Leaving Lapland, Filled with Memories

Today it is time to pack up and head home for a little break. This trip to Lapland has been a great trip, I moved via reindeer sled, husky sled and snowmobile. I had my share of poro (reindeer) and ate well, a must in the cold. After busy days I took the traditional steam suana, heated by logs. Thanks to Ari and his planning I learned much, but it is now time to fly. www.taxari.com

Sammy the Sami, Lapland

Winter Swimming in the Gulf of Bothnia

Sampo is the only passenger icebreaker in the world, a shame because it was such a great experience. Plowing through ice was great but the chance to plunge in the icy Gulf of Bothnia will linger in my mind forever.

Food and Fun in Helsinki, Aki Arjola

It is Sunday in Helsinki and a slow morning. Yesterday despite having only 3 hours of sleep the night before I powered through Helsinsi with a vengence, seeing most of what was on my list.

Last night I had dinner with Aki Arjola and his partner in http://www.eatandjoy.com/ a site devoted to Finnish food and special food products. While I did enjoy, fatigue over took me and I headed back to the GLO Hotel for a long deep sleep.

Ranua Wildlife Park

The Ranua Wildlife Park was a blast to explore, filled with animals that live in arctic zones. They not only teach about the fasinating animals but also serve to protect and heal. The park is set back in the wilderness and is peaceful, a great way to pass an afternoon.

On the Frozen Sea

Sampo Ice Cruising

The ice was close to three feet thick as the Sampo crushed through it. It is the sound that is stricking when steel meets ice. Sampo is an ice cruiser and it was used to keep the shipping lanes open here above the arctic circle. It now is the only ice cruiser that the public can cruise on. The sheets of thick ice are no match for the three layer steel hull and they crack like puzzle pieces. You can also don a survivor suit and float in the super chilled sea waters, a thrill. The Sampo reminds me of the Finnish spirit, uncrushable.

Finnish Lapland, Love It!!

It has been fantastic here in Lapland Finland, the snow is fine and company great. Last night 2 Yanks one Finn and one Russian sat in a steam suana and had a great time. Beer, great food and conversation mixed with a winter wonderland atmosphere was key. The aurora burst into the sky as we headed back to our cottage. Taxari and Ari did a splendid job planning this trip. Today was snowmobiling for 78 miles with a chance to jump into a frozen sea with a survivors suit on. Steam suana ended the evening in Sweden. I will try to post more but am limited without my laptop. Loving Finnish Lapland!!!

In Hellsinki, Lap Top Less

It was a grueling battle but I arrived in Helsinki last night, and the soft bed at the GLO Hotel was amazing. Better yet my bags were waiting, I can head up to Lapland with some warm duds. Unfortunately My lap top was left at security back in Frankfort, a victim of road fatigue and the longest seven hour plane trip ever actually took 2 days and 18 hours. I will try when I can to check in with tales of the arctic circle.

Finnair Flops

It is Easter morning and I am along way from Helsinki where I expected to be. I had a few firsts in my travels yesterday. I had the full in flight meals service even though we were still at the gate. In fact we spent about six hours on the ground at the gate. I sat in a darken plane for a bit while they powered down the plane, in the hopes of getting a computer running again. Needless to say Finnair has left an impression on me.

After the flight was scrapped we stood inline for an hour or two for a bus to the JFK Holiday Inn, a place I have stayed many times before. In no time at all it was 2 AM and sleep not easily comes by. The plane was filled with Finns I am sure they wished they made it home for Easter. I’m just hoping to regain a lost day in Helsinki.

Roots and Race, a Refresher Course

I have always thought of slavery as only being a part of the Deep South. I was reminded of that not being the case in Annapolis. On the waterfront is statues of Alex Haley and kids from different races. The book Roots changed America's understanding of slavery, perhaps sadly the TV series did more.

It was in Annapolis that Kunta Kinte arrived via slave ship and then was sold. I picked up a copy of Roots today to reread and remember. It might just help me better understand all I am hearing in the news these days.

Sky Rats

Last of Philadelpia

It is with a big smile we returned for our last night of Spring Break 2008 in Philadelpia. It is a city that I have really loved and a return is a must, so much more to see. We did see much though and it was all good, from protest to murals, more art is availible it seems here than many of the cities I visit around the world.

I have a few days at home before I head above the arctic circle in Lapland (Northern Finland) after some Easter activities in Helsinki. Most of all I realize that I have laid low to heal enough and it is time to explore!

Loews Annapolis, a Bit Confused

Waking up in suite 616 was a pleasure till I found two different bills at each of the doors. In essence I got charged for room 614 also. Loews is one of my top choices for a hotel because of the great service and fine accomadations. I admire CEO Jonathan Tisch not just for his well run hotels but his efforts on behalf of tourism. I have been a gold member of Loews Club Gold for years. It was after checking in and getting moved around 3 times due to confused front desk maneuverings that I ended up in the suite. Membership counts so when I took the 2 bills down one was removed, I hope so anyway. Confusion still seems to lurk around the front desk of the Loews in Annapolis, but I must admit the suite is stunning.

Today we are heading to the East Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, home to watermen and small villages. It is no confusing that move with any other options, unless I am charged twice for crossing the Bay Bridge once.

Piccola Roma in Annapolis, Tops for Dinner

This was one polite and professional server, funny yet quiet. We ended our night far from the blast of Irish tunes and in one great restaurant. Piccola Roma in Annapolis was fantastic and like Il Portico in Philly it was unusual menus that drew us in. The owner is Silvana Recine Silvestrini and our server was Laura. One of the best St Patty dinners I have ever had! 200 Main Street, Annapolis 410 268-7898

Annapolis Partying for St Patty's Day

We are here in Annapolis for the wearin of the Green and this city is pumped! As we explored this sea faring city pub after pub was gearing up for tonight. Our suite at the Loews is fantastic but it was a bit trifling checking in. Digging through the suitcase for some green apparel!

Best Italian in Philadelphia, Il Portico

I gave the fresh faced concierge a tough task last night in the concierge lounge. I wanted an Italian restaurant near the Ritz Carlton, which was different than the hundreds of other Italian places that Philadelphia is known for. He scored big time when we told us about Il Portico on 1519 Walnut St. a scant two blocks away.

Il Portico was stunning in looks bursting with flavor and priced at suburb value. The influences in food is Jewish/ Italian with many recipes coming from chef Alberto Delbello’s family and growing up in the Jewish section of Rome called Il Portico or the ghetto. Il Portico has taken me out of my chicken parm rut and left other Italian restaurants in the future a tough job.

http://il-portico.com/about_us.htm

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Philadelphia/Default.htm

Night on Broad Street, Philadelphia

Protesting Scientoligy In Philadelphia

It was apparently the official protest Scientology Day around the world today, unknown to me. I ran into the Philadelphia one while hanging out. I will do more about it but dinner awaits. Click on www.xenu.net for some strange info, interesting though.

Ritz`Carlton Philly, Champagne and Oysters

Life is great here at the Ritz Carlton in Philly, the view from 2805 is fantastic and Ritz again tops. In what was the Board Room of the Mellon Bank East is the concierge lounge. The evening snacks of oysters, crab claws and chicken satay combined with Tattingers Champagne from France was a perfect end to a busy day.

Putting on the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia

It is Lil’s Spring Break and we are going on the road. No exotic beach or foreign soil this trip. We are heading to one of our favorite cities, Philadelphia then on to a new one, Annapolis. With some long trips coming up we wanted to live and eat well nearby and Philly is a great place to do just that. This visit we are going to check out the Barnes Foundation, home to hundreds of Impressionist paintings by the masters such as Renior and Degas, Van Gogh and Manet. Staying at the Ritz Carlton will add on to the pleasure of our visit.

Winter Adventure in Finland and France

Spring is just a few days away but I am just starting my winter. After a few months of healing I am ready to go and several trips will help me get in the winter activities I missed since Dec. I soon head to Finland in particular Lapland above the Arctic Circle. Traveling via Husky, ice cutter, horse drawn sleigh, snowmobile and on the hunt for the aurora borealis should give me plenty of outdoor action.

In April I will hit the slopes of Val d’Isere and Chamonix in the French Alps, that should take the sting out of missing a good snow season here in the Catskills. After I am heading back to Lyon and the Rhone Alpes Region to gather more for a possible France Guide piece, I will be wandering on my own and at my own pace.

Eliot Spitzer's Wife, I Knew it Back in 2006

Way back in October 29 2006 I did a blog about Eliot Spitzer’s wife having met her at a fundraiser here in High Falls NY. I was very impressed by Silda Spitzer and the way she carried herself. Scandal isn’t new to politics but I was surprised to hear that Governor Spitzer was involved in a prostitution scandal. Just yesterday Max, Cindy, Lisa and I were sitting and having a great brunch at the Depuy Canal House and discussing the Gov’s lackluster performance. The Depuy happened to be where I met Mrs. Spitzer at the fund raiser. Today I was going over my blog stats and was amazed at the number of visits, a weeks worth in just two hours. The thought occurred to me that bad news is a powerful draw and finding out about it is now different. My thoughts go out to Silda. The October blog was titled Eliot Spitzer’s Better Half, I was more than half right.

Moscow Memories

One of the most interesting cities I have ever visited was Moscow; it just had a different feel. It was chaotic and busy. The people's attitudes bordered on very friendly to melancholy. I saw old men with Soviet medals pinned on their jackets protesting and missing the Stalinist days. In the restaurant at the Hyatt near Red Square gangster types sat at tables ordering Dom and posing with bevies of slicked up babes.

I reread Stalin by Edvard Radzinsky recently and was again fascinated, it is said that the cult of Stalin is once again reappearing in Russia. If you read a school book during his reign here are some things you would have learned.

The steam engine wasn’t invented by Watt but by a Siberian workman named Polzunov.

The electric light bulb was given to the world by a guy named Yablochkov and radio by Popov, not Marconi. The Wright brothers were not the first to successfully have a test flight it was a Russian named Mozhaisky. Pravda means truth in Russian anyway.

Maurice D Hinchey at the Old Dutch Church, Kingston NY

One of the best things about moving back to my roots in Ulster County NY is the people; I’ve known many for most of my life. Last night I went to the 85^th Annual George Washington Dinner at the Old Dutch Church in Kingston. The Church is on the National Register of Historic Places and should be listed as a designated historic landmark soon. It is fitting as George while not sleeping there did stop by and the church is a magnificent structure with numerous historical ties. I was reminded of my own ties when the city historian Edwin Ford spoke and mentioned that my grandparents were the first to bring him there many years ago, Edwin is in his nineties and has a memory like a steel trap.

Our Congressman Maurice Hinchey was the key note speaker and a very popular guy around these parts. He is now serving his eighth term and serves on the House Appropriations Committee amongst other powerful positions. Perhaps to me his biggest appeal is being approachable. I asked Maurice if possibly we could run some of his photos and take from a government trip to Cuba on GoNOMAD. He graciously agreed and that was so pleasing.

Young and old, Republican and Democrat, at this dinner all are accepted and local fellowship shines. If all politics are local then I am glad to deal with my local politicians here in Ulster. If you ever get a chance to stop by Kingston take some time to wander the uptown streets with its old stone buildings and the Church, it will take you back to the days when politics were especially crucial, during the Revolution and even further back. Thanks Congressman for your accessibility.

Night in New York City

France Guide 2008, Canal Du Midi

I was thrilled to get my copy of France Guide 2008, A Maison de la France publication. My piece on Cruising the Canal Du Midi was included and surrounded by wonderful photos. This is the eight edition of the France Guide and has a distribution of 345,000; it will run in four different languages in the Americas and it will be distributed in hotels, restaurants, airport lounges and French consulates. It can be ordered on line also at Franceguide.com/us

The list of other contributors added to my excitement and it was also great to see fellow GoNOMAD blogger Ginger Warder listed. The magazine is full color and beautifully done. It was truly an honor to be included, thanks Eleanor, Katherine and Jessie, vive la France!

Tour Ulster County NY for History

I happen to live in Ulster County and that makes me one lucky guy. The area is filled with history; it is unique as it was a Dutch colony before becoming British. The area still has Dutch family names from long ago. The city of Kingston was the first capital of NY and was burned by the British during the Revolution as it was said to be a hotbed of scoundrels and filled with those unloyal to the King. It wasn’t the first time the city was torched. The Native Americans burned the city twice before.

Ulster County Tourism and the City of Kingston have websites that will fill you in on all of the history of this scenic and pastoral paradise. Names such as George Clinton, Sojourner Truth, Peter Stuyvesant and even George Washington have a place in the history of Ulster County. Indeed I am one lucky guy!

Old and New Friends at the NY Times Travel Show

It is hard work getting the word out but I noticed that it is the key to success, like the long term popularity of travel writers like Rick Steves and Arthur Frommer. I’m sure Ian Wright had better things to do this weekend then promote his new Travel Channel series, Wright on America. So many others I ran into at the NY Times Show have been around due to hard work. I got to finally meet Jim Benning and Michael Yessis of World Hum face to face, a long time favorite site of mine. Peter Mandel also stopped by say hello. Several of my favorite PR people such as Lauren Kaufman from Spring O’Brien and Joao Rodrigues from Myriad also visited.

Just as wonderful was meeting new people like the many who came back to the GoNOMAD booth after our travel writing seminar. We also met Miles Hampton who does Radio Margaritaville for Sirius Satellite Radio who did some sound bites for his show from the GoNOMAD booth. Of course we tempered some hard work with some great down time like Longitude Book's 10 year celebration at a great local bar and dinner at my favorite NY City restaurant Gelsi. It is hard work getting the word out, but so much fun.

Travel Writing at the NY Times Travel Show

The NY Times Travel Show has been wonderful but is keeping all of us on our toes. Matt Link joined Max and I on our seminar about travel writing. The room was packed and the audience great. Being featured with other seminar speakers like Frommer, Ian Wright and Rick Steves was a heady experience.