Page 51 – A Brit and A Southerner

Forget the Alamo – Experience the Real Downtown San Antonio

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Sep 15, 2014

Forget the Alamo – Experience the Real Downtown San Antonio

A walking tour of downtown San Antonio is a great way to see some of the key landmarks and attractions along with possibly stumbling across some hidden gems. This is exactly what we did following the culmination of our San Antonio Mission Trail. Given our time constraints, we did drive from each of the Missions to the final stop – the Alamo, but after parking downtown, we headed on a tour of the city for the afternoon.

Rather than relying on public transportation or someone to give you a guided tour of a city, why not grab your backpack and start wandering around the streets the next time you take a trip somewhere. If your next trip is to San Antonio, we hope that this post will give you an insight into some of the great attractions that you can see as you wander around the River Walk or head to the Tower of the Americas.

Please join us on our journey around one of the most beautiful, unique cities and hopefully this will give you some inspiration to explore San Antonio for yourselves.

Tower of the Americas

I have a real passion for exploring skyscrapers and observation decks, so it is natural that we headed to HemisFair Park to check out the tallest building in San Antonio. Standing at 750ft tall, the Tower of the Americas is a great way to see all downtown San Antonio from an aerial perspective.

I tend to take a few minutes to stand in awe at the architectural genius of these building designs and contemplate the processes that occur to construct a tower like this. Although the Tower of the Americas may not be one of the tallest structures you will ever see, it does warrant taking some time to see in person as it stands proud in downtown San Antonio.

HemisFair Park

After staring at the Tower of the Americas that is located inside the grounds of HemisFair Park, why not take some time in front of the spectacular fountain display and relax on one of the various benches that line the walkways inside the park.

La Puerta

Walking through HemisFair Park, one of the noticeable attractions are the various monuments that are scattered around. One in particular that caught my attention is La Puerta which essentially is just an open door way.

I could get all philosophical here and go into details on my thoughts about the ‘open door’ meaning but I will let you all come up with your own suggestions as to the meaning behind this monument. In a nutshell, I would say that San Antonio is ultimately the gateway to happiness for many especially if we look at the close relationship with Hispanic communities and the proximity to the Mexican border.

Aztec Tower Statue

Another of the monuments that caught my eye as we wandered around Hemisfair Park was this Aztec Tower statue. With the Tower of the Americas towering behind, it really looks like this Aztec figure is guarding the tower. Perhaps during the Aztec era this would have been a stereotypical representation.

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

Even though we had no desire to visit the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center while exploring downtown San Antonio, I am so glad that we did as we came across this amazing art piece on the ceiling.

Made up from hundreds of Pepsi and Coca-Cola cans, this star shaped design really gives you a reason to walk through the Convention Center, even if you are passing through to get to the HemisFair Park which is directly on the other side.

Torch of Friendship

Situated in the heart of downtown San Antonio, La Antorcha de la Amistad or ‘Torch of Friendship’, is an iconic abstract sculpture. This piece of architecture was passed as a gift from the Mexican government to San Antonio in 2002 and stands at almost 65ft tall.

The sculpture is an iconic representation of the relationship between Mexico and USA. The sculpture can be viewed from many different angles and interpreted in many ways, just like the “harmonious yet sometimes complex relationship” between the two nations as quoted by the artist himself, Sebastián.

River Walk

San Antonio is probably most famous for the River Walk district that intertwines it’s way through the downtown metropolis. Located along the banks of the River Walk are a variety of attractions including shops, restaurants, bars and of course the stereotypical market stalls that attract visitors from all parts of the world.

In addition, the River Walk offers visitors the opportunity to hop on a 35 minute guided tour of the district. For only $8.25, this is a great way to explore the various channels that make up this part of San Antonio’s steeped history.

San Antonio Trolley

If hopping on a cruise around the River Walk district is not really your taste, try experiencing one of the archaic looking trolley’s to navigate around downtown San Antonio. Now this is what I call public transportation!

Post Office and Court House

Including the San Antonio Post Office and Court House in a list of downtown attractions may seem a little trivial, but just look at the design of this building. Perhaps the picture doesn’t do this enough justice, but the intricate details make this a landmark worth experiencing.

Emily Morgan Hotel

The building in the background of this picture is the Emily Morgan Hotel, a Double Tree by Hilton establishment. Renowned as being a perfect blend of Texas charm and historic archictectural grandeur, this is certainly a recommended hotel choice should you prefer to stay in the downtown vicinity.

Samuel Gompers Statue

The statue of Samuel Gompers speaking to a group of workers is particularly interesting because it typifies many of the labor issues faced by the 19th Century workers, yet these still remain prevalent today.

“What does labor want? …
We want more schoolhouses and less jails,
More books and less guns,
More learning and less vice,
More leisure and less greed,
More justice and less revenge.
We want more … opportunities to cultivate our better natures.”

The above quote is what is listed on the plaque directly under the statue and are in fact the words used by Gompers to the union workers.

Summary

Depending on your personal taste, there is something for everyone in downtown San Antonio. My recommendation is to just get out and start exploring. You will notice that this list of attractions doesn’t even include The Alamo, proving that there is so much more than just the stereotypical top spots in any city.

Have you visited San Antonio before and if so what is your favorite downtown attraction?

Saturday Snaps #12 – Chatsworth Gardens

Photographs

Chris Boothman

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Sep 13, 2014

3

Location: Chatsworth House and Gardens in the Peak District of England

Author: Paul Skidmore @ Have You Packed The Camera

Description: Chatsworth House and Gardens is a must see whilst visiting the Peak District in England. Located near Bakewell in the county of Derbyshire, Chatsworth Gardens is a beautiful place easily accessible from the M1 motorway. You may also be interested in visiting this part of England if you are a fond viewer of Pride and Prejudice, as this Stately Estate is frequently featured in this series.

The estate spans countless acres and contains some beautiful gardens with a wide variety of exotic flowers, trees and plants.

This photo was taken in the grounds next to the River Derwent. The bridge that can be seen was created by James Paine, a notable architect who created several pieces for Chatsworth.

You can reach more of Paul’s great work at his website and the following social media networks:

Website: Have You Packed The Camera

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/packedTheCamera

Twitter: http://twitter.com/packedTheCamera

San Antonio Mission Trail – The Alamo to Mission Espada

Chris Boothman

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Sep 12, 2014

14

San Antonio Mission Trail – The Alamo to Mission Espada

San Antonio, Texas is famous for many things including the River Walk, the Spurs NBA team and the Tower of the Americas. However, undoubtedly the most famous of all attractions is the Alamo, renowned as the location for the Battle of the Alamo in 1836.

Did you also know that San Antonio is home to four other key Spanish Colonial settlements (missions) in addition to the Alamo? I will openly admit that I had no prior knowledge of these missions before our trip to San Antonio. These four actually make up the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, while the Alamo is not actually part of this and instead operated by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

After researching things to do, we decided to take the San Antonio Mission Trail and visit each of the five missions along the way. If you have time, I would highly encourage you to take the trail along the river and experience some hidden parts of San Antonio that even we didn’t see given we drove to each of the mission sites.

Mission History

This chain of five missions encompassed the largest concentration of Catholic missions in North America during the 18th century. The basic idea behind these missions was to expand the Spanish communities (Spanish New World) from Mexico. These settlements flourished until the demise of the Alamo in 1836 and to this day are still a prevalent part of the Catholic parish and open to the public.

Mission San José

We started out on our Mission Tour at the best known of the missions, the Mission San José. Established in 1720, San José y San Miguel de Aguayo was an iconic mission organization and a major social center for the Hispanic Catholic community.

This settlement symbolized the development of missions throughout San Antonio and the overall size of San José represents its reputation as the ‘Queen of the Missions.’

Given that we really didn’t know what to expect when visiting the Mission Trail, this was a real eye-opener but encouraged us to continue on our trail as we wanted to see more. Being able to walk inside some of the original buildings was really cool to learn about how these types of communities thrived in the 18th century.

It was also interesting to see the San José church having an active service on a Sunday morning. There are clearly still a lot of passionate and loyal members of this community which helps maintain the presence of San José in Old San Antonio.

The intricate details of the church architecture is impressive and the restoration of these buildings is a crucial aspect to preserving the history of the Missions.

Mission San Juan Capistrano

After a great opening experience at Mission San José, we headed south to the first of two smaller missions – San Juan Capistrano.

Despite the clear difference in size, you can still see the sense of community here with the quaint, well-designed church (also still remains an active Catholic parish) and remains of other buildings still apparent.

The original colonial ‘square’ is still in place and standing there overlooking the surrounding courtyard walls really gives you a sense of history as you imagine the Spanish locals going about their daily lives.

Mission San Francisco de la Espada

A short drive from San Juan Capistrano is the Mission San Francsico de la Espada or Mission Espada for short! En route to this mission we were able to stop at the Espada Aqueduct which is the only remaining Spanish aqueduct in the United States.

The primary purpose of this small aqueduct was to channel water for irrigation purposes to the surrounding mission lands. Today it is a great spot for people to relax and even consider having a picnic here while overlooking the aqueduct.

As we crossed the interstate towards the actual location of Mission Espada, we were disappointed to see that much of the church here was under renovation. I realize that in order to maintain these 18th century missions, such renovation is required but it certainly makes them less aesthetically appealing when walking around the grounds.

Mission Concepción

Venturing north from Mission Espada we headed to Mission Concepción which I have to admit was probably my favorite of all the missions. The gorgeous design of the church here was really spectacular and the whole feeling of this settlement, again despite being fairly small in comparison to San José was positive.

As you make your way around each of these missions, some of them have visitor centers with additional information on the missions. Mission Concepción has a small center that is self-guided but offers visitors the opportunity to stamp your mission passport (if you have one) or anything else you may have handy to mark your experiences along the trail.

Walking around the church through all of the small rooms and the courtyard was a really great experience but this was also the first mission church we were actually able to go inside. The meticulous details of the interior was the first aspect we noticed and although we didn’t spend too much time here, we were able to get a good sense of how the local congregation still enjoys this historic setting.

The Alamo

Heading downtown from Mission Concepción is a different experience altogether and I have to admit that I was a little disappointed by the whole Alamo experience. Out of the five we visited, it was clearly the most tourist driven and everything was catered towards this which is disappointing and really spoils the traditional authenticity of this location.

Clearly the Alamo is a historic landmark in San Antonio, but lining up outside in order to get your picture taken is a little too touristy for my liking. Unfortunately no photography is allowed inside the Alamo church though you can take as many as you like around the grounds.

Learning about the history of the Battle of the Alamo is interesting but I can’t imagine spending as much time here as I would with some of the other Missions that we visited previously.

Summary

Our tour of the San Antonio Mission Trail was cool, rewarding and ultimately an experience we would highly recommend to anyone regardless of your interest in Hispanic heritage. We learned an abundance of knowledge simply from being on the grounds of these mission settlements and I look forward to hopefully seeing more of these around the States in the future.

Dream Destinations – Collaboration Part 5

Dream Destinations

Chris Boothman

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Sep 10, 2014

15

Dream Destinations – Collaboration Part 5

It’s been a while since we released one of our Dream Destinations collaborations but after receiving a variety of amazing entries from folks around the world, we felt it was time to release our next edition.

From New Zealand to the Galapagos Islands, we have seen a plethora of stunning destinations around the world over our recent posts in this series.

Today’s featured Dream Destinations are certainly no different and we are excited to see where this series heads to next as we continue to receive very diverse destinations that prove our opinions are so unique when it comes to traveling.

If you haven’t been inspired by any of the previous destinations, maybe the following locations will wet your appetite to get out and travel the world. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the travelers that have shared their dreams with us!

Indonesia- From Shores to Skylines

Raja Ampat is an archipelago of about 1500 small and nearly untouched islands off the northern coast of New Guinnea in Indonesia. I’ve recently learned to scuba dive, an addictive but incredible hobby, and this area is considered by some to be the best diving in the world, largely due to the incredible wealth of biodiversity.

Here’s the kicker – even if you’re not a diver, if you’ve ever envisioned yourself living a Robinson Crusoe type lifestyle for a bit, this place seems seriously perfect. Between nearly deserted beaches and great tropical weather, hiking and wildlife spotting, its a nature lover’s dream.

Getting to Raja Ampat can be a bit of a pain, but on the plus side, it generally requires a stop through Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. This is a perfect opportunity to get some smoggy city time, soak up the great Indonesian culture and get my street food fix.

Follow Katie on Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

Morocco- Charlie On Travel

Souks with vibrant fabrics cascading down from the stalls, lanterns illuminating the walls with their ornate patterns, and rich, aromatic spices filling the air.

The idea of travelling to Morocco has completely captured my imagination. I always envisage myself exploring Marrakesh, affectionately known as the ‘Red City’ because of the sandstone city walls, in the north-west of Morocco. The former imperial city has two distinctive districts: the historical Medina and the modern, European Gueliz (or Ville Nouvelle).

By day, I would wile away my time ambling through a maze of marketplaces, and discover Jemaa el-Fnaa, a local square and a UNESCO World Heritage site, alive with a diversity. Everyone from snake charmers and mystics to herb sellers and story-tellers can be found there.

By night, I’ll eat vegetarian tagine from a simmering clay pot and rice cooked with saffron, raisins, spices, and almonds. I’ll soak in a hammam (steam bath) before slumbering in one of the riads quietly tucked away in the old city. I’ve read that I’ll be sleeping like a sultan, slumped into plump, fresh bed sheets and lost in the charm of the place.

When the sun rises, a breakfast of fresh fruits and strong coffee is taken out on a garden terrace. One day…

Follow Charlie on Facebook – Twitter – Google+

South Africa- Girl vs Globe

Confession time – I’m hopelessly in love with a place I’ve never been to. For years, I have been involved in a one-sided long-distance affair with Cape Town in South Africa and my crush seems to be here to stay!

This June, Cape Town was crowned the most beautiful city in the world by Buzzfeed to the surprise of… no one! Not me anyway. The city lies in the heart of the world’s most bio-diverse area, is surrounded by towering mountains, is home to a multitude of diverse cultures… and is one of the few places where you can chill with penguins on the beach! What kind of monster wouldn’t want to tan with baby penguins?

I study politics, so in my mind the shadow of the apartheid era and the issues surrounding Cape Town’s neighbouring townships add a bitter drop of intrigue to this fascinating city. As if that wasn’t enough, South Africa is the perfect place for a daredevil like me – it has all the shark diving cages and skydiving parachutes my heart needs to perpetually flutter with excitement.

Follow Sabina on Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

Tibet- Bunch of Backpackers

Yak butter tea and a dream destination… Weird combination one would say. So, why did I choose Tibet as my dream destination? The answer is simple. It started with the train ride from Chengdu to Lhasa. Even though I had just finished the epic Trans Mongolian Express, the 3-day train ride to Lhasa was the most beautiful (and the highest) of my life with stunning views from the train windows.

During the rest of my trip in Tibet I saw the Potala Palace, visited numerous other Tibetan monasteries, reached the Mt. Everest Base camp and walked a kora. I drank (and liked) yak butter tea, posted a letter at the highest mail office in the world and saw the gorgeous turquoise lakes. Lhasa probably left the biggest impression on me with its numerous pilgrims, monks and prayer wheels. From our Tibetan guide I learned much about the religion and the (sad) history.

Like almost every dream destination, Tibet has its dangers and annoyances. I won’t go into details, but as you may know there is a strong presence of the Chinese military police throughout the country. Don’t let this scare you away. For me, Tibet is still a dream destination with its unsurpassed views, the mighty Mt. Everest, gentle-hearted people and the fascinating culture and religion.

Follow Manouk on Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

There we have four more stunning destinations around the world. Do any of these motivate you to want to start exploring the expansive world we all live in? I know it certainly inspires us and we would like to reiterate our thanks to all the folks that contributed these great features on their Dream Destinations!

Would you like to feature in a future Dream Destinations post? If so, send us an e-mail to admin@abritandasoutherner and we would be delighted to feature you among a variety of other great travelers!

Travel Tech 101- Let your Luggage Rise

Product Reviews

Heather Boothman

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Sep 8, 2014

22

Have you ever wanted to take your closet with you when heading on vacation? I know that I am a culprit of this but of course we have to be ruthless when packing our essential items. I was recently introduced to the innovative designs of Rise Gear, an upcoming company that make it easy to pack on the go yet remain organized.

By utilizing the built-in shelving system, instead of a messy bag you now have a clean and organized hanging suitcase for convenience.

History of Rise Gear

As an innovative designer dating back to his college days, Lee Renshaw lived out of a suitcase while making constant trips to and from school.

We have all struggled to find that perfect bag to make traveling easier, however Lee went a step further and made a suitcase functional as well as efficient and effective for everyday travelers.

The Roller – Rising above the Rest

We recently started using the Roller which is a perfect travel companion for your weekend getaways – perfect for the ‘Weekend Warriors’ that we are right! The essential component of the Roller alongside the built-in shelving system are 2 sturdy hooks that will transform your luggage into a hanging suitcase.

Built-In shelves makes packing a breeze. There are 3 shelves that expand from within the bag allowing you to organize and stay organized throughout your journey.

Not only does the shelving system give Rise Gear a competitive advantage with such a unique product design, the additional large compartment at the bottom allows for laundry to be stored or larger items to fit. Outside sections also provide easy storage without having to open the main compartment.

I honestly believe that these innovative functions make the Roller bag a must-have for all travelers. This 15 X 24″ bag allows for all the storage that you would need when traveling the world. It is larger than your regular carry-on bag which may be a slight disadvantage as it seems to be a little over the TSA compliant dimensions, but given the organization and storage this far outweighs the negatives.

“It is the ultimate Rise travel companion. The Roller will revolutionize the way you travel!”

Weighing in at 9 pounds it is consistent with other leading brands in luggage. Rise Gear does a fantastic job of making functional products, yet developing a unique design that will encourage people to try them out.

How many times have we all been in a hotel and our suitcase is an utter mess? The Roller is a game changer in this market and it could be yours for $159.00 which may seem to be a little pricy but remember you get what you pay for.

Pros

Shelving System
Roller Wheels
Reinforced Zippers
Strong Handle for Pulling
Rubberized Steel Hooks

Cons

Slightly too big for a carry-on for most airlines

Summary

Just to give you an idea of what I was able to fit into this bag in order to conduct our test, and there was still plenty of space for additional items should you require them:

8 Pairs of socks
6 T-Shirts
2 Sweater
4 Pants
1 Pair of shoes
Toiletry Kit / Makeup Bag / Curling Iron in external pockets
Travel documents, including passport
Travel accessories, including cell phone, charger, keys

Kudos to Rise Gear for thinking about travelers when designing this product because the cost of the Roller bag is completely justified in order to experience the most convenient bag on the market.

The Roller bag also ensures that all your items don’t shift in transit and are easily organized for the entirety of your trip. If you are seeking different options and colors, Rise Gear has several that could fit any style for any kind of traveler so I highly recommend checking out their selection of products.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: A Brit & A Southerner was not financially compensated for this post. We received a free sample from Rise Gear for consideration of review purposes only. This is solely our personal opinion/experience*

Saturday Snaps #11 – 9/11 Memorial

Photographs

Heather Boothman

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Sep 6, 2014

2

Location: 9/11 Memorial in New York City, New York

Author: Chris & Heather Boothman (A Brit & A Southerner)

Description: An amazing image of the reflecting pool that is located where one of the twin towers once stood. There are 2 fountains that have the names of the victims engraved into the border marking the footsteps of the two towers.

People gather around the perimeter to just place there hand on the wall for a moment of silence and pay their respects to the lives that were lost on September 11, 2001.

We have visited New York City a couple of times in the aftermath of 9/11 and it has been interesting to see how the city and in particular this memorial has developed and recovered over the years. The stunning new design of the One World Trade Center stands tall over this memorial, indicating a real sense of fighting spirit yet maintaining these reflecting pools as a remembrance to those lost in the disaster.

With the 13 year anniversary of 9/11 approaching, we thought it was fitting to pay our tributes with this image though no pictures compare to actually standing at Ground Zero and experiencing the mood among the many visitors paying their respects.

Houston CityPASS – Experience 5 Amazing Attractions

Chris Boothman

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Sep 5, 2014

41

Houston CityPASS – Experience 5 Amazing Attractions

Visiting any city around the world can be a daunting prospect and this is especially the case when you take a trip to the fourth largest metropolis in USA. Experiencing Houston, Texas over a holiday weekend requires planning and efficient time management. Throw into this weekend getaway our desire to visit San Antonio (almost 3 hours away) and you really have a hectic schedule planned.

Let me introduce our saving grace for this weekend trip – the Houston CityPASS! We were delighted to partner with the Visit Houston tourism board who provided us with an abundance of valuable information on places to stay, places to eat but most importantly the top attractions throughout the city.

Purchasing a CityPASS in one of the various cities where this is available offers tourists the opportunities to experience some of the key attractions.

Houston CityPASS

The Houston CityPASS offers visitors entry to the following attractions:

SPACE CENTER HOUSTON
DOWNTOWN AQUARIUM
HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE
HOUSTON ZOO or KEMAH BOARDWALK
THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF HOUSTON or MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON

As you can see, purchasing a CityPASS in Houston provides entry to 5 of the main attractions in and around the city. For only $49 for adults and $39 for children, this is an absolute steal with the savings on offer!

If experiencing Houston during a weekend getaway is a little too hectic for you, the beauty of the Houston CityPASS is the flexibility it offers, as it provides you with nine consecutive days to visit each of the attractions from the first day of use.

Not only do you receive tickets to the aforementioned attractions, you also receive a map of the Houston area that details exactly where the attractions are located (along with public transportation options) and additional coupons to add to your savings while exploring Space City!

One of the key benefits of being a CityPASS holder when visiting attractions is that you are able to bypass the long waiting lines for tickets and generally are treated as VIP guests which is an added bonus.

Our trip to Houston saw us opt for the following 5 attractions which we were able to experience.

Downtown Aquarium

After collecting our CityPASS booklets, we decided to visit the Downtown Aquarium first early Saturday morning to hopefully beat the rush of tourists and locals experiencing this popular spot on a holiday weekend.

Approaching the Aquarium our first hurdle to overcome was parking. On-site parking is offered at the attraction and you can either valet for $9 or self-park for $8 which may seem a little expensive for one attraction, but given that you can park here all day it’s actually a pretty reasonable deal.

I will be perfectly honest that I was a little disappointed by the Aquarium. I have been to a couple of others before around the world and this was a little small in comparison to others I have visited. However, as a family attraction this is worth experiencing especially if you are visiting with kids as there are plenty of exhibits to keep you interested.

I enjoyed how the self-guided tour was broken down into separate areas, each with different names to represent the animals within the section. For example, wandering through the Louisiana Swamp offers bullfrogs, alligators and snapping turtles while the Shipwreck exhibit is home to octopus, eels and a myriad of fish species.

As we walked through the Rainforest exhibit, we were treated to a live show from a parrot alongside one of the Aquarium’s bird trainers. I have to say though that the best part of the experience was entering Maharaja’s Temple, home of a white tiger. I am still trying to figure out exactly how this is related to an aquarium but regardless it was an awesome sight and well worth the admission alone!

Finally, the Stingray Reef concludes your journey through the Aquarium and here you can touch and feed live stingrays.

Overall Rating – 7 out of 10 (A little small but the white tiger and stingray experience make this a worthwhile adventure)

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Located about 3 miles from the Aquarium is the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston which is a completely different experience yet fascinating in it’s own right. I will be the first to admit that I am not an art critic and generally find art museums to be relatively boring. However, I can honestly say that our experience here was very positive and certainly worthwhile.

After visiting the Louvre in Paris, it’s sometimes difficult to compare the smaller art museums but the expansive collection of exhibits on offer here in Houston made this a memorable experience.

Parking is limited but there is a parking garage available for $6 if you are visiting the Museum of Fine Arts and again you can stay here as long as you want to! Given the museum’s close proximity to some of the other CityPASS attractions, this may well be a good spot to park your vehicle (if you are not using public transportation).

The Museum is divided across three floors, each with a variety of exhibits on offer. Consider your personal interests before determining which exhibits you want to spend most time on. Our experience saw us spend more time in the temporary Charles Marville, Photographer of Paris exhibit before moving to some of the geographical and cultural exhibits from around the world.

The Arts of India and other Asian exhbits provided an insight into the life and times of the Eastern empires but the main highlight for us was the Soto: Houston Penetrable located in the Cullinan Hall. 24,000 hand painted PVC tubes hang down from the ceiling of this hall and provide a great interactive opportunity to take selfies among the maze of tubes.

Unfortunately this was yet another temporary exhibit that was only avaiable through September 1 but if you get to experience any more of Soto’s work, I would highly recommend it.

Overall Rating – 8 out of 10 (The Houston Penetrable was AMAZING but many of the other permanent exhibits were worthwhile to immerse yourself in the history of art and geographical regions of the world)

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Having visited the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, I was looking forward to experiencing the Houston Museum of Natural Science. We were able to walk there from the Museum of Fine Arts but the first thing we noticed entering the museum was the vast number of people waiting to gain entry. The ticket lines were unbelievable and I am not exagerating that the wait times were likely well over a hour before getting admission into the actual exhibits.

As I mentioned earlier, as CityPASS holders we were able to bypass some of the longer lines and head to the will-call windows which were still pretty busy and apparently we should have gone through the corporate/member line instead (miscommunication on the museum employees part).

There are a variety of attractions at the Museum of Natural Science, some of which are included in the base ticket provided by the CityPASS but others that are added costs should you wish to see them. As with most museums, there are permanent exhibits along with special, seasonal displays. We visited during the Shark! season which gives you the opportunity to touch live sharks! A pretty cool experience I am sure but given the wait time was about 3 hours for this, we opted against this.

The Wortham Giant Screen Theatre offers a 4k digital experience with advanced 3D technology and a variety of shows are on display here. In addition, if you prefer the more relaxing Planetarium or Butterfly Center, you can purchase tickets for these also.

My favorite experience was in the Wiess Energy Hall where you can learn about the processes of energy development, from the drilling of oil wells to the various ways energy is used. The ‘Geovator’ is a simulator that takes you on an interactive experience down an oil well and explains the various stages in oil production.

The Morian Hall of Paleontology was also really insightful as it took you through the various pre-historic periods to the current day and provided a number of exhibits highlighting the various transitions from dinosaur to current day humans.

You could certainly spend several hours in the Houston Museum of Natural Science and leave with a plethora of knowledge in this domain. I would certainly love to back here and spend some more time to really enhance the overall experience.

Overall Rating – 8 out of 10 (The permanent exhibits are really cool but it was disappointing that the wait times for the temporary exhibits prevented us from experiencing them)

Space Center Houston

The attraction I was most looking forward to was Space Center Houston which is the official visitor center to the active Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Part of the NASA group of active space centers, the location in Houston is about 30 minutes south-east of the downtown metroplis.

We opted for a late afternoon visit to the Space Center and after spending a couple of hours here we headed down to Galveston for the evening which is only another 30 minutes from there and highly recommended if you want to take a break from the city lifestyle for a few hours.

There are really two main parts to the Space Center Houston experience. The first is encapsulated in the actual visitor center and provides a variety of interactive experiences that you can participate in along with learning about the history of space exploration. The second which I have to admit was my favorite is the NASA Tram Tour which takes you around the grounds of the active space center.

There are a couple of tour options available, one that takes you to Mission Control and the other which we opted for takes you through the astronaut training process. Both tours culminate at Rocket Park, home to the legendary Saturn V rocket.

Overall Rating – 9 out of 10 (Highly recommend taking one or both of the tram tours if time permits! The interactive visitor center offers plenty for all the family to embrace your learning of space exploration)

Houston Zoo

After completing all of the first four attractions on our first day, we saved Houston Zoo until our final day prior to heading home. Parking at the zoo is free which is always an added bonus and a short walk through Hermann Park takes you to the entrance.

You will really see the benefits of pre-ordering the CityPASS as you are able to skip directly past all the ticket lines and go through the main entrance. I would highly recommend grabbing a map of the zoo because it can be difficult to navigate you way around ensuring you don’t miss any of the animals.

Some of our favorite exhibits included the elephants and giraffes which both provided easy access for viewing. I tend to compare a lot of zoos with our experience at St. Louis Zoo which is still my favorite here in USA, probably because it is free and the exhibits are well designed for visitors to see the animals in near natural habitats.

Houston Zoo offers a fun-filled family adventure with plenty of animal species to keep you interested.

Overall Rating – 8 out of 10 (A wide variety of animals on show made this a great experience but disappointed that it didn’t have the ‘wow’ factor to really make this zoo stand out among others)

Summary

There you have our weekend getaway experience with the CityPASS attractions in Houston. As you can see from the list at the top of the post, there are a couple of other options available such as the Kemah Boardwalk which gives you free access to theme park rides for a day (with a few exceptions) and The Children’s Museum of Houston.

Our recommendation is do you research prior to heading to Houston and decide exactly which attractions you want to visit. We proved that you can explore all five in a weekend but if time permits I would highly recommend taking more time in certain spots to really enhance your experience.

Disclaimer – We would like to thank Visit Houston for providing us with 2 CityPASS booklets for our trip.These are solely our personal opinions/experiences and we were not financially compensated for this post.

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Top 10 Iconic Structures in New York City

Chris Boothman

-

Sep 3, 2014

22

Top 10 Iconic Structures in New York City

Wandering the streets of New York City is the catalyst for many visitors to explore the amazing sights and attractions. However, the main reasons for visiting the so-called Big Apple vary depending on your personal preference but I am convinced that most people experiencing New York City for the first time will likely want to see some of the symbolic landmarks there.

For those of you that have either never visited New York City (folks, if this refers to you, I urge you to book a flight to NYC as soon as possible because you are missing out!) or just haven’t experienced all of the key landmarks, here are our Top 10 Iconic Structures in New York City worth checking out.

During our recent visit, we decided to make our way from Penn Station to Central Park and from that point we made our way all the way through Manhattan taking in some of the world’s must lucrative and iconic structures.

The map below represents the locations of the 10 iconic structures in New York City that we visited!

Times Square

Let’s start out with the king of all attractions in New York City – Times Square, which in my opinion is the ultimate 24 hour spot of the world! Whether you are into the party scene, bar hopping or more of a theater fanatic, there is something here for everyone at all times during the day.

You may be asking ‘How is Times Square an iconic structure in New York City’? Well, just take a look at the picture and let me know if you are still saying that! When I think about Times Square, this is the image I have in my mind with large, glaring billboards advertising the latest and greatest Broadway plays or when the next live showing of Good Morning America will air.

All of the structures along Times Square are designed to fit the mood, atmosphere and ambience here, even the many Starbucks in this part of New York City have that feel about them!

Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center or Rockefeller Plaza as it is also referred, is a complex of commercial buildings that provides an iconic location in Midtown Manhattan. Although there are many reasons for visiting the Rockefeller Center, there are two that stand out with the first being the home to the ‘Top of the Rock’.

Alongside the Empire State Building’s Observation Deck, it is one of the most frequently visited locations for breathtaking views of the New York City skyline and surrounding areas.

This landmark is also home to the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Thousands and thousands of visitors flock here every year to see the lighting of the tree and with the ice skating rink in the plaza directly in front of the building, it is an iconic structure worth visiting.

New York Public Library

Moving away from the modern day architectural design, one of the most iconic structures throughout Manhattan is the New York Public Library that dates back to the end of the 19th Century. I remember visiting here during my first trip to New York City several years ago, and one of our assignments was to conduct some research inside the Public Library. I have to admit that this was a treat in itself and I am not talking about the actual assignment!

Studying in libraries may not be everyone’s favorite pastime, but when you step inside the doors of New York’s Public Library you may well be encouraged to grab a book just because of the gorgeous interior that matches the majestic exterior aesthetics.

Grand Central Terminal

What is the most famous train station in the world? I’m sure that many of you would say Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Dating back to 1871, not only does this provide New York with a historic landmark but it is also one of the busiest stations throughout the world.

Undoubtedly a hub for tourists to stand in the main terminal and look in awe at the interior design, it is also a key commuter spot for locals to make their way around New York and beyond.

Empire State Building

Once the tallest building in the world, the Empire State Building still stands proudly along New York City’s skyline and is a must-see structure for people visiting. I have visited New York City five times now and only on our last trip did I not take the trip to the summit of this symbolic building.

Standing at 1,250ft tall, it is still one of America’s tallest buildings and second to only the new One World Trade Center in New York City.

The Empire State Building is more than just a view. It’s an immersive experience inside a world famous landmark.

I love this quote taking directly from the Empire State Building’s website because I completely agree that each time you set foot in the building, you will likely see and experience something uniquely different when peering across the miles of New York City landscape. The views from the top are amazing and will definitely provide you with memories and images that you will cherish for years to come.

Chrysler Building

Did you know that the tallest building in the world for 11 months was the Chrysler Building in New York City? Ok, so we are talking about back in 1930-1931 but this is still one of the most legendary structures around and well worth taking a peek as you make your way through Manhattan.

Dubbed as an ‘art-deco’ style structure, it clearly accomplishes the French geometric shape design of this stylistic approach.

Flatiron Building

Upon completion in 1902, the Flatiron Building not only provided one of the tallest buildings in New York City but it introduced an iconic skyscraper due to it’s quirky yet relevant design.

One of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers, and a quintessential symbol of New York City.

You may be wondering where on earth the name “Flatiron” derived from…well, if you are accustomed to household chores you will likely see the resemblance in the design of this building with one of the archaic cast-iron clothing iron!

It is currently being used as an office building for various organizations but in 2009 it was bought out by a luxury Italian real-estate company that envisions turning this into a luxury hotel! This may have to wait for several years until the leases of the current business tenants expire.

One World Trade Center

As you approach the site of the 9/11 Memorial and home to the former World Trade Centers, there is a distinct blend of feelings here ranging from the sombre, reflective mindset to the more positive feeling as you peer into the sky and see the new One World Trade Center that now stands proudly as the tallest building in USA.

Standing at 1,776 feet, One World Trade Center offers a variety of commercial outlets including business space, world-class restaurants and an observation deck. It’s location directly to the side of the 9/11 Memorial will make this a location that will symbolize New York and America’s ‘Freedom’ for many years to come.

New York Stock Exchange

One of the older buildings in New York City is the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) located on the world famous Wall Street. Interested in finance? The NYSE is the spot for you! Interested in gorgeous architecture? The NYSE is the spot for you!

In fact, even if neither of these interest you, take a walk past the Charging Bull monument and head down Wall Street to take a look at a building where billions of dollars worth of trading takes place on a daily basis!

Statue of Liberty

Are you tired yet? If you have managed to experience all of the above structures in New York City and want to wind down and relax in front of the most iconic of them all, head to Battery Park and check out the Statue of Liberty.

Words don’t do the statue justice, so I would prefer to just leave you in the moment and look at the picture and imagine experiencing this after everything else in New York City!

So there you have our review of the Top 10 Iconic Structures in New York City. What would you add to this list?

Saturday Snaps #10 – Malaga Cathedral

Photographs

Chris Boothman

-

Aug 30, 2014

2

Location: Malaga Cathedral Taken in Málaga, Spain

Author: Irene and Stefano from Freelancers on the Road

Description: At first sight, Málaga’s Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación seems to be an ordinary cathedral. However, walking around the entire building, you will notice that the south tower is – very clearly – unfinished.

During construction, the funds raised for finishing the tower were – depending on the source – either used to help the United States gain independence from Great Britain or renovate the Camino de Antequera in Málaga.

By the way: its unfinished tower gives the cathedral is nickname “La Manquita” (the one-armed lady).

You can reach more of Irene and Stefano’s great work at their website and following social media networks:

Website: Freelancers on the Road

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FreelancersRoad

Twitter: http://twitter.com/FreelancersRoad

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/freelancersroad

5 Must See Spots in Central Park

Chris Boothman

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Aug 29, 2014

31

One of the most relaxing experiences when visiting New York City is to take some time out of your hectic schedule to explore probably the most famous park in the world – Central Park. However, the first thing you will notice when you arrive at the entrance to this majestic park is the magnitude and size that it covers. So just exactly what must you see inside the park?

After recently wandering the sidewalks that meander through New York’s famous park, we want to share with you our top 5 must see spots in Central Park. Of course this is not an exhaustive list and there are many more attractions that you can experience if time permits.

We all know that visiting New York City isn’t about one particular attraction; therefore allocating your time efficiently will ensure you can see everything you want to during your stay in the Big Apple.

Gapstow Bridge

If you have ever seen Home Alone 2, I am sure you will be familiar with the sight of Gapstow Bridge, which is an iconic structure that crosses the lake. Surrounded by beautiful wildlife, it is no surprise that this is a haven for a variety of species to congregate among the millions of tourists that visit here.

We spent quite a bit of time here just sat on one of the benches looking across the lake to Gapstow Bridge. With a beautiful city skyline in the background, this really is a tranquil spot to grab a book and a coffee and just take some time away from New York’s hectic lifestyle.

Of course, you may spot one or two pigeons in the area but don’t forget that Macaulay Culkin or the Pigeon Lady could be right around the corner!

Bow Bridge

An even more impressive structure that is a photographer’s dream is Bow Bridge. Crossing over the boating lake, which in itself is a gorgeous attraction that you should experience, Bow Bridge is probably the most famous of all bridges in Central Park.

Whether you want to just sit alongside the banks of the boating lake and watch as people test their rowing skills on the lake, or actually partake in the experience of rowing, there is certainly something for everyone here. For only $12 for the first hour, you and your loved ones can hop into a rowing boat and venture out on the lake to really capture the full experience.

You will also find that Bow Bridge and the boating lake offer some of the most spectacular views of the New York City skyline from Central Park, so plan on staying in this part of the park for quite some time.

Strawberry Fields

Let me take you down, cos I’m going to Strawberry Fields
Nothing is real and nothing to get hung about
Strawberry Fields forever

The beautiful opening lyrics to Strawberry Fields echo in your mind as you wander around Central Park and head to the symbolic memorial of John Lennon. Located on the west side of the park, just in front of The Dakota, Lennon’s former home and also place of his murder, Strawberry Fields is one of the most visited landmarks for good reason.

The Imagine mosaic design emblazoned on the ground in the heart of the Strawberry Fields location is a clear favorite among visitors, especially for those die-hard Beatles fans who want a moment remembering their lifelong hero.

Walking The Ramble

Just spending time wandering around Central Park is a must-see attraction in itself. There are certain parts of the park, such as The Ramble trails, which give you a variety of options on routes that you can take. Enjoying a beautiful summer’s day walking the Central Park trails is a moment you should certainly cherish, as it allows you to get away from the hustle and bustle of New York City.

We really enjoyed our time wandering from Bow Bridge around the perimeter of the boating lake through some of the hidden trails until we reached apparent civilization. For a brief moment, you are taken away into the wilderness as there are a variety of paths you can take with very little direction, however which ever path you choose there will be a hidden gem along the way worth exploring.

Some may consider The Ramble to be a maze of confusion, but we preferred to see this as an opportunity to lose yourself in Central Park for a short time. Come on folks, this is Central Park in New York City we are talking about!

Geological Wonders of Central Park

Many of you may think that Central Park is entirely man-made but the reality is there is an abundance of ancient bedrock formations that form a natural guide through the park. There are many spots throughout Central Park that provide either a perfect backdrop or a great climbing spot to get a better view of the surrounding NYC skyline.

I would highly recommend taking some time to find some of these geological wonders. Central Park probably isn’t the first place you would think of visiting as a budding geologist but the rock formations really provide a nice blend of natural beauty among the acres of man-made park.

Other Must See Spots in Central Park

Although we have listed our top 5 must see spots in Central Park, this is primarily based on our recent experiences there. Other attractions worth exploring based on our research and recommendations include the historic Carousel, Bethesda Fountain, Central Park Reservoir and Central Park Zoo.

When you next visit New York City, take some time out of your schedule to explore Central Park. What ever you decide to experience there, we can assure you that it is a memorable, relaxing location that provides a perfect contrast to the New York City stereotype!

What are your favorite things to do in Central Park?

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Times Square

Rockefeller Center

New York Public Library

Grand Central Terminal

Empire State Building

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One World Trade Center

New York Stock Exchange

Statue of Liberty

Gapstow Bridge

Bow Bridge

Strawberry Fields

Walking The Ramble

Geological Wonders of Central Park

Other Must See Spots in Central Park

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