Kaleidoscopic Wandering Travel Blog

April23

Reading: The Tricking of Freya

By: JoAnna

I tend to cover non-fiction, memoir-esque, travel-related books for this blog, but every once in awhile I find a piece of fiction that does a stellar job at conveying a sense of place. In preparation for an upcoming trip, I was looking for books about Iceland, so I picked up The Tricking of Freya, by Christina Sunley, and I not only fell in love with the story, but I also learned a lot about a country I’m going to be visiting for the first time.

The Tricking of Freya is told by a girl (Freya) in the form of a letter to her cousin. The child of an Icelandic mother and American father, Freya recounts her summers as a child in Grimli, a small town in Canada settled by Icelandic immigrants, in which readers learn about a family at odds. Freya’s mother is practical and not concerned with staying connected to her Icelandic roots, her bipolar aunt (Birdie) is obsessed with writing an epic poem about Iceland and her grandmother, Sigga, just tries to keep the peace. Over the years, we see Freya struggle with the consequences of a tragic accident she caused and the circumstances that tumble into place after the accident, which leads, at one point, to a whole summer spent in Iceland.

The story is rich in character development, and intimate plot details that draw readers into Freya’s head as she grows older and grapples with the surprises life throws at her as people close to her age and share shocking details that have the potential to derail her life. The added mystery of the cousin she’s writing this lengthy letter to adds another twist to the story.

Posted in: Reading0 comments

April20

Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

By: JoAnna

Where were you on April 19, 1995?

If you’re like most people — myself included — you probably don’t remember.

Where were you on September 11, 2001?

If you’re like most people — myself included — you not only remember where you were but how the hours of your day progressed.

Only about six years prior to the terrorist attacks in New York City, there was a domestic terrorist attack in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that killed 168 people and literally and figuratively shook the foundation of a major city in the United States.

Before I visited Oklahoma City, I admit that I was quite naïve about the Oklahoma City bombing. I knew it had occurred, but I was quite young and have no recollection of my circumstances on the day it happened. I also don’t remember much after the fact, though the name Timothy McVeigh was familiar to me. I think it’s safe to assume that, especially since the September 11, 2011, terrorist attacks, most people have all but forgotten about the Oklahoma City terrorist attack.

Posted in: Do12 comments

April18

Wanderlust Wednesday: Hiking on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim

By: JoAnna

Need to escape? Looking to be whisked away? Itching for travel inspiration?

Look no further than the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, where isolated hiking trails and overgrown forests are the norm.

Posted in: Photos, Wednesday Wanderlust4 comments

April16

Images: Costumes of Mardi Gras | Louisiana

By: JoAnna

Mardi Gras is consumed with food, parades, camaraderie and tradition, but it wouldn’t be Mardi Gras in Louisiana without the sequins and feathers, fur and beads, ribbons and flair. Though the official colors of this annual tradition are green, gold and purple, Mardi Gras costumes break all the rules.

To celebrate Mardi Gras, there are local community groups called krewes. Though there are many aspects of being part of the krewe, one of the big things they do during Mardi Gras is participate in formal balls, put on showy presentations and dress up in elaborate costumes, which often represent some sort of theme. These costumes can take a full year to create, and the average costume weighs more than 50 pounds once fully constructed. Those who choose to participate in the costume-oriented activities have to pay for the costumes themselves, and some of these impressive creations can cost several hundred (and even thousands of) dollars.

But Mardi Gras costumes are wow-worthy. There’s no getting around that. Just when you think you’ve seen it all — people dressed to represent the seven deadly sins, Hollywood signs, capes that drag 40 feet behind, chickens — you see yet another costume that seems to outdo all others.

When I was in Lake Charles, Louisiana, for Mardi Gras this year, I had two ideal opportunities to look at and appreciate the detail, time and effort that goes into Mardi Gras costumes. First, I visited the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, which has the world’s largest collection of Mardi Gras costumes in the world. There are hundreds of costumes on display, and the exhibit is rotated every few months, so there are always new ones to see. Secondly, I had the opportunity to go backstage at the Royal Gala, which is the only event in Louisiana that allows the public to see the krewes’ royal courts in full costume.

Mardi Gras may be a welcome tradition for the taste buds and party-like vibe, but it’s also a feast for the eyes and a treat for the imagination.

Click on the photos below to see images in full size and activate a slideshow.

Posted in: Photos7 comments

April13

I Love Las Vegas: Bellagio Fountains

By: JoAnna

As much as I love to get off the Las Vegas Strip to explore some of the city’s lesser known sites, there are some things that can’t be denied. The fact that the Fountains of Bellagio are truly awesome is one of them.

The Bellagio fountains are one of the most popular and recommended sites in Las Vegas. They make every “must do” list, and it’s just a bonus that it’s completely free to set up shop in front of the Bellagio to watch hours upon hours of water-worthy shows. I’ve lived in Las Vegas for quite a few years now, but I never get tired of watching the shows at the Bellagio, even if I have seen some of the same ones several times (“Singing in the Rain” is one example), and I always take new visitors to check out the fountains, especially when they’re lit up at night.

So what should you know about the Fountains of Bellagio? Here are a few fun facts:

Posted in: Do, I Love Las Vegas0 comments

April11

Wanderlust Wednesday: Waterfall in Tenorio National Park, Costa Rica

By: JoAnna

Need to escape? Looking to be whisked away? Itching for travel inspiration?

Look no further than Tenorio National Park in Costa Rica, a hard-to-reach destination that rewards visitors with a multi-colored river, powerful waterfalls and natural hot springs.