Travelsmartplanet

In the stately columned Auckland War Museum, you can discover the world’s largest collection of Maori and Polynesian artifacts. Sitting impressively in the center is a large ornately carved Hotunui meetinghouse from 1878 and a Waka (war canoe), Te Toki-a-Tapiri from 1836. They’re heart and soul of the museum, yet there’s lots more.

Tags: ancestral, artifact, Auckland, Auckland Domain, Auckland War Museum, canoe, carved, collection, column, heart, heart and soul, Hotunui, Maori, meetinghouse, memorial, Museum, New Zealand, ornate, Polynesian, preservation, sights, sightseeing, soul, Te Toki-a-Tapiri, tour, tourist, travelblogger, Waka, war, war history, war memorial, war museum, wood carving, world

.

Though foreigners flock to see the Mona Lisa, to the French, the most important painting in the Louvre – the unofficial national painting of France is this one, Liberty Leading the People by Delacroix. The bare-breasted female figure, who is called Marianne became a symbol of Liberty for the French Republic. Though Delacroix painted the July Revolution of 1830, the broken bodies beneath the flag depict the 40 years of civil war, political and social upheavals necessary to conquer the monarchy in order to win a representative government. The huge 8′ by 10′ scale adds to the dramatic patriotism.

Tags: art, art museum, artist, bare-breasted, body, broken, Civil War, conquer, CostSaver, Delacroix, dramatic, Europe, exhibit, famous, female, figure, flag, France, French, French Republic, gallery, government, History, landmark, Le louvre, Liberty, Liberty Leading the People, Louve, Louvre Museum, Marianne, masterpiece, Mona Lisa, monarchy, Musée du Louvre, Museum, national, painting, Paris, patriotism, political, representative, Republic, Revolution, scale, sights, sightseeing, social, symbol, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, unofficial, upheaval

.

This Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel stands west of the Louvre (you can see it behind the arch) and was built between 1806-1808 (before the famous Arc de Triomphe) to commemorate Napoleon’s military victories of the previous year. The REAL Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile is down the Champs Élysées and though it was designed in the same year (and twice the size) it was not completed until 1836. The quadriga (horses and men) atop the arch is a copy of the so-called Horses of Saint Mark that adorn the top of the main door of the St Mark’s Basilica in Venice.

Tags: adorn, Arc de Triomphe, Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, arch, atop, Basilica, Champs-Élysées, commemorate, copy, CostSaver, designed, Europe, France, History, horse, Horses of Saint Mark, landmark, Louvre, main door, men, military, Napoleon, Paris, quadriga, sights, sightseeing, St Mark's Basilica, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, Venice, victory

.

Les Invalides or Hôtel des Invalides is a vast complex of buildings in Paris including museums and monuments relating to the military history of France. As per its name it was originally built by Louis XIV as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans. Pictured here is the Dôme des Invalides, a large church, the tallest in Paris which contains the tombs of some of France’s war heroes, most notably Napoleon.

The complex had 15 courtyards for military parades. At the church, attendance was mandatory. Louis XIV also commissioned his architect Mansart to construct a separate royal chapel referred to as the Église du Dôme from its most striking feature (pictured). By combining a royal chapel with a veterans’ chapel, the King and his soldiers could attend mass at the same time while entering the place of worship though different entrances, as prescribed by court etiquette at that time.

I’d like to think the gentleman sitting there (in the wheelchair and on the bench) are two of our veteran heros..

Tags: architect, attendance, building, chapel, church, commissioned, complex, construct, CostSaver, court, courtyard, Dôme des Invalides, Église du Dôme, enterance, etiquette, Europe, France, hero, History, hospital, Hotel des Invalides, King, landmark, Les Invalides, Louis XIV, Mansart, mass, military, monument, Museum, Napoleon, parade, Paris, retirement home, royal, sights, sightseeing, soldier, tomb, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, veteran, war, war hero, war veteran, worship

.

Yup, the symbol of France is still there and still majestic. The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile is situated at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. Etoile means star and that refers to the twelve avenues which radiate from the arch.
The Arc de Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in wars so it became the rallying point of French troops who paraded through it after successful military campaigns and for the annual Bastille Day Military Parade. After the interment of the Unknown Soldier from WWI, however, parades have avoided marching through the actual arch and go around its side, out of respect for the tomb and its symbolism. Both Hitler in 1940 and de Gaulle in 1944 observed this custom. After WWI, in an event captured on newsreels, Charles Godefroy flew his Nieuport biplane under the arch’s primary vault.

The bas relief shown in pic 2 represents Liberty under the figure of a winged woman pushing against the enemy invasion.

Tags: arc, Arc de Triomphe, arch, biplane, Champs-Élysées, Charles de Gaulle, CostSaver, enemy, Europe, figure, France, French, honour, interment, invasion, landmark, Liberty, military, Nieuport, parade, Paris, primary, sights, sightseeing, soldier, symbol, symbolism, tomb, tour, tourist, Trafalgar, travel, travelblogger, troops, Unknown Soldier, vault, war, winged, woman, WWI

.

Two “red and black” guards, keeping an eye on the crowds going in to see the British Crown Jewels. The line moves fast and it sure was worth it. These Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, are Members of the Sovereign’s Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary, and are more commonly known as the Beefeaters. You can skip the crowds at Buckingham Palace and do two-for-the-price of one and see them here at the Tower of London.

Tags: Beefeater, Body Guard, Britain, British, British crown jewels, Buckingham Palace, city, crowd, crown jewels, England, Europe, fortress, Great Britain, guard, Her Majesty, History, landmark, London, London City Pass, London Pass, London view, member, palace, Prince, Prince Harry, Prince William, Princess, Princess Diana, royal family, Royal Palace, royalty, sights, sightseeing, Sovereign, tour, tourist, tower, Tower of London, Trafalgar, travel, Travel blogger, UK, United Kingdom, Yeoman Guard, Yeomen Warders

Do you have what it takes to lead like Washington? Visitors to his Mount Vernon Estate now have a chance to put themselves in Washington’s boots and experience first-hand the leadership challenges that he faced on the battlefield and in the presidency.

“Be Washington: It’s Your Turn to Lead” is a new first-person interactive experience that allows visitors to  come face to face with a leadership challenge that George Washington also confronted as commander in chief or president. Listen to advice from his most trusted sources and make your decision.

Inside the immersive 1,200-square-foot Be Washington theater, participants take the role of George Washington as they seek to solve one of four crises that Washington faced. Events of the Revolutionary War and presidency come alive on a massive 30-foot 6K-resolution screen. Chris Jackson, the actor who played George Washington in the Broadway hit “Hamilton,” will introduce each of the plots onscreen and will later describe the course of action that General or President Washington took. Each scene takes about 18 minutes to complete.

Featured scenarios include the Battle of Second Trenton, the Whiskey Rebellion, the Genet Affair and the Newburgh Conspiracy. As you learn about the situation, participants hear insights and opinions from some of the same historical advisers that Washington would have had access to, such as Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and Henry Knox. As they sift through differing recommendations, they are asked to rate each adviser’s persuasiveness.

At the end of each segment as Washington, the participants have seconds to vote for which course of action they would take to solve the crisis.  All votes are then tabulated and shared on the main screen. Washington’s decisive actions at key moments helped to shape our history. Discover if you would have made the same tough choices.

Entry to the Be Washington theater is free when you purchase a general admission ticket to Mount Vernon. You can try the web-version of “Be Washington” at: play.bewashington.org

Location: George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121
Date: until – Dec 31, 2018
Time: 9am – 4pm
Tel: 703-780-2000
mountvernon.org/site/bewashington
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitalexandriava.com

Tags: action, adviser, Alexander Hamilton, Battle of Second Trenton, battlefield, commander in chief, drive i-95, estate, experience, first-person, Genet Affair, George Washington, Henry Knox, historical, History, interactive, leadership, Mount Vernon, Newburgh Conspiracy, Participant, plot, presidency, President, Revolutionary War, scenario, situation, theater, Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, visitor, Washington, Whiskey Rebellion, “Be Washington: It’s Your Turn to Lead”

The 24th edition of CoastFest, Georgia’s largest celebration highlighting their state’s unique coastal environment and natural resources, takes center stage on Saturday, October 6th from 10 am ’til 4pm with a family-friendly day of fun and education.

Over 70 environmental, educational, research and resource organizations from around the southeast will be represented at CoastFest 2018, offering visitors a chance to learn about Georgia’s coastal resources through interactive exhibits and displays and have some fun at the same time.

Visitors of all ages can participate in activities from recycling to learning about coastal weather, native plants to sea turtles, water conservation to archeology, herpetology to geology, sharks to shrimp.

Be captivated throughout the day under the Big Top by many unique events: Arthur Atsma and his Science Circus amaze the audience with science and Newtonian physics taught through fast-paced circus stunts and magic tricks keeping you on the edge of your seat. Jim Sawgrass and his Creek Indian encampment entertain with Native American songs and ritual dances, master juggler Rhys Thomas performing amazing juggling feats with tons of audience participation and Bubble-ologist Keith Johnson uses imagination and science to explore how bubbles work, and reptiles and raptors from the Center for Wildlife Education at Georgia Southern University will take center stage for two shows throughout the day.

CoastFest 2018 will offer new experiences around every corner. Put your hands into the touch tanks with unique coastal Georgia sea life, participate in living history demonstrations with military re-enactors from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War and witness cannon firings. Learn boating safety, master kayaking, try your hand at archery, or how about holding live snakes or even an alligator. You can tour the US Coast Guard boats, Plenty of ‘make-it-take-it’ projects, walk up to a bull moose, a bear, an elk, a wolf, and too many more activities to list.

Catch the excitement at this fun and kid-friendly, family-friendly FREE event with an abundance of educational games, activities and experiences.

Location: MaryRoss Waterfront Park , Bay Street at Gloucester St., Brunswick, GA 31520
Date: Sat, Oct 6, 2018
Time: 10am – 4pm
Tel: 912-264-7218
coastalgadnr.org/CoastFest
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: goldenisles.com

Tags: activity, alligator, archeology, archery, audience, bear, big top, boat, boating, Brunswick, bubbles, bull moose, cannon, Center for Wildlife, circus, Civil War, coastal, CoastFest, Creek Indian, dance, demonstration, display, drive i-95, education, elk, encampment, environment, environmental, event, exhibit, experiences, family-friendly, free, fun, games, geology, Georgia, Georgia Southern University, herpetology, History, imagination, interactive, juggler, kayaking, kid-friendly, living history, magic, military, moose, native, Native American, natural, Newtonian, organization, participation, physics, plant, project, raptor, re-enactor, recycling, reptile, research, resource, Revolutionary War, ritual, safety, science, sea life, sea turtle, shark, shrimp, snake, song, Southeast, state, stunt, tour, trick, US Coast Guard, water conservation, weather, wildlife, Wolf

On the night of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by the dashing young actor, John Wilkes Booth, at Ford’s Theatre in Washington City. While Lincoln lay dying, his assassin was making his escape into Southern Maryland.

Over the next twelve days, Booth and his accomplice, David Herold, were tracked through the lower counties of Maryland and across the Potomac River into Viriginia. They were finally trapped at Garrett’s Farm near Bowling Green, Virginia, where Herold was taken prisoner and Booth was shot and killed by federal troops. Herold was hanged along with Mary Surratt on July 7, 1865.

 John Wilkes Booth Escape Route Tour – The Surratt Society sponsors tours each fall and spring along Booth’s escape route. Many of the same roads and houses used by Booth are still in existence and are visited on this excursion which is narrated by nationally-recognized authorities on the Lincoln assassination and John Wilkes Booth’s flight.

Follow the trail of President Lincoln’s assassin from Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. to his death near Port Royal,  Virginia. Relax and enjoy the history and scenery on this
12-hour, fully narrated bus tour. The cost is $85 per person ($80 for Surratt Society members). Proceeds go toward the preservation of the Surratt House Museum which was the first stop on Booth’s flight south.

To reserve your spot fill out this form.

Location: The Surratt House Museum, 9118 Brandywine Road, Clinton, MD 20735
Dates: Sat, September 8, 15 & 22, 2018
Time: 7 am –7 pm
Tel: 301-868-1121
surrattmuseum.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitmaryland.org

Tags: accomplice, actor, assassin, assassination, authority, Bowling Green, bus, city, Clinton, country, D.C., drive i-95, escape, excursion, Fall, farm, Federal, Garrett’s Farm, History, house, John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln, Mary Surratt, Maryland, Museum, narrated, nationally, Port Royal, Potomac River, preservation, President, prisoner, river, road, route, scenery, society, southern, sponsor, spring, Surratt House, Surratt House Museum, Theatre, tour, tracked, trail, troop, Virginia, Washington

Spend Father’s Day with the Father of Our Country. General Washington greets visitors and poses for photographs on Father’s Day weekend. Listen as Washington discusses his role as husband, stepfather, and Father of Our Country in the program “Father to the First Family.”

At George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, watch costumed distillers demonstrate how whiskey was made using 18th-century processes. Visitors are taken through the historic process of whiskey-making in this reconstructed 18th-century distillery including operating copper stills, stirring mash tubs, and managing the boiler as they demonstrate 18th-century distilling. A 16-foot waterwheel powers the giant gears and millstones of Washington’s remarkable Gristmill that includes the only operating Oliver Evans Automated Milling System in America.

Father’s Day Weekend takes place rain or shine. Visitor parking is always free at Mount Vernon.

Location: George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121
Date: June 16 – 17, 2018
Times: 9am – 5pm
Tel: 703-780-2000
mountvernon.org
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: visitalexandriava.com

Tags: 18th-century, America, Automated, boiler, copper, costume, country, demonstrate, distiller, distillery, distilling, drive i-95, family, Father, Father’s Day, gear, General, General Washington, George Washington, George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, giant, Gristmill, historic, husband, mash tub, milling, Milling System, millstone, Mount Vernon, Oliver Evans, operating, photograph, power, process, reconstructed, role, stepfather, still, system, Virginia, visitor, waterwheel, Whiskey