Scenic Runway

The island of Antigua is located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, part of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. The capital of Antigua is St. John’s. The island became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981. Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches. Antigua has 365 beaches, one for each day of the year. The sport of cricket is very popular in Antigua. Antigua and Barbuda’s economy is dominated by tourism. One thing you will not find on the island of Antigua is a McDonald’s restaurant. While traveling through Antigua’s scenic countryside we noticed chickens, cows and goats roaming freely which adds to the charm of the island. The view of English harbor and Nelson’s Dockyard from Fort Lookout is stunning. Nelson’s Dockyard was built in 1725 as the base for the English naval squadron. Today Nelson’s Dockyard is a world renowned yacht marina. Within the walls of the dockyard you will find shops, restaurants and bars (the rum punch is very good).

Ybor City founded in the 1800’s by Vicente Martinez Ybor, as a cigar-manufacturing center, is located in Florida near Tampa. Ybor City, Tampa’s Latin Quarter, is one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. Located within Ybor City is Centro Ybor an entertainment center which consists of shops, restaurants and theaters.

Near the statue of Vicente Martinez Ybor, Ybor City’s founder, there is a statue of Roland M. Manteiga who chronicled events for years in Ybor City, leaning against one of the red brick buildings which adds to the eclectic feel of the area.

After a little window shopping during our visit to Centro Ybor we eventually stepped into a shop called Ybor Ybor to purchase souvenirs displaying Ybor City. The sales clerk was extremely helpful and courteous in helping us in selecting various types of souvenirs. During my travels I have been known to collect beach towels from various destinations. Unfortunately, I could not find a beach towel that displayed Ybor City. I mentioned to the sales clerk that I wanted to find a beach towel displaying the words Ybor City. To my surprise she stated that she had a print machine and could print Ybor City on any towel that I selected. I selected a towel and within minutes she printed Ybor City on the bottom corner of the towel. I instantly had a one of a kind personalized souvenir from Ybor City.

Visiting Ybor City to me seemed like stepping back in time from the look of the brick streets and the red buildings with iron balconies all of which made for a very pleasant afternoon.

Central Park is Beautiful at Any Season!

Central Park, New York City

The Beauty of Winter!

Travel is about experiencing new adventures. On a recent trip to Alaska we got a chance to experience the beauty of the 49th state of the United States of America. Alaska is located in the northwest of the North American continent and is not part of the contiguous United States. Alaska is the least densely populated state in America. I must be honest my initial thought of going to Alaska was one of wondering what would I possibly do in Alaska with its extreme cold weather.

I was pleasantly surprise with its natural beauty and the hospitality of its residents. There is a strong sense of community where locals gather at local pubs to socialize. One of the most unusual sightings was that of a buffalo caution traffic sign. The unmistakable beauty in the Birch Lake area of Alaska is something that I will never forget.

Lincoln Road is a pedestrian mall in South Beach, Miami between Alton Road and Washington Avenue. Within this amazing shopping area are shops, art galleries, bars and restaurants many of which provide indoor and outdoor dining to people watch, which I enjoy.

Lincoln Road Mall with its cosmopolitan atmosphere is truly a delightful experience.

In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday. We at Scenic Runway are re-publishing The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial feature originally published on August 31, 2011, in honor of a man who stood for equality for all!

The dedication of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial was originally scheduled for Sunday, August 28th, in Washington, DC but was postponed due to hurricane “Irene”. In addition to hurricane “Irene”, a 5.8 earthquake hit the east coast of the United States earlier in the week, causing damage to the Washington National Cathedral where services honoring Dr. King were to be held on Saturday forcing organizers to find another venue. As disappointing as it was to find out that the dedication ceremony had been postponed due to the hurricane we did not alter our plans. With both of our homes located on the northeast coast, Washington, DC appeared to be a much safer place for my family and I due to its southwest proximity.

From the moment that I discovered that a memorial was being built to honor Dr. King I knew I had to go to Washington with my family to view the sculpture. I also knew that there was no other hotel for our stay in Washington, DC than The Willard due to its connection to Dr. King.

After a stormy Saturday night and a windy start in the morning, Sunday, August 28th, the 48th anniversary of Dr. King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech, the weather was absolutely beautiful as we made our way to the memorial. The memorial’s landscape has natural elements and water, to convey themes fundamental to Dr. King’s legacy: democracy, justice, hope and love. Dr. King’s sculpture is flanked by crescent-shaped walls inscribed with excerpts from some of his most famous sermons and speeches. The centerpiece is the “Stone of Hope” the 30-foot granite sculpture of Dr. King depicting him coming out of the stone. Dr. King’s statue, located on the northwest shore of the Tidal Basin is nothing short of amazing.

The memorial’s street address, 1964 Independence Avenue, is a reference to a milestone of the civil rights movement, the 1964 Voting Rights Act. As I sat on the stone bench reflecting on Dr. King’s words inscribed around me, I could not help but to think that his words were as inspirational today as they were when they were spoken so many years ago. During our visit to the memorial we were very fortunate to meet the sculptor of Dr. King’s memorial, Lei Yixin. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial honors a man who sacrificed his life so that the world would be a better place!

Inscribed Excerpt

Such an interesting cheesecake – Cracker Jack Banana Cheesecake!