Destination: Annapolis, MD. Part 3. Seriously, locals know best.

Settling a town on the coast of a large protected bay can grant you access to many things the open waters and narrow rivers can’t. Most importantly to those many things is of course the Naval Academy for the United States Armed Forces. A naval school within this bay city can mean only one thing. Boats. Lots of them. And within Annapolis are many a seafarer of varying expertise with every other family owning a seafaring craft of some kind.

 

Generations of people have lived here and although most of the residents here teach at the Academy, many have settled in a s civilian residents. Many of these residents own boats. Most use them for personal leisurely purposes, while others on the other hand have turned their interest of the open waters into a business. Theses select few cultivate and harvest the fruits of the Chesapeake Bay and have done so with such efficiency the science of aquaculture had to be researched. Now we have set restrictions on what can be harvested. Instead of making the harvests less desirable, it just made every delicious morsels even more sought after.

Destination Block Island. The Solitary Island Revisited Part 3

New Shoreham on Block Island has one major city/town center. This center is responsible for the major deliveries to the island and is home to the town hall and commerce centers. The Historic Old Harbor District is lined with shops, restaurants, and hotels. More importantly this is where one of the two major ports are located, with the other port being located in Champlin’s Marina which connects Montauk, NY to the island during peak seasons.

Once you venture away from the city you are either greeted with thickets on either side of you which opens up to a grand vista of the ocean when you head south, or you are surrounded by beaches on either side of you heading north. There are private and public lands here open to hikers and there are signs that encourage hikers to enter and pass through prompting you to leave your car behind promising views and experiences worthwhile the trip.

    

When I say “open to hikers” I also mean open to bikers and intermediate and beginner explorers with hiking trails of varying difficulty. You don’t need to be a super pro to experience what the island has to offer. In fact most places can be driven to with the walking distances being relatively short. The major spots require longer walks but the views are worth it with the implied isolation being a bonus for those seeking some peace and quiet.

DESTINATION: BLOCK ISLAND. THE SOLITARY ISLE REVISITED Part 2

There is something therapeutic about waking up next to a large body of water. Some people get it, others don’t. I suppose I’m fortunate enough to get it. It could be the ions and negatively charged whatever’s but I really enjoy being next to large bodies of water. In this case the body of water is literally across the street being the Atlantic Ocean.

    

The wisp of the fresh ocean air awakens you and riding on a boat so early in the morning can wake up and revitalize your body more than coffee can, at least I think so. The cold sea air with the bucking of the boat on open ocean has made many people lose their balance and ultimately their last meal. I’ll admit that when I was younger I had a massive case of sea sickness which I eventually overcame. But the imagery, the sensations, the simple joy of riding a boat to a destination and suddenly losing sight of land is exciting.

 

Destination: Block Island. The Solitary Isle Revisited

It is a very very rare thing that I fall in love with a place that I travel to, I’ve learned to understand and appreciate each location’s specialty whether it be the looming desert hills as the sun crests over their peaks in the cool mornings or the wide expanse of ocean that stands before my feet as I wade in the cool surf and even the sound of the forests in the dark. Each place has it’s own thing to offer from how welcoming it’s inhabitants are and what amenities and attractions each place has to offer.

       

Now here is Block Island. This post is titled “Side B” because this trip to Block Island is actually my second one. I just never got around to posting the first trip because A: I got lazy; and B: I have no excuse aside from being lazy. Regardless on this return trip I wanted to recapture what made me fall in love with the island to begin with and to see what exactly it was that brought about my allure with this sleepy island village. So come and join me as I revisit the Island and pick apart my mind as I figure out why Block Island holds a special place in my heart.

Destination: Las Vegas. Behind the Neon Curtain.

There are a plethora of visions and expectations when one says Las Vegas. One night stands, excessive inebriation, unique and interesting encounters with the LVPD, and the inevitable trip with MedicWest/AMR to the hospital. And one would be correct to have those assumptions. After all, why would a city with a nickname such as “city of sin” be prim and polished be devoid of such debauchery? Shouldn’t the main focus, or at least there be a section, where one can seek the evil wants and needs of man? Yes, such places do exist but more importantly however is something that is constantly and incredibly overlooked. That the city of Las Vegas needs people to run it. And that when it comes down to it. The “Sin City” of Las Vegas is just like any other town and has a population that lives and thrives in their communities. So despite the glamor, the lights, and the implied chaos. Beneath the visage of the Neon Lights there await things that one wouldn’t expect, the inner workings of Las Vegas that the tourists would quickly overlook.

 

Destination: Las Vegas. Behind the Neon Curtain. Part 2

Las Vegas. The city in the desert, literally in the middle of the desert. A city-oasis where one could be quenched by the pure rainwater from the Lake Las Vegas reservoir or an oasis for people looking for a little something extra. The romanticized image brought about by years of propaganda and movies, more recently by “The Hangover 3”, casting an overbearing and shadow of titan proportions over the city’s inhabitants. But hell, let’s indulge ourselves for a moment and have a glimpse of how much of Las Vegas is romanticized, let’s take a look at what forms of debauchery or release the city in the middle of the desert can give. Lets take a look at what’s in front of the neon curtain and see what lies in store. Along for the ride is the Olympus TG1-iHS with the FCON-T01 accessory lens. For Your convenience all photos will open in a new window when clicked on.

Jersey Shore Recovery. Union Beach, NJ

Slow but steady progress.

Payatas, Part 3

Payatas, Part 2

Payatas. Part 1

Philanthropy: Noun; altruistic concern for human welfare and advancement, usually manifested by donations of money, property, or work to needy persons, by endowment of institutions of learning and hospitals, and by generosity to other socially useful purposes.