week end break

MARY SHELLEY QUOTE #1

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Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose – a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye.  Mary Shelley

Thank you subscribers and readers for taking the time to visit my blog!!

If this is the first time you are visiting the site, welcome to the tales of a woman solo traveler and thoughts to make today the start of something new.

Although I take a break during the weekends, I’ll be back on Monday and would be delighted, in the meantime, if you would look through my previous posts. Perhaps you missed a few or will reread one with a new perspective.There is a list of all the previous posts by title and date.

Since the configuration of the site may differ on your browser, perhaps you have not noticed the tabs which offer some additional information:Why this blog?, Images, How I Began, etc.

You can search certain posts by category: Practical Advice, Thoughts on Oneself, Snapshots, etc.

All of these may be at the very bottom of the posts.

While traveling I may not be posting each day. To be notified when I have written a new post please subscribe-of course its free.
I would be delighted if you would sign up.

I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images and join me in my quest for growth, wonderment and self-improvement.

Here’s to new discoveries near and far!

Enjoy the days.

ENCOUNTERS

A CAPABLE COUPLE

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P1040755Last night I was riding my bicycle along the west side of Manhattan. There is a scenic bike path that follows the river and I was looking for an entryway from the street above. I noticed a very long flight of stairs, but the weight of my bike discouraged me from carrying it down.

I headed over to the sidewalk for a better view, but still saw nothing. Just then, a man and woman were approaching me. They were well-dressed, speaking amiably to each other. Both were in wheelchairs.

“Excuse me, do you know if there’s a ramp to get down to the river?” I asked. They stopped, and the woman replied as she pointed..”Yes, just on the other side of that tree. The ramp’s a bit tough for us, so we use another one a bit further on, but it should be fine for you.”

From my position the ramp was obscured. “Just there? I don’t see it.” I sheepishly said. ” “No, you can’t see it from here, but if you go on the other side of the tree you will,” the man joined in. I thanked them, and followed their directions. The ramp was there.

I looked back and noticed that they had lingered. I gave a wave and thanked them again. They waved back with smiles and continued on.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

DENSHOSHA

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P1020296When I was a child, I wished that I could remember everything. I was told that this might not be a good idea.

There is wisdom in these words, but do we choose the memories we retain?

Some people in Japan, called denshoshas, are spending years with Hiroshima bomb survivors.

The denshoshas will be sharing the survivors’ memories for posterity after they are gone.

I am hoping, despite the horrors, there will be memories of joy as well.

 

 

 

ENCOUNTERS

BEING PREPARED

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P1040453It’s ninety-two degrees outside and I have a jacket in anticipation of frigid air-conditioned interiors. (Certain subway cars are more suitable for transporting meat than live flesh.) And I am not alone. There are others, mostly women, wearing or carrying extra garments too.

This particular subway car however, is comfortable. The crowd inside is undoubtedly raising the temperture. There is a small group of tourists standing near me. Their guide book is prominantly displayed while they chat in a foreign tongue. The doors at my stop open and I get up to leave.  The tourists are leaving the car too. It is then we all notice a yellow sweater has slipped to the floor.  They gingerly step over it, clearly unsure of what to do. I snatch it up. The doors of the car close behind me.

At that moment I am wondering if taking the sweater was a wise idea. “Who does it belong to? How can I return it?” I quickly look around and see a woman in a summer dress walking up the stairs. Fortunately, at that moment there are very few women ahead of me. I assume it is hers and do my best to reach her. The station is crowded. My progress is slow. Upstairs is another subway line and the woman is turning to enter the awaiting train. While still making my way up I give out a cry, ” Hello! Hello!” She turns! “Is this yours?” I say while showing her the sweater in my hand. Her eyes show surprise. She smiles wide and says. “Yes, yes. Thank you. Thank you very much!” I hand her the sweater as she dashs into the subway car.

Whatever the temperature awaiting her, she was well prepared.

 

 

SNAPSHOTS

SNAPSHOT #9

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2015-08-04 10.26.38Sometimes a moment lingers and the memory it produces is like a snapshot. 

I hadn’t heard of Etta James until the late 1980’s, even though she started her career decades before. I instantly became a fan. She was just then returning  to the limelight and performing at a small venue in midtown Manhattan. I made sure I was there. The club had two floors. I was upstairs standing against a railing and watching Ms. James perform on a small stage below.

Her sultry sound and familiar tunes, from the beginning, evoked explosive applause. And then she warmed up. From my perspective above, I couldn’t tell if Ms. James was short or tall, but there was no doubt that she had ample flesh on her bones. She became loose and sassy. She gyrated her hips and sashayed her voluptuous form. She was seducing everyone with her grit, her grinds, her teasing, and her extraordinary voice. The audience whooped and hollered. Some of us screamed. Some of us cried. She cast a spell. We were all her fools that night.

 

ENCOUNTERS

A GOOD INTENTION

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P1040461Poverty, homelessness and hunger are serious concerns for many residents of this city. Over the years I have tried to assist those in need by giving to reputable charities and other means.

It is not uncommon for me to take a too-ample portion home from a restaurant. If I encounter someone on the street asking for something to eat, I will tell them what I have and ask them if they would like it. The gesture is often appreciated and the food is accepted.

Yesterday, I left a restaurant with a hearty meal’s worth of food for the next day. I passed a man sitting by a storefront. “Do you have money so I can buy some food?” he asked. “I have here some vegetables and rice, if you like.” I showed him the neat paper package in my hand. He looked at me, then vigorously shook his head. “I don’t eat leftovers.” he said. 

I had the leftovers today for lunch. They were delicious.

 

week end break

JAMES BALDWIN QUOTE #2

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Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by others doing it. James Baldwin

Thank you subscribers and readers for taking the time to visit my blog!!

If this is the first time you are visiting the site, welcome to the tales of a woman solo traveler and thoughts to make today the start of something new.

Although I take a break during the weekends, I’ll be back on Monday and would be delighted, in the meantime, if you would look through my previous posts. Perhaps you missed a few or will reread one with a new perspective.There is a list of all the previous posts by title and date.

Since the configuration of the site may differ on your browser, perhaps you have not noticed the tabs which offer some additional information:Why this blog?, Images, How I Began, etc.

You can search certain posts by category: Practical Advice, Thoughts on Oneself, Snapshots, etc.

All of these may be at the very bottom of the posts.

While traveling I may not be posting each day. To be notified when I have written a new post please subscribe-of course its free.
I would be delighted if you would sign up.

I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images and join me in my quest for growth, wonderment and self-improvement.

Here’s to new discoveries near and far!

Enjoy the days.

week end break

JAMES BALDWIN QUOTE #1

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No one can possibly know what is about to happen: it is happening, each time, for the first time, for the only time. James Baldwin

Thank you subscribers and readers for taking the time to visit my blog!!

If this is the first time you are visiting the site, welcome to the tales of a woman solo traveler and thoughts to make today the start of something new.

Although I take a break during the weekends, I’ll be back on Monday and would be delighted, in the meantime, if you would look through my previous posts. Perhaps you missed a few or will reread one with a new perspective.There is a list of all the previous posts by title and date.

Since the configuration of the site may differ on your browser, perhaps you have not noticed the tabs which offer some additional information:Why this blog?, Images, How I Began, etc.

You can search certain posts by category: Practical Advice, Thoughts on Oneself, Snapshots, etc.

All of these may be at the very bottom of the posts.

While traveling I may not be posting each day. To be notified when I have written a new post please subscribe-of course its free.
I would be delighted if you would sign up.

I hope you find information and inspiration in the text and images and join me in my quest for growth, wonderment and self-improvement.

Here’s to new discoveries near and far!

Enjoy the days.

TRAVEL TALES

A RIFF ON LODGING AMENITIES

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P1050390The tiny, wrapped bars of soap barely outlast the stay, yet they’re appreciated when compared to BYOP(Bring Your Own Places.) Large, new, wrapped bars are pleasant, albeit wasteful. (Unless saved for BYOP.)
Shampoo, conditioner and moisturizers in small plastic packets don’t elicit much excitement, but they do the trick. Bottles depending on the shape, material and size are standard, but glass is a sign of class. (And shampoo works great for those hand-washables.)
Sewing kits are great to have (over the years I’ve accumulated an ample supply). Disposable shoehorns and faux shoeshine (It’s usually just a black sponge.) are less my thing.
Mouthwash and shaving equipment are a rare find.
A toothbrush, toothpaste, and comb can be a treat.
Ditto for slippers (the soft ones are meant for the taking, the plastic ones are not).
Bathrobes, mints on pillows are only high-end.  Water bottles, fruit? It depends.
Towels: the size, how many, how soft, washcloths, bath mat, line-dried (stiff from drying in the sun.), machine-dried. The quality and quantity varies from place to place.  I’ve encountered BYOP.
Plastic cups, plastic cups wrapped in plastic, glasses, glasses with paper wrappers: all good indications of the price I am paying.
Ice bucket. That’s a maybe.
Hot water. Bathroom.  Usually, but they are not assured.
Outdoor showers are a delight.
Curtains.Venetian blinds. Sometimes nothing at all.
One pillow, two, three. Long, square, rectangular. Soft or hard. It too depends.
Clock. ( BYOP abound. Best to be prepared.)  But even the shabbier places have TVs.
Telephone. Maybe. Room service is not guaranteed.
Soft bed, firm bed, clean bed. All valid concerns.
But after all, it’s just a place to stay before morning’s awakening.
OBSERVATIONS

KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL

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P1040915Although I do not follow sports often, I read a New York Times article on the football player Tom Brady. He allegedly damaged his cell phone to destroy incriminating evidence. A query had been sent out to the Times’ readers asking how they would destroy a cell phone if they had to. The survey elicited more than 2500 responses which included the use of blenders, mallets, grinders, fires, and microwave ovens. The Times published “the best.”

A number of people suggested throwing the phone into a river. Insuring the phone sank, they assumed the information would be lost forever. But my first thought was, “What about the river?!” No one seemed at all concerned about polluting the river.

In the early seventies a public campaign, from “Keep America Beautiful,” was aired on television. It showed a Native American, in traditional attire, canoeing through the ravages of industrial waste, walking through trash and then being hit with litter. The commercial ended with a close-up of his face and a tear falling slowly down his cheek. I’ve never forgotten it.

Knowing there are people who can think of throwing a cell phone in a river, I am hoping the commercial will air again.

 

Thoughts on travel