A Museum worth a visit

Speedway Motors is internationally known. I had never heard of them. They operate out of a huge warehouse facility in Lincoln, Nebraska and provide parts and equipment for every racing or street enthusist. They have been in operation for a long time.

But little-known is the museum that the Smiths have developed regarding transportation and racing. Here you will find a vast collection of automobiles and racing memorabilia as well as the motors that made history. Many are displayed in period correct surroundings. Everything from soapbox derby to the Bonneville Flatts and Indy cars.  Upstairs there are enough pedal cars, both original and restored, to fill an Olympic size pool, toy cars, lunch boxes and Buck Rogers memorabilia just add to the fun.

Here is the website. If you are ever in Lincoln, Nebraska and love automotive history you should stop by on one of their open days and go for a tour.

https://www.museumofamericanspeed.com/

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Passing through

 When I think about going to a new destination, I usually research a bit to know where to stay and eat and a bit about what to expect as far as weather and things to see. Looking up in awe at a pyramid you can't help but feel that even the locals are but travelers just passing through.

So many times we have gone somewhere, not expecting anything special and we are totally blown away by the feeling that although there is no place like home, every place is a home. Our lives are like lives of people in other countries. We are lucky to be well enough off financially to be able to travel and experience the diversity of culture.

Always count your blessings and experience the people and the past when you travel.

Now Sapphire, Rivera Maya

 The Now Sapphire was a resort we visited in late November. The weather was cooler the whole week, but the sunshine on the beach or pool warmed a body nicely. The entire place was beautiful and restful with fountains and reflecting pools that ran along many walkways and buildings.

 More water. On this trip I was recovering from a torn up knee and so I spent much time lounging. Everyone at this place was very nice and efficient. Our room was pleasant and we had a balcony overlooking the grounds and with an ocean view which I am afraid I took for granted and spent little time on. Knowing I would need to elevate my knee and use a lot of ice, I packed a soft sided lunch bag cooler and ziploc bags. The Spanish word for ice is "hielo, por favor"

 And the view from our room...

Brendon's Dream...

Sleeping on the Great Wall of China

TRAVEL STORIES — BY BRENDON ON 09/04/2011 12:05 PM

"No matter how big or small, every one has a travel dream. That dream can range from sampling every brewery in your home state or climbing a local mountain to running with the bulls in Pamplona, joining the mile high club (the new Airbus does not count), getting wasted at the Rio Carnival or being romanced on the Eiffel tower. One of my most compelling travel dreams has been to sleep on the Great Wall of China.

The first time I walked the Great Wall was at Simatai a few years ago during China’s Spring festival with a tour group from a Beijing youth hostel. While admiring the view from an ancient gate house after a several hour walk on the wall, I was struck by the idea of just how cool it would be to sleep on the wall. From that moment on I’ve been slightly obsessed with the dream of sleeping on the wall."

Read more here:

 http://chinatravelgo.com/sleeping-on-the-great-wall-of-china/

 Brandon tells how he planned the trip right down to his equipment and bus/train plans and what section of the wall he chose. Other blog posts on the Great Wall that are really informative.  Have fun!

Working for the weekend

I have a job where I have very flexible hours in the months of June and July. However, these are my husbands busiest times of the year. I find the shift from the daily job during the rest of the year to the flex schedule in the summer (and I only have to put in about 15 total days in these two months) is hard to adapt to. I have so many things that I put on hold until I have the summer "off" and then the weather is so nice and I have each day to myself and before you know it, the time flies by with only one or two of my goals for the day accomplished.

One way I cope is to treat every morning like work. When I have finished my "paid" work there is time for my saved up goals. I have my list, I give myself a start time and an end time. I have my big list on a tablet and check them off as they get done and I write my short list on a white board and erase what I get done and add other things as I go. I call it Long Term To Do because I feel better when I get things done that summer.

 

The afternoons are for outdoor projects like lawn and flowerbed maintenance and appointments or running errands.

Then, before I know it, it is August and time to get back into the regular work routine. And when winter arrives I am ready for vacation!

Preparing for a Grant trip

Often, the best travels are ones that don't come about quite the way you expect.


This is the blog of two best friends who will be teaching in El Salvador for 3 weeks. Lots of pics.

Their story goes....

June 5, 2013

Preparing for Departure

A couple of years ago, we (Angie and Lara) discussed getting a grant to go to Mexico. We wanted to learn a little more about what our students from that region experience before they get to our little school in Nebraska. That discussion was put on the back-burner until last fall, when we decided that we really wanted to follow through with the application for this grant.

Once we decided to apply, we defined our mission, enlisted proofreading and guidance help, and spent about 35 hours drafting and refining our application, which we sent in the end of January…then it was time to sit and wait…

and wait…

and wait…

Lara had a few speech tournaments, Angie found out she was pregnant (It’s a girl!), we each received other grants for our classrooms, but we continued to wait for the big one…

and wait…

and wait…

Finally, on the Monday after Easter (in APRIL!!) we received a letter from the grant providers, Fund for Teachers, and they had denied us.

Just kidding!!

We had received the money we had asked for, plus more!! The reality hit us. We would be spending three weeks of our summer in El Salvador working on teaching English to students of all ages with the program Travel to Teach.

We soon received our checks, set up a joint checking account (adorable, we know), ordered our plane tickets, school ended, Angie traveled to Florida, Lara to Europe…and that brings us to today…

We leave the US in two days!

Follow Angie and Laura here:  http://searchingelsalvador.tumblr.com/

I love a good sunrise

I am such a spoiled brat. I FINALLY got my dear husband talked into traveling 5 years ago, and now I want to go all the time. What is it with travel that I crave like chocolate? even when I am not planning a trip I am planning a trip. I am home for 3 months and even though the weather is nice, I dream of the beach or jungle or pool side lounging! The sound of waves on the sand and the smell of the leaves decomposing on the forest floor call me. Little blue birds, long legged guinea pig things, iguanas soaking in the heat of the sun call me. I close my eyes for a few minutes, and then get back to pulling weeds! Sustained for a few more days.

Our Guide

One of the many guides that make our trips to other countries so rewarding. Guides (and drivers) know the lay of the land and the important points of any sites. At first, many sound like they are the airline stewardess who recites by rote the safety speech with no emotion or thought. But once you start asking questions they respond by expanding into areas that they save for the people who are actually interested in the site. Our lively group gave our man Heber an entertaining audience and he gave us an entertaining tour. We all had a great time. Be sure to tip well according and let them know you appreciate them.

COBA

 The Coba ruins in Mexico are not as visited as Chichen Itza, and not as manicured, but are magical in their own half hidden way.

The site dates from AD 600 to 900 and that makes it older than Chichen Itza. The ruins were discovered in the late 1800's and were not excavated until 1973. In truth, they are not fully excavated even now.
Many of the mounds you see in the jungle just off the pathways are actually buildings and other structures still buried.

 It is a huge complex with many walking paths through the jungle and pedicabs for those who find the walk a bit much. We were there for 2 hours and barely saw anything but the most convenient sites. We started with a guide who gave a brief introduction and cautioned which trees not to touch and then turned us loose.
 At the time of our visit, the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan (Nohch Mul) was open for climbing. Be warned, it is steep with very tall steps. Once you get to the top 130+ feet up, the view is breathtaking. There is a rope to help with the descent, but many opt to use the "toddler" decent and sit on their rears and go down one step at a time. Check with my girlfriend at Rekre8r Travel if you want to book a trip and explore your own corners of the world. (http://rekre8rtravel.com/)

A carved "Stela" or stone tablet

 The pyramid (above)
 The Mayan ball court (at right) 

Shipwreck museum in Puerto Aventura

 This little museum in Puerto Aventuras is worth the half hour you will spend there if you enjoy diving or sailing, history and culture. The artifacts recovered by a diving club are well displayed, documented and varied. There are Spanish shipwrecks as well as Mayan artifacts from offerings thrown into underground pools called cenotes as well as a history of the diving club. Free will donations are greatly appreciated. You will find it on the back side of the mall surrounding the dolphin plaza area in Puerto Aventuras.

Reconstructed canon carriage for a recovered canon. Other artifacts shown below.

Winter Escape

Back home winter is pushing one last (I hope) assault, trying to leave a lasting impression of cold and wind. But in the warm of tropical ocean breezes it is ages away.

 I used to check messages and email a couple of times a day, but the last couple of trips I lasted 3 or 4 days before I had to get my internet fix.

 Beautiful colors, although it is probably new construction. This is what the world is like outside of the cookie cutter subdivisions.

My last sunrise by the ocean until the next trip.