Traveller

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy has done the most amazing job with its restoration of historic Crissy Field in San Francisco, California. This former airfield is adjacent to the bay sitting within the Presidio of San Francisco, my home for awhile . If you get a chance to visit, you will find this row of hangars that now house a kids gymnastics club and another with rock climbing walls. We like to walk along this area at any time of the day because there are always lots of to see and interesting people watching. The thick grassy fields in front of the hangars are perfect for dogs to run on, and for families to picnic. Be sure and stop by the Crissy Field Center for lots of helpful information - it provides hands-on, multicultural, state-of-the-art environmental education to kids, teens, and adults. This former army base is a must see for anyone visiting the area for the first time. The vantage points you have of the city and the bay are lovely and perfectly opposite to the ste...

Speaking at the 2009 TED, here is Margaret Wertheim: The beautiful math that links coral, crochet and hyperbolic geometry Margaret Wertheim leads a project to re-create the creatures of the coral reefs using a crochet technique invented by a mathematician -- celebrating the amazements of the reef, and deep-diving into the hyperbolic geometry underlying coral creation. This cool conference that happens in Long Beach, California has captured my attention for the past couple of years. TED not only gives out prizes to make wishes come true but they also have this great new website that does an amazing job at spreading ideas. Please go and check them out, and enjoy this talk about coral reefs and crochet - it is in honor of Earth Day and my mother, who loves her crochet. Read more about Margare t....

by sfcphotography

Photo by Peamasher My married name has many who are of Cuban descent attached to it but I cannot claim that. However, my love of history, people and all things global and about the love of travel has me enraptured with the notion that in my lifetime I might step onto the shores of Cuba! There is something certainly romantic to my generation about the notion of Cuba. We have been denied access as Americans but we have been privy to all of the other countries out there that do not have the same political issues that seem to keep their citizens from Cuba's shores. Americans have the tension from the Bay of Pigs Invasion in its history books and we have the Cuban-Americans on the Eastern Seaboard keeping the hot blood alive with regards to views of Castro and how the country is managed. My opinions are nil here but my desire to visit the Cuban coast and its cities is strong. Photo by Emery With the recent news of the current US Presidential administration seriously considering working...

Published in 1971, The Lorax was and still is an ecological warning that rings true today amidst the dangers of pollution, global warming and general disregard for the earth's environment around the world (developing countries included). In The Lorax , we find whimsical rhymes, delightfully original creatures, and unusual illustrations. But here there is also something more--a powerful message that Dr. Seuss implores both adults and children to pay attention to: The now remorseful Once-ler--our faceless, bodiless narrator--tells the story himself. Long ago this enterprising villain chances upon a place filled with wondrous Truffula Trees, Swomee-Swans, Brown Bar-ba- loots, and Humming-Fishes. Bewitched by the beauty of the Truffula Tree tufts, he greedily chops them down to produce and mass-market Thneeds. ("It's a shirt. It's a sock. It's a glove. It's a hat.") As the trees swiftly disappear and the denizens leave for greener pastures, the fuzzy yellow ...

Walking around the Golden Gate National Recreation Area is enlightening every time. It has been more than 20 years since my first visit and it always impresses me with its beauty. Besides the incredible landscape, there are numerous opportunities for people watching and chatting if you are up to it. Lots of residents like to bring their dogs for walks along the water. We often stop and chat with the seniors we see sitting on the benches soaking up some sunshine. Many will tell us about what the area was like during the Depression or World War II. Two of my great aunts were both active during World War II, with my Aunt Dorothy telling me how one of her jobs was to drive a jeep with young soldiers in it - ferrying them from the Presidio down the hill to Fort Mason where ships were waiting. She told me how frequently she would kiss one of them before he shipped off to either Asia or Europe, the little minx. On glorious days, especially during the spring months, you will see picnics and b...

A wonderful blog that I just discovered Go Green Travel Green was my inspiration for today's post - thanks you guys . Eating is a great way to learn about new cultures and countries. Having discovered truffle oil, all vegetables are now my domain (the last for me to enjoy was Brussel sprouts). With spring here it seemed like a good time to share a few of my favorites and possibly through the comments sections learn about yours... Five favorite foods of mine are: Kumquats - a seasonal citrus delight of mine, that ever since the discovery of organic versions returns to my wish list every year. This year was no exception. Did you know that Kumquats originated in China (they are noted in literature dating to the 12th century), and have long been cultivated there and in Japan . They were introduced to Europe in 1846 then in the US shortly thereafter. Learn more from The Back Kitchen . Avocados - known as palta or aguacate (Spanish), butter pear or alligator pear, is a tree native ...

Pottery is so beautiful. When we were children we often made the "ashtray" for our parents during a summer class. My parents never smoked but for some reason that and the pencil and pen holder were the two favorite or maybe the "easiest" pieces to sculpt. As time when by and real interest in pottery making was pursued, the occasional vase was made in a weekend class. Today my aspirations for ceramic making are gone but the appreciation for the art of pottery making and the talent that goes along with it is as strong as ever. In Japan, you can find incredible hand made pottery sitting in piles on the floor of a shop on many busy streets - you can find it sitting in little protective paper in beautiful and expensive department stores. Both locations offer amazing pieces of work that look as if they are one of a kind. Across the Pacific from Japan in Northern California you can find two long time pottery operations, both unique and yet very similar in their commitment...

Golden Gate Bridge View from the Warming Hut No one likes to move. Traveling is one thing but packing up and moving your home base is another. Having done this in a big way when living abroad as an expatriate was a huge learning experience. You are required to let go of certain feelings of possession and you are forced to realize that certain items do not belong in certain countries. On the positive side, uprooting yourself can be incredibly liberating and stimulating. You can build on your confidence, and dust off strengths long forgotten. Letting go of routines and adopting a more universal or global citizenship is very empowering. Depending on where you land, learning to live in smaller spaces or within unique parameters is also energizing - a sort of return to college life and living simply. Original Presidio Landscape We had to move recently and after weeks of stress and anxiety, discovered a wonderful short term home in the Presidio of San Francisco . (Presidio translates to Gar...