Large keys like this one unlocked cell doors at Old Idaho Penitentiary

It was almost closing time at the Old Idaho Penitentiary when I arrived in Boise after working in Idaho City, but this landmark I’d seen from the Idaho Botanical Gardens next door was on my list of must-see destinations.  One of four Territorial Prisons open in the U. S. today and designated a National Historic Site, the Old Idaho Penitentiary (1870-1973), now opens its campus and buildings to visitors seven days a week.

Setting sun over Old Idaho Penitentiary

When I arrived an hour before closing time on a coldish, early-spring day, I was a lone visitor taking what became a sort of eerie self-guided tour around the campus and inside the buildings.  As I walked from place to place (looking over my shoulders, uneasy about fully exploring open cells), I found myself imagining how life inside these walls must have unfolded day after day.  And coupled with that feeling of loneliness, I also noted the impact of dwindling afternoon light on my mood as I walked among the buildings into open doorways. Slanted rays of afternoon sun formed long shadows, making me wonder what impact the lack of light — as well as the lack of freedom — had on the residents at Old Idaho Penitentiary. Take a walk with me and see for yourself.

Old Idaho Penitentiary — Outside

Old Idaho Penitentiary — Inside Rooms and Hallways

Women’s Ward — Old Idaho Penitentiary

In 1905, male inmates built the wall with its signature tornado-like brickwork on the corners around the old warden’s residence.  In 1920, according to the Walking Tour Guide, the permanent structure contained seven two-person cells, a central day room, kitchen and bathroom facilities. Was I glad I went to Old Idaho Penitentiary?  Yes.  But enjoyment may not be the operative word here.  The only other prison I’ve visited is Alcatraz, and I had the same empty feeling there as I did at Old Idaho Penitentiary.  Reading the displayed accounts of inmates and wardens helped me put real faces and names into place.  But seeing stone and iron-gated exteriors, scarcely-lit interiors, and small, tight rooms made me wonder how prisoners lived day-to-day with so little of what I take for granted.  It’s definitely a tour worth your time if you’re visiting Boise.

For more information and to check on visitation times:

Old Idaho Penitentiary State

2445 Old Penitentiary Road Boise, Idaho 83712 208.334.2844 http://history.idaho.gov/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Idaho-Penitentiary/94920681668

To read more about our travels through Idaho and Washington, click on the Page at the top:  Inland Northwest.  Thanks!

Boats at the Pier, St. Petersburg, FL

Of course, we all want ample time to explore a city lined with mature, moss-filled trees. A city where world-class art museums, shops sporting local crafts, and hotels with beckoning porches await us.  A city like St. Petersburg, Florida.

But that’s not always the case.  With only one day to explore and hit the high spots, you can be hard pressed to see it all and do it all. But you CAN see a lot . . . if you have a plan.

Here are our top five “must-see’s” and “must-do’s” for a day in St. Pete.

1. Central Avenue

After breakfast, but still early, head to Central Avenue to do a little junkin’.  Stop in at Paper Street Market (915 Central) for industrial finds like sewing machines, architectural drawings, and metal signs. Or pick up a re-purposed desk and chair for your office.  Want to do it yourself? Iron Pelican (2452 Central) just may have the lowboy of your dreams. But sometimes you’re looking for a first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird. And if you are, you might get lucky at Haslam’s Book Store (2025 Central), Florida’s largest for new and used books — or that’s what the website says!

Come on in. There’s more inside at Paper Street Market on Central Avenue, St. Pete.

Whatever you do, don’t miss Florida Craftsmen (501 Central) where emerging and seasoned artists display their finest work  — like fiber art shoulder bags, hand-thrown pots, baskets woven of mixed grasses, and creative jewelry from fine, fine metals.

Adorned with a bold graphic, this mug catches your attention in the window of Florida Craftsmen.

Hungry yet?  Duck into Ricky P’s (1113 Central) for the Ultimate Shrimp Po-Boy or the Best BLFnT (Bacon, Lettuce, Fish — that’s Fried Tilapia — and Tomato) with remoulade sauce for an extra kick.  Too much sandwich?  Then dig in to Creole Jambalaya (crushed tomatoes, andouille sausage, chicken, and rice, of course).

Ricky P’s on Central, St. Petersburg, FL

2. Dali Museum

Even if you’ve seen the original Dali Museum, you’ve gotta go back to see this newly designed, architectural gem.  Emerging from this rectangular building designed by Yann Weymouth, the “eclipse” — a 75-foot tall curved window of 1062 triangular panes — offers a glimpse into the signature art collection of Salvador Dali.  (For more pictures, click here.) Take the helical staircase (Dali was obsessed with spirals) to the third floor where docents stand ready to share tidbits of the artist’s life and inspiration.  They’ll even shine flashlights on those hard-to-find illusions and symbols you might miss on your own!

The “eclipse” at the Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL

Want a cup of tea after touring? There’s not a prettier spot than the gardens facing Tampa Bay.  Adorned with Dali touches (spiral design, drippy watch bench, and a labyrinth made of hedge), the fanciful gardens just might have you looking for the Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland — or Dali himself!

3. North and South Straub Park and the Marina

A stroll along the bay might be in order after viewing all that symbolic art, so drive out to The Pier and admire the boats just waiting for a good wind and a savvy sailor.

Boats at The Pier, St. Petersburg, FL

Park your car and stroll the parks while admiring the outdoor sculptures . . .

Newsboy, St. Petersburg

or the magnificent banyon trees standing like puddled drapery in an aristocrat’s home.

4. The Vinoy

After staring at art, strolling the park, and wishing you owned one of those lovely boats in the bay, head over to the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort and Golf Club (501 5th Ave., NE) to take a load off.  Order a drink, find a rocking chair on the porch, and watch the people go by!

An afternoon on the porch at The Vinoy

You may even be lucky to be there when a big event comes to town.  Like the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl.  And then you’ll see a sand sculpture greeting the fans and maybe even the team passing by on their way to the buses.

Sand Sculpture, The Vinoy

Or maybe you’ll just see folks like us hanging out, capturing the breeze, and watching the sun go down.

5.  Beach Drive

With one last push (OK,  you can do it!), you’ll leave The Vinoy and move down Beach Drive where you can take in the Chihuly Collection (400 Beach Drive NE) and the sweet little shops and restaurants along the way.  With a vast selection of contemporary crafts, you’ll surely find a souvenir or a special, one-of-a-kind item in Shapiro’s (300 Beach Drive).

At the end of the day, treat yourself to one of the specialties at 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House.  Like Lobster Mac & Cheese, Tandoori Spiced Mahi Mahi, or Florida Grouper Oscar. Be sure to ask if you can eat outside. On the sidewalk!

Not up for that?  Well, you can always tool it on down to St. Pete Beach where sunsets are free and Happy Hours are plentiful!

Sundown at St. Pete Beach

Walking the beach at sunset

Whatever you choose to do, it’ll be a great day in St. Petersburg!

For more information:

Map of St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront: http://www.stpete.org/downtown_waterfront_master_plan/docs/Waterfront_Facilities_Parks.pdf

Looking out at Tampa Bay from the “enigma” at the Dali Museum

Designed by architect Yann Weymouth, the hurricane-proof rectangular building utilizes 18-inch thick walls from which spring the “enigma,” a geodesic glass bubble facing beautiful Tampa Bay. Standing 75 feet at its tallest point, the “enigma” is made up of 1062 triangular pieces of glass, becoming not only a window on the gardens and waterfront of St. Pete, but also a place for standing and reflecting on the unique art housed within the museum itself.

The “enigma” at Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, FL

Close-up from the “enigma,” Dali Museum

Dali Museum

One Dali Boulevard

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

727.823.3767

For hours and pricing, click here.

For directions, click here.

For more entries in the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Window, click here.

You may have noticed the same thing about yourself that we’ve known for years:  We can travel the world but still not find time to visit some of the most famous sites right in our own backyard! And so it was with the Jack Daniel Distillery — the oldest registered distillery in the U. S. and on the National Register of Historic Places — right here in our home state of Tennessee in the town of Lynchburg. But we’d never taken the tour or heard how Old No. 7 Brand was processed  — until this fall.

Lynchburg, located about 73 miles south of Nashville, is the seat of Moore County, a dry county that’s been that way since Prohibition.  Nevertheless, it’s where the pure, iron-free cave spring water first drew young Jasper “Jack” Daniel to the area and establish the Jack Daniel Distillery in 1866.

Visitor Center entrance at Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee

The tour begins in the Visitor Center, a well-appointed place that serves as a museum with artifacts and educational displays lining the walls.

Display of clothing in the Visitor Center at Jack Daniel Distillery

Begin by buying a ticket at the Visitor Center.

But soon you board a bus for a short ride up the hill to the place where hard sugar maple charcoal is prepared for the time-honored process and attention to detail that has distinguished Jack Daniel products as some of the finest in the world.

Boarding the bus for the tour of Jack Daniel’s Distillery

Guide telling us how Jack Daniel’s Whiskey is mellowed through hard sugar maple charcoal

We passed by an REO Speedwagon (Yes, there really is such a vehicle!) that’s mainly used in parades and special events now, but had utilitarian purposes years ago.

REO Speedwagon on display at Jack Daniel’s Distillery

The office, as this house of antiques and original furnishings is now called, holds vintage pictures and relics of what Jack Daniel himself would have used in the early years. Now, it’s a key stop-off for the tour and a place where our guide could share more about the days when the quality process began.

Desk on display at The Office at Jack Daniel’s Distillery

Photographs and antiques in the office at Jack Daniel’s

After the visit to the office, we were asked not to take pictures. So, I can’t show you the dripping process, the sour mash room, or the barrels of whiskey placed end to end on racks in the Barrelhouse where storage, tasting, and maturation take place. Temperature plays such an important part in the seasoning process that the location of the barrels (which floor, how high) has an impact on the final product.

We were, however, allowed to look into the cave where pure spring water flows.  Finding this natural water source led to the decision to locate the distillery in Lynchburg.

A glimpse of the iron-free spring water that determined the location of the Jack Daniel’s distillery

And some folks stopped to have their picture made with Jack himself!

Jim and Cindy Mouch (my brother-in-law and sister) from Decatur, Alabama, pause for a picture with Jack!

We visited the “Buy the Barrel” room where less than five-tenths of one percent of the whiskey that earns the distinction of having the smoothest taste and the richest color are sold. Names of barrel owners are engraved on plaques and posted on the wall. A barrel of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Tennessee Whiskey is an investment with a price of $9,000 to $12,000 per barrel.

At the end of the line, we headed to the gift shop where bottles of Old No. 7, Gentleman Jack, and Tennessee Honey could be shipped abroad.  We moved closer to the wall labeled Windows on the World for pictures sent in by fans of the Tennessee whiskey and saw where you could have a bottle personalized just for you.

Windows on the World at Jack Daniel’s Distillery

The grounds of the Jack Daniel Distillery are peaceful, a nod to the pretty countryside in Middle Tennessee.  And the whole experience was well-coordinated, well-organized, and informative.

Lovely setting for Jack Daniel’s Distillery

Later, we drove downtown to see what we could see at the Lynchburg Hardware & General Store.  Since no memorabilia is sold at the distillery, you need to make a stop here for gifts to take back home — like t-shirts, cookbooks from Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House, shot glasses, and shelves made of barrel staves!

Or if you go online (Click here), you’ll find gifts galore like a Jack Daniel’s bandana ($5.95), Old No. 7 flip flops ($21.95), barrel key chain ($6.95), or barrel wood shot shelf ($38.95). And maybe, just maybe, you’ll want to take a little something good to eat to the folks back home like a Jack Daniel’s Pecan Tennessee Whiskey Cake for only $12.99!

Lynchburg Hardware & General Store

So, if you’re interested in seeing how some of the finest Tennessee Sippin’ Whiskey is made and how Jack Daniel started small but grew his business to one of the premier whiskey distributorships in the world, put Lynchburg, Tennessee, on your bucket list.  It’s a pretty classy place in a beautiful part of the Volunteer State!

P. S.  A great time to visit (or so I’ve been told) is during the Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue the fourth Saturday in October!  Check the website for more information.

Jack Daniel Distillery & Visitor Center, 182 Lynchburg Hwy., Lynchburg, TN; 931.759.6357

Lynchburg Hardware & General Store, 55 Mechanic St., Lynchburg, TN; 931.759.4200

Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House Restaurant, 295 Main St., Lynchburg, TN; 931.759.5058

The Jack Trail:  The Jack Daniel Distillery is part of The Jack Trail in the Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways.  This 375-mile trail boasts Civil War monuments, legendary distilleries, Tennessee Walking Horse country, a rich musical heritage, and five state parks.  For more information on The Jack Trail, go to www.tnvacation.com or tntrailsandbyways.com. Click here for more information on how to download the iPhone App for The Jack Trail.

This is post #24 for National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) 2013.

Now a National Historic Landmark and the only archaeologically verified Lewis and Clark campsite in the world, Travelers’ Rest was the camping area for the members of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805 and 1806. The Holt Visitor Center and Museum houses artifacts and room-like vignettes indicative of the time.

Volunteers offer information on many of the artifacts and point out notable details. But the Visitor Center can be explored on your own.  Major events are outlined from the time Lewis and Clark arrived in the Bitterroot Valley in September, 1805 (exhausted and hungry but spared from death by the hospitality and generosity of the Bitterroot Salish) all the way to the time of their departure along what is now known as Lolo Trail towards the Pacific Ocean. At the time of arrival, the party included Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, 26 army troops, Clark’s slave York, Interpreters Charbonneau and Sacajawea and their infant son Baptiste, and two fellow Shoshonis. They rested a day and a half at the small flat they called “Traveler’s Rest.”

Quotes from primary sources such as this one celebrating the kindness of strangers (the Salish) line the walls of the Visitor Center:

“they received us in a friendly manner.  they appeared glad to See us.  they Smoaked with us, then gave us a pleanty Such as they had to eat, which was only Servis berrys and cheeries pounded and dryed in Small cakes. Some roots of different kinds.”

Beautiful autumn view of the Loop Trail

Well-preserved artifacts housed in glass cases enable even the youngest visitors to get a feel for life in the early 1800s.

And room settings, like this one in a teepee and the one below that Bert is examining, show the living quarters and how various life functions such as cooking, metalwork, garment creation, etc., would have been conducted.

Outside, a half-mile Loop Trail marks notable finds.  (And for young visitors, a Trail Adventure brochure serves as a scavenger hunt marked with nine notable sites along the way.)

One area marks where researchers have discovered the remains of fire-cracked rock, charcoal, and lead indicating that there had been intense heat as a result of a hot-burning fire, evidence of a working encampment.

One of the greatest finds, however, was the evidence of a “trench-like disturbance in the soil”  indicating a sink or latrine, a find that helped to authenticate the spot as the Lewis and Clark encampment.

Even though there is a tipi set up on the Loop Trail, the Visitor Center brochure says that “it is unlikely that the Expedition had any tent material by the time they reached Travelers’ Rest, with Lewis and Clark sleeping in a tipi and the rest of the party sleeping in the open or under makeshift lean-to’s.” But we loved the setting anyway!

The expedition left Travelers’ Rest on September 11, 1805, following the land route toward the Pacific, but returned in 1806.  From June 30 to July 3, the group “rested” for the last time prior to leaving Travelers’ Rest on July 3, 1806.

Without the support of the local community, the exact location of Travelers’ Rest might not have been discovered.  But now, with the support of Montana State Parks and the Travelers’ Rest Preservation and Heritage Association, this well-preserved, beautiful site welcomes all of us to consider how early explorers paved the way for future settlements.

(And, I must admit, I’m so glad my husband wanted to stop here!!!)  Let the Sams’ exploration of the Lewis and Clark Trail begin!

Travelers’ Rest State Park

6717 Highway 12 West

Lolo, MT 59847

info@travelersrest.org

www.travelersrest.org

Lolo Creek Steak House

Lolo, MT

www.lolocreeksteakhouse.com

For more posts on the Inland Northwest, click on the Page at the top of this post.

As we moved from room to room with a crowd of (just like us) tourists leaning, peering, and picture-snapping, we couldn’t help but marvel at the acquisitions and ornamentation that made each room more spectacular than the last.  With clean white walls and gold trim, the mirrored room held us captive.  But subsequent rooms showed off statuary, table settings, and period pieces the likes of which we had never seen before.  Here’s just a small sample.

The decadent exterior of Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg.

Note the statues of Atlas holding up the world at each section of this exterior wall.

One of the white-walled rooms adorned with gold. Fireplaces made with Delft tiles stood sentinel-like in various rooms — sometimes in corners or centered like this one. Opulence was under foot, too, in the form of exquisite parquet floors.

Just one of many artifacts of decadent clothing on display.

Even the artwork featured people in exquisite attire.

Although we had arrived in Beijing one day prior to the first itinerary day of our Viking River Cruise and had a leisurely day exploring the Beijing Zoo and Lama Temple, our first “real” day found us literally running to catch up as we braved the 95-degree heat, unrelenting sun, and the enormity of Tiananmen Square.

Our Viking guide, Jack Xiong, met us at the Westin Beijing Financial Street, and, after brief introductions, told us about “his” city where his wife (a police officer), his son, and he have made their home.  His ease of presentation and interest in history turned us into devoted followers immediately.

We already knew something about Tiananmen Square.  After all, we had lived through the student protests of 1989 and watched in horror as those events came to a bloody end. And we wanted to see the site of all that.  But what we weren’t prepared for was the vastness of the square, the stately symmetry of the buildings, and the many thousands of visitors.

Named after Tiananmen Gate that separates the square from the Forbidden City, the present-day Tiananmen Square fulfills the vision of Mao Zedong to build the largest city square in the world.  Today, the square spans 109 acres and can accommodate more than 500,000 people.  But even though we had read this information, it was hard for us to imagine what it would look like in “real life.”  We soon found out.

Massive buildings greeted us — from this Monument to the People’s Heroes (left) to the China National Museum which houses collections from the former Museum of the Revolution and the Museum of Chinese History.

The Great Hall of the People, noted for its stateliness, clean lines, and signature red emblem, is the site of National People’s Congress meetings.

From this Ming dynasty gate (pictured below), Chairman Mao (whose portrait is displayed prominently on the front) founded the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949.

Our guide pointed out Mao’s Mausoleum (pictured below) where Chairman Mao’s casket is on view mornings and afternoons.  As you can see, throngs of people formed long lines even in the hot noonday sun to pay tribute or just say they’d been there.

As always, my attention turns to the people who fascinate me wherever I travel.  (We were warned not to take pictures of the police, so you won’t see any of those stoic guardians of the square here.)  I took pictures of Chinese tourists like these folks posing for a group photo . . .

and another group following a flag-wielding leader — just as we did with Jack!

Families, too, wanted to be in pictures with historical monuments and national buildings of Tiananmen featured prominently in the background. This family is centered right in front of Chairman Mao’s huge portrait.

One of the surprises of the tour — and not mentioned in any of the guide books we had brought with us — was the incredibly enormous video screens near the China National Museum.  Ever-changing scenes of China appear on the screens like this one of colorful rock formations . . .

and another one of the interior of a building in China.

Beautifully manicured grounds with unusual shrubbery line the square on all sides.  (Workers must be involved in upkeep around the clock, judging from size of the gardens!)

As we were about to leave Tiananmen to tour the Forbidden City, we spied another sight familiar in the U. S., at least in our big cities — a food truck with customers ready to purchase anything cold to drink! (I almost left our group to line up!)

As you can see, it was people, people, and more people in Tiananmen Square.  Our guide said that on any given day, there could be as many as 30,000 to 100,000 visitors. In fact, he told us, Tiananmen Square is more to some people than just a site to see — it’s almost a pilgrimage for the many who live in China and are now traveling for the first time since the economy has improved. Well, it was on our bucket list, too!

If you want to follow our journey from Beijing to Shanghai, just go to the page at the top marked China.  The links to other posts are there.  Thanks for traveling with us!

For more information:

Viking River Cruises — Imperial Jewels of China: http://www.vikingrivercruises.com/rivercruises/china-yangtze-beijing-shanghai-2013/itinerary.aspx

Recommended reading:

Eyewitness Travel (2011). Beijing and Shanghai. New York: DK Publishing. http://www.dk.com

It’s not like we get to hear the sultry Southern sounds of Christabel and the Jons much any more.  We’re lucky to hear them at all now.  Lead singer Christa DeCicco has moved from East Tennessee to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, making any comeback to Knoxville noteworthy.  She is, after all, loved by her followers not just for her vocals that can be compared to those of Norah Jones and Billie Holiday but also for the instrumentalists that accompany her and make their sound their own.

So, it was with great pleasure that we joined her fans at KMA’s Alive After Five on May 17 to sit back and take in that swingy, country, jazzy, one-of-a-kind music that only Christabel can do.

As crowds moved into the event, at least a third of the folks left their tables to dance in the cleared-out space just to Christabel’s right.  It was an older crowd for the most part, people familiar with the soft, measurable music that begs for participation — whether it’s toe-tapping or full-on swing.

Some even moved to the second floor landing where you could hear the music but move more freely (and almost privately) to Christabel’s casual rhythms.

The music itself was the scene-stealer, but the Alive After Five crew had arranged for side events.  Suki Seay was on hand to take your picture and print it for you on site. Upstairs three artists volunteered their time and talents to draw portraits of willing subjects — all for free.  So, how could I pass this up?

From top: Jameson, Carrie Ellen and Debbie Barnes

Portrait of the blogger by Debbie Barne

You could dine at your table on Asian-inspired entrees from NORI . . .

or just nibble on free popcorn if you could get to the stand.

Enjoying the sites and sounds were Andrew McDonald (left) talking with Alive After Five Coordinator Michael Gill . . .

and Bobby and Kathy Parks, long-time art enthusiasts and KMA supporters.

But the music was the overlay that covered us all with a happy spirit.  As Leslie Wylie wrote in The Metro Pulse (December 8, 2008), “Their new album, Custom Made for You, would sound at home on a 1930s phonograph or in a juke joint crammed with swing dancers in saddle shoes and suspenders.” (Click here to read more comments.)

Of course, they sounded pretty good at Knoxville’s Museum of Art, too!  Welcome back, Christabel!

The Knoxville Museum of Art Alive After Five

http://www.knoxart.org/events/aliveafter5.html

1050 Worlds Fair Park Drive

Knoxville, TN 37916

865.525.6101

Twitter: @knoxart

Facebook: Alive After Five – The Knoxville Museum of @rt: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Knoxville-Museum-of-Art/106622756048344#!/pages/Alive-After-Five-The-Knoxville-Museum-of-rt/125932406156?fref=ts

Greeting us at McDonald’s in Roswell, New Mexico

Oh, sure — we’d heard of Roswell.  That’s where aliens descended upon the US back in the 40s. Right?  Well, maybe.  Maybe not.  But when I signed on for a day of training teachers in Clovis, New Mexico, my husband and I decided we couldn’t pass up a chance to see what all the hoopla was about in nearby Roswell.

Even if other-world creatures hadn’t stepped foot into Roswell, you’d never know it just driving down the main streets where lifesize replicas and painted versions of outer space beings pop up everywhere.

This alien won a saucer-shaped award as seen in upper left corner!

From the alien street lights . . .

to hand-made fabric versions . . .

to stylized, make-you-smile renderings — aliens have landed, at least downtown.

We needed straight talk on this matter, so we parked our car and bought a ticket to the International UFO Museum and Research Center on North Main in the former Plains Theater building.

A worker taking a break was seemingly conversing with one of the foreigners, but more encounters of the third kind awaited us inside.

Opened in 1997, the museum houses artifacts and primary sources pertinent to the events of 1947.

Here’s a brief timeline of what “happened” in 1947 and what may have been covered up.

• July 4 — Mac Brazel, a rancher, heard a loud noise; two nuns saw what they believed was an airplane crash.
• July 5 — Brazel and his neighbor’s seven-year-old son discovered a debris field 300 yards wide and 3/4 mile long.  Brazel picked up a sackful of “stuff” from the field.
• July 6 — Brazel takes “stuff” to Sheriff Wilcox in Roswell.  Wilcox calls Intelligence Officer Jesse Marcel.
• July 7 — Funeral director Glenn Dennis gets a call about the number of child-size caskets he has in stock and how to preserve bodies exposed to the weather.
• July 8 — Press release was issued concerning the site and the lack of debris, limiting exploration by the public.
• July 8 — Debris that was spread on the floor in front of Intelligence Officer Jesse Marcel is replaced by weather balloon debris when Marcel is asked to step out of the room.
• July 8 — Glenn Dennis’s nurse sketches what she saw on the examination table — a big-eyed alien.
• Incidents were silenced for 30 years until Stanton Friedman started investigating the
  Roswell Incident in 1979.

(Information from “Roswell Incident Timeline” at the International UFO Museum and Research Center.)

The museum houses witness statements, copies of newspaper articles, even furniture from the office receiving the “news.” And we have to admit, it’s really interesting — even if you think it’s just “hooey”!

At one point, we were reading the documents in veritable silence since few visitors were there.  All of a sudden, a startling swoosh almost carried us off! It came from the saucer above the animatronic aliens in a display designed by Distortions Unlimited!

We jumped, then moved around the corner to take a closer look at a fairly “cheesy” display, but one with a chilling effect.  Puffs of smoke swirled around the beings while colored lights flashed above. You can’t help but smile at this ship that takes off and lands every hour!

In the middle of the room is a horse covered in news clippings. At the head, one headline caught our eye: “It’s a Weather Balloon”!

One corner touts the existence of aliens as noted in pre-historic drawings.

And another corner is dedicated to the many comic strips published on the subject.

Imagine our surprise when we saw a cartoon drawn by fellow Knoxvillian Charlie Daniel, an award-winning and much-loved Knoxville News-Sentinel cartoonist!

Consider these museum stats:

• During the summer of 2001, the museum recorded its one-millionth visitor.
• An average of 150,000 people stop by each year.
• The museum’s library houses the second largest collection of UFO info in the world.

We headed outside as puzzled as ever since there’s just enough information to make you wonder. And we both agreed with what’s published in the brochure given to us with our admission ticket: The primary goal of the Museum is to provide information so the visitor is able to make up their mind about the Roswell Incident, the UFOs and other possible extraterrestrial phenomena.

Whatever that “incident” was — it’s definitely had an impact on the town and people of Roswell!

By the way, if you’re in Roswell in early July, catch the Annual UFO Festival the weekend prior to or following the 4th of July.  You’ll meet researchers, science fiction celebs, and fans of all things UFO.

So were “they” here?  Or not? You’ll just have to go to Roswell and decide for yourself!

(If you’ve already been and have an opinion, we’d love to read your comments.)

International UFO Museum and Research Center

114 N. Main Street

Roswell, NM 88203

575.626.9495

www.roswellufomuseum.com

Facebook: Click here for International UFO Museum and Research Center

Vintage turquoise in a display case at Shiprock in Santa Fe’s Plaza

Here’s what I’m thinking.  Real travel writers who provide detailed tips on where to go, what to see, and what to eat probably spend time investigating known and unknown spots both prior to and during a trip.  I’m guessing, of course, but real writers mostly talk to locals who tip ‘em off to the best of the best and then some — you know, those out-of-the-way places just waiting to be discovered. Kind of like Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives eateries and such. Well, we’re not journalists or freelance writers.  We’re just lucky travelers who found Santa Fe to be more than we ever expected.

To see the art of Santa Fe, you only have to look up! The grand architecture of The Lensic, Santa Fe’s Performing Art Center!

Although we spent only a couple of days in fabulous Santa Fe and moved rapidly from one must-see spot to another, we tried to take in as much as we could on our two-day look-around.  So, when we say we’ve found eight great places, we have.  But it’s by no means the be-all and end-all of What To See in Santa Fe.

Having said that, here are eight of our favorite spots. We think you’ll love ‘em, too!

Museums

1. The Georgia O’Keefe Museum.  Distinguishing itself as the only museum dedicated to an internationally known American woman artist, this Place to See showcases Georgia O’Keeffe’s art — colorful, large-scale art: natural forms, cityscapes, and northern New Mexico landscapes.  Don’t miss the video outlining life events that shaped her work as well as the ever-changing exhibit of over 3,000 works.  The museum doesn’t allow photos, so take my word for it:  You really get a feel for the artist and her works from an afternoon’s immersion into her world! (217 Johnson Street; 505.946.1000; okeeffemuseum.org)

These ladies in the O’Keeffe Museum Gift Shop showed us the touris favorites and then invited us to an upcoming tea! Love this place!

2. Museum of International Folk Art. Situated on Museum Hill with three other great venues for Southwestern and Indian art, this international folk art collection is chock full of hand-made creations from around the world.  Check out funky, primitive carvings or vignettes of hundreds of tiny people and creatures housed in glass cases and catalogued for easy viewing and IDing! Allow extra time. You won’t believe this vast collection of stitchery, pottery, masks, dolls, and quirky creations — sure to make you smile! (706 Camino Lejo; 505.476.1200; internationalfolkart.org) Closed Mondays.

Colorful masks from all over the world smiled back at us!

Tiny vignettes of life like this one from Mexico had us pressing our faces to the diplay windows.

 3. New Mexico History Museum and Palace of the Governors.  OK, so I squeezed two museums into one here.  But these are side by side on the historic Santa Fe Plaza, and you’ll want to see both.  Armed with a wealth of information, our docent took us room by room through the collections of over 3,000 costumes, textiles, and artifacts that shaped New Mexico’s history.  (New Mexico History Museum, 113 Lincoln Avenue; 505.476.5200; nmhistorymuseum.org)

Palace of the Governors, originally constructed in the early 17th century and an American Treasure since 1999, allows you to examine shrines, fragments, paintings, etc., in period rooms that tell the history of the region and its people. (Palace of the Governors, 105 West Palace Avenue; 505.476.5100. palaceofthegovernors.org)

Interesting take you on a fascinating journey through the history of New Mexico.

Textiles like this graphic quilt caught my eye.

A People and Their Art

4. Portal Native American Artisans Program. Located under the portal of the Palace of the Governors is a regulated market of area artisans whose work has been juried and approved for authenticity.  We met craftspeople willing to talk about their goods — from the origins of the materials to the actual making and selling.  My takeaways?  A hammered copper bracelet and white stone earrings for me.  A tiny Navajo doll for my granddaughter.  Treasures. (Portal of the Palace of the Governors. nmhistorymuseum.org/campus.php#portal)

Native American artisans line the sidewalk under the portal of the Palace of the Governors.

Brought home silver earrings from this artisan who stayed warm at his shady post.

5. Andrea Fisher Fine Pottery.  The finest examples of pottery in the area arranged by Pueblos and artists.  You can shop online, but nothing compares to being in the showroom examining the pieces and learning (with the help of the highly trained staff) how to identify the art from each region.  My own preference: the graphic black and white art of the Santa Domingo Pueblo.  Or maybe Santa Clara.  Or maybe . . . (100 W. San Francisco Street; 505.986.1234; http://andreafisherpottery.com)

Pottery from Santo Domingo Pueblo on display at Andrea Fisher

Shopping on The Plaza

6. Shiprock.  Far and away my favorite, this upstairs multi-room loft of white walls and old painted floors houses collections of vintage pieces the likes of which I’ve never seen anywhere else.  From classic turquoise bracelets to artisan silver buckles to the largest selection of vintage Navajo weavings in the area. Owner Jed Foutz brings the best to the gallery and then allows knowledgeable people like Director Jamie Way to explain the beauty and the history of the pieces to would-be collectors. Loved the c.1920 saddle blankets, room-filling teepee by Hiroki Nakamura, and Zuni dangle earrings. Like antiques?  Ya gotta go here.

This door on the second floor of The Plaza takes you back in time and right in front of the finest vintage Southwest pieces in town.

Rugs, saddle blankets, and pillows for sale at Shiprock.

Also Faves. (Other shops right around the corner that really deserve a look-see.)

Packards on the Plaza – Exquisite jewelry, carvings, rugs, fetishes, and goods for the home in a classy almost department-store-but-not-quite setting.  Very friendly service and knowledgeable staff.  Many, many pieces beautifully displayed. (61 Old Santa Fe Trail; 505.983.9241. shoppackards.com)

Geri Ortiz, a Packards associate, laid out my rugs of choice for a closer look.

Cutlery of Santa Fe — Where great knives and inlay art comingle for a beautiful, utilitarian must-have for your home. (cutleryofsantafe.com)

Colored pieces of inlaid wood adorn these key rings at Cutlery of Santa Fe.

Tom Taylor of Santa Fe — The finest custom belts and buckles made by Southwest silversmiths, metalworkers, leather carvers, and artists. (http://tomtaylorbuckles.com)

Bert admires the finely wrought belts that can be added to artisan buckles at Tom Taylor.

Lucchese Boot Co. — If “blown away” is a proper term, you definitely will be by the selection of handmade cowboy boots for men and women.  Old styles, new styles, all in that great leather Lucchese is known for — but be prepared to have trouble making up your mind. (57 Old Santa Fe Trail; 505.820.1883. lucchese.com)

Want boots? They’ve got ‘em! Lucchese of Santa Fe.

Worship

7. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Be sure to see the rose window and Loretto Chapel in this classy Romanesque Revival cathedral, built between 1869 and 1886 on the site of an older adobe church.  In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI elevated the cathedral to basilica status. (131 Cathedral Place; 505.982.5619; cbsfa.org)

Someone on the street asked if we wanted our picture taken in front of the Cathedral Basilica. How could we refuse?

Even the statue of Kateri Tekakwitha, first Indian of North America to be promoted a saint, wears turquoise jewelry!

Local Eats

8. Maria’s. With its traditional tile floor, creamy stucco walls, and kiva fireplace, Maria’s reminds you that hometown, casual dining places are popular for a reason.  With over 100 “real” margaritas to choose from (made with real tequila, according to the website), Seattle Times dubbed Maria’s “The Motherlode of American Margaritas”! But we liked sitting in The Cantina and ordering a sizzling platter of chicken fajitas with red AND green salsa (Christmas, it’s called) on the side! Good service.  Good price. (555 West Cordova Road; 505.983.7929. marias-santafe.com)

Ask to sit in the Cantina when you go to Maria’s! Noisy and fun!

Of course, this is just a taste of Sante Fe, a town steeped in history, art, and culture unlike what we see back home in Tennessee.  And with just eight great places to see under our belt, we’re ready to return to make it 16 . . . or 24 . . . or more. We don’t think folks ever get tired of seeing Santa Fe.  We sure didn’t!

“Turn left by the donkey” is what we were told. And that’s how they give directions in Santa Fe!

Santa Fe: A Colorful Journey

(The Official Travel Site of Santa Fe, New Mexico)

www.santafe.org

As seen in the park at The Plaza, Santa Fe.