tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15822424766703343942024-03-02T09:29:16.161-08:00Good Girls in the BadlandsDebi and Judy Do the Dakotas, Georgia, the Carolinas and ElsewhereJudy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-41824779119495754072020-06-24T11:39:00.001-07:002020-06-24T11:41:35.628-07:00Did You Know the San Francisco Plantation is in Louisiana? <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The Good Girls multi-stop road trip down the <a href="https://goodgirlsinthebadlands.blogspot.com/2020/03/stopping-along-natchez-trace-parkway.html">Natchez Trace Parkway</a> ended in Natchez, MS. Since plans called for returning the rental car in New Orleans, Judy and Debi decided to extend their trip and visit the River Parishes of Louisiana, including a swamp tour, some Cajun kitchens, and a few plantations. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDH42K7z4CGbKzzObdKMNo3yZOe_vZnVTyh3_sCjpRszN1qC2AAo9oe71Y4QhqD5Llk-eIPcdodWrw_yGzlBjKI7knGdgi-eSeS0EM9fcvWWE23YDQ2GJkN4mloq2-40RC0OrlHLJy58/s3200/Bayou.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Beautiful Louisiana Bayou" border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDH42K7z4CGbKzzObdKMNo3yZOe_vZnVTyh3_sCjpRszN1qC2AAo9oe71Y4QhqD5Llk-eIPcdodWrw_yGzlBjKI7knGdgi-eSeS0EM9fcvWWE23YDQ2GJkN4mloq2-40RC0OrlHLJy58/w400-h300/Bayou.jpg" title="The beauty of the Louisiana Bayou." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's beauty in the Louisiana bayou. </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Debi reports: We drove south to Garyville, Louisiana, to visit <a href="http://www.sanfranciscoplantation.org">San Francisco Plantation</a> located on the east bank of the Mississippi River. For those coming from New Orleans, it's about a 45-minute drive west of the city. You might be shocked by the curbside location as the San Francisco Big House stands sandwiched between the current road and levee-- and without a river view. Neither the road nor embankment existed during original construction.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQIbbHBGj_yxSbEp5Qwg0hQTbgcMp6FJTnNOuRpP_xW60EC4P4I4om0x6VY0gNcggk19FbWA9XHDY7fhI6G-sRxS_3Cuxip3WI7O6JqeamM5ANIIfsuqUIYORTXhzXuQWtQhJ9ypoJOU/s3323/Aerial.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Aerial view, San Francisco Plantation" border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3323" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQIbbHBGj_yxSbEp5Qwg0hQTbgcMp6FJTnNOuRpP_xW60EC4P4I4om0x6VY0gNcggk19FbWA9XHDY7fhI6G-sRxS_3Cuxip3WI7O6JqeamM5ANIIfsuqUIYORTXhzXuQWtQhJ9ypoJOU/w400-h289/Aerial.jpg" title="An aerial views hows the closeness of the road to the house." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="background-color: white; font-family: "times new roman", serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An aerial views hows the closeness of the road to the house. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-size: 16pt;">Previously, <a href="https://myitchytravelfeet.com/louisiana-plantation-tours/">I had seen San Francisco from a distance,</a> and </span><span style="caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104);">the extraordinarily colorful house</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> intrigued me. Now, I relished the chance to explore the grounds and interior. Judy and I arrived just in time to capture a quick photo and enter the big house as the clouds burst open. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiY0mZRWwhuDuGGJUi2YJbU3RsVxQ9vqZjxc_fhyphenhyphenRMNFthrnh6iM44dVc_9tj9yeRuCodmaj2QIuXcg5kHqWOnWuAeJN6bFfv7wBfP-kvaHaLVPtEhO1Oiu-UfukdiVn_xit6V5VpTtos/s1409/NE4A0249-Edit-Edit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Arriving at San Francisco Plantation before the storm." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1409" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiY0mZRWwhuDuGGJUi2YJbU3RsVxQ9vqZjxc_fhyphenhyphenRMNFthrnh6iM44dVc_9tj9yeRuCodmaj2QIuXcg5kHqWOnWuAeJN6bFfv7wBfP-kvaHaLVPtEhO1Oiu-UfukdiVn_xit6V5VpTtos/w640-h436/NE4A0249-Edit-Edit.jpg" title="Storm clouds about to burst over San Francisco Plantation." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clouds about to burst over San Francisco Plantation.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Some folks think the architectural structure looks like a riverboat; in fact, it inspired a novel called "Steamboat Gothic." In my opinion, the house reminded me of <a href="https://www.lauraplantation.com">Laura Plantation,</a> another nearby, brightly painted Creole-style home; however, Laura is much smaller. San Francisco claims to contain one of the finest antique collections in the country, although none of the furnishings are original to the owners. Sadly, a later purchaser removed the house furniture and inventory, and they perished in a fire. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>The History</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">We shook off the rain and met our costumed guide in a big hoop skirt at the entrance, actually what was formerly the back door. She began with a brief but tangled history of the property, the house, and the owners. Her narrative brought these characters to life, so much so that I could envision them sitting in the parlor, or the children playing games. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMm-Lvv6kvb5eFu9g-MugTPia7YxEaRwyIcWK5-4595wJq3s0s3RgeZiNsuhZ_Lg19s4dpnycTz3x26iQO6V_LeSDQhbinU8SIZ5bgwvY2YKJHbt6ik8AtWQqAWfpbpiCPDWWAIW_RzOs/s4032/IMG_0398.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMm-Lvv6kvb5eFu9g-MugTPia7YxEaRwyIcWK5-4595wJq3s0s3RgeZiNsuhZ_Lg19s4dpnycTz3x26iQO6V_LeSDQhbinU8SIZ5bgwvY2YKJHbt6ik8AtWQqAWfpbpiCPDWWAIW_RzOs/s320/IMG_0398.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tour guide<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">To summarize, </span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 21.33333396911621px;">Elisée Rillieux, a free man of color and a smart visionary,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> purchased the land in 1827.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> A</span><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 21.33333396911621px;"> speculator, h</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">e wanted to establish a sugar plantation but never intended to be a planter himself.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"> Three years later, Elisée sold the estate to Edmond Bozonier Marmillion and his partner Eugène Lartigue for the enormous sum of 100,000 dollars, collecting an estimated $50,000 profit.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">According to brochures, Edmond, in debt from day one, immediately began sugar production. Although he became a successful planter of large crops… and continued to acquire slaves and purchase additional swampland, he invested little in modern sugar machinery. However, during the prosperous 1850s, the plantation became a huge economic success. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHln_8euuJ696ZvYd90KAuy2XraGobkN9sXVerY4V186cDGqknW5h94Ui1HNYDmtXYdWOY4HytPGYRM8pZamR6UvdFCPN1q2yW0NeU5VqcnIc58hf_X_tIteH7QHSodtspkO1SE-c3bLg/s3094/Front.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Old Photo shows the former front gardens at San Francisco Plantation." border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3094" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHln_8euuJ696ZvYd90KAuy2XraGobkN9sXVerY4V186cDGqknW5h94Ui1HNYDmtXYdWOY4HytPGYRM8pZamR6UvdFCPN1q2yW0NeU5VqcnIc58hf_X_tIteH7QHSodtspkO1SE-c3bLg/w640-h496/Front.jpg" title="Old Photo shows the former front gardens at San Francisco Plantation." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Photo shows the former front gardens at San Francisco Plantation. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Edmond's wife died of tuberculosis in 1843, and over the next twenty years, so did six of his eight children. By 1853, Edmond began to build the mansion that exists today for his two surviving sons, Valsin and Charles. He hired expert builders and purchased twelve highly skilled slaves to convert his extravagant dream into reality. Two years later, Edmond found accomplished artists to carry out an ambitious decoration projectfeaturing intricate hand-painted ceilings, painted door panels, faux marbling, and faux wood graining. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIiyHVQBo0BSwDvRKgL99ROdu_-_fyTXO_mJ969eZNfxXtX6r4Gex4C2ChlppXTfIKgJs3kS8Gpnv8TA9XfsC8v4N__IQmMgGKaoakIrBP3hcBym6hQOZfHoLhTNI-Z3Tq1uzulegDa4/s2400/Valsin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Photo of Valsin Marmillion on display at San Francisco Plantation." border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1737" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIiyHVQBo0BSwDvRKgL99ROdu_-_fyTXO_mJ969eZNfxXtX6r4Gex4C2ChlppXTfIKgJs3kS8Gpnv8TA9XfsC8v4N__IQmMgGKaoakIrBP3hcBym6hQOZfHoLhTNI-Z3Tq1uzulegDa4/w290-h400/Valsin.jpg" title="Photo of Valsin Marmillion on display at San Francisco Plantation." width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of Edmond Marmillion on display at San Francisco Plantation. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Edmond died in 1856, less than one year after construction was complete. The day after Edmond's death, his oldest son Valsin returned from Europe. Instead of arriving at a party, he and his wife Louise heard the sad news. They had no choice but to take over the plantation's management. Valsin, Louise, and their three daughters stayed on and ran the sugar plantation for the next fifteen years. The décor you see on tour is from that antebellum period. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The unusual name "San Francisco" is believed to be derived from Valsin's comment about the astronomical debt he discovered when taking over the estate. He declared he was sans fruscins or "without a penny in my pocket." The name evolved into St. Frusquin, and in 1879, the next owner changed it to "San Francisco." The plantation has no connection to the California city. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>The Tour</b><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7XKtUsRiV2rY534035rsraNPgCOAxHT0zIXeF2LgbyZCfCdsxDAhgNH_VJx0SpblLumT20dAr_ureW0Dji7mee5bS41HxAJ8z5E9aMbl1tiPb9eAZcXxCVLxMX9wrhGv-e1Ox7mVYbs/s1440/NE4A0248.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Exterior of San Francisco Plantation Home." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7XKtUsRiV2rY534035rsraNPgCOAxHT0zIXeF2LgbyZCfCdsxDAhgNH_VJx0SpblLumT20dAr_ureW0Dji7mee5bS41HxAJ8z5E9aMbl1tiPb9eAZcXxCVLxMX9wrhGv-e1Ox7mVYbs/w640-h426/NE4A0248.jpg" title="Exterior of San Francisco Plantation Home." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrival at San Francisco Plantation. Note the cisterns.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Our tour began in the food storage room, then the wine cellar, and china pantry. As customary at the time, the kitchen was in an outbuilding. The guide explained that the two cisterns (topped with Moorish domes) on either side of the house collect rainwater used for drinking and washing. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLTsAkyHCyRULjhtIv9poua-FbrZKCjz50cLrR9PcYb4OCu_7-S7Y4-_K6QxxRsbv6JVi8IKmC6Ns6yGOjQf0lJR_3lHJAxEF6NMUtYRT3gcsHrRSpcy9nHpjWA3FNVjViE32EBPGx_4/s2400/China+Closet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="China Closet, San Francisco Plantation" border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1878" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOLTsAkyHCyRULjhtIv9poua-FbrZKCjz50cLrR9PcYb4OCu_7-S7Y4-_K6QxxRsbv6JVi8IKmC6Ns6yGOjQf0lJR_3lHJAxEF6NMUtYRT3gcsHrRSpcy9nHpjWA3FNVjViE32EBPGx_4/w250-h320/China+Closet.jpg" title="China Closet, San Francisco Plantation." width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">China Closet<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">We passed through the billiard room where the men enjoyed the game and moved into the lovely dining room set for a formal dinner. The frescoed ceiling is just a small sample or the extensive artistic work in the upstairs bedrooms. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohKJvl84uuE7hPFw841mMc_8g81tupNsAbn3hAkJ5pMbNxl-XQ9A8Op3yCQY-n8KPlYYrl96_LxM3i5p-KN4ILmPJWvvrAN-LluJu22hyPKjpN_jJjRoNis0xDgWAv-hFVgoSfHKxxsw/s1440/NE4A0252.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Formal Dining Room, San Francisco Plantation" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohKJvl84uuE7hPFw841mMc_8g81tupNsAbn3hAkJ5pMbNxl-XQ9A8Op3yCQY-n8KPlYYrl96_LxM3i5p-KN4ILmPJWvvrAN-LluJu22hyPKjpN_jJjRoNis0xDgWAv-hFVgoSfHKxxsw/w640-h426/NE4A0252.jpg" title="Formal dining table is set for company at San Francisco Plantation." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Formal Dining Room table is set for a meal at San Francisco Plantation.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Moving upstairs, we found a large, airy central reception area that ran across the front of the house. The bedrooms feature intricately painted ceilings, heavily carved wood furniture, and beds draped with mosquito netting, surely a necessity in those times. Even some cabinets and wall shades display hand-painted accents. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMltEuu9MfJ4j3PtpoeUn1gxVq0LGM6XD7tAAMdtFjdrZ8chuR4jdJgqp9RU3x-tUMiOaGUd1C9c-AbwIonI6yYhOk447taO37PjV2wAP8IVRIwrNrW19SOsIU5pyJsvc9TRFFiJGODrY/s1395/NE4A0270.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Valsin's Bedroom at San Fransico Plantation." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1395" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMltEuu9MfJ4j3PtpoeUn1gxVq0LGM6XD7tAAMdtFjdrZ8chuR4jdJgqp9RU3x-tUMiOaGUd1C9c-AbwIonI6yYhOk447taO37PjV2wAP8IVRIwrNrW19SOsIU5pyJsvc9TRFFiJGODrY/w640-h440/NE4A0270.jpg" title="Valsin's Bedroom at San Fransico Plantation." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valsin, the plantation owner's bedroom. </td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmFBfFUYsOxZIM4gb3eBivCEzRokixCSo670oBBZ8eyBnUxQPhmd-l0AJ0QdewdXJf4nvBdLtFUDiAXkMPR9cdG1N3hklsg1NRFl_JsofvZ4RcRda1tY0-shMNQl-fvDnzkRFLnA7XUo/s1394/NE4A0269.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Charles' Bedroom at San Francisco Plantation." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1394" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmFBfFUYsOxZIM4gb3eBivCEzRokixCSo670oBBZ8eyBnUxQPhmd-l0AJ0QdewdXJf4nvBdLtFUDiAXkMPR9cdG1N3hklsg1NRFl_JsofvZ4RcRda1tY0-shMNQl-fvDnzkRFLnA7XUo/w400-h275/NE4A0269.jpg" title="Charles' Bedroom at San Francisco Plantation." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles' bedroom, brother of the owner.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><o:p><br /></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Highlights in the children's bedroom include zebra-wood graining, a cradle, and antique toys. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2e6pLtAtL5Ew3FefIFQtoSOu2OZVaC3ztQ9-yJfgbce3P-JlN4ETzHwGcdQrsikXdyzajIaprv2dBOuHEH87E42CzaPZe1mkEMb_m6yIsYt4vK_7PTPK8wOWIvM5yMV9n3YWBjjaPU-g/s3200/Children%2527s+room.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Children's Bedroom, San Francisco Plantation Big House." border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2e6pLtAtL5Ew3FefIFQtoSOu2OZVaC3ztQ9-yJfgbce3P-JlN4ETzHwGcdQrsikXdyzajIaprv2dBOuHEH87E42CzaPZe1mkEMb_m6yIsYt4vK_7PTPK8wOWIvM5yMV9n3YWBjjaPU-g/w640-h480/Children%2527s+room.jpg" title="Children's Bedroom, San Francisco Plantation Big House." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children's Bedroom and antique toy riverboat. </td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 21.33333396911621px;">I'd consider the rear loggia, or former front porch, the equivalent of today's family room. A grand double-sided staircase runs across and down this facade of the house. A black-and-white photograph helped me imagine the magnificent panoramic view of the gardens and the Mississippi River before the high levee construction.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(104, 104, 104); color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 21.33333396911621px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQPVkPTBatfsAgYM-ejySc4M2VpoZ0HcoEUZ2T-1X6MO5GnRSYrphqt3Oy5lLA1HX5NWXZbwdd4hdMnzWyK6Z95hslEZ1mZ_EmxX8k-PsZPM6Kk0c0NUq5Q64vtHcDmkz_ymG0kvoQCk/s3200/Gardens.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Former Formal Gardens, San Francisco Plantation." border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfQPVkPTBatfsAgYM-ejySc4M2VpoZ0HcoEUZ2T-1X6MO5GnRSYrphqt3Oy5lLA1HX5NWXZbwdd4hdMnzWyK6Z95hslEZ1mZ_EmxX8k-PsZPM6Kk0c0NUq5Q64vtHcDmkz_ymG0kvoQCk/w640-h480/Gardens.jpg" title="Former Formal Gardens, San Francisco Plantation." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Former Formal Gardens at the Big House. <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">As we went through the rooms, our guide pointed out the various antique items and the period furniture and shared more stories about the families living there. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8qARvT12x6RcZ5eTtVKtt-4yc5iAojfkr1I4gRSxIoDHZdvSNizF7NeFQiG2i3_p-R6_W536jsT13zukLvtqhCi2Ff883sIlKbfTiVQS6zINu-uDXgKIMsRiZOT0gm_rfQs-ibjty_M/s2400/Family.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Family Photos, San Francisco Plantation" border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1751" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8qARvT12x6RcZ5eTtVKtt-4yc5iAojfkr1I4gRSxIoDHZdvSNizF7NeFQiG2i3_p-R6_W536jsT13zukLvtqhCi2Ff883sIlKbfTiVQS6zINu-uDXgKIMsRiZOT0gm_rfQs-ibjty_M/w466-h640/Family.jpg" title="Family Photos, San Francisco Plantation" width="466" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family Photos on display,</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">The restoration of this mansion became a massive project undertaken with the financing of the oil refinery money. While the unappealing pipes and buildings of the refinery remain nearby, the profits saved this site now considered a National Historic Landmark. I am pleased our guide acknowledged and praised the work of the enslaved on the property. She spoke about their labor and personal life, plantation routines, and rituals. Their original expert construction made the mansion salvageable and worth restoring. We learned the lead carpenter had the highest worth of any slave on the property before the Civil War, valued at $2,000. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkdobUiEHdScwAmiI6hBIp7f-FA3sOB2qaYvUspoJRWr4z4OSoCQtzfExYmRkBFZDy4k_Z57IbuFjRhyOFVDiMQw1c0lj74fhRfd-M76bS8LCs4Kp3_Hvp7uSp0UA2pRvXg8JqvFpwX4/s2813/Ruins.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ruins of San Francisco Plantation House before restoration." border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2813" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkdobUiEHdScwAmiI6hBIp7f-FA3sOB2qaYvUspoJRWr4z4OSoCQtzfExYmRkBFZDy4k_Z57IbuFjRhyOFVDiMQw1c0lj74fhRfd-M76bS8LCs4Kp3_Hvp7uSp0UA2pRvXg8JqvFpwX4/w640-h546/Ruins.jpg" title="Ruins of San Francisco Plantation House before restoration." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An old black and white photo of San Francisco Plantation House before restoration. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVZSaD10JBt2oHl_iqQGAool3_LScfV-MCUruY7skmE729ayplW4hyphenhyphenVHSPnQy8lssFqE4_-9ccvDjhPkzUFyu3r2KqqJI3cihW-BYP8mHqEqJNMFIy2vxRj0j1myS4_nHwIITLXtiw7U/s3909/IMG_0399.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Beautiful hand-painted ceiling" border="0" data-original-height="3909" data-original-width="2867" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVZSaD10JBt2oHl_iqQGAool3_LScfV-MCUruY7skmE729ayplW4hyphenhyphenVHSPnQy8lssFqE4_-9ccvDjhPkzUFyu3r2KqqJI3cihW-BYP8mHqEqJNMFIy2vxRj0j1myS4_nHwIITLXtiw7U/w294-h400/IMG_0399.jpg" title="Beautiful hand-painted ceiling" width="294" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPg5CUQSNDza2lIBGcqIOBL35Sikq-uIpCr-LbNJ9dkp-qVM9R5NeTrhuy7pSBNFILKgDORmckA3lf_2oEAMbIYRWzF6cARY0IUEauOIABZhNR7zzUBczlQgS5xPd9DlWHPQFSp5k_t3Q/s1440/NE4A0275.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hand-painted ceilings in San Francisco Plantation." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPg5CUQSNDza2lIBGcqIOBL35Sikq-uIpCr-LbNJ9dkp-qVM9R5NeTrhuy7pSBNFILKgDORmckA3lf_2oEAMbIYRWzF6cARY0IUEauOIABZhNR7zzUBczlQgS5xPd9DlWHPQFSp5k_t3Q/w400-h266/NE4A0275.jpg" title="Hand-painted ceilings in San Francisco Plantation." width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rooms have intricately painted ceilings at San Francisco Plantation. </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Judy and I planned to visit the original 1840 slave cabin, mainly to see the child-sized sculptures by the famous artist <a href="https://woodrownashstudios.com">Woodrow Nash</a>. (Read my story on his works at Whitney Plantation <a href="https://bylandersea.com/2019/04/exploring-art-at-whitney-plantation/">here.</a>) However, the rain did not let up, and we did not have umbrellas. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvmR8PGya2JmfVQKUHk1phSPRgDiL3YxOIUfwj5-9I3VGDi5gjfGky1w7SxRp93BOHLcnVgYW17DC-rLcGC_2xXRegaT-dK3fks3csXwAymB2O0Hye9eSgXxmSnEwsEYvamw0KWueQUY/s1413/NE4A0251.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Slave Cabin and School House at San Francisco Plantation." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1413" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvmR8PGya2JmfVQKUHk1phSPRgDiL3YxOIUfwj5-9I3VGDi5gjfGky1w7SxRp93BOHLcnVgYW17DC-rLcGC_2xXRegaT-dK3fks3csXwAymB2O0Hye9eSgXxmSnEwsEYvamw0KWueQUY/w640-h434/NE4A0251.jpg" title="Slave Cabin and School House at San Francisco Plantation." width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Slave Cabin and School House.<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">We also missed the schoolhouse dating back to the 1830s. The pictures and texts exhibited at these buildings serve as an introduction to the extensive research on the legacy of San Francisco Plantation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhoRkybSr2mtr-H1LKV8d05ho0AkThLYK7s4vHHzMBinty4pX-HEVDAPy3GxcKSoNidQfdVLaRTXk1GET7ucx5JZYi2P3Zx5yvXiv4g5D-D9SShErbhL7DFeIZkpcL0DqEEyrYxLW-kQ/s768/image001-1-768x512.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhoRkybSr2mtr-H1LKV8d05ho0AkThLYK7s4vHHzMBinty4pX-HEVDAPy3GxcKSoNidQfdVLaRTXk1GET7ucx5JZYi2P3Zx5yvXiv4g5D-D9SShErbhL7DFeIZkpcL0DqEEyrYxLW-kQ/s320/image001-1-768x512.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodrow Nash Sculpture</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Adding to the research are over 100 letters Louise wrote to her family in Germany. They were kept and translated, providing historians with accurate information about her Louisiana lifestyle. Seems that by 1859, Valsin and hisyounger brother Charles attempted to sell the estate, but a legal conflict halted their plans. When settled in 1861, it was too late. War and reconstruction prevented the sale for the next fifteen years. Valsin died of tuberculosis in 1871. Charles, who had served in the Confederate Army for four years, helped Louise sustain the estate until he passed away in 1875. Four years later, Louise finally sold the plantation for a mere $50,000, never coming close to maintaining the profitable crops they had before the Civil War. She returned to Germany.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOLltvbaDmtg0Tdd-nWyOEZSBoUteOvD4Ob637F4PTi2hCaQWCHthmUE26pLWwk6WGQXqRe5p0_eVMan-xMK6inuUK-LTO4jyehiLp6gnrErAEJ5BobbN_BubEjocaE_I__i8-lBAEEE/s150/louiseclr-150x150.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOLltvbaDmtg0Tdd-nWyOEZSBoUteOvD4Ob637F4PTi2hCaQWCHthmUE26pLWwk6WGQXqRe5p0_eVMan-xMK6inuUK-LTO4jyehiLp6gnrErAEJ5BobbN_BubEjocaE_I__i8-lBAEEE/" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louise<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">For those interested in what happened to the home after Louise, here's what I found online. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">After the Great Flood in 1927, the Army Corps of Engineers began building the Mississippi River levee system, completed in 1932. The new levee, unfortunately, sacrificed the gracious front yard and gardens. The project would have also claimed the home, but residents lobbied the Louisiana legislature to save as many plantations as possible along the River Road. Fortunately, the Corps was able to curve the levee around San Francisco. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">In 1954, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Thompson leased the property and opened the mansion to the public. Thankfully, the Thompsons did not make structural changes and preserved the home.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">Finally, in 1974, Mrs. Thompson, then widowed, moved out. The ECOL Company, later Marathon Oil, purchased the property. They donated it and seven acres to the San Francisco Plantation Foundation. After scientific analysis of the structure and materials and archival research, the massive restoration began. After two years, the completed project opened for tours. The oil company continues to help defray the enormous cost of maintenance. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><o:p>****** </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;">San Francisco Plantation is open for tours most days, but call ahead to verify. Allow for at least two hours when visiting this property. <br /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><a href="http://www.sanfranciscoplantation.org">www.SanFranciscoPlantation.org</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><font face="">2646 Hwy. 44 (River Road)</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><font face="">Saint John the Baptist Parish</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><font face="">Garyville, Louisiana 70051-0950</font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #686868; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p>Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com0Garyville, LA, USA30.056035 -90.61925541.7458011638211559 -125.7755054 58.366268836178847 -55.4630054tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-78111094333183118412020-06-09T12:47:00.000-07:002020-06-09T12:47:21.649-07:00Natchez Means Money, Mansions, Mounds and More <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">You have to slow down just to say the name of some cities aloud. Try <i><b><a href="http://visitnatchez.org/">Natchez,</a></b></i> and you’ll see what I mean. That’s part of the allure of this sultry city along the Mississippi River. Its graceful swaying Spanish moss seduces like a dancer’s swinging hips. Jaws drop at the sight of Antebellum architectural gems and restaurants satisfy with savory southern cuisine oozing with butter. So, do what Natchez is telling you --slow down and indulge. Her history runs deep like the mighty river and spans many cultures. The land was first home to the Natchez Indians, then the French, Spanish and British. The city’s 1716 official founding dates two years before the founding of New Orleans.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVu8PnKf186J4l1gVTb31aSMOY3PHd-fn9BlRtG6vX5hedHWAf5McyncG4ZLAF56JwHB68oAslWbgO4j4xDeYLEH10pMMbv-6YtJbTauN_XU2hsPfckSvELfd9bycISWRtyT4b0W2yBQ/s1600/NE4A0127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVu8PnKf186J4l1gVTb31aSMOY3PHd-fn9BlRtG6vX5hedHWAf5McyncG4ZLAF56JwHB68oAslWbgO4j4xDeYLEH10pMMbv-6YtJbTauN_XU2hsPfckSvELfd9bycISWRtyT4b0W2yBQ/s640/NE4A0127.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natchez is home to many large and small historic homes.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">You’ll find downtown Natchez a few minutes from the last exit of the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm">Natchez Trace Parkway</a>, the road the Good Girls took south from Nashville. (To find out more about historic road, please see our <a href="https://www.blogger.com/.https://goodgirlsinthebadlands.blogspot.com/2020/03/stopping-along-natchez-trace-parkway.html">earlier post here</a>) End of The Trace maybe, but not for the journey. Judy and Debi timed the trip to coincide with the <a href="https://natchezpilgrimage.com/fall-pilgrimage/">Fall Pilgrimage of Homes</a>, a semi-annual event highlighting the city’s rich pre-Civil War splendor. Historic homes, some still privately-owned mansions, open their doors to visitors for special tours. Costumed, knowledgeable guides don’t just let you into these magnificent abodes, but they tell the rich histories of the sites and the families who lived within. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0HKrWF9D9fEHGg6euPCJ1FzBSUF-SLG-XZ3W3u2Nea8jwqkdmnOh2QGlAhTsJnTUU9SnQL_f4c1sypIJKCeqhol4j8qeuKllWwuuAEq027q5ZtSNBTMHHpiJnOj33NbIRx2iAyR3z4o/s1600/IMG_0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Drive through history on the Natchez Trace Parkway. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0HKrWF9D9fEHGg6euPCJ1FzBSUF-SLG-XZ3W3u2Nea8jwqkdmnOh2QGlAhTsJnTUU9SnQL_f4c1sypIJKCeqhol4j8qeuKllWwuuAEq027q5ZtSNBTMHHpiJnOj33NbIRx2iAyR3z4o/s400/IMG_0068.jpg" title="Drive through history on the Natchez Trace Parkway. " width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drive through history on the Natchez Trace Parkway. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Debi reports: Our first stop became the large <a href="https://www.visitnatchez.org/p/about/natchez-visitor-center">Visitor Center</a> a facility that serves as a one-stop venue for Mississippi travel information and tour tickets. Here, we watched an introductory video, browsed the exhibits and gift shop, and then climbed aboard the <a href="https://city-sightseeing.com/en/126/natchez/518/hop-on-hop-off-natchez">Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus</a> for an overview. Natchez contains an impressive thirteen National Historic Landmarks and over 1,000 structures on the National Register of Historic Places, many within the walkable downtown. When cotton was king, Natchez was the crown jewel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">“Natchez was the richest town per capita in the U.S. from about 1820- 1860,” said Mimi Miller, executive director of the Historic Natchez Foundation. Most of the homes in Natchez survived the Civil War, as many residents were northern sympathizers. “Natchez voted against secession,” added Ms. Miller, “so the city was spared.” These buildings remain to tell haunting tales. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>Green Leaves</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFJwavSM-qsoR5xEFV4Xb4QyUKVkPAIl_sdkkWZPOxe0yyLSavqShP_ATE7or9WLdBa9VrR4TXO5NUzQHzljTZrEoiwZ3FEZCt4GxjJl2gqWgn-wWwvsmjMsZtCDzmK6WP8MzwDkLyLk/s1600/NE4A0146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Green Leaves, a house on the Natchez Fall Pilgrimage. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBFJwavSM-qsoR5xEFV4Xb4QyUKVkPAIl_sdkkWZPOxe0yyLSavqShP_ATE7or9WLdBa9VrR4TXO5NUzQHzljTZrEoiwZ3FEZCt4GxjJl2gqWgn-wWwvsmjMsZtCDzmK6WP8MzwDkLyLk/s640/NE4A0146.jpg" title="Green Leaves, a house on the Natchez Fall Pilgrimage. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Leaves is much larger than it from the curb. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Judy and I started the Fall Pilgrimage at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Leaves">Green Leaves</a>, a private residence, where we met the current owner, a descendant of the original owner. This lovely lady guided us through an extraordinary variety of priceless keepsakes that fill the home, including a scrapbook of articles about a group of girls nicknamed the Garter Girls. Their antics reminded me of those in the Ya-Ya Sisterhood movie. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7xUXxINWI2fVG7fyLB2-_o4bmnQkfju_HafW9uVtHEaU9i9sgE5ogmzYPBRXMC9nPUlBS7Ihi58r9JIZxzvFUJInSiYge5nCHdh4uKnd7H2v87qnCBH3r9DPqQos_KvyFUTo9yR1Dv4/s1600/IMG_0093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7xUXxINWI2fVG7fyLB2-_o4bmnQkfju_HafW9uVtHEaU9i9sgE5ogmzYPBRXMC9nPUlBS7Ihi58r9JIZxzvFUJInSiYge5nCHdh4uKnd7H2v87qnCBH3r9DPqQos_KvyFUTo9yR1Dv4/s400/IMG_0093.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our lovely guide, a descendant of the original owners.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Exiting onto Green Leaves’ back porch, we discovered period costumes and were encouraged to try them on. No need to beg; Judy and I didn’t hesitate as we adore dressing up. We delighted in the photo-worthy opportunity and momentarily felt like real Southern belles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Good Girls as Southern Belles. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_hBORsktOhhTJUBKRpYtBZbrkAVKPQBQ79K5eTaykfnj9WX7Z7B_ETExNyuS5cVnpTL5hiy64iSKLCxLdeM24RHRNZzo7-EFm2xb5LDA5nmocRaxGrYetBjG8pwDqRJzUWBIR2h1mX0/s1600/IMG_0105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_hBORsktOhhTJUBKRpYtBZbrkAVKPQBQ79K5eTaykfnj9WX7Z7B_ETExNyuS5cVnpTL5hiy64iSKLCxLdeM24RHRNZzo7-EFm2xb5LDA5nmocRaxGrYetBjG8pwDqRJzUWBIR2h1mX0/s400/IMG_0105.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>Longwood</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXPa_u_jpAwaazaYViW2FJx2ldioUx4OiOuzgn8SADsZIjA8Ksa_iTyzUHyQEss9CocwVnf5FUB-DUHDYi2I2R-BmzYFy8ZWc62zd_FHsFvCrazc9sqeGwO13tW_VR7Y3W6r_uZcylOY/s1600/IMG_5361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Longwood, the largest octagonal house in the U.S., rests in Natchez. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXPa_u_jpAwaazaYViW2FJx2ldioUx4OiOuzgn8SADsZIjA8Ksa_iTyzUHyQEss9CocwVnf5FUB-DUHDYi2I2R-BmzYFy8ZWc62zd_FHsFvCrazc9sqeGwO13tW_VR7Y3W6r_uZcylOY/s640/IMG_5361.jpg" title="Longwood, the largest octagonal house in the U.S., rests in Natchez. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longwood, the largest octagonal house in the U.S., rests in Natchez. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">The next day we were off to <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/longwood">Longwood</a>, an American architectural icon and Natchez grand dame. The massive unfinished octagonal house (largest in the U.S.) with an onion-shaped dome shows its designed-to-impress wealth on the exterior. Only the lower floor was ever completed, due to the onset of the Civil War. A tour highlights the many original pieces and paintings. We admired a rare oil portrait of the owner’s valet, a slave, said to be one of only two slave portraits painted during this period. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFb1ZDbgiQUHluTJwBB-Kig61fRdljBmcJIW7nO4bmqG194sGsKcGzK11-FZVKn7zRLmaxVPBb0KRDHjjwNbjLaTjAwdd2WQg5cE0gUgi30PYA_zNbyMXy5pw8AUzj-afpOIFlLalAls/s1600/IMG_0159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Oil painting and the beloved valet at Longwood. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFb1ZDbgiQUHluTJwBB-Kig61fRdljBmcJIW7nO4bmqG194sGsKcGzK11-FZVKn7zRLmaxVPBb0KRDHjjwNbjLaTjAwdd2WQg5cE0gUgi30PYA_zNbyMXy5pw8AUzj-afpOIFlLalAls/s400/IMG_0159.jpg" title="Oil painting and the beloved valet at Longwood. " width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil painting and the beloved valet at Longwood. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRHyhHIyzpTqbAEDJpahNTjPzgHEEuYnZb5i2MtDjGIoRxIBYbAfzG5nN0Z1r1LUsJPJeYiuhiesjnzJyybNgn5hUFRU1Od3X6jTZrQox9yeqXzJ4AQlhggXG1U8Mw8XERX18x5INb5k/s1600/NE4A0198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Unfinished construction at Longwood. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRHyhHIyzpTqbAEDJpahNTjPzgHEEuYnZb5i2MtDjGIoRxIBYbAfzG5nN0Z1r1LUsJPJeYiuhiesjnzJyybNgn5hUFRU1Od3X6jTZrQox9yeqXzJ4AQlhggXG1U8Mw8XERX18x5INb5k/s640/NE4A0198.jpg" title="Unfinished construction at Longwood. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfinished construction at Longwood.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Workers constructed Longwood’s exterior using a million bricks made onsite, but when the war broke out, they abandon their crafts to return north. You can still see their tools and uncrated materials. The owner’s slaves finished the basement rooms, so the family had a place to live. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAQRGoEvpQhNnNyJotBrNzo3RtzW4dRjZxCxW8kV6bpyhWVRu8SWKoHwNH4QB9dRgwkAAZacu3uEe5CIZFEeD61nJb5FmIqd8cVgGkIkBIG1H4rCr5cFfS7hibcF-tJwuNRLD3ggPkN8/s1600/IMG_0172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Longwood's central rotunda area in the basement living quarters. " border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="1440" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkAQRGoEvpQhNnNyJotBrNzo3RtzW4dRjZxCxW8kV6bpyhWVRu8SWKoHwNH4QB9dRgwkAAZacu3uEe5CIZFEeD61nJb5FmIqd8cVgGkIkBIG1H4rCr5cFfS7hibcF-tJwuNRLD3ggPkN8/s640/IMG_0172.jpg" title="Longwood's central rotunda area in the basement living quarters. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longwood's central rotunda area in the basement living quarters. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">After touring the family quarters, the guide led us up the stairs where we found a stark contrast. The bare bones of wooden framing surrounded us like a skeleton, and the unfinished cupola teetered high above. It’s a chilling sight that makes you realize even someone as wealthy planter Haller Nutt lost nearly everything. They say he died of a broken heart in 1864 while living downstairs in the nine rooms of the thirty-two rooms planned for the house. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUMlDDhAELw_bAEYTJCkMk6qbXNDuyGNV5dsxjIfqbmbnP172RnNMdwgb8bYM_6LVlztvb8KsLYMtKfOY7LWUgCnJq3maA8jl5gmLl4iFRKX_uy16A7gKhyQ1BYOrrZp2A8ROMzPku8g/s1600/IMG_0173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Interior of theUnfinished Cupola at Longwood, Natchez, MS." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipUMlDDhAELw_bAEYTJCkMk6qbXNDuyGNV5dsxjIfqbmbnP172RnNMdwgb8bYM_6LVlztvb8KsLYMtKfOY7LWUgCnJq3maA8jl5gmLl4iFRKX_uy16A7gKhyQ1BYOrrZp2A8ROMzPku8g/s640/IMG_0173.jpg" title="Interior of the Unfinished Cupola at Longwood, Natchez, MS. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfinished Cupola at Longwood, Natchez, MS. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">FYI: Ghost hunters are attracted to Longwood, as the guides claim the house is quite haunted. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkSDXiN96ag0DuYpA7vUR8hIZ-YvlBxPho8nznS_gLCL-dadMdlvKA1Xjfv21YnaW4aqZrPPETr3aS5uOdukqTzTl12LhKs2hGaPS2vmq6CIDeEecHMNIMVlrwCgpxrfrYbfna8H7SYQ/s1600/NE4A0190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHkSDXiN96ag0DuYpA7vUR8hIZ-YvlBxPho8nznS_gLCL-dadMdlvKA1Xjfv21YnaW4aqZrPPETr3aS5uOdukqTzTl12LhKs2hGaPS2vmq6CIDeEecHMNIMVlrwCgpxrfrYbfna8H7SYQ/s400/NE4A0190.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parting shot from a Longwood porch. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>Stanton Hall</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtuXLm3XFpVyBCZncH5vGp0u0oJszTZR-ExltdnP1xctnTF2XX4zFrgh-cz_xKHftQn-BKoGiiBWNy7bBYeTXOSRTHQCcPuCb2xYGMc6hT12JgTpb-7MTuvqpytT4sEGyK2LtWYHKjs4/s1600/NE4A0136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A side view of Stanton Hall in Natchez." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtuXLm3XFpVyBCZncH5vGp0u0oJszTZR-ExltdnP1xctnTF2XX4zFrgh-cz_xKHftQn-BKoGiiBWNy7bBYeTXOSRTHQCcPuCb2xYGMc6hT12JgTpb-7MTuvqpytT4sEGyK2LtWYHKjs4/s640/NE4A0136.jpg" title="A side view of Stanton Hall in Natchez." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A side view of Stanton Hall in Natchez.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Greek Revival <a href="https://www.visitnatchez.org/business/stanton-hall-historic-home">Stanton Hall</a>, built in the 1850s by a cotton merchant, remains one of the most opulent antebellum mansions to survive. This home takes up the entire block, but the builder, Dr. Frederick Stanton, paid a mere $83,000 for the construction. It flaunts Carrera marble mantles, mahogany doors 2 1/2 inches thick, gasoliers from France, and Italian sculpture, and feels incredibly spacious. The upstairs hall caught my eye with wallpaper by Zuber, panoramic scenes created from woodblocks. In case you think you might like to install some, think again. Zuber scenics can cost from $3,500 to $30,000 for an entire scene.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVMDzuTzIpI_OslVk2KHcHXf_oIdibL72oaroQZb03DvURCRoas3KkCmUuLobAwxifF85EXgsBRnAVAhQVtPacRDm6GDiwBYdAdUFIj4gWN0oEzb5knALsMU6W60zWIwNNQkMDuoxdQw/s1600/NE4A0209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Upstairs hall in Stanton Hall features Zuber scenic wallpaper." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVMDzuTzIpI_OslVk2KHcHXf_oIdibL72oaroQZb03DvURCRoas3KkCmUuLobAwxifF85EXgsBRnAVAhQVtPacRDm6GDiwBYdAdUFIj4gWN0oEzb5knALsMU6W60zWIwNNQkMDuoxdQw/s640/NE4A0209.jpg" title="Upstairs hall in Stanton Hall features Zuber scenic wallpaper." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upstairs hall in Stanton Hall features Zuber scenic wallpaper.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">The house was initially called Belfast, and for a brief time, the mansion functioned as Stanton College for young ladies; hence the name changed to Stanton Hall. Today the property is owned and maintained by the Pilgrimage Garden Club, an influential group of ladies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">The Carriage House restaurant also sits on the property, and I recommend the juicy and delicious fried chicken for lunch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>Rosalie Mansion</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CT-wSuIYdNYaGf_yZTQmjruq3lecrvZVz1YBlXnJWbN9reMBbPeEtFFN8tolSKrEgf0Setiuidqaju1jZ5QpxhjMpcc4blSdF681Gs5QDIQFwBN8vWoj2efqrUxJRjiMhusA8ToIBIM/s1600/NE4A0229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rosalie Mansion overlooks the Mississippi River. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CT-wSuIYdNYaGf_yZTQmjruq3lecrvZVz1YBlXnJWbN9reMBbPeEtFFN8tolSKrEgf0Setiuidqaju1jZ5QpxhjMpcc4blSdF681Gs5QDIQFwBN8vWoj2efqrUxJRjiMhusA8ToIBIM/s640/NE4A0229.jpg" title="Rosalie Mansion overlooks the Mississippi River. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosalie Mansion overlooks the Mississippi River. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">The last home we had time for on our Pilgrimage was <a href="https://rosaliemansion.com/">Rosalie Mansion</a>, built with red bricks in 1823. Many residents call her Our Lady on the Bluffs because the house overlooks a heavenly view of the river on the site of former Fort Rosalie. During the Civil War, the home and grounds acted as the Union Army headquarters for the Natchez area. The owner left to manage his cotton fields, but his wife and daughter remained in residence along with the soldiers. Another example of extraordinary history in Natchez. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>Lodging at Monmouth Historic Inn and Gardens</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrhJXgsl49P265iYpefE2cqy7LkYiNVPwXyE4OGaaOAN1ljlgDCqlD7GZ1wQgn9ha4gnMQVP6ZnJHSy99ABUkGxLP6VAAqYrDqs_rCakl_93-opn7nJ5HLnsYEeDQhJeiP38b75SfiFo/s1600/IMG_0138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The tree-shrouded main building at Monmouth Historic Inn, Natchez." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqrhJXgsl49P265iYpefE2cqy7LkYiNVPwXyE4OGaaOAN1ljlgDCqlD7GZ1wQgn9ha4gnMQVP6ZnJHSy99ABUkGxLP6VAAqYrDqs_rCakl_93-opn7nJ5HLnsYEeDQhJeiP38b75SfiFo/s640/IMG_0138.jpg" title="The tree-shrouded main building at Monmouth Historic Inn, Natchez." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tree-shrouded main building at Monmouth Historic Inn, Natchez. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Judy and I spent our nights at the <a href="https://www.monmouthhistoricinn.com/">Monmouth Historic Inn</a>, a gorgeous property with 26-acres of bucolic grounds. Overnight guests feel the colonial ambiance of the mansion, yet stay in period-looking cottages with all the modern amenities. It’s absolute perfection! In the mornings, we wandered through the gardens and fueled up with the southern breakfast served to guests in a building constructed over the old stables. The stuffed French toast should receive awards.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8rmF8wH6d4QJaYs3OKBzKeq5LOF8I-YGHUQrTX3feAvNM7at9d3p1c2xkAXQSy82slduRqNs6M57dUb9peFlo-Uz3lvWq1XB5HGkdTmp9vF4jn4g7gF5PBKNEhd-N6CSdD76QTcCbPo/s1600/IMG_5353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8rmF8wH6d4QJaYs3OKBzKeq5LOF8I-YGHUQrTX3feAvNM7at9d3p1c2xkAXQSy82slduRqNs6M57dUb9peFlo-Uz3lvWq1XB5HGkdTmp9vF4jn4g7gF5PBKNEhd-N6CSdD76QTcCbPo/s640/IMG_5353.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous ground at the Monmouth Historic Inn. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Monmouth’s famed bartender, Roosevelt Owens, mixes up what’s been called ‘the best mint julep in the South’ guaranteed to evoke good moods. Even if you don’t overnight there, drop by for an afternoon cocktail. Better yet, stay and dine at elegant Restaurant 1818, formerly the Men’s and Ladies’ parlors in the main mansion house. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACysNuRx1xnHwafU-My3NBlzLZLLHlz3RTrCyFBCtiD1n6CJV4nETGU1pQmK5XCYMX4k4Z_QctirJY1mT_VMQXnwpdnDyx-rAhQjeUTKllZNWBsDzxPbEwY77cffcIsPV8jri3cZ95Fs/s1600/Roosevelt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bartender Roosevelt Owens serves one of his famous mint juleps. " border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgACysNuRx1xnHwafU-My3NBlzLZLLHlz3RTrCyFBCtiD1n6CJV4nETGU1pQmK5XCYMX4k4Z_QctirJY1mT_VMQXnwpdnDyx-rAhQjeUTKllZNWBsDzxPbEwY77cffcIsPV8jri3cZ95Fs/s400/Roosevelt.jpg" title="Bartender Roosevelt Owens serves one of his famous mint juleps. " width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bartender Roosevelt Owens serves one of his famous mint juleps. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Our meal at Restaurant 1818 began with a renowned southern specialty, fried green tomatoes. My entrée choice followed, a mouth-watering petite filet with garlic mashed potatoes and spinach. For dessert, we shared the Chocolate Decadence with chocolate-covered strawberries and strawberry sauce and a white chocolate bread pudding with bourbon praline sauce. Needless to say, Judy and I went to bed mighty happy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fxCOsdxkNhB56uvVyZkgZSicpGXq6_i2GA_PVfEGnNxsseiwf36ZITA4qOlpV-es_xbcJ2ll9ocyU7KrOytAa3tAWQQxQZdXH4zMZltmEw-sx51KqrsSv8xbHQ5DXrAmCU7HaFJPyz8/s1600/E9C1F0D1-A22A-4F80-BBFB-EA885F56C9FD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2fxCOsdxkNhB56uvVyZkgZSicpGXq6_i2GA_PVfEGnNxsseiwf36ZITA4qOlpV-es_xbcJ2ll9ocyU7KrOytAa3tAWQQxQZdXH4zMZltmEw-sx51KqrsSv8xbHQ5DXrAmCU7HaFJPyz8/s320/E9C1F0D1-A22A-4F80-BBFB-EA885F56C9FD.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqVh0lMiQnhXF53e7hHwvdtrnSnRKU_epfJtqXBEol3i70VYWLAykEBMMDY5fdLSLzz4JCOpkeSxD9FYUrlgNClDSixxRSyt5kwQ-JCtv6NPqa6tqB9tj97p5zTMIEg8sShn5lsk0Y78/s1600/IMG_5343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Dining in the Restaurant 1818, Monmouth Historic Inn. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqVh0lMiQnhXF53e7hHwvdtrnSnRKU_epfJtqXBEol3i70VYWLAykEBMMDY5fdLSLzz4JCOpkeSxD9FYUrlgNClDSixxRSyt5kwQ-JCtv6NPqa6tqB9tj97p5zTMIEg8sShn5lsk0Y78/s640/IMG_5343.jpg" title="Dining in the Restaurant 1818, Monmouth Historic Inn. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining in the Restaurant 1818, Monmouth Historic Inn. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrN3KH4sU9gVv9NWfEe9TZ7l4GM6hWnFRnTeV-TpxGqi_9l0Zyl3LTuZtFYsfpU5YcHHYV0g3R3YzqXqB3Kd5FXGzBB-4_hmxQRgzmOTsvFzrt-zZqbQBm9NMCiCiByzNGynQpRLO-uU/s1600/IMG_5347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1200" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrN3KH4sU9gVv9NWfEe9TZ7l4GM6hWnFRnTeV-TpxGqi_9l0Zyl3LTuZtFYsfpU5YcHHYV0g3R3YzqXqB3Kd5FXGzBB-4_hmxQRgzmOTsvFzrt-zZqbQBm9NMCiCiByzNGynQpRLO-uU/s320/IMG_5347.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>William Johnson House</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHd_xNiYmV7ZlTkkroQWun4yFrRE1VQycQvEbtwpCKC8dQsKqBMj07thO2EJmilAa8A8p9PUD1HaTfuOoLTwx8WBhk9PN6d84Oji1c5glMcd3oMJ6qS4tioyplditVdtQgM6L_hAA40s/s1600/IMG_0281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHd_xNiYmV7ZlTkkroQWun4yFrRE1VQycQvEbtwpCKC8dQsKqBMj07thO2EJmilAa8A8p9PUD1HaTfuOoLTwx8WBhk9PN6d84Oji1c5glMcd3oMJ6qS4tioyplditVdtQgM6L_hAA40s/s320/IMG_0281.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wm Johnson House</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Exploring majestic old homes was not the only item on our itinerary. We found the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/natc/learn/historyculture/williamjohnson.htm">William Johnson House</a>, operated by the National Park Service, told perhaps an even more fascinating tale than the mansions. Johnson was a free man of color in pre-war days and quite the entrepreneur. He became known as the “Barber of Natchez,” acquired several buildings in the city and approximately 2,000 acres of land south of town. Johnson himself owned several slaves. He gained the respect of leading citizens, some of whom he loaned money, and local papers eulogized him after his untimely and death surrounded by strange circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">William Johnson kept a diary from 1835 until he died in 1851. The journal is the most detailed personal narrative authored by an African American during the antebellum era. Today it is viewed and valued as an extraordinary record of social, economic, and political life, especially seen through the eyes of a free man of color. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvuo6AwMRktB_sDbnPdnKSGzNUj5xBAeM7wAPciv472gu3P1pLobsp3yOE04oUkKbwydMhyPViriXhIatGuPVhLkBHbd8Tvxc79s7IrMSb8muZeEFrNPjZxeOA-rsvzccagqrWvgCxgM/s1600/IMG_0277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A second floor bedroom at the William Johnson House." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1323" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvuo6AwMRktB_sDbnPdnKSGzNUj5xBAeM7wAPciv472gu3P1pLobsp3yOE04oUkKbwydMhyPViriXhIatGuPVhLkBHbd8Tvxc79s7IrMSb8muZeEFrNPjZxeOA-rsvzccagqrWvgCxgM/s640/IMG_0277.jpg" title="A second floor bedroom at the William Johnson House." width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A second floor bedroom at the William Johnson House.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">The William Johnson homesite includes a small museum on the first floor and a second-floor filled with period furniture. The rooms are small, yet the narrow 3-story building housed his extended family and ten children. The kitchen and slave quarters would have been in the back yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>Grand Village and Old City Cemetery</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">We drove over to see the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/mounds/gra.htm">Grand Village of the Natchez Indians</a>, a 128-acre site, featuring three prehistoric Native American mounds, a reconstructed Natchez Indian house, and another museum. Two of the sacred hills, the Great Sun’s Mound and the Temple Mound, have been excavated and rebuilt to their original sizes and shapes. Original construction started about 1200 CE by members of the prehistoric Plaquemine culture. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghay_fZvAUKNkAOYDVH3eTkE-utgB_MYd6qroJlnyhRk1tbBzqSqGBHz4NoO-FO5VdyMiQ9suNYuSetWjtlIshjvHcUdEwQIXQm0Nn1z1qJ8d121BHzpKSDNnn4OHBpAn1TSUAi4n-vtA/s1600/IMG_0289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Natchez Pottery at the Grand Village, Natchez. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1342" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghay_fZvAUKNkAOYDVH3eTkE-utgB_MYd6qroJlnyhRk1tbBzqSqGBHz4NoO-FO5VdyMiQ9suNYuSetWjtlIshjvHcUdEwQIXQm0Nn1z1qJ8d121BHzpKSDNnn4OHBpAn1TSUAi4n-vtA/s640/IMG_0289.jpg" title="Natchez Pottery at the Grand Village, Natchez. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natchez Pottery on display at the Grand Village.. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">A third mound, called the Abandoned Mound, has been only partially excavated, but no plans exist for further digging investigations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">We transitioned from Indian graves to the <a href="https://www.visitnatchez.org/business/natchez-city-cemetery">Natchez City Cemetery,</a> one of those old cemeteries with tree-lined acres filled with poignant statuary and aged tombstones. Look for ‘The Turning Angel,’ a monument to the victims of a tragic explosion, and return at night. When cars drive by on Cemetery Road, their headlights shine upon the monument, and the angel's head appears to turn. Rather eerie. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0JXlKW9_vCDf61nLJXnTosEzNjv3MO2BULMWGcBtuTgznN4QExWsZB-KgPOZvyM8ap-fZhSyU0l84IOxJm3ZqB52uUoSoKaS5UOcDr45EiM6Q1mZrVtojoIAlWny0k_yEq5Ibla-oEE/s1600/IMG_0233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Turning Angel, Old City Cemetery, Natchez. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="770" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC0JXlKW9_vCDf61nLJXnTosEzNjv3MO2BULMWGcBtuTgznN4QExWsZB-KgPOZvyM8ap-fZhSyU0l84IOxJm3ZqB52uUoSoKaS5UOcDr45EiM6Q1mZrVtojoIAlWny0k_yEq5Ibla-oEE/s640/IMG_0233.jpg" title="The Turning Angel, Old City Cemetery, Natchez. " width="512" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Turning Angel, Old City Cemetery, Natchez. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>Under-the-Hill</b><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-NKkh8dT_AwmHaQ-p_Oh2snPH85oxxM9csKKjdSv3AEOFYp90tUYM42DDfgYAkeYJjzB8cU5wFcpWZPjwXjwC45hAdpChL4QeH54fde1j5oDekvIiqdeWYfR7XhYw7b9ZYWuVs0dxxY/s1600/IMG_5376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Stunning sunsets at Natchez Under-the-Hill. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-NKkh8dT_AwmHaQ-p_Oh2snPH85oxxM9csKKjdSv3AEOFYp90tUYM42DDfgYAkeYJjzB8cU5wFcpWZPjwXjwC45hAdpChL4QeH54fde1j5oDekvIiqdeWYfR7XhYw7b9ZYWuVs0dxxY/s640/IMG_5376.jpg" title="Stunning sunsets at Natchez Under-the-Hill. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning sunsets at Natchez Under-the-Hill. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">You can’t leave this Mississippi port city until you’ve gone down by the river’s edge.<a href="https://www.visitnatchez.org/business/under-the-hill-saloon"> Natchez Under-the-Hill</a> attracts a crowd to a row of riverfront restaurants and shops far tamer than the brothels, taverns, and gambling halls that stood there 200 years ago. Locals and tourists alike sip drinks at the famous Under-the-Hill Saloon. This area radiates a fun, lively atmosphere and becomes especially popular at sunset. Riverboat cruises also dock here, so you can get an eyeful of a replica paddleboat or newer cruise boat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQJEVEUJmV1Fg8uweEtYk4flG1k97Xv6nEM-3wfDLbd8i9pGCnEPNfKCKyQCFL1o9CFocQsBiu9qmp1KtIUUluFfcyTsKKjyjNFG0w39NLxm5NekHTl9Qy15wlWoMdomboqYpSWihKgM/s1600/IMG_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cruise boat docked in the Natchez Under the Hill area. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQJEVEUJmV1Fg8uweEtYk4flG1k97Xv6nEM-3wfDLbd8i9pGCnEPNfKCKyQCFL1o9CFocQsBiu9qmp1KtIUUluFfcyTsKKjyjNFG0w39NLxm5NekHTl9Qy15wlWoMdomboqYpSWihKgM/s640/IMG_0091.jpg" title="Cruise boat docked in the Natchez Under the Hill area. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruise boat docked in the Natchez Under the Hill area. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Naturally, we didn’t get to see everything, like Melrose, another National Park site, but we did grasp the glory and grandeur of an Old South lifestyle. Natchez stole my heart, and I am eager to return. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Up coming Events</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">Natchez is still planning a Fall 2020 Pilgrimage following the coronavirus lockdown, but be sure to check the website. Another popular fall event, the annual Balloon Festival, is scheduled for October 16-18, 2020. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">The Good Girls want to sincerely thank <a href="http://visitnatchez.org/">Visit Natchez</a> for all the help and support they provided us during our visit.</span><br />
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Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com1Natchez, MS 39120, USA31.5604442 -91.40317100000001531.452185699999998 -91.564532500000013 31.6687027 -91.241809500000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-37442845307515790832020-05-18T12:00:00.000-07:002020-05-19T08:39:56.683-07:00Vicksburg: Where to find Cemeteries, Camels, Civil War and Cuisine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The city of <a href="http://visitvicksburg.com/">Vicksburg </a>rests on a high bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, a strategic location that played an important role during the Civil War.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUH4eLnxq_WCyUE-avpnZo4e8y9a5yvJUT76J9KDirOG4Q_ADSIbJ3NiBxvE6QSILAKfZ1hD6mzam1FNj8W7s3jHlgW3UN2LH0L0U9XCndfcoiqq3ZImoMBovjOOoC1-Ij_Pic5cIOGSE/s1600/IMG_9934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Looking down on the Mississippi River from Vicksburg. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUH4eLnxq_WCyUE-avpnZo4e8y9a5yvJUT76J9KDirOG4Q_ADSIbJ3NiBxvE6QSILAKfZ1hD6mzam1FNj8W7s3jHlgW3UN2LH0L0U9XCndfcoiqq3ZImoMBovjOOoC1-Ij_Pic5cIOGSE/s640/IMG_9934.jpg" title="Looking down on the Mississippi River from Vicksburg. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on the Mississippi River. </td></tr>
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Controlling the river was necessary for supplies and reinforcements, but prior attempts to capture Vicksburg proved unsuccessful, that is until Ulysses Grant marched south of the city. With the help of the Navy, he crossed the river, bypassing the natural defenses, and caught the Confederates by surprise. The Rebels held off the Union forces from May 18 to July 4, 1863, before finally surrendering. The Union victory called the “Key to the South” by Lincoln, severed communications for the Confederacy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Good Girls Natchez Trace trip continued as they left Jackson and the Civil Rights Trail behind, and headed for some Civil War history. Vicksburg lies about an hour off the Parkway, a city surely worth exploring. Arriving early, Judy and I went directly to the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/vick">Vicksburg National Military Park</a> and used our senior National Park passes to gain admittance to the grounds. We watched the introductory film about the siege, an easy way to learn background information about the war. We highly recommend the movie, along with a brief browse through the exhibits in the Visitor Center. We would tour the battlefield after lunch so drove over to the historic port district of Vicksburg and found <a href="http://walnuthillsms.com/" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">Walnut Hills Restaurant.</a> The eatery rests upon a hill, tables filling the first floor of the house built in 1880. The exterior of the southern-style home looks inviting, and features a wide porch with rocking chairs, tall shuttered windows, and pierced columns.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Vicksburg sign</td></tr>
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Most enter through the rear, a method that provides a fortuitous chance to eye the famous desserts. Don't rush past, instead linger over these scrumptious pies and cakes. I might not have ordered coconut cake had I missed seeing it before my meal, and believe me, that would have been a mistake.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://walnuthillsms.com/">Walnut Hills</a> offers regular menu service or round table meals, meaning the food is served family-style. Guests wishing to join the table are welcomed until all the places are full. At lunch, sweet tea is the drink choice throughout the Magnolia State. Still, I passed and ordered mine unsweet, saving calories where ever possible.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx36vn6SAPGbaRNlyFacmx4do4lgvbSowPKYAx1lj_sgXo_lGtGftzG0-Hxg1CRsnZOs8N7hS_8V_6gl6fHrGuQKpnH3hlZsIIbird9ndoBbYsIVeCTm1ZUT6ZmrDGSgUlqMbWsqzyazc/s1600/IMG_0776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The bountiful array of dishes at Walnut Hills Restaurant. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx36vn6SAPGbaRNlyFacmx4do4lgvbSowPKYAx1lj_sgXo_lGtGftzG0-Hxg1CRsnZOs8N7hS_8V_6gl6fHrGuQKpnH3hlZsIIbird9ndoBbYsIVeCTm1ZUT6ZmrDGSgUlqMbWsqzyazc/s640/IMG_0776.jpg" title="The bountiful array of dishes at Walnut Hills Restaurant. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bountiful array of dishes at Walnut Hills Restaurant.</td></tr>
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My server began bringing bowl after bowl of Southern specialties: green beans, turnip greens, macaroni & cheese, coleslaw, creamed corn, cheese broccoli, fried okra, cheese grits, black-eyed peas, rice, and gravy plus a basket of cornbread and biscuits. What a bountiful spread!<br />
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Then, came the fried chicken, honestly the best I have ever tasted anywhere. The cayenne-laced coating, prepared by Miss Herdcine Williams, had a hint of heat. The fried chicken breast was crispy on the outside, yet without an oily taste or residue. On the inside, the fleshy meat burst with juices, almost enough to make me drool. I'd love to know the secret recipe, and could go on and on, but honestly if you like fried chicken, and who doesn't, you must go to Walnut Hills.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFYiyWGolIA0aMZnNg_d9kzKLUBiq_Y1_9pZbWJqR3u-W05Q1CtMsKmvu9IcR-Q0NKm6ATEFqA_8hvJmLyLtyPOvNOR2SB8QfLNYY1yvjuclP56HBjlt1Yx0hz_XwJzryK-o0Xrv-WDo/s1600/IMG_9894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Decadent Coconut Cream Cake at Walnut Hills Restaurant. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1231" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFYiyWGolIA0aMZnNg_d9kzKLUBiq_Y1_9pZbWJqR3u-W05Q1CtMsKmvu9IcR-Q0NKm6ATEFqA_8hvJmLyLtyPOvNOR2SB8QfLNYY1yvjuclP56HBjlt1Yx0hz_XwJzryK-o0Xrv-WDo/s400/IMG_9894.jpg" title="Decadent Coconut Cream Cake at Walnut Hills Restaurant. " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decadent coconut cream cake at Walnut Hills. </td></tr>
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All that food was enough to burst my belly, but I simply had to try the cake for dessert. Plan to share it with others, as the slices are enormous. I can only speak to coconut cream cake, but here I go raving again. The coconut-infused frosting was rich and creamy, loaded with flaked coconut. I suspect the texture of the cake came from divine inspiration. Even now, the memory lingers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cedar Hill Cemetery and Battlefield Park</h3>
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<a href="http://visitvicksburg.com/">Visit Vicksburg</a> generously arranged a Vicksburg guide for us. He would give us a deeper understanding of the battles within the Military Park. But, first, we drove to <a href="https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/302434/cedar-hill-cemetery">Cedar Hill Cemetery</a>, to see the grave of “Old Douglas”, a camel (yes a camel), who served in the Civil War.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseZHVH7z4WOwNJRelx0acfee5pMOAlDXvmrUGATx4CprYiJ-Etlx3YWz2F1DBXZiW0bKpOr5hSaDx-X_0837ju5tQ4g0nsxrJVAJzB89PysfmgJOKdISkN9uPgMjg5JBM6lpFQTG9QPY/s1600/IMG_9904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mississippi Marker in Cedar Hill Cemetery " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseZHVH7z4WOwNJRelx0acfee5pMOAlDXvmrUGATx4CprYiJ-Etlx3YWz2F1DBXZiW0bKpOr5hSaDx-X_0837ju5tQ4g0nsxrJVAJzB89PysfmgJOKdISkN9uPgMjg5JBM6lpFQTG9QPY/s400/IMG_9904.jpg" title="Mississippi Marker in Cedar Hill Cemetery " width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mississippi Marker in Cedar Hill Cemetery </td></tr>
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The story of Old Douglas is one of my favorites ( please <a href="https://bylandersea.com/2020/05/retelling-the-curious-story-of-old-douglas-a-confederate-camel/">read the full story here</a>). To recap, the camel, part of the US Camel Corps, traveled from Texas to Mississippi with a soldier sent home at the start of the Civil War.<span style="background-color: white; color: #141412; font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> William Hargrove</span> enlisted in the 47th Regiment and brought along Douglas. The camel carried the musical instruments between battles and became the beloved mascot of the Regiment. Sadly, Old Douglas was killed by a Yankee sharpshooter during the siege of Vicksburg. He is remembered with a grave marker, a most unusual sight but one I find endearing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcz5LRxHLnzih35Z-KEjwFh_ujgZTnZh2SLl8h0tWoyRfZ2YYl3a48nUu6-YyU_2vtniCuO6yKCidhG8pRVbnSE_zFIZ1aogcnq3VZ7GzqamS-UtPYon0U6LCfSgPaeISy7p2n8tBeI4/s1600/IMG_5230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Grave marker for Old Douglas, the camel in Cedar Hill Cemetery. " border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcz5LRxHLnzih35Z-KEjwFh_ujgZTnZh2SLl8h0tWoyRfZ2YYl3a48nUu6-YyU_2vtniCuO6yKCidhG8pRVbnSE_zFIZ1aogcnq3VZ7GzqamS-UtPYon0U6LCfSgPaeISy7p2n8tBeI4/s640/IMG_5230.jpg" title="Grave marker for Old Douglas, the camel in Cedar Hill Cemetery. " width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grave marker for Old Douglas, the camel in Cedar Hill Cemetery.</td></tr>
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The <a href="https://www.nps.gov/vick" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">Vicksburg National Military Park</a> ranks as the most visited site in Mississippi. To save time and confusion driving around the immense grounds, hire a guide (at the visitor center) to join you in your car. Ours was a walking encyclopedia with knowledge about the battles, the importance of topography, and what happened to those in the town. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQ1XLENxfaNW4bEtUIywlGqvn2IHDkqdGqHQkSg9f6jWrDUM-SH_loSk9dtcsiKPfXMgSmPf54AAy6VnT02t_oYAR3SXqPXU_a2WhGTFKxRGKZ94MhFeCRPhLgahKIEnRrXZdOu2P0ew/s1600/IMG_5233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Open battleground in front of the Illinois Monument, Vicksburg National Military Park. " border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQ1XLENxfaNW4bEtUIywlGqvn2IHDkqdGqHQkSg9f6jWrDUM-SH_loSk9dtcsiKPfXMgSmPf54AAy6VnT02t_oYAR3SXqPXU_a2WhGTFKxRGKZ94MhFeCRPhLgahKIEnRrXZdOu2P0ew/s640/IMG_5233.jpg" title="Open battleground in front of the Illinois Monument, Vicksburg National Military Park. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open battleground in front of the Illinois Monument, Vicksburg National Military Park. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIwlaxNGpxV89nOHY9z8K3o-bAb93TBV3siZw5rXUkeWlayrJkelk3s7lALTcZtrJPJQl-kp-k6ml4OwyVsU2NZyrzjhalRW2KuhchBB6a5w-pvrQHlSn4t-Du-57NHOKc1z9XbmaGlI/s1600/IMG_5235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Canon on Vicksburg National Military Park." border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIwlaxNGpxV89nOHY9z8K3o-bAb93TBV3siZw5rXUkeWlayrJkelk3s7lALTcZtrJPJQl-kp-k6ml4OwyVsU2NZyrzjhalRW2KuhchBB6a5w-pvrQHlSn4t-Du-57NHOKc1z9XbmaGlI/s400/IMG_5235.jpg" title="Canon on Vicksburg National Military Park." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canon on Vicksburg National Military Park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV9BP88a4JUx5RtJG5QU333CxHG1Gve40xFYAnam-bmnr2bM1wbQquDilPsgv7p4ZHWiV6zRcPepVCpXArRABbf3CJ38Qxl1hNZe2WTXBd0zMzKgVhvyIAuGadA2jIz5Cr2BG5XBrYzM/s1600/IMG_5238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Illinois Monument in Vicksburg is a one-quarter sized copy of the Parthenon in Rome. " border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmV9BP88a4JUx5RtJG5QU333CxHG1Gve40xFYAnam-bmnr2bM1wbQquDilPsgv7p4ZHWiV6zRcPepVCpXArRABbf3CJ38Qxl1hNZe2WTXBd0zMzKgVhvyIAuGadA2jIz5Cr2BG5XBrYzM/s640/IMG_5238.jpg" title="The Illinois Monument in Vicksburg is a one-quarter sized copy of the Parthenon in Rome. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Illinois Monument in Vicksburg is a one-quarter sized copy of the Parthenon in Rome.</td></tr>
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We stopped at the most iconic statues and monuments, the largest is he Illinois Monument, a one-fourth sized copy of the Parthenon in Rome. The view from the top of the sites’ 47 steps, one for each day of the siege, stirs many emotions. The interior displays sixty bronze tablets naming all 36,325 Illinois soldiers who participated in the Vicksburg campaign.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYw4aSGHS88_eUCcrFXJCKA-t2zDHKJhbIV3Uv03zpNhnGlvqLTgnDp0gXyoZRwAXixPi-9VtGEI2gtdCCL6gb_lpzu4jlcOW01UDrYIUM31MG6vVrqvfxFFY-_yU0W6yVUsUaeVKQI8/s1600/IMG_5250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Shirley House lies within Vicksburg National Military Park. " border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlYw4aSGHS88_eUCcrFXJCKA-t2zDHKJhbIV3Uv03zpNhnGlvqLTgnDp0gXyoZRwAXixPi-9VtGEI2gtdCCL6gb_lpzu4jlcOW01UDrYIUM31MG6vVrqvfxFFY-_yU0W6yVUsUaeVKQI8/s640/IMG_5250.jpg" title="The Shirley House lies within Vicksburg National Military Park. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shirley House lies within Vicksburg National Military Park.</td></tr>
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Next door sits the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/vick/learn/historyculture/tour-stop-2-shirley-house.htm">Shirley House</a>. The now restored house is the only surviving Civil War-era structure on the battlefield. One of the fascinating but often unknown stories, as told by our guide, featured the owner's son. He enlisted with the Union troops from the front porch of the house. Mining tunnels underneath the Confederate lines was initiated from this area. </div>
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Driving on, you come to the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/vick/u-s-s-cairo-gunboat.htm">USS Cairo Gunboat Museum</a> and restroom. Be sure to stop and see the Cairo, the only remaining example of a City Class ironclad battleship. The USS Cairo Museum tells the story of its recovery and artifacts show what life on board the Navy vessel was like. Fascinating stuff!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOum2Thnzgz6YCb0pyaVbS7CL9ZIG0r06DgNR13cXpYWvdWa2mUtqR4409lmgwy4CPMYgKopHwA8jpnOde5NYRCPuoFr-flLBh8ADJZGRt0bDeRzVzIIYc-i4SJcJsbIvTxT2WiVnm7c/s1600/IMG_7272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Remains of the USS Cairo, an ironclad battleship. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOum2Thnzgz6YCb0pyaVbS7CL9ZIG0r06DgNR13cXpYWvdWa2mUtqR4409lmgwy4CPMYgKopHwA8jpnOde5NYRCPuoFr-flLBh8ADJZGRt0bDeRzVzIIYc-i4SJcJsbIvTxT2WiVnm7c/s400/IMG_7272.jpg" title="Remains of the USS Cairo, an ironclad battleship. " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remains of the USS Cairo, an ironclad battleship. </td></tr>
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After completing our tour, we drove to our Bed & Breakfast, the <a href="http://cedargroveinn.com/">Mansion at Cedar Grove</a>, a magnificent property including five acres of beautifully manicured gardens. The surroundings immediately put us into a carefree mood. We indulged in the gracious charm of the Antebellum (1852) estate, honestly an attraction on its own.<br />
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Judy slept in the General Grant room, where General Grant once slept, and include 90 percent original furnishings. I enjoyed the lovely General Sherman room upstairs. The original owner's wife, Elizabeth Klein, was a niece of General Sherman. While the house was bombarded from the river (you can see some remaining canon balls in the walls), it survived intact. The staff offer tours of the intriguing property. FYI-Cedar Grove is the kind of B&B you want to linger in for a few nights, consider a longer visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49uIIM8bZ5HLW1RPQEuI88txRrfB2p4nginu0ytTMFyfNLEi5BhXIMEttGXnb-jhu13K5PyzFEenZ3CxK6ZuAzz-ZFp5hIEf4v_y9kQauooZ3i0kTR4Y3GGrD0xdpDgBxrLDsVpPwwEY/s1600/IMG_5301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The General Grant room in Cedar Grove Mansion with original furnishings. " border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49uIIM8bZ5HLW1RPQEuI88txRrfB2p4nginu0ytTMFyfNLEi5BhXIMEttGXnb-jhu13K5PyzFEenZ3CxK6ZuAzz-ZFp5hIEf4v_y9kQauooZ3i0kTR4Y3GGrD0xdpDgBxrLDsVpPwwEY/s640/IMG_5301.jpg" title="The General Grant room in Cedar Grove Mansion with original furnishings. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The General Grant room in Cedar Grove Mansion with original furnishings. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeXG3nQtrSS_FSgC7aBYugkgy6S7MoQE3mZ1CATJosZJyjp1hGu0qP_4KktFZP-IT9xM3IYM04uOXJY0zD7NmNFTZNWFYwFQa3sbIC3tlk2yqsM8-o4Dtd0hLxo3FPoMnGvTUIP8ePlI/s1600/IMG_5304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Period furnishings in a palor at Cedar Grove Mansion." border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeeXG3nQtrSS_FSgC7aBYugkgy6S7MoQE3mZ1CATJosZJyjp1hGu0qP_4KktFZP-IT9xM3IYM04uOXJY0zD7NmNFTZNWFYwFQa3sbIC3tlk2yqsM8-o4Dtd0hLxo3FPoMnGvTUIP8ePlI/s400/IMG_5304.jpg" title="Period furnishings in a palor at Cedar Grove Mansion." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Period furnishings in a parlor at Cedar Grove Mansion.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLxop-xeeMUvluZ7PB2dfZJicbfq5YMNvqA3hxNFeErDkT1dh66BLuBTV6tuy9foxw04Sbvs5apQs7tLIKXpYuHDlqIGxjTVcjpKtbi0MsOtxwUD0DPiuzcFCr1KvRYyrRW4C8FwZ5No/s1600/IMG_9950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Many original gasoliers (gas lights) hang in Cedar Grove Mansion. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjLxop-xeeMUvluZ7PB2dfZJicbfq5YMNvqA3hxNFeErDkT1dh66BLuBTV6tuy9foxw04Sbvs5apQs7tLIKXpYuHDlqIGxjTVcjpKtbi0MsOtxwUD0DPiuzcFCr1KvRYyrRW4C8FwZ5No/s640/IMG_9950.jpg" title="Many original gasoliers (gas lights) hang in Cedar Grove Mansion. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many original gasoliers (gas lights) hang in Cedar Grove Mansion. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPvJ8ugxurzLTSYjNIRj7dr4qniY9jdfkHSsZfXepYyGR8rkq3RTJ42ygJn-s3rR3KNBJ0ORzwHz63jxPLycKvhslbGJnxA71DuPCPcwtMc20-U8B0IAEjXORXmGpI_nKEfYZpLe-sH8/s1600/IMG_9954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Looking down on the gardens at the front entrance to Cedar Grove mansion." border="0" data-original-height="935" data-original-width="1440" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFPvJ8ugxurzLTSYjNIRj7dr4qniY9jdfkHSsZfXepYyGR8rkq3RTJ42ygJn-s3rR3KNBJ0ORzwHz63jxPLycKvhslbGJnxA71DuPCPcwtMc20-U8B0IAEjXORXmGpI_nKEfYZpLe-sH8/s400/IMG_9954.jpg" title="Looking down on the gardens at the front entrance to Cedar Grove mansion." width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on the gardens at the front entrance to Cedar Grove mansion.<br />
Photo @Debi Lander</td></tr>
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Café Anchuca</h3>
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For dinner, we drove nearby and found a street-side historical marker standing in front of a grand Greek Revival columned home. The sign explains that the landmark goes by the name <a href="http://www.anchuca.com/">Anchuca,</a> a Choctaw Indian word meaning "happy home." Joseph Emory Davis, eldest brother to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, owned a nearby plantation but also lived at Anchuca until he died in 1870. Jefferson Davis was reunited with his brother (and father figure) at this home in January 1869. The town's legend testifies that during this stay, Jefferson Davis spoke to friends and neighbors from Anchuca's front balcony, his last appearance in Vicksburg.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Anchuca Mansion is also a Bed and Breakfast Inn and includes <a href="http://www.anchuca.com/">Café Anchuca</a>, a fine dining restaurant off to the rear. It attracts locals and tourists alike: a proper place to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Walk around the side of the house to enter the southern-style garden room/restaurant.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpV2QyX6pI8JxqJYvKKMeKd3Wt9gXaitNtoSq5xhLESOcGRhmXlwzIBuX21p3zfhNJQYfnUu3KYZ7qMUS0VB_uNhft-NblXFL24weQyNGiRRndPb-yr0ZeyPW4wQ5x707sIUfQiEDR5BY/s1600/IMG_9981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Southern Spreads appetizer at Cafe Anchuca in Vicksburg" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpV2QyX6pI8JxqJYvKKMeKd3Wt9gXaitNtoSq5xhLESOcGRhmXlwzIBuX21p3zfhNJQYfnUu3KYZ7qMUS0VB_uNhft-NblXFL24weQyNGiRRndPb-yr0ZeyPW4wQ5x707sIUfQiEDR5BY/s320/IMG_9981.jpg" title="Southern Spreads appetizer at Cafe Anchuca in Vicksburg. " width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Spreads appetizer at Cafe Anchuca in Vicksburg</td></tr>
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Judy and I, ready for happy hour, so perused the cocktail menu. I chose a gin and tonic, needing a refreshing drink after a long day. Judy decided on a martini. Our cocktails paired nicely with the appetizer called Southern Spreads: a tray with pimento cheese, butterbean hummus, and house bread. You can never go wrong with pimento cheese, a traditional southern spread, but butterbean hummus became a delightful new surprise. Thick and creamy with a subtle spice.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I ordered the special of the day: scallops with garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach for my entree. The scallops came perfectly cooked, not overcooked and rubbery, but very tender. I barely need to chew! Judy ordered the Mississippi farm-raised catfish with creole Hoppin John and creamed spinach. She, too, enjoyed it, but we both devoured our spinach servings! Since we had dessert at lunch, we skipped it in the evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPbVpmt5_UnBHVWV3k9h1TJG3lmhlF6FEmua4qWsGUTlSFExqr9kx2UwACxhDqArMfa-LdcWpArK_Ict8yPeND_d34dTr6BlBlsXBtgVRUx6blyGMxjn7UPywvaE6NAP8C2ZKM6CUESg/s1600/IMG_9982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Scallops with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach at Cafe Anchuca. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnPbVpmt5_UnBHVWV3k9h1TJG3lmhlF6FEmua4qWsGUTlSFExqr9kx2UwACxhDqArMfa-LdcWpArK_Ict8yPeND_d34dTr6BlBlsXBtgVRUx6blyGMxjn7UPywvaE6NAP8C2ZKM6CUESg/s400/IMG_9982.jpg" title="Scallops with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach at Cafe Anchuca. " width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scallops with mashed potatoes and creamed spinach at Cafe Anchuca. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzRqFQGPpP1FccZT8nWc0EEF6lSDb1Ueurhr7BfXkSBeE5eusRKx6Hu9zBsgBfX6xd28Ifri_cHRLi8fAGtKc8byhguBy_ybliSlUjcVGs1Zt7l-UwVrwn1UMMKjWyUknZ6AqbsmNJ44/s1600/IMG_9983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mississippi Catfish, a Delta favorite. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzRqFQGPpP1FccZT8nWc0EEF6lSDb1Ueurhr7BfXkSBeE5eusRKx6Hu9zBsgBfX6xd28Ifri_cHRLi8fAGtKc8byhguBy_ybliSlUjcVGs1Zt7l-UwVrwn1UMMKjWyUknZ6AqbsmNJ44/s320/IMG_9983.jpg" title="Mississippi Catfish, a Delta favorite. " width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mississippi Catfish, a Delta favorite. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQwXYwBOQYgwA1Xnmba4V01AIyZyAlfEzZh0s_caWNRU_Eb7zNFbi1H7G1uSKYOFcx-TNvYQkSTylV9x4z4lAH0TEiknE1qmTOf1Ut_L7FehcOA8oTh5n2uEmE8k5IS2g792ioQR5mFs/s1600/Anchuca+Dining+Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Formal table is set for dinner at Cafe Anchuca in Vicksburg. " border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQwXYwBOQYgwA1Xnmba4V01AIyZyAlfEzZh0s_caWNRU_Eb7zNFbi1H7G1uSKYOFcx-TNvYQkSTylV9x4z4lAH0TEiknE1qmTOf1Ut_L7FehcOA8oTh5n2uEmE8k5IS2g792ioQR5mFs/s640/Anchuca+Dining+Room.jpg" title="Formal Dining Room at Cafe Anchuca in Vicksburg. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Formal Dining Room at Cafe Anchuca in Vicksburg.</td></tr>
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Before leaving Anchuca, we peeked into the formal dining room, bursting with antiques and elegance, the ambiance of old money. We returned to Cedar Grove to call it a night, but I climbed up to the top floor where a balcony provided panoramic views of the garden and river.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast at Cedar Grove, but felt sad to leave this enchanted setting. We set off to see the 32 riverside murals down by the waterfront. They tell a pictorial history of the city and nearby locations. We couldn't help but notice a riverboat docked nearby, a cruise line that brings many visitors to Vicksburg.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliwK3snRspAAX8rMlWSEnVAHLaf9BrDA1lhLXNa5MmW9fTyNSYmAQfQ-q7bDd3Io_mV15WVSxO8Oqx5fbS5pJYvxV1Czc3ueYxKe1LAxloWTmNxRZGY5YPNCU0JrkXi_OfqHlWapMZXg/s1600/IMG_5294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1600" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliwK3snRspAAX8rMlWSEnVAHLaf9BrDA1lhLXNa5MmW9fTyNSYmAQfQ-q7bDd3Io_mV15WVSxO8Oqx5fbS5pJYvxV1Czc3ueYxKe1LAxloWTmNxRZGY5YPNCU0JrkXi_OfqHlWapMZXg/s320/IMG_5294.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Vicksburg Mural. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilkGfgLK6hO_zX7_iFmaVtb5zhuHVik_XiPWdXdrzlLKPlP4H8JUijc5UYQF_Spy57txwb7hNOCiBqv0Zg48paxz5hwRy383l_FHzNQX8xx68CAQP711GIlt2_ZsA2lUE2-Dp6xsMGUU/s1600/IMG_0837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A Mississippi Riverboat docked in Vicksburg. " border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1440" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilkGfgLK6hO_zX7_iFmaVtb5zhuHVik_XiPWdXdrzlLKPlP4H8JUijc5UYQF_Spy57txwb7hNOCiBqv0Zg48paxz5hwRy383l_FHzNQX8xx68CAQP711GIlt2_ZsA2lUE2-Dp6xsMGUU/s640/IMG_0837.jpg" title="A Mississippi Riverboat docked in Vicksburg. " width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Mississippi Riverboat docked in Vicksburg. </td></tr>
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We didn’t have time to visit the Old Courthouse Museum or tour <a href="http://www.biedenharncoca-colamuseum.com/" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum</a>, the first place Coca-Cola was ever bottled. Vicksburg could have kept us busy another day and night, especially if we’d been interested in gambling. Casinos do big business in town.<br />
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Windsor Ruins</h3>
Instead, we headed toward the <a href="http://www.mdah.ms.gov/new/visit/windsor-ruins/">Windsor Ruins </a>near Port Gibson, getting a bit lost on backroads in the kudzu covered territory. The ruins are all that remain of what was once a palatial mansion, but they make a haunting sight and are a favorite of photographers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tYSXpbt_OjqWBu3K26bJKqNlADjwckhipCSY2VwMoN0ZIrzPrROcsS9okczZSQTs6YRu1YEn2NP_Zpe-LXCgdae13_2PPnPg_6nUfD3SZEsc5oYiIH2Vclmdkvali7rWVDFwyvF6qlU/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Windsor Ruins are a favorite of photographers. " border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tYSXpbt_OjqWBu3K26bJKqNlADjwckhipCSY2VwMoN0ZIrzPrROcsS9okczZSQTs6YRu1YEn2NP_Zpe-LXCgdae13_2PPnPg_6nUfD3SZEsc5oYiIH2Vclmdkvali7rWVDFwyvF6qlU/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" title="The Windsor Ruins are a favorite of photographers. " width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Windsor Ruins are a favorite of photographers. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5mmdKW34FlaP7MEjXN_pF0rRmiGv0arxWNQBecVL_GBTaLwMmpEggO4QZQxQJK9kRXduQGE8xjHnoiWan58iIgCCdIg_BpPU2J5BU4_kJx-cjCU687s4NTES5k1YsMJEW6yR3m9meI0/s1600/IMG_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Flower growing among the Windsor Ruins." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5mmdKW34FlaP7MEjXN_pF0rRmiGv0arxWNQBecVL_GBTaLwMmpEggO4QZQxQJK9kRXduQGE8xjHnoiWan58iIgCCdIg_BpPU2J5BU4_kJx-cjCU687s4NTES5k1YsMJEW6yR3m9meI0/s320/IMG_0035.jpg" title="Flower growing among the Windsor Ruins." width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower growing among the Windsor Ruins.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbxQD4_ixuouZlqYjeQt302lBllqhe3HJI5EVlgK-Qzp1tURHHBPSQbn2pY1yy4cYm92W21E_ueUiifNSfoH9E7qeSS9vNrQTVCzU77Iaay0fMv2pZBmPE_axLH_tHyiTsgtstu6cz1c/s1600/IMG_5332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Close-up of the iron work at the Windsor Ruins." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="686" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMbxQD4_ixuouZlqYjeQt302lBllqhe3HJI5EVlgK-Qzp1tURHHBPSQbn2pY1yy4cYm92W21E_ueUiifNSfoH9E7qeSS9vNrQTVCzU77Iaay0fMv2pZBmPE_axLH_tHyiTsgtstu6cz1c/s320/IMG_5332.jpg" title="Close-up of the iron work at the Windsor Ruins." width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close-up of the iron work at the Windsor Ruins.</td></tr>
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For more information: <a href="https://visitvicksburg.com/" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">https://visitvicksburg.com</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Thanks to <a href="http://visitvicksburg.com/">VisitVicksburg.com</a> for a wonderful visit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com1Vicksburg, MS, USA32.3526456 -90.87788232.1379606 -91.2006055 32.567330600000005 -90.5551585tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-89006980774082609802020-03-31T14:14:00.000-07:002020-04-23T12:32:53.168-07:00Going to Jackson (Mississippi)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Good Girls, aka Judy Wells and I, continued down south on the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/natr/">Natchez Trace Parkway</a> from Tupelo. We were heading toward <a href="http://www.visitjackson.com/">Jackson</a>, the capital of Mississippi. With fading strains of Elvis playing in our heads, we picked up a new song, one from Johnny Cash.<br />
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I’m going to Jackson, I’m gonna mess around<br />
Yeah, I’m goin’ to Jackson<br />
Look out Jackson town<br />
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Look out indeed, Jackson sits just 10 miles off the Trace and makes a perfect place for an overnight stop. So, we left the calm ease of driving the two-lane parkway and entered high-speed interstate traffic, carefully merging with the oncoming vehicles.<br />
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We arrived for lunch at <a href="https://www.cultivationfoodhall.com/">Cultivation Food Hall</a>. The center part of a newly renovated area called The District at Eastover. The food hall surprised and delighted us, a first of its kind in Mississippi. This food hall showcases local, chef-inspired boutique restaurants instead of chain restaurants like those in the mall food courts. We were told it acts as an incubator to help jumpstart the local restaurants and their chefs. Super idea!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9INkFwI6IsZamDgCyzGgjNqMu2j8iiQqFJzQ6DJUE230grhiuJsykGX8NOZS4vlDu0KVjj6lFH7cv-JAqMAjw3Q6kcRpCeqZszEgt4C-2-l9M87akMJxoMkM0DeYqPYKWs_KebO0z74/s1600/IMG_9775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9INkFwI6IsZamDgCyzGgjNqMu2j8iiQqFJzQ6DJUE230grhiuJsykGX8NOZS4vlDu0KVjj6lFH7cv-JAqMAjw3Q6kcRpCeqZszEgt4C-2-l9M87akMJxoMkM0DeYqPYKWs_KebO0z74/s640/IMG_9775.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cultivation Food Hall</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We strolled around enticed by many dishes, but finally chose the station called the Poké Stop. I ordered a custom deconstructed sushi roll, served in a poké bowl. My dish included chunks of salmon combined with Hawaiian and Japanese accents giving it a colorful flair. It tasted fresh and delicious, and the portion size exceeded what I could eat. We both loved the concept and this food hall.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHrMrzHR5UmCOhVrVxJ6cRQYZ03zarn77-udjBz89UgNLxAIenuHvs7hRoOMAPsu2QS_wJ-X4-LWQ9veqXTHa6-S8LGq06di0EJXuz4rdwIMsoKLUmQbFixBK41w45h8NgVv0UxLiCyY/s1600/IMG_9774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIHrMrzHR5UmCOhVrVxJ6cRQYZ03zarn77-udjBz89UgNLxAIenuHvs7hRoOMAPsu2QS_wJ-X4-LWQ9veqXTHa6-S8LGq06di0EJXuz4rdwIMsoKLUmQbFixBK41w45h8NgVv0UxLiCyY/s640/IMG_9774.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Deconstructed sushi roll from Poke Stop<br />
@Debi Lander</td></tr>
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Afterward, we headed for the combined <a href="http://mmh.mdah.ms.gov/">Museum of Mississippi History</a> and <a href="http://mcrm.mdah.ms.gov/">Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. </a>The award-winning Civil Rights Museum, dedicated in December 2017, has become a highlighted stop on the Civil Rights Trail. I’d explored it shortly after it opened, but the place was very crowded. I looked forward to returning and getting a better look.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5K7LsvIGZ827tqhUyHeHY0pYRAC-Cpz2RZT6SczSUr-hbcm_7t4pnl0CeV_ttTzJA3UK1jDCB874KfpVwX4gO5DhHS-PzmaCdNiyD8J49EKNBS75GF1HvNhmtHsvVye53CGQtNM0_Do/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="126" data-original-width="126" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5K7LsvIGZ827tqhUyHeHY0pYRAC-Cpz2RZT6SczSUr-hbcm_7t4pnl0CeV_ttTzJA3UK1jDCB874KfpVwX4gO5DhHS-PzmaCdNiyD8J49EKNBS75GF1HvNhmtHsvVye53CGQtNM0_Do/s320/Unknown.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Good thing we gave ourselves the entire afternoon. The two attractions jointly cover 200,000 square feet and include 22,000 artifacts. As recommended, we started on the history side and found the 1800-1900s era the most interesting. Kids and grandkids will like all the interactive exhibits.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgSw1ewin1B948d4kaX58tuLIatTaL-u1AdaPh2HaRC2mExdOViK2iqd2PgQEmTM4uubSCBCr6ClgkKuVXRNzd6ndU_OrYrCH7Xv7SJxXUNQwpgdQDMgiJuHQnU9jRtxDXwk1ANs6HgE/s1600/IMG_9789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgSw1ewin1B948d4kaX58tuLIatTaL-u1AdaPh2HaRC2mExdOViK2iqd2PgQEmTM4uubSCBCr6ClgkKuVXRNzd6ndU_OrYrCH7Xv7SJxXUNQwpgdQDMgiJuHQnU9jRtxDXwk1ANs6HgE/s640/IMG_9789.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit about the history of the cotton gin @Debi Lander</td></tr>
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<b>The Civil Rights Museum</b><br />
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Then, we crossed over to the state-of-the-art <a href="https://mcrm.mdah.ms.gov/">Mississippi Civil Rights Museum</a>, which presents compelling and painful stories. We found eight interactive galleries with striking images and displays. Seven of the galleries encircle a central space, highlighted by a sculpture called “This Little Light of Mine.” You move from the darkened galleries into the light as you work your way around the museum. The sculpture becomes brightest when the music of the Movement swells, about every 15 minutes. (The recordings were made by the Freedom Singers, reminding us of <a href="https://goodgirlsinthebadlands.blogspot.com/2013/09/back-to-albany-and-beyond-memorable.html">Rutha Harris</a> whom we met and heard sing when we toured Albany in Georgia.) I found myself pulled in by the clapping, swaying and singing. This spot is genuinely uplifting, a good thing because there’s no sugarcoating of these stories. The museum tells poignant, often tearful tales. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBTOqypLO3cJCUhQRqRAkxXCwemrTi9xv9CWouX2n2JKg-Z_WGh4WFL5rPdt2WLAGd5krbNurO1mxxef9Mme99Pz2kLW6Zqsz1fBl6k6k40eEiqqv0Hg4F7qz9JSej7oIKrNmT80QOQ4/s1600/IMG_9808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1260" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfBTOqypLO3cJCUhQRqRAkxXCwemrTi9xv9CWouX2n2JKg-Z_WGh4WFL5rPdt2WLAGd5krbNurO1mxxef9Mme99Pz2kLW6Zqsz1fBl6k6k40eEiqqv0Hg4F7qz9JSej7oIKrNmT80QOQ4/s640/IMG_9808.jpg" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This Little Light of Mine Sculpture. </b></td></tr>
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A lynching tree inscribed with names bears witness to the 600 Mississippians hung in the state. Other displays include Ku Klux Klan robes, shackles, and the rifle that killed Medgar Evans. Plus, there are many informative videos set within small spaces - - for example, the back of a police wagon or a jail cell.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYoiJliJ-NooVK_INFWEcbIRZSXW_qRf89eu4kL99bDPhRNvmNiuA40tfvSAyPbvUdemQRO65g9wJ0RoCcQCnHoxCNj8SQX8JFhITL8fENfHX9YDId3bGLyphDXn5xQfvsXPt2kJXUvc/s1600/IMG_9803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYoiJliJ-NooVK_INFWEcbIRZSXW_qRf89eu4kL99bDPhRNvmNiuA40tfvSAyPbvUdemQRO65g9wJ0RoCcQCnHoxCNj8SQX8JFhITL8fENfHX9YDId3bGLyphDXn5xQfvsXPt2kJXUvc/s320/IMG_9803.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ku Klux Klan robes in the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. </b></td></tr>
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The story of the Emmet Till case, narrated by Oprah Winfrey, reveals the riveting tale of a 14-year old boy beaten, shot, and then thrown in a river for whistling at a white woman shop owner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlQ2nPFmnhhg4SzFNR1par9vF8AXIdYEblrJoxaxn4TM9r7ScbZf-FqIl-gv7vPSNqrN5guR8Sf-haf8w0POBRe-jLS-9NSS7-Yxe14qbEaSTf3hXvfglgDA3dzdSTqErVMBSaS00lmM/s1600/29250034_10155117844397330_2526581470018843092_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlQ2nPFmnhhg4SzFNR1par9vF8AXIdYEblrJoxaxn4TM9r7ScbZf-FqIl-gv7vPSNqrN5guR8Sf-haf8w0POBRe-jLS-9NSS7-Yxe14qbEaSTf3hXvfglgDA3dzdSTqErVMBSaS00lmM/s400/29250034_10155117844397330_2526581470018843092_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Historic photo in Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.</td></tr>
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Civil and human rights remain at the center of political and social discussion today. The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum highlights stories that Americans can’t and shouldn’t forget, certainly not on a trip through the state. We were glad we included this stop on our tour.<br />
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<b>Dining in Jackson</b><br />
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For dinner, we headed to <a href="https://eatbabalu.com/jackson-ms">Babalu</a>, a restaurant named after the signature song of the television character Ricky Ricardo, played by Desi Arnez, on I Love Lucy. The Latin-inspired menu features tapas and tacos instead of typical southern fare. We tried their signature fresh guacamole made tableside along with the house margarita: The Baba Rita. Our review: terrific!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVksj_KyhOXuPVnDyyCODj8V29LrrIRRFWNO80UxbIiaO6_UPBWicfs7R5IjcWgIg8-MSBGBMrdRtWp-vbXFdTJgW4jkThxtuel9hkH4-eSFYCKQgihwnPM18q5rapq6JWs_eini_RZ0/s1600/IMG_9816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVksj_KyhOXuPVnDyyCODj8V29LrrIRRFWNO80UxbIiaO6_UPBWicfs7R5IjcWgIg8-MSBGBMrdRtWp-vbXFdTJgW4jkThxtuel9hkH4-eSFYCKQgihwnPM18q5rapq6JWs_eini_RZ0/s640/IMG_9816.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Table-side preparation of Guacamole. </b></td></tr>
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Breakfast at <a href="http://www.brentsdrugs.com/">Brent’s Drugs</a> the next morning turned out to be a real treat. It’s an old-fashion pharmacy/soda fountain that takes you back to childhood days. The place opened in 1946 and feels and looks like a time capsule complete with real soda jerks. No surprise, many scenes in the movie <i>The Help</i> were filmed there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVWj3tmjVcsTJuqnCYKcTNY2bDFl0EnN0mZFP_eH64xI9PrIATGFJ4OzL-luvCzlRpGVJi-6vcsqUoXkgudRdpzV9IRqpnmaACu-xc233qIr9aqwNXwjqjLlUKI76n3XnY4-wEqeU49A/s1600/IMG_9827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVWj3tmjVcsTJuqnCYKcTNY2bDFl0EnN0mZFP_eH64xI9PrIATGFJ4OzL-luvCzlRpGVJi-6vcsqUoXkgudRdpzV9IRqpnmaACu-xc233qIr9aqwNXwjqjLlUKI76n3XnY4-wEqeU49A/s640/IMG_9827.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Brent's Drugs in Jackson, Mississippi. </b></td></tr>
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Brent’s remains popular with all ages, and we heard that many extended families like to dine at “grandma’s old place.” Also, many children have birthday parties at Brendt’s. It wasn’t our birthday, but we decided to have a breakfast dessert- a black and white milkshake. Yummy.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-P860b0GoZcv0vmBMtVPT9BOHMppxu9xsoIRO6tDQ7oDuQ22Sjeog9OalQJBk5V3wiKP1idtAG7ckaVBmrQGACEV-X9HV1mgweR4DwMcbzmPX72YYyXJHVTKomIXToOprkpRILmyQsYw/s1600/IMG_9839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1265" data-original-width="1600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-P860b0GoZcv0vmBMtVPT9BOHMppxu9xsoIRO6tDQ7oDuQ22Sjeog9OalQJBk5V3wiKP1idtAG7ckaVBmrQGACEV-X9HV1mgweR4DwMcbzmPX72YYyXJHVTKomIXToOprkpRILmyQsYw/s320/IMG_9839.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sharing a Shake!</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDxV9uoddUPRGCu5RUndNjduowc817UDCNAsPwJAzR56SZCqTWgKOciGBSbgL3OsPiNp8ycosgN3DHjs5COF76Qm7CSYtpiMs37KNecyUiRUT3rmjAz9ruaRFjMlgtV0j5wCgytHpe2I/s1600/IMG_9837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDxV9uoddUPRGCu5RUndNjduowc817UDCNAsPwJAzR56SZCqTWgKOciGBSbgL3OsPiNp8ycosgN3DHjs5COF76Qm7CSYtpiMs37KNecyUiRUT3rmjAz9ruaRFjMlgtV0j5wCgytHpe2I/s320/IMG_9837.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A soda jerk prepares our shake. </b></td></tr>
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Hidden in the rear of Brent’s lies The Apothecary -- the most atmospheric speakeasy-style bar ever. We wish we’d known about this earlier. Apparently, the locals like keeping it a secret.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zLqkqCdORv9w5QeNtsmVwI3UmSmtAuH3eZdDp4KeqmeQpsnwStc4QzV4bTZVcRbo2ns6RabSvsYgtKsujAZG9q6Bg4KKby5NZw4RQJSw-gV6YZPW7uHPgz8039GqvOUD0duOkEvt3hQ/s1600/IMG_9842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zLqkqCdORv9w5QeNtsmVwI3UmSmtAuH3eZdDp4KeqmeQpsnwStc4QzV4bTZVcRbo2ns6RabSvsYgtKsujAZG9q6Bg4KKby5NZw4RQJSw-gV6YZPW7uHPgz8039GqvOUD0duOkEvt3hQ/s400/IMG_9842.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Apothecary at Brent's.</b></td></tr>
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<b>The Mississippi State Capitol</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO0_0OmwQ8dDKOgKjuFfLb_iQfOa6cXY2WX9u_nRfRd1rcfO7RwM5vfsoFhAgijgJXTL4S3ByT0WFiRO_UPuMbuwLBnhXFjNSyLvlyZENJ-KXpqIMI_qMDkN51E8Qkp2Ja4m39X2XpBw/s1600/IMG_9851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="1600" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO0_0OmwQ8dDKOgKjuFfLb_iQfOa6cXY2WX9u_nRfRd1rcfO7RwM5vfsoFhAgijgJXTL4S3ByT0WFiRO_UPuMbuwLBnhXFjNSyLvlyZENJ-KXpqIMI_qMDkN51E8Qkp2Ja4m39X2XpBw/s400/IMG_9851.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mississippi State Capitol Building</b></td></tr>
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In my opinion, state capitols are always worth a visit. They burst with grandeur and symbolic art. Judy and I quickly popped in for a self- tour using the visitor brochure as our guide. We loved the rotunda and both chambers, though not in session. We thought it fun to see author John Grisham’s photo on the wall (1983-90) when he was representative of the State Senate. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFWrgQJ13FEBAi4cl3UE4jJ4TM0PHSOz1IMa0O3L4ZObaJZUqq1NcNvx5LzcQbaaOf_LkwWRFUeTnjIwlE_OnPiC9F5bG_n5AOupYq48kV9Nj7afc1g2wcG-C5oAiwudZezzxUrgk3dQ/s1600/IMG_9855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFWrgQJ13FEBAi4cl3UE4jJ4TM0PHSOz1IMa0O3L4ZObaJZUqq1NcNvx5LzcQbaaOf_LkwWRFUeTnjIwlE_OnPiC9F5bG_n5AOupYq48kV9Nj7afc1g2wcG-C5oAiwudZezzxUrgk3dQ/s400/IMG_9855.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Looking up at the Capitol Done. </b></td></tr>
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As we headed out of Jackson, we both remarked that the city was much more modern and fun than we expected. It is indeed a City with Soul. Glad I gave it a second chance.<br />
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Before re-entering the Natchez Trace Parkway, we stopped at the <a href="http://www.craftsmensguildofms.org/">Mississippi Crafts Center</a> in Ridgeland. The exterior presents a dull concrete look, but inside we found fine artisan arts and crafts. Plenty of gift ideas and items for the home. Worth a stop if you are that kind of thing. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnc9xnX7mhJ_mNkUpgcIVD2pPIhbKX0b2WIlcm2SlWqXcBFA8NahIP5I-4UKluPTbp5vbuNTySDApRDwKIySfmYsSxhpWdJV7ClI-DvYxl07DhFZcF6qI9sXaoypVTUoSGT9GFn5TjTE/s1600/IMG_9870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnc9xnX7mhJ_mNkUpgcIVD2pPIhbKX0b2WIlcm2SlWqXcBFA8NahIP5I-4UKluPTbp5vbuNTySDApRDwKIySfmYsSxhpWdJV7ClI-DvYxl07DhFZcF6qI9sXaoypVTUoSGT9GFn5TjTE/s400/IMG_9870.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Mississippi Crafts Center</b></td></tr>
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Next stop Vicksburg.<br />
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A big thank you to the folks at <a href="http://www.visitjackson.com/">Visit Jackson</a> for hosting us.<br />
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Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-79842759981868835552020-03-20T12:25:00.003-07:002020-03-20T12:26:28.911-07:00Stopping Along the Natchez Trace Parkway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Plans for a Good Girls road trip down the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm">Natchez Trace Parkway</a> evolved over time as we worked with the wonderful group from <a href="http://visitmississippi.org/">VisitMississippi.org</a>. We would drive the route, stopping to explore and stay in nearby cities. We hoped to discover American history, country music, and indulge in southern cuisine. While others enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding, and camping on the Trace, we chose less adventurous, but more comfortable boomer-style activities.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRzTVUlZL_OfhRNkTpIHxnSpSDv9zDvS6Ho4zcUBxTNpWGK-278V2eJcbc53qS4l27bkGkaYCzUXUhJglZB09F4Degpx6rlJ01g0xITpQfk_VhYXoVmbSLq3rJ8vDtcNUwmzWEtlcIBs/s1600/IMG_9629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRzTVUlZL_OfhRNkTpIHxnSpSDv9zDvS6Ho4zcUBxTNpWGK-278V2eJcbc53qS4l27bkGkaYCzUXUhJglZB09F4Degpx6rlJ01g0xITpQfk_VhYXoVmbSLq3rJ8vDtcNUwmzWEtlcIBs/s640/IMG_9629.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natchez Trace Map</td></tr>
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The National Park Service manages the 444-mile Parkway, so to me it seems like a very long, but narrow National Park. The landscape encompasses historical markers, trails, campgrounds, and bodies of water. You’ll find no billboards, trucks, hotels or gas stations on the two-lane road - how nice. The speed limit remains at 55 mph, making it feel like a Sunday drive on a rural country road.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwTIBQTRKHLmeXqXV4ttANLOS5SlYYccaerwaEwYqU-XgM453OepfwWcCaQhaud2ClNkxpJ2_HpSj4uJ_SEzv0H-rR8Zy_vtasSdzKMDeWhCjgDDuunyOmKkaq9Sg-_qS9Te3KhwRQUE/s1600/IMG_9767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1600" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwTIBQTRKHLmeXqXV4ttANLOS5SlYYccaerwaEwYqU-XgM453OepfwWcCaQhaud2ClNkxpJ2_HpSj4uJ_SEzv0H-rR8Zy_vtasSdzKMDeWhCjgDDuunyOmKkaq9Sg-_qS9Te3KhwRQUE/s640/IMG_9767.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving along the beautiful Natchez Trace</td></tr>
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If you don't know about the fascinating history of the Natchez Trace, please read our previous post here: <a href="http://goodgirlsinthebadlands.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-natchez-trace-following-historys.html">Following History's Tracks</a> http://goodgirlsinthebadlands.blogspot.com/2019/12/the-natchez-trace-following-historys.html<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MmUNr6s6BuK5D0qOGWjpQUDO8udbC3NJcwuPwT1BMXw4fsjj0QDEsZq0d58EhRe8NeELJvqXFi8e6qJHZEmWFK1ZVe9VRMnFmUl7zWYpNqQeLJkzdF0saYwUykfDLNWvVuTb_ngM3zM/s1600/Car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MmUNr6s6BuK5D0qOGWjpQUDO8udbC3NJcwuPwT1BMXw4fsjj0QDEsZq0d58EhRe8NeELJvqXFi8e6qJHZEmWFK1ZVe9VRMnFmUl7zWYpNqQeLJkzdF0saYwUykfDLNWvVuTb_ngM3zM/s400/Car.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The high embankments and poor roads along the old Trace. </td></tr>
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<b>Parkway Headquarters in Tupelo</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natchez Trace Visitor Center</td></tr>
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After our stay in Tupelo, we headed to the <a href="https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/natchez-trace-mississippi/tupelo-ms/139-tupelo-visitors-center.html">Parkway Headquarters</a> looking forward to watching the introductory film at the Visitor Center. However, a group of predominately dulcimer players had gathered for a brief concert, so the ranger set up the movie on a small TV near the exhibits. As always, the National Park Service does a good job with their presentations, this one, of course, explores the trail’s past. We highly recommend the stop.<br />
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The official Trace map (available at the center or online) denotes numerous historical markers, all designed as areas for drivers to pull off and park. We found it humorous that everything marked on the map's right was actually on the left hand side, and vice versa. We stopped frequently to read the signage and occasionally found something interesting enough to get us out of the car. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6WCZd6qm6xz80f8Hi0AUz54L36aOJAk31vz66kWAy4TUAXXepDC1Oo-C1MEYDuXxKH6gvz5RHC5T-8WZzXZknOUoROL_Uu25Mu-nCwbq5-vmAm0ope6kFVvsGS04OcF0t_PpfpBjjCg/s1600/Screenshot+2020-03-19+14.59.38.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1157" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6WCZd6qm6xz80f8Hi0AUz54L36aOJAk31vz66kWAy4TUAXXepDC1Oo-C1MEYDuXxKH6gvz5RHC5T-8WZzXZknOUoROL_Uu25Mu-nCwbq5-vmAm0ope6kFVvsGS04OcF0t_PpfpBjjCg/s400/Screenshot+2020-03-19+14.59.38.png" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natchez Trace Parkway Map</td></tr>
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For example, at the <a href="https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/natchez-trace-mississippi/tupelo-ms/141-chickasaw-village-site.html">Chickasaw Village site</a>, homeland to the tribe, we looked at artist renderings of a fort and walked a short interpretive trail. Plans to reconstruct the fort and village have not reached fruition, but would make a wonderful added attraction. The tribe was one of many forced to relocate to Oklahoma in the 1800s.<br />
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At another marker, we took a five minute walk to reach old <a href="https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/natchez-trace-mississippi/tupelo-ms/138-confederate-gravesites.html">Confederate graves</a> with stone markers. We discovered a group of motorcyclists putting flags on the gravesites.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZSXwILGRpCv1DH68PjI-mS9xb2ItA98vlIg9XDJP2xO3rKT2-mWTBNJql4qvptJWtRgw2Wik56-3pfKYauRocy6aldNwS8uzf5z_JkeLIGZRWBaOGBqBeT7hDw7nM3WWXD6Qrrncuyg/s1600/IMG_9660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZSXwILGRpCv1DH68PjI-mS9xb2ItA98vlIg9XDJP2xO3rKT2-mWTBNJql4qvptJWtRgw2Wik56-3pfKYauRocy6aldNwS8uzf5z_JkeLIGZRWBaOGBqBeT7hDw7nM3WWXD6Qrrncuyg/s320/IMG_9660.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Curious, we read some intriguing tales about the <a href="https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ms-witchdance/">Witch Dance stop</a>, so pulled in. Legend claims the bare, scorched patches in the grasses were caused by the dances of witches. We didn’t see any, so did our own dance. Ghosthunters may wish to investigate for paranormal activity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZA-XEnPk6TR3uug5D1R8326K94rXXcqwAzwO54XIngxCeCFXoPBHBbYjtxA_zgiSaYbgB9KvoGEUfWzFCRdj0Xma9UoEwDAi_ZFAF4KjG3TLVYqk-Ojupd3pmcVw4gbDaXHLInDV-C8/s1600/IMG_9693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZA-XEnPk6TR3uug5D1R8326K94rXXcqwAzwO54XIngxCeCFXoPBHBbYjtxA_zgiSaYbgB9KvoGEUfWzFCRdj0Xma9UoEwDAi_ZFAF4KjG3TLVYqk-Ojupd3pmcVw4gbDaXHLInDV-C8/s400/IMG_9693.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Witch Dance Sign, typical signage found along the Natchez Trace. </td></tr>
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We walked along the remains of the Old Trace in several places.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlie1I-_aZKZzeeKqpppJwj1TkkU6TbWG1hZeKon0vqKj9TOT6iISA_3uMaOGhI-ASqxHCF65KLeYm2rPcR4BQiwJ7nPl8Oye2dO-bBw_vRsQC-9Ov27oZIdEGzZkJryui1OgLIzE1X5I/s1600/IMG_9704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlie1I-_aZKZzeeKqpppJwj1TkkU6TbWG1hZeKon0vqKj9TOT6iISA_3uMaOGhI-ASqxHCF65KLeYm2rPcR4BQiwJ7nPl8Oye2dO-bBw_vRsQC-9Ov27oZIdEGzZkJryui1OgLIzE1X5I/s400/IMG_9704.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Walk along the Old Natchez Trace Path. </td></tr>
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The<a href="https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/natchez-trace-mississippi/french-camp-ms/159-french-camp.html"> French Camp settlement </a>dates back to 1810, when Louis LeFleur and his Choctaw wife opened a tavern and inn on the property. LeFleur’s son would go onto become a Choctaw chief and Mississippi State Senator. We wanted to tour the historic buildings including the Colonel James Drane House, the LeFlore Carriage House, Black Smith Shop, and report on the four-room Bed and Breakfast, but everything was closed. Would make a marvelous overnight stop, however, if you planned ahead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6nnd-doOY1NKP8BldbQOfBR1Zv4lIrX4s3APhTo6suOwHJI-KGB_CmcqSJClwrpW8aCzREM3LA_Uy1ynt2I5tll98JLEMCP2-p50j6DfxdhYKFsTyaqtn-dr9RGgzzcRLJy_N_Jr94w/s1600/IMG_9710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6nnd-doOY1NKP8BldbQOfBR1Zv4lIrX4s3APhTo6suOwHJI-KGB_CmcqSJClwrpW8aCzREM3LA_Uy1ynt2I5tll98JLEMCP2-p50j6DfxdhYKFsTyaqtn-dr9RGgzzcRLJy_N_Jr94w/s640/IMG_9710.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French Camp - might be open for lunch. </td></tr>
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The name Kosciusz, Mississippi (Kahz-Choos-ko) intriguied us, so we stopped at <a href="https://www.natcheztracetravel.com/natchez-trace-mississippi/kosciusko-ms/163-kosciusko-information-center.html">Kosciusz Information Center </a> that included a small museum about the Polish General. According to the sign, his military genius and engineering played a vital role in the success of our Revolutionary War. Restrooms are available here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp383X7GGgFZbc0SVFzX-bxhW_r8bQh1U6Zhpi8_doT0WifYfgPJSFMGA_b0K0s3LLFctwUO38Bnj4ZdpBtKgNt8CK6dASVZSh-8wiBc05zhF8aXKSFD5ZgUGC5tgb5iVd0WwFHQyAttk/s1600/IMG_9764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="865" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp383X7GGgFZbc0SVFzX-bxhW_r8bQh1U6Zhpi8_doT0WifYfgPJSFMGA_b0K0s3LLFctwUO38Bnj4ZdpBtKgNt8CK6dASVZSh-8wiBc05zhF8aXKSFD5ZgUGC5tgb5iVd0WwFHQyAttk/s400/IMG_9764.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General Tadeusz Kosciusz</td></tr>
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Pretty soon, we saw the exit for Jackson, we took it. We would return to the Parkway the next day. </div>
Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com1Natchez Trace Pkwy, United States33.7668642 -89.018751127.0185707 -99.3458996 40.5151577 -78.69160260000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-2401224473197308902020-02-25T07:01:00.000-08:002020-02-25T07:01:14.583-08:00The Evolution of Elvis in Tupelo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Having seen the rise, demise and living legend of the King in Memphis, we headed Southeast to Tupelo, Mississippi, to experience the birthplace and early life of young Elvis.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRiQ_LaVEu6rttekyfEX1shrxzwNZz0KDnZqV3nI1m8aXDSf2ABWXBuaiIciaRRlTQAvtGqTgbOGw74ZX7ELk6LG90417u6v-4w31YLAUgebvLphcBZelmKcIOWOEECH1rvHpQ5o4Lxy8/s1600/Tupelo_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRiQ_LaVEu6rttekyfEX1shrxzwNZz0KDnZqV3nI1m8aXDSf2ABWXBuaiIciaRRlTQAvtGqTgbOGw74ZX7ELk6LG90417u6v-4w31YLAUgebvLphcBZelmKcIOWOEECH1rvHpQ5o4Lxy8/s640/Tupelo_.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A welcoming greeting in Tupelo. </td></tr>
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Our first stop was Elvis's favorite first stop after school, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/American-Restaurant/Johnnies-Drive-In-111693972228736/"><b>Johnnie's Drive-In</b></a>. We arrived before noon but already the booths were filling up.<br />
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A group of female fans had taken over the "Elvis booth," and even as we were leaving after lunch showed no sign of relinquishing it.<br />
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We slid into another one and ordered a Doughburger, the poor Southerner's answer to more mouths than meat to feed them. I had never tried one and Johnnie's is one of the few spots left serving the fried mix of flour and hamburger meat. Let's just say I should have followed Elvis's example and ordered a regular cheeseburger and an RC Cola.<br />
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It was easy to picture him as a grade schooler sitting in that booth by the wall reading a Captain Marvel Jr. comic book.<br />
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There are those who say that the inspiration for the lightning bolt, hairstyle and capes Elvis favored came from that poor young cripple who could turn into the world's strongest boy. There is an equal number who say otherwise, but it is heartwarming to imagine a poor little boy with limited prospects finding inspiration and hope in a comic book character with whom he could identify.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtw2OGMbcZ3_mqTPvy_NIEYPSAehAHwTgW6LVm8etekDNaBEmaoSR2YlzhVOlS5OYCgufB-EEv5zxBeH3W2sPevINZUKlM6dGOzlmsKGgX9Zy124lWz1IsuoDcprUV2EX8QQEW9QwuUabt/s1600/Elvis+comics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1218" data-original-width="1600" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtw2OGMbcZ3_mqTPvy_NIEYPSAehAHwTgW6LVm8etekDNaBEmaoSR2YlzhVOlS5OYCgufB-EEv5zxBeH3W2sPevINZUKlM6dGOzlmsKGgX9Zy124lWz1IsuoDcprUV2EX8QQEW9QwuUabt/s400/Elvis+comics.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tupelo Visitors Center<br />
(photo courtesy of Visit Tupelo)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJff8jmrfHoQt65-ZRmvcH4jtHzbt6KqAriH6boR1dTyVQ4yNYw3X4iAeaoCPvtBHU7_EbmQIxOHVrGs0HxUJQRfTqt48-85SnR0i6DaIhtjXe5n13_fuuZO35BIezPrrS8j3STEIOXZK/s1600/Elvis%2527+Birthplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJff8jmrfHoQt65-ZRmvcH4jtHzbt6KqAriH6boR1dTyVQ4yNYw3X4iAeaoCPvtBHU7_EbmQIxOHVrGs0HxUJQRfTqt48-85SnR0i6DaIhtjXe5n13_fuuZO35BIezPrrS8j3STEIOXZK/s640/Elvis%2527+Birthplace.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elvis was born here. </td></tr>
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To see just how limited those opportunities appeared, we drove to where his first home and first church have been moved: <a href="https://elvispresleybirthplace.com/">the Elvis Presley Birthplace Park</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1W5BYzX0nEZxUi2oCBaXTDTl4Ot2yIvnw2tADCfA9XNjYO2ifjOPPH_2Ce5Z14WYyULY8AGffndqXyNazxXYMyXTy2SwoXjauVTHq4VuD9eFH6jaIKk9NKRJU1V8_deuaQj9JMlCHDTBb/s1600/IMG_2098.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="1296" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1W5BYzX0nEZxUi2oCBaXTDTl4Ot2yIvnw2tADCfA9XNjYO2ifjOPPH_2Ce5Z14WYyULY8AGffndqXyNazxXYMyXTy2SwoXjauVTHq4VuD9eFH6jaIKk9NKRJU1V8_deuaQj9JMlCHDTBb/s400/IMG_2098.jpeg" width="341" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Elvis at 13" in the Elvis Presley Birthplace Park.</td></tr>
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The <a href="https://elvispresleybirthplace.com/">Elvis Presley Birthplace</a> memorial complex with visitors' center and museum sets both amid lovely trees and landscaping, but the two-room shotgun house must have been bleak in its original location. Vernon Presley borrowed $185 from his employer for the materials, but was unable to keep up the payments and the family had to move two years after moving in. <br />
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On the hill behind the memorial center is an impressive tribute to the boy who had ambitions and the man who realized them.<br />
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Elvis made his first public appearance at the age of 10 in the Mississippi-Alabama Fair Dairy Show. He sang the Red Foley ballad "Old Shep" and won 5th place. <br />
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For his 11th birthday Elvis wanted to spend the money he had earned doing errands and chores for people on a .22-caliber rifle or a bicycle he saw in the window when his mother Gladys took him down to <a href="http://tupelohardware.com/"><b>Tupelo Hardware</b></a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKdMuSuKI0MX-9QF1XmmE3q18DKxNivNoqp9q5xu7nYrs4z9OygQOnTGSkfblTggR71rNn4oJXtuI3q2B53_RMzPhqrWC_M7Lg9_4SQHH6dezmdR7HPvb-Pa5hw2gAuPgzUfPWx1bxR-U/s1600/P1190752.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="1600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKdMuSuKI0MX-9QF1XmmE3q18DKxNivNoqp9q5xu7nYrs4z9OygQOnTGSkfblTggR71rNn4oJXtuI3q2B53_RMzPhqrWC_M7Lg9_4SQHH6dezmdR7HPvb-Pa5hw2gAuPgzUfPWx1bxR-U/s400/P1190752.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tupelo Hardware</td></tr>
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A prominent three-story building on downtown's Main Street, it had everything a mechanic, farmer, handyman, housewife or even an 11-year-old could want. The clerk, Forrest Bobo, knew that Gladys hated guns and the bicycle was pricey, so he handed Elvis a guitar. "How about this?" he asked, pulling up a wooden box behind the showcase and letting Elvis play with it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJtzLcNDUWHxLFYPGfpeCLLrS7Gruvw_1_-kZ67W-I7zRgrf5Bq2kXA03xDPTtqlzwKlKfuMCfmhrm0vVzMv9ONN7i8MoAS5GE2CDoUNFWO7gCToNgDBlwvrFeJcP4bHTrmsIL9AFsvB3/s1600/IMG_2119.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="1600" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJtzLcNDUWHxLFYPGfpeCLLrS7Gruvw_1_-kZ67W-I7zRgrf5Bq2kXA03xDPTtqlzwKlKfuMCfmhrm0vVzMv9ONN7i8MoAS5GE2CDoUNFWO7gCToNgDBlwvrFeJcP4bHTrmsIL9AFsvB3/s640/IMG_2119.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tupelo Hardware still has an array of guitars.</td></tr>
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Elvis didn't have enough money for the guitar or the rifle, but Gladys said if he chose the guitar she would pay the difference. No one's fool, Elvis looked at Gladys and said, "That's alright, Momma," and left with the guitar.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq1YcjV6aL8lSQ3AwgwlEffQH23fdF6DOPPJ-p383xQJL6laUYKw3sw2aGbn3TT-bXXo2P0zC68SLuSl1yyxfKSpCsweDvaUtddUDtiF_PCkZ5gVQNq8Xwa_SzWr92AGGFDj0-RZibnCj/s1600/P1190754.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1206" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvq1YcjV6aL8lSQ3AwgwlEffQH23fdF6DOPPJ-p383xQJL6laUYKw3sw2aGbn3TT-bXXo2P0zC68SLuSl1yyxfKSpCsweDvaUtddUDtiF_PCkZ5gVQNq8Xwa_SzWr92AGGFDj0-RZibnCj/s400/P1190754.jpeg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prints and pictures of Elvis and, like this one, "The Magic Moment," are hung on shelves filled with more typical hardware fare. </td></tr>
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It was a beginner model Kay and cost $7.75 plus 2 % tax. Much later, <b>Joe Perry</b> of<b> Aerosmith</b> bought a guitar here, too, as have other admirers of the entertainer 11-year-old Elvis became.<br />
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One can do Elvis all day long in Tupelo from murals<br />
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to delightful painted six-foot tall guitars all over town.<br />
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We were particularly fond of a meadery and several restaurants.<br />
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Our first night we found, finally, the much recommended <a href="http://bluecanoebar.com/"><b>Blue Canoe</b></a>. It does not disappoint either. Picture a corrugated structure adorned inside with neon and painted signs with a bandstand at one end for nightly live music, a bar at the other. Casual and fun, its food is Southern with an exclamation point.<br />
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My Pork and Greens entree arrived looking as good as it tasted: pulled pork and collard greens atop silky cheese grits with a red vinegar sauce and cornbread. Heaven. Debi was equally pleased with hers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkdIPrJ7HSCuHM-R0g_J2So8FbVIc4BVgh0SvsQIbsOvX2jtyP_-QJeQFPxlhQUssbIEI30YQa0y-LLcX8dBRfWX6ICtFKDUOfycFtvWZRwJn3rZ0qCnBQ4xOB9nZKU_f1uuTy2O1HdHt/s1600/BBQ-and-Greens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1296" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXkdIPrJ7HSCuHM-R0g_J2So8FbVIc4BVgh0SvsQIbsOvX2jtyP_-QJeQFPxlhQUssbIEI30YQa0y-LLcX8dBRfWX6ICtFKDUOfycFtvWZRwJn3rZ0qCnBQ4xOB9nZKU_f1uuTy2O1HdHt/s400/BBQ-and-Greens.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pork and Greens</td></tr>
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Dessert. Connie's Blueberry Doughnut Bread Pudding, which we shared, was a knockout, too.<br />
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To be honest, we weren't sure we wanted to go to the first meadery in Mississippi, but we quickly decided we did once inside and talking to owner of <a href="http://queensreward.com/">Queen's Reward</a> <b>Jeri Carter. </b><br />
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It is easy to see why this has become a popular spot in town. A combination of a savvy entrepreneur and the consummate Southern hostess, Jeri makes everyone feel welcome.<br />
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In addition to the array of small-batch, well balanced mead to be tasted by adults,visitors are encouraged to bring picnics, pets and kids to relax and play games outside on the expansive grounds. On weekends, food trucks and music might be added.<br />
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We capped our final evening at <b><a href="http://forkliftrestaurant.com/">Forklift Restaurant</a></b>, a popular upscale neighborhood eatery. A nice piece of salmon and veggies was just the thing.</div>
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We were in for an unexpected treat our last morning in Tupelo. Our hostess, <b>Jennie Bradford Curlee</b>, of the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau, insisted we could not go without brunch at <b><a href="http://kingchickentupelo.com/">King Chicken Fillin' Station</a></b>. </div>
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We arrived early. As we looked around, we did not hold out much hope of a fine meal as it was, in fact, a filling station, gas pumps and all, plus an Elvis theme. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mural at the Filling Station</td></tr>
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Inside it was basic brightened by painted ceiling tiles starring chickens, </div>
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Tupelo</div>
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and Elvis.</div>
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The brunch menu consisted of the darnedest concoctions we had ever encountered with fried chicken, eggs and biscuits as the basis for most. With some trepidation, I ordered <b>Love Me Tender</b>: an open-faced honey butter biscuit, fried chicken, smoked bacon, sausage gravy, white cheddar cheese and fried egg. Debi chose <b>A Hot Mess</b>: open-faced honey butter biscuit, sausage, smoked bacon, fried egg, peppers and onions, sausage gravy, roasted jalapeno hot sauce, white cheddar cheese. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Hot Mess</td></tr>
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The verdict: delicious. </div>
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All Elvis fans and those driving the Natchez Trace Parkway should consider an overnight stop in Tupelo. </div>
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Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com1306 Elvis Presley Dr, Tupelo, MS 38801, USA34.2599605 -88.67996488.7379259999999981 -129.9885588 59.781994999999995 -47.371370799999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-5480194936158873092020-02-10T09:12:00.002-08:002020-02-13T09:46:48.712-08:00Peabody Morning: Marching Ducks, High Tea and Memories of Young Elvis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Never turn down an opportunity to spend a morning in Memphis at the venerable <a href="http://peabodyhotel.com/"><b>Peabody Hote</b>l.</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Good Girls survey the scenery from atop the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Where else can you watch ducks march from the lobby elevator to a fountain, take a tour of the hotel with the elegantly attired Duckmaster, meet the son of Elvis' tailor and enjoy a delicious high tea surrounded by elegance in Chez Philippe, the world's only French Restaurant that has never served duck?<br />
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The VIP feeling begins immediately when you walk through the door. Adults take seats at tables in the lobby, while youngsters stay busy talking to the Duckmaster and checking out the “duck pond” where the ducks soon would head.<br />
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Dubbed the "South's Grand Hotel," the first Peabody opened in 1869 closing 54 years later. It reopened as a larger, better version in 1925, at its current downtown location.<br />
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In the 1930s, the Peabody held one of three locations where CBS radio broadcast live shows, attracting top bands like Tommy Dorsey, Paul Whiteman, Harry James and Les Brown. Between 1945 and 1950, one such program was hosted by young Sam Phillips who later launched Sun Records and the career of Elvis Presley. Elvis connections appear all over Memphis.<br />
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The ducks arrived in the 1930s, too. Turtles and young alligators previously had appeared in the fountain, but their tenure was always short. Then, one afternoon in 1933, General Manager <b>Frank Schutt </b>and his pal <b>Chip Barwick</b> returned late from a duck hunting trip in Arkansas. They planned to keep temperatures and spirits high with liberal doses of Tennessee sipping whiskey. In those days, live ducks were used as decoys, so they deposited three small English Call ducks in the lobby fountain.<br />
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When morning arrived, the ducks were still happily paddling around, delighting guests and staff. The 85-year tradition of Peabody ducks had begun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukHSD3cY1IQL6dZiQzIFMQTFrXrv_I-XlK-ZqP0090PRH4FOR4_rveO45Y9bfXuilyQmlHEKn8dpdf3lElTJqSIZZqibWPXc1z7MsXsa1V8MAjDj5kvJVCLJBGdGaf_FYIXWJDRONN2lL/s1600/P1190602.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1409" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukHSD3cY1IQL6dZiQzIFMQTFrXrv_I-XlK-ZqP0090PRH4FOR4_rveO45Y9bfXuilyQmlHEKn8dpdf3lElTJqSIZZqibWPXc1z7MsXsa1V8MAjDj5kvJVCLJBGdGaf_FYIXWJDRONN2lL/s400/P1190602.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original Duckmaster Edward Pembroke.</td></tr>
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In 1940, Bellman <b>Edward Pembroke</b>, a former circus animal trainer, volunteered to bring the ducks to the fountain each day. He soon had them trained to march in line, enhancing the tradition. Pembroke became the first official Duckmaster and performed the morning and afternoon ritual until his retirement in 1991.<br />
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On the morning of our visit, three female and one male mallard performed perfectly, clearly eager for their daily swim. As the lobby emptied, Duckmaster <b>Kenon</b>, in training to be the seventh to hold that title, began the daily hotel tour.<br />
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We learned that the '60s and '70s were not kind to the Peabody and in 1975 it was put up for sale on the courthouse steps. Belz Enterprises stepped in, bought and saved the venerable hostelry, spending $25 million to restore and remodel the Peabody<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> </a>to even greater glory, ducks and all.<br />
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After admiring the ceilings and chandeliers, we were led to<a href="http://lanskybros.com/"> <b>Lansky Bros</b></a>, "Clothiers to the King," who moved their famed store into the new Peabody.<br />
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Kenon introduced us to <b>Hal</b>, son of<b> Bernard Lansky </b>who befriended young Presley and encouraged him to visit the store any time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenon shows off one of his favorite Elvis jackets, the style he wore for his wedding with a special lining for today's buyers. The checked jacket behind him is like the one Bernard Lansky fitted on Elvis for his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.</td></tr>
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When Presley was booked onto the Ed Sullivan show in Sept. 9, 1956, he came to Lansky with a problem: he needed something nice to wear but didn't have any money. Bernard fitted him out on credit. Ever loyal, Elvis came to Lansky for clothes from then on, sporting the pink and black outfits Lansky developed for him to his wedding tux.<br />
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Hal encouraged us to try on a few things, not that we needed any encouragement.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJrg_PUsIJr-vaSUiWYNG8_F8H8mpLJhBRl92-iivVGfcW7RxpNe1rSFikWJ1gjs4-Ab9P0agYIuQwoVosqv0PIKftq5MfNAiGuZpMtsFAxtlhL2e9-A0s2NsH0uVaZvi_nBoa4qi8nSZ/s1600/afcd9a459d6f4f8ace805379446a2a4b2f837ba39e7c8dca7e1f870b887234c6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="384" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJrg_PUsIJr-vaSUiWYNG8_F8H8mpLJhBRl92-iivVGfcW7RxpNe1rSFikWJ1gjs4-Ab9P0agYIuQwoVosqv0PIKftq5MfNAiGuZpMtsFAxtlhL2e9-A0s2NsH0uVaZvi_nBoa4qi8nSZ/s640/afcd9a459d6f4f8ace805379446a2a4b2f837ba39e7c8dca7e1f870b887234c6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Debi went for sparkle with the gold sequined jacket while Judy opted for a slightly less flashy model.</td></tr>
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Other performers relied on Lansky, too, including B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis.<br />
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So can you; a jacket like the one Elvis wore for his wedding with a special lining will set you back $295, a bottle of his cologne $60.<br />
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With Elvis fresh on our mind, we toured upstairs, seeing the photo documenting the signing of Elvis' first recording contract with RCA,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKYWSXWphXVqwjvshvNPofjn_VVpHKkuQinEKBgsqDm7yBKeFFx79zYOWfdHN0iN2frb-MKaP-FRrAGy26jZl-YKOidRTfxI49B-3dn2cg52_w2kpbCmuY0fO82xVfuz1QGg-JCtnzyD-/s1600/IMG_1824.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1340" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKYWSXWphXVqwjvshvNPofjn_VVpHKkuQinEKBgsqDm7yBKeFFx79zYOWfdHN0iN2frb-MKaP-FRrAGy26jZl-YKOidRTfxI49B-3dn2cg52_w2kpbCmuY0fO82xVfuz1QGg-JCtnzyD-/s400/IMG_1824.jpeg" width="333" /></a><br />
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the note ordering no dead ducks at the Peabody<br />
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and the square grand piano built expressly for <b>Francis Scott Key</b>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Duck Palace</td></tr>
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Then it was up to the roof to check out the views and the $200,000 Duck Palace.<br />
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By this time, we had worked up an appetite and were ready for a bit of high tea pampering at Chez Philippe. Elegant is the word for this hushed space, a sigh of refinement in an otherwise bustling world beyond the tables set with Petite Fleur china.<br />
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We started with Champagne, then selected from among seven teas and savored our environment. In perfectly timed succession we were served our beverages,<br />
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a two-tiered arrangement of savories,<br />
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a basket of hot blueberry scones<br />
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and a a three-tiered array of sweets. <br />
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Delicious, but too much to eat. We left with a box of goodies hoping the maid at the hotel would find them as delicious as we did. Most of all, we left feeling like we were somebody at the Peabody.<br />
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Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0118 S 2nd St, Memphis, TN 38103, USA35.1425272 -90.05228620000002634.726961700000004 -90.69773320000003 35.5580927 -89.406839200000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-76540803325404098222020-01-08T06:49:00.000-08:002020-01-08T06:49:08.993-08:00Elvis on our mindThe highway to Memphis was an easy drive, lightened by funny signs over the roadway. Our faves:<br />
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"100 is the temperature not the speed limit" and "What's holding you up? Buckle your seat belt."<br />
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<b>Elvis Aron Presley</b> fascinates even those who did not care much for his music, possibly because his is a classic "poor boy makes good" story. He was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, on January 8, 1935, in a two-room house built by his dirt poor father, grandfather and uncle. Young Elvis dreamed of becoming a legend like his comic book hero, Captain Marvel. Getting a guitar instead of the bike or gun he wanted, was step one. Becoming a fan of Black gospel and blues music was step two.<br />
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Step three came when the family moved to Memphis in search of better work. Elvis found not only a high school graduation and work as a truck driver, he found an outlet for his music, cutting a demo record at his own expense, performing on the country circuit and recording at Sun Records. Cue the Thunderbolt, hair style and cape of Captain Marvel as Elvis signed with RCA in 1957. The rest is show biz history and just as Elvis dreamed, legend.<br />
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We checked into <a href="http://guesthousegraceland.com/"><b>The Guest House at Graceland</b></a>
and quickly caught a shuttle over to the Visitors Center. Our plan was
to pick up our prearranged tickets and see Graceland then go into
Memphis for dinner and to see the city at night. We would start the
morning in Memphis then return to do the Elvis Exhibitions, cars,
motorcycles and planes.<br />
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So much for plans. Our tickets were not there, so while the clerk did some checking, we did some retail therapy in the large shop. Finally, we were told our tickets would be there the next morning, upgraded to VIP for the snafu. Okay then, disappointed but undaunted, we would have an adult beverage in the Jungle Room Bar, catch a shuttle back, spiff up a bit and head downtown. Sorry, said the clerk, they changed the hours; it closed at 4. It was now 5:45, the last shuttle left at 6.<br />
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Hot and truly frustrated, we went back to the hotel and sought out an adult beverage in the lounge. It was packed and they had run out of proper glasses for what we finally managed to order. Put it in anything you have, the exhausted Good Girls replied, knowing we would not be making it to downtown Memphis. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirrors overhead.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This did give us an opportunity to enjoy the lovely 450-room hotel adjacent to Graceland and have a leisurely evening, a rarity on our normal hectic schedule.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby chairs inspired by Elvis' capes.</td></tr>
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We listened to the good cover band in the lobby then headed to our room, loving the tasteful and often subtle Elvis homages.<br />
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We turned on the TV and "chose our Elvis," '50s. '60s or '70s.<br />
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Sadly missing was my favorite, the landmark return TV special, a handsome, black leather clad Elvis singing at his peak in an intimate, in-the-round setting.<br />
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Our own Elvis homage began the next afternoon, cramming a full day into a half-day. We started with Graceland, shuttling over from the Visitors Center and jumping the line in true VIP style. We had been loaned an I-pad and headset for an inform-yourself tour narrated by John Stamos and Lisa Marie Presley, but I found the wires made taking notes impossible and photos difficult and abandoned it, preferring to soak up the atmosphere unencumbered. <br />
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I was impressed with the house and its grounds. Not grand by today's standards and very livable, it was a poor boy made good's gracious home for his beloved mother.<br />
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The living,<br />
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dining room<br />
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and kitchen are perfect for family gatherings. Visitors don't see the upstairs bedrooms, but we did see his parents' bedroom and that fun loving boy's toys:<br />
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the ridiculously dark Jungle Room,<br />
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his pool room <br />
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and music room with its three TVs (just like President Johnson's).<br />
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Outside,<br />
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you continue on to his father Vernon's office filled with fans' portraits of Elvis, racquetball court, gym,<br />
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gun range, trophy room, swimming pool,<br />
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paddocks, pastures and barn for horses.<br />
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Sometimes the visitors are part of the story.<br />
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A large display area of family memorabilia, from report cards and decorators' bills to wedding attire and nursery furnishings further endeared the late performer to us.<br />
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Seeing the family burial plot beyond the pool was particularly moving, cementing the overall impression.<br />
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This was not a showplace, it was home.<br />
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The glitz, glamor and excess are shown off in The Presley Motors Automobile Museum, The Entertainer Career Museum and Elvis Discovery Exhibits.<br />
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It is, in a word, overwhelming. You could spend hours looking at cars alone including<br />
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the pink Cadillac he gave his mother, who never had a driver's license, the year after its purchase,<br />
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the 1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III that has been owned by Michael London and Charlie Rich since Elvis traded it in<br />
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and the 1973 Stutz Blackhawk he was driving the last time he arrived at Graceland.<br />
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One room is of metal racks filled with the minutia of an incredibly full life.<br />
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The costumes Elvis wore on stage, displayed in chronological order, are dominated by clinging jumpsuits, bejeweled belts, matching shoes and sweeping capes.<br />
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They did not forget his Army days - uniform and luggage - or the
influence Elvis had on other performers who adopted elements of his
style.<br />
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Transitioning through a narrow room with walls of gold and platinum records, awards, firsts and achievements, is mind-blowing.<br />
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So much achieved in such a short life.<br />
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All the while you are silently or quietly singing along to the recorded songs that underscored much of our lives. It isn't a castle but it is definitely a royal tribute to the King.<br />
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It is also exhausting. These are not small spaces and two tired, footsore Good Girls who were on visual overload skipped the two planes to catch the last shuttle back to the Guest House. Memphis at night would have to wait for another time.<br />
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Instead we fought even larger crowds for an adult beverage in the wrong glasses and pondered what to do next. The concierges are supremely helpful and told us about <a href="http://marlowesmemphis.com/"><b>Marlowe's Ribs & Restaurant</b></a> 15 miles farther down Elvis Presley Boulevard.<br />
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They would pick us up in a pink Cadillac limo and bring us back after dinner. With feet so sore we didn't even want to walk out to our car in the parking lot, that sounded perfect.<br />
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It was. Casual, funky with a lively bar, good local beer and decent barbecue plus an Elvis homage or three, we left re-energized. Perhaps we might even manage to stay up for the much heralded nightly peanut butter sandwiches served at the Guest House.<br />
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It wasn't hard.The lobby was full, everyone enjoying the older, very talented piano player who sounded so much like Elvis he might have been an impersonator in his salad days. He was a consummate entertainer and eventually had all up dancing to the infectious songs of Elvis and his contemporaries.<br />
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When his sets finished, the peanut butter sandwiches and hot chocolate were brought out. We weren't hungry and the sandwiches weren't anything to write home about, but it brought a satisfying conclusion to our Elvis immersion.<br />
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We had resisted the ultimate immersive souvenir, a glittering gold lame suit, only $2,900.<br />
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<br />Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-10711119622618478422019-12-16T07:00:00.001-08:002020-10-04T06:55:49.799-07:00The Natchez Trace: Following History's Tracks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Little did we know about the Natchez Trace when we decided to drive it. You hear the name, Natchez Trace, and it sounds historic and interesting, but what exactly is it?<br />
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<b>About the Natchez Trace</b><br />
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Before Europeans discovered the New World, native American tribes like the Chippewa, Choctaw and Natchez traveled along footpaths connecting their territories in the Mississippi Valley. Prior to that, people of the Mississippian Period (1200-1730 C.E., Current Era) used the trails broken through the wilderness by animals like buffalo, wolves and bear.<br />
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As choice land along the East Coast was claimed, settlers moved west and to the south as they explored what is now Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi.<br />
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Trade from these areas and others traveled down the Ohio, Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers south to ports in Natchez and New Orleans. It could be a very profitable venture. Trade is a two-way process, but before the coming of steam, the currents were too strong to return home by river. Boats were sold for their lumber, boatmen either bought horses and goods from their profits to sell in the north or walked the 450 miles from Natchez to Nashville along the series of paths that became known as the Natchez Trace. <br />
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It was a treacherous route. If robbers or Indians didn't plunder and
kill travelers, disease, accidents fording deep tributaries and slogging
through swamps might.<br />
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The Rev. John Johnson wrote from the Trace in
1812, "I have this day swam my horse 5 times, bridged one creek, forded
several others, besides the swamp we had to wade through. At night we
had a shower of rain - took up my usual lodging on the ground in company
with several Indians."<br />
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No surprise that it was known as "the Devil's backbone."<br />
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Boaters weren't the only users of the Trace. More settlers and speculators did business and visited friends along the Trace. Military units of Spain and later the new United States and post riders did, too.<br />
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As traffic along the Trace
increased, some of the paths were beaten down, creating long passages
where the bank was so high travelers could only see what lay immediately ahead. This
gave attackers a decided advantage as they could literally jump down
upon their prey.<br />
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It took about 35 days to traverse the
Trace by foot, 25 days on horseback, assuming all went well. In 1810,
10,000 travelers walked the Trace. Once steamboats began to ply the
rivers in the mid 1820s, the Trace became obsolete. By the Civil War, it was all but forgotten though some skirmishes and battles were fought in the vicinity.<br />
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Prodded by local historians and women's groups, in
1938 the Natchez Trace Parkway became a unit of the National Park
System to commemorate the historic route. The Natchez Trace Scenic Trail
joined the parkway under the National Park System and the National
Trail system, too. Both parallel the original as closely as possible.<br />
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<b>We start the Trace</b><br />
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The Good Girls' plan was to leave Nashville and catch the beginning of the Trace to see the Double Arch Bridge, veer over to Memphis then go to Tupelo, return to the Trace Parkway and follow it to its end just north of Natchez.<br />
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After finding ourselves in a "Seinfeld" rerun - the car we reserved
at Thrifty was no longer available at the Nashville airport - the Good Girls hit the road. Watching the morning traffic
inching into Nashville, even slower than it moves in Atlanta, we were
glad to be going in the opposite direction.<br />
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The Double Arch bridge is a lovely thing, impressive in its simplicity, but, suckers for home
cooking that we are, was soon supplanted by the discovery of <a href="https://www.lovelesscafe.com/"><b>Loveless Cafe</b></a>. I had read that any trip on the Trace should begin or end at Loveless, but assumed that was merely tourist board hyperbole.<br />
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Fortunately our stomachs were growling and we decided to detour a mile or so and try it for an early lunch.<br />
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The
complex of shops and motel surrounding the deceptively small cafe spoke
to its popularity and the friendly bustle of waitresses around full
tables boded well. Biscuits are king here so we each ordered one with
barbecue.<br />
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Then a plate of four with three different flavors of jam and preserves arrived. Delicious.<br />
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Heading
to the restroom I passed a glass window behind which was a young woman
elbow deep in biscuit dough. They make 10,000 a day! Large, fluffy and
heavenly, mounded high with barbecue pork in a sweet sauce, it was
immensely satisfying. Not so much that we didn't split a home made
cobbler, though.<br />
<br />
Satisfied, we left the Trace and headed to Memphis to visit with the memory of Elvis. <br />
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<br />Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-90677086137523998152019-12-03T13:25:00.000-08:002019-12-03T13:25:16.641-08:00A Day in Nashville, A Night at the Grand Ole Opry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The Good Girls planned an ambitious journey, including a drive down the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm">Natchez Trace Parkway </a>along with a side trip to Memphis and Louisiana Plantation Country. We wanted to discover history, taste southern specialties, listen to country music, and soak in the vibe of Mississippi. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign marking the Nashville area entrance to the Natchez Trace Parkway.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We flew to Nashville, Tennessee, for a quick tour of Music City, but also to view the beginning or end of the Natchez Trace depending on the direction you are driving. We were met by fellow travel writer and Nashville native Tom Adkinson, who graciously offered to be our city tour guide. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We arrived in time for lunch at Swett's Restaurant, a soul food cafeteria-style restaurant that serves a bountiful 'meat and three.' I couldn't resist the fried chicken and greens while Judy chose meatloaf. Tom recounted Nashville highlights from his book, "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/100-Things-Nashville-Before-You/dp/168106166X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=BX94E94T9WNW&keywords=100+things+to+do+in+nashville&qid=1573042565&sprefix=100+Thigs+to+do+in+nashville%2Caps%2C324&sr=8-1">One Hundred Things to Do in Nashville</a>," while we ate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">After lunch, Tom drove us downtown and we stopped at the Carl Van Vechten Art Gallery on the Fisk University campus. The school maintains a permanent collection of over 4,000 objects, and we were hoping to see a few of their famed Stieglitz photos. Nope. They were out on loan. Instead, some Gallery Ambassadors led us through the current works. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artwork hanging in the Carl Van Vechten Art Gallery at Fisk University. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">As Nashville grew, the city acquired the nickname "Athens of the South." For Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition, a replica of the Parthenon in Greece was built. Plaster replicas of the Parthenon Marbles found in the pediment are direct casts of the original sculptures dating back to 438 B.C. The structure was so popular, it was later reinforced and remains a must-see when visiting the city. The building also serves as Nashville's art museum. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We were in awe of what folks called the Batman building because its roof resembles the shape of the comic book hero's mask. The 617 ft, a 33-story skyscraper, completed in August 1994, officially carries the unexciting name of the owner, the AT&T Building. No wonder it dominates the skyline, the office building ranks as the tallest building in the state of Tennessee.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sidewalk musician plays on the streets in Nashville. The Batman building hovers in the rear. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We drove onward to Music Row passing the historic Clock Tower, formerly a US Customs House, and the gorgeous Union Station for the railroad. Tom parked at the Omni, which connects to the Country Music Hall of Fame. While we were dying to tour the center, we didn't have time. We browsed the concert signage from <a href="http://hatchshowprint.com/">Hatch Show Print's</a> and made our way to Broadway, the pulsating street lined with Honky Tonks. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signs from Hatch Show Print</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Orchid painted <a href="http://www.tootsies.net/">Tootsies </a>caught our eye as did Legends Corner and Nashville Crossroads. Live music reverberates through the windows out to the sidewalk giving off an exciting feel. Inside, drinks flow no matter what the time. Wannabe musicians get their start performing on these small-stage establishments or on street corners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strolling down Broadway in Nashville. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Tootsies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Honky Tonk Grill in Nashville. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Don't miss the <a href="https://etrecordshop.com/">Ernest Tubb's Record Shop</a>, a music store/museum packed with countless vinyl records, CD's, songbooks, photos and memorabilia from hundreds of artists. Ernest Tubb was a member of the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame and Music City Hall of Fame. He opened his first store in 1947. Loretta Lynn's dress stood out to us, as did an array of her personalized jams and jellies. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loretta Lynn's dress on display in Ernest Tubb's Record Shop. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue of Ernest Tubb at the front of his shop. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Again, we wanted to linger, but we had to pick up our tickets for the <a href="http://www.opry.com/">Grand Ole Opry </a>and get ready for the big night. The Grand Ole Opry is to Nashville as Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes are to New York. Performances start at 7pm and we needed to arrive in time to scope out the place. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Arriving at the Opry</span></b><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The crowd milling around the grounds of the Opry seemed to span all levels of society and included all ages. We stopped by the giant guitar for a selfie, then made out way into the gift shop stocked to the ceiling with tee shirts, jackets, and all things emblazoned with Opry logos. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We decided to treat ourselves to a drink. Two gin and tonics set us back $38. From there on, we measured expenses compared to those two drinks! With cocktails in hand, we made our way to our seats. They turned out to be on benches, resembling the pews in the Ryman Auditorium, the previous hallowed home of the show. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The Grand Ole Opry stage loomed in the front and covered by an immense red curtain. Before the show began, the audience watched a video about the history of the Opry, the <a href="http://www.ryman.com/">Ryman</a> and the flood that severely damaged this new theatre back in May, 2010. We learned that on November 28, 1925, George D. Hay founded a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Back then, the entertainment was called mountain music. Today, it is the longest-running radio broadcast in US history. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Then, the curtain went up, the show began and feet started tapping. The concert is a precise work of timing, a live radio show broadcast as it has been for the past 94 years. </span><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Our entertainment began with the legendary Riders in The Sky, a two-time Grammy-winning, western/comic group that has been performing on the Opry stage for more than 30 years. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Riders in The Sky perform at the Grand Ole Opry. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We then heard from Bill Anderson, Jamie O'Neal, who brought down the house with her rendition of a Patsy Cline song, and Matt Stell. After intermission, we heard Carly Pearce sing her 2017 debut single Every Little Thing." The Po' Ramblin' Boys followed, a bluegrass group making their first appearance (won't be their last), and we finished the night with the star of the TV show </span><i style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman", serif;">Nashville</i><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">, Charles Esten. He certainly is mighty fine looking- - and can sing, too. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carly Pearce singing. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We loved this Bluegrass Band, the Po' Rambling Boys.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Esten</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">We thoroughly enjoyed our day in Nashville and night at the Opry but were ready to return to our hotel and prepare for upcoming adventures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">According to a 2015 USA Today story: The Opry has had six homes in its 90 years. The Opry started out at National Life & Accident Insurance Co. in November 1925, moved to Hillsboro Theatre in October 1934, to Dixie Tabernacle in June 1936, to War Memorial Auditorium in June 1939 and then the <a href="http://www.ryman.com/">Ryman Auditorium</a> in June 1943. It settled in its current Grand Ole Opry House, with seating for more than 4,000, in March 1974. The Opry has resided at The Grand Ole Opry House longer than any previous home, and the building has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Preserving the Ryman's stage<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #1c1e29; font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">When the Grand Ole Opry<i> </i>moved from the historic Ryman Auditorium to the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974, a 6-foot circle of oak was cut from the stage at Ryman and inserted into the new stage at the Grand Ole Opry House. By preserving a piece of the Ryman's stage, generations of country music singers can perform on the wood where the genre's legends, including Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, once stood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-84353939287057189212019-11-20T10:58:00.000-08:002019-11-22T07:39:33.941-08:00Valley Life: Early innovator and unusual tram ride<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabot Yerxa. Photo courtesy of Cabot's Pueblo Museum.</td></tr>
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Entrepreneur, explorer, adventurer, soldier, writer, artist, architect, eco-pioneer, homesteader, raconteur, humanitarian, Father of Desert Hot Springs. Just some of the titles Cabot Yerxa qualified for during his 82 years.<br />
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He was born to a serially successful merchant and his wife - a Cabot from the less affluent side of that vaunted Boston family - at their trading post on a Lakota Sioux reservation in North Dakota in 1883. At the age of 6 he began working for his father and by 14 he was supervising 20 people in the family department store. When gold was discovered in the Klondike, he used his earnings to buy 50,000 cigars plus mining equipment which he sold to the miners. That was in addition to organizing a stage line, living with an Inupiat family and compiling an Eskimo dictionary which he sold to the Smithsonian Institute in 1909 for 12 cents a word.<br />
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Eventually Cabot made his way to Europe where he studied art for a year at the Julian Academie in Paris. After the Spanish-American War, the Yerxas moved to Cuba where Cabot developed a mail order cigar business. He served in the Army in France during World War I.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eagle Nest, Miracle Hill</td></tr>
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In 1913, he homesteaded 160 acres of California desert, building a tiny house and walking 14 miles to the railroad at Grant twice a week for water. After a year of that, killing four or five rattlesnakes on each trip, he decided to seek closer water. With a pick axe and shovel he began digging, eventually discovering 132-degree mineral water, becoming the first man in modern times to find water there. Desert Hot Springs had a name. Undaunted, he selected a spot 600 feet away and began digging again. This time he discovered the water he was looking for. Cabot's homestead had a new name, "Miracle Hill." We know today that the Mission Creek branch of the San Andreas Fault runs between the two wells with the cold water aquifer on one side, the hot water aquifer on the other. <br />
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Cabot had also accumulated a wife and a son, who did not care for life in the hot, dry, lonely desert with a husband who was always away accompanied by a burro he seemed to care for more than either of them.<br />
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Cabot saw a great future for Desert Hot Springs with the health-giving hot mineral water attracting people internationally and the natural cool water spring providing the water to turn the area into a garden.<br />
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At the age of 58 he began building his castle out of what he could scavenge - bits of metal, wood, broken glass, adobe bricks, even broken tools. The size of the rooms was limited by the length of the wood he could find, from railroad ties and telephone poles to twigs. Creativity solved many a challenge.<br />
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A work in progress until his death at 81, the result is a Hopi inspired four-story, 5,000-square-foot pueblo with 35 rooms, 150 windows, 65 doors, 18 openings to the outside and 30 different roof levels. Cabot built it on the side of a hill on an East-West axis for optimum air flow, insulating it from extremes of temperature. A series of ventilation shafts keep the interior cool, sending hot air up and out.<br />
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Cabot believed symmetry suppressed the human spirit and in the Venturi effect, that the smaller the path, the faster hot air leaves. I can't speak for the symmetry issue but the Venturi effect works. It was much cooler inside than the 110-degree temperature outside.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still a problem.</td></tr>
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In 1945, Cabot married the love of his life, Portia Graham, a professor of metaphysics whose beliefs mirrored many of his.<br />
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Between 1946 and '47 electricity came to the Pueblo. Now power is generated by solar panels on an adjacent hill. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portia Graham and Cabot Yerxa. Photo courtesy of Cabot's Pueblo Museum.</td></tr>
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When you visit <a href="http://cabotsmuseum.org/"><b>Cabot's Old Indian Pueblo Museum</b></a>, the name on its National Registry of Historic Places, I hope you get <b>Lecia Augustine</b> as your guide. Her knowledge is encyclopedic and her enthusiasm is infectious.<br />
<br />
In the room given to Cabot's biography, "Cody," the mounted brown bear, was a gift from Nome for his museum. Cabot's favorite room was the kitchen but Portia truly loved the blue bathtub he bought and installed for her and the studio where she could paint and study in peace.<br />
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Over the years, Cabot hosted famous visitors; John Barrymore, Tennessee Williams and Clark Gable were a few who spent time with him at the Pueblo.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah-Ah Ota, two-faced white man</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One first floor room was built for his Native American friends. A life-time advocate of their usually trampled rights and ways, he purposely left the floor dirt. Native Americans believed one had to stand on bare earth to be in touch with Mother Earth. Now it holds a sculpture of <i>Ah-ah Ota</i>, the two-faced white man and a portrait Cabot painted of a local chief.<br />
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Portia left after Cabot's death and the Pueblo fell into disrepair, much of its contents looted. Just as bulldozers were about to level it, longtime friend Cole Eyaured stepped in, faced down the machines and bought it. Cabot Yerxa had been such a popular benefactor to Desert Hot Springs, much of what had been taken was returned.<br />
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<h3>
<b>A cool idea</b></h3>
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Another Coachella Valley visionary is responsible for the Palm
Springs Tramway. It began the moment in 1935 when electrical engineer <b>Francis Crocker</b> was on a hike, wiped his sweating brow and wished he could go "up there where it's nice and cool."<br />
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"There" was the snow capped peak of San Jacinto Mountain, at an altitude of 10,834 feet.<br />
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<b>O. Earl Coffma</b>n,
area pioneer and co-manager of the Palm Springs Desert Inn, thought it
would be nice, too, and a plan was born for what would be called
Crocker's Folly, a tramway up the steep slopes of Chino Canyon.<br />
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A governor who did not favor the enterprise and World War II put their dream on hold, but it was
sparked again in 1945 when the governor agreed and established the San
Jacinto Winter Park Authority, naming Coffman the first chairman and
Crocker his secretary. By 1950, engineers were working to solve the
challenges or road and tower construction. Private revenue bonds raised $8.5 million, but the Korean War caused another delay.<br />
<br />
In
the end, no public money was used for construction or operation and the
35-year revenue bonds were paid off in 1996. Helicopters were used to
build four of the five towers in 26 months, flying 23,000 missions to
haul men and materials for the tram's support and the 35,000 square-foot
Mountain Station.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVYzZfQB4ZfLRVBlRdLxp34vwK7l74f-kwT0-rps4I6Eh-fcJYmbhjRfHQLKgajYaX5JpohyphenhyphenHGoOzXsrHLQlHty82h9tFN2mnWN22J4IhX8Cpkm09EO6pOxMdZxPL2J72KrD4ZPhcxBuG/s1600/francis-crocker_palm-springs-tram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="775" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVYzZfQB4ZfLRVBlRdLxp34vwK7l74f-kwT0-rps4I6Eh-fcJYmbhjRfHQLKgajYaX5JpohyphenhyphenHGoOzXsrHLQlHty82h9tFN2mnWN22J4IhX8Cpkm09EO6pOxMdZxPL2J72KrD4ZPhcxBuG/s400/francis-crocker_palm-springs-tram.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francis Crocker (right) takes over narration on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which he was known to do until his death. Photo courtesy of The PalmlSprings Historical Society.</td></tr>
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Completed in 1963, the tramway welcomed its first riders on September 12. Since 1963, over 20 million people have taken the 2.5-mile ride, going from an altitude of 2,643 feet to 8,516 feet, up where it was nice and cool.<br />
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After spending the morning at the Pueblo in the Valley at 110-degree temps, I was good and ready for some of that cool. Tickets come with a time slot and you wait around until yours arrives. Then come the Disney-style accordion lines until it is your turn to enter the tram which is different from any other I have ever encountered.<br />
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The floor turns, making two revolutions during the journey. It is unsettling at first but it does allow riders to see the view from all sides. The trick is to let a steadying hand slide as the floor revolves.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is blissfully cooler at the top and the Mountain Station includes a film, exhibits and buffet and full service restaurants.<br />
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The only problem I encountered with the <a href="http://pstramway.com/">Palm Springs Aerial Tramway</a> was transportation. No trouble getting an Uber to the lower level, but after 45 minutes of unsuccessfully trying to get one back, I will be eternally grateful to the young hiker who let me share her prearranged cab back to Palm Springs and Desert Springs.<br />
<br />
The kindness of strangers never ceases to delight me.<br />
#satwvisitPalmSprings <br />
<br />Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-32447227075354064502019-11-13T08:29:00.004-08:002019-11-13T08:29:51.878-08:00 Hollywood houses and vintage apparel popular viewing in Palm Springs<br />
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Palm Springs was the perfect getaway for the Hollywood set. Warm and sunny in the winter, isolated from prying eyes and gossips yet within the 100-mile two-hour rule imposed by Hollywood studios: contract actors could travel no more than 100 miles (two hours) away in case scenes had to be shot or re-shot.<br />
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In the '30s, Spanish revival bungalows were the architectural style of choice. After World War II that changed drastically.<br />
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Following the leads of Le Courbusier, Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright, area architects like Richard Neutra, E. Stewart Williams, Albert Frey, Donald Wexler, William Francis Cody and William Krisel shifted the focus to one level, on-slab getaway houses with clean lines and floor-to-ceiling glass windows open to the mild, sunny weather. Practical and inexpensive, these houses and buildings came to be known as Mid-Century Modern and the Palm Springs area has the world's largest concentration of them.<br />
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The Good Girls took a <a href="http://midmoddesigntour.com/">Mid Mod Design tour </a>with<b> Lyle Boatma</b>n, who set the period and pointed out prime examples of the style as well as homes and businesses built for the stars.<br />
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Racquet Club Estates, designed by Palmer and Kisel and built between 1957 and 1964, was to consist of 1,600 three bedroom one bath houses with exactly the same 1,200 square foot floor plan. The cost was $10,000 apiece; population of Palm Springs almost doubled. There are several, like this one, you can rent.<br />
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In 1961, Wexler designed houses with steel structures. Only six were built because the price of steel rose dramatically. Originally priced at $20,000, the two bedroom one bath homes like this one with the saw tooth roof, now sell for $1 million plus.<br />
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"The House of Tomorrow," designed by William Kisel, is known today as where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their honeymoon. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOfqeY2381pjUENooVLc70zT4EJkK10mWX3qdK75BiEgNBcl-wfr6wi-Px_6GjTIfejKusA3vjerElZ-cECnCp1dLoWrzw5ht1htEBffLNXJQ49cMZxJ6APfQYo9fQIaLyXew6hYRUkPq/s1600/untitled-4338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOfqeY2381pjUENooVLc70zT4EJkK10mWX3qdK75BiEgNBcl-wfr6wi-Px_6GjTIfejKusA3vjerElZ-cECnCp1dLoWrzw5ht1htEBffLNXJQ49cMZxJ6APfQYo9fQIaLyXew6hYRUkPq/s640/untitled-4338.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Edgar J. Kaufman recognized good architects. He not only hired Frank Lloyd Wright to design his "Falling Water" summer home, he selected Richard Neutra to design his winter escape, the "Desert House," in 1946. The roof top terrace is known as a "gloriette."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsWWDq2MPgUZpFdJ2laAM0r61D3kMH4Sv3d5ksfKqCC-xQIyAwy2wYkOOk3KvEbjcNWdiYJV91To3zKMp2ywaL-v743S-1Da1nd2_eDro2MOoVc3-xCIhb7a55RgxH7ed8naeyMuib1EF/s1600/untitled-4350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsWWDq2MPgUZpFdJ2laAM0r61D3kMH4Sv3d5ksfKqCC-xQIyAwy2wYkOOk3KvEbjcNWdiYJV91To3zKMp2ywaL-v743S-1Da1nd2_eDro2MOoVc3-xCIhb7a55RgxH7ed8naeyMuib1EF/s640/untitled-4350.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Chrysler would have you believe Delores and Bob Hope lived in this contemporary space ship built on a mountain, but it was only used for entertaining during the golf tournament the company sponsored.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHmfKQ1IoWfNOEJ4bu5juQh0svcPja14nBjen0fk5nIwh3yejAptyIHWywGZjxUy6qMSAHavYCGp3QQiQOyR_3omdqoHZeKAzlJw2_s2lorKGfdPlLHczRu2HYpjZ3vzkESb6KEmsNF5-/s1600/IMG_1210+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1370" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHmfKQ1IoWfNOEJ4bu5juQh0svcPja14nBjen0fk5nIwh3yejAptyIHWywGZjxUy6qMSAHavYCGp3QQiQOyR_3omdqoHZeKAzlJw2_s2lorKGfdPlLHczRu2HYpjZ3vzkESb6KEmsNF5-/s640/IMG_1210+2.jpeg" width="548" /></a></div>
The couple preferred the more modest 1971 mid-century modern on a golf course.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b0LRmuHwiNsA39YTsjtSuky-9udmkIspnhJsQWBfmZkU2IoASSag7zFq7aAkfdS8SCSY0ndYGdeopQEGMPKR2AA45pJH5twU1HXOxUPL0HGfRaRsRRsBynTKO9WFcsGUXQSpvMsKLGCH/s1600/Visitors-Center-250x165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="165" data-original-width="250" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_b0LRmuHwiNsA39YTsjtSuky-9udmkIspnhJsQWBfmZkU2IoASSag7zFq7aAkfdS8SCSY0ndYGdeopQEGMPKR2AA45pJH5twU1HXOxUPL0HGfRaRsRRsBynTKO9WFcsGUXQSpvMsKLGCH/s640/Visitors-Center-250x165.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Frey and Chambers designed the striking Tramway Enco Gas Station, now Visitors Center. That jutting roof was not merely for decoration: it protected un-air-conditioned cars from the sun and temperatures that can reach into the 100s and from up to 70 mph winds that whip through the valley.<br />
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<b>Want to live the lifestyle?</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2AIEi4s6CH7qoobGalzRGmV8g4vgUcJtqIy93kfZ_jK1eXhIBaGX7AChX7PDA1ZwfvcJAblzuea_LFNuXoDLb8YHARBxI6g8IkMydnTQIlju0JRWbR_WdZaQw0yJyYmCcEUpm_9D8xC4/s1600/untitled-4358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2AIEi4s6CH7qoobGalzRGmV8g4vgUcJtqIy93kfZ_jK1eXhIBaGX7AChX7PDA1ZwfvcJAblzuea_LFNuXoDLb8YHARBxI6g8IkMydnTQIlju0JRWbR_WdZaQw0yJyYmCcEUpm_9D8xC4/s640/untitled-4358.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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How about <b>Frank Sinatra</b>'s former <a href="https://www.luxuryretreats.com/vacation-rentals/r/26152246?guests=8&adults=8&af=&c=.pi0.pk84845590228_367997717903_c_753153552403&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIrc2vsPXk5QIVX4NaBR1B6AyrEAAYAiAAEgJO4PD_BwE">Twin Palms </a>digs at 1148 Alejo Road? The Chairman of the Board originally wanted Georgian but was talked into a more desert-friendly style which he commissioned from E. Stewart Williams in 1947. Later he lent the four bedroom home to Joan Crawford for the film <i>The Damned Don't Cry</i>. It has had some updating, but our guide Lyle says there is still a crack in the master bedroom mirror where <b>Ava Gardner</b> threw a Champagne bottle at Sinatra. He also says that for a smashing party, there is room for 300 tables around the pool.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistkYhusFQinKEeb8-I_0VyGADjXwsFt1wDjpOXDRVDO17p2p0EACyOPiL4hCBfLKSM4NwN5Wf75oHLjugpJPm1hzQJQlEPTJQSfKqVpYm7x4XpNgm22pmPW9lVYddpS8FkXushh0LtNaA/s1600/ee93cb88-d5a3-4ac9-a00a-08c780fdd20c-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistkYhusFQinKEeb8-I_0VyGADjXwsFt1wDjpOXDRVDO17p2p0EACyOPiL4hCBfLKSM4NwN5Wf75oHLjugpJPm1hzQJQlEPTJQSfKqVpYm7x4XpNgm22pmPW9lVYddpS8FkXushh0LtNaA/s400/ee93cb88-d5a3-4ac9-a00a-08c780fdd20c-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Cost: $2,500 a night.<br />
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Want more than a piano-shaped pool?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitSddkCQhHBgK-q-7VeIF3F4QPO4Tmp-dL0gWJbBFvq-QnucoUXSndCV-uGzqc7ixg7RGfZ8rRBa_Ir78gReh3890cYIfQe5LsoWhAzsS2ACTZgqDezUkYnrLcI_n6wvgSBt0uyhjz6wo/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="149" data-original-width="339" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgitSddkCQhHBgK-q-7VeIF3F4QPO4Tmp-dL0gWJbBFvq-QnucoUXSndCV-uGzqc7ixg7RGfZ8rRBa_Ir78gReh3890cYIfQe5LsoWhAzsS2ACTZgqDezUkYnrLcI_n6wvgSBt0uyhjz6wo/s400/images.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://432hermosa.com/">432 Hermosa</a>, built for <b>Dinah Shore </b>in 1964 by Donald Wexler, offers 6 bedrooms, 7 1/2 baths plus a one bedroom guest house, a grand piano, pool and a tennis court on 1.3 acres with views of the San Jacinto Mountains. According to Lyle, back door neighbors <b>Kirk </b>and <b>Ann Douglas</b>'s children liked playing tennis on a second court so much that in her will she deeded it to the Douglases. We hear <b>Leonardo di Caprio</b> is the current landlord.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1FeqA8k6AjgjaIR2K8j9JyLh_P3eCNZqg-VoLa06hJ1SnIV8-0_oimTrVzJOlBBUqV6zh7XlKUUUtuHFJZyNVZS3DoYaYQvBPFFUL0xr3L1LQjj08ozzcyQ9gSsfeIpsi965ZXmByNM9/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="247" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1FeqA8k6AjgjaIR2K8j9JyLh_P3eCNZqg-VoLa06hJ1SnIV8-0_oimTrVzJOlBBUqV6zh7XlKUUUtuHFJZyNVZS3DoYaYQvBPFFUL0xr3L1LQjj08ozzcyQ9gSsfeIpsi965ZXmByNM9/s400/Unknown-1.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
Cost: $3,750 a night plus housekeeping fee.<br />
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A good source for all things mid century is <a href="http://modtraveler.net/">Modtraveler.net</a>.<br />
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<b>Bargains for the Body</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9Y4BEocYhC47_KyrZsg2rtiKluklnqG4WY14RFBx20tTEyS6mn709MnLrYjVQWpGTNpHR1YWwlUzQZpIMScZJuvRhIJAN3n8oTphkoWP1CdtbFVMlbBRMK1-B-cBa166aGpBRDQXGz8x/s1600/IMG_1235.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1358" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9Y4BEocYhC47_KyrZsg2rtiKluklnqG4WY14RFBx20tTEyS6mn709MnLrYjVQWpGTNpHR1YWwlUzQZpIMScZJuvRhIJAN3n8oTphkoWP1CdtbFVMlbBRMK1-B-cBa166aGpBRDQXGz8x/s640/IMG_1235.jpeg" width="542" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chanel at Gallery 24.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A lot cheaper and easier to take home are the sometimes bargain priced vintage designer apparel and accessories in boutiques throughout the valley. Here are a few to get you started, but do NOT go on Wednesdays as most will be closed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPNAAh0M84Ll01uagTLLYJjeGYxeEggIuX9HjN3BlSyciOMCK1GfIpwyyMtVd3IcNu81pTNXYcNUHti-2z5a8Yj2Tzvo_5IcZWzHVatUZmaVTdBGPR23r7Mkh0hDrAELNZgoUC1QYD7mZ/s1600/o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPNAAh0M84Ll01uagTLLYJjeGYxeEggIuX9HjN3BlSyciOMCK1GfIpwyyMtVd3IcNu81pTNXYcNUHti-2z5a8Yj2Tzvo_5IcZWzHVatUZmaVTdBGPR23r7Mkh0hDrAELNZgoUC1QYD7mZ/s320/o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Dazzles</b>, 1035 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs. Owner <b>Mike Soules</b>, a former Jacksonville, FL resident whose best neighborhood friend was <b>David Hasselhoff, </b>has amassed an amazing collection of vintage jewelry from Bakelite and snazzy sunglasses to Eisenberg Ice to Carmen Miranda worthy fruity assemblages.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4nyhbeTP5ePAXxciBEyu8gb8AgaVmSS5nAIjpSzciMwja5XGymOf6dQeENLqP63xER5N0J0hQQbCrooH66pdpdfAwO-xEh_yzmhB1YSYbDTaGREMgb9ao-swtglm44GQK6zd55Xo1Jd5/s1600/IMG_1225.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4nyhbeTP5ePAXxciBEyu8gb8AgaVmSS5nAIjpSzciMwja5XGymOf6dQeENLqP63xER5N0J0hQQbCrooH66pdpdfAwO-xEh_yzmhB1YSYbDTaGREMgb9ao-swtglm44GQK6zd55Xo1Jd5/s400/IMG_1225.jpeg" width="267" /></a></div>
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<b>Mitchells</b>, 106S. Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, stylish clothing for men and women fine clothing. <b>Michael Karp</b> is known for his lush collection of <b>Pucci</b>, which never goes out of style in resort climes.<br />
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<b>Gallery 24 Jewelry</b>, 457 N. Palm Canyon Dr. #9, Palm Springs, is a gem with an irresistible motto: "Jewelry because great sex doesn't last forever."<br />
Carlos has an inside track on Chanel beauties and the rich and famous turn to his designer jewelry when they don't want to take the real thing out of the bank. Hats, <i>bibelots</i> and bejeweled belts, too.<br />
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<b>Iconic Atomic,</b> 1103 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, is so '50s-'60s you expect to hear Desi telling Lucy she has some 'splainin' to do. From appliances and decor to accessories and women and men's wear (the largest supply for men, we hear), this is the place to find everyday mid-century artifacts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmglPUi8LLXpSLo_ng-1SCLl8wcj8AGOeZenoIBRgtqElbI5HfohC6RPIc4uaftsDgqRnqcvwb9D5H9Xn14ZeQzFuZjm7zis6w8SGoyYgCj8mZifn4ZgpWzkNC1V1ypLSzGJWvv9fA05sO/s1600/Photo_21834_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="647" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmglPUi8LLXpSLo_ng-1SCLl8wcj8AGOeZenoIBRgtqElbI5HfohC6RPIc4uaftsDgqRnqcvwb9D5H9Xn14ZeQzFuZjm7zis6w8SGoyYgCj8mZifn4ZgpWzkNC1V1ypLSzGJWvv9fA05sO/s320/Photo_21834_4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Marga's Repeat Boutique</b>, 73-900 El Paseo, Palm Desert, had some
of the best prices on her pleasing array of women's clothes and
accessories. Both Good Girls found jewelry here.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4lBUOXofzQiXYzsQiaI45wt1JvdMHPLRHiSGRierRJn3yUUSLCH12l5rnNReZVTydPhj2ES2akIID2MsNK0Dl3AYEUr6uQFtnvvKZjadvK7DGndixOuRIOYvUFA5JGeDpQxPdAIApgSF/s1600/IMG_0010.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="1600" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif4lBUOXofzQiXYzsQiaI45wt1JvdMHPLRHiSGRierRJn3yUUSLCH12l5rnNReZVTydPhj2ES2akIID2MsNK0Dl3AYEUr6uQFtnvvKZjadvK7DGndixOuRIOYvUFA5JGeDpQxPdAIApgSF/s320/IMG_0010.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After all this looking around and shopping we were ready for some mid century culinary therapy so we followed the Rat Pack's lead and headed to <b>Melvin's</b> in the befabled <b>Ingleside Hotel.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKnjppUosWQDgzZ-6LsoJgp_kCHx_5rjSKoqgIcr-hlpsaA9JoBeDrjcp2lFgNnkU3yyZGLyuXrsAlE7aliVakaQcOo8AG8C1SERMRhPP-V_JJuORgHJYKnzmEIOypLufRZgP_-c0SpDb/s1600/IMG_1248.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKnjppUosWQDgzZ-6LsoJgp_kCHx_5rjSKoqgIcr-hlpsaA9JoBeDrjcp2lFgNnkU3yyZGLyuXrsAlE7aliVakaQcOo8AG8C1SERMRhPP-V_JJuORgHJYKnzmEIOypLufRZgP_-c0SpDb/s640/IMG_1248.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ingleside Hotel</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<b> </b>You can't<b> </b>do justice to a scene of frequent infamous revels without an adult beverage so we began with martinis.<b></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMkhbwC6lgtgvDWjAvka0IGu5gQ2rU-31ew-H3f0bynajiYqG7ofZpJ8jzW5hr6OoyNVVTznmmELowWRJWuvHiQZhN1LaleLuoo5excTPTI9yiVqvgxq0IsP1E2vWQLztERGkR2Z1wj7V/s1600/IMG_1250.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1171" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMkhbwC6lgtgvDWjAvka0IGu5gQ2rU-31ew-H3f0bynajiYqG7ofZpJ8jzW5hr6OoyNVVTznmmELowWRJWuvHiQZhN1LaleLuoo5excTPTI9yiVqvgxq0IsP1E2vWQLztERGkR2Z1wj7V/s400/IMG_1250.jpeg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found the fab shades at Dazzles.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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</b>We had lovely salads but looked with longing at the enormous chicken pot pie.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3BHIySVpKm5GE_XxMlYV3rk5-8KIV3oMA9DQq6aE0lVYyYVvhmmkZt_9T-p8uMvumt1O48EWzj_eTCn8AbyjOIGo4lFufcRXyJcWPJl_TGA7aMT-1nbs0L8__R_fa6NgRhQeWxnJ9b1y/s1600/IMG_1254.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3BHIySVpKm5GE_XxMlYV3rk5-8KIV3oMA9DQq6aE0lVYyYVvhmmkZt_9T-p8uMvumt1O48EWzj_eTCn8AbyjOIGo4lFufcRXyJcWPJl_TGA7aMT-1nbs0L8__R_fa6NgRhQeWxnJ9b1y/s320/IMG_1254.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Eventually reality has to interrupt one's trip back in time.<br />
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#SATWPalmSprings <br />
<span style="color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px;"></span>Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-34889516593413600012019-11-07T06:41:00.002-08:002019-11-07T06:41:25.496-08:00Nine moods, one valley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvApa9YwwPvCrNH7PM3EPUiY292mzn6t-2c6jbd9vqS5O7AhNIQAMNhyphenhyphenVY7PUaSVqbQIuyW7vpb1npgDL6Q7asGlOC0dK1ytK3gIG_JaEnekCC8tdNmRnJGkZkOoyTrnG1tfV8wZ8rghyd/s1600/IMG_0023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvApa9YwwPvCrNH7PM3EPUiY292mzn6t-2c6jbd9vqS5O7AhNIQAMNhyphenhyphenVY7PUaSVqbQIuyW7vpb1npgDL6Q7asGlOC0dK1ytK3gIG_JaEnekCC8tdNmRnJGkZkOoyTrnG1tfV8wZ8rghyd/s640/IMG_0023.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Coachella Valley stretches across 45 miles of southern California desert from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Salton Sea. Within its roughly 15 mile width are nine cities,125 golf courses, the largest concentration of mid-century modern architecture, almost 500,000 residents in April, 200,000 residents in July, an aquifer, many hot springs and 350 days of sunshine a year.<br />
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Interstate 10 and Hwy 111 connect it all, though it is hard to tell one city from another without a guide, a good tourist map or the time to exit and explore each individually. <br />
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Working West to East, here are verbal snapshots to guide your trip there. <br />
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2cgNJH9jDQZUTegw6qJQ5Rf48Y2WkB-sQmQRlqTdWpqFMMsHPkQPVLZAoWvTQMf66qtO2LQc1vvtfouWyAqVVemNbLjmXtQ2awnCac6QB-iRDVWycLARrjnvp7h3vzYEXWOXubdcKDUj/s1600/IMG_6898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2cgNJH9jDQZUTegw6qJQ5Rf48Y2WkB-sQmQRlqTdWpqFMMsHPkQPVLZAoWvTQMf66qtO2LQc1vvtfouWyAqVVemNbLjmXtQ2awnCac6QB-iRDVWycLARrjnvp7h3vzYEXWOXubdcKDUj/s400/IMG_6898.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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<b>Palm Springs</b> is best known for its heyday in the 1930s to '60s, when the elite of Hollywood bought or built winter vacation homes here and began to invest in the area, financing everything from country clubs (Charlie Ferrell and Ralph Bellamy, the Racquet Club of Palm Springs) and hotels (Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz) to fancy trailer parks (Bing Crosby, Blue Skies in Rancho Mirage and (hardware stores (Alan Ladd). Now its International Film Festival and Modernism Week attract cognoscienti from around the world.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zBw3dDqrDpaqt1MttNMm_SFhsrvPkiu3_UDmriAMQtlUK-JsSp9Q3F-2UDg_l6DHobW1QXCJr19yGriNHsqh4q8IDlFsdtP4BABEPPGOzKpB3kbSNm42s1CTt1jA0kRLpOwqxA-FQwEb/s1600/IMG_1302.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1274" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6zBw3dDqrDpaqt1MttNMm_SFhsrvPkiu3_UDmriAMQtlUK-JsSp9Q3F-2UDg_l6DHobW1QXCJr19yGriNHsqh4q8IDlFsdtP4BABEPPGOzKpB3kbSNm42s1CTt1jA0kRLpOwqxA-FQwEb/s400/IMG_1302.jpeg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small portion of the wind farm shot in passing.</td></tr>
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<b><span id="goog_1676068024"></span><span id="goog_1676068025"></span>Desert Hot Springs </b>sits atop a plethora of hot and cold springs. Its spas attract a steady stream of health seekers and sybarites, who have grown the population from 20 in 1941 to 29,000 today. It is also the windiest area in the valley which explains the huge wind farm on its outskirts. At 262 feet tall, their blade spans the length of a football field, each windmill can power 2,000 homes. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balloon Glo, Cathedal City</td></tr>
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<b>Cathedral "Cat" City </b>is known for its art scene and diverse LGBT and Mexican population. Late night festivals are the thing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5FJqZ2QqzjW1vajvTeQYt4BuiVcF00lgK95up1VIxfwmHM9RYZOoiOrNvA0C6l2cjefy8eff9WAZDAVHnDUfndqlx-1ouCtLcwqbeiFIfNLpMbdF7JZJVZDaQB-C3y4RVcPo4vtQBddZ/s1600/Mission-HillsCountry-Club-Rancho-Mirage-CA-Palmer-hole16-560x610_largeimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="960" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5FJqZ2QqzjW1vajvTeQYt4BuiVcF00lgK95up1VIxfwmHM9RYZOoiOrNvA0C6l2cjefy8eff9WAZDAVHnDUfndqlx-1ouCtLcwqbeiFIfNLpMbdF7JZJVZDaQB-C3y4RVcPo4vtQBddZ/s640/Mission-HillsCountry-Club-Rancho-Mirage-CA-Palmer-hole16-560x610_largeimage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mission Hills Country Club, Rancho Mirage</td></tr>
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<b>Rancho Mirage </b>has evolved from rough and rowdy stop to fortune during the Gold Rush to the playground of presidents. Richard Nixon favored Sunnylands estates, Barack Obama liked the Thunderbird Country Club, after which the Ford Thunderbird was named (Ford's chairman was a member at the time). Speaking of Fords, Gerald Ford lived his last decades here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDoXBPpyRF3JYbI-csrCzQVMrrBqqk6AFjiBjCjiDrU1k9eb9uzvs9KY_e3Fv7HSuyLs_9IrSyw7nRuWBPQBRBmeOn8Axdo2Ljh1BtytEtpDW0oYokF9YQxEOECi0DkFCkyDB7yaRj1Gk/s1600/photo8jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDoXBPpyRF3JYbI-csrCzQVMrrBqqk6AFjiBjCjiDrU1k9eb9uzvs9KY_e3Fv7HSuyLs_9IrSyw7nRuWBPQBRBmeOn8Axdo2Ljh1BtytEtpDW0oYokF9YQxEOECi0DkFCkyDB7yaRj1Gk/s400/photo8jpg.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Paseo Shopping District</td></tr>
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<b>Palm Deser</b>t first attracted the likes of Bing Crosby and Jimmy Stewart and now boasts the El Paseo Shopping District, Fashion Week El Paseo. Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival and The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. Also Hotel Paseo, where the Good Girls stayed. It exudes a hip, boutique vibe and is right in the middle of the shopping action. The restaurant is good, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRJT1m2tyI12SuJ-THdwsDeevk790pOPG3bVhFdKCeWB-v6Ryy2gwToJP3Xja9KnMhvO6Ub1UKCsVsgNpxTSckgKCDmeN83oI7067BEx8vILmVTj3Ez0BpywnzpyKI8Jt5rgJCiMUHTrL/s1600/3240-0488_Daily-Tickets-768x432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvRJT1m2tyI12SuJ-THdwsDeevk790pOPG3bVhFdKCeWB-v6Ryy2gwToJP3Xja9KnMhvO6Ub1UKCsVsgNpxTSckgKCDmeN83oI7067BEx8vILmVTj3Ez0BpywnzpyKI8Jt5rgJCiMUHTrL/s400/3240-0488_Daily-Tickets-768x432.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tennis stadium, site of Indian Wells Masters</td></tr>
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<b>Indian Wells</b> was described by one cab driver as "where the <i>really</i> rich and special lived," citing late billionaire Walter Annenberg and President Dwight Eisenhower as among residents of the area's most private estates. Perhaps better known as host of the "fifth Grand Slam of Tennis," its residents spread about among six residential country clubs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8eNzImejCtB8vkX01457k_ShJLtvND2vR43Fchdc9u3ysvL9W0zdiUQLQ-qTn2Y5XaOxre4DmsHqQuUlYZwfJKKqQDDFTxeQ7lIRENya6LAq1rXu2Rq907ft5KNlw0-3FsAtSEJuk9PN/s1600/a27a1206ed6497cbaa06a03607ea7595bf9ac3627ae8e4e6a0191b74b3228bd8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8eNzImejCtB8vkX01457k_ShJLtvND2vR43Fchdc9u3ysvL9W0zdiUQLQ-qTn2Y5XaOxre4DmsHqQuUlYZwfJKKqQDDFTxeQ7lIRENya6LAq1rXu2Rq907ft5KNlw0-3FsAtSEJuk9PN/s640/a27a1206ed6497cbaa06a03607ea7595bf9ac3627ae8e4e6a0191b74b3228bd8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La Quinta Resort and Club</td></tr>
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<b>La Quinta</b>, one of two cities in the US to be named after a resort (Beverly Hills is the other), now has 25 top golf courses including six run by PGA West.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYkMiktJAS3CP0Nh0gMsE19PsqgmPDr3tHPrIqYQ8yKtXUXUvFe9gX6z8NAFZr58kdQz7g8yoB42tMyoAWnKvUcDvdSCtFhwS4G0GS_MMin_q-wg5KG9Sz37blNOB04pHii1LWQ26TpgB/s1600/IMG_5601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="634" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiYkMiktJAS3CP0Nh0gMsE19PsqgmPDr3tHPrIqYQ8yKtXUXUvFe9gX6z8NAFZr58kdQz7g8yoB42tMyoAWnKvUcDvdSCtFhwS4G0GS_MMin_q-wg5KG9Sz37blNOB04pHii1LWQ26TpgB/s400/IMG_5601.jpg" width="396" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World's largest Tamale Festival in in Indio.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<b>Indio</b> is both an agricultural hub and the city of festivals. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival may be tthe most famous but don't discount the Tamale Festival and the granddaddy, the Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival. Toss an active food scene and polo into the mix to bring in even more tourism.<br />
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<b>Coachella </b>sits atop fertile land and is known for its farming and Mexican culture and history (Remember Cesar Chavez?). Famous murals, the internationally known El Grito Fiesta Patrias and Dias de los Muertos festivities and Mexican cuisine, have attracted the city's first hotel.<b></b><br />
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You would be hard pressed to find a more diverse series of adjacent communities, with residents ranging from some of the richest people in the country to some of the poorest. All have a similar goal: to live the American dream. Whether it be luxuriating in the leisure and baubles wealth can provide, hiking and exploring California's golden hills and deserts, creating or raising families and a better future, Coachella Valley offers the opportunity.<br />
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<b><br /></b>Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-76020349371238137412019-10-28T08:52:00.000-07:002019-10-28T08:55:06.125-07:00What's a Joshua Tree? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The landscape in Florida, where we, the Good Girls live, hovers just above sea level and stays humid most of the year. On our visit to Palm Springs, the dry, harsh landscape of the Mojave Desert in California felt just about the opposite. We’d never seen a Joshua tree before, the largest species of yucca, and were eager to get into the aptly named National Park. The species are only found in the southwestern United States at altitudes between 1,300 and 5,900 feet elevation.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQx5xwHXlUVWxvIkJCVOhQ7-fEbccQWFezvfopEHuuO-FwY7X4OM1q-ker3gWCm2l3Mf1Es0yfbeDsOLyQUVjb2dqoiaeMjLDf-Nl7Q-Lzi_oEHpC5y8Gx9VqItbMAOV7iYwbaTBIUX4/s1600/untitled-8878.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQx5xwHXlUVWxvIkJCVOhQ7-fEbccQWFezvfopEHuuO-FwY7X4OM1q-ker3gWCm2l3Mf1Es0yfbeDsOLyQUVjb2dqoiaeMjLDf-Nl7Q-Lzi_oEHpC5y8Gx9VqItbMAOV7iYwbaTBIUX4/s400/untitled-8878.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
A typical Joshua Tree with sparse foliage.</h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
A Joshua Tree with many limbs. </h3>
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Upon entering Joshua Tree National Park, we found massive piles of granite boulders and rocks jumbled together. The ground looked dry, a sparsely covered grassland with twisted and strangely foliated trees. The Joshua trees extend barren limbs, which end with spiky green shoots or leaves. They wear rough, weathered trunks, and are scattered widely apart from one another as opposed to a denser growth of trees in a deciduous forest.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Rock formations and grasslands in Joshua National Park. </span></h3>
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According to the National Park Service, “The tree’s name is owed to a group of Mormons settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert on their exodus west in the mid-19th century.” Supposedly in silhouette, their extended limbs evoked images of Biblical Joshua with arms outstretched, leading his followers to the Promised Land. Can’t say that I saw that, but the trees were oddly likable and rather cactus-like.<br />
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As much of a forest of Joshua Trees as you are ever likely to see. </h3>
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Most folks make a day-trip or spend only half a day in the park driving along the roads and stopping at various formations. There are three entrances, each with a visitor center, so you can drive through as opposed to making a loop. Joshua Tree National Park has no lodge or restaurants, but camping is permitted. Those interested in rock-climbing, hiking, or biking should bring plenty of water and start early in the day.<br />
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Cactus-like tips at the end of tree limbs. </h3>
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We visited in June, one of the hottest months, and our itinerary allotted only a few hours. Our local host did the driving, and we got out to photograph along the way. We did not see Keys Ranch, which I understand is one of the most exciting spots. But we managed to catch views of several different sections of the park and its arid landscape.<br />
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Driving within Joshua Tree National Park. </h3>
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A visitor celebrating the splendor of the park. </h3>
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My favorite spot in the National Park was the eerie skull rock. Pretty obvious why it’s called that!<br />
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Skull Rock, a park favorite. </h3>
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Looking up at the teetering rocks and giant boulders, I imagined various figures and shapes. No wonder the park lures many rock climbers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiefVe23qvov4W9RUJFF4u8MAbVMZilVxiNUz5QRVONKYjOuxPaXFbzLDqUaQ2MM5yg8jR47qWQbbLo-CA_P9VAbopr1PL_N1rh3sCgrxPxUwTKBDrizjDwwzD6glxGO99hrXHhEgnxk/s1600/untitled-8906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiefVe23qvov4W9RUJFF4u8MAbVMZilVxiNUz5QRVONKYjOuxPaXFbzLDqUaQ2MM5yg8jR47qWQbbLo-CA_P9VAbopr1PL_N1rh3sCgrxPxUwTKBDrizjDwwzD6glxGO99hrXHhEgnxk/s640/untitled-8906.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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What do you imagine? </h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teetering Rock Formations</td></tr>
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The overlook area, called Keys View, provided a seemingly endless panorama reaching to the distant city of Palm Springs down in the valley.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Keys View</h3>
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During this late spring, the Joshua trees were still in bloom but fading. A large, white cone-shaped cluster of flowers grows at the tip of the leaves.<br />
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Flowering Joshua Tree</h3>
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The park also attracts dark sky enthusiasts and photographers.<br />
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I am delighted that President Franklin Roosevelt created and preserved the area back in 1936 and that Joshua Tree National Park was established in 1994. It annually receives about 1.4 million visitors.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZET5-P3RKFBaXH4ac9_Hz63rDBoEqkI007fV-0j1w99C5WZqxUd_3OeQNxaPQxFURON8MhMbgyou4v5YXMgnVR8EgH3L9fVv00ncwSGlv081HBrRS-HQ92WqZz9EsLKDEdkQJnbjvFHU/s1600/IMG_6839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1193" data-original-width="1600" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZET5-P3RKFBaXH4ac9_Hz63rDBoEqkI007fV-0j1w99C5WZqxUd_3OeQNxaPQxFURON8MhMbgyou4v5YXMgnVR8EgH3L9fVv00ncwSGlv081HBrRS-HQ92WqZz9EsLKDEdkQJnbjvFHU/s400/IMG_6839.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Grand enough, but this was not a park that begs me to revisit over and over. I didn’t feel the vast majesty of the Grand Canyon or the curiosities found in Yellowstone. That’s just my opinion, but I’m pleased I was able to see it once. Should you be in the Palm Springs area, I’d heartily encourage you to go and learn about Joshua trees.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVHSj-g7YUA3_dPSRpmieeaNSRZODhA4uLP1S5cUQlFZebBNcuWlmcy7p0YbAo27xDbOVErtR9v2oi5PmsnvtGbaUtUUL13EOTAWVWn5x-i0rfDiuOog7DXKjjtDrr-blFUJ579iYZ7U/s1600/IMG_6802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVHSj-g7YUA3_dPSRpmieeaNSRZODhA4uLP1S5cUQlFZebBNcuWlmcy7p0YbAo27xDbOVErtR9v2oi5PmsnvtGbaUtUUL13EOTAWVWn5x-i0rfDiuOog7DXKjjtDrr-blFUJ579iYZ7U/s640/IMG_6802.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
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The Good Girls in Joshua Tree National Park.</h3>
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Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-83174930483900521172019-10-15T08:18:00.000-07:002019-10-15T08:18:04.900-07:00Aliens, Integratron, an orrery and other sci-fi doings between Pioneertown and 29 Palms CA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_NkD2RQOHGH5PyFQUnX3M77qHpdIRrBqIYiJ-OLZabt3qCSbiTC7XMDplVvkJnxbIHa4odllbMnGtqGxjCOfaf8Bnvab9z5Jv6MRQp8kqmBvcR9eJNoRrly7yywblDaN478g4658QRxT/s1600/IMG_1005+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1181" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_NkD2RQOHGH5PyFQUnX3M77qHpdIRrBqIYiJ-OLZabt3qCSbiTC7XMDplVvkJnxbIHa4odllbMnGtqGxjCOfaf8Bnvab9z5Jv6MRQp8kqmBvcR9eJNoRrly7yywblDaN478g4658QRxT/s640/IMG_1005+2.jpeg" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image of an alien in front of a store near 29 Palms. The one man in the area who claimed to have interacted with aliens described them as about 5'6" tall, with youthful looks just like one of us.</td></tr>
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Landers, CA, 20 miles north of Joshua Tree National Park, is UFO country. Nearby Giant Rock, one of the largest free-standing boulders in the world, was the site of "Spacecraft Conventions" for 20 years.<br />
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<b>George Van Tassel</b>, an aeronautical engineer for Lockheed Douglas and a test pilot for Howard <u>Hughes, </u>learned of Giant Rock from a prospector, Frank Critzer, who had hollowed out rooms beneath the boulder where he lived and stored supplies. Critzer, an American of German descent, was suspected of being a spy during World War II. When he refused to cooperate, authorities tossed in tear gas bombs to smoke him out. They caused the dynamite to explode, killing the innocent miner.<br />
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In 1947 Van Tassel left his career and moved his wife and three daughters to Giant Rock where he leased four square miles from the Bureau of Land Management, opened Giant Rock Interplanetary Airport and a restaurant that became famous for Eva's hamburgers and spiced apple pie. Unlike the prospector, the Van Tassels lived in tents. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George Van Tassel</td></tr>
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(<i>Cue intro music from Twilight Zone</i>)<br />
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As the story goes, at 2 a.m. in August 1953, he was awakened by the landing of a ship from Venus. A being named <b>Solgonda</b> invited him aboard where he was given the secrets of the Integratron and developed a telepathic relationship with his host and a Venusian Council. He then began to channel information about time travel and rejuvenation.<br />
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Afterwards, Van Tassel held weekly meditation and channeling sessions in a 400 square-foot chamber under Giant Rock. The first Interplanetary Spacecraft Convention was held at the rock April 3, 1953. Thousands attended the annual events for 20-plus years. In 1957 Van Tassel broke ground for the Integratron on a powerful geomagnetic vortex in the Mojave Desert. Tassel claimed its design is based on Moses' Tabernacle, the writings of Nicola Tesla and directions from extraterrestrials. Financing came from private sources including large donations from Howard Hughes.<br />
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Van Tassel died in 1978, before its completion, but his daughter and others kept the project alive. Today the unique 38-foot high, 55-foot diameter building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is owned and run by two sisters who offer regular "Sound Baths."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-z5LO2k6NCsCY5XXxCk5PkrjB3yF303kwXbileF4c_5neg3eDpAJFHv_7NtKOaoR17FqwNekDmG_GktZSveEIUX3ybAbqTQPXYyWrR6QpXmcPjzNffket3ndxbby0aph5HPwFbdjby0u/s1600/IMG_1025.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-z5LO2k6NCsCY5XXxCk5PkrjB3yF303kwXbileF4c_5neg3eDpAJFHv_7NtKOaoR17FqwNekDmG_GktZSveEIUX3ybAbqTQPXYyWrR6QpXmcPjzNffket3ndxbby0aph5HPwFbdjby0u/s400/IMG_1025.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A special mirror lets visitors take selfies of themselves with the Integretron as Judy is doing.</td></tr>
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Naturally, the Good Girls had to give the hour-long "sonic healing" experience a try. No photography is allowed so we are borrowing images from the website.<br />
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"Bathers" enter the first level, stow shoes and belongings in lockers then climb a steep ladder to the top where each one takes a blanket and stretches out on an individual floor mat (there are few metal folding chairs for those who can't handle the ups and downs).<br />
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Quartz crystal bowls of varying sizes are "played," creating resonant sounds that can be quite loud. Judy liked it but sitting in one of the chairs was uncomfortable. Debi found it painfully loud, hated it and emerged with a splitting headache. Others had similarly mixed reviews.<br />
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Nonetheless, we pressed on to the <b>Giant Rock</b> some 5 miles north. It is a big one, seven-stories high covering almost 6,000 feet.<br />
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A hunk that cracked off in 2000 may have jeopardized its largest of all status.<br />
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Centuries before Van Tassel or his aliens discovered it, Giant Rock was a spiritual site to Native Americans, especially the Hopi. Sadly, graffiti mars its granite surface.<br />
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For a true scientific approach to our galaxy and solar system, visit <b>Sky's the Limit</b>, a grassroots, all volunteer-run dark-sky park at the northern border of Joshua Tree National Park in 29 Palms. In its 15 acres are an Observatory Dome with telescope so powerful we could imagine ourselves leaving footprints on the moon and an orrery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgIRuPOxzmGDi3WoAl0871XrEYSJnVQZhUVtmmWjovv8S4cIREhYHQ03hyphenhyphenxH1wlJLjHElonRSyRkSfB2eEvcomaxXGn27AURTylr0XUrodHNhvfjyE2ooaImvqF3Plkpwf3rpl8Aqyo5n/s1600/IMG_0832.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgIRuPOxzmGDi3WoAl0871XrEYSJnVQZhUVtmmWjovv8S4cIREhYHQ03hyphenhyphenxH1wlJLjHElonRSyRkSfB2eEvcomaxXGn27AURTylr0XUrodHNhvfjyE2ooaImvqF3Plkpwf3rpl8Aqyo5n/s640/IMG_0832.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div>
A what?<br />
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A mechanical device or in this case a walkable one that allows viewers to see the solar system and its movements in perspective. It was too dark for us to truly get a feel for the circular pattern of stepping stones, each of which represents four days travel around a planet's orbit. At a scale of 20 billion to one, the specks or pinpoints representing planets are one-twentieth of a bllion the size of real ones.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A volunteer docent demonstrates a speck of a planet.</td></tr>
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It is complicated to explain, but the oldest orrery in existence, Antikythera, goes back to 150-100 BCE. The first one constructed in the modern era was produced in 1704, by English clock makers and was named for Charles, the fourth Earl of Orrery, who commissioned it, thus the tongue-twister of a moniker.<br />
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Arriving earlier would have given us time to experience the orrery as well as the meditation garden built on Zen principles, the nature trail of desert plants and the astronomy-themed sculptures of Simi Dabah.<br />
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Certainly not your standard art galleries, museum and performance space can be found amid the strip shopping area near Joshua Tree.<br />
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Designed by and for liberal adults the galleries exhibit gay and lesbian themed<br />
work.<br />
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The Crochet Museum fills every inch of a very small trailer.<br />
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We puzzled over the sculptural sort of Jungle Gym<br />
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and it was hard to know what to expect at the open air performance space tucked in behind the store fronts. <br />
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Although we enjoyed much of what we saw, it was frustrating that our hosts in Palm Springs scheduled our excursion into these desert communities so that we missed seeing <b>Gubler Orchids, the Noah Purfoy Desert Art Museum</b> and had no time to receive informed explanations from a park ranger at Joshua Tree or to visit the National Park's Visitor Center, always a fascinating source of information and perspective.If you manage to see them, please let us know what we missed.<br />
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<b>If you go:</b><br />
The <b>Integratron </b>is open Wednesday-Sunday March through May, October through December and Thursday through Sunday February, June and September. Price for the sound bath is $35 per person over 13 years of age, $40 weekends and holidays.<br />
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<b>Sky's the Limit </b>campus<b> </b>is always open, but there is no running water and restrooms are locked unless a docent is present. A volunteer docent is usually on campus Saturdays from10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to give tours of the Orrery and set up the Solar Scope. Free public star parties are on Saturday nights when the moon is not full beginning at about an hour after sunset and lasting about two hours. Check for exact times and dates of these and other special programs. <a href="https://www.skysthelimit29.org/calendar.html">https://www.skysthelimit29.org/calendar.html</a>Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-78263977872178753072019-10-01T08:12:00.000-07:002019-10-01T08:12:02.665-07:00One Day in Yosemite Is Not Enough <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">The Good Girls love slow travel, taking time to absorb a place beyond the surface, but travel time is precious, and we can’t always linger. Such was the case with our Mammoth Lakes, California trip. Even though we could allot only one day, we decided to make it a full day-trip and see as much of Yosemite National Park as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">A local tour company named PLAYosemite picked us up at the Westin in Mammoth Lakes, and we headed to the park along with another friend and travel writer. Our guide was most knowledgeable and provided much background history and information as we drove along. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">Yosemite National Park ranks as one of our nation’s oldest parks, established in 1864 during President Lincoln’s administration. Lincoln, however, never visited. During those early days, it took a visitor about 4-5 days to reach Yosemite by carriage or horse from San Francisco. Today, the world-famous park draws an international crowd, about 5.2 million visitors each year, including rock climbers, hikers, anglers, campers, birdwatchers and photographers. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Climbers at Cathedral Peak</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">En route we passed Mono Lake, brimming with water that’s three times saltier than seawater, and stopped nearby to pick up sandwiches. We entered the park at the Tioga Pass gate, only open in the summer. Having a driver/guide who was very familiar with the area roads really helped us see the highlights: El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Waterfall and the Valley. We wouldn’t get to the Giant Sequoia trees at Mariposa Grove as they were too distant. After all, Yosemite encompasses a total of 1,200 square miles. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">We started in the less- crowded High Sierra terrain and would make our way down into the famed valley. First stop became the </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">Tuolumne Meadows where we watched a few people sketching and others rock-climbing on granite crags. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tuolumne Meadows</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An artist sketches the view. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">We then continued stopping at Olmsted Point for a view of the northern or backside of Half Dome (only seen from the Tioga Pass). We wandered over giant boulders and took plenty of photos. Olmsted Point is named for landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., who were early supporters and designers of the park.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazHL4wXIojsbNum8x6AZVRIKqYOtQ2O78hZXFUBD3zzCb7owJcVz4zGyfwaUHXFy_GMwZOHjMGmK2CqTeR7zZmPoyzfeMoMh1VPmO3r1_RcBo8Vf1VpHoGRACi6ZBoRu2oulE2Ik7h18/s1600/untitled-2371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazHL4wXIojsbNum8x6AZVRIKqYOtQ2O78hZXFUBD3zzCb7owJcVz4zGyfwaUHXFy_GMwZOHjMGmK2CqTeR7zZmPoyzfeMoMh1VPmO3r1_RcBo8Vf1VpHoGRACi6ZBoRu2oulE2Ik7h18/s640/untitled-2371.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back side of Half Dome as seen from Tioga Pass.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hcqVjAAQM0qtDPx6Z9Y-ACjmbulg90dVQqKWEa-5CxOk7QLUb6CbHICUMr8B9GSgJsC9ZN7cOHJQHsMxipqZP_SlqkF_h0084rL_hhOc7zAimJtpab-5X5waFWiHYMQTot-gMoJxEVs/s1600/untitled-2373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hcqVjAAQM0qtDPx6Z9Y-ACjmbulg90dVQqKWEa-5CxOk7QLUb6CbHICUMr8B9GSgJsC9ZN7cOHJQHsMxipqZP_SlqkF_h0084rL_hhOc7zAimJtpab-5X5waFWiHYMQTot-gMoJxEVs/s640/untitled-2373.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Olmsted Point</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">Farther along, we briefly paused at what is called Tunnel View.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The view right before entering the tunnel.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">Our guide drove through the Wawona Road Tunnel and parked at the overlook, the classic panoramic view of Yosemite Valley. This traditional scene becomes a pinch-me moment. It's one of those spots you’ve seen in pictures all your life, but now you are standing there. Photos don’t do it justice; the grand natural gem stands as one of those places you must see for yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YPGT4cLE6gzIEBmwfpBY0ncC5LrEDY24anHxoWJvkRKP41b_tjWucAug9xLgS3D-ZT267tvsXfUSGD4B0xo9Bo2SVQfcw-1KyQpzf2fAU_MpCwpotO5Zr7jImq2K2l_XPkOXswSJpLw/s1600/untitled-2376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YPGT4cLE6gzIEBmwfpBY0ncC5LrEDY24anHxoWJvkRKP41b_tjWucAug9xLgS3D-ZT267tvsXfUSGD4B0xo9Bo2SVQfcw-1KyQpzf2fAU_MpCwpotO5Zr7jImq2K2l_XPkOXswSJpLw/s640/untitled-2376.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">We took our time and gazed in wonderment at the world’s tallest unbroken cliff, El Capitan, that rises about 3,000 feet, and Half Dome that looks like it’s been cut in half. Its face was slashed by glaciers during the Ice Age. From this vantage point, we also noticed the wind blowing across the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls. The Ahwahneechee Native Americans called the waterfall <i>Pohono</i>, which means, “Spirit of the Puffing Wind.” </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pohono or Bridal Veil Falls</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">Then, we piled back into the van and drove down into Yosemite Valley, pausing where the old village once stood and photographing the Yosemite Chapel. We watched some daring rock climbers but were perfectly content view the rock from below.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud3kKWy2O6VJDWHsfCl53mIoN19X9Qww3YjztzGd07FmKLsEQvfTiqIHBzVQdPGIFr8omo3MeVmqtPhyphenhyphenC8TrM9shkGnrIr3Un1oRescYwBD10qLmRqPbMrVb3LolweVcqG6O8V0JEOJc/s1600/Yosemite+Chapel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud3kKWy2O6VJDWHsfCl53mIoN19X9Qww3YjztzGd07FmKLsEQvfTiqIHBzVQdPGIFr8omo3MeVmqtPhyphenhyphenC8TrM9shkGnrIr3Un1oRescYwBD10qLmRqPbMrVb3LolweVcqG6O8V0JEOJc/s400/Yosemite+Chapel.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yosemite Chapel is the oldest structure in the valley.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2wQM2WKdLolBx2eGtOzdbpxHL0nG54izThMVgEp336n6j-OoaEgJJ0hCEDdmLrY9XOgMbbVHGzrRS_FJH2LIU4kPpDEmkxQSqDqhIu0ZsKxA7ctpYeo53IB-_DyHvBQrlEBdG32WpXU/s1600/untitled-2401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="576" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2wQM2WKdLolBx2eGtOzdbpxHL0nG54izThMVgEp336n6j-OoaEgJJ0hCEDdmLrY9XOgMbbVHGzrRS_FJH2LIU4kPpDEmkxQSqDqhIu0ZsKxA7ctpYeo53IB-_DyHvBQrlEBdG32WpXU/s640/untitled-2401.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely to see the climbers on Half Dome. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;"> Our guide knew of a secret spot for a picnic lunch and we enjoyed our sandwiches as if we were the only ones in the forest primeval. Pretty amazing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crossing Yosemite Valley on foot. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">We next took off on foot and crossed a bridge on the valley floor, seeing rafters enjoying a ride on the Merced River. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafters enjoying ride on the Merced River. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">We proceeded to the pathway that leads to the spectacular Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls. The falls drop from 2,425-feet over three cliffs and are the tallest in North America. Peak flow is usually in late May. You must walk to get there but worth the effort. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yosemite Falls drops in three stages, </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">We wished we had time to tour the historic Ahwahnee Hotel, a National Park Lodge endeared by thousands of past guests for more than 90 years. The hotel briefly lost its name during a change in management, but as of July 15, 2019, it regained it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">At this point in the day, we sadly had to begin to make our way back to Mammoth Lakes. We noticed evidence of past fires and signs that marked highwater peaks in the flood of 1997. Can’t stop Mother Nature. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Earlier fire damage in the park. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">Spectacular does not come close to describing the grandeur of the park, with its towering summits, cascading waterfalls, and shimmering lakes. Of course, a multiple night stay, including sunrises and sunsets, would be far superior, but if you only have one day, do not hesitate. Go for grandeur. No one is disappointed—ever. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this was my favorite view in Yosemite, so peaceful. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">Be sure to check out Yosemite National Park’s website before and during your journey (<a href="https://www.nps.gov/yose/index.htm" style="color: #954f72;" target="_blank">nps.gov/yose/</a>).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Yosemite, but the views continue. </td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 14pt;">Note from Judy: Between Olmstead Point and Wawona Road Tunnel, our guide pulled off the road to the right and stopped at Fern Spring, a spot you have to know to notice. A sacred spot to Native Americans because it flows even during the driest seasons, the water is clear, pure and delicious. If you are carrying water bottles or canteens this is a good place to refill them.</span><br />
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Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-5024992996658973212019-09-13T08:33:00.000-07:002019-09-13T08:46:52.277-07:00Gondolas, games and goodies, a living history art gallery, and fissures in Mammoth Lakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You can't go to Mammoth Lakes without visiting Mammoth Mountain and we didn't. <br />
The day was even hazier, but we hoped for the best when we traveled out to the ski center.<br />
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One sight we didn't expect was the San Andreas fault, more correctly, fissure, running under the road. It is an awesome and unsettling sight, but no one warned us about getting out and taking pictures so we did.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Andreas fault fissure</td></tr>
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We later learned that the Mammoth Lakes area has an average of 17 earthquakes a day, but they aren't felt until hitting 2.7 on the scale and most are under that. Six hundred years ago the indigenous people stored food in the fissures to keep it safe from animals.<br />
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Speaking of animals, about 35 bears live around the town, often holing up in drainage pipes and underneath homes. According to <b>Dave Searles,</b> the local "bear whisperer," they are black bears that are primarily herbivores with a sense of smell so acute they can tell what you've bee eating. You don't have to worry about the more dangerous grizzlies; they've been hunted out. The saying goes that the last grizzly in California is on the state seal.<br />
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The ski center is impressive. All credit is given to<b> Dave McCoy</b>, who stubbornly persevered to bring skiing to the area.<br />
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Starting by gathering friends and using heavy-duty trucks to pull the ropes that pulled skiers up the hills to installing the region's first permanent rope tow in 1938. Now one of the biggest mountain resorts in the country, Mammoth boasts an 11,053-foot summit, 28 chair lifts and 3,500 acres of skiable terrain. Hikers and mountain bikers take over in summer.<br />
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We took the gondola to the top, but there wasn't much to be seen ...<br />
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... unless you count mountain bikers riding their cycles down the steps toward the trails.<br />
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That left us with some extra time on our hands and boy, did we fill it... and ourselves.<br />
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We stopped in at <a href="http://mammothfunshop.com/"><b>Mammoth Fun Shop</b></a> and were immediately transported back to the best part of childhood: games, toys, wonder, make believe and ice cream. In other words, fun. Whoopie cushions, juggling equipment, magic wands, puzzles, illusions, puppets, game sets, look-a-like bugs, snakes, poop. You name it, they have it.<br />
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We wandered, exclaiming "Oh, remember this!" or "Look at this!" at every other step.<br />
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It was "Wow!" when we hit the ice cream counter where a good three feet was filled with every kind of sprinkle under the sun. Buy a scoop or two and take your choice.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camilla Miller holds her latest creation, the Baked Gorilla, a vertical banana split.</td></tr>
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<b>Camilla Miller</b>, owner creator with her husband<b> Brant</b>, said she was tired of hearing disappointed children who wanted more than one kind, so she instituted the as many as you want policy.<br />
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Adults will go for the individual pies and innovative ice cream combinations, if not the array of sprinkles. <br />
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Another worthwhile time filler is <b>The Gallery at Twin Lakes</b>, once summer home and studio built in 1934 by famed Western photographer <b>Stephen H. Willard</b>. Considered one of the four great Western photographers - Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Wayne Ballock are the others - Willard combined fine photography with painting to capture what he called "the land of purple shadows." His photos were influential in creation of national parks and monuments such as Joshua Tree and Death Valley.<br />
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Willard's cabin is now owned by Sue and Robert Jokis, who welcome visitors and<br />
maintain much it as it was as a piece of living history.<br />
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It is a gallery, so if you want a unique souvenir, buy a work of art, perhaps even one of Willard's.Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-77297382095015101582019-09-05T08:11:00.000-07:002019-09-05T08:11:12.302-07:00Nearby forest fires limit our views but not our experiences in Mammoth Lakes We arrived in <b>Mammoth Lakes</b> at the beginning of California's summer forest fire season, with blazes to the south and west. The nearest, the then 3,000-acre Lions fire, was seven miles to the south. The good news: we would be in no danger in Mammoth. The bad news, the smoke-filled air would continue, getting worse as the wind blew in more smoke from the uncontrolled blazes.<br />
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Not fun for us flat-land Floridians, struggling to acclimate to the town's 7,881-foot elevation. The beauty surrounding us in this ski town was both attraction and impetus to keep going.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of the many alpine lakes.</td></tr>
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Mammoth Lakes area of the Eastern Sierras has seen miners, loggers and now is a year-round destination for skiers and boarders, mountain bikers, boaters, hikers, horseback riders and campers, anglers and anyone with an appreciation of Nature's beauty. Like many ski towns it is hard to identify a center as tendrils of hotels, inns, hostels, restaurants, shops, services and private homes wind from main roads through often steep and narrow terrain.<br />
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Our hotel, The Westin Resort, was on a short twig of a driveway. As one would expect at a ski resort, rooms came with fireplaces and pegs for heavy winter jackets. <br />
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A 40-minute helicopter ride gave an insight into the geology, village, landscape and lakes of the Mammoth Lakes area plus the Lion fire.<br />
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Pilot Brendan apologized that he could not fly south over the ridge - airspace was closed because of the fire - and for the limited visibility.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ridge, to but not over.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smoke infused haze blurred views.</td></tr>
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There was plenty to see to the west, north and east.<br />
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Mammoth Mountain.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mammoth Mountain </td></tr>
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Town of Mammoth Lakes nestled in the foothills of Mammoth Mountain. <br />
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Crystal crag<br />
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Obsidian dome<br />
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Mono craters<br />
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Mono Lake with its tufa, solidified salt pillars like a forest of Lot's wives.<br />
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Back on the ground we saw the Sikorsky helicopters being readied for another round of fire fighting.<br />
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Next up: Mammoth Lakes from the ground.Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-61374457822315561432019-08-27T06:32:00.000-07:002019-08-27T06:32:22.576-07:00Exploring Despair at Manzanar National Historic Site<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The U.S. National Park System (NPS) dates back to Yellowstone’s 1872 establishment as the first in what's become a chain of true American wonders. Lucky for tourists, the number has grown by 2019 to a total of 61 breathtaking living landscapes. Each treasure offers distinctive vistas, climate, wildlife and sometimes otherworldly terrain. Heavily protected, they still provide a variety of recreation facilities for all who visit. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serene beauty in Yosemite National Park</td></tr>
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The NPS also manages 419 national monuments and historic sites, ranging from historic homes to buildings, trails, markers, battlefields and cemeteries. The Good Girls give top priority to visiting these NPS sites whenever we travel, but not all produce the highs that the parks offer. Entering some takes cautious, open minds and yields sometimes uncomfortable glimpses of our country’s many-faceted history. </div>
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The Good Girls previously witnessed gut-wrenching tales of <a href="https://goodgirlsinthebadlands.blogspot.com/2013/07/you-will-find-what-you-come-for-at.html">Civil War prisoners at Andersonville</a> in Georgia. We watched a reenactment of the <a href="https://goodgirlsinthebadlands.blogspot.com/2017/09/custers-last-stand-from-both-sides.html">Battle of Little Bighorn in Montana</a>, an example of a long and brutal conflict with Native Americans. Living in Florida, aka the South, we have encountered numerous sites and museums depicting the struggles for Civil Rights like <a href="https://goodgirlsinthebadlands.blogspot.com/2014/11/historic-brattonsville-from-american.html">Brattonsville, SC</a>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statue in Vicksburg Nationl Cemetery, Mississippi</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicksburg National Cemetery</td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.nps.gov/manz">Manzanar National Historic Site</a> in Inyo County, California, 225 miles north of Los Angeles, takes you down a very different pathway to our past. Manzanar functioned a Japanese Internment Camp from 1942-45. More than 10,000 displaced Asians were kept captive there. Of those, 87 percent were American citizens, sent away merely because of their ethnic background and the fears it produced among an American public wrenched into a war it wanted to avoid. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Visitor Center welcomes guests to Manzanar National Historic Site. </td></tr>
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I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I don’t recall learning about the Japanese confinements during my school years. I first caught this agonizing glimpse of the past while reading a novel. Much more than a glance, my trip to Manzanar engulfed me in a history lesson I will never forget. </div>
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My first impression on arrival - - a flat desert in the middle of nowhere, backed by barren mountains, far from my daily view in lush, green, and humid Florida. Manzanar coats its scenery with thick dust, little tree or shrub life daring to break through cracked earth. The lack of water makes it impossible to envision the large community once there. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desolate grounds of the former Japanese Internment Center named Manzanar.</td></tr>
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The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, made a crisis of long-standing hostilities and prejudices of my Americans toward the Japanese. A Franklin Roosevelt order on February 19, 1942, authorized the military to remove “any or all persons” of Japanese ancestry from the West Coast. They were deemed dangerous in an era where fear of potential sabotage and espionage ran rampant. Forced to leave their homes, business and belongings abruptly, many had only days to prepare. </div>
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The government eventually deprived over 120,000 people of their freedom, sending them to 10 camps across the nation. Half children and young adults, 10,000 of the dispossessed arrived on buses and trucks at<a href="http://www.nps.gov/manz"> Manzanar War Relocation Center.</a> All they had beyond what they could hand-carry was an identification number assigned to them. Two out of every three were American by birth. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A reconstructed watchtower stands in the field. Manzanar was surrounded by eight towers. </td></tr>
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A 550-acre housing section (1-square mile) constructed and surrounded with barbed wire awaited. Military police manned eight guard towers, used searchlights, and patrolled the grounds. Outside the fence, some 5,500 more acres contained military police housing, a reservoir, a sewage plant and agricultural fields. The backdrop of the stark mountains completed the picture of confinement. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The layout of buildings with Manzanar War Relocation Center.</td></tr>
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I highly recommend your visit to the site start with a 22-minute movie in the interpretive center. Afterward, look at the exhibits and audio-visual displays; not many structures remain on the property. Then, you can choose to take a self-guided walking tour or 3.2-mile car circumnavigation of the camp, including some reconstructed buildings. National Park Rangers now patrol the grounds, exchanging answers to questions and leadership of tours for threat and confinement. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't miss the film: Remembering Manzanar </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos and interactive displays in the Interpretation Center.</td></tr>
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At its peak, 504 barracks organized into 36 blocks crowded the campgrounds. Each block included 14 barracks, divided into four apartments - - producing individual spaces of only 20-by-25-feet. Any combinations of eight individuals were allotted to an apartment. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLe6AHa3ySIo_yIgf6Bd1Ik-HzAvBG_w4zE-BfyV8DjBXHW0aUvS6lkEtgo4iWVC0Ie4ZaL4PvnqUylDXUQsXhvyGEIY8rN8KY2YioCHXDK13GIspLfdypJF_dXohG4b7Wj1q7xBZTfCg/s1600/untitled-9644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLe6AHa3ySIo_yIgf6Bd1Ik-HzAvBG_w4zE-BfyV8DjBXHW0aUvS6lkEtgo4iWVC0Ie4ZaL4PvnqUylDXUQsXhvyGEIY8rN8KY2YioCHXDK13GIspLfdypJF_dXohG4b7Wj1q7xBZTfCg/s640/untitled-9644.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An apartment for eight</td></tr>
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An oil stove, a single hanging light bulb, cots, blankets and straw-filled mattresses offered the only furnishings. The space reminded me of a basic scout camp, with single and double cots and lack of other furnishings, and without the promise of returning home in a few short days.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Items built my internees or later acquired at the camp.</td></tr>
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The internees had little or no privacy; mere open spaces comprised the men’s and women’s showers and latrines (as they were called). The reconstructed bathroom on the site tour succeeded in producing the feeling of humiliation those consigned there must have felt many times each day. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A total lack of privacy in the women's toilets.</td></tr>
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The park ranger added to the sense of despair that must have blanketed the place, describing the wicked dust storms that invaded the hastily built barracks. The internees had to stuff socks in the floorboards and windows to keep out the dirt. A small concession, later covering the floors with linoleum helped to ease at least that problem. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Barracks stand above the barren earth on cinder blocks. </td></tr>
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Most of the internees worked in the camp. They dug irrigation canals, tended the farms and livestock, made clothes and furniture for themselves or worked within the camp as mess hall workers, doctors, nurses, teachers, etc. Professionals were paid just $19 per month. Modest though these products were, they memorialize the indomitable spirit that infuses us all. </div>
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My group walked around the grounds trying to imagine the scene from nearly three-quarters of a century ago. The few visible reminders include concrete outlines of some buildings, former rock gardens, and an old basketball court. A ranger explained that the internees developed their own leagues, clubs, gardens, and activities to help pass the time. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A basketball court at Manzanar War Relocation Center</td></tr>
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They built a library, published the <i>Manzanar Free Press </i>and operated cooperatives. We stopped into one of the reconstructed mess halls - - I imagined lining up for communal dining three times a day. American- style meals were served, adequately nourishing, but yet another source of alienating the more elderly to whom such food was unfamiliar. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reconstructed Mess Hall at Manzanar</td></tr>
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The confinement period lasted for three years, when, in January 1945, the West Coast exclusion order was lifted. Japanese Americans were given $25 and a bus ticket to wherever but they were not allowed to own land in California. Many had nowhere to go and no jobs anymore. The last internee, a four-year-old boy, left Manzanar on November 21, 1945. By March 20, 1946, all 10 war relocations centers across the U.S. were closed, ending a dismal chapter in America’s past. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1988, a U.S. Civil Liberties Act granted a $20,000 payment and apology to 82,000 former internees. <o:p></o:p></div>
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While we can’t change history, this site forces us to remember some of its darkest acts. The United States may be called the land of liberty, but it has not always held itself consistent with the definition. Manzanar forces visitors to remember the protections promised in our Constitution and the consequences when we ignore them. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Manzanar National Historic Site<o:p></o:p></div>
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5001 Highway 395, P.O. Box 426<o:p></o:p></div>
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Independence, CA 93526<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://www.nps.gov/manz">www.nps.gov/manz</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Admission is free. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Manzanar became a designated California historic site in 1992. The Interpretive Center opened in 2004. The official purpose of the Manzanar Historic Site is to preserve Manzanar’s cultural and natural resources and interpret the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese American and Japanese immigrants during WWII.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3H4cMGc4nNkMz7vLAwECr3rgSh9ZC90hzoYG4920onH4vb7TnPbhms8gKKDaaRoSsxjZ90-iCL9cKTrIt0NNNENfj2xUC_KaW7DoKU_FCy_B1M8XpfNaDbxSWgtoB19CN22PCSyi73w/s1600/00119_150px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="113" data-original-width="150" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3H4cMGc4nNkMz7vLAwECr3rgSh9ZC90hzoYG4920onH4vb7TnPbhms8gKKDaaRoSsxjZ90-iCL9cKTrIt0NNNENfj2xUC_KaW7DoKU_FCy_B1M8XpfNaDbxSWgtoB19CN22PCSyi73w/s400/00119_150px.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Ansel Adams, 1943, on a visit to Manzanar. Photo from the Library of Congress Collection</td></tr>
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Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-40358606101500440322019-08-20T06:43:00.003-07:002019-08-20T06:48:48.101-07:00What next? See the best free museum, eat the biggest pancake en route to Mt. Whitney and off-road around old tungsten mines<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">There is so much to see and do around Bishop we had to save the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, the White Mountain Research Center and the ancient Bristle Cone Pine Forest for another trip. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were glad we didn't skip the <a href="http://inyocounty.us/ecmuseum"><b>Eastern California Museum</b></a> in Independence,<b> </b>which<b> </b>proved
to be a many-faceted gem. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We began with the historic equipment yard,
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">then moved into the Engine House to see #18
steam engine, the Slim Princess, that volunteers had impeccably </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">restored to working order</span></span>. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHal_nUBStBhyphenhyphen75BibjBHB_PnUyMBwi13XEEPkS0MGEvDJ0zTpq2aG-NtEUJkIX76TUOUyaUD3AtXL4lkgr-UUBIjCuuEYkbuAvHwWMWSpLXdIuk8BZrbe2Jzm5CspwLdU-BKtZM__mofH/s1600/IMG_2974.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHal_nUBStBhyphenhyphen75BibjBHB_PnUyMBwi13XEEPkS0MGEvDJ0zTpq2aG-NtEUJkIX76TUOUyaUD3AtXL4lkgr-UUBIjCuuEYkbuAvHwWMWSpLXdIuk8BZrbe2Jzm5CspwLdU-BKtZM__mofH/s400/IMG_2974.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">From
there we wandered through "Little Pine Village," a tree-shaded
collection of early settlers' buildings from a multi-seater outhouse to
post office. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4GBFh574ko63IkmUmDZ-atlMOgQJyknQqvTzMdBD0-dl_XYCiOT_kpyuZ4aU20qJkGxGIsTWttaRvVo3-XyRdelkv6Zhu993t7n6ZWqWXE0YjOK-cptx10ENaPuUfjKIRFIBnN5ebjT6/s1600/untitled-9601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="784" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4GBFh574ko63IkmUmDZ-atlMOgQJyknQqvTzMdBD0-dl_XYCiOT_kpyuZ4aU20qJkGxGIsTWttaRvVo3-XyRdelkv6Zhu993t7n6ZWqWXE0YjOK-cptx10ENaPuUfjKIRFIBnN5ebjT6/s400/untitled-9601.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next we explored the Mary de Decker garden of native
plants.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl420TfngGIG5ywcqQWiKoQOfbj-tuJ8ie52fmxMP0-lQoJHPCJDTQs6mkr-V8IdM3y_t_qQtKGJaPzvMwWa78-3w9QVlocobLYbFJ0Bcype-GVZLiWgAeXQ3_-bxam4uf_54I-vVI2OD/s1600/P1150178.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl420TfngGIG5ywcqQWiKoQOfbj-tuJ8ie52fmxMP0-lQoJHPCJDTQs6mkr-V8IdM3y_t_qQtKGJaPzvMwWa78-3w9QVlocobLYbFJ0Bcype-GVZLiWgAeXQ3_-bxam4uf_54I-vVI2OD/s400/P1150178.jpeg" width="223" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQGXXN7RcPiQ6bTz5VcRmldNVroETRiQn_B7WU1GY6lV17dyVv362NXjbWFOf6UapSlwDfJCTnQWQaJ9PXBQuFRRKnB2vh22uPaqbTTIq1bfQswHckecEs3Ydz0jA-hrZi0Vl6H4aA5mO/s1600/untitled-2091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="864" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQGXXN7RcPiQ6bTz5VcRmldNVroETRiQn_B7WU1GY6lV17dyVv362NXjbWFOf6UapSlwDfJCTnQWQaJ9PXBQuFRRKnB2vh22uPaqbTTIq1bfQswHckecEs3Ydz0jA-hrZi0Vl6H4aA5mO/s400/untitled-2091.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Already
impressed, we were awed by the variety of materials in the museum
itself, first and foremost the collection of some 400 Paiute and
Panamint Shoshone baskets, utilitarian and trade. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjio5JxiZL7dDfmwHfOUBXYRvLJ8YYhBZhWeVhurpNhcXaY7HOWlYGRZhauZftrQb2u3gNhXncAs2FEAk6cbV9qQvSxYuu6Kl3xx6985tIHoTFDv_C9WWNqZJKEZCAUTil20PvYIxpX7zux/s1600/P1150149.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjio5JxiZL7dDfmwHfOUBXYRvLJ8YYhBZhWeVhurpNhcXaY7HOWlYGRZhauZftrQb2u3gNhXncAs2FEAk6cbV9qQvSxYuu6Kl3xx6985tIHoTFDv_C9WWNqZJKEZCAUTil20PvYIxpX7zux/s400/P1150149.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The trade baskets were
jewels of design, those woven for use - up to 47 to 50 stitches per
square-inch - were virtually waterproof. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXz929fJciv_IjQ9-8omgTIgq_TwJ8eX1naeHjIyf8mRG0N5JhGK2sir7iysFNwfinVYVDkUK7cJMsUYyrYASOpWIu_bsjlbkH84W0VgROC7qxFSKIK_aKS4KPvaselR1dpbUuyoJiat5/s1600/untitled-9589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="768" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXz929fJciv_IjQ9-8omgTIgq_TwJ8eX1naeHjIyf8mRG0N5JhGK2sir7iysFNwfinVYVDkUK7cJMsUYyrYASOpWIu_bsjlbkH84W0VgROC7qxFSKIK_aKS4KPvaselR1dpbUuyoJiat5/s400/untitled-9589.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
could have spent the better part of a day wandering through exhibits of
the life and characters that inhabited the area. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsCDIexd7ZybSMBS5F2XEQuuCZmXDZ-jktOVuSfKD9MSf4k1S3cCvpVlU_uP3DHGuz9Ym1GpRfQterZnA79vRMI-4TmFzXtv21X0wi2_wfRlZwlQk2aCDNY3nRNtS2cqhSMcP3gc4nGPl/s1600/P1150186.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="986" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLsCDIexd7ZybSMBS5F2XEQuuCZmXDZ-jktOVuSfKD9MSf4k1S3cCvpVlU_uP3DHGuz9Ym1GpRfQterZnA79vRMI-4TmFzXtv21X0wi2_wfRlZwlQk2aCDNY3nRNtS2cqhSMcP3gc4nGPl/s400/P1150186.jpeg" width="246" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where else would you
find the story of mountaineer <b>Norman Clyde</b>, nicknamed the "pack
with legs" for the 80-pound backpack he carried ascending the peaks
within the Sierra Nevadas? </span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RmH-aK6D8N2sVujX-WgYDir2e_HsVXSCtpIwQ1WXDzSnAchpumUzOqrlZnJmpkyyqvJn4jkw0tDIIEiSfEa4aB_wqeTT-KNRQ2Olim3dZqO29zDTnTFnvaEMS78AjpAAou7KHBG8gciR/s1600/P1150184.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="990" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RmH-aK6D8N2sVujX-WgYDir2e_HsVXSCtpIwQ1WXDzSnAchpumUzOqrlZnJmpkyyqvJn4jkw0tDIIEiSfEa4aB_wqeTT-KNRQ2Olim3dZqO29zDTnTFnvaEMS78AjpAAou7KHBG8gciR/s400/P1150184.jpeg" width="246" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWfv-LtSGbjXKo6D9lGbDSE9kQIms-gysa8o4Dp1IngJrRtIkp1EOlPG0A5UvP0PPC-vOlj08L5YtpbCoAW83Ft6hCGiIf3Pl8VUshhTs0vtLGtjkQro2z-E_CdKTj_xlfY_d976Ksgk7/s1600/P1150187.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="689" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWfv-LtSGbjXKo6D9lGbDSE9kQIms-gysa8o4Dp1IngJrRtIkp1EOlPG0A5UvP0PPC-vOlj08L5YtpbCoAW83Ft6hCGiIf3Pl8VUshhTs0vtLGtjkQro2z-E_CdKTj_xlfY_d976Ksgk7/s640/P1150187.jpeg" width="273" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or a suit worn by <b>Amelia Earhart</b>, whose husband found refuge here after her disappearance?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't miss this remarkable, and free, gem.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ8JG0avAt54DeJiv0h6Eox8uJ1OT-82goevs-IxNCeQYo9RBZUbArILe52sQPjdVuCv0Ttp3apUnGy_0og33TBzebYsOOWVSJrCRI0lTVJl8aDS0o9ZTXXit5_VcO44SSw6FkZIAQ-Gv/s1600/IMG_3077.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="1600" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ8JG0avAt54DeJiv0h6Eox8uJ1OT-82goevs-IxNCeQYo9RBZUbArILe52sQPjdVuCv0Ttp3apUnGy_0og33TBzebYsOOWVSJrCRI0lTVJl8aDS0o9ZTXXit5_VcO44SSw6FkZIAQ-Gv/s400/IMG_3077.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The drive up to <a href="http://www.mountwhitneyportal.com/en-us"><b>Mount Whitney Portal</b> </a> at an altitude of 8,360 feet is another don't miss. From the trailhead behind the Portal you will have to hike and climb another 6,044 feet through </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">wilderness </span></span>to reach the top of the highest mountain in the continental United States.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdvQYFW3YYTuuoI1iVHwaYZfGKUgiQgNu45n9fAcneVBqLOylPYBZ1k5twBYvGiBwAJW2nyqW-9r_F-JbhBfTft9Mw01RbSSYC6YbWaWDu_zqJKcf8CXCHWy99v6YQpzCYukhCk6B3JoG/s1600/P1150246.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1135" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDdvQYFW3YYTuuoI1iVHwaYZfGKUgiQgNu45n9fAcneVBqLOylPYBZ1k5twBYvGiBwAJW2nyqW-9r_F-JbhBfTft9Mw01RbSSYC6YbWaWDu_zqJKcf8CXCHWy99v6YQpzCYukhCk6B3JoG/s400/P1150246.jpeg" width="282" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">For most of us, the Portal with Lone Pine Creek Falls, picnic grounds, store and diner is entertaining enough. The pancakes, promoted as the world's largest, are another memorable sight and taste. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fqQEjhygtVC6PFIbhvIJ6Lwyx8109uIotlsar4FN469dtcHce9NdH2hpgpzcyFkP4vmwsSODbx9tPZxw14NU7k3kSO0hkOE9xwX7sjODtHRSat3kLZmkrKmYRBkSBWdwLEc92PAzd2c5/s1600/P1150250.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1583" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3fqQEjhygtVC6PFIbhvIJ6Lwyx8109uIotlsar4FN469dtcHce9NdH2hpgpzcyFkP4vmwsSODbx9tPZxw14NU7k3kSO0hkOE9xwX7sjODtHRSat3kLZmkrKmYRBkSBWdwLEc92PAzd2c5/s400/P1150250.jpeg" width="395" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why the big pancakes? Story is that three kids stopped their bikes, came in and asked for the "cheapest, biggest thing to eat you have." They caught on.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx0mL9qSBmK86XquW73RZLHkp_HCZPZOyRdtzuEVuS1uSu2bm4rPDFbqLlnAEtythywV62NIwWWmMjlNfc6Lv1mhQHl6e_gYngbx8jKV6J45jMU9jIRohSanwKaJI1cwAHe_NGuK4IOJ4/s1600/IMG_3067.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1218" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglx0mL9qSBmK86XquW73RZLHkp_HCZPZOyRdtzuEVuS1uSu2bm4rPDFbqLlnAEtythywV62NIwWWmMjlNfc6Lv1mhQHl6e_gYngbx8jKV6J45jMU9jIRohSanwKaJI1cwAHe_NGuK4IOJ4/s400/IMG_3067.jpeg" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doug Thompson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's a precarious economy, said author, owner of Portal plus its Hostel in Lone Pine and 30-year veteran of the mountain, <b>Doug Thompson</b>. "There's no economy except tourism. The year starts in June and ends four months later." Skiing is out, he added. "The good news is there's lots of snow, the bad news is the roads are closed."</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8k8lkQo8lEVE9RxdmxBbIrgBi9_x2V7qtYr0GRoxGsIfedDumvcqnkyVuEEEKiz4_y7ThHuDna6FRldOGVeozlZDYWrtfsrVII5nq4GnS4oR8BeEtbnqiJ5VmJSpGUzw3e0LCleAZssFd/s1600/IMG_3181.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1495" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8k8lkQo8lEVE9RxdmxBbIrgBi9_x2V7qtYr0GRoxGsIfedDumvcqnkyVuEEEKiz4_y7ThHuDna6FRldOGVeozlZDYWrtfsrVII5nq4GnS4oR8BeEtbnqiJ5VmJSpGUzw3e0LCleAZssFd/s400/IMG_3181.jpeg" width="373" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were roads and sometimes we stayed on them when we went off-roading with <b>Randy</b> and <b>Susan Gillespie</b>, owners of <b>Off Road Rentals. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgug_no4tVelmvbRDQ_LO2FgNYEPSlW6KYiVkCHwZj0MCHbvc0fvwOXb4aUz9YgIP-EJVAO7sOdedTtEtwMHp0v6FCUZWNg_XATJt2NxtWb1uUtQxOq4GIyJfNarEwjIA9lXYCUTgrvEg/s1600/P1150363.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOgug_no4tVelmvbRDQ_LO2FgNYEPSlW6KYiVkCHwZj0MCHbvc0fvwOXb4aUz9YgIP-EJVAO7sOdedTtEtwMHp0v6FCUZWNg_XATJt2NxtWb1uUtQxOq4GIyJfNarEwjIA9lXYCUTgrvEg/s320/P1150363.jpeg" width="320" /></a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Donning our helmets and settling into a Yamaha Viking UTV, we headed into the Tungsten Hills mining area of Buttermilk Country that abuts the John Muir Wilderness.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XzfVAeGYgqm-VBX4_8OiTtmxl13hvcL-24lobWWNb8k5Ur8zqQfG4d-y6qkx1Gv9sEAWFza4unfxp1Sayt8bSoL5UWnmbKvxWFTOAzdba8ovMcQOPWffpZHFUsNi-6cbfuKTXSHCV8hk/s1600/IMG_3216.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XzfVAeGYgqm-VBX4_8OiTtmxl13hvcL-24lobWWNb8k5Ur8zqQfG4d-y6qkx1Gv9sEAWFza4unfxp1Sayt8bSoL5UWnmbKvxWFTOAzdba8ovMcQOPWffpZHFUsNi-6cbfuKTXSHCV8hk/s400/IMG_3216.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Up, bounce, jerk, down, bang, twist, repeat. With variations in order, this was the tempo throughout our rough and rocky ride. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PcBTQl4NfM5KqADSTeggZ9LrgAVfoMUrVwZdCHeAIRX213h2ri-V8YukmxDYHCER8D6-WixD3zZvI0Lr-PdDklY8GNvRXui1Vw13UbXYA-pYi5PcmE_RuZxab9wcIiUzuP9ExgJLLP53/s1600/IMG_3255.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PcBTQl4NfM5KqADSTeggZ9LrgAVfoMUrVwZdCHeAIRX213h2ri-V8YukmxDYHCER8D6-WixD3zZvI0Lr-PdDklY8GNvRXui1Vw13UbXYA-pYi5PcmE_RuZxab9wcIiUzuP9ExgJLLP53/s400/IMG_3255.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">From the late 1800s until the 1930s, this area was pocked with tungsten mines, from the world's largest to smaller efforts, plus a few gold digs. In 1980 mining in the area was ruled illegal. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV_AsLyCiDg1HvQt0P7w82GB_lCxiu_2kTGPpQxCevynYYz7be0eGXjTeuSq1m3GDOEeoYyLixYKW8U_Ne22v-S6A5LoTK96r1JJfSH6vFaLy1C6hEPA16vU0_WgZitiL6Kj5wZz7SQNE/s1600/IMG_3187.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1502" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNV_AsLyCiDg1HvQt0P7w82GB_lCxiu_2kTGPpQxCevynYYz7be0eGXjTeuSq1m3GDOEeoYyLixYKW8U_Ne22v-S6A5LoTK96r1JJfSH6vFaLy1C6hEPA16vU0_WgZitiL6Kj5wZz7SQNE/s400/IMG_3187.jpeg" width="375" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3RbFIIHtrF_odGwPo4I6L6BXZuRLJcQ1q-gSFKetWyZ0eAJuT3VHV_2QEm_aDa8u9k8qoHaMcslVCYwhfhxwtz2a8AIm9OOCn257BnZ0LWtxzJUF-9_kqTnbURpWWkjuKVRtOm0sIjQN/s1600/IMG_3207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3RbFIIHtrF_odGwPo4I6L6BXZuRLJcQ1q-gSFKetWyZ0eAJuT3VHV_2QEm_aDa8u9k8qoHaMcslVCYwhfhxwtz2a8AIm9OOCn257BnZ0LWtxzJUF-9_kqTnbURpWWkjuKVRtOm0sIjQN/s400/IMG_3207.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">According to Randy, there's still tons of tungsten to be had, but demand has lessened for the second-hardest element known to man with the highest melting point - 6125 degrees F - used to harden metals for everything from tools to armaments and projectiles to electronics. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfgolmSo2zzAY1TjCv0iMZpN4wkpK23nL_adqVRrUvUuv11Fj9S8JQ2lr_8NgcgmdWSsZ2dIDEb4FGEmUTvmF9NzYpr7NgWxg-Ep11qgywmcJBEn6wRVYdC0y8ssLbbAYS0E7KvjDncpq/s1600/IMG_3235.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1193" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikfgolmSo2zzAY1TjCv0iMZpN4wkpK23nL_adqVRrUvUuv11Fj9S8JQ2lr_8NgcgmdWSsZ2dIDEb4FGEmUTvmF9NzYpr7NgWxg-Ep11qgywmcJBEn6wRVYdC0y8ssLbbAYS0E7KvjDncpq/s400/IMG_3235.jpeg" width="297" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We stopped for a picnic lunch amid the boulders of Buttermilk Country which offered a bit of shade in the otherwise treeless area. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uywNKw6rUd-1DGgTfeLvpWFCE7Apec6SAedrN2aJZhqCS6VMh9WdCtw1uC8v8sX5bOOtvJfac09fPIOthx8oUZVooWxaUe0LtvX02_8-_3LpvvD6zDn44JJy25ERa7xnSvcniJziTG2M/s1600/IMG_3243.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1179" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uywNKw6rUd-1DGgTfeLvpWFCE7Apec6SAedrN2aJZhqCS6VMh9WdCtw1uC8v8sX5bOOtvJfac09fPIOthx8oUZVooWxaUe0LtvX02_8-_3LpvvD6zDn44JJy25ERa7xnSvcniJziTG2M/s400/IMG_3243.jpeg" width="293" /></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had never heard of boulder climbing but this is where you come to do it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINh3bdN3k1VYn-XdFRWpYaT99hVr1DnIiJPn0DWUA6vjxTMVvhOiQ6gb-M6YkymzFg3sBeTR1LxWGTxbBZ2cwamA2BkrwRkzaiBXPx741mpGBvDhIArt5EoiRZzudyTSUtdWHtWJANUEd/s1600/untitled-2376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINh3bdN3k1VYn-XdFRWpYaT99hVr1DnIiJPn0DWUA6vjxTMVvhOiQ6gb-M6YkymzFg3sBeTR1LxWGTxbBZ2cwamA2BkrwRkzaiBXPx741mpGBvDhIArt5EoiRZzudyTSUtdWHtWJANUEd/s640/untitled-2376.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We looked back at photos we had taken and were dismayed by how badly the increasing haze overlaying this usually smog-free area affected their clarity.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOicDzpCuwA7gM95m4ZvMmLe3bldi9H_KkJXnJlmrimdGGgGAgRJ4NVsX3mTNvWiZu6SqlRnXFgoOZfHHqlxehpWDpPAcmiK3YjjZQSLTAEcu1ytwtaUyTWR6b7FoRYI7BG5pfE3Lc2K0L/s1600/untitled-2407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="576" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOicDzpCuwA7gM95m4ZvMmLe3bldi9H_KkJXnJlmrimdGGgGAgRJ4NVsX3mTNvWiZu6SqlRnXFgoOZfHHqlxehpWDpPAcmiK3YjjZQSLTAEcu1ytwtaUyTWR6b7FoRYI7BG5pfE3Lc2K0L/s640/untitled-2407.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The devastating fires engulfing the Sierras were coming closer. Did not bode well for images in Mammoth Lakes, our next stop.</span></span><br />
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Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-18106502032785573122019-08-10T07:56:00.000-07:002019-08-10T14:12:47.639-07:00We find home on the range with our movie star heroes in Bishop and Pioneerville<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Bishop and Pioneertown, Western Backdrops</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">At elevations of 4,150 and 4,000 feet respectively, both Bishop and Pioneertown, CA, are considered high deserts. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nestled
in Owens Valley, east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range along the
famous El Camino Sierra, <b>Bishop</b> is the only incorporated town in the
county. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzr3A5xvCSs_4bo0yEwne16WN4YcfDOuyytZnvctYSeg1wnZEP0q83KFFperSBnDvBzX1Vf53IEcAEI48-iPKKMaAeZaLw84iYyHSAZoyfp3ICxkr-RV0IWSx8POfZ8pNYQzrW4Gj9l-a/s1600/untitled-2035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="864" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdzr3A5xvCSs_4bo0yEwne16WN4YcfDOuyytZnvctYSeg1wnZEP0q83KFFperSBnDvBzX1Vf53IEcAEI48-iPKKMaAeZaLw84iYyHSAZoyfp3ICxkr-RV0IWSx8POfZ8pNYQzrW4Gj9l-a/s400/untitled-2035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Known
as the "Little town with the big backyard," home of the annual Mule
Days celebration, Bishop and its neighbors Lone Pine, Independence and
Big Pine have much to offer visitors as we soon discovered. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
history here is sadly typical. White settlers arrived in 1861, the
first stockman, Samuel Bishop, lending his name, to the town. Cattle and
other livestock ate up the food, almost starving out the native tribes.
With the discovery of silver, miners cut down the pinyon pines for
support beams and ore smelting, eliminating the fatty nuts that had long
sustained the Indians. As today's residents say, "The Homestead act of
1862 put the nail in the Indians' coffins."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then
a canny Los Angeles investor managed to snatch the water rights to
Owens River for his city and the aqueduct it built. (See the movie <i>Chinatown</i>.) </span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2L9ZZflqVoYvvb_TsU-BF8ujq-dCW2WHyMc0vKEtHS5tFTCTata4l6WiMbrsI8eqFeGy67gYkwamgZNL7ZVqACyMOmExnNO2K2JQKWqnOmBrK04n-jsDYGcmzbtw-N4jTzHOoPPraBFj/s1600/P1150292.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2L9ZZflqVoYvvb_TsU-BF8ujq-dCW2WHyMc0vKEtHS5tFTCTata4l6WiMbrsI8eqFeGy67gYkwamgZNL7ZVqACyMOmExnNO2K2JQKWqnOmBrK04n-jsDYGcmzbtw-N4jTzHOoPPraBFj/s400/P1150292.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alabama Hills</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Discovery by Hollywood location seekers put Owens valley on the movie and later, tourist maps. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidI0Rpkc1FBop2PW4I4Her2qG1vsAL6qCItxoxXHaNt0Q7vgRVGeqVnlrkyreD53-lzcj4fSMVn1IEWo81J8vmWFK0Jk9fm3lapHLHgkKWgZgkmIXLqlEmTo-zUo-bMZZ_21iqA0_ZPM0W/s1600/IMG_2224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="800" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidI0Rpkc1FBop2PW4I4Her2qG1vsAL6qCItxoxXHaNt0Q7vgRVGeqVnlrkyreD53-lzcj4fSMVn1IEWo81J8vmWFK0Jk9fm3lapHLHgkKWgZgkmIXLqlEmTo-zUo-bMZZ_21iqA0_ZPM0W/s400/IMG_2224.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We had the <i>deja vu</i>s after turning off the highway at Lone Pine and driving through the Alabama Hills and soon knew why. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">See
any Lone Ranger, Cisco Kid or Hopalong Cassidy TV shows while growing
up? Tim Holt, Tex Ritter, Gene Autry or Roy Rogers movies? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Lone Pine is where the West became the West," said <b>Don Kelsen</b> of the <a href="https://www.museumofwesternfilmhistory.org/"><b>Museum</b> <b>of Western Film History.</b></a></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTpEN_ZdZA27pXKh-uRY3gfNfafkOrrWQJKN2bbi5NXd8KrSmhKqXStkWsGXNib2bb4qWFh0LkLi5TEv1DxyyFiNqFEAR4YE62grRcgYVa5ZQewDaT08IRW6Es5vzxisj0FxHuetdjC5t/s1600/P1150240.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1483" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTpEN_ZdZA27pXKh-uRY3gfNfafkOrrWQJKN2bbi5NXd8KrSmhKqXStkWsGXNib2bb4qWFh0LkLi5TEv1DxyyFiNqFEAR4YE62grRcgYVa5ZQewDaT08IRW6Es5vzxisj0FxHuetdjC5t/s400/P1150240.jpeg" width="370" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to Mt. Whitney.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">The
Alabama Rocks and rugged terrain up toward Mt. Whitney also stood in
for India, China, Afghanistan and other planets in films such as<i>
Lives of the Bengal Lancers, Charge of the Light Brigade, Gunga Din,
High Sierra, Bad Day at Black Rock, How the West Was Won, The Long
Trailer, Star Wars, Iron Man, Transformers</i>. Not to mention just about every Jeep and all other makes of car TV commercials ever aired aired. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">After
returning to our childhoods and magic Saturdays in darkened movie
theaters <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBgmHLtKHozeP3cxCq-AhWUso_k3Xa67Pl-HlBON9A6cv1mS1VKoPyE3_E_zKmrk2_BvHd7AVIgcVlfPMh1T3e7KF44ULwg8De55gREQASv8gCZNKcI8D2WRAe1ZuALxhJuBzPBqFQ1wg/s1600/IMG_3114.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBgmHLtKHozeP3cxCq-AhWUso_k3Xa67Pl-HlBON9A6cv1mS1VKoPyE3_E_zKmrk2_BvHd7AVIgcVlfPMh1T3e7KF44ULwg8De55gREQASv8gCZNKcI8D2WRAe1ZuALxhJuBzPBqFQ1wg/s400/IMG_3114.jpeg" width="300" /> </a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'd never know Roy Rogers was Judy's fave.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHViO0C8naJaFPsj_LUMvnjOY4LO3d4i2BRkfVDJZ5qLYLK0pmkuDyqrl82sDl_ylrb6p-sdAey-6Y6U4xSkY8LJgzzfWx_FMUnPdVFUCefh-5P33zCOswOzXdlRLZo3_Hhd5-XDK5bqI/s1600/IMG_3124.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1179" data-original-width="1600" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHViO0C8naJaFPsj_LUMvnjOY4LO3d4i2BRkfVDJZ5qLYLK0pmkuDyqrl82sDl_ylrb6p-sdAey-6Y6U4xSkY8LJgzzfWx_FMUnPdVFUCefh-5P33zCOswOzXdlRLZo3_Hhd5-XDK5bqI/s400/IMG_3124.jpeg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">and well-lit living rooms </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCHSF2UmukA71C4-gO-PhY2qgTsSeKyzorz00SurTU46UsLEuJWxt4K31bPm72MB-3OzEjhxhuz9S7OPUpd1vBPY_vdhhnMJc4nvAVYfc6dNF71MzXAd9juOBr0il6I7O1_qJTitzFd04/s1600/IMG_9750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcCHSF2UmukA71C4-gO-PhY2qgTsSeKyzorz00SurTU46UsLEuJWxt4K31bPm72MB-3OzEjhxhuz9S7OPUpd1vBPY_vdhhnMJc4nvAVYfc6dNF71MzXAd9juOBr0il6I7O1_qJTitzFd04/s400/IMG_9750.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As a kid, did you dress up to match your cowboy hero?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">as we toured the museum, watched a
film and drooled over everything from classic cars <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUWgCEuv_nEOjOB0z4gvZcw7x2z1P0NbyNE6refx5f4v6Vdc9-BLdqvRBlRYTeY3qAMp6hgVi04j3sYIsPf5diXNowxQQ0MSU0Lb93eYqfcDhkaqStBNPETHAnbi31XF2V0MQDJxUzdcp/s1600/IMG_3118.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUWgCEuv_nEOjOB0z4gvZcw7x2z1P0NbyNE6refx5f4v6Vdc9-BLdqvRBlRYTeY3qAMp6hgVi04j3sYIsPf5diXNowxQQ0MSU0Lb93eYqfcDhkaqStBNPETHAnbi31XF2V0MQDJxUzdcp/s400/IMG_3118.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1937 Plymouth coupe and Bogey, the star who drove it in <i>High Sierra.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">to movie stars' hats,
costumes and six shooters, </span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FakcKyBGRAU61yDY-HgfOJhNqRlXqX52pgFfSJWiaK7T457H2VjqgNi_jnjF6NLyucA6K6yMo3qFa4D2tONW0skzspc6heTc8POZQgPB5HSNjKtZmA38cNfvTuuKn_ha1H7FeSHrNT0C/s1600/Bz%252BXeXd6TtGRm6NX74hs0Q_thumb_21f2d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FakcKyBGRAU61yDY-HgfOJhNqRlXqX52pgFfSJWiaK7T457H2VjqgNi_jnjF6NLyucA6K6yMo3qFa4D2tONW0skzspc6heTc8POZQgPB5HSNjKtZmA38cNfvTuuKn_ha1H7FeSHrNT0C/s400/Bz%252BXeXd6TtGRm6NX74hs0Q_thumb_21f2d.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">William Boyd's hat when he became Hopalong Cassidy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKZLi2B-FpxhfShyphenhyphenUGd1L0TBXirYc-EZiyO_Mulhc0rhvxU7qHOLSLV3gumW6YicJPZ4Eh8Sx0UF-VTUbO_fmbSKSODLcVtvZKRfqM1v69OAh__KT9CE_kvtaIVhhaXLNl02NHKuudEF9/s1600/IMG_3140.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="1600" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTKZLi2B-FpxhfShyphenhyphenUGd1L0TBXirYc-EZiyO_Mulhc0rhvxU7qHOLSLV3gumW6YicJPZ4Eh8Sx0UF-VTUbO_fmbSKSODLcVtvZKRfqM1v69OAh__KT9CE_kvtaIVhhaXLNl02NHKuudEF9/s400/IMG_3140.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vests worn by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW40d3hv8GjZhzLFW8t2AVGkQ3DisQWqKN19nrdNjltQSrxJ7E-Zhaz4t32x8bfNdZRdDSOCoUemobs599MmZ7GtpaN0HcPAreQiRl926GpZxxS8eq4deWwJYHYDxu62qrkAOFDaw0LsX2/s1600/IMG_3151.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1549" data-original-width="1600" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW40d3hv8GjZhzLFW8t2AVGkQ3DisQWqKN19nrdNjltQSrxJ7E-Zhaz4t32x8bfNdZRdDSOCoUemobs599MmZ7GtpaN0HcPAreQiRl926GpZxxS8eq4deWwJYHYDxu62qrkAOFDaw0LsX2/s400/IMG_3151.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wielded by Gregory Peck.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">we accompanied Don back to a specific are a
of Alabama Rocks. </span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3co0dIfl_BvtygV3Nb0WuMzj7uEePa6j7b9ceq-zwN9hd4mebBLdqhy0BvB9BJe-20J0JZek1B-ftWG5mXhnauyJ8agB6WOOX7tNReheTnL8zBVPmJlOc4k0S38wxfKIlOjRxrdWNM71x/s1600/P1150302.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3co0dIfl_BvtygV3Nb0WuMzj7uEePa6j7b9ceq-zwN9hd4mebBLdqhy0BvB9BJe-20J0JZek1B-ftWG5mXhnauyJ8agB6WOOX7tNReheTnL8zBVPmJlOc4k0S38wxfKIlOjRxrdWNM71x/s400/P1150302.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Shot script from The Lone Ranger episode "Counterfeit Mask" in hand, Don shows us where the horsemen arrive., surprising Tonto and the Lone Ranger.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">There we followed the the script to sites where scenes
of the 1956 Lone Ranger episode were shot. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hNX3liR7uYz1_h8Gu7sg2qq_bWbKaKClxTFQD5saKjMyc9No6ren-yobBeEnUj9Lqplc_gcn7kmpY0vIsXM230rBqMdcWb65nD_8prA0JIF-GkYo3VxcCWDS6aFyUldsfuE30pxMVlpG/s1600/IMG_1357.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1272" data-original-width="1600" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6hNX3liR7uYz1_h8Gu7sg2qq_bWbKaKClxTFQD5saKjMyc9No6ren-yobBeEnUj9Lqplc_gcn7kmpY0vIsXM230rBqMdcWb65nD_8prA0JIF-GkYo3VxcCWDS6aFyUldsfuE30pxMVlpG/s400/IMG_1357.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scout and Silver's ears are back because they did not get along.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hi-ho, Hollywood! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dining in Bishop is casual and fun. We found good barbecue at <b><a href="https://www.holysmoketexasstylebbq.com/">Holy Smoke</a></b> and whopping burgers and steaks in the lively setting at <a href="https://www.schatsroadhouse.com/"><b>Aaron Schat's Roadhouse</b></a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Pioneertown</b> may be the only town named after a Western quartet. Story goes that movie bad guy <b>Dick Curtis</b> halted his horse on a grassy knoll and said, "This is the place." In 1946, he, and investors like members of </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">the </span></span><b>Sons of the Pioneers</b> (who sang with the singing cowboys and were so popular the town was given their name), <b>Roy Rogers</b>, <b>Philip N. Krasne</b>, <b>Gene Autry</b> and <b>Russell Hayden</b> built Pioneertown as a working movie set. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yoO25qwp_7XC7CHM12p2F8H2QeAQNKW5t4AlyaCsPWYODn-l8Z9ausThQKCRXAtpKy_-VEch7IVywde9n0LzK5LH0rexCz1UyRcm9hUYudPsMrUHx1AcUjaE9vQEaOVjlEnHWLbDjVoR/s1600/untitled-8710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="864" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yoO25qwp_7XC7CHM12p2F8H2QeAQNKW5t4AlyaCsPWYODn-l8Z9ausThQKCRXAtpKy_-VEch7IVywde9n0LzK5LH0rexCz1UyRcm9hUYudPsMrUHx1AcUjaE9vQEaOVjlEnHWLbDjVoR/s400/untitled-8710.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Selected for its versatile terrain, the area could replicate the scenery of seven Western states. At its peak, the Pioneertown complex included The Townhouse, a 20-room motel for cast and crew; corrals, stables, a sound stage and storage facilities; the Golden Stallion, a Chinese restaurant; two saloons and a six-lane bowling alley that kept Roy Rogers entertained. More than 50 films and a number of television series were shot here.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today the Townhouse is the <a href="http://pioneertown-motel.com/"><b>Pioneertown Motel</b></a>, open to all, some of its rooms named for cowboy stars. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gene Autry was known for holding late night poker games in his. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">No TVs but free Wi-Fi and folding chairs you are welcome to use on jaunts during your stay. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">And yes, there is a lively saloon and restaurant, <b><a href="http://www.pappyandharriets's.com/">Pappy and Harriet's</a> </b>a short walk away. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWFKFCW2Y7CwmjN0k27fpsF9kDGBIDUDz9DHW5YYjbGY90Whl13qnOt-GKS9W2OyBOZc_7rwJa6KGIwWzRZ-c3h4U0qxfd2kMx6GiEW5Ei-3gBS90Ei04AhrHX0PdRLXsk_DXxE5Zpi4f/s1600/IMG_0820+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWFKFCW2Y7CwmjN0k27fpsF9kDGBIDUDz9DHW5YYjbGY90Whl13qnOt-GKS9W2OyBOZc_7rwJa6KGIwWzRZ-c3h4U0qxfd2kMx6GiEW5Ei-3gBS90Ei04AhrHX0PdRLXsk_DXxE5Zpi4f/s400/IMG_0820+2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">For breakfast, the Good Girls hopped in a car and headed to nearby <a href="http://www.cafefrontier.com/menu"><b>Frontier Cafe</b></a>. Worth the wait.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like Bishop, Pioneertown is one of several communities including 29 Palms, Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree beyond Palm Springs. More about those later.</span></span><br />
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<br />Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-60587687153009517832019-08-01T05:39:00.000-07:002019-08-01T05:39:25.852-07:00Following a Fault-line to Cowboys, Hot Glam and Parks Exploring Two Hot California Destinations<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two different road trips, two
different destinations in one state - California - and one fault line, the San
Andreas, drew the time and attention of the Good Girls. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0H6ij-ObkOCNXHmpfu-C4PBYcAmag9QH50wb2TIXCyAf-yJiXbm3MciOaqxtdswksOOfc3IVERY61ry_fCxNYsmuCLN8nhwY5cnCV_sHXHrTMuLvhyphenhyphenympJlv2tqRWpErMCX5p0z0vNlt/s1600/IMG_1379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0H6ij-ObkOCNXHmpfu-C4PBYcAmag9QH50wb2TIXCyAf-yJiXbm3MciOaqxtdswksOOfc3IVERY61ry_fCxNYsmuCLN8nhwY5cnCV_sHXHrTMuLvhyphenhyphenympJlv2tqRWpErMCX5p0z0vNlt/s400/IMG_1379.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The ski resort <b>Mammoth
Lake</b>, east of San Francisco, came first followed by the mid-century glam of <b>Palm Springs</b>,
east of Los Angeles, both during the more affordable summer off-season. In both cases we found
surrounding sites well worth exploring, too. Hollywood stars, writers and directors,
not to mention prospectors, visionaries and Native Americans, preceded us,
leaving footsteps we had to follow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We found similarities in each area. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both are in valleys between mountain ranges. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4xvCW6kfYb_Xj7RX5gq2hrHl17hL0hfvmTFgaERGQp_27P_FyHGAw4NHXwZ_QCihsvp8m6y6mL0fWWgv7WQYvxAfQ1kdo2pjMjtkyX9RhB6wYpMT4V-BE-GsI14PYJpcV14eNzt92uz1/s1600/IMG_3548.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1408" data-original-width="1600" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4xvCW6kfYb_Xj7RX5gq2hrHl17hL0hfvmTFgaERGQp_27P_FyHGAw4NHXwZ_QCihsvp8m6y6mL0fWWgv7WQYvxAfQ1kdo2pjMjtkyX9RhB6wYpMT4V-BE-GsI14PYJpcV14eNzt92uz1/s400/IMG_3548.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mammoth Lakes area</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgpXp5CoSDf4iZHeteJz0p5omJOY8UzmaBBoMB8extBnyCdcCFcpoIDWZB02bDGEnYA3Ie4_9ECp2iV03xSC-2KXhOhevSA1ga12vAkLM966z0-XxZrb3krT1dFAzFME95f_iMPd-bR9y/s1600/IMG_0029.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgpXp5CoSDf4iZHeteJz0p5omJOY8UzmaBBoMB8extBnyCdcCFcpoIDWZB02bDGEnYA3Ie4_9ECp2iV03xSC-2KXhOhevSA1ga12vAkLM966z0-XxZrb3krT1dFAzFME95f_iMPd-bR9y/s400/IMG_0029.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coachella Valley encompasses the communities of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, La Quinta, Indio and Coachella. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both have been favorites of Hollywood, sites for shooting films and getaways for t</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">heir star</span>s. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKr7MlJNA9p6Db0y0mB-5N-n7D7eOES_OP_2O1nXDsvHVPh6-y4_LXbYM3mu93SnphU8IVILej1NtvkUaIt3UnKvoG2B1l3xmxBBAVC343FENDT8aD_jJoJ8CUAISGlABPVR_gVq562fp/s1600/IMG_1210.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKr7MlJNA9p6Db0y0mB-5N-n7D7eOES_OP_2O1nXDsvHVPh6-y4_LXbYM3mu93SnphU8IVILej1NtvkUaIt3UnKvoG2B1l3xmxBBAVC343FENDT8aD_jJoJ8CUAISGlABPVR_gVq562fp/s400/IMG_1210.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The late Bob Hope's home on Canyon Estates Golf Course, Palm Springs.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both boast National Parks and remarkable histories. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWdmadSTvhyphenhyphenSSK91218tKtzLRFCdKGKKwF5whvZfsoPFA3p4yWYWPaIE4OpF8zuI0_eLqVYdKOauhZ35BnmSiHwQ5kT63W9-RFGgXxqp821DuH17cQ_erRW0heqGGVAg4JvRWkKOXdGQG/s1600/IMG_3805.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWdmadSTvhyphenhyphenSSK91218tKtzLRFCdKGKKwF5whvZfsoPFA3p4yWYWPaIE4OpF8zuI0_eLqVYdKOauhZ35BnmSiHwQ5kT63W9-RFGgXxqp821DuH17cQ_erRW0heqGGVAg4JvRWkKOXdGQG/s400/IMG_3805.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yosemite National Park, near Mammoth Lakes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh51AU_Ce3Fe32GpSDe_r-q4eJmo1j3SPo0lO2e2HVqE-vDjlszh4x6jXzXtbPuQFgIh2vaA7szjxDatTyo_2fMbfUX8cCyxfNuntyMIUvlFZCx2G03sj8IYA-tzEakJs7-g6dly9vqvc/s1600/IMG_1150.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="1600" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEh51AU_Ce3Fe32GpSDe_r-q4eJmo1j3SPo0lO2e2HVqE-vDjlszh4x6jXzXtbPuQFgIh2vaA7szjxDatTyo_2fMbfUX8cCyxfNuntyMIUvlFZCx2G03sj8IYA-tzEakJs7-g6dly9vqvc/s400/IMG_1150.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joshua Tree National Park, near Palm Springs</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Both are on the edges of the Mojave Desert and both have an underlying fault, the infamous San Andreas. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1lt8m-uhvMinFnS_x5aZJIJsaKLZJV3LLb2REt4M0wZyeWW91TpylfM35accTng8vk3WV1ThTlfXbaocAQCREzLhTTgcPqGUr9iI7ceLuf1dPEseHcC0AGWsP_j7W4w2uIeUBCYpL7KE/s1600/P1150577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL1lt8m-uhvMinFnS_x5aZJIJsaKLZJV3LLb2REt4M0wZyeWW91TpylfM35accTng8vk3WV1ThTlfXbaocAQCREzLhTTgcPqGUr9iI7ceLuf1dPEseHcC0AGWsP_j7W4w2uIeUBCYpL7KE/s400/P1150577.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Andreas fault is easy to spot in Mammoth Lakes</td></tr>
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</style>Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-40857775885799925862019-03-22T10:23:00.000-07:002019-03-22T10:23:16.637-07:00Eating our way through China's Shaanxi Province<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8rZrW8AoBz-jFaAW5ivHoqlXWVKVW2L6Rjnbw6X4o-yUAP9j5res2upZkQh1WWIymDradr9_6t6TIfjCKsrTvatgTa5-m_-yALQDUVw9dNMfMxgt_qbVhnIjMODP6EkYYVi6znIiPUIp/s1600/IMG_0523+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1168" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8rZrW8AoBz-jFaAW5ivHoqlXWVKVW2L6Rjnbw6X4o-yUAP9j5res2upZkQh1WWIymDradr9_6t6TIfjCKsrTvatgTa5-m_-yALQDUVw9dNMfMxgt_qbVhnIjMODP6EkYYVi6znIiPUIp/s640/IMG_0523+2.jpeg" width="465" /></a></div>
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China has as many different flavors as it has people. Shaanxi Province has more than its fair share and if we didn't taste them all we came very close. <br />
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Meals were served at tables centered with large lazy Susans that stayed full throughout the many courses. Each lunch and dinner was an extravaganza of dishes new to us. Even those that were not to our tastes were pleasing to the eye.<br />
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Our hosts ordered for us, the plan being to feature each area's specialty, but plans often went awry. After the initial banquet, menus were never available so rarely did we know what we were eating or the Chinese name by which we would order it. Only occasionally was it possible to find out any details of preparation or contents. Delicious, but very frustrating.<br />
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The first banquet in Xi'an, hosted by <b>Shaanxi Tourism</b>, introduced us to a variety of food but we were in no shape to appreciate it after 30 straight hours of travel followed immediately by four hours of touring and the elegant reception at the <b>Crowne Plaza Xi'an</b>. Fortunately it was the one time a menu was provided.<br />
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Here's what we had, but for the life of me I can't remember a bite of it:<br />
Cold: Sauce with skin of donkey meat, vinegar jellyfish, brine with duck breast, beef tendons jelly, almond and mulberry sprouts, Shaanxi cold noodles, preserved plum and kidney bean, Chinese celery and bamboo shoots.<br />
Followed by: Mushroom soup, sauteed shrimp with assorted vegetables, stir-fried mutton with vegetables and mushrooms, steamed Mandarin fish, deep-fried crispy chicken with spicy salt, black pepper short rib, stewed assorted vegetables with glass noodle, sliced pork belly, celery and lily fried Chinese yam, mushroom fried vegetables, fresh fruit platter, fried rice, hand-made noodles with assorted vegetable, Shaanxi rougamo.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnBAlxDBednuMclPdMtArFbxQkqFo5jNBcdsDMo5sLSXr-4krbYGM0fxzU0wIKfS0VYMMEdIWxmzurMZ_QRiTZBLrpzWqF6tueV2Znot6A6ew5cjP7gmC9gP8QLAPB3Jt8kVQhrdExtOW/s1600/IMG_0123.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnBAlxDBednuMclPdMtArFbxQkqFo5jNBcdsDMo5sLSXr-4krbYGM0fxzU0wIKfS0VYMMEdIWxmzurMZ_QRiTZBLrpzWqF6tueV2Znot6A6ew5cjP7gmC9gP8QLAPB3Jt8kVQhrdExtOW/s640/IMG_0123.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is?</td></tr>
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We next were introduced to the wonder and variety of dumplings at <b>De Fa Chang </b>where more than 200 different kinds of dumplings have been served since 1935. We experienced 20 and their pickled bok choy leaves and cucumber were the perfect accompaniment.<br />
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A memorable banquet at <b>Tang Dynasty Art Garden Hotel</b>, headquarters of the <b>Shaanxi Cuisine Research Institute</b>, introduced us to a number of dishes relished by past emperors, among them a dish consisting of gourd bottom with dried scallops that tasted exactly like crab; a black moss,<br />
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a wild vegetable, with wheat flour that can only be eaten in April and May<br />
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and cherries with boiled, pulled chicken, head on, of course.<br />
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I particularly liked being able to try and compare three different types of noodles.<br />
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Would love to have sampled the fare in the Muslim quarter,<br />
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but it was stop and eat or keep going and try to capture the vibe of this people-watching paradise.<br />
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After zipping through the countryside on satin-smooth high speed rail, to <b>Yangxian</b>, we were gobsmacked when lunch was presented, an enormous, exquisite dish of shellfish - crabs, prawns, mussels and more. <br />
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Accompanying were local specialties and pristine curls of daikon, but the seafood starred.<br />
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In <b>Hanzhong </b>we had one of the most exquisitely plated array of dishes.<br />
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Tasted as good as it looked, too.<br />
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All Western-style hotels we encountered offered similar Asian- and Western-style breakfast buffets.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical breakfast - a touch of eggs, noodles, fruit, steamed buns and a whatsit? lets find out.</td></tr>
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The<b> Wenyuan Pavilion Hotel</b> in Hancheng was one of the sleekest and had the best sesame buns.<br />
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The simplest lunch we had was also one of our favorites.<br />
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Basic, no fancy presentation just basic food like a hot broth and veggie soup, more vegetables, potatoes and bread piled on a table in <b>Dang's village</b>.<br />
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The best street food was in <b>Hangchen </b>in what was referred to as "gourmet" street. Unfortunately, after a long cold day rain was starting to fall and the Good Girls were dead tired. We saw what looked like barbecue in a taco, bought it and loved the flavorful lamb and soft wrap. Watch out though; it's juicy and will be down the front of you if you don't watch out. <br />
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After seeing the Yellow River and Hukou Waterfall, we were introduced to Sweet and sour Yellow River carp and some northern Shaanxi specialties. Luckily it was good enough that for the moment I disregarded the National Geographic article on Yellow River pollution.<br />
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We first encountered this dish in the <b>Yulin </b>area. Reluctant at first, we discovered it was a delicious combination of potatoes and greens.<br />
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When we read over our itinerary we were sure the term "hand-grabbed lamb" was a misinterpretation from Chinese to English. Imagine our surprise when it was served, roasted splayed lamb along with disposable plastic gloves and sharp knives. Cut into a section and grab a hunk of meat. Hand-grabbed lamb.<br />
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Yummy.<br />
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Stopping in a small town between Yulin and Yan-An, we enjoyed watching the street cooks and children.<br />
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It was the season for moon cakes and rather than the elaborately baked ones in cities,<br />
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these were very basic. Tasty but a bit dry.<br />
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The children went for ice cream which came with a variety of brightly colored cones.<br />
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When was the last time you had lunch in a greenhouse?<br />
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We did in <b>Yan'an</b> in Northern Shaanxi and it was a treat.<br />
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We passed rows of seedlings and more mature plants as we neared the greenhouse of this village-like collective. We were seated at chic tables between a stage on one end, plants at the other.<br />
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As the food was brought out we knew we were in for an exciting lunch.<br />
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Each dish was fresher than fresh with a variety of new offerings,<br />
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many of which we had yet to see or taste.<br />
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A number were on the spicy side<br />
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but the selections of breads dampered the effects.<br />
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We were entertained by two singing musicians who reminded me of a Chinese version of tale-telling country or folk duet. Wish I knew what story they were singing about.<br />
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Would like to have lingered and earned more about the food and experiences of the residents but again, there was more to be seen.<br />
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We had a real surprise at dinner that night. Our glass topped lazy Susans were "painted"<br />
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representing Yan'an,<br />
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the heart of memorials to Chairman Mao and his headquarters during his fight for China.<br />
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The food was beautifully presented, too.<br />
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Our farewell To Xi'an and China dinner was an elegant affair held at the gleaming <b>Gran Melia Hotel</b>.<br />
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Their floral displays set a sophisticated tone.<br />
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The food presented was just as appealing.<br />
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And, to western palates, Shaanxi's version of a hamburger, <i>rougamo</i>, a delectable soft, chewy bun filled with pork or mutton.<br />
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Just the thing to energizing our packing for the flights home in the morning. Judy Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16318216013919007063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-82904447421158632202019-03-14T07:37:00.000-07:002019-03-14T08:33:23.602-07:00Mao and Me<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Revolutionary Chinese Leaders</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Before I visited China, I had no idea Mao Zedong was highly revered by the Chinese. They view him as a hero in the fight for Chinese Liberation. I previously thought the harshness they endured during the communist era erased any benevolent feelings. But, I was wrong. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chairman Mao Zedong</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Chairman Mao is respected and believe me, there are no shortages or missed opportunities to sell statuettes, memorabilia or souvenirs being his resemblance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mao Memorabilia for sale in China</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">On my tour of Shaanxi Province, I stopped at three major communist monument locations honoring Mao. The first, I call “Mao’s Fortress.” It was a rural revolutionary base where Chairman Mao and the Chinese Communist Party leadership lived for a while and planned their military actions against the Nationalist Government.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mao's Fortress is now open for tourists.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mao's Fortress is very far out in the countryside filled with cave homes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting room used by high communist party officials.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Part original and part reconstructed, the fortress includes meeting rooms, maps, bedrooms and secured area for high ranking party officials including the office of Premier Chou En-Lai. The mountainous area surrounding the fortress includes many cave homes. They made excellent hiding spots and were safe during bombing raids. The fortress lies so far off the beaten track, I doubt many Americans have ever been. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upper level of the high security compound.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">For me, the highlight of the tour was meeting Chairman Mao himself. I couldn’t resist the opportunity for this photo op, now one of my favorite souvenirs from my trip. I must say, the impersonator really looked the part. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mao and Me</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Moving on, we visited the city of Yan’an following behind a group of Chinese students, some in old Chinese Communist military uniforms. They were taking what are becoming popularily known as Red Tours. These tours are organized by government agencies and private companies for their employees to learn more about Chinese history. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guide in a government uniform. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Yan'an</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> in northern Shaanxi Province, is regarded as the "birthplace" of the revolution, All students study it in school because Yan'an was Chairman Mao's wartime base. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statues of the Chinese Liberation Leaders at the Yan'an Compound</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The Red Army arrived in the city at the end of 1935 after making the gruelling Long March, an 8,000 mile retreat from the Nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek. It was in the nearby caves hollowed out from the local loess plateau, that Mao masterminded a dazzling comeback and victory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auditorium or Staff Club </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior of Auditorium where Political Bureau of Central Communist Party worked overnight to pass a decision for Mao to go to Chongqing and negotiate with Chiang Kai-shek for coalition government to avoid civil war after the Japanese surrender. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Private apartments of communist party leaders</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"> The modest caves became the command center. The former residences of Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, and Zhou Enlai are well preserved and crowded with tourists. Each cave room is exceptionally simple, just desks, wooden chairs and hard beds. In front of Mao’s former residence, under the tall locust tree, stands a stone table along with several stone stools at which Mao was interviewed by American Journalist Anna Louis Strong in 1946 and where he liked to play chess. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mao Zedong's Barren Bedroom</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">After touring this area, my group went to the Yan’an Revolutionary Museum downtown. Here we were told the museum, “focuses on the period of the most arduous yet glorious times.” The modern facility exhibits personal items and the daily necessities of the leaders, plus a myriad of photos, sculptures, and audio and video materials. There are numerous dioramas that display battle scenes and lots of old documents and artifacts. Some of the signage is in English, but I found the museum a bit overwhelming. (I know I was tired.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exterior of the Yan'an Revolutionary Museum, a must-see on a visit to Shaanxi Province.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diorama of a battle scene.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">My group’s last stop was Pagoda Hill. Thankfully, our bus made the trek up the 3,725-foot climb because we were feeling a bit ragged at the end of our long march through China. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tired (but happy) Good Girls after their own march through China!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Pagoda Hill is the symbol of Yan’an and is known to the Chinese people through television, photos and even on bank notes. The landmark was first erected in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The 44-meter-tall nine-story brick pagoda is shaped like an octagon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yan'an Pagoda</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Resting next to the pagoda is a Ming-Dynasty iron bell, which was used both to mark the hours and as an alarm during the revolutionary period.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Still no authority on modern Chinese history, but I was exposed to and understand much more about the Chinese Communist party and Mao Zedong than I did before my trip. That’s certainly a good reason to visit and return to China.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ever faithful guide and interpreter, Paul explains some history. </td></tr>
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Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1582242476670334394.post-12693391457017182502019-01-14T10:51:00.000-08:002019-01-14T10:59:38.778-08:00Exploring Shaanxi's Natural Wonders<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Near the end of the Good Girl’s trip to Shaanxi, China, we stopped at two places that reminded us of National Parks in the southwestern United States: Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches and Canyonlands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">After our stop at Hukou Falls, we traveled to Yanchuan County, some 90 miles northwest of Xi'an, to a giant horseshoe curve in the Yellow River. Visitors stand above and gaze downward. I immediately thought back to my trip to Horseshoe Bend in Arizona, near the Grand Canyon. The Chinese have built a safe viewing platform and a nearby pagoda at the top of a hill. In Arizona, on the other hand, you have to hike about three-quarters of a mile to the overlook. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Horseshoe Bend in the Yellow River</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Heaven and Earth Pagoda</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Unfortunately, the day we visited was cloudy, and the recent rains gave the water an unappealing muddy hue. Nonetheless, the site is one of those natural wonders that are hard to forget. Yanchuan County is off the beaten tracks, near a number of old cave homes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Homes built into the side of a mountain.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The second attraction was a dramatic valley situated in Jingbian County in northwest Shaanxi province. “The Wave” is a sinuous sandstone landscape similar to the Wave in Arizona or slot canyons in Utah. The Chinese refer to these undulating areas as Danxia formations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering the Wave Valley</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">I’ve never been to the U.S. site, but a hike through the Wave in Shaanxi province offers eye-popping views of geological wonders. First, you descend many flights of stairs and then follow walkways as you explore. The metal pathways are excellent and safely constructed. Just remember you will have climb back up all those stairs on the return.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozv6-_uBPO_CEw0Bray6ROuTVPXktmwFsheBh5FW_Hgm7cMwqAHR-O8D7_UgrjAOaCrU1tFgGqwmMuPOY3f_B-wp_nS89jfx0HClm2FpWA63hzzeMgXsFLVYmA2jyQfzwnqtHnMcLuqo/s1600/Looking+down-9664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozv6-_uBPO_CEw0Bray6ROuTVPXktmwFsheBh5FW_Hgm7cMwqAHR-O8D7_UgrjAOaCrU1tFgGqwmMuPOY3f_B-wp_nS89jfx0HClm2FpWA63hzzeMgXsFLVYmA2jyQfzwnqtHnMcLuqo/s640/Looking+down-9664.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking the canyon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descending many flights of stairs.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">The panorama constantly changes as do the shadows and sunlight bouncing around the formations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQNFfWCESsk_vDWBk29eAShyphenhyphenobItdgjEKxJ01nkp1JygJITmj-9Ht1c3Jt_s9yOPtQUpVF5kRdl-w3LDNKB2kzROt4UqaYO2BrSK83mM9vfpZ8ikkdsZtXqxLKx-pvATcSol4wExJFLM/s1600/colors-9691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQNFfWCESsk_vDWBk29eAShyphenhyphenobItdgjEKxJ01nkp1JygJITmj-9Ht1c3Jt_s9yOPtQUpVF5kRdl-w3LDNKB2kzROt4UqaYO2BrSK83mM9vfpZ8ikkdsZtXqxLKx-pvATcSol4wExJFLM/s320/colors-9691.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVw6JUaWrnjGrJvnS4SAG344yMBmaIxGdg944L36jps27H87ihVEp3YN79iSDLwGR4iQJq-lystFCyubbhn02FiOWhCFO9mUcmKoSMB6mGNGDPUbG8VpeWJXpEm1yAtmIsMoH8rt0DOk/s1600/Mounds+2-9672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVw6JUaWrnjGrJvnS4SAG344yMBmaIxGdg944L36jps27H87ihVEp3YN79iSDLwGR4iQJq-lystFCyubbhn02FiOWhCFO9mUcmKoSMB6mGNGDPUbG8VpeWJXpEm1yAtmIsMoH8rt0DOk/s640/Mounds+2-9672.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Sometimes the canyon walls are close enough to touch, and other spots lie open to the sun. I let my imagination run free and saw many shapes, as the face in this photo below. To me, the profile on the right (below) looks like someone is whispering in another's ear. Do you see the man in profile? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiS4za1pgFhzNWnKpmgPM6RSkUjSsEXeMWJWq9tO6cOiPMo4gLutaYpXUWxc_zsn_p6NR9R_V0Zpq4iyY8sfW1MhFO_wGlCu0bVllBM9C5liKovMy7dS6LhgI01Dqm6dxESl5lNWj_Le4/s1600/Face-9717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1200" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiS4za1pgFhzNWnKpmgPM6RSkUjSsEXeMWJWq9tO6cOiPMo4gLutaYpXUWxc_zsn_p6NR9R_V0Zpq4iyY8sfW1MhFO_wGlCu0bVllBM9C5liKovMy7dS6LhgI01Dqm6dxESl5lNWj_Le4/s640/Face-9717.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I call this "The Whisperer."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sun shining down creating reflections.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">If you continue to the end of the trail, you will find a surprise: a small lake and a boat dock. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canyon walkways</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake and Boat Dock</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">I wished we’d arrived earlier or later as the sunlight was harsh for photography, and the long return became overly hot. Take water, but don’t miss China’s Wave; it’s spectacular and worth the effort. The landscape is brutally dry, but you can easily imagine how it would vibrantly change during or after a rain shower.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Striations of Color</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">One of those serendipitous travel moments occurred at the very top of the stairs on my return to the overlook area. Huffing and puffing, I spied an elderly man with the most magnificent beard and facial features. He was dressed like a character out of a period movie and smoked a long pipe. I asked if I could take his photo and he humbly obliged. Of course, I had to ask someone to take my picture with him as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg178VJfBnJfZfsXKQVZn4IxpRCa-bJiHXibjtpnEfXWzJrEHnl4y2w_1ux_-JRThAkS9WgJ0Ie0Hks_2sQy0HCgpnWb7Xo4MavZEcpNoKhoePKI2fuoSqN17lDN2aIzxOy66gL4k3A34Y/s1600/Closeup+The+man-9797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg178VJfBnJfZfsXKQVZn4IxpRCa-bJiHXibjtpnEfXWzJrEHnl4y2w_1ux_-JRThAkS9WgJ0Ie0Hks_2sQy0HCgpnWb7Xo4MavZEcpNoKhoePKI2fuoSqN17lDN2aIzxOy66gL4k3A34Y/s400/Closeup+The+man-9797.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTxOkgoi4-jULAOvLMlTMh2rl9uxwPvR1mIeYfx-UH5tgwCOsfTskOutKnRJry2BZClZ7HusveQgv37QdaWdceqKu74un6s4clpZcIF4ZOCqi64HTnWgG9ZOJm3suwSFtW3DTUclEMhM/s1600/Elder-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTxOkgoi4-jULAOvLMlTMh2rl9uxwPvR1mIeYfx-UH5tgwCOsfTskOutKnRJry2BZClZ7HusveQgv37QdaWdceqKu74un6s4clpZcIF4ZOCqi64HTnWgG9ZOJm3suwSFtW3DTUclEMhM/s400/Elder-2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTDqHPZbB9HtKjZ1rpfDm1kR5BoFHEEbPyXKIx9mSHX3pNiiSKoryrHiMU8RetQ5tK-YKF2zbvRuww__JNceiTROObg1IEMRlZk2bF5_kDxo2p3_wFcGTFUF5Cy42-BbLx6JCOuI3kGc/s1600/Me+and+the+man-9785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTDqHPZbB9HtKjZ1rpfDm1kR5BoFHEEbPyXKIx9mSHX3pNiiSKoryrHiMU8RetQ5tK-YKF2zbvRuww__JNceiTROObg1IEMRlZk2bF5_kDxo2p3_wFcGTFUF5Cy42-BbLx6JCOuI3kGc/s320/Me+and+the+man-9785.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my new friend.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">China is a country where you must expect the unexpected. Each day brings new knowledge of interesting culture and its long history. While life in China’s million-plus populated cities has become westernized, the outlying regions,like those in northwestern Shaanxi province, still cling to the old ways. The area provides a delightful mix of young and old, hardworking and friendly people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Chinese family exploring the Wave.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Seems trite, but China is a massive country and requires multiple trips to even to touch the highlights. An itinerary that concentrates on Shaanxi province guarantees many rewards and lasting memories. We had quite the adventure from visiting the Terracotta Warriors in Xian and the artistic production of Everlasting Regret, to hikes in towering Huashan (mountain) and the roar of Hukou Falls. We'd be thrilled to return to China again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Bylanderseahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01198078306634238437noreply@blogger.com1