Arts and Entertainment

I, like many people, enjoy seeing animals in their natural habitat and have done so in many places. John and I went on safari in Kenya where we saw thousands of wildebeests and zebras migrating. I was most impressed with the height of the giraffes. When I tell people that we have spent a lot of time over the years in the rainforest I always add that we have more wildlife in our backyard than we ever saw in the jungle. The best place to really see and observe animals is in a zoo.

I am always impressed with how hospitable people are – worldwide. This was the case when we were in Haiti. It is an interesting destination, but it is not on many travelers’ radar. In the 1700s, Haiti was the glory of the French colonies and one of the richest colonies in the world. In 1804, Haiti became the first black independent nation. Over the years, poor leadership and other issues caused economic troubles from which Haiti has never fully recovered. I had expected beaches and I was not disappointed.

There are many great places to getaway for a night or more in Central New York. Off season rates offer great values. One of the places I wanted to check out this past summer was the new Harbor Hotel in Clayton but I never made it so it is on my “To Do List.” They are open all year and during the winter they have some great value-laden packages. Their Romance Getaway includes a one-night stay for two, rose petal turn-down, bottle of champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries plus breakfast. In February, they have a Valentine Ice Bar Weekend with 20,000 pound of ice carved into functional bars and other sculptures.

The small island of Aruba in the southern Caribbean Sea has sandy beaches, cooling trade winds, and friendly people so the island is dubbed “One Happy Island.” Aruba is considered one of the safest Caribbean destinations where even the water is drinkable.

The end of 2014 brings to a close two years of celebrating the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. The war is called “The Second War for Independence” because after the American Revolution the British did not respect our independence. It is also called “The Forgotten War” mainly because it only lasted two years and was fought mainly on the water.