Things to do before you die

[IvanRaconteur]

This is the first post in our weekly feature offering suggestions about places to see or things to do before cashing in your chips. Today's location is Bora Bora, one of the most popular islands in French Polynesia. The main attraction in Bora Bora is its calm and crystal-clear lagoon, which is home to an abundance of marine life. Snorkeling, SCUBA diving, and lounging on the beach enjoying the incredible scenery are popular activities on Bora Bora. An escape to this tropical paradise would be a great way to beat the mid-winter blues.

[RozKohls]

The story goes that when the first Europeans came to the South Pacific and saw the beautiful Polynesian girls, probably topless, along the shores, they all rushed to the side of their ship to get a better view. They had never seen such gorgeous women before. The sudden shift of weight to one side of the ship made it almost tip over. The officers had to move quickly to get the sailors back to their stations.

[IvanRaconteur]

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All Americans should visit Washington DC at least once.

Our nation’s capital is often an object of derision, and a representation of what is wrong with this country, but it is much more than that, and one has to see it in person to understand this.

I first visited Washington as a young man, when the paper I was working for sent me to a conference on investigative journalism.

The other young journalists and I spent our days listening to lectures about truth, freedom of information, and our role in protecting rights and exposing corruption.

We spent our nights walking around the capital exploring things such as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. We were affected by these things. There was a power and a reverence in these symbols of what is good about this country. One could almost hear the echoes of historic events like the 1963 march on Washington.

During our nation’s relatively short history, we have made mistakes, but we have done a lot of good in the world. To dismiss Washington as a joke without seeing it in person is a disservice to all of the people who have fought and even died in support of the ideals on which the country was founded. These ideals are sometimes clouded by partisan bickering and shady politics, but they are still there if we look for them.

[Evelyn]

As a young family we visited the nation's capitol in the late 80s and still have vivid and stirring memories of the Smithsonian museums, touring the White House, cherry blossoms and the memorials. The Viet Nam Memorial was new at the time and we took time to search for familiar names. Each year on July 4th as our family tunes in to the PBS broadcast of the "Capitol 4th" I renew my vow that one day I too will be on the West Lawn of the capitol to wave a flag in person as the orchestra plays . . ."that grand old flag, may it ever wave...." followed by the cannons, the 1812 Overture, and fireworks.

[JArtibee]

When I was young our family went to DC for the 4th of July. The Washington Monument was one of our stops. We waited in line for hours to go to the top in a cramped tiny elevator (you have to take the stairs down). It was worth it... what a view!

There are so many wonderful things to see in DC. We even had good timing to be at the Tomb of the Unknown Solder during the changing of the guards. Something I will never forget. Others included the Lincoln Monument, the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame, Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall, the Declaration of Independence in the Rotunda, and many more.

One day I would love to go back now that I am older. There are so many places I missed, plaques I didn't read, people I didn't know who they were, and things I just didn't understand. When I was young, it was just a lot of "history stuff" and I cared more that our hotel had a pool. Today I appreciate that trip more than ever. I didn't realize some of that stuff I had seen would mean more now than it did then. So yes I agree, all Americans should visit Washington DC at least once.

[Dori]

I was able to first visit Washington DC this past November. My boyfriend had been many times and was excited to show me around the city he loved. The highlight of the trip took place our first night, sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Monument - when he proposed. Turns out site seeing wasn't his only plan for that trip!

[IvanRaconteur]

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A hot air balloon adventure is this week's pick for things to do before you check out. For the first time in history, the advent of hot air balloons allowed man to break free from his earthly bonds and join the birds soaring across the sky. The first documented manned balloon flight took place in Annonay, France in 1873. The materials and designs of balloons have changed over the years, but the principle remains the same. Using a propane-fired burner, operators fill a bag (called an envelope) with hot air. This makes the envelope buoyant, because the warm air has a lower density than the relatively cooler outside air. The pilot and passengers ride in a basket or gondola made from lightweight materials such as wicker or aluminum. Finding a ride should not be too difficult, since there are more than 7,500 hot air balloons operating in the US. The flights are extremely safe. Balloon flight is regulated by the FAA, and pilots must have a commercial fixed-wing pilot's license. Imagine yourself climbing weightlessly into the sky just after sunrise. You have a crystal flute of Champagne in one hand, in honor of the first balloon travelers, and a camera in the other. When you are aloft, there is no turbulance and no wind, because you are traveling along with the wind rather than fighting it. The horizon seems to unfold before your eyes, and,with your camera, you record the amazing scenery from an angle that you had only dreamed of before. Not a bad way to start the day.

[IvanRaconteur]

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On St. Patrick’s Day, pub dwellers around the world will face their version of Mecca and raise a pint to the spirit of the Irish. Dublin, Ireland is this week’s stop on the “Things to do before you cash in your chips” tour.

Dublin is the home of the St. James Gate Brewery, where Arthur Guinness began brewing his marvelous stout in 1759. Guinness is now enjoyed worldwide, but one can still visit the Guinness Storehouse on original site. Dublin is also the home of the Jameson Distillery, founded by John Jameson in 1780. The best place to enjoy these two products is in their native city.

There is much to see in Dublin, but the best way to get at the core of Irish culture is to visit one of the city’s historic pubs. Legendary places like Davy Byrne’s, O’Donoghue’s Pub, The Long Hall, The Stag’s Head, and Neary’s Pub just ooze Irish culture. They offer a window on the past, and a place to catch up on what is new. Some, like The Long Hall, which features an actual long hall behind the bar, with hatches through which bartenders passed drinks to the ladies in the days when they weren’t allowed in pubs, reveal a part of history. Music is a big part of the pub tradition, and many pubs feature live traditional music, often performed by patrons in impromptu sessions. The Dubliners got their start this way, playing in O’Donoghue’s Pub in 1962. Dublin has been home to many writers, including James Joyce, Samuel Becket, Oscar Wilde, Brendan Breehan, George Bernard Shaw, Jonathan Swift, and WB Yeats. One can tour the Dublin Writers Museum to learn more about them. While in Dublin, one can visit Trinity College, which was founded in 1592, and view the Book of Kells in the Old Library, or stroll along the Liffey and just watch the people go by. If one avoids the tourist traps and gets out among the real Irish men and women, one can find some really good craic.

[IvanRaconteur]

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One way to put our lives into perspective is to spend some time among the big trees of the Pacific coast. This week’s attraction on the “things to do before you cash in your chips” tour is a visit to the grand old trees of the west. These trees are not just big, they are spectacular. The largest specimens have been named and have achieved celebrity status. The sequoias, or coast redwoods, are the tallest trees in the world. Heights of 200 feet are common and the tallest specimens can reach 380 feet. Giant sequoias, also known as Sierra redwoods, are the largest trees in total volume. They can be 165-280 feet in height, and can have a diameter of 16-23 feet. It is not just their size that makes these woodland giants impressive. They can live for 2,000 years, and some reach more than 3,000 years in age. Their durability can make the lifespan of a man seem trivial. It is amazing to think of the history that has been written since they were tiny seeds scattered by the wind. These trees may serve as a reminder that there are other living things on this planet, some of them much older than we are. The design of the great trees, with branches that start 100-feet of the forest floor, makes them resistant to damage from fire and insects, but their survival still depends on man taking care of the environment in which they live. The trees can be seen in a variety of places, including Redwood State Park, Redwood National Park, Humboldt Redwoods State Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, and the Giant Sequoia National Monument.

[IvanRaconteur]

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There is much to see in Paris, far too much to pack into one photo. This week’s recommendation for “Things to do before you die” is a stop at the Closerie des Lilas, near the intersection of the Boulevard du Montparnasse and the Boulevard St. Michele. Hemingway called it “one of the best cafes in Paris. He and other members of the Lost Generation spent a lot of time at the Lilas, and the environment seemed to suit him. It has become of a bit of a tourist destination today, but, if one really concentrates, one can imagine him sitting at one of the polished mahogany tables with his blue notebook and his pencils, scratching out a draft of “The Sun Also Rises,” or “Big Two-Hearted River,” while sipping a cafe creme from one of the heavy porcelain cups. Paris is indeed “A Moveable Feast,” and Papa described the scene at the Lilas in great detail in the book. Marshal Ney is not much to look at, but the French seem to like him (more than they did when they rewarded his years of military service by executing him in 1815), and Hemingway may have drawn some inspiration from him as he looked out at the bronze statue of the ill-fated Ney that stands some 40 feet from the cafe. The Closerie des Lilas has been a haven for writers, artists and avant-garde characters since it opened in 1847. During its colorful history, one might have observed Lenin and Trotsky engaged in a game of chess, or Picasso discussing art with his cronies. The Lilas is perhaps not what it once was, but creative types may still wish to stop in and see if some of the magic of the past will rub off.