What lesser known places in your hometown city do you consider “hallowed ground”?

“Breathe it in so it becomes a part or you…go and stand on hallowed ground.” (Ryan Holiday)

The city of Cleveland, Ohio has oftentimes been dubbed “The Mistake On The Lake”. Yet I’ve spent my entire lifetime attempting to dispel that assessment as strictly a myth. Consider then that Cleveland once thrived as a major industrial/shipping hub and prominent entry point for European immigration settlement in early – mid 20th century America. In fact , it became the 4th most populated city in the United States at one time. Yet knowing little of past Cleveland fame as a child growing up in nearby Akron, I simply idolized it as the “Emerald City” of Wizard of Oz fame. When I moved to South Florida in my teenage years, those fond memories of my birth region remained intact, particularly along  its tourist friendly, Lake Erie shoreline vicinity. 

As expected then, it’s a difficult challenge for me to refute Cleveland’s reputation nowadays as a “rust belt” , blighted city beyond  the lake. Yet with a determined research effort, I’ve discovered some lesser known remnants of Greater Cleveland’s illustrious past to keep my faith in counteracting such a negative impression.  Notice below then several of these “hallowed grounds” remaining from Cleveland’s historic past as compiled in the photo set below.

More  Cleveland Facts (Click below)

https://www.clevescene.com/arts/23-random-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-cleveland-38342904/

What makes your favorite river a meaningful sight to behold?

“The river has great wisdom and whispers its secret to the hearts of men.” Mark Twain)

I’d like to explore today how the appearance of the Mississippi River on our roadtrips affects me as a person. Not only does its majestic flow represent a prominent natural barrier as I transition from east to west, but it also reveals relevant history’s lessons to take account now from our country’s storied past. Take for example this great river vividly reveals stories to me of (1) mighty fortresses once built on cliffs during territorial wars lost or gained, (2) desperate efforts of slaves who hoped to obtain riverboat escape routes northward and 3) westward bound pioneers who riskily traversed its muddy depths during the homestead migration era.   

So the “Mighty Mississippi” steadily flows on through ebbs and peaks of time while my life winds on in a similarly capricious fashion. A life lesson for myself to recognize in comparison would hopefully transform those memories past of daily struggle into new insights toward a positive direction in my life now and in the future. I remind myself to think in that direction as I prepare to embark on our castle filled Rhine River cruise in November.  Enjoy the photos. 

Blog Source:

https://www.riversarelife.com/articles/uncovering-the-rich-history-of-the-mississippi-river

What shapes and lines influence where you travel in your everyday life?

“I cut across the quadrangle toward the commons. I felt better about life than I had in a very long time.”Richelle Mead)

Whenever I visit a large city downtown on our road trips, I like to think landscape small. That means I will usually prioritize a walkable range of important sights that I can potentially see on a one day visit within a limited boundary prescribed area. Take for instance our recent Chicago visit where we embarked from our motel in suburban Schoenberg to Chicago by way of convenient Ventra bus/ CTA metro connections to and from the downtown “loop”station corridor. From this centralized drop off location, our ease of access could be provided within a four sided block of streets to several desirable destinations we wished to spend time in that day. 

So with such a manageable itinerary scheduled beforehand, our Chicago downtown tour enabled us to: (1) feast on a sumptuous German style lunch at the historic Berghoff Restaurant, (2) arouse our musical interests with classical music and instrument displays  at the Chicago Symphony Concert Center, (3) admire a sizable collection French Impressionist paintings at the Chicago Art Institute galleries and (4) stroll in relaxing around the stroll amid the vibrant open air grounds of Millennium Park. Check out the cover map of this blog that clearly delineates the locations of such places we walked to within this quadrangle border for several hours that day.

Upon further reflection about our recent road trip stopover in Chicago, certain neighborhoods outside the core of downtown did show signs of poverty and neglect. Yet I saw nothing to believe those highly politicized news reports that there’ a “war zone” happening there on a widespread basis. Enjoy the photos. 

Blog Source:

https://chicagorentals.com/chicago-loop-travel-guide/

Do you prefer to look back or look ahead in life? Why?

“I stood at a crossroads and didn’t dare to look back at the road behind me – the road littered with monotony, complacency and other people’s expectations.” (Sarah Penner).        

Leaving from South Florida on our road trips, I’m always looking for a location that provides convenient crossroad options when looking ahead past the Mississippi River corridor. While those densely crowded cities of Houston and Dallas,Texas can be considered here, it makes better sense for me to find a more centralized  U.S. location where I could best encounter unexpected circumstances and adjust my routing itinerary in any direction as needed. Take for instance yesterday’s spontaneous decision to road trip reroute to Kansas City, Missouri which provided a calm and convenient location before setting out to visit some past neighbor friends a short drive later northwest  in Lincoln, Nebraska. Happily as well, this Kansas City decision did not jeopardize our time frame allotment for continuing on our overall northern itinerary of this trip. With sufficient time to spare and light traffic on this night, we thus enjoyed a sumptuous barbecue dinner and enjoyable tour of some favorite K.C. sights. Enjoy the photos. 

What place in your travels do you find most consistent enjoyment? Why? 

If you love New Orleans, she’ll love you back.” (Drew Brees)

I have to admit that greater New Orleans “grows” on me every time I visit during my road trip travels. Yes it’s often  busy and crowded from a tourist perspective but it doesn’t feel that way to me. For I consider it an honorable challenge to find ways to adjust to that slower pace of life that pervades throughout  this community daily. So let’s forego Mardi Gras and it’s Bourbon Street hype for a moment and observe some more subtle ways I used for sustaining my energy to obtain such “Big Easy” fever. 

Take for example, our unexpected road trip stopover last week, whereby I made the simple decision of embarking on an inexpensive street car journey along the six mile long St. Charles corridor. On this Wednesday morning, I’d primarily focus my attention on the impressive array of stately mansions, many of which were built at the turn of the 20th century. Coming into view occasionally, I’d also glance at those ghostly looking oak trees  lining the streets interspersed with similarly spooky like voodoo arrangements on mansion front lawns. How interesting it appeared as well on this occasion as well to observe meaningful actions of people surrounding my seat. For instance, I noticed our streetcar driver politely yield their moving vehicle to crossing vehicle traffic. In a similar vein, I observed passengers exchanging valuable tidbits of information with each other or courteously assisting tourists when and how to disembark. 

With the streetcar un-air conditioned, I realized at some point I needed to combat getting fatigued amid the oppressive New Orleans heat. That meant first selectively choosing a “laidback” lunch locale to get off the streetcar along Carrollton Street. At the  Camellia Diner , I thus sat and ordered a sandwich at a barstool while exchanging valuable tidbits of information with tourists sitting around me. I also took some restful time later that afternoon off the streetcar to browse literature offerings at the Garden District bookstore as well as birdwatch awhile overlooking a stunning lake vantage point in Audubon Park. The above described activities no doubt helped me conserve my energy  for I deeply desired to extend this one day visit to enjoy the unique feel of New Orleans live jazz that night. 

During a previous visit to New Orleans, I’d discovered that less crowded Frenchmen Street not Bourbon Street functioned as the best clubbing area where serious jazz lovers loved to go. Happily, my personal favorite, “ The Spotted Cat”, conveniently offered an early evening show to go to with minimal cover charge Wednesday night. So during that three hour session sitting nearby the band stage on a comfortable bench, I experienced a heavy dose of authentic Dixieland jazz pulsating soulfully through my mind and body. Enjoy the photos. 

What do you view as the winning formula for success a professional athletic team?

“Do you know what my favorite part of the game is. It’s the opportunity to play.” (Mike Singletary) 

I am a lucky man today as the team I’ve so loyally supported for over five decades, the cost minded Cleveland Guardians, overcame a a massive deficit of 15.5 games in August to win the American League Central division in dramatic fashion yesterday. Keep in mind the magnitude of this comeback of such a large numerical proportion, which had never been accomplished in the centuries long history of Major League baseball before. Astonishingly as well, the Guardians starting lineup  during this winning streak included a minimum of five rookie players called up recently from their minor league, affiliate Columbus Clippers. To further clarify the magnitude of this accomplishment, I would challenge any knowledgeable baseball fan to tell me anything they know about such relatively anonymous players on this special Guardians team such as Pete Halpin, C.J. Kaufus, Jonathan Rodriguez, and George Valera. Kudos to these players then that upon being given their first taste of major league action, they worked  efficiently together during the “stretch run” of pressure packed pennant competition.

Yesterday in contrast, I watched the superstar heavy lineup of the New York Mets humbly lose 4-0 to a similarly low budget team, the Miami Marlins, which eliminated them from upcoming playoff action. Note in this regard that Mets batters struck out eleven times and left ten runners stranded on base during this lackluster effort that day. I could not fathom logically as a result why a good number of attending Mets fans close by my seat danced in the bleachers, took camera selfies and noticeably  “high- fived ” each other in spite of the substandard performance of their team that day. I also wondered at that time how many hard core” Mets fans attending that afternoon had pondered whether all the money the Mets spent on Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz…this year was  truly worth it!

Regardless of whether or not there’s a positive fairy tale ending for this “ Little Team That Could”, one might question what best produces a winning formula for finding success through our life choices. For is it all about what’s in it for oneself? Go Guardians!

What location in your past travels reminds you most of being at home?  

“Home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.”(Cecelia Ahern)

Let’s be realistic. Committing to a routine of being on the road or out of the country as I’ve often done presents an issue of homesickness for me at times. For I can’t easily replace those advantages that one’s place of permanent residency provides when you’re hopping aimlessly from place to place. Fortunately, once in a while a specific destination somehow recalls memories of what I truly enjoy about living at home. For it’s a place as I see it where memories are made, where laughter is shared, and where you can truly be yourself.

In this regard, I can daydream back to my childhood times near Cleveland, Ohio when on a seasonal basis in our suburban residential neighborhood,  I often found time to both engage in creative free play indoors in our house basement  along with spending time  outdoors curiously checking out dense forestland, a rocky valley  and a major river. So I’ve decided to take a photo inspired  look in this blog at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where such happy flashbacks to that long ago home setting strongly resonated with me during our three day road trip stopover in this region. One particular excursion that aroused such personal interest there took place at Fort Hunter Homestead and Park.

Know then that the main focus  of my visit to Fort Hunter that morning centered around understanding its dramatic transformation from  a battle ravaged supply fort along the Susquehanna River during the French and Indian War to  its modestly rebuilt  tourist attraction of today. Yet in doing so, I recall surprisingly noticing some emotional release from recurrence of homesickness that I was experiencing at this time. How satisfying it felt then to just wander around the estate grounds in nostalgic fashion along a centrally located green space and pleasant foothills path on my own. Notably I took time then to simply sniff some fragrant flowers, push off with ease from a swing set, watch birds fly by the sky and stare idly at the rippling river waters as I once recall doing so often as an Ohio kid. In addition, a follow-up tour of the grand Fort Hunter mansion existing from colonial era times that morning provided me with some similarly felt indoor glimpses of those curious times as a Cleveland bred child. Thus I could thus personally identify at that time with room allotted space revealing fondness for reading books quietly, arranging toy and seashell collections, enjoying the steady movement of a rocking chair as well as securing sufficient storage of that old bike.

A key test for me to then cure negative thoughts of homesickness in my future travels will be to explore a more adult version of an alternative home.  For too long it seems, I’ve thought about finding more inner peace and quiet away from the year around traffic  and maddening tourist frenzy of South Florida. So in Harrisburg, I’ve learned to just “let go” of worrying about such urban lifestyle complexities wherever I’m at and enjoy those simple activities of free play that I’ve always loved to do.

Blog Source: 

https://forthunter.org/

 What special places do you consider as “stepping stones” to making your life better right now?

“There are two paths you can go by, but in the long run there’s still time to change the road you’re on.” (Robert Plant, Stairway To Heaven  song lyrics)

Stepping Stone – An event, experience, or opportunity that serves as a necessary and helpful step toward attaining a future goal.

During my self guided travels stateside and abroad, I’m usually open to consider following travel destination itineraries which leave some degree of uncertainty. A major reason why I make such spontaneous journey decisions usually involves serious consideration of potential self growth opportunities I perceive through my active sensory awareness at the time. With that goal in mind, during our westbound road trip stopover near Geneva, New York, I allotted a few hours vacation time to take a Sunday afternoon look at Sonnenberg Gardens State Historic Park along with its adjoining Victorian era mansion.   

To begin my tour, I’d read that the Sonnenberg Gardens setting was originally planned as a honeymoon escape by wealthy New York City banker Frederick Ferris for his wife Mary in 1887 with ornately restored features of English, Italian and Japanese  designs of striking shapes and colors. So making good use of the free estate map handed out at the visitor center, I thereupon followed a self guided path crossing though numerous entry/exit portals distinctly showcasing these diverse arrays of cultural representation that I so desired to see. In doing so, I thus observed that many of these bridges, pathways, staircases, towers, door passages and  hallways I traversed on this day felt like meaningful “stepping stones” toward staying more mindful of a “now” presence in my daily life.       

So I share the following photo set from this Sonnenberg estate visit in conjunction with some of these positive “stepping stone” thoughts of a “moment to moment” nature that happened for me on that occasion. They included 1) Avoid being in a hurry, (2) Breathe deeply, (3) Examine fully the smallest details, (4) Trust my emotions more, (5) Make facts matter, (6) Ask myself critical thinking questions, (7) Savor silent reflection. 

Blog Source:

https://www.sonnenberg.org/about-us/historical-perspective-on-sonnenberg/

What historic heroes from the past come to real life for you today?

“Let their remembrance be as lasting as the land they honored.” (Daniel Webster)

I love to follow road trip itineraries that reveal authentic vestiges of the American Civil War. So a timely surprise awaited me during our summer road trip stopover at Lake George municipality in upstate New York. For I learned on our first day stay in this picturesque tourist region that a short distance south near the tiny hamlet of Wilton, a heavily marketed remembrance event would be happening at Grant Cottage honoring former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant’s life. I knew beforehand that the esteemed Ulysses had perished there on July 23, 1885 so I jumped at the chance to experience such authentic American History on the exact day and place in which his death had occurred. Along with this free re-enactment celebration, I hoped to find ample opportunity to wander around the grounds to enjoy some  quiet moments of summer solitude and book a self guided tour of the historic interior of this house. 

I must confess to begin, that during this visit I learned more about Grant the person beyond what I previously had taught in textbooks to my students about his well documented fame as a Civil War general and U.S. President. In particular, I obtained what I believe to be an authentic characterization of Grant as he endured his inevitable decline from throat  cancer here in those final days of his life. To make such judgment clearer, a renowned Civil War impersonator of  Mr. Grant accompanied by his wife Julia, a Union officer and several dutiful army guards made quite a realistic impression on me during their visit to this site  that morning by making themselves available to mingle with myself and other tourists for group photos along the cottage lawn that morning.  

After a brief lunch break, Grant himself then took center stage again by portraying a more sickly version of himself from a wheelchair to a captive audience beneath a grassy shaded pavilion. His thoughts over that next hour got “straight to the  point” as he pleaded with those attending to believe  that he’d stayed strong and mentally determined to finish his life memoirs as his health was failing. During these moments, I also observed that he’d acted seriously disturbed at this end stage time of his life by an inability to pay off heavy debts he’d accumulated from poor investment decision – making in private life times. With strong emotion, he also shared with the crowd how he’d formed a close relationship with famed writer Mark Twain, who would help him to finish his memoirs and  sell them to book publishers to obtain for Grant some much needed financial relief. 

Upon final reflection of Ulysses S.Grant’s end of life trauma that day, I ponder how I might best cope with any physical decline sooner or later when it happens. Enjoy the event photos I witnessed on that occasion. I’ve also added his death mask image and a historic black and white enlargement of an ailing Grant sitting on the porch of Grant Cottage during those final days of his life.    

Blog Sources:

https://www.grantcottage.org/

https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/ulysses-s-grant