Sunday, July 27, 2008

Baltimore Inner Harbor 294


Baltimore Inner Harbor 294
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck
The USS Constellation, a three masted sailing ship, is anchored at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The beautifully planned inner harbor region blends Baltimore's seafaring history with modern restaurants, shops, and hotels, and is the regions top tourism hot spot as well as a key Convention area for the USA.

Water taxis are $9 for unlimited rides all day, and offer a great informal tour of the entire harbor as well as a way to jump around from place to place.

Do not miss "Fells Point", Baltimore's charming historic area which is only minutes from the main Inner Harbor by car or Water Taxi or a moderate walk. Check out the Broadway market at Fells point for fresh seafood or head to "Little Italy" nearby which is very popular with locals or for a spectacular $28 seafood buffet consider "Philliips" right at the heart of the Inner Harbor.

A great first stop is the excellent information center at the Inner Harbor where an orientation film and extensive information will get you going quickly.

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Budget Travel: Great New World Attractions

Budget Travel profiles eight amazing upcoming attractions for the traveler who has seen everything. From Space Travel by Virgin Galactic to the Burj Dubai which will be the world's tallest building, topping the competition by about 1000 feet.

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Harpers Ferry - John Brown Plotted Here

Harpers Ferry West Virginia featured prominently in US History for over a century. Thomas Jefferson visited this area at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. Lewis and Clark were outfitted here after a long stay preparing for the trip west.

But the most famous event was the slave rebellion of John Brown here in Harpers Ferry. At the "Secret Six" Tavern plans were made for the overthrow of the US Government. Brown assumed his uprising at Harpers would catalyze enslaved Americans to rebel and begin a chain reaction of rebellions throughout the south that would overthrow the Government. This was not to be, and after several days Brown was captured and many of his key followers were executed.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Vietnam: Make Miss Universe Pageant, Not War

Some 40 years after the bitter conflicts in Vietnam between North Vietnamese, South Vietnamese, and the USA, it is encouraging to see that country hosting the Miss Universe pageant.

After decades of near economic ruin, Vietnam is enjoying a fast paced renaissance, attracting new foreign investment as well as a renewed interest in entrepreneurial activity throughout the country.

The Miss Universe Pageant is held at the Diamond Bay Resort in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Womens Army Corps Poster, WWII era


WACS POSTER 0001
Originally uploaded by wacs62
Poster art played a large role in the campaigns to enlist and build morale in the US Military during Word War II. Posters were also used to keep public morale high as well as encourage, for example, neighbors to report suspicious activity.

Our current sensibilities make many of the old style approaches seem heavy handed or in some cases racist, sexist, or otherwise questionable, but it is also hard to put the US WWII War effort into any relevant modern context. Arguably the future of the world was at stake in the 1940s and it is extremely unlikely we'll see any kind of conflict like this again.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Great Travel Blog

A great travel blog to check out is by a Canadian Couple who travel for a few months each year... and write about it.

India is the latest adventure...

Check them out here

Check out India9.com, our companion travel webite.

Monday, July 7, 2008

Tour de France ... in England?


Tour de France Prologue 07
Originally uploaded by boarderstu
The Tour de France is by far the world's best known cycling event. Although most of the event is in France, covering some 2200 miles over some three weeks of "stage" racing, the racing sometimes includes other countries.

The Tour de France is a household name in sport, but few know the fascinating historical origins of the race, which stem from the tensions in France over the Dreyfus affair. Dreyfus was a French military man accused of providing secrets to the Germans. A popular sports newspaper called Le Velo maintained Dreyfus guilt while a major advertiser disagreed to the extent they started their own sports newspaper and sponsored an event to promote that new publication. Hence, in 1903 the Tour de France was born as an advertising promotion following a historical controversy.

Dreyfus was eventually exonerated.