TAORMINA, SICILY - ON THE PIAZZA

Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina, Sicily.

Essentially the town square, the Piazza IX Aprile serves as a centerpoint for the town's activities, tourism and a wonderful setting from which to keep an eye on Taormina's feisty neighbor, Mt Etna.

AMERICA AND IMMIGRATION - IT HAS TO BE SAID

As a traveler, particularly internationally, I am deeply disturbed by the new immigration policies singularly enacted by the new American President. It is highly likely that as a result of his edit, I will resist the urge to travel overseas for fear of returning to this saddened land after staring, humiliated, into the eyes of the rest of the world.

We have committed a self-inflicted wound by electing a despot, an aspiring unitary President, who prefers to rule by edict and fiat. The very sort of dictator we, long ago, declared our independence from.

By nature, Americans abhor the rule of a monarch or emperor. Well, until they don't, as was proven last fall. I cannot even blame the incoming President. He's doing exactly what he told people he would do. They preferred to ignore his statements and vote for him in the hopes he would "moderate". They have their answer, and by willfully electing this person those who voted for him, or did not choose to vote in the election, have permitted this to occur. What happens now is on them, but it erodes us all in the process. Perhaps even destroys us.

This is not a diatribe of a voter who lost an election. I would be unhappy but sanguine, as I was when Reagan, Bush and Bush were elected. At least the Republic would stand.

I am not so sure any more.

One of the most famous and revered American possessions is the famed Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Gifted to the United States by France to honor our ideals and emergence as a true republic in the age of despotism.

Liberty, as the woman depicted by the statue is often referred, holds aloft a beacon of hope to the nations of the world. In her other hand is a tablet representing the rule of law.

Inside the museum at the base of the statue a plaque reprints a poem entitled THE NEW COLOSSUS, which reads:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

The statue and its ideals were rededicated only 20 years ago by President Ronald Reagan, stating as he did so "We are the keepers of the flame of liberty; we hold it high for the world to see."

As you are no doubt aware, our new President has enacted, unilaterally by executive fiat, a series of changes to America's immigration policy to specifically discriminate against a specific religion and its peoples. And through the shrapnel such an edict creates, hurt and impacted millions of innocent people who have done nothing wrong other than to be of a group disfavored by the President.

It is, on the face of it, brutally unAmerican and unpatriotic. The rise of nationalism is predicated upon the insistence we are better than everyone else. Sadly, the actions some would take to prove the claim prove the lie of the assertion. We are not better. We are as afraid and bigoted as those we claim to judge. And when fear is the result of terrorism, the terrorist -- by definition -- have won.

Many, many Americans are embarrassed and deeply wounded by the current administration's disdain and disregard for the very ideals we present to the world as demonstrating our, well, "American-ness". We aspire to lofty goals, and while we constantly fall short of them it has always been in the American character to keep reaching, keep seeking.

Sadly, some of us have given up on that idealism. That pride in America. That very aspiration which dictates we swear allegiance to the flag and Republic, and not to the people in power, particularly the President.

We built our self-image upon our ideals.

At least until Trump.

Perhaps we ought to consider regifting the statue to Canada. A nation who with their words and actions seem now to embrace Liberty's dictates far more effectively than we Americans.

As news reporter and anchorman Dan Rather once stated in a time of previous national crisis:

"Courage."

MINNEAPOLIS INT'L AIRPORT - MONDAY SENTIMENTS EXACTLY

It's Monday. Got this shot a couple of years ago and it's still useful on a bleary Monday morning.

Chances are you need this as much as I do.

Cheers.

And welcome to Monday.

THE SUNDAY QUOTE

KE'E BEACH, KAUAI - END OF THE ROAD

As with most islands, if you drive far enough you're likely to find the end of the road. Kauai's Na Pali Coast is far too rugged (and beautiful) to permit a road completing the circumnavigation of the island.

This is where the northern road comes to an end: Ke'e Beach.

It's a spectacular place, and a beautiful beach. Hiking trails take you up into the shear cliffs of the Na Pali.

Now...if you can only find a parking place. 

(Sorry, that's a joke only the people who have been to Ke'e will understand. You drive for miles through what seems to be a very isolated road, ending up in a parking area packed - i mean packed - with cars. The trick is to get there very, very early.)

CHASING MARTINIS - SOUTH DAKOTA

This week the Chase for the Friday Martini  

takes us to Rapid City, South Dakota for a martini and buffalo burger

at the Gold Bison Grille, inside the Holiday Inn Rushmore Plaza.

Slightly stylized and really very tasty combo, even though it's not 

the first thing that might come to mind for a healthy dinner.

A different angle on this shot is included in my book CHASING MARTINIS. 

Have a great weekend.

OSTEND, WAIHEKE ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND - OSTEND MARKETPLACE

One of my favorite things to do while traveling is finding farmer's markets, flea markets, art shows and other street fair activities. It's a fun way to learn about the local culture, interact with people and generally have a good time people watching.

This is Waiheke Island, which sits twenty or so kilometers miles away from Auckland. The ferries from the main island will often teem with daytrippers getting away from the city life, and enjoying things like Waiheke's shopping, beaches and the very popular Ostend Market, where they say you can find "everything under the sun" -- kind of a fun pun considering a good portion of the show is outdoors.

Which reminds me it's Thursday, which means our OWN local farmer's market runs this evening. 

It's what's for dinner....

HANA, MAUI - SHUCKING IT ALL

We've all been at a point in our lives where we wanted to do 

nothing more than shuck it all and escape to a beach somewhere.

And some of us do exactly that...

LAS VEGAS, NV - PEPPERMILL COFFEE!

Nearly forgot to post the picture of the day. Means I need more coffee, and where better to find a great cup than The Peppermill Las Vegas, a hotbed of kitsch, coffee and breakfast burritos.

(You have to order that latter as a kit called the chorizo and eggs combo, but what a great start to your 

day after a rough and tumble night in the casinos and bars!)

Tell them the Thumbnail Traveler sent you. Won't do anything but will confuse them nicely...

ROUTE 14, GUATEMALA - RURAL SCHOOL

Monday. School back in session for many students and teachers.

The sign reads "ESCUELA OFICIAL RURAL MIXTA SAN MIGUEL LOS LOTES. CONSTRUYO ??? GOBIERNO DE GUATEMALA"

Roughly translated as "Official Rural Mixed School Lots. Built (can't read this) Government of Guatemala". 

THE SUNDAY QUOTE

This is, perhaps, a bit self-indulgent, but this quote is my own. It serves me well.

The quote came to me while I was on the road through a particularly flat post-volcanic section of Idaho. In the distance I could see mountains rising from the flatness, and it occurred to me that I'm  always driven by what is up ahead, in the distance. It's where my travels take me and it's where I want to go.

The photograph is of the main road through Joshua Tree National Park.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - SCULPTURE BALLAJA

The inscription in Spanish reads:

"Conjunto Escultorico

Alegorico al rescate del barrio de Ballajá por el pueblo
Puertorriqueño

La mujer representa el barrio. El manto que la curre
es el "olvido."

El hombre viejo, dotado de las garras y del craneo del
Ave de Rapiña, que intenta ocultarla, representa todas
aquellas fuerzas que de algun modo han mantenido
cubierta, tras el olvido, a Ballajá.

El hombre joven simboliza el nuevo espiritu de una
generacion de Puertorriqueños afanados en rescatar
su pasado del olvido y asi afirmar el valor de su

identidad."

English (rough) Translation:

"Sculpturally this ensemble is allegorical to the rescue of the district of Ballajá by the Puerto Rican people. 

The woman represents the district. The cloak represents the "forgotten." 

The old man, equipped with claws and skull of a bird of prey, trying to hide it, represents all those forces that somehow have kept cover, after the forgotten Ballajá. 

The young man symbolizes the new spirit of a generation of Puerto Ricans struggling to rescue this past from oblivion and therefore affirm the value of their identity."

(This angle makes the woman a little difficult to pick out. She is kneeling at on the lower left, her hair draping down as she seems to be holding the younger man aloft.)

THE FRIDAY MARTINI - BECAUSE WE REALLY, REALLY NEED IT

Because the world needs a good stiff drink right now.

ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA - WATERFIGHT!

It was a warm, humid day in Guatemala. 

Not unlike virtually every other day in Guatemala.

These kids, in the courtyard of an old church, 

decided to keep cool the old fashioned way.

Usually the aim is to drench your opponent, but I got the 

immediate impression aim wasn't as important as simply 

"wet". 

HONOLULU, HAWAII - A LITTLE WINTER DREAMING

View of the Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach from her sister property 

the Waikiki Parc, our favorite spot to stay for visits to Oahu.

We were gifted with two nights at the Halekulani for our honeymoon. The hotel is listed
among the very best in the world, and deservedly so. We stay at the Parc for budgetary
reasons and, frankly, the view. As you can see, it's tremendous.

Just the thing for wishful thinking on a cold winter day.

FLAGSTAFF, AZ - LARGE NACHOS, PLEASE...

A beer and nachos are sometimes all you need to be happy in life, and in a college town 

you can usually find both in abundance.

Evening break after a long day on the road a few years back. 

Lumberyard Brewing Company. Flagstaff.

COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE, OREGON/WASHINGTON BORDER - LOOKING DOWN FROM ABOVE

It's Monday. Today's moment of serenity brought to you from the Columbia River Gorge which straddles the border of Oregon and the State of Washington. The shot was taken from the historic Vista House overlooking the Gorge.

The drive up the Columbia River from Portland is beautiful, with numerous stops along the way for historic sites and spectacular waterfalls, including the famous Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side of the river. Well worth the day trip out of the city.

And if you have an extra couple of hours, the sternwheeler tour in Cascade Locks is a relaxing and enjoyable time spent out on the water.

THE SUNDAY QUOTE

HWY 77, NORTHERN ARIZONA - CLOSED FOR NOW

Lonesome and apparently closed business just off I-40, just west of Holbrook.

THE FRIDAY MARTINI - SUTTER CREEK, CA

Two weeks into the new year. 

Hope things are going well for you, but you might be ready for a Friday Martini.

This week's selection is from the historic Hotel Sutter, in Sutter Creek, CA. The area is in the midst of California's Gold Country, an up-and-coming wine and adventure part of the state.

Enjoy your weekend.

(Tito's)

(Read an excerpt from my upcoming book CHASING MARTINIS...)

NEW ORLEANS, LA - WAITING AT THE CAFE DU MONDE

It's a rainy and dark Wednesday morning here at the Thumbnail Traveler, and our wistful thoughts understandably turn to a favorite topic: Coffee.

The Cafe du Monde, in New Orleans' historic Vieux Carre, serves up justifiably famous coffee and beignets. Just the right way to wake up in the morning.

LONG BEACH, CA - FIRST LIGHT

Dawn over the downtown marina.

WASHINGTON, DC - SOMEBODY CHECK THE LIGHTS

It's happened to all of us. Forget to check the timer on the lamp in the living room. Or let the outside yard light timer get a little out of sync, so that they come on at 3pm and go off at 8.

Happens to us all. Like the Park Service. 

Apparently the lights on the Washington Monument aren't quite synced right.

Hate it when that happens.

A LITTLE LATE...EL PASO, TEXAS - BOOT HILL

(What can I say...it's Monday.)

No particular reason for this location, but this is the cemetery in El Paso known as Boot Hill. Boot Hill is a famous term in the Old West, where townspeople and others would be laid to rest for eternity. As you can see, El Paso's version has a few residents...

THE SUNDAY QUOTE - PICO IYER

From Pico Iyer

OOPS! THE FRIDAY MARTINI...ON SATURDAY!

I admit it, I wasn't paying attention.

The Friday Martini gave way to a volleyball game in Laguna. Guess I was California dreaming without realizing it. Yes, even those of us lucky enough to live here can wintertime dream about California summers.

So here's the Friday Martini a day late. And keeping with the Summertime in Winter theme, this is from the Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurant in Lahaina, Maui. 

And as always please check out the sample chapter from CHASING MARTINIS.

Hope your first full weekend of 2017 is a good one.

LAGUNA BEACH, CA - PICKUP GAME

It's freezing in much of the country today, so we're going to take in a short pick-up game of volleyball in Laguna to get your Summer dreaming under way.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - CURVES MOST DEFINITELY AHEAD

I've driven all over the Western Hemisphere, under all sorts of conditions. This is a sign you see in a lot of places, indicating there are curves ahead. Usually they mean just a handful of curves on a moderately winding road.

In San Francisco the sign may be taken literally if you're facing Lombard Street. 

600-ish feet in length, paved with bricks and featuring 8 curves along a 

one-way (downhill) road with a better than 25% grade.

"Curves ahead." In this case the sign is an understatement.

Drive carefully, and test your brakes before turning in.