Manzanar War Relocation Center was one of ten camps where Japanese American citizens (like my parents) and resident Japanese aliens (like my grandparents) were interned during World War 2. In 1942, more than 120,000 men, women, and children were ordered to leave their homes and businesses, and detained in remote, military style camps in tar paper barracks. Manzanar is the closest relocation center to us, on the west side of U. S. Highway 395, almost equidistant from Reno (245 miles), and Los Angeles (226 miles). The nearest towns are Lone Pine (8 miles south), and Independence (6 miles north), both of which have food and lodging. After Pearl Harbor, hysteria and panic ruled the country, and California in particular. President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the Secretary of War to establish Military Areas, and ... read more

Not really, it is famous Templebar in downtown Dublin. In fact, the area is called Temple Bar, an area on the south bank of the Liffey River in central Dublin, Ireland. It is promoted as Dublin's cultural center, with a nightlife enjoyed by tourists like me. The most popular places are the Temple Bar Pub itself, along with The Palace Bar, Oliver St. John Gogarty's, and The Auld Dubliner. Originally, the area was St. Andrews Parish. Legend has it that Temple Bar Street got its name from Sir William Temple of Trinity College. His home and garden were located there in the 17th century. However, the name may also be derived from the famous district in London of the same name. Maybe they played the copy cat game instead of honoring poor Sir William. The first ... read more

So, I have crossed our great country twice now on the rails. My first trip, the California Zephyr, began in Chicago, and ended in the Bay Area. My second trip, to the last Niners Super Bowl in New Orleans was the Sunset Limited, from Los Angeles to New Orleans. Today, I am departing Seattle on the Empire Builder, arriving in Chicago in three days. I will fly up to Seattle this morning, spend the day visiting friends, and board the Empire Builder at 4:40pm. The train leaves Seattle's Union Station, not far from the Sound Transit Light Rail. It ends in 46 hours at Union Station in Chicago at 4pm, September 1. And I hear the Giants are in town. And I have never been to a Giants game at Wrigley. You think I might find ... read more

Back in my running and jogging days, I ran in several editions of the Bay to Breakers Footrace in San Francisco. Back then, the race often experienced record numbers of entrants, and lived up to its name as the world's largest footrace. It begins at the foot of San Francisco Bay, then winds through the streets of the City, through Golden Gate Park, and finally onto the Great Highway and the Pacific Ocean (ie the breakers). The first race, known as the Cross City Race, began in 1912, as a precursor to the world class events planned for the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition. The race was won by Robert Jackson Vlught with a time of 44:10, and with only 200 racers. It was in 1986, the Race set a Guinness Book record with 110,000 racers, ... read more

Mexico City is the new foodie haven. This is what they say now about my destination: Mexico City is having a moment. All of a sudden, it seems, the largest city in the Americas has absolutely captivated international tastemakers, and gallons of ink have been spilled in glossy magazines extolling its historic architecture, booming gastronomy, and cutting-edge cultural scene. The capital is Mexico’s undisputed center of gravity, with the country’s best and brightest being drawn to the sprawling megalopolis like the river to the sea. As a result, Mexico City’s name is now uttered in the same breath along with Paris, London, Tokyo, and New York. On top of that, it is certainly less expensive than Paris, Tokyo, and NYC. I was able to find 5 star hotels in good areas for around $200 or less! ... read more