Archive for January, 2010

Management Training on a Bus

Author: Gina

Jan 30

Fernanda is a fellow traveler I met on the bus last Thursday. She was the only person on the bus who was not minding her business and that was strange because most people practice three money logic, ignoring the other passengers and whatever thoughts might be on their minds. She smiled at me and told me she liked the scarf I wore. It was a blue and green number with pictures of Hindi gods printed on the cloth in black ink that had faded from use. It was my favorite scarf, the one I was wearing when I got into organizational development programs for small companies in the Southwest. We got to talking about the Southwest too but we talked about a lot of things, the different thoughts on her mind that other people were trying to ignore.

She told me was in developing programs too, management training program for bigger businesses. Her father, however, had owned his own business, a junkyard. She wanted to own her own business but she did not know what she wanted to do. The way her work was now, it was more collaborative, and she would like her business to be on the smaller scale of things.

The one things she liked about the Southwest was how things seemed smaller out here, but when I told her about how we still had big cars, and houses, and malls, she corrected herself. Fernanda said if I went out to the desert, I would see what she meant. I wanted to ask her what she meant about what she had meant earlier, but it was too confusing and she had said goodbye once I got my thoughts back together again. I have yet to see her on the bus again.

I went out to the desert as she recommended I should. She was right. Things are small out here because of the sky, the infinite amount of sky, but I have to say it was not a bad to feel small. The subsequent Thursday I saw her on the bus again. She said hello and something about how I looked shorter and laughed. I laughed with her too.

0 Comments
Filed under: Business, People | Tagged as: , , ,

A Walking Tour of San Antonio

Author: Gina

Jan 26

I had lived in the city of Chicago for just six months when I decided to move back home to Phoenix.  I moved there in 2001 from Los Angeles.  I shipped my things bought my plane ticket and headed to the “Windy City”.  I had been to Chicago just once, for a one hour lay-over at O’Hare Airport.  I was not sure what to expect.  In my six months, I really did not explore much.  I was overwhelmed and stayed within my own neighborhood of Wicker Park.  However, just before I moved I met a friend, and during my last week in Chicago, we walked all over that city. 

I found a true love, a true love of getting to a city by just simply walking around.  So when I first visited San Antonio, I checked into my hotel I found online here, put my bags in my room, and headed out for a walking tour.  There is much to be found about the history of city, and about the current times of the city, and about the people of a city when you take a walk.  I began my walk at the Alamo Plaza, which happens to the enterance for the Mission San Antonio de Valero.

This city has five missions, all of which contribute historical significance, and this mission was the first, founded in 1718.  I then headed towards the Menger Hotel, which was built by a German immigrant during 1859.  This site has a long list of guests which includes famous actors, writers, politicians and US Presidents.  The Victorian architecture and design remain beautiful to this day.  The Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church was constructed as well, for the German immigrants of the city in 1876.  The Gothic style and the stained glass windows really took my breath away.  I stopped for lunch in La Villita, a small site located on what once a Coahuiltecan Indian community, but is now home to many artists and musician. 

I was ready to head back and asked a man in cafe, the best way to get back to my hotel and he suggested I go along the River Walk.  This was a peaceful walk back, along the banks of the San Antonio River, through cafes, restaurants and the historic district of King William.  It was a few days before I was able to tour the city on foot again, but by then I felt I knew just a bit more about the people, the areas I wanted to discover, and the stories that were waiting.  My second walking tour of San Antonio, was even better than the first.

0 Comments
Filed under: Travel | Tagged as: , ,

Ike in Kansas

Author: Gina

Jan 21

Yes, if you find yourself in a modern hotel in Kansas, especially in the city of Abilene, you can take some time and visit the Eisenhower Center. Dwight David Eisenhower or Ike as many called him, was a four star general in the United States Army and he became the thirty fourth President of America. He was actually born in Texas but the family settled in Kansas and he graduated form Abilene High School in 1909. He worked in the Belle Springs Creamery for two years to support his brothers education. Eisenhower tried to get into the Naval Academy and passed the tests but was to old so he was not eligible. However, Senator Joseph L Bristow was the man who recommended Dwight to the Military Academy at West Point in the year 1911. He went on to graduate in the upper class of 1915. Of this class, 59 members went on to become general officers.

After he graduated he went on to have an amazing career in the military. While World War I was going on he became the third leader of the new tank corps which lead him to the temporary Lieutenant Colonel spot. He trained the tank crews in Pennsylvania but never saw combat. After the war he went back to being a captain for a few days when they made him a major before going to is post at Camp Meade in Maryland. War was quiet for a while so he spent his time working and getting involved in many different things in the military.

Then World War II came around and he was back in action when he was assigned to the General Staff in non other than Washington. He was the one who created the war plans to defeat the Japanese and Germany. The propelled him further up the ranks and senior command positions. He commanded many efforts in the early forties and was often the one who talked directly with super heads such as Stalin. Franklin D Roosevelt respected him and his opinion. So take the time to see how this man became the President of the United States and the legacy he left.

0 Comments
Filed under: Travel | Tagged as: , ,

New York: The Prospect Park Boathouse

Author: Gina

Jan 19

One of the many things that can be said about the city of New York, is that many of the buildings and the structures, along the city streets and in the different parks, have a history just as diverse as the histories of the people who have made New York their homes.  To fully absorb the city, it is best done on an extended stay, and the for a look at some of the best hotel accommodations in the city take a look online at www.4starhotelsnewyork.com.

One park in particular is filled with legendary structures, and this is the Prospect Park in Brooklyn.  From the Carousel to the Skating Rink, each of the attributes of the park have a long and a rich story to tell.  Such is true of the Boathouse, which was first constructed in 1876 by two landscape architects, Vaux and Olmsted, and was a first a pretty rugged looking structure on the North end of the park.  The original structure was rebuilt in 1905 and that Beaux Arts design is what is still standing today.

The architects who created this new boathouse were Ulrich Hubery and Frank J. Helmle and they drew their inspiration by the 16th Century building in Venice, the Sansovino Library of Saint Mark.  There are columns which stand in front of a terra cotta tiled facade, and at the time of the reconstruction, the entire Boathouse was moved to provide future visitors a better vantage point for watching the sunset.  As beautiful as this building is, it comes as no surprise that it quickly became a popular spot for visitors, photographers and artists.  The boats were moved, and at that time it became a cafe, combined with the Visitors’ Center for Prospect Park, and the headquarters for the park rangers of the entire borough of Brooklyn.

During the 1960′s, the building had been neglected and scheduled to be demolished, but the citizens of Brooklyn protested vehemently, and within 48 hours of the scheduled demolition, the Boathouse was saved.  In 1972, the Boathouse made it to the National Register of Historic Places.  In 1999, the Boathouse was once again renovated and restored, and continues to be one of the gems of not only Prospect Park, but of the city Brooklyn as well.

0 Comments
Filed under: Travel | Tagged as: , ,

The Boston Harbor and the Lady in Black

Author: Gina

Jan 11

In the middle of the harbor in Boston, sits Georges Island.  On this island is Fort Warren, a military base that was abandoned shortly after WWII.  This site was scheduled to be developed into a toxic waste dump however those plans were thwarted by the storyteller and historian Edward Rowe Shaw, and a memorial now stands on the island in honor of the man who saved the island and its history, and its beauty.  While Fort Warren does take up quite a bit of space on the island, there is much more to see.  This is why so many people make the short thirty minute trip from their hotel room in Boston to the shores of Georges island, to enjoy a picnic, a walk through the vistas and the mountains, or a stroll along the beach surrounded by the geese that call these shores their home.

For some, the trip to the island is a search for the mysterious Lady in Black.  She is part of a the story of a legend that has been told for many years throughout the living rooms and in front of campfires, the story of newlyweds and of bravery and of sadness.  The legend is that a Confederate soldier was held prisoner at Fort Warren.  His new wife dressed herself up as a man, carried a pistol and snuck into the Fort in the hopes of freeing her captive husband.  She made her way into the Fort, to her husband’s cell, and freed him.  However as they were attempting to escape the troops for the Union upon discovering the scheme and when after them.  As the scuffle ensued the woman shot at the commanding officer, but hit her husband by mistake, killing him in the hubbub.

She was scheduled to be executed on the grounds of treachery and she asked that she be properly dressed as a woman, however all that could be found were some black robes.  So, in those black robes she was hanged, and the sightings of her misty black figure date back to 1862.  From January of that year, to today, sightings have been reported, and people have been traveling to Georges Island in hopes of catching their own sightings of this sad spirit, said to be wondering the halls of Fort Warren.  So whether you come for the picnics, or the geese, or the hiking, you may be presented with a little more than you bargained for, on this small island in the center of Boston Harbor.

0 Comments
Filed under: Legends and Lore, Travel | Tagged as: , , ,

Birding in Cape May New Jersey

Author: Gina

Jan 11

Cape May, New Jersey has one of the highest population of summer visitors in the country. It is a relatively small town with a standard population of just over 4,000 when counting the residents that live there all the year around. However, each summer Cape May’s population has an enormous spike as around 36,000 additional people dwell there for three beautiful months. It is located at the southern tip of the Cape May Peninsula as has some of the most spectacular beaches on the island. This fabulous summer resort enjoys a diverse population of tourists and seasonal residents as people from all over the world flock to its shores. And the hotels Cape May fill quickly during the peak season.

In addition to the beautiful Victorian architecture found on the island many of its tourists and residents, both part time and full, are also interested in observing some of the migratory birds that find the island to be the perfect annual destination. Interestingly, many of these species arrive at the island in the fall, which is a particular benefit for those few who live on the island all year round. Over four hundred species have been found and recorded on the island and the Cape May Bird Observatory is located near by at Cape May Point.

The observatory was founded in 1975 with the triple primary purposes of conducting research, organizing educational bird watching activities and encouraging conservationism. Pete Dunne, who is a well-known and respected birding author, is the observatory’s current director. More than an actual destination point itself, Cape May is a crossroads of migration patterns. Both spring and fall thousands of birds pass through the island and bird watchers from across the globe show up to watch. Other prominent birding authors make their home on Cape May. Some of these include David Allen Sibley, Michael O’Brien, Kevin Karlson and Richard Crossley.

0 Comments
Filed under: Travel | Tagged as: , ,