Mind Magic In Travel

The immense power of critical thinking has reawakened me today On a recent visit to Universal Studios in Orlando , I entered the world of Harry Potter sorcery , where possessing a magic wand provided the illusion of moving objects , opening doors and defying the effect of gravity. As I exited this land of Hogwarts fantasy , I reflect upon how the power of deception associated with tourist “hot spots” has influenced me as an itinerant traveler.

I begin by reassessing the tourist appeal of a ” Fountain of Youth” in St, Augustine, Florida. It seems odd that such an important monument in American History , is surrounded by tacky mermaid statues, celebrity wax museums , and exotic animal exhibits .The fountain’s timeless legacy of immortality makes a nice , marketing theme if you are willing to spend your money and time indulging in overpriced , “tourist trap” activities.

As I continue to reflect on the critical capacity of my mind , I am standing at the entrance of a popular , Natural History Museum , in Kentucky , that has decided to depict Biblical images amidst ancient , prehistoric animals as evidence of life’s evolutionary past. What would be a museum’s motive to show a dinosaur feeding nearby the sacred ark of Noah? I suspect that religious propaganda was used here as an emotional call to raise money for

The immense power of critical thinking has reawakened me today. On a recent visit to Universal Studios in Orlando, I entered the world of Harry Potter sorcery, where possessing a magic wand provided the illusion of moving objects, opening doors and defying the effect of gravity. As I exited this land of Hogwarts fantasy, I reflect upon how the power of deception associated with tourist “hot spots” has influenced me as an itinerant traveler.

I begin by reassessing the tourist appeal of a” Fountain of Youth” in St, Augustine, Florida. It seems odd that such an important monument in American History , is surrounded by tacky mermaid statues, celebrity wax museums , and exotic animal exhibits .The fountain’s legacy of agelessness makes a nice, marketing theme if you are willing to spend your money and time indulging in overpriced, “tourist trap” activities.

As I continue to reflect on the critical capacity of my mind, I am standing at the entrance of a popular , Natural History Museum, in Kentucky, that has decided to depict Biblical images amidst ancient , prehistoric animals as evidence of life’s evolutionary past. What would be a museum’s motive to show a dinosaur feeding nearby the sacred ark of Noah? I suspect that religious propaganda was used here as an emotional call to raise money for the Christian cause.

It is difficult to ignore the fantasy of opulence along the famous, Las Vegas strip. I often imagine becoming a multi – millionaire tycoon there, with the mere flick of a blackjack- playing wrist or possessing a lucky card combination. I am also well aware of this city’s tolerance of forbidden sins as made famous by the phrase “what goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas”. As I turn my head beyond the neon glamour of the strip , to the barren desert beyond , however , I realize my modest , personal income and ordinary , social status, have not changed as a result of my vacations there. A more relevant question might be, has Sin City helped me be become a better person, in view of its notorious reputation?

My mind-probing journey ends in Southern California as the alluring decadence of a Hollywood movie past awaits me. My celebrity tour begins in Beverly Hills, as I saunter along Rodeo Drive and count the number of Rolls Royce sightings and who might be their famous owners. What would it be like to see my own cast of footprints in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater along Hollywood Boulevard or star in my own movie there? More likely though, my dream of reliving Hollywood, cinematic glories will now seem absurd as I increasingly experience traffic gridlock, smoggy air, and high crime slum conditions in the surrounding Los Angeles area.

There are no magic wands available for humans to conquer our imperfect world. Making the right choice to be prudent about “fairy tale” descriptions of travel is our own responsibility. Enjoy your holiday vacation but don’t forget the true magic lies in your brain as a critical thinker.