Can We Go to the North Pole?
For the last few days, Norad has been tracking Santa Claus as he makes his way from the North Pole. It's pretty cool to watch the videos they've posted of the most recent location where St. Nick's been spotted. Take a look at this video of Santa as he gets on the road. So while I was watching Santa circumnavigating the world, I started thinking about the North Pole and I realized I didn't know much about it. Where is…
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A Jamaican Christmas – Reggae Carols, 2
Most of the Christmas carols we learned over the years mention things like snow, mistletoe, stockings, chimneys, etc., that we don't see here in Jamaica. So after years of singing these songs, several performers began Jamaicanizing the carols, adding a reggae beat and substituting items that local people could relate to. Here now are a few more reggae carols, by John Holt, The Tamlins and Toots & The Maytals. [caption id="attachment_7849" align="aligncenter" width="526" caption="Holly, maynefoto"][/caption] The Tamlins - Carlton Smith,…
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Who Sends Christmas Cards These Days?
A few weeks ago, I went to buy a few boxes of Christmas cards for a relative. As I strolled the Walgreen's aisle, searching for the appropriate ones, I was surprised at the variety and selection that was there. I couldn't help wondering in the age of online greeting cards, digital cameras and the Internet, who sends paper cards for the holidays anymore? According to greetingcard.org, 2 billion boxed and individual Christmas and holiday cards are sold in the U.S.…
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A Jamaican Christmas – Reggae Carols
Christmas in Jamaica wouldn't be the same without our spin on traditional carols. Here are two versions of The Christmas Song. The first by one of my favorite performers, JC Lodge, The Christmas Song, the second by Beres Hammond, The Christmas Song. JC Jamaicanized the lyrics a bit. [caption id="attachment_7829" align="aligncenter" width="494" caption="Beres Hammond, image from the Internet via iamreggaedaily.com"][/caption] Hope these will help put you in the mood for a little Reggae Christmas. Happy Holidays!
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New York’s 50 Millionth Visitor
Scores of people visit New York City everyday. Last Friday, one British couple, Craig and Lucy Johnson, got the surprise of their lives when they found out that the city had named them its 50 millionth visitor. According to the New York Times, the city's tourism officials selected the couple because the U.K. is the largest source of visitors to New York and because of the Johnsons' connection to the city -- they met in the Big Apple 10 years ago. The…
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My Travel ABCs
My travel blog buddy, Debbie, at European Travelista, invited me to participate in The ABCs of Travel - an A to Z travel survey. It's a fun look back at the memories I've created, the things I've done and the people I've met during my travels. Hope you enjoy reading about My Travel ABCs. Thanks, Debbie, for including me in the survey. A: Age you went on your first international trip: I was 18 or 19 when I took my…
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Soulful Sundays: Cesaria Evora – RIP
Cape Verdian singer, Cesária Évora, died on Saturday, December 17th in Baptista de Sousa Hospital in Mindelo, on her native island of Sao Vicente. She was 70 years old. [caption id="attachment_7809" align="aligncenter" width="243" caption="Cesaria Evora, photo from the Internet"][/caption] Évora was featured on Soulful Sundays in April. Take a listen to Petit Pays.
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Sears Roebuck & Company Building
A few months ago, this Sears Roebuck Company building in Hackensack, NJ caught my eye. It looked like it would have done way back when. I was curious to know what year it was built and how it had missed being demolished for another more modern structure. [caption id="attachment_7804" align="aligncenter" width="395" caption="Sears Roebuck Building, Hackensack NJ"][/caption] I found the following reference to the building in the New York Times of November 17, 1931. “Sears, Roebuck & Co. buy Hackensack Site:…
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Ever Notice These Statues in Times Square?
Times Square is known for many things - bright lights, skyscraper billboards, store after store hawking everything from cameras to souvenirs but few people notice the statues. I'm one of them. I've walked through Times Square a million times and didn't see them until one early morning a few months ago. Although I was late for work, I had to stop and take a photo. Who knew there were these statures in Times Square? And who were these people who…
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Travel Photo Thursday: New York Christmas Scenes
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in New York. Here are a few scenes from Bryant Park. I've always loved Bryant Park - it's small and intimate, and very accessible especially for people who work in midtown. People stop by during lunchtime, sit at the tables and read or take advantage of their free wifi. In the summer, there are movies. In winter, ice skating. [caption id="attachment_7752" align="aligncenter" width="564" caption="Skating in Bryant Park"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_7761" align="aligncenter" width="387" caption="Bryant Park…
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