Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Thursday Thirteen #23

I Don't Know Where I'm Going, But I Know Where I've Been! 13 places I've visited.

1. England. This was in 1976 while the Queen was celebrating her millionith year on the throne. But I fell in love. In love. I was there for 10 days and roamed around London and off into the countryside. I'd go back in a NY minute. Highlights: Saw Rudolf Nureyev dance. He was older, but it was still powerful. And I walked the walk of the 4 lads where Apple Corps was located (scene of the rooftop performance) and almost got killed looking the wrong way before crossing the street...saw the supposed official "round table" of the Knights...and Stonehenge.

2. Ireland. I'm Irish. What can I tell you? I love Ireland. Went to Dublin and saw the Ring of Kerry and stayed at youth hostels. Then it was advisable not to go any farther north because of all the trouble in Belfast. Saw the Blarney Stone, which you need to hang outside of a tower to kiss, and hearing the stories about the locals peeing on the stone and getting an ol' Irish hoot watching idiot tourists kiss it, well, I waved at it and moved on. I did my history proud and got hammered on Paddy Whiskey. For this reason, I missed most of Scotland....but

3. Scotland. I did revive somewhat for Edinburgh. So old, so much history and an amazing castle that overlooks the city. We weren't there very long and I was praying to just die for most of it...after my salute to Ireland.

4. Wales. All I gotta say is....who knew? The Welsh people (Not Racquel, but Tom Jones is Welsh if that helps) are a damn scream. Beautiful seaside sojourn...and many laughs. Could be I was just happy to have survived Paddy Whiskey.

5. France. Paris mostly. While others in my college troop went off to sample the abundance of the French grape, I went in search of Frederick Chopin. Yes, I knew he was dead, but he spent many years in Paris -- he had an apartment in the Place de la Concorde, which I found via the Metra with some difficulty considering I speak NO French. Got lost in the damn underground....but really did enjoy France. Saw Notre Dame and the Louvre, walked along the Seine. Went out into the countryside and heard about Napoleon and Marie. Highlight: Finding out you absolutely CAN live on bread, wine and cheese.

6. Hawaii. oooo, I loved Hawaii. I mean, how can you NOT? Altho I went with Anne and our friend Jane not to enjoy sun and ocean, but to hunt down Mr. Magnum PI. I found that house too, where they filmed the show. Highlight: Maui. Island home of one Mr. George Harrison, who had a sign that said, in effect, "GET THE F*** OFF MY PROPERTY" in about 17 languages. He didn't want any misunderstanding. No matter where you were from.

7. Dallas, Texas. Some friends of mine moved down there from Chicago about 10 years ago. The only thing I knew of Dallas came from that TV show "Dallas". (We did go visit Southfork, which is an actual ranch, but the inside doesn't look anything like the interiors of the show and the pool is about the size of a 1/2 dollar). But I LOVED Dallas. I loved Texas. It's big and open and you can wear shit-kickers anywhere, anytime and be considered "dressed". The land is open, the food is big and I had a great time. Highlight: fell in love there. Toby Keith. You understand...

8. Philadelphia. My friend Jane moved there and I visited a couple years ago for a girl's weekend. It was terrific!! Ben Franklin and pubs and early American history. A bus ride through skinny streets and brightly painted 18th century row houses. Oh, and the real Liberty Bell. We went to Valley Forge too which was serenely beautiful.

9. Los Angeles. My family moved out to Rosemead California in the 1960's. It's just outside LA. They've moved all over and I've seen alot of Southern California. I like that you can be in 80 degree heat during the day and have it drop into the 50's at night. Or be in horrid heat during the week and head off to the mountains and see snow over the weekend. That and the diversity. Food, people, culture -- all in moderate temps and a few earthquakes. I lived through one quake when I was younger and I remember standing in the door jamb waiting for it to pass. To me, as a kid, it reminded me of living by train tracks and hearing the freight trains pass through.

10. Alaska. Anchorage, Juneau. Went the end of September about 20 years ago and it was warmer in Anchorage than it was in Chicago. It's on the ocean and the way the current flows, Anchorage can be warmer in the winter than Illinois. Again...who knew? Great history there too....but the economy is really tough and I remember alot of empty stores and empty houses. It is extremely beautiful country though. Just going to the store takes your breath away if you look at the scenery around you.

11. Cincinnati, Ohio. I may have lived in Chicago, but in my youth, I was a traitor. I loved the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. I loved Johnny Bench. I saw him catch a game and I fell in love. He was such an incredible athlete -- and I'm sure he still is. But ol' John got me to Cincinnati several times so that when "WKRP in Cincinnati" came on TV, I knew exactly what it was about. Ohio in general, was also a major favorite when I went to college in Muncie Indiana, as all we had to do was cross the border to get a drink.

12. Las Vegas. How could we not put this on the list? I was there in the days of the Desert Inn (Frank's hangout), the Flamingo, Elvis and when the MGM Grand was the end of the strip. And I've seen it grow out farther into the desert and get bigger and grander. Vegas is just a lifeforce all its own. Can't explain it if you've never been there. But you need money....and sleep in optional.

13. Sedona, Arizona. This was quite awhile ago, but if you've ever gone, Sedona sticks with you forever. It's like the Grand Canyon...Meteor Crater....the Pyramids of Egypt. There's just something majestic about the place. I don't remember much except staring at the beauty of it and wishing I could take a piece of it home with me.

But no matter where I've gone, I've found there truly is no place like home.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Speaking as a Londoner (and always will be, no matter what continent I currently live on) I am delighted you enjoyed it. I've been to several places you, mention, but I have been informed that we are never going to go to Las Vegas :(

Nicole said...

I've been to many of the places you've been, but not all. Though I have to say - I love living in California for many of the reasons you mention liking visiting it.

And Las Vegas is scary, in a "places shouldn't have lives of their own that are more interesting than most humans' " type of way...

Nicole said...

Oh yeah - and you pegged earthquakes, spot on. Only trains won't do quite so much damage to your house...

SandyCarlson said...

You've been to many wonderful places. I love Ireland. All of it. And I'm not much Irish. God bless!

Melanie said...

You are quite the traveler! Where do you want to go next?

Open Grove Claudia said...

Gosh, that's quite a bit of traveling! I love hearing what you thought of each place. I love Paris. I'd live there - I think - but who knows? I'd probably hate it! ;)

Happy TT!

Sandee said...

I looked for Tom Selleck when I was in hawai'i too. I never found him though. Drat. Great list. You are well traveled. Have a great TT. :)

SJ Reidhead said...

Wales is so beautiful

SJR
The Pink Flamingo
http://thepinkflamingo.blogharbor.com/blog

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I'm envious. I've been to Yellowstone and San Francisco and that's about it. (no, not really, but compared to your list, that's how it feels!)

Anonymous said...

So true about Paris.

And I'm so envious that you got to actually see Nureyev dance!!!

Darla said...

Well, I've been to France, Dallas, and Philadelphia.... *sigh* :)

Nancy Lindquist-Liedel said...

I adore Hawaii. I also have a real soft spot for London. Even though it's been many years.

Unknown said...

I wish I could say I had been to even one of those places, most I want to visit eventually.

~The Mama Bear

Natalie said...

It really is true, there's no place like home. But you've been to some really neat places! :)

ellen b. said...

My first trip to Great Britain was in 1974 and I was bitten with the bug too! I was at stonehenge before they put the fence around it. I love it all, England, Scotland, Wales. Now I want to go to Ireland. Rosemead! mercy me I was born in East L.A., grew up in Pico Rivera and Montebello. Cheers!
Oh-you have got to put Seattle on your list of places to visit!

Joyismygoal said...

I am so thoroughly jealous of your Europe and Hawaii travels I so want to go to Ireland and Italy ---but I lived in Cincinnati and I now live in FW TX and used to live in Dallas so i believe you have great taste in traveling.

Addicted to crafting said...

A late comment to say happy belated TT!! I wish I had travel like you. :) Maybe one day!

Dazeree Joan said...

Paris! I'd love to go there!

Jientje said...

Oops!
Am I commenting on the wrong post?
Oh well, you get e mailed anyway so, I might just as well say it here!
I love this one, but what I wanted to say was that I'm sorry you're not feeling well today! Get well soon!
Oh ands the lizards and the cats not mixing? I think you're right on that one! The lizards live at the house we rent in France (Provence) in Summer. The cat of the house ( Chatoun) eats lizards all the time!

Melanie said...

I have only been to Dallas! I need to get out more!

Anonymous said...

I went to Paris last year. No one was friendly when I spoke English so I started speaking Spanish only. I was treated much better after that.

Anonymous said...

Love your list! I've never made it to Europe, but I hope to someday. Dallas and Vegas and Cincinnati we share.

Anonymous said...

I do agree with you about Sedona. I went in the seventies and I've never forgotten the experience. Gorgeous.

My husband's british so we're going over in May...

TT#23 |  13 New York Photos (Part I: Around Town)

storyteller said...

Wow - you've traveled widely with many interesting experiences. I'm much more of a stay-at-home type gal, though I have been to Europe and around the USA and Canada. I enjoyed learning about your travels albeit belatedly.
Hugs and blessings,