It amazes me how many moments in my travels have no corresponding English word to describe them. As a result of my research, I came across a useful list of words of foreign origin that would allow me to express my insights with greater precision. My newest feature of “Snippets for the Traveling Mind”, then, will attempt to make practical use of selected words from this list that clearly have relevance to a particular time and place in my wandering life.

My topic for March is “Vacilando”- a Spanish term for the act of wandering when the experience of travel is more important than reaching the specific destination. The closest English word meaning is the verb vacillate, which means to waver in one’s decision -making. In 1962, John Steinbeck used this word in his novel “Travels With Charley” to describe a long journey made from Siberia to Mongolia. More recently,Vacilando Films, based in Rhode Island, has created a website of eclectic film offerings and streamed music for wedding celebrations.

In early Fall of 2015, my wife and I took the opportunity to book a one bedroom studio in Lisbon, Portugal. Our centrally located flat in the historic Baixa District offered access to the nearby Tagus River shoreline and proximity to the seven hills that this city is famous for. Traveling by foot or tram, our days were filled with random sight encounters and unexpected human interactions. Clearly, Lisbon was an ideal choice for us, in our efforts to enjoy this spirit of vacilando. Here then are five snippet experiences to consider in Lisbon for the wanderlust traveler.

1. Watch the sunset as you sit quietly along to the gentle flowing waters of the Tagus River. Observe your spiritual connection to the Cristo Rei, (The Christ Statue) in the distance. As night settles in, take a relaxing walk along the Tagus Boardwalk and realize the peaceful coexistence of so many cultures that congregate there in these shared moments.

2. Immerse yourself in the Portuguese love of food by browsing the assortment of cuisines and wine offerings at the Mercado da Ribeira (Central Market) for lunch or dinner. Find a spot to eat along a bench to find non-threatening opportunities to practice your Portuguese speaking abilities with the local crowd. In your morning visits to the market, make time to chat with local food vendors about life in Lisbon as you fill your own grocery bag with fresh fruits and vegetables.

3. Amble up the cobblestone maze of streets in the Alfama district to explore the diversity of cultures who settled in Lisbon’s past. As you proceed toward the highest point, among  brightly colored, tiled houses with wrought iron balconies, you realize you are witnessing the strong sense of peaceful community that has survived there amidst the area’s Roman, Moorish, and Visigoth past. At the top of the hill the fortifications of the São Jorge Castle surrounds you. Skip the crowded, castle tour and head for the courtyard as you find a cool spot under a shaded tree for a well- deserved rest. On your descent from the Alfama heights, visit a medieval tavern for a glass of wine and feel the Portuguese nostalgia for Fado Music. Listening to the mandolins and guitars now might inspire you to comfort someone who feels sad from the black and beautiful sorrow that this music stands for. Stand and up and dance to these soulful rhythms if you desire.

4. The Portuguese have known their share of political tragedy. As memories of the dictatorial abuses of the Antonio Salazar regime slowly fade, vacilando thrives in the spirit of protest. Challenge your mind. Strike up a conversation with a stranger in Rossio Square about women’s rights, gay liberation, or the ecology crisis. Stroll through the Rua Garrett and you might find the perfect coffeehouse to talk with strangers as you dare to try a strong cup of Portuguese “Bica” Coffee.

5. Hop aboard Tram 28for a roller coaster “fly” up a steep hilltop overlooking Lisbon. Play the “musical chairs game” to obtain a treasured window seat for maximum photography options. Feel the exhilaration at each screeching turn as you grab on to the nearest rail. Let your intuition guide you as you get off and on at will in order to obtain best views downriver to the Tagus.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day. A brief flash of the color green forms memories in my mind today. In a determined struggle to pursue success in life, I have completed degree requirements from three colleges: University of South Florida, University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University. Each experience plays out differently in mind now, however.

In the case of USF, I remember myself immersed in a true, campus environment that included  1.Taking great risks to become a well- rounded, pursuer of knowledge and 2.experiencing social highs in an appealing, college atmosphere (minus a football team). In the case of UM, the element of hectically commuting by car through dense, Miami streets to class each day combined with endless amounts of drudgery spent studying silently in the library, clouds my thoughts. From my NSU time, class attendance at night and Saturdays took the fun out of learning per se, as I continually crammed classes there to improve my credential in education.

Without a doubt, I enjoyed the four year experience at USF the most. In view of my innocent pursuit to become a curious scholar in a fun atmosphere there, I have wholeheartedly adopted USFMan as a logical choice for my Word Press User Name. I realize that college students today want “the best bang for their buck” in these times of exorbitant tuition fee payments and tight job markets. It seems that for many of our aspiring graduates, the”true”college experience, however, is in serious jeopardy now.

A white ball pounds leather today and my mind will take a welcome rest. Ball, strike, foul, or hit; it does not matter. Giant bobble dolls in silly uniforms race around the pitcher of choice on the mound. It seems there is always time to gaze without purpose at the green grass beyond or perhaps follow the flight path of a hungry gull. An explosion of motion breaks the silence as the confident flip of the slugger’s bat seems so simple to understand. A pause in the ball and bat encounter silences the crowd. When will the batter strike another? I seem to be hypnotized by this anticipation of action.

Whether old and young surrounds me this afternoon, it makes no difference. We all play the game in our mind according to own dreams for ourselves. Dust flies from spiked shoes to remind children to run swiftly. Female groupies admire the sculpted sinews of the flying baserunner with hopes of meeting the rich man of their dreams. A son longs to play catch again with his departed father. In the batter’s zeal to steal second base, an old timer grabs for his time-tested scorecard to record the action that his experience senses what will inevitably happen. The crowd boos with disgust as the catcher’s throw skips swiftly beyond the awaiting infielder. Is it possible that these spectators misjudge this error in view of their own life imperfections?

Turn back the clock to the simpler times of our youth as the pure joy of baseball surrounds you. Strike or ball, safe or out, fair or foul, no matter of gray will confuse our mind today. As adults, we often lose sight of the spirit of play in the complex matters of career and family. Turn off your mind now and imagine the baseball game as your sole point of interest. You might catch a foul ball or obtain that long sought autograph of your baseball hero. Silence your cellphone and enjoy the company of those fans of the game who surround you. If nothing else, have fun now.

Does it really matter which team wins in the end today? You found a new baseball player to admire or gained new appreciation for your family past. You felt peace from life’s slowdown while forgetting your deepest fears. You experienced the beauty of nature or acquired a newly prized baseball memory. You can be reassured that there will always be another baseball game to look forward to. As you become more appreciative of the present moment, is it wrong to think that the magic of baseball may never end?. If nothing else, have fun now.

As a longtime resident of South Florida, you become accustomed to the winter season, when hordes of tourists come to town for a brief glimpse of tropical paradise. You would normally expect then that our community would make an ideal spot for welcoming an extraterrestrial (ET) visitor from another galaxy. However, life has changed dramatically since our country has elected its first, reality TV star as President. A general distrust of others today pervades our country as our media – brainwashed citizens willingly subject themselves to a litany of lunatic rants and diatribes from their celebrity leader. The local airwaves are now filled with talk about erecting protective walls, deporting all foreigners, and confronting those in opposition with violent force.Under such conditions, imagine how the first encounter of intelligent ET beings with earthlings might occur in South Florida?

It is a typical, weekday afternoon in balmy Miami. While arriving vacationers dream of the hedonistic pleasures of South Beach, commuter traffic crawls predictably slow on Interstate 95 in the daily escape north to the surrounding suburbs. Suddenly, a ring of light appears in the eastern sky. From its center, a crystalline disc drops down to the earth at great speed from its seaward position, and lands near a line of stopped vehicles waiting to enter a north ramp to I-95. Due to recent U.S. aggression in South America and Mexico, the mood of our community can be described as already tense. It is eminently clear now that this unidentified blockage of a major, South Florida right of way might pose a potential security threat of major proportion. National and local media TV markets will soon interrupt regular 5:00 pm, programming of the President’s new favorite show, “You Are a Loser Compared to Me,” to report “Breaking News”,  that an invasion from outer space is happening now in the vicinity of downtown Miami. How would highly intelligent beings from outer space view us then? Would they perceive us as a knowledgeable and hospitable people?

Conversations on ET Spacecraft 5:05 pm. EST

Sargon, There is a flat expanse of terrain running parallel to the earth sun. (highway). Let us secure a position near this space. Many of these inhabitants appear to carry shiny objects in their rectangular tubes of travel (passenger vehicle). I have learned that the human name for them is gun. I reason that they must use these mechanisms to obtain more nourishment for themselves.”

Yes, Zibula, these are several characteristics that appear to be human. I also observe that these inhabitants make use of their nourishment guns frequently with curious upright gestures of their right appendage (hand) accompanied by a thrusting (finger) ritual they call “shooting a bird.” It also appears that their search for provisions involves an excess of loud, mouth vibrations (profanities) and a shrill, warning burst (horn) from the front of their travel tube vehicle. I think there are many that must be very hungry.

Sargon, I have established contact with one of the inhabitants. This humanoid has no gun and calls itself homeless. It has informed me that there are many beings here with the same name who lack basic nourishment. Such Humanoids must have a great need for a nourishment gun. Perhaps we can provide them with our own Sustenance Synthesizer (device for growing food without soil or sunlight) for growing unlimited amounts of nourishment.

Zibula, I have determined that their guns can also be used as weapons to kill. Why don’t they make peaceful use of these devices to help nourish the homeless ones? We must show them that our own nutrition – producing mechanisms do not intend to kill. Let us package our food production gifts to their leaders now as a token of our concern.

While the aliens ponder a way to present their gestures of peace to humans, the rapidly evolving situation intensifies as a nervous citizenry hears of this impending tragedy.

Emergency Broadcast, Miami Florida 5:10 pm EST

On the Scene Report. 1 – An unidentified flying vehicle has just landed in the northbound entrance lane of Interstate Highway #95.  Traffic has been halted for security reasons in both directions although a sizable number of bystanders from surrounding areas have amassed near the scene. It is believed that the situation is tense amongst the onlookers in fear that an outsider threat is imminent in our community.

On the Scene Report 2 – An Armed Citizenry Team has surrounded the alien object and is currently conducting a thorough investigation of the threat potential. No enemy organization has as yet claimed responsibility for this action. We urge everyone to remain vigilant and be on the lookout any suspicious activity. Weapons and ammunition can be purchased immediately at major retail stores, for your personal protection.

On the Scene Report 3 – The alien spacecraft has issued a message that has been encrypted by our security forces.  “We come in peace and wish to assist you. We offer new ways to help you obtain food for your homeless species.” Do not consider from these words that the threat to our community is over. I repeat, we cannot trust these intruders.

Final On the Scene Report – A few minutes ago, a local citizen team attempted to secure the mystery space vehicle. As the occupants of the vessel were attempting to exit the spacecraft , carrying suspicious bags in their possession, the safety of these officials was considered to be threatened. All of the aliens were then killed in the line of duty. It was also reported that several commuter onlookers surrounding the scene were shot in the confusion. Please note that tonight’s football game between the Butcherers and the Annihilators at the arena will not be delayed

Implications for the Political Arena

Boys brandish guns to defend their macho manhood, Hunters shoot animals for sport but innocent animals cannot fire back. Our prisons overflow with violent prisoners who have no conscience for their malicious actions. When are people going to realize that our public servants will not bring an end to such savagery as long as they glorify aggression and hate at the expense of a peaceful mankind. It seems necessary for us to examine the possibilities of an outer world in the blue sky above as an answer to this question.

Summary of the Novel

“The day is made up of 24 hours and an infinite number of moments. We need to be aware of those moments and make the most of them regardless of whether we’re busy doing something or contemplating life.” –   Paulo Coelho

“The Witch of Portobello” is not a novel demonizing the life of an ugly sorceress who concocts black magic and nightmarish spells. It is the story of lovely Athena, an adopted daughter of Lebanese parents, now living in London. At this point in her young adult life, she has been divorced, raised a young son, and been rejected by the Catholic Church of her childhood. These matters , accompanied by the feeling that her gypsy mother has abandoned her in childhood, leads Athena along the path of distrust of herself and of those around her. Refusing to suffer in silence in her present state, however, she seeks refuge in the experience of travel.

Possessing this wandering spirit, Athena begins to open her eyes to new experiences. She journeys to the Middle East to discover the spontaneous freedom of calligraphy as well as the meditative power of dance, Feeling curious about the origins of her gypsy past, Athena travels to Romania to seek the whereabouts of the mother who had rejected her. They successfully reunite to discuss the gypsy belief that there is a strong, spiritual power within that every human possesses. Based on these conversations, Athena returns to London now feeling strongly that this knowledge of her gypsy past has awakened unique abilities – communicating with the dead, prophesizing the future and recognizing the presence of true love in a feminine spirit.

In returning home to England, Athena becomes a cult figure in her community. She conducts talks at night to help-seeking audiences as a way to test her new powers with strangers. In these sessions, she encourages dancing with unaccustomed movements and rhythms, enters into deep trances to predict the future, and espouses a “goddess diet” for eating more not less for obtaining happiness. Her rising popularity though leads to controversy as god-fearing, Christian threats against her life appear and legal actions are filed to stop her from performing these witchlike demonstrations. In spite of the continuing furor, Athena expresses continued confidence to remain a martyr for being what she believes she truly is. Tragically, Athena’s life ends in a news report of her brutal murder, whereupon the evidence to explain this tragedy will be mysteriously tampered with.

Personal Reflections

Snippet 1 – Athena’s traveling spirit becomes an impetus for greater awareness of the present moment.

I have often felt trapped by the pressure to survive as a teacher in a competitive world. Blinded by the need to plan ahead for my lessons or look back at my past learnings in college, I would lose sight of experiencing the present. Seeking a way to relax from such mind chatter, I noticed that holidays away from home helped me to center my attention in the now more. I most recently experienced such a revelation last summer. On a summer road trip from Florida to California, a decision to retrace the path of the Oregon Trail , allowed me to experience the “here and now” desolation of distance and harshness of topography that land – seeking families faced in the pioneer days of 19th century America.

Snippet 2 – Athena learns that becoming an independent, gypsy wanderer will allow her to become an active participant in overcoming her self-insecurities and having less fear of the unknown in such circumstances.

Taking an organized tour in travel makes good sense for many. Lazily sailing from port to port on a cruise or queuing up with your guide for the next bus tour, you are freed from many of the burdens that accompany your next vacation. On the other hand, to choose to be held hostage to a fixed, cruise port schedule or to keep pace with of guided bus offers no more than a passive escape to me. The strategy of independent travel seems to represent a more active travel option for me in my quest to market myself more confidently as a blogging practitioner. Amassed with practical apps that offer GPS Technology, language translation and social media communication. I feel that I feel fully capable of customizing my own course of travel. One of my earliest, blogging endeavors recorded my impressions of Old Lisbon on a walking experience last October, I had initially imagined myself facing the haphazard array of medieval paths in the Alfama area as a hapless fool trapped in a frustrating maze of confusion. Having resisted the urge to locate a local bus or hop on a streetcar, I flipped on my I Phone and plotted a simple, Google map to and from five, interesting sights in the area. As I could not translate well the Portuguese signs surrounding me, I again consulted my cell for Google English conversion as needed. Feeling empowered by these accomplishments, this short venture into the unknown ended with several photos shared on Facebook as inspiration for attracting new blog followers.

Snippet 3 – Athena’s curiosity to seek new places and experiences engenders a spiritual direction to her life.

The principles of organized religion in my life confuse me. Given an inability to understand how violence and war have been used to justify holiness throughout the world today and in past history, I seek places in travel that might provide a more peaceful path to spirituality. At such times, I appear to be particularly drawn to places of unique, natural beauty. You might consider them my own sacred pilgrimages.

The geological size and complexity of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of breathtaking beauty. As my eyes gaze down toward the colorful evidence of multiple layers of rock deposit, I realize that I have been privileged to witness the natural evolution of our earth’s history over eons of time . The chronicle of my own life, while insignificant in comparison, remind me that similar satisfaction can be attained when I accept my own aging process gracefully.

Paris offers a multitude of tourist pleasures for the European traveler. My path to the “The City of Light”, however, seeks to find inner sanctity from the natural setting there. The “Parc Floral de Paris”, a few miles east of the right bank core, offers an ideal respite for calming my mind . Whenever I visit there, I absorb a soothing feeling of oneness – all peoples are accepted there. The intimacy of a French couple holding hands next to a duck pond, the joyful dance of a bride and groom at a Middle Eastern marriage ceremony, an Eastern European backpacker dribbling a prized soccer ball between his feet … these moments I have witnessed there awaken my mind to the idea that in each stranger along my path, there is an ideal source for relaxing contemplation.

Mountain hiking in Switzerland can be challenging to the novice walker. To make matters easier, however, Swiss paths are always well-marked by distance/destination and provide periodic hut retreats along the way for shelter and conversation. Such Swiss commitment to detail provides me with assurances that I can never be truly lost on a day hike there. Under these well-planned, mountaineering conditions, my more relaxed stroll along the ridge allows my senses to become more attuned to the subtle clues of nature that surround me. A sudden cracking of ice from a glacial landslide, a gentle clang of cowbells as I near an Alpine meadow, a brief glimpse of a hoary marmot peering for danger near his freshly dug hole. The broken silence at these moments can never be forgotten as I gaze with awe at the snowy peaks surrounding me.