I WANNA GO THERE .........

THERE is the island of Santorini in Greece  ...... other than this breathtaking view I have no idea what is there!  When I see travel photos of Greece it is always either of the Parthenon or this. So overlooking this blue Aegean Lagoon must be the highlight of a .... future? .... Grecian Adventure ...... speaking of adventure that little ship in the left corner reminds me a little of "Jason and the Argonauts" ......... Santorini also appears to be a favorite stop of Mediterranean Cruise ships but I just can't bring myself to do that cruise thing  .... to many germies and close quarters for me. Lets see .... lets see ...... how else could I get there ...... Ah! there are flights from Athens. Athens is only 10 hours away from Pennsylvania or there is a ferry from Piraues ....uh .... where the hell is that?  .... oh! it is part of Athens .... why don't they just say ferry is from Athens!?!?!? ......    How long is the ferry ride? .... 10 hours! ..... of course! .....  getting to a place I want to see is never easy!

As I sit in my house battling the GOO for thermostat control, knowing it is a windchill factor of 8 deg outside ....... I dream of sunnier places to see someday.

YOU ALWAYS CAN FIND FRIENDS ON THE BEACH

This friendly fellow is saving my beach spot for me next week ...... "he" (or she) is an endangered rock iguana and is the only inhabitant found on Little Water Cay (island) just east of Providenciales.  They were almost wiped out totally by the growth of dog and cat populations on the other Turks and Caicos  "Cays". But here, on their own little private island .... you know some scabbie developer would just love to get his hands on this virgin sand .... they are protected and flourish with a 98% survival rate!

Tourists ... of which I plan to be in 2 weeks ........ of the non-furry kind can come and visit and pay the admission that goes to help protect them.

ITS FIVE O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE

"Somewhere" for me will be the Infinity Bar ..... yes that is a bar ......  at Grace Bay Resort in Providenciales .... Turks and Caicos in case you forgot ..........  in 35 DAYS ......  I'll have a margarita for you!

ITS TIME FOR ANOTHER PROVIDENCIALES PICTURE

OOOoooooh no that's not me on beach YET! 54 days to go .........

Here is your Link Daughter TURKS AND CAICOS BLOG

Time to look ahead

Its September 1 .... 70 days till vacation .... I found a blog site today from someone who lives on Providenciales island in the Turks and Caicos and posts pictures of everyday life on Providenciales  .... one of many I will share ... Its the view from the so-called "dive" .... and I don't mean with a tank ...... bar called HORSE EYE JACKS

I think I found the place I will be eating dinner the first day ................

I'M GOING THERE ......

Time for a vacation picture aaaaaaaahhhhhh.....

Okay it is not the pool at my beach house. It is however the house in front of it .......... Close enough !!!!

I WANNA GO THERE

THERE IS Grace Bay on the island Providenciales of the Turks and Caicos! Imagine yourself swimming in water so clear you can see every shark coming at you for miles .... admit it you think about it.   I could use a vacation ...... hmmmmm let me see ... let me see ......  husband luke warm about the beach scene .......  I see recession has hit the here too ...... little more affordable than the last time I looked at this place ........ five hours flight ... sick hubby can do that he says ! ........ What hotel price is good ....... hmmmm what is this? A new web site with rental houses ..... Found good deal for beach house .... One last thing ....... Tell hubby there is a CASINO .............................. WE'RE IN !!!!!!

 I have been looking at this place for about FIVE years .... We are going in November!  Until then I shall torture you all with pictures of my future destination. We shall start with this one  ...... That will be me in that snorkel gear in 3 months ..... hmmmm I better stick to the diet to get into that bikini!!!

I WANNA GO THERE ......

There is Havasu Falls in Arizona .... that could be me in that turquoise water! Arizona I can do that!!! Let me see... let me see ..... where is the closest airport to this place. Oh .... in the Grand Canyon area ... hmmm okay well I guess that would be Vegas or Phoenix ..... rent a car and drive to SUPAI??? where is that exactly ... scratch head ..... on the west side of Grand Canyon. What's over there? I thought the touristy stuff was north and south rims? .... Oh wait now, Wikipedia says its the capital of the Havasupai Indian Tribe Reservation .... hey sounds like a world of new cultural experiences to me ..... Oh, look there is a lodge on the reservation .... now all I have to do to get there is drive to the end of the trail head and  ..... HIKE 8 MILES FROM THE NEAREST ROAD .... what? ... oh wait there are other options. OR .... ride a pack mule or rent a helicopper .... OH ....... is that all? Oh no? Of course, the falls are another 2 mile hike from lodge .... hhhhaaaahhhhhhhh ..... my husband will leave me after this trip ...... hmmmmm ! That could me in that turquoise water!

I WANNA GO THERE ....

oOOOOOO .... put it on the bucket list ..."go see world's biggest pool" ... It's in Chile ... okay could be travel issues ....... summer in Chile is December - February .... Okay its a Christmas present ..... On Expedia how much to fly ... oookay $1400 RT ... Hotel not Expedia? Go to hotel web site  .... oooookay $150,000 a night !!!! better be in pesos Juan .... Find Chile money converter .... okay $300 a night  .... Check Trip Advisor  .... what they charge to go in the pool everyday ??? You need to bring your own sheets? towels? soap? toilet paper? sigh  I'M OUT!  I'll just look at the pictures!

SHROUD OF MYSTERY

Photo Credit: AP

Being a student of architecture, I’ve always wanted to go to ITALY! Actually, I formally announced to my husband last month I’m going within the next two years with or without him. Now I have to find someone to go with. I thought maybe my daughters would enjoy the Grand Tour …. at least part of it anyways ...... especially if mom is footing the bill!

Unfortunately, in two years I will most likely miss the opportunity to view a renowned antiquity of the Roman Catholic Church: the Shroud of Turin. The Shroud, to the faithful, is believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. In my ignorance I had always believed it to be almost on constant display in Turin, Italy ..... if you are planning a trip to Italy too, be forewarned ..... Customarily, the Shroud is made available for viewing every 25 years. In the last 12, however, it has been on display in shorter periods: 1998(before that 1978), 2000 and now.

Though never proclaimed by the Catholic Church as authentic, I recall while in first grade the nuns in my Catholic School declaring it evidence to Jesus’ intensive suffering for us undeserving little innocent children …. nuns were always trying to scare us little kids back then …. They(nuns) were never teaching doubt or even mentioning for that matter the Shroud’s historical suspicion of being a medieval forgery. Recent carbon dating tests put the cloth somewhere around the 13th century. Still there are those that insist the tests were compromised by taking the test samples from/near a 15th century patch/repair. There is also the Vatican researcher’s claims ….. through her study of computer enhancements … finding faint writing on the cloth that can be attributed to the time of Christ's crucifixion.

Even if you ascribe to the substantiation of high technology, scientists cannot clarify or duplicate a method of process for reproducing the image of the wounded bearded man in the cloth. So, even if the shroud is a forgery at the very least it is a piece of religious art imitating the agonizing existence and death of a church’s Savior. I want to see it.

Asserting some good advice to the 2 million expected to make the journey to Turin, the Archbishop of Turin tells visitors to view the shroud “with their hearts rather than their minds”. The Shroud is on display at the Turin Cathedral till May 23. No official date when it will be on display again.

BOO!

Our cable provider for the last few years has been “updating” the system. In other words we were paying the same but losing channels. Finally they took so many channels away we broke down and choose a new package a few weeks ago.

Since hooking up my new digital cable box, I have been playing catch up with my “Ghost” programs. “Ghost Hunters” on SyFy is one I missed the most and the longest! Last night was a full line-up of repeats and a new episode. My interest was peaked by the repeat more than the new episode …. Which featured Fort Ticonderoga …… let me catch you up … not much happen …. In the repeat, the team visited the house of Doctor Samuel Mudd … hit the link … look him up …. won’t hurt it’s a history lesson ……. During the visit the team captured a disembodied voice/EVP saying … or so they tell me it said …”I’m not guilty”. I’ve heard some of these EVP voice recordings before on this show … and others … I mostly find them indistinct as proof for paranormal existance.

As for evidence searching goes I've been to Gettysburg quite a few times in the previous Fall seasons. I have found "orbs" on pictures I took at the Daniel Lady Farm on a ghost hunt with "The Ghosts of Gettysburg" tour company. One evening during one of our visits myself, oldest daughter and hubby went out on the battlefield ... Devil's Den to be precise. We heard the legend where cameras are often batted out of people's hands when trying to photograph a certain spot where a famous photo is taken. Brave daughter dear took the picture .... while I cowered behind .... and basically nothing happen.

Next time I do go on a ghost hunt I want to try the EVP and see what I get …. Someday … I want a bunch of people to go with me …. mostly for protection ….. MY protection, I’m a scaredy cat … but I want to find out if this stuff is for real …. Who wants to come? If nothing else at least we will receive a history lesson.

WHERE THE DEVIL ........ ?

I enjoy paranormal stories. Not the contrived “Tales from the Crypt” type nor the Hollywood movie treatment of the real life story. I want the real story from the real person and then I like to go to the real place and see for myself … NOT alone though.

A windfall for me (and family) is the huge crop of reality shows tackling the paranormal on TV for the last 10 years. We began our obsession every Sunday night watching MTV’s "FEAR" in 2000. For us, nothing has come close since. So, these newer programs will have to do ... sigh. The latest TV investigators are armed to the teeth with more techno gadgets than the Bat Cave. Yet w/ all these high-end devices I have still not seen anything caught that will convince me 100% of existence ..... I know I want to be a believer.... One of my choice team of investigators is the Paranormal Research Society on A&E’s “Paranormal State”. (http://www.aetv.com/paranormal-state/) Last night PRS had an episode near to my family’s heart: the legend of the “Jersey Devil” …. and you just thought it was the name of a hockey team!

Background … My parents and Grandmother lived in central and coastal New Jersey for over 20 years. We heard the "Devil" tale some time ago and have been keeping an eye out each visit ever since. Our family often took day trips thru the Pine Barrens (home to the Devil) to Renault Winery, Batsto Village, Tuckerton and Smithville. If you have ever been in the Barrens, then you know there is no better place to hide if you are a mythical legend. The picturesque area is stunning in an eerie sort of way. Lots of dense forest, black rivers, bays stretching back inland from the Atlantic Ocean, bogs, marshes, deserted buildings, sparse population, and desolate silence. Yep… this is where I would go not to be seen.

In the early 1990’s my parents rented a house in Leeds Point. Leed’s Point is known as the mortal birthplace of the "Devil" but my parents preferred to label the area “TICK & GREENHEAD HEAVEN”. One morning they found the roof/hood of their car covered in hoof prints. The region IS heavily populated with deer and deer do bazaar things …. but dancing all over a car? Never heard of this one ….. Pleeeease correct me if I wrong.

Other than having a creepy feeling of being watched at Batsto, HAVE I EVER SEEN ANYTHING? Nope. Never. Not that I did not want to. PRS thinks they may have though and …. in Leeds Point. Now to me, it looked like a deer on the “high density resolution digital night-vision thermal cam” … I’d bet Batman doesn’t have one of those ….. However, the PRS team (who has one and is not afraid to use it) claims the creature they captured on screen has wings. Maybe I need to go on their web site and look closer. Could this be the proof devil hunters have been looking for?

Speaking of the official hunters here is their web site: http://www.njdevilhunters.com/
There is a great deal of info on this site about the “Devil” legend and this group’s hunt for him .... or her. If you visit the page go to the ”Sightings” link for my favorite spine-chilling real life story: February 18, 2004.

If you would like to conduct your own “Devil” hunt in the New Jersey Pine Barrens ……. and do not want to admit it …… then employ our ruse and day trip to the places mentioned:
http://www.renaultwinery.com/ Never have had a bad vintage.
http://www.batstovillage.org/ Heart of the Pine Barrens. Call ahead to see if the mansion is open for tours.
http://www.tuckerton.com/ Not exactly in the Pine Barrens but the drive from Batsto takes you on the northern end of the Pines. Love lunch at Panini Bay Restaurant over looking Little Egg Harbor.
http://www.smithvillenj.com/ Near Leeds Point. Shopping and dinner at the Inn!

Even if you do not see a mystical creature you will not be sorry you visited the Pine Barrens…… oh …. bring tick spray!