though it's more like a huge hole in the wall with limited seating and huge lines. But folks keep on coming because Jim's is known as among the top purveyors of the legendary Philly Cheesteak - chopped meat and cheese served in a bun. Was this line, which snaked around the building to the left and had about 50 people waiting, the lunch rush? Nope, we were there in the middle of the afternoon.