We were on our way from Aspen, Colorado, to Black Canyon National Park. We had driven through the Rocky Mountains, seeing some great scenery along the way.
We reached Paonia on our way to Delta. We decided to stop at a convenience store for gas. We had been told to me over and over again was how to go ahead and get gas when you see a gas station, otherwise there might not be another one for a while.
I do not recall going into the gas station. I spent most of my time outside taking photos. I saw the North Fork Baptist Church, a sign of civilization nearby, although it didn’t dawn on me that there might have been more to Paonia than the Stop ‘n Save. From the photograph I see that there were some picnic tables in front of the convenience store, no doubt for weary travelers unaware of the more convenient restaurants just a few miles toward town.
Years afterwards I decided to explore Paonia from the convenience of my desktop computer and Google Maps. There was much more to Paonia. We were just on the outer cusp. It has a handful of hotels and a bed and breakfast that would be great to stay at if I were to ever visit again.
Center, Colorado
I had always been a fan of small towns. I’m intrigued by how much different it could be from those metropolises or suburbs that I’m familiar with.
During 2011 I had a chance to make my first true trip out west. Sure, I had been to Nevada and California before, but it was a work trip and I didn’t see all that much. This was to be a continued experience of a week or more.
We stopped at Center, Colorado, not because it was a specific tourist destination on our trip, but because it might have a restaurant. Enter Leonardo’s Restaurant. It had a hometown flair to it, but still had an appeal to those weary travelers on their way to Sand Dunes National or Park or Mesa Verde. A Hispanic lady greeted us and showed us to our table. After glancing over the menu I decided on a burger…a good safe choice, after all I was unfamiliar with Mexican cuisine and was never sure what I’d get.
The burger was filling. My fellow travelers seemed satisfied with their meal.
As I paid my check I noticed the kitchen was bustling with activity of the lunch rush. I begin to wonder about their clientele. Was it mostly the ranchers and industrial workers in this town of 2000 people? Did they have regular customers who already knew what they wanted before they even ordered?
As I was leaving I noticed a portrait of Jesus and his disciples in the lobby. No doubt it was a sign of the religious conviction of the owner. I took a few pictures of it and I was on my way.
Center might be a wide spot in the road between Durango and Colorado Springs, but it is home to many. I later found out there was a whole section to the town I hadn’t seen. There was a business section including a thrift store and a few bars and shops. The town even had a high school. I’m intrigued by the way of life its residents must lead. Do they seem stress free in their bubble of small town life? Do they long for more than what Center can offer? I wanted to meet more of its residents and have conversations with them. But alas our time in the town was too short and we must be on our way to Sand Dunes.
Noah?
Today I saw the controversial film “Noah.” As my friend said “We should take it with an amount of salt the size of Lot’s wife.” And we did.
The controversy in the film stems from our false assumption that Hollywood producers will actually read the Biblical account and craft the movie accordingly. Newsflash: They won’t. They will take every opportunity to sensationalize it with fantasy and blockbuster special effects regardless of the Genesis account. Consequentially enough Noah’s director, Darren Aronofsky, is an atheist. I, like many others, am still trying to figure out why an atheist would direct a Biblical movie.
I however was unprepared for the first few minutes of the film showing the “Watchers” commissioned by the creator to watch over Cain’s decendants. These Watchers are much like the giant Rock Eater in the Neverending Story, only thinner and more like Transformers.
If you can get past the Watchers, you’ll find the film has some good positive themes to it. For example, to the chagrin of Noah’s wife, snakes were invited onto the ark by the creator. Yes, even God feels snakes are worthy of salvation.
I was under the impression that Noah lived among the people. I had always been told in Bible class that those around Noah probably made fun of him for building such a large ark with no rain in sight. However the movie portrays Noah and his family as vegetarian nomads, avoiding the violent decendants of Cain. This brings to mind the great questions, if you and your family were the only righteous ones on earth, would you still stay faithful?
Another realization was the actual flood was terrible. While inside the ark, did Noah and his family hear the cries of the doomed outside of the ark, as it was portrayed in the film? This Biblical account is much more than just a cute decoration in a nursery and perhaps we should treat it as the disaster it is.
Overall “Noah” is not a DVD I’d purchase, however I’d choose to watch it again if it were on basic cable or if I was planning for a sermon on the subject matter.
Facepalm
I think I did a facepalm when I saw this.
We sang Katy Perry at church again this morning because Cross Point
— Zack Bennett (@ZackTN) January 26, 2014
Lisbon Part 2: Belem
Belem was next on my list of places to see. I caught a tram from the Praca do Comercio and started my 30 minute journey to Belem. The ride itself was uneventful. I was aware of the stops and could theoretically trace it on a map. I found my way to the impressed Jeronimos Monastery, a very ornate structure. I took plenty of photos of it and walked around until I found its entrance.
I had been in plenty of cathedrals before. I guess once you’ve seen the Sistine Chapel, all other cathedrals pale in comparison. This church was impressive with the stained glass.
When I was in 5th grade I remember studying the European explorers. We had tests where we had to remember where they explored. Being a geography buff I always enjoyed it. Little did I know that I would one day see Vasco da Gama’s grave within this church in the monastery. Before his big voyage he prayed in a small chapel where the current cathedral sits. Then he set sail to round the coast of Africa to confirm a sea route to India from Portugal. I took several photos of it.
Next was the courtyard of the church, the cloisters. Ironically you can see the church for free (more impressive) and have to pay 7 EUR to see the less impressive cloisters. The guidebook said to look for sculpted rain spouts shaped like a kitten, cricket and monkey. I only saw the one shaped like kitten. I tested out my Muvi clip on camera to film some footage. The footage itself was kinda grainy, but at $60 I wasn’t looking for some top level camera.
After getting plenty of pictures of Jeronimos Monastery, I decided to try to find the Belem Tower. I wandered around without much luck until I finally asked for directions. I was told to find an underpass near a garden as getting to the Tower involved going under a busy boulevard and train track. I found the Monument to Discoveries, and impressive giant sculpture. After taking several photos, I decided to try to find the Belem Tower. I wasn’t sure which direction it was, but I decided to head to the right of the monument further west.
The Belem Tower was the last thing the sailors saw before they left on their voyages and the first thing they say when they came back. It is truly a landmark in Portugal. I took several photos of the ornate structure and ornaments and decided to head home.
I spotted a McDonald’s (a rarity in Portugal) and decided it was a good time to get supper. As I entered two girls yelled at me (in Portuguese) to do something. I didn’t know what they meant and started walking to the order counter. As it turned out they wanted me to shut the door to keep the cold air out. I told them “sorry.”
It seemingly took forever for a Tram to arrive at the tram stop. I had just missed the tram after I ate at the Belem McDonald’s. The electronic sign kept flashing 1 minute until the tram arrived, but I listened to several songs before the tram arrived.
After a bit of shopping in central Lisbon I went back to my hotel room tired but fulfilled.
Lisbon
Friday morning of last week I awoke thinking the following week would be a normal work week. By that same afternoon I was prepared to act as a courier for my company to take 4 boxes from Laredo to Lisbon. I had lived in Germany for 2 and a half months in 2010, so I was familiar with Europe. Lisbon wasn’t high on my list to visit, but it intrigued me.
Monday morning came around I was prepared to fly to Laredo via Dallas, then fly to Lisbon via Houston and Frankfurt. I had never spent so much time in airports. I did survive. Made a few single serving friends. Like the guy who was from Lafayette, TN and was on 3 of my 4 flights that day. Then there was the American woman on the flight from Houston to Frankfurt who lived in Graz, Austria and didn’t want to return to Europe. Other weird things were seeing the foreigners, the German and African or Indian with cowboy hats on, while no Americans were traveling to Europe with cowboy hats.
My cell phone almost ran out of battery power before I left Houston and was relieved to find plugs under my seat in the plane. So I stayed up almost the entire flight trying to make sure it was fully charged by the time I got to Frankfurt. It never would charge with the electrical plug, so I charged it via my laptop. I had to keep my laptop from shutting down throughout the flight.
German customs was a breeze. Customs clerk stamped my passport and let me through. Luckily the Frankfurt airport had one free hour of internet access which I used to make contact with my employer to let them know I was en-route. My cell phone never did work. I don’t know why.
After arrival in Lisbon and going through a myriad of mazes to get to baggage claim, I was relieved to see the packages arrived. My contact in Lisbon was there and after a brief period of time I was free to go.
After withdrawing some Euros, I headed toward the Lisbon subway to buy tickets. A local (possibly scammer) approached me to try to sell me a Subway card. I told him to go away.
Found my way to the hotel. I was really tired but decided to head out to see the town, to Rossio station. I found myself somewhat overwhelmed seeing a dark town with no reference point, so I kept my guard up. I took some pictures and then headed back to the Pizza Hut beside my hotel. My waiter spoke good English and make good recommendations for specials on pizza.
The next day I had breakfast (bacon, scrambled eggs, and toast). Then I headed out to either find the Jorge Castle trolley or trolley going to Belem. I found the Jorge castle trolley first. I got out at the wrong place. I think it was at the end of the route. I waited a while, then went back and caught the trolley back to start the route all over again. I go out at what I thought was the right spot, but I went the wrong direction and got lost in the winding medieval roads of that neighborhood. Little did I know this was to be highlight of my trip. These roads are so small that trolleys are barely able to make it through.
I found the castle. It offered nice views of the city with cannons pointed toward the river. Cats and a peacock were around.
Afterwards I found a crowded trolley to catch a ride back on (consequentially there was an identical trolley on the same route behind us that was empty.
I went to the only McDonald’s I was aware of at Rossio. It was a good burger, but I had no free refills. Honestly I don’t know how Europeans do it. Don’t they get thirsty? Or am I just cheap for not buying another cup? Consequentially most times you had to pay to use the public bathroom in Europe. No free refills means no need to use the bathroom.
Well that’s it for part one. I’ll post more about Belem later on.
Just Notorious
Paradise city?
I’m going to go out on a limb and say I can’t think of any good reason why someone would wear a Notorious B.I.G. shirt to church. But more on that later.
Teenagers have a tendency to go against the grain. That’s a definite. I saw this in 1990 when I saw above footage of a camper at church camp wearing a Guns and Roses shirt. He probably shouldn’t wear a band’s shirt who’s lead singer is known for intoxication and battery either. I’m guessing he might have been a visitor to camp invited by a church going teen with ties to friends who like hair bands. I can imagine his packing scenario:
“Let’s see. I need a few shirts to wear at camp in June. I know, this black Guns and Roses shirt should do.”
Enter 2014 when I see another shirt of Biggie Smalls a.k.a. Notorious B.I.G. a.k.a. Christopher Wallace being worn at church. If you don’t know who he is, take a look at this quote in regards to naming a street in Brooklyn after Wallace:
“He started selling drugs at 12, he was a school dropout at 17, he was arrested for drugs and weapons charge, he was arrested for parole violations, he was arrested in North Carolina for crack cocaine, in 1996 he was again arrested for assault, he had a violent death and physically the man is not exactly a role model for youth,” she said. “I don’t see how this guy was a role model and frankly it offends me.” – Lucy Koteen, Brooklyn Community Board member on if a street should be named after Wallace.
So no doubt those who have worn Biggie and GnR shirts have been in a moral discussion whether its in a Bible class at church camp or in Sunday School. And by their own actions they have totally disregarded the discussions going as far as proclaiming their allegiance with said undesirable role models.
Why do they do this? Is it an act of rebellion?
On Lincoln and JFK
This weekend marks the 50th anniversary of the John F. Kennedy assassination. I wasn’t even born yet by over a decade, but I still like to hear my mom speak of when she heard of JFK’s death.
I look to another presidential assassination…Lincoln and compare it to JFK’s assassination and how Americans look back at it. (That’s me in the photo checking my smart phone in 2010 while on a visit to Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C.). I am fascinated about the reaction of Americans now to Lincoln. Ford’s Theatre has almost a quaint feel to it. I can specifically remember wall clocks positions in the hallway leading to the theatre auditorium. Accompanying the wall clocks there is a timeline of when and what happened. The font of prose of the timeline is reminiscent of a turn of the century / keystone cop / handlebar mustache feel to it. It doesn’t even seem real, but more likely read in one of those newspaper clippings on a Wendy’s restaurant table from the 1980s.
By contrast JFK’s death is still fresh on people’s minds. Although it is gradually getting more difficult to find those who were alive at the time of the assassination, the tragedy still looms large and is not something to be joked about, especially on the 50th anniversary. An aquaintance found this out when he posted this photo with a caption, “Too Soon?” on Facebook. It was removed shortly thereafter.
When I was a middle school student, I can remember my older sister getting a large photo book titled “Five Days in November.” While flipping through the book I discovered the horror that was the Kennedy assassination. The Zapruder film? Someone actually had footage of the president being shot? The blood splatter of the president? This was pretty brutal for myself having only been a teenager when I first found out about it. Even back then I wondered to myself why did Kennedy travel in a convertible? It seems like such an obvious mistake to avoid, but security personnel in the 1960s do not think the way we think in the 2000s.
Then finding out that Oswald was shot? I couldn’t write this type of high paced drama. So for me, learning about the assassination in the late 1980s was pretty dramatic and shocking. So my memories of the Kennedy assassination is limited to books I’ve read and people I’ve spoken to.
Me as an Internet Curmudgeon
I’ve been watching social media for a while and I’m come to the conclusion that I’m an internet curmudgeon. I’m one who sits back and shakes my head and facepalms when I see some of these posts shared on social media.
Just a sampling of what I’ve seen.
- “I’m sorry for being awesome.”
- A play by play tweet marathon when a relative had a mental breakdown (some things are best left private)
- A 30 something year old man taking frequent selfies.
- Facebook posts of wounded feet. Bee stings on Instagram.
Now I call myself a curmudgeon because I feel like I’m an exception to what is the norm these days. Facebook and Twitter were made for narcissists. And some people get some kind of justification in life for retweets and likes on Facebook. And slowly I see how the general public really is worse off than what I initially suspected.
Of Three Visits to Kansas
Over the course of a few years I’ve been to Kansas 4 times, three of which I traveled extensively throughout the region. Each trip had its own theme to it, which I will elaborate on this entry.
Trip #1 was in 2009. This was me getting to know Kansas. Very rarely do I travel west of the Mississippi and this was my first time to the plain states. And when I mean “plain” I mean flat. Flat as a pancake. I found Kansas to be an area of vastness once you got west of Olathe or Topeka. I am intrigued about how residents of these small remote towns, like Garfield, Kansas, get supplies, groceries, and basic human needs. Do they stock up on food after traveling for 2 or 3 hours to the next supermarket? Do they order the rest via the Sears catalog or the internet?
And it seemed that each medium sized town or county seat had its own claim to fame. This was a plea for the tourist dollars for those passing through the area. For example Greensburg, Kansas, has the world’s largest hand dug well. Meanwhile Cottonwood Falls has one of the oldest continual use courthouses west of the Mississippi.
Trip #2 was in 2012. This trip will best be remembered by my trip to Picher, Oklahoma. Picher had been closed by the EPA due to the mines in the area causing birth defects and learning disabilities among the town’s children. It was amazing to see a completely empty town and imagine what life must have been like just a few years before. Imagine a whole way of life being taken away.
Trip #3 was just last week. My friend had recently gotten his pilot’s license and it was time to put that to good use. My surprise came when I found that planes that small are still just as steady and smooth as those big jet airliners. Plus seeing towns from the air brought things into perspective. I saw plenty of Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska during the flights.
I wonder about the future of general aviation in this country. With much of our governments going bankrupt, general aviation airports might be the first to go. General aviation airports are in a Catch-22 in that they can’t get too busy or nearby residents will complain; and they need to stay somewhat busy or they might be closed down.
I wonder about those small town airport workers. When we landed at some of the airports I was under the impression that we might have been the first visitors all day or all week even. I wonder about how monotonous the days of the airport workers are. I wonder if they can make a living doing tasks for the low number of planes using the airport.
Kansas is an enigma to me. So many towns in Tennessee are so close to each other. If you can’t find something in your own hometown, just drive 30 minutes and you’re in another town. In Kansas it’s not so simple. Kansas is so vast and large compared to Tennessee. I look forward to many more opportunities to explore Kansas from the air and ground.