Key West’s physical beauty draws tourists like a magnet, but the locals, or Conchs, give the island heart. The Conchs are people who have always been there or who have broken free from the centripetal pull of the Lower 48. In one sense, they live in a different country of their own creation, one that epitomizes the […]
Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and the Ghosts of Key West Read More »
I graduated from Northwestern in 1964 with no idea what to do next. I most certainly didn’t want to continue in academia. I knew what I’d be doing if I didn’t get married or hook up with a graduate school – I’d get drafted. I decided, in my half-assed fashion, to allow that to happen,
To understand Peru is, to a great extent, to understand the Andes Mountains. They’re considerably taller than any of the Rockies in the lower 48, and much steeper. This means that some of them remain snow-capped all year round. They tower above and around many of Peru’s cities and ancient Inca ruins, like a gentle
Peru: A Land Built By Giants Read More »
Colorado has always been a destination of interest, and for good reason. Today, tourists and outdoorsmen flood in from every corner of the world, eager for adventure. The 19th century was no different, as pioneering men and women settled in the Western Territories. Gold was a big motivator, and the California Gold Rush made men
Victor, Colorado: The City of Mines Read More »
A tragic bullfight in Spain a few years ago that left Matador Victor Barrio gored to death marked the first time in decades that any bullfighter had been killed by a bull. This sad event made me recall the only authentic Spanish bullfight ever held in the United States. And it happened right in our back yard. It
A Spanish Bullfight in America Read More »
For decades, the simple words “Welcome to Colorful Colorado” have greeted millions of visitors, and for good reason. Colorado really is a colorful place, with snow-capped purple mountains, red sandstone spires, green forests, and rolling, golden prairies. Still, there’s nothing wrong with avoiding the tourist-trap locales you would expect to find in a travel brochure
NORAD: Off the Beaten Path, but an Intriguing Colorado Feature Read More »