Seeking Beauty on Roads Less Traveled

If someone asked me to comment about Tulsa, say. a week ago, I would have said, "Why?"   As a native New Yorker who had never even been to Oklahoma before I would have nothing of merit to add to a conversation about Tulsa.  I know that Tulsa is in Oklahoma. You can look at a map and find that out.  You don't need me to tell you.  I will also say that I never thought I'd be writing a sentence, let alone a whole story that included the word Tulsa.  I guess now is also the time to admit that although I do know where Oklahoma is, I did need to take out the in-flight magazine to see that Tulsa sits in the northeastern portion of the state.  I am also guilty of a visual picture of Tulsa that solely included tumbleweeds and old oil rigs...and that's it.  And yet, I am excited about going to Tulsa for one big reason...I have never been before. Why is it that I seem to be the only one excited to be going to Tulsa?  I'll only be t...

Most of our days whilst in Puerto Rico started with the best of intentions and a map (or two or three)-in-hand that turned out to be good for lots of things...as a placemat, a decorative item, fold it up and make a paper airplane.  Lots of purposes except that which it was intended - to guide us.  A huge apology right here and now to my Mom who, not working with much in the way of map accuracy, had to put up with my less-than-calm lost driver personality. That persona is right up there with my  "I'm hungry" feed-the-animal personality.  Yes, it rhymes with witch. We saw some roads during our driving meanderings that were nowhere to be found on any of our maps.  Others that started out promising and then just vanished only to reappear miles later where one would never expect them to be.  Then there's Route 181 through the mountains; a no-guard rail, narrow winding road which should, under no circumstances, be a two-way road.  But oh, yes, it...

I know this may sound corny but it still fascinates me that I can be sipping on a mango daiquiri ,  enjoying balmy breezes, sunshine and temperatures somewhere around 85 degrees, listening to the Caribbean Sea lapping its waves against the shoreline in one moment and then less than 24 hours later, wham!  The snowstorm of 2010 has arrived in NYC with snowfalls ranging around 10 inches and a balmy temperature of 32 degrees.  Yes, yes, there was airplane travel in between those two experiences and yes, I understand the aerodynamics of flying but still...it all seems so surreal to me. Back to those mango daiquiris....they can be found at an amazing little restaurant called Tranquilidad del Mar in the town of Patillas on the island of Puerto Rico.  I've never had a mango daiquiri that came served with whipped cream on top (as a matter of fact when it was first brought to the table I thought, "Whipped cream in a daiquiri?  What?!) ...

Glancing out the airplane window right now, as the snow covered mountains of the Western United States are segueing into the Grand Canyon that is being continuously carved and reshaped by the Colorado River, I find myself thinking, “Wow. This is gorgeous but this plane can not be flown fast enough for me tonight”. The assault of colors…from blindingly white snow to soft hues of oranges and browns and reds combine with the blue of the river below and the sky I am surrounded by at 40,000 . I often am humbled and marvel at what a staggeringly beautiful country these United States are. How lucky and blessed am I? I know. I know. I am grateful. Truly. But it’s Christmas Eve and I’m heading home to my hometown and my favorite place for the Christmas holiday season. New York City.  As much as I love seeing all the beauty below me,  above me and around me, there's no place like home.  We land. We can't taxi to the gate fast enough.  I can't explain it but...

There are moments in all our lives that are just  humbling "wow" moments.  You know which ones I'm talking about, don't you?  The ones like this one.  The one where I am sitting with my dear friend Clyde and my Mom at Le Jules Verne restaurant, 125 meters (375 feet) up in the Eiffel Tower, thinking to myself, "I grew up poor in the South Bronx.  When I was growing up, a dining treat was if Mom would take me to Howard Johnson's for fried clam strips and a banana split.  And I loved it!  And I would still love it except it's not the same any more.  Not nearly as fresh and good as back in the day"  I envisioned many things for myself, but sitting here, now, with two of the many people I love...nope, I didn't envision this moment.  I may have envisioned myself being one of the tourists getting rained on whilst standing on the observation deck below us. We are seated at a table where we can watch the tourists "observe" Par...

I have asked myself a few times, "Estelle, when will one of your postings actually be about NYC?" After all, look at the title of this site.  The answer is, "I don't know."   I simply know it will not be today.  Also don't be too concerned that I am talking to myself :) I'm so glad we bought this unlimited pass for the Paris Metro just so we could take a taxi to the restaurant for dinner.   We are driving past the Convention Center when all of a sudden I shout out, "Oh, my gosh, look at that. Bunny rabbits".  No, we have not arrived at our dinner destination.  There is one big traffic convergence in front of the Convention Center and all the roads circle around this park.  It looks to me that the bunny rabbits are happily stuck on this island park .   I counted about 8 of them in a quick glance.  I expect to see many things in Paris but bunny rabbits? We drive past the Arc de Triumphe sans scaffoldi...

Some things about Paris haven't changed in 22 years such as the Gare du Nord train station. The same gypsies and pickpockets that want to steal wallets and grab purses are still there. I'm just standing there watching their antics knowing it is only a matter of time before they approach me. I just came off the lovely Eurostar experience and I rather not have anyone ruin my lovely Eurostar after-glow. I am so annoyed that I just roll my eyes in that New York way that makes no mistake about what I want to say. Besides my dollars are worthless so it isn't even worth the effort to try and steal them. The other thing that hasn't changed? The station needs a big feather duster to pass over it. It needs a dousing of Pledge..lemon-scented, please and some dust mops in a big way. It is still grand in that only-in-Europe way with huge vaulted ceilings and more train tracks than I can count. It is busy and bustling but it's also dirty and a bit run down. It's still Paris, ...