Category Archives: Girls Flying Solo – Travel

US State Department Offers New Resource for Travelers

Thinking of traveling abroad? Now you can do a quick search by location of US State Department records that include international, tourist-related incidents and/or deaths involving Americans. The recently launched site allows users to select a country and a time period on which to base the search criteria.  Travel is exciting, and whether you’re like me, a member of the Girls Flying Solo club, or you’re vacationing/traveling for work with others,  it’s nice to have this resource available for research.

Check it out!

Ask A Woman Who Knows About the Sea…

Vacation in Barbados, Crane's Beach, August 2009

Vacation in Barbados, Crane's Beach, August 2009

“Somewhere beyond the Sea…

it’s far beyond the stars
it’s near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt
my heart will lead me there soon…”

- Bobby Darin, “Beyond the Sea”

Scenes of Contemporary Chinese Photography

The following excerpt is from the current edition of New York Magazine:

The contemporary art world has been devouring Chinese photography for years, but only now is that finally being fully acknowledged in China itself, with the country’s first-ever museum collection of photography in Guangdong. One hundred of this collection’s photographs, which reflect the past 60 years of China’s cultural and political transformation, are now on view here, at the China Institute. The images were handpicked by a panel of curators, who visited twenty provinces. See seventeen images in our slideshow.

These shots are stark and stunning. I don’t have the words to do them justice – please go see for yourself.

Take a Fresh Look at Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh, PA - Aerial of Three Rivers Point

Pittsburgh: Football, Steel … and botanicals?

September 10, 2009. The Black Eye Peas and Tim McGraw gave a free concert in Point State Park to kick off a new season of football in what may very well be the most beloved city-of-a-shrine to the game in the US.

Friend/Pittsburgh Native Michael Bubert (in Toronto)

But then again, when is it NOT football season in the land of the world-champion Pittsburgh Steelers?

PICT6838Here on my blog, I can admit the truth: even after years of cheerleading in High School and then following the sport well into adulthood, I still do not understand the rules of this game. But I DO revel in the excitement it creates in its fans. Be it a Steeler, a Giant or a Cowboy, these folks are serious about their pigskin — and why not? Football’s a great contact sport, one that lets us get out our aggression  and still be able to walk off the field with a shake of the hand or pat on the back.

Pittsburgh is one big metal-coated homage to the Steelers and indeed the team’s namesake, Steel.  Purple and Gold ablaze everywhere. But Pittsburgh — Adrienne's Lilyland of Heinz and Warhol — is also a lovely town within the beautiful state of Pennsylvania. Lush landscapes and beautiful botanicals abound in every nook and cranny. Pittsburgh is rich with diversity, pride and warmth that make you want to learn more about its colorful history. It’s also within an hour’s drive of Ohio and West Virginia, and two of Lake Erie.

I must admit that I’ve visited Pittsburgh on a number of prior occasions but I usually tended to just relax around my friend’s home, enjoying the benefits of his good cooking and good company. But, I never experienced the town until last weekend.

And now there’s so much more I want to know…

You can see more of our Pittsburgh shots for this particular visit on Flickr in the Pittsburgh set/