I Stand With Paris

Note:  This post originally appeared on The World According to Luke’s Facebook page on 14 November 2015. 

As many of you know, Paris is one of my favorite cities. It’s where I first fell in love with Europe four years ago, solidifying a desire for a lifetime of travel. She is a beautiful city with friendly and welcoming people, and has seen much worse in her history.

Today, my heart weeps for the people of Paris and of France, and for everyone who has felt a special connection with this city, which now includes much of the world. Cowardly terrorists chose not to attack tourist locations, but places where these people have fun and find enjoyment on a beautiful French Friday night. The solidarity and unity of the French people was overwhelming and swift, as will be the response of bringing those responsible to justice. The world is not safe anywhere – including here in America – where dangerous and violent people, hell-bent on killing the innocent, exist.

As many of you also know, I have travel booked to France in just over nine months, where I will help take student and adult travelers to this city that means so much to me. I could not feel more confident in traveling to one of the world’s greatest cities. We are not truly safe anywhere we breathe (we’re at risk now even going to the store or movie theater in our own hometowns), and I know Paris and the rest of the world will rebound from this. I’m also encouraged by our tour operator’s network of offices and swift actions in ensuring its travelers may do so safely, as they did last evening in Paris.

I choose to continue to travel, and to be an advocate for travel, because we cannot allow the terrorists to win or for fear to dictate how we live our lives. I refuse to live a life rooted at my home because of a fear exacerbated by a small number of radicals and promoted by ratings-driven media outlets.

Please join me in standing with the people of Paris as the rest of the world stood with us on 9/11. The world is filled mainly with good people, and together we will show that terrorism will not win and we will prevail. As travelers, I feel we have a particular obligation to show the world that we are willing to stand with one of our most shining examples of what a great city can be when loving and kind people unite against darkness.

“The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” – Shirley MacLaine

“Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.” – Ray Bradbury

The Land of Enchantment

I made it to New Mexico! I had some okay barbecue in Dalhart, Texas; saw a beautiful sunset just after crossing the TX-NM border; and thankfully extremely narrowly missed hitting two deer just outside Tucumcari.

  
  
I got a great deal on a cheap room and plan to grab a quick breakfast at a diner on Route 66 in the morning before driving to Albuquerque to meet my friend Laura and meet a couple of her friends for lunch and afternoon cocktails. Before that, though, I’m hoping to explore ABQ and see some Breaking Bad sites – my brother wouldn’t let me live it down if I didn’t! Car wash, anyone?

  
I’m in New Mexico for Jill Badonsky’s “Camp Creative Thunder,” a 4-night creative writing/art/meditation camp for adults in Taos. I’ll be visiting friends and reminiscing on a favorite chdhood vacation spot during a two-night stay in Santa Fe on the way from Albuquerque to Taos.

I am so relieved to have had a successful first leg of my trip and know I will make many memories and see lots of awe-inspiring natural beauty (some of it new to me) on this journey. I needed the break from work and want to get back to my creative side, which I’ve been ignoring for far too long. Can’t wait!

 

Sandhill Cranes at Sunrise on the Platte

My friend and I made an early morning trek on fresh snow to a bridge above the Platte River at the Fort Kearny State Historical Park (NE) a couple of weekends ago. It was nearly pitch black outside and you could see clusters of people on the bridge, wrapped tightly in blankets and gripping their cameras and binoculars. We heard the cranes begin their morning chatter before the sky began to illuminate and thousands joined the larger flock. I waited for more light and stabilized the camera on the bridge to get this shot. Thanks to an ignorant photographer who flashed (and, therefore, flushed) one group, we didn’t get the most dramatic flight scene, but it was still special to see this part of one of the world’s last great migrations.

Washington, D.C. – Day Two – Capitol Hill (Part Two)

Let’s try for a shorter post, shall we?  I’ll just post two of my more favorite pictures from my afternoon on the Mall/Capitol Hill and not bore you with all of my deep thoughts on life as I trudged through the puddles of a busy metropolitan city…  Oh, wait, there I go!!

Without further ado…

United States Capitol Building

Equal Justice Under Law • United States Supreme Court Building

Washington, D.C. – Day Two – National Mall & Smithsonian Museums

After watching egregious amounts of back episodes of Barefoot Contessa and Pioneer Woman, and spending a good half of my weekend cleaning my living space and watching The Wolf of Wall Street (OMG, the debauchery!!), I’m just now getting around to continuing my blog posts from my trip last month to Washington, D.C.  I’m headed to Nebraska this weekend to meet my friend, Laura, for Sandhill Crane sightings, country road photography, and all-around fun.  Her birthday is Thursday, and I found a birdy gift I think she’ll just love!

Formalities out of the way, let’s get back to the main point of this post:  Mister “Macho Traveler” thinks he knows where he’s going, and ends up making an accidental trip into the wrong museum, but it ends up working out A-OK.

With rain pouring from the sky at a rather alarming rate after lunch at Good Stuff Eatery, I left my aunt back at The Library and took the short metro ride over to the Smithsonian/National Mall.  By the time I got off the train, the rain had turned to a light mist (D.C. weather is about as weird as weather in Southwest Kansas, which is saying something).  I photographed the Capitol and Washington Monument from afar with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone before making my way to the “National Gallery of Art.”

The U.S. Capitol building and Smithsonian Castle.

The Washington Monument, still being “dealt with” after being damaged during the 2011 earthquake that struck the area.

I say it this way because I honed in on a domed building on the Mall, walked up the stairs and – instead of seeing banners of renaissance art – saw pennants with butterflies and other natural creates.  “WTF?!” I thought to myself.  It turns out I’d arrived at the National Museum of Natural History, not the National Gallery of Art like I’d expected to spend a leisurely afternoon at.  Apparently disoriented (I mean, seriously?!) and short on time, I decided to go for it and snap some pics (I remembered there was an elephant and a dinosaur or two from a childhood visit).  Turns out this was a good move, as a major part of the museum is slated to close later next month for a $48 million, 5-year renovation.  I guess I’m glad I got to see them while I was still somewhat young!!

The entrance to *a museum on the Mall*, also known as the National Museum of Natural History. Or so I’ve been led to believe…

Elephant display at the Natural History Museum. How dramatic!!

Dinosaurs, Oh My!!

“I am Lion, HEAR ME ROAR!”

I couldn’t *not* get a photo of the Hope Diamond, now could I?!

Does anyone else find this ironic??

From Where I Stand: Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History.

After a brief jaunt through the museum, I headed outside, met by a rainless sky and a Stomp-like performer’s music.  I decided to slowly make my way east on the Mall towards the Capitol building on the way to my aunt’s office and the end of my day in the city.  In a way, I did get to visit the National Gallery of Art.  It turns out the two are very close (let the rationalization begin…), and I made the time to walk through the Sculpture Garden, which I hadn’t done in the past.  The sculptures were quite fascinating, and I took Hipsta shots of my favorites and have posted them below.

Roxy Paine’s “Graft” • National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

Alexander Calder’s “Cheval Rouge (Red Horse)” • National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

Hector Guimard’s “An Entrance to the Paris Métropolitain” • • National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
Naturally, as a Francophile and lover of these Metro entrances in Paris, I freaked out. Just a bit, though.

Louise Bourgeois’ “Spider” • National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s “Typewriter Eraser, Scale X” • National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

Ice Rink!! Too bad no one was on it – can you imagine how many awesome photographs I could have gotten?!! Oh well…

Robert Indiana’s “AMOR” • National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden

Stay tuned for the final posts (you didn’t think the time would come, did you?) from my trip to D.C.!

“You Had Me At Travel”

Reblogging this because it is true that people who love to travel almost always naturally connect – we’re a fun club to be a part of! Thanks, Travel Chick Diaries!

The Beat of the City Arrives: Washington, D.C. – Day Two – Georgetown

The beat of the city arrives…

Ambulance sirens race down the street.

The pitter-patter, clomp-clomp of busy and important steps hitting the pavement.

Street musicians showcase their talents, providing a harmony for the chaos.

-Luke A. Bunker

I was compelled to write the above poem after exiting the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station, hyper-sensitive to the sights and sounds around me.  There was a slight chill to the air, with sirens racing down the street and an older male musician pounding away at his keyboard as if it was his true calling in life.  As I alluded to in a previous post, I hopped on the Metro last Friday morning with no set itinerary for the day (perhaps the aforementioned hypersensitivity was due to a mind not clogged by schedules and “things to do”?), save for lunch with my aunt on the Hill sometime in the afternoon.  Aside from that, the day was mine, and I knew about halfway through my Metro ride where I would begin.

“Texas Sheetcake” • Cupcakes for life:  Baked & Wired in Georgetown provides a more quirky and intimate experience than most cupcakeries (is that a word now??) in the city.

When I was last in D.C. in August 2013, my cousin and I spent a morning similar to how I spent it last Friday – exit GWU Metro and make the short walk to Baked & Wired in Georgetown while admiring the beautiful homes and architecture.  Although the activities were similar, the journey was different.  As I settled in with my ham & gruyere quiche and iced mocha, I reflected on the pages of my Moleskine of how taking a different path with a receptive mind left me further open to experiencing the truth of life in Washington, D.C.

“Seek Truth and Pursue It Steadily” • This quote, on GWU’s campus, helped put me in an open mindset, receptive to the familiar, yet unfamiliar, world around me.

I opted for savory instead of sweet… Well, kind of. You can’t beat the beautiful combination of chocolate and coffee!

For, you see, on this particular morning, I took a perhaps less glamorous journey to Georgetown.  Instead of walking Pennsylvania, I took K and the Whitehurst Freeway.  I say less glamorous because it was on this walk where it struck me that there is absolutely nothing romantic about homelessness.  I don’t know if “romantic” is the right word, but when you can see (and, in reality, smell) the situation, you realize that it’s a real problem – not always a choice for those people – and one that we prefer to ignore than do anything about.

As I picked “pesky” down feathers from my $200 jacket while toting around $1000 in camera equipment and preparing to spend $10 on coffee and a small slice of quiche, having traveled via air to a city for the sole purpose of visiting a travel show, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel even just a twinge of guilt.  But, at the same time as I saw the inequities of society (how had these people gotten to this place?  what events had transpired in their lives where a shopping cart full of cans, no showers for days or weeks, and despair evident on their faces, was the life these people now led?), the presence of blessings in my own life became abundantly clear.  Sometimes it takes seeing this aspect of humanity – one that is largely ignored and is surrounded by a gargantuan taboo – to realize gratitude for how well a person does, indeed, have it.

A portion of the “Baked Wall” at Baked & Wired in Georgetown.

With this newfound perspective fresh in my mind, I posted my poem on the Baked Wall (a wall where patrons’ doodles, writings and thoughts are drawn onto napkins and taped) and set out on a photo journey with my Hipstamatic and architecture, along with capturing a not-often-seen Washington, in my sights.

Look twice – that’s a statue of a dog with a tie around it’s neck! Too funny.

Rose Park Playground: Rose Park is sandwiched between the back of Georgetown and the overhang above Rock Creek Parkway. It is here where I saw a part of D.C. life I’d previously not seen – the normal day-to-day life of nannies with young ones swinging and playing the morning away…

“Sharing is Caring”

“Canal Bike” • Green is my favorite color, so between that and the composition, I had to take this photo.

Has Hell frozen over? Well, maybe not…but the C&O Canal had a thin layer of ice on the morning I walked by.

“Woman in Red” • This is one of my favorite little streets to photograph. The building fronts, the American flag, the always-interesting people, and the canalside brick sidewalk are just too lovely to pass up.

“Brick, Shutters & Iron Fences, Oh My!”

“Rose Park Walker”

“Rose Park Robin”

Stay tuned for more from my recent trip to Washington, D.C., including more pictures from my first day of the Capitol and Supreme Court buildings, as well as my fun museum mix-up!

From Where I Stand: National Museum of Natural History • Washington, D.C.

My Life-Pausing Trip to Washington, D.C.: An Introduction

I just came back from a wonderful long weekend and transformative experience in Washington, D.C., visiting family and enjoying the Travel & Adventure Show at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Unlike most trips, this was an impulsive one without a great deal of planning and analyzing (normally I go nuts over every little detail, due in no small part to my obsessive-compulsive and perfectionist tendencies).  Like most trips, though, I felt anxious and worried 1-2 days ahead of the trip, thinking, “What the hell was I thinking?!”  This is not an uncommon thought, believe it or not!!  It’s weird that I still get cold feet (having a limited travel budget and time off from work does that to a person), but I guess I’ll chalk it up as another of my rather unique, err, “quirks.”  The short time period (I was flying in late Thursday evening and coming home first thing Monday morning) and my uncertainties about enjoying the travel expo – especially since I was going by myself – sent doubting thoughts creeping into my brain.

Upon the eve of my departure, after attending the second day of the show and spending time with my family, it became clear that I was meant to go on this trip.  Where I’d normally hug my backpack close to my body on the Metro or on the streets, I felt free and secure; where I’d normally have every little thing accounted for on a schedule and detailed itinerary, I went with the flow and realized that “mistakes” – like walking into the wrong museum – can color your experience and make for fun surprises!

I think the expo and listening to, meeting and talking with the speakers (Rick Steves, Samantha Brown, Pauline Frommer, Andrew McCarthy & Don Wildman) gave me clarity that travel is where I should be, that it is what I should be doing, saving and sacrificing for.  I say often that I want to spend less on material “stuffs” and use that money toward travel.  In reality, I just haven’t done that.  But, due in part to the newfound clarity I was awakened to through being completely enthralled and inspired by the travel speakers, as well as feeling confident and comfortable in my travels throughout the city, I’ve decided that I don’t need to have the fanciest apartment or the newest car – travel is life, and life is what I want, not “stuff” that I’ll forget about years from now…

I believe this trip/experience also gave me confidence.  It wouldn’t have been shocking for me to want to meet and get autographs from famous people, but actually doing it freaks me out.  After each encounter at the travel show, however, anxiety gave way to excitement.  What helped was the realization that they, too, are just normal people who, like me, love to travel.

Upon further reflection and discussion of the trip with friends and coworkers, I’m a bit floored that it felt so life-changing.  Andrew McCarthy, one of the speakers, said travel is transformative, powerful and emotional, and that “[Travel] matters.  This is important.  It is the impetus beneath everything.”  This trip was just that and really encouraged me want to pursue travel as more than just a hobby and thing I like to do, compelling me to blog, write and photograph until I can be up on that stage sharing my stories, experiences and travels with the world.  One of my coworker friends said she hasn’t seen me this excited in quite a long time!  We’ll see how it goes…  🙂

**Stay tuned for in-depth posts on my experiences in D.C., including the Travel & Adventure Show!

Nuremberg Flowers

Just a pretty picture of FLOWERS to end your Saturday evening! I finally culled through, edited and processed a batch of photos I took during the summer of 2012 during a day visit to Nuremberg, Germany. The contrast of seeing the Nazi Party Rally Grounds earlier in the morning with the sight of these (and many other) gorgeous flowers above the town at the Nuremberg Castle was quite something.