Cleaning

I’ve been sprucing up some of the things you may not notice at A Traveler’s Library.(If you receive this via e-mail, click through to A Traveler’s Library to see the additions and make a comment.)

Google + The newest new thing on the Internet, and I love it.  You can link to me and learn about my travels that I don’t cover on the blog. If you need an invitation to join Google +, just let me know at vmb@atravelerslibrary.com

And on the subject of + , you now have the opportunity to plus A Traveler’s Library–up there in the right hand column.  That helps us show up in search results, and tells your friends that you approve of ATL.  You can also rate posts and comments that you find particularly helpful. It’s all about YOU and what you like.

SPONSORS.  You probably have noticed that Amazon ad that sprawls across the middle of the front page. It lists some of my very favorite books of those I have reviewed, and I update it as new favorites arrive. In the sidebar, you can find my favorite American Indian biographies, including, of course my own Quincy Tahoma: The Life and Legacy of a Navajo Artist, written with Charnell Havens. If you order here, you’ll get an autographed copy.  I hope that since we are all about books and movies here, that you will sometimes be tempted to purchase a book or a DVD of a book or movie I’ve discussed. I am a big supporter of independent book shops and web sites, but just in case you DO go to Amazon, I put links to Amazon on the site for your convenience.

Just a reminder that every time you click and buy ANYTHING–not just the object named in the link or ad–A Traveler’s Library gets a small benefit. And those small benefits mean I can spend time reading and reporting for you rather than spending my time finding income in other places.

Fly.Com: An efficient search site for airline flights, is now a sponsor of A Traveler’s Library.

Viking River Cruises: This company has always fascinated me, and you can see their link over on the right hand side.

Marriott Hotels:  I’m happy to have this good hotel company continuing to sponsor A Traveler’s Library.

A Freebie: The ad for Lonely Planet Bloggers’ Photo Book is the best deal going. You’ll get travel photos from the top bloggers on the Web, and its free! Click on the ad in the sidebar to download.

PARIS IN YOUR POCKET. One of the most viewed posts on A Traveler’s Library is called Ten Places to Eat Cheap(er)  in Paris. Now you can get it in e-book format to carry with you on your smartphone, I-Pad, computer, or e-reader. Go to Barnes and Noble Nook store or Amazon for Kindle today. For only $1.99, you can save lots of Euros on food in expensive Paris.

 A MYSTERY. Just in time for Hallowe’en last year, we had a spooky occurrence at A Traveler’s Library. In January 2010, Anil Polat of the great blog, Fox Nomad, wrote a blog post on the book and DVD, Long Way Round. I would give you a link to it, but it DISAPPEARED!  A few days later, I was looking for a post I wrote in April about movies in D.C., and it, too had gone missing.  I have a lot of work to do before I can figure out what is going on with the Purloined Posts, but please tell me if you go looking for something you thought you read here and can’t find it. (Cue spooky sounds…..)

My Disorganized Library

BOOKS TO BE READ I have, at least temporarily, abandoned the attempt to keep you informed about what is on my TBR pile, and what I am currently reading, and what I have read.  If you think the information is valuable or interesting, let me know, and I may resuscitate that page. For now, suffice it to say that I have 13 books waiting in my TBR pile, and all want to appear on A Traveler’s Library before the end of October.  Puh-leeze. Ain’t gonna happen.

The tiger photo and the spooky scene are compliments of Creative Commons and comes from Flickr, the bookcase is by Vera Marie Badertscher, all rights reserved.

Your feedback is welcome on any or all of this insider blogging stuff.

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1. A Capitol Fourth, The Mall, Washington D.C.

What’s Special? You’re kidding, right? It is THE place to be–the seat of government, with an all-American entertainment program featuring John Philip Sousa marches and thousands of red, white and blue clad celebrants gathered on the grassy lawn in the middle of all those imposing marble buildings. Right there where the laws are made and administered and judged. And watching fireworks arc over the Washington Monument would give any patriot a thrill.

Although I’ve never been in Washington in person for July 4th, we never miss watching this celebration on PBS. The people in the audience can be as much fun as the show on stage. Jimmy Smits and Steve Martin headline this year.

2. Charles River,  Boston

Boston Fireworks on the Charles River

What’s Special? Mostly the magnificent Boston Pops Orchestra, but also the serene setting by the historic Charles River. The music is a tad classier, and so is the crowd, compared to Washington D.C., but it is still a heck of a show.

Now in its 38th year, Boston presents the famous Boston Pops orchestra on July 3 and July 4 and fireworks over the Charles River on the Fourth. For a real thrill, see the Boston July 4th show from the Charles River. I’ll be stopping over in Boston briefly in August, and loved our visit there a couple of years ago.

3. Macy’s Fireworks Celebration, Hudson River, New York City

New York City Fireworks on the Hudson River

Setting off fireworks from barges on the Hudson River is a long time tradition in New York City, perhaps remembering the fireworks of revolutionary battles with the British fought in this area. Back then New York City was a rural village with cobblestone streets, and you can still see the cobblestones on the very southern tip of Manhattan in front of the Fraunces  Tavern where George Washington gave his farewell address to the troops.  In 1976, the bi-centennial of the Declaration of Independence, one of the grandest celebrations in the land took place here, and the tradition continues.

Fireworks have been cut from a lot of city budgets, but Macy’s, who in the past have been firmly associated with Thanksgiving, because of the Thanksgiving parade, now own July 4th in NYC as well. Thank you Macy’s for one of the best events in New York, a city I love to visit.

4. Navy Pier, Chicago

What’s Special: Well, to tell the truth, I love Chicago, but the city is not funding any big fireworks shows this summer. Instead, people can trot on out to Navy Pier and see there usual 15 minute show. When I say usual–they do this fireworks display every night during the summer. It is a crowd pleaser, there will be live music, and the Pier’s  a cool place to be on a hot summer night, but it doesn’t hold a Roman candle to the extravaganzas in the other cities.

5. Big Bay
Big Bay Boom, San Diego

San Diego Fireworks on the Bay

What’s Special?San Diego has a gorgeous bay and the night views looking back toward the city or out across the lighted Coronado Bridge always take my breath away. Now add tons of exploding color being fired off from barges circling the bay–sounds incredible. View them from outdoors at Shelter Island or Seaport Village or grab a 9:00 p.m. reservation window seat at one of the hundreds of restaurants with views on the bay. Yum!

(If budgetary woes weren’t enough to slow down the fireworks shows, in California a judge questioned whether San Diego’s fireworks are environmentally safe. Only in California!The  latest ruling allows the big show to go forward in San Diego, so you can safely book your trip.)

Can you afford to get out of town for the long weekend?

Air fare just keeps going up-up-up and away as gas prices stay stratospheric, but CheapO Air lists special deals to four of these five cities. As you do your trip planning, check out the CheapOAir July 4th  flight/hotel combos for New York, San Diego, Boston and Chicago.

Finally, my favorite provider of travel bargains, Travel Zoo, sends a weekly newsletter with their bargains and on June 17 they listed a BUNCH of July 4th bargains.  If you don’t subscribe to Travel Zoo, do.

Don’t dispair if you can’t get out of town, the D.C. Capitol Fourth will be covered on Public Television, and you can curl up with one of the books we have recommended in the past.

True to their name, CheapOAir did NOT pay me to include this generous mention of them in this post. However, I will give them credit. Those are their fireworks photos above. The video comes from the folks at the Capitol Fourth, though. Travel Zoo and Peter Greenberg were mentioned without incentive, too. I just happen to like them.

Where will you be on July 4th? Do you have any special family traditions?

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©2012 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

The station at the beginning is Washington D. C.’s Union Station, and the ending of the film (after the awkward splice with “Bobby” showing up out of nowhere) is in Lamy, New Mexico. At one time, Lamy was the closest stop to Santa Fe. Now there is a branch line to Santa Fe, and you can take an excursion to Lamy from Santa Fe and have lunch.

Thanks to Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, for pointing this film out on Facebook. The Philbrook in Tulsa Oklahoma has amazing collections of American Indian Art, including Quincy Tahoma, and also a deep collection of historical art and other objects.

If you would like to see more films about railroads and other stuff, go to http://www.archive.org/details/passenger_train

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©2012 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.

Book: Decoding the Lost Symbol by Simon Cox

Simon Cox, a native of Britain who lives in California, took time away from his research of alternate history and organizing his vast collection of CDs to talk to us about his new book,Decoding the Lost Symbol which demystifies Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol.

As everyone in the universe probably knows by now, Brown specializes in complex puzzles and codes based on real life organizations, rituals, works of art and architecture. Brown’s work has been seen by some as  travel literature as well as thriller. That leads to criticism for inaccuracy by as many people as those who follow his hero, Robert Langdon’s travels around Rome, Florence, and now Washington D.C.

In a sense, Simon Cox stalks Dan Brown. Since Angels & Demons, Cox has quickly followed each Dan Brown book with a book that explains the facts behind the thriller. Here are excerpts from our conversation.

Me: I was expecting more debunking. You are actually rather easy on Brown.

Simon Cox: I actually admire the way Brown has brought some subjects into the public eye. He got so much hammering for The DaVinci Code. We have to remember they are novels.

Me: And since they are fiction, why do we need factual explanations?

SC: I think so many things in the Lost Symbol people are going to wonder about, they are going to be confused, they are not going to know what it’s all about, they are not going to understand what the deeper elements are, that’s why I thought there was room there for a guidebook if you like.

Me: In Decoding the Lost Symbol, you explain that it would be impossible to immediately get from Freedom Square to the Metro Stop that Robert Langdon takes and that there is quite a distance from the stop nearest the National Cathedral to the Cathedral itself. (Both actions are key to the action of The Lost Symbol.) Any other general cautions for tourists who take the book as travel literature?

SC: You shouldn’t use this book as a guide for Washington D.C. Because if you do, you are going to have a very strange trip. (He gives the example that although the amazing piece of art, Melancholia, by Albecht Durer is in the National Gallery of Art, and seems to contain an important clue for his work, Langdon looks it up on the computer. Cox says, following the book is always caveat emptor.)

Me: Because you has researched alternate history all over the world, do you personally travel a great deal?

SC: Research for me has always been an excuse for travel.  I did a book on Atlantis because it gave me an excuse to travel to the Mediterranean and other places.

Me: Do you have time for reading other than the voluminous research you do?

SC: As far as fiction, Dan Brown is about it. When it comes to travel, I have a huge collection of travel journals, especially the older ones. I have a wonderful Baedecker from 1896, of Egypt. I still use it as a guide to see some of the places that are off the beaten track.

I find modern guide books a bit stale. There is not much personal comment in those books. I am a huge fan of Wilfred Thesiger, and especially his books about travels in the Middle East. The Arabian Sands… Southern gulf of Oman and Yemen, which I visited. ..I enjoy visiting that region because it is almost like a blank canvas, because there has been so little research and archaeology in some of these places.

Me: I have to ask, have you ever met Dan Brown?

SC: I have not met Dan Brown, or his wife, who does the major research for his books. (Other than before he came famous, when they corresponded because Cox was doing a magazine feature in a magazine he edited) And I don’t have any idea what he thinks about my books. But I’ll tell you what, I like to meet him and buy him a pint at my local pub and thank him very very much for paying my mortgage.

Besides his web site and somewhat neglected blog, you can keep up with Simon Cox at Twitter (@FindSimonCox)

My thanks to Simon &  Schuster imprint Touchstone for a review copy of this book. Washington Monument photo by Zach Stern. It is well worth clicking on the photograph to explore more of his pictures at flickr. And look at his names. He calls this one mournument.

See more about Dan Brown’s books : The Lost Symbol, Angels and Demons

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Book: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

This note is a perfect example of why I prefer to call my articles here “discussions” rather than “reviews.”  I have not read Dan Brown‘s newest book, yet.  However, when I heard that the Smithsonian site was listing free museum day around the country tomorrow, here, September 26, I just had to point you toward Dan Brown’s, The Lost Symbol .

So tomorrow go to a museum near you for free, and then when you can, go to Washington D.C. to see the sites there.

You see, Dan Brown  hung out a lot in Washington D.C. museums in the writing of this book. And Washington D.C. tourism office wants to help you tour the sites in the book.  Just go to the D.C. tourism website. You’ll get a tour to find all the Lost Symbol(s) , including those hidden at the Capitol Building, Washington Monument, Mt. Vernon, Botanic Garden, and OF COURSE–The Spy Museum, and other sites.

Related Posts: Many people used Dan Brown’s previous books as guides to sites in Rome and I talked about the movie Angels and Demons here. For another thriller guide to Washington D.C., I recommended a series by David Baldacci. Doesn’t anybody set romances in D.C. ? I’m sure there are plenty of historic novels, not to mention comedies.

If you like this post, please pass it on by clicking on the buttons below or giving it a Tweet, but remember, the Free Museum Day is one day only, September 26, 2009. But the Washington D.C. sites will be waiting for you any time.

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I did not catch these interviews when they first aired, but they make an appropriate  follow-up to the post on thrillers to read before you go to Washington D.C.

Three video clips of interviews of David Baldacci were conducted by the Book Maven, Bethanne Patrick and published on her blog, Author, Author for WETA.

Interview I about the book, Divine Justice, and southwestern Virginia where Baldacci grew up.  (February 4, 2009).

Interview II about Divine, Virginia and about Baldacci’s Wish You Well Foundation, which promotes literacy, book by book by book. (February 5, 2009.)

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Capitol Hill at Night, by Thomas Hawk at flickr.com

Destination: Washington D.C.

Are you setting off for the inauguration? No? Good choice.  Wait until the crowds thin out.

All eyes turn toward Washington D.C. on January 20 every fourth year.  Trivia moment:  Presidential inaugurals used to happen on March 4.  Then I was born on that date and since the country could not have two such important events on the same day, the President was moved to January 20.  Well, that’s the way my mother told the story.

Oh, sure, it is a good idea to read some history, and maybe the biography of Thomas Jefferson (for whom the main building of the Library of Congress is named) or Abigail Adams (First First Lady in the White House).

But to truly feel like an insider when you travel today’s Washington, add to your travel library the David Baldacci’s series about a group of misfits in D. C. who outsmart all those guys with big shoulders and blackberries who belong to alphabet agencies. The books are guaranteed to have you looking behind trees and wondering about the guy lurking on the marble steps.

• Camel Club, first in the series.
• The Collectors , my personal favorite, perhaps because it involves books and the Library of Congress will be next if you are reading them in order.
• Stone Cold , next up, is named for the leader of the gang, Oliver Stone.
• Divine Justice , the latest in the series, is also the last, according to the author.  I heard Baldacci speak at a conference in November 2007, and he said that Divine Justice is the last of the Camel Club series.

Once you have read yourself into a totally paranoid state bred by all those thrillers you have read, visit the Spy Museum.  It will convince you that you really are being followed.

With so many books set in D.C.,  from history to mystery, we just may have to revisit this city in a later post. Your suggestions?

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