Arts and Entertainment

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.

We all have people who are very difficult to find the perfect gift for be it a grandchild or an adult. There are those people who seem to have everything. Gifting travel creates unforgettable memories.
At first thought it may seem like travel is an expensive gift but it doesn’t have to be. There are inexpensive gifts of travel and the more expensive ones can be affordable if people/family make it a group gift.

I enjoy visiting places where history comes alive. I especially like watching the visitors, young and old, get excited about historical events while learning more about history and it is even better when they get to participate in the event. Such is the case at the Boston Tea Party Museum. Most of us know the basic facts of the Tea Party. On the night of December 16, 1773, colonists dressed as Indians boarded three ships in Boston Harbor and threw crates of tea overboard as a protest to the Tea Tax but for many that is the limit of their knowledge and some of the facts get skewed with the retelling.

Tora! Tora! was the Japanese code word made famous when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 propelling the United States into World War II. The term means “tiger” but, in this case, it was an acronym meaning “lightning attack.” On December 11, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt declared war on Japan; in return, on the same day Germany and Italy, Japanese allies, declared war on the United States.

Visiting Pearl Harbor on the Hawaiian island of Oahu is a profound experience and visitors should plan to spend the better part of the day there because there is a lot to see and do.