Sunshine from Around the World (in photos)
“Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories…” -An Affair to Remember It’s been pretty bleak in Nashville, and around this time of year, a walk through my neighborhood isn’t very appealing: gray skies, bare trees, brown grass, and a chilling wind. Instead, I’m staying curled up in my blanket with a cup of coffee, looking up flight prices to the Yucatan Peninsula. I’m ready for springtime and some sun! But, alas, since it’s only just February, and to keep myself from getting even more sad that the prospect of spring is still many weeks away, I’m turning to memories of balmier days. (As I went through my pictures, I realized how lucky I’ve been to have a little good weather and blue skies.) Sydney, Australia Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Athens, Greece Colonia del Sacremento, Uruguay Tauranga, New Zealand Tigre, Argentina Como, Italy Coolangatta, Australia Do you feel the...
5 Things to Do In Memphis (If You’re Not an Elvis Fan)
Memphis never has been a city that intrigued me. For some reason, I held this begrudging view that Elvis was the best thing that happened to an otherwise terrible place. You see, we Nashvillians and Memphis(ites?) have a pretty good Tennessee city rivalry going. Nashville has superior neighborhoods, shopping, food, professional sports, and obviously better music (this is Music City after all), so what’s the point in wasting gas to visit an inferior, crime-ridden place like Memphis? Kidding, obviously. Despite my passionate disinterest, when Gunner’s massive Southeast US road trip took him through Memphis for a weekend, I couldn’t balk at the opportunity to see him and explore a new city, even if it was Memphis. After eating the food, walking the streets, and hearing the music, my perspective began to change. This list is responsible for the small part of my heart that was captured by a nearby place that took me several years to visit. It’s what changed my mind about Memphis – and it had nothing to do with Elvis. The Barbecue Nachos at Central BBQ. It sounds a little strange – my expectations were low – but the barbecue nachos were so decadent and tasty! Barbecue steeped in a mild sweet barbecue sauce, topped with cheese and jalapenos…it’s the first time since New Orleans that I’ve had a real food epiphany. What do I mean by that? I mean I will definitely return to Memphis – if only for the barbecue nachos. Visit the Lorraine Motel. Just across the street from Central BBQ’s downtown location is the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. The museum was under renovation when we were there, but even still, seeing that motel balcony in person was just as moving. It’s hard to believe the racist society MLK fought against was within my parents’ lifetime, and even more unfathomable is that the assassination happened less than 20 years before I was born. If you’re in Memphis, it’s definitely worth a stop to pay respects to one of the greatest American spirits to have lived in modern history. Within the Lorraine Motel is the National Civil Rights Museum, which does charge an admission fee. ($10 for adults, $9 for students.) Explore Mud Island. I raised my eyebrow when Gunner suggested we go to Mud Island, a neighborhood just outside of Memphis. It is an island situated right on (in?) the Mississippi River, and contrary to what its name suggests and my initial mental image, it’s not a gross or dirty place at all – it’s actually quite pleasant! There’s a nice waterfront park, perfect for a quiet afternoon spent reading,...
Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires: 2 Week Itinerary
Beginning in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and departing from Buenos Aires, Argentina is a common route tread by travelers, and it’s a fairly manageable itinerary if you have 14-16 days. Personally, I wish I’d had an extra week (at least) to explore Uruguay a little more, but if two weeks is all you can get, it’s better to take it than not…and I did! Rio de Janeiro: 4 days Four days in Rio will give you just enough time to take in the sights, and get a little bit of a feel for the city. You can check out Sugar Loaf Mountain, Ipanema Beach, Copacabana, Lapa (for nightlife), and, you must must eat Brazilian barbecue. (Carretão is a good, relatively inexpensive Brazilian barbecue chain). And then, of course, there’s the Cristo Redentor. Rio de Janeiro Tourist Tip: If you’re going to see Christ the Redeemer up close, especially in high tourist season, go as early as you can – which is 8AM. There are two reasons for doing this: 1. The line to take the train up to the Redeemer is a LOT shorter, if nonexistent. Since the statue is at the very top of Corcovado mountain, tourist access is only achieved by sending trolley cars up the mountain – a journey that takes about 20 minutes, and seating on these trains is limited. When you buy a ticket, you’re given a ticket for the train’s next departure time, which can be backed up for 2 hours or longer if you wait to go later in the day. 2. Jesus’ head is shrouded in clouds and smog by noon. If you wait too long, you won’t be able to get a good picture of/with Jesus, since his head will likely disappear into the afternoon clouds that roll through on a daily basis (in summertime, at least). Where We Stayed: We rented a flat two blocks off Copacabana Beach, which was a perfect central location to several of Rio’s neighborhoods and the perfect spot for New Year’s Eve. Try airbnb to find similar flats. Getting From Rio de Janeiro to Iguazu Falls: 1 day Flying directly from Rio de Janeiro to Puerto Iguazú, Argentina isn’t a cheap flight, as it’s an international flight. It’s less expensive to either take a bus or fly domestically from Rio to Foz do Iguaçu, and then crossing the land border into Puerto Iguazú, Argentina. A note about buying domestic flights in Brazil: Without a CPF ID number (Brazilian ID number), you’ll have a heck of a time trying to book a fairly priced domestic flight within Brazil. I ended up having to get my Brazilian friend to buy the ticket, and then pay her back – but internet research tells me...
The Greek Island of Aegina (Photo Essay)
During our 4 days in Europe in 2009, we hopped over to the Greek island of Aegina. The weather was downright spectacular, and Aegina blew us away. Is anything better than Europe in May? If you visit Athens, you must make the ferry trip to Aegina. Ferries depart from Piraeus, and get your tickets as soon you can – they sell out...
A Tale of Two New Year’s Eves
It was a low-key New Year’s Eve this year. Gunner was in town, my roommate made some awesome shrimp, we drank a little bit of Fireball, and stayed home. When my phone alarm finally went off at midnight, I think we all breathed a sigh of relief, like a bunch of old folks – we could go to sleep. What a contrast from how I’d rang in the New Year in 2012, in Rio de Janeiro. Since I never did a proper post…here are the highlights! The Brazilian New Year’s Eve Traditions Brazilians wear white on New Year’s Eve (oops). This was problematic for me, as I’d only brought 5 shirts with me (curse my minimalistic approach to packing!). Fortunately, Raquel came prepared, and had a few extra white shirts in her arsenal. While I get that white represents purity, peace, and a fresh start for the New Year – it did rain for the first part of the evening. Yikes! Lentils bring good luck. Lentils is one the several dishes prepared for a traditional Brazilian New Year’s Eve, and it is believed that the eating of the lentils will bring good luck and prosperity in the New Year. Caipirinhas are the drink of choice. In the hours preceding midnight, my glass was refilled numerous times… it’s a stiff drink, too. Watching the Fireworks – From an AMAZING Condo Right at midnight, from several barges off the shore of Copacabana beach, an amazing 20-minute show of fireworks takes place. Raquel’s friend’s family own a prestigious condo, with the best possible view of the fireworks you could want (especially when it’s raining!). It was like watching the ball drop from a penthouse in Times Square – simply surreal. And, the fireworks were incredible. This crummy little video doesn’t do it justice: Getting Squashed for David Guetta The Rio De Janeiro NYE festivities include a free concert on Copacabana beach, and David Guetta was performing. 500,000 people were trying to get to the stage, and as we forced our way through the densest crowd, more than once I felt my internal organs being crushed. As an American where police and security are always in supply at any kind of public gathering, I was amazed at the lack of any kind of legal presence and the high morale of everyone in the crowd. Raquel said it was a testament to the Brazilian spirit. Stickers on Strangers + Taking Photos… = Stickerbombing? One of Jim’s travel gags is to bring a slew of stickers, and leave them on random objects. Usually, those objects are stationary. While we enjoyed the music of David Guetta, we were...
The Road Less Traveled: The Natchez Trace Parkway
In 2011, I wrote a post about wanting to explore the Natchez Trace. Last month, I finally did it – about 260 miles of it. The Natchez Trace Parkway is a historical scenic highway, stretching 444 miles long. It begins in Nashville and ends in Natchez, Mississippi. It’s known for being a nice, quiet, leisurely drive – and in that regard, it didn’t disappoint! Immediately, I couldn’t believe how relaxing it was to drive at 55mph, without tractor trailers or commercial vehicles of any kind. There are no distractions on the Trace; no neon signs, fast food restaurants, hotels or gas stations… just my car, Simon and Garfunkel, and the open road. I could breathe. There are numerous historical stops and lookout points along the Trace, and I made four myself – two of which were still in Tennessee. The second stop was one I’ve been interested in since I learned it was on the Trace: the place where Meriwether Lewis met his unfortunate/bizarre end. Definitely worth a stop for history buffs, or to pay homage to one of the greatest American explorers. The Trace is beautifully slow. It were as though I was driving through a painting, even in the dead of winter. It’s not a road taking you anywhere fast. It’s about the journey. It’s time to get lost in your thoughts and imagination, and wonder about the different types of people who traversed this ancient path throughout the centuries. I was constantly being gripped by the historical elements along the trail, especially when I stumbled across the Pharr Mounds. Just dirt piles, you say? They’re ancient burial grounds for a tribe of nomadic Indian hunters, dating back 2,000 years! Thing I Wish I’d Done #1: Brought a Map. The Natchez Trace Parkway goes through remote places in the Deep South that are still hidden from the reach of cell phone towers. It’s great if you’re trying to escape the digital age, but it’s not so good if you’re trying to load Google Maps when you’re low on gas or in DESPERATE need of a restroom. (Let’s just say Hernando De Soto isn’t the only one who’s roughed it in Northern Mississippi…) Thing I Wish I’d Done #2: Gotten off the Trace near Tupelo, rather than in the middle of nowhere. The signs along the Trace for anything off the Trace are not very informative at all, exit signs merely tell you the route number and the name of the nearby town, but offer no clues if it’s worth your time to get off there. And once you do decide to get off the Trace onto a random road, there is no...
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I'm Laryssa, and when I'm not working in film or television, I'm attempting to travel -- or I'm here, providing resources for working in film or travel. Read more Elsewhere on the internets
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