What place and time do you most desire time traveling back to the past?

“The muffled drum’s sad roll has beat
The soldier’s last tattoo;
No more on life’s parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.”
(Theodore O’Hara)

I consider myself a fanatic when it comes to learning about Civil War times of America long ago. For I am no casual observer of this conflict, like so many students of my times who relied strictly on facts about the Civil War through high school textbooks or became entertained by a “Hollywood spun” movie depiction or two. So such curiosity to know fuels my strong interest in time traveling in my life back to the those tragic days of July 1-3,1963 when Union and Confederate armies clashed in battle in open fields around the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

I might clarify then my primary motivation to travel back to Gettysburg stems from my desire to study more authentic evidence of Civil War times. For that’s often meant in the past immersing myself with plenty of outside readings about famous battles for research purposes and scheduling timely museum during road trip visits to truthfully feel the wrath of southern slavery and subsequent secession efforts of the Confederacy in antebellum America during that time.

You might also understand my heavy interest in Gettysburg from a biographical perspective, For I’ve often daydreamed about witnessing the excitement of this pivotal moment in American History on November 18, 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln took to the stage and delivered his famed Gettysburg Address at Cemetery Hill to pronounce his vehement opposition to the existence of slavery in the United States. Or such focus on a famous figure might have meant attempting to understand the mindset at Gettysburg of Confederate General Robert E. Lee or Union Commander George Meade as the famous battle ensued. Thus in being obsessed with such human psychology of this conflict, I can also recall several travel instances whereby I stared in silence at Gettysburg’s battlefield environs to envision individual acts of common soldier heroism that took place there during those times.

Perhaps the following photo collection from our recent road visit to Gettysburg best illustrates why one might desire to travel back in time to witness this cruel bloodbath of battle. Looking forward, however, how might these images impact your own perspective about wartime matters in our modern era in some way?

How can we talk with less cultural confusion?

The use of language in any country can either be a uniting or dividing force for its people. Know then in my use of English language with second language (ESL) Spanish people in South Florida, I’ve thus discovered how uninformed many tend to be about the meanings of informal American idioms describing common cultural situations each day. I mean who am I impressing when such ambiguously loaded expressions sadly produce only “stone silence” in those potential human bonding moments? It furthermore seems reasonable to conclude that such “dumbing down” of English language use with confusing idioms casts significant barriers for such immigrants in learning how to survive and/or thrive in America society each day?

I compose below then a fictional letter proposing an upcoming travel adventure filled with confusing idiom quotations sent to a primarily Spanish speaking friend. I challenge you then to consider how the unclear content of this letter might help Americans tear down those “walls” of informal word confusion to say what’s meant to be conveyed in cross cultural situations more clearly.

Hey Manuel:

I’ve got “ants in my pants” right now to get out of South Florida right now. So I’m “all ears” to know from you of places that are cooler and less crowded now. For I want to “shoot the breeze” with you again as I slowly sip my iced tea and spread thoughts of happy times gone by “straight from the mouth” of your trusting friend.

But it’s “down to the wire” about whether this vacation will ever take place as I’ve been “running around like a chicken with its head cutoff” to take care of daily crises at home. So I suppose you know already that I will apply more “elbow grease” now to get these important matters “off my chest” to find more “peace of mind” to schedule this vacation. For it’s always best that I can “call my own shots” for what has to be done.

Now don’t be surprised, however, if I “pop up in your neck of the woods” in the next week or so. For I’ll give it my “best shot” to get the car ready and take care of my financial obligations”that are “pulling me down” in the next week or so. I “get it” you’re still working so please know that I have no intention of “spoiling your party”. So let’s “touch base” somehow next week and I can “spill the beans” more clearly about how soon I will be in your “neck of the woods” to visit.

“Catch You Later”,

Jim

 

How does road- tripping trigger a patriotic spirit for our country?

Does the deep thinking spirit of Abraham Lincoln about country exist anymore? For I find “American Patriotism” lately to be noticeably “shallow” and overly politicized. So it’s an urgent need of mine these days to find patriotic places and events in my travels that authenticate deep seated understandings of why true patriotism matters in my life. For it’s not enough to just a wave a flag, shoot off fireworks, or sing the National Anthem for example because it’s popularly acceptable at a certain time to do so. True patriotism for me then must instead come from the heart in full recognition of why I choose to live here and believe in the so called “American Way.” So in the following photo set, I’ve compiled from our recent, east coast road trip, a short sample of visual impressions of what I believe best formulates my American identity today.

For your future interest, please note as well that Ruth and I will be embarking on another summer road trip adventure soon, heading to New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Northeast Ohio. So stay tuned!

1. In Savannah, Georgia – Richmond, Virginia

Honestly acknowledged racial injustice patterns that America endured in the past.

2. In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Imagined those life/death struggles that happened day by day on past Civil War battlefields.

3. In Annapolis, Maryland

Immersed myself in the dutiful commitment of the American military experience.

4. In Cary, North Carolina – Baltimore, Maryland

Explored venues to unite all kinds of Americans through sports and music enjoyment endeavors.

5. In Washington D.C. – Atlantic City, New Jersey

Appreciated past American heroes honored for contributions to government, science, and performing arts.

To what extent did the Atlantic City region measure up as a “top notch” tourist experience for us on our road trip?

I first caught sight of Atlantic City when gazing at a line of towering high rise hotels as we drove seaward on a bridge rising over the area’s two inland flowing bays.Taking a closer glance at these mega gambling resorts as we reached the beachfront, I noticed as well across the road some unsightly “pockets” nearby of physical neglect. Know then these areas of boarded up buildings, garbage strewn lots and heavily potholed streets seemed more widespread to me than I might have expected.Traffic conditions along the beach highway on this weekend afternoon also seemed strangely light for a dense resort vicinity of this size along with my sensation of a “creepy” absence of people strolling around streets then in this tourist heavy part in town.

Thus I immediately envisioned that if a savvy vacationer staying strictly near the beach at glitzy Harrahs, The Hard Rock, or Bally’s Hotel, would  they even bother to leave those lavish premises to take a good look at such blight around the town? Know however that a more positive assessment of mine about Atlantic City “proper” would happen two days later when we embarked on a short side trip west of the shoreline at Gardner’s Bay. For in this inland waterfront vicinity  I witnessed an enlightening renaissance of new city growth occupied by exotic casino hotels, private golf courses, relaxing dockside restaurants and much calmer water views.

Thankfully our hotel accommodations at the historic Claridge Hotel turned out fine as well. For our room provided us a nice view of the city on the 17th floor and also impressed us as comfortable, clean and moderately priced. I might also add my personal affinity for the ” Art Deco” appearance of this  hotel which featured an ornately decorated lobby, gold gilded hallways and a collection of old city photo displays strewn on walls throughout the building. Yet in spite of The Claridges’ well restored appearance, I could not stop thinking that this aging hotel seemed well past its prime.

As good luck continued a short distance from our hotel, we discovered an unpretentious looking Irish Pub to eat several of our meals during our four day stay. So while the corn beef, paninis sandwiches, and salads tasted superb here, the real highlights of these dining occasions took place as we gawked at an impressive collection of memorabilia and celebrity portrait photos showcasing America’s entertainment and sports past in various rooms throughout the restaurant.

I would note in contrast, however, that our one time walk along a busy portion of Atlantic City’s oceanfront boardwalk seemed a bit disappointing. For these two tourist saturated Floridians seemed unimpressed by those dated amusement park rides, take out eating “joints” and discount souvenir shopping outlets as we strolled along the way. Likewise, the famed Steel Pier, a prominent icon from the city’s glorious past seemed at first glance “‘tourist trap tacky” and simply out of place from the modernistic Hard Rock Resort situated nearby. Fortunately, a  much more appealing boardwalk vantage point for us took place at Absecon Island Point,  a few miles north from our hotel,  From this far end location, we could now more quietly stroll and enjoy more unobstructed seaside views.

So I’ve decided to show you some of my more appealing views obtained on our visit to Atlantic City in the following photo set.Yet given the overall “rundown” appearance of Atlantic City, I’m  feeling dubious, however, as to whether it measures up now as a worthwhile touristic visiting priority for our travel needs. I personally would rather check out seemingly more family friendly coastal cities nearby such as Margate, Mays Landing and Ocean City on a future road trip visit. Or even better, I might suggest we take a quick train to New York City from various other New Jersey locations  for a more complete tourist package.

What makes the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania a Smithsonian quality experience ?

Do you ever wonder why the events surrounding America’s Civil War from 1861-1865 tend to repeat themselves now? Or perhaps you might doubt that studying this tragic period even matters to us in a modern world that seems so different from those slavery driven times of over one hundred fifty years ago. In either case, I believe a visit to the National Civil War Museum in the town of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania would offer you a reasonable choice to decide for yourself whether the wins and losses from those times matter in your life now from either a Northern (Union side) and Southern (Confederate side) perspective.

So let’s say you desire to take Abraham Lincoln’s Union position which meant opposition to Black American slavery and the supremacy of national government action to re-unite the country then.You might then pay extra attention to video monitors at the museum that realistically re-create how brilliantly he delivered his speeches with simple common sense logic. Or you might stare at a 3-D diorama depicting  the inhumanity of a poor slave woman’s being sold with her son to a heartless new master. In either case you’re obtaining some new awareness of how similarly some “red” sections of America manifest racial/immigrant bias and federal government distrust in today’s times. 

Or  alternatively, you’ve decided to take a tour of this museum expressing full sympathy with the so called secession states of the Confederacy. You know full well then how strongly this “ Land of Dixie” desired to preserve the right to subjugate African Americans to inferior status through slavery and uphold as well the right of each state to control its own governmental destiny. So you’d likely show captive attention to a short movie presentation starring a southern farmer acting out crazed eagerness to get into the war fight with his trustworthy horse to defend his slave driven land. Or you might move along other lifelike scene corridors feeling the indignity  of southern property destruction as Confederate soldiers  desperately hope to “turn the tide”. Such pro violent imagery could now enlighten you more clearly to how Trumpism’s spread and other extremist elements of America’s current Republican Party seem to be operating in our political arena today.

When you’ve experienced enough distaste at this museum, learning about  the Civil War’s shocking bloodshed that laid waste to over 620,000 soldiers lives over a four year period, step outside the entrance for a breath of fresh air. Simply gaze silently in a westerly distance at this pleasurable scenes of majestic mountains and fertile forestland unfolding in the distance. Then glance at the orderly human arrangements of Harrisburg neighborhoods in the foreground. How might this mind restoring landscape impact your thoughts about the mass destruction you’ve witnessed today about the Civil War? Now move on to the photos below which showcase some highlights of our visit to the museum. 

When distant military drums call me to visit a historic town like Annapolis, what paths excite me along the way?

The massive “yard complex” of the United States Naval Academy abuts the compact center of “Old Town” in historic Annapolis Maryland. So, I considered it fun to just amble from our parking lot along those narrow town streets by Old State House Circle, several historic pubs, a town history museum, the independent book store and a plethora of antique shops to the academy on foot to recapture the authentic “air” of Early American colonial times. But such an “air” of quaint living conditions in this town center that once functioned as America’s first National Capitol from 1783-1784 could be deceiving. For upon taking a peek through a well fortified gate allowing secure access to the Naval Academy, I suddenly realized how difficult a task the remainder of today’s journey would likely be in attempting to sightsee entirely around this visually sprawling maze of military buildings.

But in accordance with the popular Navy spirit of “Anchors Away”, signifying  the courageous act of moving forward into the unknown that inspiring motto likewise called for us to proceed wisely into these arduous looking surroundings with a more limited morning tour than previously planned. That meant allotting two hours maximum today at the Armel – Leftwich Visitor Center where we would (1) watch an introductory film explaining the arduous task of Midshipmen cadet training, (2) peruse some impressive statues, paintings, and other artifacts exemplifying those high standards of historic Naval commitment and (3) take a picturesque walk outside the building along the river path facing Chesapeake Bay. So overall, I can say I’m very impressed with our brief introduction to this United States Navy home yet in all honesty my “history buff” mentality has driven me to prioritize seeing more of Old Annapolis town. So why wait until a future road trip to do this? We could just spend tomorrow morning for a second town visit and enjoy a brief tour of the Museum of Historic Annapolis. Enjoy the photos.

What qualities make Savannah, Georgia so enticing to me as a curious traveler?

It’s no coincidence that my wife and I chose Savannah, Georgia to begin our latest road trip this weekend. For I envisioned taking more time to to sightsee on foot the “Old Town” portion of this southern city as a much anticipated followup to our past visits. I also knew ahead of time our stopover in Savannah would take place during the annual “ Juneteenth” holiday celebrating the emancipation of Black Americans from slavery’s wrath centuries ago. You might notice then in the brief set of photos below my reasoning for four conclusions I curiously absorbed on this visit.

1. Savannah’s history remains a dominant theme of our visits.

2. There’s a sense of calm escape from city life that affects me along its historic squares.

3. I sense a mystical allure radiating from magnificent tree cover along pedestrian paths. 

4. Savannah’s current culture makes sightseeing fun and convenient for all.