Pilot Report

Rome is one of the oldest cities in the Western hemisphere and it is also one of the few that transcends the boundaries between the ancient and the new worlds. As such it is understandable and even expected that it is full of tradition, historic elements and extremely rich culture. It is also one of the most popular tourist destination in the world and people visit who visit this city and enjoy a stay in one of the historic hotels in Rome come from across the globe.

There are many natural and human constructed landmarks and attractions in and around Rome and of these St. Peter’s Basilica and the Colosseum are just two though they are representative of the city’s century spanning and tremendously awe inspiring landmarks. St. Peter’s Basilica is inside the walls of Vatican City and is one of its major establishments. It is considered to be the Mother church of the Catholic religion and is also considered to be one of the most holy of the sacred Christian sites. It is not only one of the most important Christian churches but also one of its most beautiful. It has a strong association to the papacy as well as to incredible art and most notable among the artists who have worked on it Michelangelo is probably the most famous and important.

The Colosseum is located in the center of the city and demonstrates the remains of the largest amphitheatre that was ever constructed during the Roman Empire. It’s believed that construction of this colossal amphitheatre began late in the first century AD between the years 70 and 72. Completion of it is recognized to have occurred under the emperor Titus in 82 AD. The purpose of this tremendous theatre was to host gladiator events as well as other public spectacles. The performance of dramas was common and the reenactment of mythological stories was popular.

One of the most interesting things about traveling to a new city, or a new country, is the opportunity to find history.  History of an area, or history of a group of people who are on one hand, so much like one’s self, and yet on the other hand, so different…a world apart.  In the Indonesian city of Jakarta, there is history all around, from the buildings on the street, to the public monuments to the museums.  The historic center of the city is today called, “Kota”.  This is where you will find the oldest and most impressive buildings, centered around the Taman Fatahillah, or the Fatahillah Square.

If you are wishing your stay in Jakarta to be surrounded by this history, then check here, and you will find accommodations that not only suit your needs, but will put you in the center of the oldest part of the city, surrounded by the Dutch Era buildings and homes.  One of the most impressive of the buildings is the Museum Bank Mandiri, and just next to this is the Museum Bank Indonesia, which is one of the first of the buildings to be completely renovated and restored.  Just down from these financial institutions is the Puppet Museum.  The Jakarta Museum of History located in the building that at one time housed the Jakarta City Hall.  On the other side of the street, is the Museum of Arts and Ceramics, where you may want to take the opportunity to try your hands at the pottery wheel or the ceramic workshop.

This is a long day of walking and a long day of absorbing the rich and extensive history of a city, from the financial history, to the political and societal history, to the history of the performing art of puppetry and the visual art of ceramics, tile and pottery.  It is an all inclusive look into the elements throughout time that have affected and continue to affect the culture of the people of the city of Jakarta.  So for a bit of relaxation at the end of a day such as this, there is the lovely Cafe Batavia, serving European and Indonesian food in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.  So next time you are in Jakarta, take a walk through Old Town, and you will leave with experiences and memories that will last a lifetime.

The first thing that clients notice when they walk into your office is the decor. They notice if everything is neat and tidy or messy and unorganized. They notice if the furniture is old and worn or new and modern. The way that you decorate and keep your office says a lot about you as a business person. Will a client be willing to put their faith in you to provide a service if you can’t keep your waiting area clean? While we tend to let those little things fall by the wayside, perhaps it time to take a fresh look around and redecorate a bit.
One of the easiest and cheapest things that you can do for your office is to give it a fresh coat of paint. Of course, if you are going to be buying any new furniture you will want to pick that out first so that everything blends well together. Deciding what tone you what to set will play a big part of what color you choose. Darker colors make the room appear smaller but they also create warmth. Lighter colors on the other hand give off a much cooler vibe and really open the room up. Once the paint is dry you can move on to the windows.
It may seem inconsequential, but new blinds from next day blinds can really do a lot for a room. They offer shutters, shades, and blinds in a variety of colors and styles to fit any style. Before you move on to window treatments consider some blinds from next day blinds .
Okay, so you have fresh new paint on the walls, stylish new window treatments, now it is time to move on to the furniture. Remember you should have had this picked out before you painted but if you didn’t there is no better time than the present. The key to office furniture is functionality. While you want it to look nice, of course, you need it to serve its purpose. Comfortable yet smart.
Once you have everything moved in take a look around. You have a new unique style that is sure to strike confidence into the hearts of all your clients.

One of the most romantic cities in the world is the city of Madrid.  Just walking through the narrow streets and the incredible architecture is a romantic way to spend the evening, however what can be as fun as a night out with a bit of dinner, and then a bit of dancing.  Madrid is the capital city of Spain, and as such offers a wide variety of cuisine that will be suitable for even the most discerning of palates.  This is a city that caters to visitors, from the cafes and the restaurants, to the fine service offered in one of the many hotels.  To find accommodations in the city, look here, and then let your journey begin.

I was traveling with a friend who happens to be a strict vegetarian.  For many years it was very difficult for the two of us to agree on a restaurant, but in Madrid his choices were just about limitless.  We found many options, from those that were inexpensive and quaint, to those that were a bit more extravagant and expensive.  We were told that unless we had quite a bit of money to spend, our best bet would be to stay off of the plaza and look along the side streets, which we did.  We found ourselves wandering along the Cava Baja, and here is where it all opened up, our world as our oyster, for we found a wealth of tapas bars.  This is the perfect way to dine, for two people of varied tastes, as the small plates gave us the chance to sample a variety of the dishes and the flavors of Spain.

We asked our waiter for his suggestion on places to go dancing, and he directed us to the Palacio Gaviria.  He said that on the weekends it becomes filled with people dancing to the trendy pop beats, but as it was the middle of the week we would be in for some Salsa dancing.  I mentioned much to my friend’s embarrassment, that he really did not know how to dance, but the waiter stated that that was no problem as if we got there soon, the dance classes would still be in session.  So off we headed, but I do think my friend was a little apprehensive at the thought of taking an unexpected dance class.  He had nothing to worry about however, and the night of dinner and dancing was a great success and a perfect way to spend our first night in Madrid.

It had been about twelve years since I had seen my uncle Mark and though I was raised in a separate state and only saw him once or twice a year while growing up I always felt we had a special connection and I always looked forward to seeing him. I guess the last time he was in town was the Christmas of my senior year in high school. That summer I left for college and didn’t have any family in Eugene, Oregon, which is where I was studying.

After I left it seems like that’s when my family started to have various scheduling conflicts and life interruptions that halted regular visits and celebrations. I wasn’t able to go home the first year and the second year uncle Mark wasn’t able to visit. In addition, I was the last of my brothers and sisters as well as cousins to graduate high school and I think the older generation relaxed a little with major family engagements. Whatever all the reasons ended up combining and causing a halt to family activity planning, it turns out that I had not seen my favorite uncle in almost twelve years. So, last summer I took it upon myself to find one of Boulder’s quaint hotels and make reservations as well as for a plane flight.

Oh, in case you’re thinking that I might have been imposing on him, I did contact him first and make sure that he was free and would be there on the weekend I planned to visit. I was terribly excited because not only was I going to get to see my uncle Mark, but this would be the first time that I visited him on my own. That also made me slightly nervous, but I’m an adult now, right? Exactly, I felt kind of like a kid again. Aside from a few math problems and logic puzzles I had sent to him to solve over the years, we had very little communication. It was limited to standard annual birthday and seasonal cards. Luckily we enjoyed some of the standard tourist attractions such as visiting the Mork and Mindy House and University of Colorado Campus, which made conversation easy. We also had some great food and laughs while I was there. In fact, it was so nice for both of us my uncle Mark asked me to return next year.

Willie grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and from as far back as he could remember he knew he wanted to be a film director. When asked by others when he first discovered this ambition he wasn’t sure how to answer until it finally occurred to him that it had to happen after his parents took his older sister and him to see Beauty and the Beast, and while he was impressed with the movie he remembers having the realization that someone had to make it. Later he credited that moment as being the definitive one created a charming story to go along with it. He figured it would come in handy somewhere down the line of his film career.

Another thing Willie remembered wanting from a very early age was to have a film shown at Sundance. He used to fantasize about it and could imagine himself flying into a town and receiving a hero’s welcome. He wouldn’t stay at his parents house but in a fancy hotel Salt Lake and would have to sign autographs wherever he went. He didn’t go around publicly declaring his fantasies as that would have been ridiculous, but still he had them as well as the intent to one day become a famous film director.

When Willie was fifteen his parents took him to his first Sundance screening. It was absolutely thrilling to the youth who had just finished his first ten-minute film on his parents digital camera. He wanted to go to school at UCLA and was already getting started on trying to create a project that he could include in his application. He knew that this recent short wouldn’t be it, though his parents thought it showed potential and were proud of him. He had remained true to his desire and consistently studied film and filmmaking. They were finally believing that he was actually going to pursue it and decided to support him with a trip to Sundance. Of course Willie couldn’t have been happier with the decision and thought about documenting the entire trip.

We only had a little sleep before we hit the streets of New York City. We didn’t want to waste any time while we were here, because we only had a few days. We made our way to Times Square, which we made sure that one of the small New York hotels was close to. We met up with an old friend of ours, Mark, and we all headed to our TV and Movie Sites Tour.

The tour started at 11am, so we stopped off for a quick breakfast, before we boarded a bus. On the tour, we saw The Flatiron Building that seems to be in every shot of any movie or TV show that’s filmed here, the Library  and later the Firehouse from ‘Ghostbusters’, the house from ‘I Am Legend’, the hotel of ‘Gossip Girl’, from ‘Coyote Ugly’ we saw The Bowery Ballroom, from the movie ‘Men in Black II’ we saw Bens Pizza, which is also where the tour stopped for lunch. The place where Adam Sandler peed on in the movie ‘Big Daddy’, the law courts from ‘Law and Order’, the house from the ‘Crosby Show’, the restaurant where Jerry Seinfeld ate and finally the ‘Friends’ apartment.

After the tour, we all commented on how this was a great way to experience New York. Mark had other obligations, so we bid him farewell and we headed to Grand Central Station. The building is spectacular and huge! When we came back outside, it was raining, but the rain didn’t last long, so we made our way up the street to Tiffany & Co on Fifth Avenue. We only window shopped like in the movie ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’, hey! way wasn’t this on the tour? I guess if every movie and TV made in New York was on the tour, it would last a week!

Tomorrow, we plan to see the Dakota Hotel, and tonight look up on the Internet where there might be other points of interest.

It may have been Carl Jung who once talked about how everyone eventually goes to visit Seattle, and that every cultural narrative reflects this eternal return to the emerald city.  Or maybe it was something I dreamed, but either way, it’s still something that keeps me from staying asleep for too long.  The idea of spending time in a city where it rains almost every day has an exotic appeal but only when I’m living in the desert.  That’s really when I start to remember the time I spent a month looking for the actor who played Chris in the Morning on Northern Exposure.  I was working at a bookstore in downtown Seattle, and every once in awhile Rob Morrow would come in and browse through the Madame Blavatsky ephemera we had.

He wouldn’t ever answer any questions, but I wouldn’t ask, either.  We had a policy to let people follow their own instincts, and that wasn’t just in the store, that went for the whole state.  People here are free to sleep on the beach if you don’t get caught, or if you have the money, you can stay in a luxury hotel.  Washington has a lot of different lifestyles, and many different ways of accommodating difference.  People often meet up with their secretly favorite icons and heroines here all the time, and won’t make a big deal out of it.  It might be an extensive live and let live philosophy, or it might also be that the constantly gray skies makes us all permanently sleepy.

But I didn’t become suddenly unsleepy when I left western Washington for the desert in Moses Lake, either.  I still sleep and dream enough to consider this a very full life.  But I am very glad that I had the chance to go looking for John Corbett when I was younger.  I never met him, but I did get to spend a lot of time in Roslyn.  That’s a town with a sense of self-assurance.  It’s made even more cocky from the tv show filmed there, but it’s earned its cockiness, because it really is as lovely as they think it is.  For one thing, it’s in the state of Washington, and for another, it’s far enough from Seattle to have its own identity, and its own peculiar view of the mountain when it’s out.  We all climb the same mountain eventually, and we all get to speak on our own radio show when the karmic wheels have all been properly balanced.

There’s a world of possibilities in New York City.  It’s still the most exciting place in the world, where anything can happen.  And everything does happen here, twice every day, so they say.  It’s a great place to get in touch with the best of new global culture, and also a great place to be completely retro.  You can find a stunning number of choices for fantastic restaurants, nightclubs, and discos, and it’s very easy to get in on an exciting evening.  Lodgings are fairly exquisite, too, with places like www.bestmanhattanhotel.com to help you find your perfect accommodation in great hospitality.  Style and design are very highly regarded here, but that should never make you cautious about taking fashion risks.  Nature rewards the courageous, and that’s as true here as it is anywhere.  But please, be careful if you decide to shake it like Shakira.

One of the local cantina’s recently sponsored a dance competition, where a patron fell off the bar trying to shake it like Shakira, and this lead to a bit of legal trouble.  The trouble has since resolved, but it helps bring Shakira back into the spotlight, at least for a little while.  She deserves it, too.

The Columbian singer has successfully crossed over into a global pop realm that makes her recognizable all over the world.  She even got to teach some of her moves to Beckham, and there are few people in the world who wouldn’t enjoy meeting her.  This in no way takes away from the remarkably brilliant lyrics of her first albums.  On Pies Descalzos, the singer, then under 20, came at the world with a fierce poetry and a very humble affect.  It made us listen, and she still has the capacity to make us take notice.  Her words are still powerful and poignant, and now she’s got the moves to keep the more easily distracted music fans also paying attention.

Gettysburg PA is a must see for all Americans and all who are interested in the early history if this country. It is also a center to many roads and highways that lead to other major must see towns and monuments. Check into one of the quaint hotels Gettysburg has available and come see the history for yourself. There is so much that has happened in this town over the decades one could only touch on a few things in such a short article about the town. If you find yourself in this little town you will be glad because of all the historical sites and museums you can visit. If you come around the first weekend of July, you can witness a reenactment of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg near by.

The town was founded by Samuel Gettys, a tavern owner, in 1786. It grew up even more after the railroad made its way to town in 1858. It is currently a small town that relies on the tourists who come to see the significant historical sites to stay alive. The Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 is the main attraction to coming to this area. People come from all over the world to try and get a feeling of what had happened. Visitors can take tours that go to the battle field itself. There are also some other sites of memorable battles to see as well. There is the Battle at Little Round Top and another confederate battle site called High water mark of the Confederacy which is located on Cemetery Ridge. These are located in the area called the Gettysburg National Military Park, which is south of the actual town.

Visitors can also see some of the home of an innocent bystander Ginnie Wade. The Jennie Wade House is the home of a seamstress who was the only non military person to be killed during the battle. She was killed in the house that still stands today as a museum. The Bobbin House Tavern on Steinwehr Avenue has been entered on the list of National Register of Historic Places. It was originally built as a home to the Dobbin family. It was a temporary field hospital during the big battle. It then became a gift center for tourists and now this historical home is now a popular tavern and restaurant.