On Packing.

No, not heat, but rather packing for a trip. This task is alternately mundane and thrilling in that it has to be done and yet ratchets up the anticipation for departure. Since I travel frequently, I usually have a bag ready to go. It just needs the final essentials and I’m ready to head to the airport. However, from time to time, I’ll dump the same bag and repack it with some fresh or key articles that are trip-specific. Thus, comes the inevitable decision about what to leave behind which typically leads to regret during the trip. “I should have brought that!”

Either way, it’s always good to be prepared. Pack light, pack early, and pack orderly.

Published in: on July 25, 2009 at 6:47 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Post Card

I was just wondering how many readers of The Bent Page still send post cards to friends, family, and/or coworkers while on vacation or traveling. I mentioned earlier that I write a fair amount of letters. (This is an effort to stem fountain pen unemployment.) At the same time, whenever I travel, and frequently when I’m parked at home, I send a number of post cards, too.

Post cards were the twitter and email of the past. Sooner or later, they’ll probably disappear, replaced by another electronic form. The trouble with all that electronic stuff is that the formats change, the devices become obsolete, and data is inevitably lost. Certainly a post card (or letter) could be lost, destroyed, or otherwise rendered illegible. At the same time, you can simply pick the thing up, flip it over, and there it is.

My collection includes several large shoe boxes stuffed with cards. It’s a joy to flip back through them, triggering memories and conjuring up adventures. They’re also a great time keeper thanks to the post marks (should they be legible). Furthermore, they give an indication of the style of the day, what was hip in photography and design, as well as destinations and interests.

So when you’re out there beyond the horizon, or just around the corner, drop someone a card. After all, you get a thrill from receiving them don’t you?

Published in: on July 18, 2009 at 12:27 pm  Comments (1)  
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Alhambra Highlights

The Alhambra in Granada, Spain is worth all the hype. While planning another visit to Spain, I came across this video on YouTube, which shows many of the highlights of the palace/fortress in a computer generated animation.

The American writer Washington Irving’s Tales of the Alhambra is a great primer for anyone considering a visit. Irving is given credit for initiating the historical preservation movement thanks to this account of his travels to Spain and the Alhambra specifically. When I first toured the Alhambra, my guide made special note of Irving and went so far as to thank him for making his job possible. This sounded a bit over the top until I did some more research and discovered into what sorry shape sites such as this had deteriorated.

In earlier posts I also mentioned H.V. Morton’s A Stranger in Spain. He touches lightly on Granada but his insights into Spain in general are well worth your time. Like Irving, his account is first hand. Both of them interacted extensively with the local populace, experienced the authentic culture, and are capable writers.

Good research ahead of a trip makes it much more enjoyable and fulfilling. I’ll post more on that soon.

Published in: on June 20, 2009 at 2:23 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Heavy Lifting

Once again, I was in the New York Harbor area, aboard a tugboat with the legendary Captain Silva. This time we tended to a few barge shifts than returned to Staten Island where there was a heavy lift operation underway. DonJon Marine moved in with their Chesapeake 1000 floating crane. This unit proceeded to lift a newly constructed floating drydock from the shipyard into the water. Here is a photo of the scene.

liftaThis can be a tricky procedure, full of pitfalls if the weather changes, something goes wrong, or simple human error. However, the job went easily enough. The drydock was lifted, the crane pivoted around, and then the drydock was set into the water like a dozen eggs in the fridge. It takes copious amounts of cooperation between the people on the ground and the fellow operating the crane, who may not be able to see everything, including obstacles in the way.

Just another way to travel and things to do. Great story material, too.

Published in: on June 10, 2009 at 7:08 pm  Leave a Comment  
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