Write to Travel, Travel Writing Interviews

I was truly honored to be interviewed by Liz Lewis on her Write to Travel site, especially when others such as Rudy Maxa, Wendy Perrin, Rolf Potts and Thomas Swick are some past interviews. The questions cover topics such as begin my travel writing and best break in the field. The questions were very timely as I will be part of the GoNOMAD team doing a Travel Writing Seminar at the New York Times Travel Show this weekend. In the course of doing my interview I got to really reflect on my path to doing what I love. Thanks Liz for great questions and that trip down memory lane.

Plow Through

More snow falling, the County boys are getting little rest.

New York Times Travel Show, Taking Chances

I had fantastic feelings working on getting ready for the NY Times Travel Show today. I also cleared out some old framed photos and came across a little book I saved from the days when the Dillon and St. John families used to head up to the Mt. Washington Hotel to party at Wayne’s World with Wayne and Sue Presby. I haven’t seen either couple lately even though the Dillon’s live a scant 6 miles down the road. Fortunately I do talk with them via phone often.

We headed up to New Hampshire when our kids were small and we seemed not as busy with endeavors, or perhaps things we feel we have to do. I have just finished framing some photos of hawksbill turtles taken recently in the SVG. I have Mary Chapin’s I Take My Chances playing and a fire going. I seem to follow my life’s path by looking at pictures taken and books found. Tonight Lil is with some of her students at a poetry program in NYC and I am feeding a fire and preparing mentally for GoNomad’s first Times Travel Show, I like taking my chances, I always have.

Modern History, Every Day In Europe

After a busy Saturday attending an art show where I had several photos hung along side paintings by members of the Ulster County Art Society and a celebratory dinner with D & D it was great to read all day. I was enthralled with In Europe: Travels Through the Twentieth Century by Geert Mak. The book is filled with facts and feelings of Europe that is rarely covered, modern history. I when traveling in Europe also tend to think of its history of by gone centuries. It was eye opening to delve into things that happened in Europe even during times I have been abroad.

Two trips of my own during modern historic times came to mind, first was my first trip to Northern Ireland when army helicopters buzzed overhead and troops patrolled door to door in Londonderry. On my way there I took a wrong turn in my rental and headed up a dirt road. To my amazement I had camouflaged soldiers pop up from the woods all around my car. They seemed much relived to find I was just a lost American tourist, though one warned me to keep more alert.

The other episode was during a visit to Moscow awhile back. Late one night I was heading back to my hotel after going to Red Square for some celebration. The subways were jammed with huge severely inebriated crowds so I decided to walk only to get very lost. Eventually a Russian guy took pity on me and walked me back to the hotel. While we walked he told me that even though the CIA had sprinkled the clouds around Moscow to cause rain to spoil the day of celebration, I was not to blame. I bought him a beer at the hotel and let him know that the Cold War was over at least for me. Every yesterday is history.

Digging Out From the Fallen Snow

Going on a 105 Day Honeymoon with Brian and L

I got an email today from my nephew, who is also one of my favorite people on the planet. He was wondering how I was handling recouping at home. Well, I told him I was snapping photos today during the major snow storm. He knows that I have about a 2 week shut down at home life span. Drew knows me well and was glad to read on the blog that Lapland is in my future. He has recently begun a career in finance in San Francisco and has settled in well with his finance Beth.

He also sent me a blog that is being done by some of his friends that are on a 105 day honeymoon trip via cruise ships. What a great experience Brian and L are on, all over the world. What a way to begin a life together! The Bonvivant Traveler blog is fantastic and filled with observations from all around the world, much like Kelly Westhof and her husband under took, and her blog is called ER and can be found on GoNOMAD. Kelly was one of our original winners of travel grants we did awhile back, she used the money well and her are stories fantastic. Now in my final recoup I will get to travel again with Brian and L's blog, keep on trucking, I will, up to travel amongst the Sámi. Before that we from GoNOMAD have a huge NY Times Travel Show coming up next weekend.

St. Vincent's Rentals, Next Time Mick Jagger's Place

In my last article for GoNOMAD I wrote about a great visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. I mentioned that if you got big bucks that Mick Jagger’s pad was available for rent, however the SVG can be done reasonably and you can still feel like a star. I have just opened the February issue of Travel & Leisure and under the user’s guide is a bit about the Jagger’s Stargrove rental on Mustique.

It is filled with family photos and mementos from the career of the front man for the Rolling Stones. It is six bedrooms done Japanese style complete with koi pond and Jacuzzi. A jeep and a staff of six are also included in the $16k weekly rental. To rent it a detailed description of all guests is reviewed, including occupations by Mick himself. I probably could have gotten that info from Richard Mineards when I called in my segment to Around the World Travel Radio with Richard and Arthur von Wiesenberger about SVG. If you cannot or do not want to spend $16k on a rental check out my article or radio segment on GoNOMAD, save some bucks for Branson’s estate on Necker Island, it costs $329k a week.

Ulster County's Train Tracks Lead to Sweden, Finland and Australia

I took a break from the desk today and wandered to an old train that I have passed by on the road for years on RT 209. I have loved steel rails since I was a kid. Here in Ulster County the railroad was once a powerful mode of transportation. In fact two houses down from mine an old station has been converted into a very cool home. Every morning I am home I walk the rail tracks that now go through the woods. As I explored the abandoned rail cars today I thought about some trips by train I have recently taken, Sweden, Finland and Australia. There is something so comfortable about a mode of transportation where all you have to do is stare out of the window and watch the world go by, All Aboard.

Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, Rock Kingston New York

Two of my favorite strutting roosters of rock and folk took the stage at UPAC in Kingston last night, Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt. It was just the two strummers with guitars and stories galore, perfect in every way. It was a full house and a very appreciative audience. Hiatt started the show with, Perfectly Good Guitar and Lovett followed with Skinny Legs. For the encore the two brought out Garth Hudson, a past member of the Band and local resident for Ain’t No More Cane. (on the Brazos) His red accordion shiny in the spot light, thanks L Gruberg for putting together good people for a great show.

Hawksbill Turtles in SVG

Here is my article about SVG and these amazing citizens of the sea.

GoNOMAD.COM

Lapland, Back to the Arctic Circle

I just got invited to Lapland, Finland with a few jumps across the Swedish border for some winter adventure. I remember the cold crisp air from my last trip above the Arctic Circle to Norway in winter, exhilarating. I will certainly need the beard I have grown recently. Fortunately I do like intense winters because I am sure that will be the case. We will be traveling via horse sleigh, snowmobile, dog sled and ice cutter. It will be several evenings of traditional smoke saunas and nights of Kallio saari known in English as northern light watching via snowshoes. I am sure some bottles of Finlandia and Lapin Kulta (Finnish beer) will fit in with some dishes such as poronkaristys. (reindeer hash) Other activities revolve around learning about the Sámi people, what a gig! Accommodations include cottages along the sea such as Wanha Pappila. Max is right, I’ll go anywhere invited.

See Gulls on the Hudson River

Kirkland Hotel, RUPCO Masterpiece

My sister Vickie and I took a trip down memory lane today when we got a tour of the Kirkland Hotel in uptown Kingston NY. The building was renovated by Rural Ulster Preservation Co. better known as RUPCO. As Kevin O’Conner led us from basement to the top floor thoughts of many years ago came flooding back. As kids we used to go with the family to the hotel’s restaurant for Sunday dinners, my grandfather was good friends with the hotel owner Max Brugman. I’ve heard since my grandfather would head over to the Kirkland frequently for friendly card games.

It was amazing to see the wrecked old building dating from 1899 come back to life and done so well, it is qualified as a National Register of Historic Places because it is a great example of the wood- framed hotels dating from the late 19^th century. A prime example of the work it took to renovate the building is the fact that it is Kingston’s first geothermal heated and cooled system. The RUPCO site has a great movie by Brugman in the 1950’s. In a city filled with architectural gems that are falling apart it was great to see one brought back, better than one could hope for. Great job RUPCO!

Heading up Mohonk Mt.

Compassionate Health Care From Canaan Maine

The snow is blowing and our guests have left for their long trek back to Maine, It is mellow at the St. John house today. Penny is a practitioner nurse in Canaan, as close to a doctor as you can get, Ed has been a pharmacist for many years. Over many visits to their home I have seen lines of people stopping in for consultation for free. Both are very compassionate and caring people. They also happen to be my sister and brother in law but that isn’t the only reason their visit was special. With their years in health care they have a feel for people’s emotional health.

Though I am healing well after skin cancer surgery on my face they knew a visit and a chance to really talk with knowledgeable folks was needed. I tend to have a British stiffer upper lip façade with people. They saw through it and drove down a long way to hang out with us. It was very healing to be able to talk with them. It has been a very emotional time and at times debilitating experience. We had a great time relaxing, eating and enjoying quality time that overnight visits allow. They have lifted my spirits and for that I am grateful. Even better is knowing that those two care about each and every patient they encounter. Thanks guys for making a real long house call!

New Paltz Photographer: Kevin Van Buren

With Penny and Ed visiting we hit the road to take in New Paltz in the snow. I shot the barn picture and then put my camera away, too interested in gabbing and driving. Later we walked through town and I came upon a photographer's gallery. I was blown away by the photos of Kevin Van Buren. His colors and concepts are spot on ! Here is his tech info and website:

Technique Work with 6 x 7 format and 35mm format in transparencies and negatives. Images are scanned to capture the maximum detail and printed on 100% cotton rag paper utilizing pigment based inks. The images are mounted on archival mats and foam board providing the greatest in longevity. I bet Kevin would have kept snapping!

http://www.kevinvanburenphotography.com/bio.html

New Zealand 100% Pure, I'm Sure

It was a bang up night at the Explorer’s Club with Richard Bangs last night. Bangs was promoting his new book Quest for Kaitiakitanga, ‘kaitiakitanga” is the ancient Maori ideal of guardianship of the land. Something that New Zealand as a country is totally into, their slogan is, New Zealand, 100% pure. A partial screening of Richard’s New Zealand: Quest for Kaitiakitanga DVD made me want to head to JFK and hop a flight to NZ!

The atmosphere of the Explorer’s Club was perfect for the program and people were really excited to be a part of it. I was able to chat a bit with Annie Dundas the new regional manager for Tourism New Zealand, US and Canada and Howard Cohan from Menasha Ridge Press. Venessa Muto of NZ, PR was also there for the Chat up. It was also great to see familiar faces like Shantini from Spring O’Brien. I am 100% sure that New Zealand is a must see!

Sweet Suite at the Marriott Marquis NYC

My sister Vick lucked out and had the JW Marriott Suite at the Marriott Marquis last night. Two bedrooms, two floors, three huge TVs, fitness room, two bars and an office, all for one little bundle of energy.

Dinner with a Award Winning Photographer

We had the pleasure of having Kingston’s photographer laureate, Phyllis McCabe over for dinner last night. It was great to have an award winning clicker over, even better because I have known her for many years. Phyllis’s latest book A China Tapestry was given to us and is fantastic. The images are amazing and were taken over 3 trips to China. She is self taught and has been clicking away for thirty five years. Today is the beginning of the Lunar Year of the Rat in China and I will spend some time heading to China through her book. The forward by master painter Hong Nian Zhang is a tribute to Phyllis’s work. Check it out her site at http://phyllismccabe.com/photographer.htm

Missing Billy Madden

It has been two years today since Billy Mapes Madden has passed on and thoughts of him to this day pop up almost daily. I will be driving some place in Ulster County and inevitably pass a place that equates to him. Bill was a photographer for the Kingston Daily Freeman and would occasionally pass on some shooting tips as well as golf tips.

Today I took my new SLR Canon and followed some routes that we had driven many years ago. I tried to remember some of those tips but mostly I remembered a smiling face and some chuckles from the past. My thoughts go out to his family and to all who knew him, he is missed.

NYC Late Show

Febuary is going to be a very busy month for me in NYC. I love the Big Apple and doing biz there. I remember when I was a bartender & reastaurant manager in the city years ago. I was always amazed as bartenders would meet up from various watering holes and head to seceret after hour bars with gambling tables. A knock on a door took you into some strange places then. This Thursday I am going to a New Zealand event at the Explorer's Club. I have no idea what happens very late anymore!

Dinner at Joey and Jeff's

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Some people having entertaining down pat and Jeff and Joey top the list. We had a great time with a wonderful mix of people, not to mention some fabulous food. Their house is interesting and wonderful to look at, I could spend hours just looking at the collection of objects that display such style. Attending a dinner there is like I would imagine a dinner in the Paris of Hemingway’s Movable Feast would be, interesting folks with great conversation and flowing spirits. Ending up in the basement bar over a pool table was the perfect ending, weekend dinner parties are some of the best activities in life.

Tough Drive

It was a tough ride home from Vermont! I saw 16 cars off the NY State Thruway before getting home.