America Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

That year they partied like it was 2-0–1-9 but after a Covid hiatus let’s go crazy for Aer Lingus’s return to the Twin Cities again.

Prince’s home cities of Minneapolis and St Paul’s is laying out the purple carpet to its Irish and Hibernophile pals.

You know, those like us who fly through Ireland with pre-clearance to the States.

All across America

Ireland’s national airline carrier is resuming its service between Dublin and Minneapolis-St. Paul today, April 29, with four weekly round trip.

Which marks the full restoration of the airline’s pre-pandemic North American network of 18.

When the Dublin-Denver flights, which will also operate four times a week, come on tap from May 17.

I will endeavour to fit in a trip again to LAX, on Friday for the American Travel Fair, IPW.

Music is the flute of life

Now, of course, we know Minnesota for its links to the Purple One.

And you can lap it all up at Prince’s palatial Paisley Park.

But it has also been home to among others…

The Andrews Sisters, Judy Garland, Bob Dylan and Lizzo and her magic flute.

Of course, it will not have gone unnoticed on Irish visitors that the Twin Cities are a shopping hub.

With the Mall of America bringing shoppers from all around the world.

Deal us in

And so if you want to see why Minneapolis-St Paul is where the doves fly.

You can too with Ireland’s national airline carrier.

So let’s go crazy for Aer Lingus’s return to Twin Cities.

Dublin to Minneapolis from €209.97.

America, Caribbean, Countries, Europe, Music

Ich bin vinyl Berliner

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And to mark Record Store Day ich bin vinyl Berliner.

And I warn you you’ll be seeing a lot more of these lame Teuton rib-ticklers in the next few days’ odyssey of east Germany.

There will be much to fit in during my whistlestop transit through Berlin en route to Chemnitz, next year’s European Capital of Culture.

Wax lyrical

But one stop-off we’ve been recommended is the Hard Wax Berlin record store at 44A Paul-Lincke-Ufer.

No David Hasselhoff here… Hard Wax Berlin is known as a dance destination.

Situated in an old factory building behind the canal in Kreuzberg it keeps the theme going with a metal counter.

Where DJ Hell, Modeselektor and Marcel Dettmann have all polished their acts over the years.

Of course music and musicians played a key role over the Fall of the Berlin Wall despite The Hoff’s interruption.

And we’ll also delve into the part heavy metal played and the Leipzig protests 35 years ago… stay tuned.

Jammin’ in Jamaica

But getting back to those beats.

And today’s celebration of record stores allows us to take a spin around other cool vinyl shops across the world.

Now if you’ve been watching One Love, the Bob Marley biopic, and if not why not?

Then you’ll be familiar with the Jamaican record store scene.

And particularly Orange Street, Kingston, where everyone from Sir Coxswane Dodd to Bob flicked through the records.

Known to locals as Beat Street, Prince Buster was even born here.

Rockers International and Randy’s keep the tradition alive.

The vinyl Trade

Now we all know the rich crossover between reggae and punk.

And indy label royalty Rough Trade started life in Notting Hill, London as a reggae record store.

If timing is what music is all about, and it is, then Geoff Travis had it in spades when he bought his shop in 1978.

And he was open to the fusion of reggae and punk… today Rough Trade spans the whole range of indy music.

Bigger in LA

Of course when it comes to size the US of Eh tries to do everything bigger and better.

And few could argue with the credentials of Amoeba Records in Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Where I’ll take time to frequent when I’m in La La Land next month.

The hangar-sized emporium occupies an entire city block and is across two huge floors.

We’ve been pointed to the Jazz room, the Out of Print section, the Punk aisle by the excellent guide The Vinyl Factory.

But whatever your thang is you’ll find it there.

LA though is for next month… Germany is my appetiser this week.

Where I’ll be happy to say Ich bin vinyl Berliner.

America, Countries

Our American Cousins and Lincoln

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Few will even know what play was being performed when the US President was assassinated but it has a resonance for Our American Cousins and Lincoln.

The British half of me (in truth Scottish) will know that figuratively and diplomatically Britons and Americans are ‘Cousins’.

The Irish in me informs that Our American Cousins are real and close…

And have been the trigger for me schooling myself in American history and literature.

The play’s the thing

English playwright Tom Taylor’s Our American Cousin was the play performed before Abraham Lincoln this day 159 years ago.

At Ford’s theatre in Washington DC which despite devouring all the history I could on my last visit remains on the to do list.

It’s always wise to leave yourself something left to see so that you will return… and I have a long list.

Which also includes George Washington’s house in Mount Vernon, and The Exorcist steps in Georgetown.

For the ages

Titans: Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln on stage

It is easy for history buffs to oversee, or run out of time, in DC when you’re mopping up Smithsonians.

But if you’re about DC today or would like to prepare yourself for next year’s 160th anniversary then Ford’s Theatre’s doors are open.

As they have been since 1968, putting on live performances, having been shut for 100 years.

With a full season each year from September to May.

Of course, as you’d expect, Lincoln is front and centre of many of those performances.

Although there are timeless classics too such as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol which runs from November 21-December 31.

Which covers my own birthday (hint!)

Your inner 1865 theatregoer

Now, this being America, they do visitors centres bigger and better.

And your visit will include the Ford’s Theatre Museum.

Where you can immerse yourself in exhibits on Lincoln’s presidency, Civil War milestones and the John Wilkes Booth plot.

While, of course, you will be able to channel your inner 1965 theatregoer in the playhouse.

Now the Ford’s Theatre experience is for the ages.

And you can pay tribute to The Great Deliverer where he died at Peterson House, the boarding rooms where he died.

All this too at just $3.50, taking in the museum, a Theatre: Ranger Talk and Peterson House with booking ahead advised.

It’s helpful, of course, when you have family out there and you have a landmark 60th birthday coming up, 100 years after Abe’s next year.

All of which makes us glad for our American Cousins and Lincoln.

How to get there

Honest Jim: And Honest Abe in Washington

Now it’s always the Aers and Stripes for us particularly as Aer Lingus has pre-clearance.

And Ireland’s national airline carrier have a sample fare for September 14 for five days for €532.36.

And while we have our own digs sorted at our American Cousins we’d recommend you go to the Washington Hilton where Ronald Reagan was shot at $1,912.47 for five nights.

Countries, Flying

The Best airport in the UK

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And when you call yourself the Best then you need to follow through and be named the Best airport in the UK.

Belfast was early to the party in the UK to follow the global convention of naming airports after hometown heroes.

Belfast City’s being football great George Best.

With only John Lennon in Liverpool and Robin Hood in Doncaster Sheffield (a steal from Nottingham surely?) participants.

Of course that’s a different subject which we’ve been tracked before, championing Billy Connolly for Glasgow and Sean Connery for Edinburgh.

And Bono for Dublin in the Republic of Ireland.

Belfast boys

For the week that’s in it though we’re celebrating another Irish city, Belfast and its airport.

Which we were only too happy to divert to from Edinburgh at the start of our 13 years odyssey in Ireland.

For our family holiday to Mallorca.

And if those circumstances arose again, and we can only hope, then we’d gladly swap airports from Edinburgh to Belfast.

Because Belfast’s average delays (12 and a half minutes) are the shortest of any in the UK.

With Liverpool John Lennon 13 minutes and 24 seconds.

From Edinburgh to London

My local airport, Edinburgh’s (21 minutes and 48 seconds) are among the longest.

The worst culprit is Gatwick at 27 minutes behind schedule last year.

Where I have suffered with Ryanair.

Although there is recourse for financial and/or accommodation compensation with all airlines if delays become too lengthy.

Of course, all delays disrupt your travel plans, particularly if you’ve onward flights.

Texan travels

Spare a thought then for the poor couple beside me on in the queue on the flight back from Dallas, Texas to London.

With the American Airlines flight delayed so long that the couple lost their connection from London.

And the onward flight from London to Glasgow and on to Austria.

What made it worse was that it was their honeymoon.

Little help from our friends

Of course, we are all fellow travellers on this life’s journey and where you see someone in trouble then you should help out.

And so I advised the couple who were thinking of hiring a car from London to Glasgow.

To consider a National Express coach instead.

We exchanged details so I could hear how they got on but never heard back.

I trust they got over to awesome Austria and back to Texas.

All things considered my odyssey to get back to Edinburgh and then the last train to North Berwick was small beer.

My travel being disrupted by a Harry Styles concert at Murrayfield which brought my aircoach to a standstill.

Best in the business

All of which brings us back to the airports that keep delays to a minimum.

And maybe I’m being a bit too ethereal here but there has to be something in the fact that the airports that score best have a guardian angel looking over them.

With the Best airport in the UK named after the fleet-footed Belfast boy George Best.

Who ironically was known for his lateness which I experienced in my own time in Aberdeen, and no-shows.

But that was another story and George was well worth the wait.

America, Canada, Countries

Pillow talk

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And haven’t we all done it as kids, and big kids, so let’s indulge in a bit of pillow talk?

No, not that, you mucky divils but pillow fighting, because this Saturday is International Pillow Fight Day.

We owe the flash mob, global participation day, to Kevin Bracken.

Kiddie Kev co-founded Newmindspace, an interactive public art group based in New York and Toronto.

With his pal Lori Kufner while they were students at the University of Toronto.

Lie back and laid-back

Imagine: Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal

Now it’s pertinent that the bedroom shenanigans should have been sprung in laid-back Canada.

With the most famous lie-in of them all happening just down the road in Montreal.

When John and Yoko had their lie-in for peace in the Sixties.

Now our pals Kev and Lori are clearly students who have never grown up, a bit like ourselves.

And have also championed bubble battles, capture-the-flag games and even a massive civil war with marshmallow bullets, held in Brooklyn.

More than 150 cities participated in the big pillow fight.

Which, I think we’ll all agree is better than bombing each other… if you’re listening Vladimir and Volodomir.

Celeb central

We remember you well: In the Chelsea Hotel

Now Kev’s pals, the Torontonians and New Yorkers have their share of high-end hotels.

From the Fairmont Royal Hotel where the celebs stay when in Canada’s biggest city…

To the Chelsea Hotel of Canadian poet laureate Leonard Cohen fame and anyone who was anyone really.

Where the feathers would have flown and much else besides.

And, oh, to have been a fly on the walk to hear the pillow talk.

Of course, on all things trans-Atlantic we advise through our own transport experiences.

To fly Aer Lingus with that crucial pre-clearance.

America, Countries

How to train your dragon in Orlando

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Our Floridian friends might have fared better with carousing Kieran than myself, all of which comes to mind as they show us how to train your dragon in Orlando.

They were Kieran’s carefree days when he had earned himself the nickname ‘Dragon’ and he was in my protection.

When I invited himself and Constance on a breakaway afternoon to Venice.

In our free time from the main trip around Padua.

Much to the chagrin of our host Mariaclaudia.

Who reminded us in forthright lingua that we had an official meal and concert in the world’s first Botanic Gardens that night.

A Dragon’s Tale

To cut a long story short we discovered that day that the Italian trains do not run on time, regardless of what Mussolini said.

And we waltzed in late with ‘Dragon’ in a t-shirt and boardies.

I’d taken a changed shirt, tie and slacks.

Age and a patient partner have been kind to Kieran, who has trained her Dragon into a family man and big-hitter at RTÉ.

A tale, or tail, he might one day tell his kids when he takes them to Universal Orlando Resort.

Where How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk is one of the five worlds featured at the all-new Universal Epic Universe theme park opening in 2025.

Here, guests will see what it’s like to live with dragons (insert your own mother-in-law jokes here).

As they explore a world of exciting attractions, beloved character meet-and-greets, dining, shopping and even flying dragons.

All based on the DreamWorks Animation’s trilogy.

Striking Vikings

So you’ll see dragons in their natural habitats and sheep attempting to disguise themselves as Terrible Terror dragons.

All against a lagoon that boasts two 40-foot-tall Viking statues set against a village perched above churning seas.

Guests will discover four attractions, one live show, and several character and dragon meet-and-greet experiences.

Guests can also dine and shop like Vikings in the world’s variety of themed eateries and retail locations.

Universal Epic Universe, opening next year, will be adjacent to three new Universal hotels, co-owned and operated by Loews.

So book your ride for next year to learn how to train your dragon in Orlando.

America, Countries

A dark sky at night is Oregon’s delight

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We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.. happen Oscar Wilde should have visited America’s west coast where a dark sky at night is Oregon’s delight.

Who knew? Well we do now after our pals out West shared the good news with us.

That a 2.5-million-acre area of southeastern Oregon has just been certified as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary by DarkSky International, making it the world’s largest Dark Sky Sanctuary to date.

Now it’s worth remembering that everything is bigger out West and The Sanctuary in Let ‘Er Buck state is approximately one-half the size of New Jersey.

Stars align

Light up: Warner Valley Overlook. Pic by Joey Hamilton/Travel Oregon

Within the Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary (OOIDSS) are the unincorporated communities of Adel, Plush, Summer Lake and the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge.

As well as a portion of the Fremont-Winema National Forest, nearly 1.7 million acres of land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Summer Lake Wildlife Area, nearly 80,000 acres of state-owned rangeland, and the Oregon Outback Scenic Byway.

‘This four-year collaboration brings together so many of the elements we try to achieve in regenerative tourism,’ said Bob Hackett, Executive Director of Travel Southern Oregon.

‘It not only elevates the destination experience for visitors to Lake County and opens up opportunities for local businesses, but it also helps agencies and residents steward their lands in ways that celebrate a legacy of starry night skies for generations to come.’

You are not alone

Shooting stars: Falling Stars Lake County. Pic by Sharon Theall

This unique geography we’re told is home to an array of wildlife, including American pronghorn, bighorn sheep, sage grouse, white-tailed jack rabbit, and migratory birds navigating the Pacific Flyway.

The region is also culturally significant and is home to a 13,000-year-old human occupation site.

While dispersed within the OOIDSS are hot springs, wild horses, private rangelands, ranches, and cattle… so you’re never alone!

Education and outreach efforts here have included: Stargazing & Natural Night Skies Webinar Series, screenings of the film Saving the Dark and tri-county library access to Night Sky Adventure Kits.

As well as dark sky gatherings, local dark sky videos, educational exhibit tables, dark sky presentations and workshops, and library programs as well as partnering with the neighboring Idaho Dark Sky Alliance for events.

Reach for the sky

Starry, starry night: Milky Way Lake County. Pic by Sharon Theall

The Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary now joins more than 210 Places that have demonstrated robust community support for dark sky advocacy and strive to protect the night from light pollution.” Learn more by visiting www.darksky.org/conservation/idsp.

So there you have it, a dark sky at night is Oregon’s delight.

And ours too from Dublin through LA to Portland on a round trip with Aer Lingus from €739

So maybe check it out with the rest of the world as we celebrate International Dark Sky Week next week (2-8 April).

And reflect on both good (Mount Teide in Tenerife) and more challenging experiences (food poisoning in the Sahara Desert in Morocco).

And plan on getting out to Oregon to the big country.

America, Countries, Food

A bite of Philly Cheesesteak Day

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And I feel like licking the sides of my mouth right now and taking a bite of Philly Cheesesteak Day.

Only in my little corner of this British island I can’t find a restaurant to serve one.

Never a problem in the City of Brotherly Love.

Where there’s even a restaurant with my name on it… no, not Bandanaman Beef although that’s what I’d call mine.

But Jim’s South Street Steaks which dates back to the Thirties.

When the proprietors sold sandwiches out of their house before opening a restaurant on the same spot.

Paté off Pat

Now in the beginning which is a very good place to start there was hot dog vendor Pat Olivieri.

Who was grilling his own lunch by slicing up some beef and throwing it on an Italian bun with some grilled onions.

When one of his patrons stopped by, asked what he was eating and suggested he start selling them.

In blue-collar Philly the new sandwich soon took off.

Visitors can eat too at the original Cheesesteak at Pat’s King of Steaks, owned by the family.

Take it to the Max

And any number of other establishments including the bar where I whiled away an afternoon with the locals.

Spitballing about sport and politics, Philadelphians’ favourite subjects.

Or Max’s takeaway/restaurant with its huge neon sign out front.

Open until late where you can chew the fat with the punters.

Eating your fave sizzling steak and gooey provolone cheese and all the onion, pepper and mushroom fittings.

Proper Charlie

Such is the popularity of the Philly Cheesesteak that its been syndicated right across the country by Charlie Shin.

Who, whisper it, started out in Columbus, Ohio.

Charley’s Philly Steaks chain now serves around 700 different restaurant locations.

In 46 U.S. states as well as 17 countries throughout the globe.

Though not as yet Scotland which is another of my excuses for getting back out to the States in May.

Where it is tradition for me to eat one of my fave American takeaways in whichever US airport I’m in with an Arnold Palmer.

Which brings me to the other day celebrated today World Cocktail (Mocktail) Day.

Although we’ve down that highway before which is why today we’re concentrating on food.

With a bite of Philly Cheesesteak Day.

America, Countries

Niagara Spotter Falls

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And, of course, like everything it’s always a different perspective depending on your standpoint and the world’s most famous waterfalls can be explored on a number of Niagara Spotter Falls.

Various viewing areas are available in Niagara Falls State Park (the American side).

Luna Island is a small area between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

And it offers awe-inspiring, close-up views of both Falls.

Terrapin Point, we’re told, is perfect for sights of the thundering Horseshoe Falls.

While Prospect Point is the prime viewing area for the American Falls and Rapids including the nightly illumination and seasonal fireworks.

The nightly illuminations transform the natural wonder into an array of colours.

Special event displays change colours in support of various causes and significant milestones.

Or fly it: The American Eagle, obviously

Now, of course, the Falls are the most spectacular sight in them thar parts.

But you should also experience what goes on beyond the waters.

Beyond the Falls

The free Niagara Falls shuttle service operates from May until September.

And you can take a trip to attractions such as Old Fort Niagara and Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center.

While from 4-8 April NASA astronauts will provide free programming and exhibits throughout Niagara Falls USA around the Solar Eclipse.

Including at Niagara Falls Public Libraries, the Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Centre, the Aquarium of Niagara…

The Niagara Power Vista, the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute and Niagara Falls State Park.

Virtual NY State

Falling for Niagara: And, yes, you should look up

Just north of the Falls, the Niagara Power Vista is an electrifying experience.

With interactive exhibits and the chance to design your own dam.

And a high-tech virtual ride across the landscapes of New York State.

Which, of course, I was denied when I visited the Horseshoe Falls, and this is the thing, because of the fog.

All this is for free and open all-year round.

So remember there is always a different perspective depending on your standpoint so be one of the Niagara Spotter Falls.

All major airlines fly to New York airports and Toronto.

America, Caribbean, Countries, Europe, UK

I’m a copy Kate too around the world

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Everyone has their own altered reality of who they are so I admit it, I’m a copy Kate too around the world.

And aren’t we all, airbrushing here and pretending we’re somebody we’re not?

And so for this Irish-Scot, schooled in Classical Greece and Rome, with a tranche of Irish-American rellies I’ve channelled all their icons.

Now, far from wanting to come in and do a fixer’s job for the Windsors.

But I’ve always found that the best way of redressing a pile on is to send yourself up.

Altered images

And so if Kate Middleton put out a Picasso-type photo of herself and her sprogs then she could show that she can laugh at herself.

Now four score months and seven days ago (or thereabouts) I brought forth my Presidency.

See, there I am, writing an order in the White House in DC.

And, I was entitled to do so, having been given the authority by no less a figure than George Washington himself.

The new President of America: In Washington DC

Now, I’ve been photographed with many an American icon over the years.

Martin Luther King, Elvis Presley, Annie Oakley and more recently Donald Trump, although he probably met them all too.

Of course, I fought too in the American Civil War.

In fact much like the Universal Soldier of Donovan’s song or the Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil I was there for the major events in history.

My place in history and culture

With the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Archduchess Sophia in Sarajevo at the time of their assassination which triggered the First World War.

And spooky this, she too like Kate was of ‘common stock’

Then modern rock royalty in Cliff Richard in Portugal and R&B (that’ll be Rihanna and Bandanaman) in her native Barbados.

While I’ve skied with Olympic champions in Gelsenkirchen, won the Open Golf Championship in Portrush in the north of Ireland, run with the Pamplona bulls.

And danced with Judy Murray and sung with Natasha Bedingfield… you can make up your mind on those last two name drops.

Fake it till you make it

Now, there’s the old saying about fake it till you make it.

Now admitting it is the first step which is why I acknowledge I’m a copy Kate around the world.

Kate though has it the other way round down Kensington Palace way as she prefers to make it till she fakes it.