#this was the Winter Story planned for Your Culture Day (back in September) and waited for its second chance ;D

[zu-is-here]

mitten

[maylovexhs]

GUILTY(H.S) - CHAPTER 6

Author’s Note: I KNOW! I’ve been inactive over the past month but I have been really really busy. I promise I’ll make it up loves. Enjoy this long chapter. May xxx

For previous chapters you can find them here

September 27, 2017 “Are you and Dex are on a break?” Victoria asked as we entered my apartment building.

I wanted to go baby shopping with Dex but his acting schedule was getting in the way, at least that what he said. The situation surrounding Harry died down a bit. Dex and I were in the clouds and not in the cloud nine way. Our judgement of each other was partial. We were both missing something from each other. For my perspective, it was Dex’s trust. From Dex’s, it was understanding. Instead of trying to solve it, Dex has been avoiding it and me. So, of course I dragged Victoria with me. I needed someone to carry the Carter bags with me.

“We’re not on a break Vic.” I explained. “We are just giving each other space and learning how to trust each other again”

“You mean a break?”

“It’s not a break. If we were on one we wouldn’t be living together. Right Don?”  

“Don’t care. Won’t answer”

Don as usual was reading magazines. I don’t know how he does it, but there hasn’t been no intruders yet.

“Well, how about my mail then? I finally ordered a crib. Has it arrived?”

“No. But something did come for you that’s upstairs” He said. 

“It’s better not be fan mail. I specifically put on your website to send it somewhere else” Victoria said with a tone of annoyance mixed with disbelief.  

“Oh relax, Vic. We all know Don wouldn’t allow anything bad upstairs” I reassured her. 

“Depends on your definition of bad”  Don commented.

“You know what I mean” I said squinting my eyes at him.  

“Enough chit chat both of you” Victoria intervened. “Mel we have to talk about after the baby”

“Can we wait until the baby is actually here? Can’t you just live in the moment for once?” I asked.

“Does it look like it?” She raised an eyebrow at me.

“No” Don and I said at the same time.

“Upstairs” Victoria ordered.

 I waved goodbye to Don and headed into the elevator with Victoria. I pressed the elevator button with my apartment number on it.  

“So can you handle being a single mother?” Victoria asked, giving no warning, what so ever. 

She seriously can’t be asking this. She knows what will happen already.  

“What?” I asked her. 

“You know. If Dex and you don’t work out” She said looking at me.

“Excuse me? This does not concern you at all” I said being defensive.

“Unfortunately it does. Cause once she comes I’ll have another client to take care of” 

Victoria bit her lip.

“She’s won’t be a client.” I stated with a loud voice.

“Okay then…Just wait until the paparazzi surrounds you both. You’ll see”

The elevator dinged. Victoria stepped out walking in front of me. I walked slow behind trying to process my thoughts. I know Victoria has to be rational due to her job but she could spare her rationality for a minute for me. 

“You know what Vic?” I said from behind. “You’re just jealous that-“

I froze, stopping in my tracks. He’s here. Early. With Dex and the dogs on the couch. 

“Jealous of what?” Harry asked, smiling with his dimples on display.

“It’s a long story. H, you’re early!”

He got up from the couch, Rosie looking up at him, noticing he stopped massaging her fluffy head.  He greeted and hugged me.

“Just a day. I had to see my best friend while I was here” He said while we were still embraced.

Thank god he couldn’t see me blush. Knowing how much of a tease he is, he would bring that up forever. My view made it not hard to miss Dex’s melancholy expression on his face.

“It’s not hard to when you live two floors down”I said as he let go of me.

“Did you see Anne on the way out? She just left” Dex asked, interrupting us.

“No. She’s here too?” I asked looking at Harry.

“Of course! She a bigger fan of you than of me”

“Oh shut up H”

Oh yes, Anne. The only mother of an ex to keep in touch with you after. She did come to my show and talk to me backstage when Harry and I stopped talking. She the definition of an angel. Sweet and kind. Possibly the best mother in law anyone can have.

“Yeh’ doing al’right love?” Harry asked, smiling. 

“Not so bad sugar” I answered being playful with him. 

I felt Dex eyes on me when I nudged my elbow in Harry’s arm.

“By that she means she’s in a fight with Dex” Victoria blurted out. 

Dex and I shot death stares at her. Everyone knows you don’t say personal information to others.

“Vic?” Dex asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice.  

“Oh please. You can sense it the second you walk in the room.” Victoria exclaimed. “You two barely even kissed. I swear Harry and you can pass for the only couple here?”

Harry smirked in response, clearly enjoying it. Dex and I were on the opposite spectrum. 

“Are you on your period Vic?” I asked, crossing my arms. 

Victoria eyes widen, almost shocked to hear me say that. She glared at me.

“What? You started it” I remarked.

“Not answering that” She said with seriousness.

“Are you though?” Dex asked, grinning. 

Harry chuckled.

“Still not answering” Victoria said.

“Sounds like you’re about to. Being a B-I-t-c-h.” I said stealing Harry’s seat on the white couch. God I wish I was about to get mine”

“Ew why?” Dex asked.

“Because at least I won’t have swollen feet” I said taking off my shoes.

“Ouch” Harry commented.

“Carters” Dex pointed out to the bags on the floor next the wall.  

“Clothes” I said. 

“Baby clothes?” Harry asked. Curiosity filled up in him.

“Yeah. You can look through it if you want” 

And he did. I mostly picked out winter clothes for her. January is the coldest in the city.

“So where’s Camille?” Dex asked him.

“Paris. She has a show” Harry answered, rummaging through another bag.

“For who?” I asked.

“Etam. This is cute” He said looking at the pink onesie that said Daddy’s little monster on it. 

“She better fit in it” Dex said.

“If she fits in it” I pointed out. “So what are you going to do until tomorrow H? Planning on hiding out as usual?”

“Actually, I wanted to go to dinner tonight”

“Oh, you should try Augustine” Victoria said. 

I forgot she was here for a moment. Her silence and concentration on her phone hid her.

“How is it?” Harry asked.

“It’s lit. They have the best steak” I exaggerated. 

Harry furrowed his eyebrows. Clearly confused. 

“Lit … What is that?” He asked us.

Oh right… He’s never on social media. He should really take a culture class.  

“It means . .” I said thinking about it. 

All the definitions that came to my head included more references Harry wouldn’t know.

 “Dex can you?”

“Its means something great or cool. It’s internet slang”

“Interesting.” Harry said after tracing his lips with his fingers.

“How do you have friends again?” I teased, asking.

“Aren’t you the one to be answering that?” Harry asked, grinning.

I shrugged and stood up. I started walking towards the bedroom. 

“Where you going?” Dex asked from the couch.

“My room. Going to watch the office” I said walking.

“Again?” 

I turned around to face them. 

“What else is there to do? Wanna join H?” 

“Aren’t you going to ask Dexter or Victoria first?” 

“Can’t” Dex and Victoria answered at the same time.

“Why not?!” Harry asked, obviously joking.

“Dex has to leave for acting and-“

“I’ll be back for dinner” Dex said cutting me off.

“Wonderful” Harry commented turning to ask about Vic.

“Nothing that concerns you” She said crossing her arms.

Harry’s eyes landed on me before speaking.

“Well then, it’s just you and I”

“You’re still not getting dressed yet?” I asked him. 

He was fully invested in the show now. All of his concentration was focused on the tv screen on my wall. In the last two hours, we managed to watch almost half of a season. Now, we were on the episode where Andy was performing his Sweeney Todd play. Dex and Victoria left immediately after we started watching. To my surprise, Harry hasn’t asked about Dex yet. Odd, since he’s curious about everything.

“After I find out if Erin comes to Andy’s play” He responded, eyes not leaving the screen. 

“Oh, she definitely will” I said rummaging through my closet.

“Andy likes Erin” Harry stated, lightly grinning.

“Obviously. He’s always awkward around her” I said picking out two dresses.

“She seems fun” 

“Which one?” I said holding up the two dresses.

He turned to me looking up and down at the dresses. I was somehow always indecisive when it came to small things.

“Stripes- wait. . Is that a tattoo?” Harry said pointing to my right hand.

“Depends” I said. “Are you talking about the one on my ankle or hand?”

Harry grabbed my right hand, pulling me closer. He examined the bottom of my palm.

“Is that- a bird?” He asked in confusion.

“I also have a wolf next to my ankle”

He let go of my hand.

“When did-“

“When I turned 26. I got the wolf months later” 

“Why a wolf?” 

“Just felt like it” I said. “Why are you surprised?”

“I thought you hated tattoos” 

“I didn’t hate them. I just hated the pain. Get over it. Peop-“

“Ha’rry. A’melia” I heard a posh Cheshire accent come in the hallway. 

Harry and I turned to see Anne enter the room. She look surprised when she saw me.

“Anne!” I said greeting her in a hug.

“Hello dear” She said into my ear.

“Mum! How was the city?” Harry asked when I broke up our hug. 

“Beautiful. A bit humid”

“As always” I commented.

“Well look at you dear” Anne said looking down at my stomach. “How far are you? 26? 27 weeks?”

“I hope I’ll be soon. I’m counting down the days. I’m 24 actually”

“Weight gain, I see. Have you started getting dry eyes? Did your milk come in yet?” She asked, slightly concerned.

“Mine hasn’t!” Harry said in a loud voice with sarcasm.

Anne and I chuckled. 

“Not that much.” I said. “Thank god though. My sister overproduced in hers” 

“Well love, there is a way to avoid that. You can ask me anything” Anne said, in a comforting voice.

“Especially at dinner” Harry said interrupting us. “Should we call Dexter?”

“So, Dex, who knows damn well how scared I am of sharks, throws me in the water with them! And I start to panic”

“And cry” Dex added.

“I almost passed out because of you” I said, squinting my eyes at him from across the table.

What he said was true, referring to his birthday vacation in Hawaii. Dinner was fantastic for the most part. Dex showed up halfway late for dinner. He blamed it on work, of course. The rest of the dinner was anxious. All I felt was Dex’s eyes on me. Obviously jealousy had taken over him. Harry and Anne probably noticed too.It wasn’t hard to notice. The light atmosphere went dead when Dex came. It remained the same in the car ride home. It felt like eternity. My swollen feet started to take effect on me in the middle of the ride. I took off my heels in the elevator which amused Harry and drew sympathy from Anne. Dex didn’t pay attention to anyone or anything except his phone. I chose to ignore it and him for the rest of the night. I was too tired to handle another fight. Somehow I managed to get myself ready and into bed on my own. I was about to sleep when I heard my phone go off with a text sound. I looked to see Harry’s name on my screen.

‘Ya still awake love?’

I read that in his voice. He even writes the way he talks. I swiped my phone open and began to type. 

‘Yeah, just in bed. Are you too excited for tomorrow to sleep?’

‘Who wouldn’t? Ya coming right?’

‘Definitely. I’m free all day’ 

‘Great. Anne can’t wait to spend time with you again’

‘I am too. Is there anything you need before I go to sleep?”

‘Is Dexter coming with you tomorrow? He seemed off tonight’

‘I wouldn’t worry about it. He’ll probably come’ 

‘Al’right Love. Just checking. I’ll see ya tomorrow?’

‘Yeah. Goodnight H’

‘Goodnight Melia xxx’

‘Melia . . ‘Melia” I heard in my light sleep. 

I turned around in bed, cuddling up to a pillow with the thought of Dex in my mind.

“What Dex?” I mumbled under my breath.

I heard a faint laugh. More of a giggle. Familiar but not Dex’s. I slid my hand across the bedsheet next to me, accepting to find Dex. I only found cold emptiness.I turned around and looked up at the figure that sat on the edge of my bed. The sun peaking through the windows hit his green eyes and dark chocolate hair. 

“Am I really similar to Dex?”

“H what are you doing in my room?”

“Yeh’ texted that yeh’ had the whole day free”

I rubbed my eyes.

“What time is it?”

“Almost 9. I tried calling yeh”

“Why the hell do you need me at 9? Don’t you know to let a pregnant woman sleep?”

“Yeh’ll see. Get up grouchy. We have somewhere to be at 12”

“Give me a few minutes”

“Yeh’ always do this”

“Do what?”

“Lie and pretend yeh gonna do it”

“No I don’t”

“Yeah yeh do”

I moved the covers and headed to the bathroom.

“One hour. Your ass will be wrong”

“So why did you bring me here again?” I asked him as we walked into Columbia Records.

Yes, Columbia Records. Harry and I are both signed to it. Him joining last year and I, joining almost a decade ago. It’s a great place of production, comparing to Syco. 

“I want to make kiwi my next single”

“Okay” I crossed my arms. “What does that have to do with me?”

“Yeh’ think it’s a good choice?”

“I think it’s a safe choice. Rock n roll. You can dance to it”Harry’s lips grew into a smirk with his nose scrunching up. 

“Anything else you need?”

“There’s one problem” Harry said. “Columbia won’t run it”

“Why not? They don’t trust you to pick a single after the two ghosts flop?”

Harry looked at me, confused.

“Flop?”

Oh right. He’s never cultured with the internet.

“Fail. I meant fail” I corrected myself.

“Is that another slang thing?” He asked.

“I’ll tell you later. Question… Why me? Did you get into a fight with Jeff?”“No, no. Yeh been here and . . I trust you”

“Awww” I blushed. “Fine then. If it was me I would invite them to tonights show. Reaction is everything in this industry. If they see how great your fans react to it, I’ll have no doubt they will sign it”

The door opened from behind, with Jeff entering in. Who can forget Jeffrey? Harry’s best friend turned manager. I didn’t have the best relationship with him. Being friends with him was alright. We just differed a lot on when it came to business and in the middle it was always Harry.

“Jeffery!” Harry called, approaching him.

Of course, they had to have their signature hug mixed with a handshake between them. Jeff eyes landed on me. 

“What is she doing here?” Jeff asked Harry.

“He asked for advice on kiwi. After all I’m more experienced than you two of you combined” I said, speaking for Harry.

“Well your advice won’t work. They pick“

“Says the person who picked two ghosts and it failed”

“She does have a point” Harry said, grinning.

“It’s just the rules. Client can’t hear another client business”

I brought my mouth next to Harry’s ears. 

‘Invite them. Trust me’ I whispered to him. 

“Ill be in the car.” I said taking the keys out of my pocket. “Anyways I have someone to call”

Someone that happens to be Dex.

“Shit they are loud outside” I said.

“Are they?” Harry asked going to the window.

Screaming reached a peak outside when he looked out the window, waving to the fans. He quickly closed the stutters making me giggle.This afternoon has been somewhat eventful. Harry had his meeting, which he still didn’t tell me about. I didn’t mind though. I was just happy I didn’t have swollen feet today. Anne joined us for lunch after the meeting. She took my mind off Dex for a bit, which I needed. I needed a break.

“You seem in a good mood” Anne said to Harry.

“Well I’m expecting people from Columbia”

“You invited them? You actually took my advice?”

“Why are yeh surprised?”

“Kind of. Knowing how stubborn you are”

“Hey so are yeh” 

“I actually take that as a compliment” I smirked at him. 

Some guy from Harry’s team said the band was set up for rehearsal.

“Did you meet the band yet?”

“No. I would love to”

Harry put his arm around me, tugging me closer to him.

“C’mon”

Two hours later and still no word for Dex. Instead, it was conversations with Harry’s bandmates and Anne.We were in the middle of rehearsal. Harry played kiwi three times by now. Everyone was getting annoyed by it, including shy Mitch which Harry and Sarah was fond of. Sarah more for being his girlfriend. I liked them. All so well down to earth and sweet. Sweetest was Clare. Her delicate voice was an example of it. However if I had to relate to most it was Adam. I was soon going to become a parent like he is now. Despite these conversations, my thoughts kept circling back to Dex. I left over a ten phone calls about his disappearance this morning. Anne could tell something was off with me since how distant I was being.

“What’s wrong, Love?” Anne asked me. 

“It’s nothing really” I said looking at Harry talk to his band mates.

“Are you sure? Is it the pregnancy hormones?”

“Kind of. It’s making my situation with Dex more intense” I said readjusting myself in one of the theater’s seats. 

“What happened? Did you two have an argument?”

“A silence one. To be honest, I don’t know anymore. Everything seemed to be going fine until-“

I looked at Harry. Harry. Her son. I can’t bring him into this. It’s like I’m blaming him when it’s not. If I tell her, she’ll just tell him. The situation would become more worse-

“Harry” Anne said out loud, interrupting my thoughts.

 I nodded. I guessed she knew based at me staring at him.

“Well” She said, with a bit of disappointment in her voice. “I know Harry has been reckless in his past relationships but I know wouldn’t want to hurt either of you”

“I know that too” I said, looking at her. “I love having Harry around, I truly do but Dex . . he just acts weird around Harry”

“How so? Have you tried talking with him?”

“Of course. Every time I try to, he runs away. He didn’t talk to me at all after dinner. He disappeared again this morning. He hadn’t even replied to my -“

‘She walked her way through a cheap pack of cigarettes’ 

Loud guitar echoed throughout the theater. I covered my ears. What the hell happened to a warning? He gave it a million times before.

“DICK!” I yelled at him.

“Stop! Stop!” Harry said to the band.

Harry looked down at me from the stage.

“There’s no cursing when my mother is here” Harry said with obvious sarcasm in his voice.

I shrugged.

“Sorry Anne”

The atmosphere was different tonight. Whatever it was the fact he was playing at Radio City or the fact that Dex wasn’t with me, tonight had a flair to it. Of course, Harry had to open the show with Ever Since New York. It was tour tradition by now. Kiwi was next, which I expected him to perform later. What wasn’t a surprise was him stopping midway through the song because fans weren’t ‘loud enough’. I ended up regretting being seated close to the stage. I was an easy target for Harry to splash water on and he did. Not so much since Anne was next to me. It was after Two Ghosts, the show was beginning to get emotional. For the first time, I actually heard him play From the Dining Table live. It was bittersweet, the performance. If not for him, then I. I leaned on Anne, knowing I was going to need some support during it. After all, I did cry when I first time I heard it.

There was pain in his voice. Pain he was trying to disguise as he sang. I tried not to pay attention to it for the sake of not crying. I couldn’t. I looked at my phone trying to distract myself. I decided to text Dex again.

‘Are you at home?’ I texted.

A minute later, Dex responded.

‘Yeah’

I sighed. He finally talked to me.

Apart from that moment, the rest of the shoe was somewhat warm. He played Story of My Life next. Anne’s favorite. The rest of the show became uplifting when he performed What Makes You Beautiful and Only Angel.

The ride back was exhausting. Anne’s and Harry’s conversation somehow kept me from sleeping in the car. When we stepped into our building, that was another story. 

“Woah” Harry said catching me.He held me up by the hips.

“I’m fine H. You can’t let go off me”

“No you’re not. Here love”

Harry took my arm and put around his shoulders. He picked my legs up, carrying me.

“I said I was fine” I whined.

 “Oh, shut up” Harry said with a sarcastic tone.

“Oooh Anne you should discipline your son” I complained. 

“Oh dear those years are over” Anne said as we stepped into the elevator. 

Anne Max and Rosie ran up to us, practically jumping on Harry’s legs. Dex got up from the couch looking worried.

“What happened? Did you get hurt?” Dex asked.

“Nope. He’s being kind. Unlike you” I blurted out.

There was a moment of silence. I always get angry whenever I’m cranky.

“What? It’s true.” I turned my head to Harry. “Bed please”

“Just take her” Dex said. “I’ll change her in a minute”

Harry carried me to my bed, setting me down on the bed.

“You okay love?” Harry asked taking off my shoes.

“About what?” I said turning around.

“With Dex. She told me”

“Knew I shouldn’t have told her”

“It’s alright love. You could have talked to me about it”

“I know that”

“Ya sure?”

“I’m not in the mood for this talk now H. Tomorrow”

“Alright goodnight, ‘Melia”

Harry got up and headed towards the door. 

 “Harryyy, you didn’t kiss me goodnight” I said, stopping me.

“I think I would get in trouble with Dex for that”

I raised my hand up.

“Pleaseee”

Harry came over and kissed my hand. He brought his face next to my ear before he whispered.

“I’ll see you tomorrow love” 

[debraofamerica]

Andrew’s EB Story: Honeymoon Travels

Throughout 2014, Andrew Conrad dedicated monthly posts to sharing his EB story as part of our Family Stories series. He wrote about what it was like when he was younger, his college days, and the challenges he’s overcome. Three years later, in September 2017, we were thrilled to welcome Andrew back as a contributing blogger to EB, etc.! 

Andrew has Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (RDEB) and is a professional real estate investor residing in Chicago, Illinois. Read on to catch up with him on his honeymoon travels and how he managed his EB while overseas. 

It’s hard to believe that my last blog post was in 2018. Additionally, it’s even harder to believe that it has been three months already since [my wife] Colleen and I got back from our honeymoon! We spent three weeks traveling and moved around to a lot of different places. I wish we could have spent more time overseas but as tends to happen, we both had to get back to work…

We first started out in the Cook Islands and spent Christmas on Rarotonga, which is the main island. The Cook Islands is a small set of 15 islands in the south pacific with a link to New Zealand. Rarotonga is the main island and has a population of around 15k. We stayed on a small 10 villa resort on the south east side of the island. Our villa was 10 steps from the beach. The entire island is only 20 miles in circumference and about 5 miles across; however, the island is very mountainous so hiking across is not an easy task. We spent most of our time on the island hanging out on the hammocks at the beach reading from our Kindle, or borrowing snorkel gear & kayaks. The entire island is surrounded by coral reef, and in low tide, the water is almost too low to get a kayak out on the ocean as you end up beaching yourself on top of coral. The waves break about a mile out from shore with the water in between so shallow that you could walk all the way to the wave break. Our villa had electric bikes that we borrowed a lot to explore the island. With that said, we never ventured very far. One of our favorite parts of the island was that everyone who owns dogs lets them roam the entire island all day. We have numerous encounters with extremely friendly puppers! We spent about 5 days on Rarotonga and enjoyed 90 degree weather the entire time.

Next, we met up with our friends Jim & Eileen in Queenstown, NZ. They were really the impetus for us picking the Cook Islands, NZ & Australia for our honeymoon as they had already planned a trip to NZ and they were gracious enough to allow us to meet up with them. Queenstown is the extreme sport capital of the world & where bungee jumping was invented. Colleen and I passed on the bungee jumping, but we tagged along to watch Jim & Eileen jump. I was extremely jealous that I did not take the jump with them as it looked like a lot of fun! We had the most amazing Airbnb experience. We stayed in Frankton, which is about a 15 minute drive outside of Queenstown. Frankton is located on Lake Wakatipu, a huge glacier formed lake that has the cleanest & clearest water you have ever seen. The water is so clean, you can actually fill up your water bottle in the lake. While the four of us were sitting on our veranda having a bottle of wine for happy hour, our Airbnb host, who shall remain nameless as to not set an expectation in the event any of you end up traveling to Queenstown, came down and asked us our plans for New Year’s. Of course, we had none yet so they invited us to have dinner with them, which we happily accepted. The meal was the best we had the entire trip. Our host made us a full turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, two salads, plus supplied the wine. They also made homemade cheese cake. It was absolutely phenomenal. The only let down was that the four of us all forgot to take any photos of the occasion. But we will remember that dinner forever.

While in NZ, we also visited Wellington with Jim & Eileen for two days. Wellington is a fun coastal down at the southern point of the north island of New Zealand, and it is also the capital of NZ. We spent most of our time walking around seeing the town while dining on Cuba Street.

After Wellington, it was time for Jim & Eileen to head back to the states. Colleen and I continued on further north to Auckland, the biggest city in NZ with about 1.5 million people. Auckland was awesome. We stayed in a neighborhood called Ponsonby, which was sort of like a combination of Wicker Park & Lincoln Park in Chicago. The main street was lined with small little coffee shops, cafes, art studios, and many many restaurants. The neighborhood also had a food hall called Ponsonby Central, where we had dinner & breakfast a few times. While in Auckland, we took a day trip to Weiheke Island, which is a short 30 minute ferry ride from the main port in Auckland. Weiheke Island boasts some of the highest priced real estate in Auckland and has numerous wineries on the island. We spent the better part of the day visiting a lot of tasting rooms and overall had a great time. For anyone heading to Auckland, Weiheke Island is a must!

After spending about a week and a half in NZ, we moved on to Sydney Australia, probably our favorite city in the world. This was our second time in Sydney and we decided to spend the first 3 days at the same hotel that we had stayed at last time in Darling Harbor, which was the location of Olympic Village when Sydney hosted the summer Olympics back in 2000. We explored the neighborhoods, and went back to a few restaurants that we loved from the last time we visited. After a few days in Darling Harbor, we moved to an Airbnb at Bondi Beach. I wish we would have spent our entire time at Bondi! It is amazing that a city as big as Sydney, you can go from the central business district to Bondi Beach in about 20 minutes. And when in Bondi, you feel like you are in a completely different area. Especially in Bondi, the work-life balance culture is completely different than the United States. In the morning, you can see a lot of people surfing for their workout, so the ocean is super crowded from sun up until about 9am. Then everyone comes in, changes & heads into the office. Then around 5pm, the beach starts to get busy again as everyone gets home from the office, changes back into their wet suits, and hits the surf again.

We can’t wait to get back to that part of the world again. It also helps that it’s their summer while its winter here in Chicago. It felt great to have some real sun on our face for three weeks. Although I think our tan went away before we even touched back down in Chicago. Getting back into the flow of things was definitely not easy.

So given this is a blog primarily about people with EB and I have now written for two pages without mentioned EB once, I’ll finish up with a few things about my travels and dealing with EB. Overall, I didn’t really have any issues on this trip. As I get older and more traveled, I continually get better at packing and dealing with EB while abroad. By my latest count, I have visited 14 different countries. For me, it’s important to remember to always wear sunscreen and constantly be reapplying, especially when in the three countries we just finished on our honeymoon. Wearing sandals can be tough for extended periods of time, so I mostly wore my running shoes, even when going out to the beach. I also brought along a pair of neoprene beach socks that I wore when I went into the ocean as it was useful protection against rocks and coral. I also remember to pack plenty of Telfa pad adhesive & non-adhesive bandages. When traveling, it’s difficult to find medical supplies that I use in the states as everything is a different brand or labeled differently when abroad. Beach trips are both beautiful and difficult at the same time. Beautiful for the obvious reasons, but difficult because you are always washing off sand and having to change any bandages you may have. It makes packing supplies more difficult.

With that said, I wouldn’t trade the world for anything we did and would certainly do it again in a heartbeat! Colleen and I are getting ready to head to Paris, Nice & Monaco at the end of May for 10 days, once again with our friends Jim & Eileen. We can’t wait to be traveling again!

Stay tuned for more from Andrew’s EB Story series! A big thank you to Andrew for sharing his story with our community. To read Andrew’s past posts, please click here. 

*debra of America does not promote nor endorse the products and techniques mentioned above. If you believe you, your child, or someone you know, suffer from Epidermolysis Bullosa, please see your healthcare provider. Do not attempt to treat yourself, your child, or anyone else without proper medical supervision

[insanitysscribblings]

I've always been interested in working in Japan through the JET program but I'm interested in hearing your experience with working in Japan and the reasons you work there.

STORY TIME!

I’ve always been interested in Japanese culture. The first time I watched Sailor Moon, I was completely enthralled. When I found out it was a type of animation from this little island across the world, I was hooked. It’s always been one of my childhood dreams to come here, whether to live here or for a visit, it didn’t matter. One way or another, I wanted to set foot upon Japanese soil, even if it was just to cross something off my bucket list.

So I found out, very early on in my college career (through a Skype call with a friend of my Japanese professor during class freshman year), that teaching English in Japan was a thing that I could do without being fluent in Japanese/a certified teacher. And since I always knew I wanted to be an author, but wasn’t enthused about the thought of slaving away at some job I wasn’t passionate about until I finished a book, once I figured out this was A Thing?

“HELL YEAH SIGN ME THE FUCK UP”

I had to wait until my senior year to apply, naturally. XP My first choice was the JET program, because it was the most well-known, and I read nothing but good things about it. I sent in my application, and checked my e-mail OBSESSIVELY, waiting for a response.

I didn’t even clear the first cut. OTL

Took time to be sad about it. My friends were very sympathetic (they even bought me chocolate to help cheer me up that night, ha ha~) Once I was done being sad, I picked myself back up and threw myself back into the search. If the JET program didn’t want to hire me, then it was their loss. But now I was Determined: I was GETTING to Japan one way or another, and this one rejection wasn’t about to stop me.

And then, after signing up for several sites which granted jobs to gaikokujin and OBSESSIVE searching, I found my company: Interac. I read up on it, did my research. They didn’t pay as well as JET supposedly does, but still, it was a teaching job in Japan. Repeated the process: sent in my application and waited, on pins and needles now, because I was going to be graduating soon and if I didn’t have a plan, I felt like I’d be screwed.

I heard back VERY quickly from Interac. We did the phone interview, I presented myself as professionally as I could, and then we were done.

Very soon after THAT, I received an e-mail for a SECOND INTERVIEW!!!!

The only difficulty was that the interview was being held in D.C., which is near where my folks live….but it was a week before my graduation from my college in North Carolina. ^^; THAT was an interesting weekend: I had to fly back to Maryland early on Friday, prepare for the interview AND do a mock lesson that night, drive to D.C. Saturday and do said interview/mock lesson, and then fly back to North Carolina on Sunday to graduate a week later. Whew!

But yeah, that happened, I graduated and got my degree in English Writing, then went back home to CHILL for a bit as I waited for a response.

We had gone to Texas to watch my brother’s ceremony for completing his basic training (we’re a military family, hahaha~) when I got the e-mail. Now, we were there for my brother, so I didn’t wanna kick up a fuss, but my dad saw me grinning like an idiot and asked what was up. I passed him my phone and let him read the e-mail, bouncing in my seat. Naturally, my mom and grandma had to know what was up too, so, as quietly as I could (I get loud when I’m excited), I said, “I got the job…!”

Queue mini-celebration before the ceremony started, but needless to say, I was deliriously excited~

Once we returned to Maryland, I threw myself into the next step: paperwork, paperwork, PAPERWORK. Luckily for me, Interac works to take care of most of the big stuff: securing an apartment, picking the schools you work in, stuff like that. But before I could get there, I had to apply for a working visa first. That required photos being taken and several trips to D.C., but I got it did. There was a bunch of other stuff involved too, if I recall correctly, but the visa was the one big thing I remember.

Next, I had to find a job in order to pay for my plane ticket/have start-up money as soon as I headed over there, because I wouldn’t be paid until about two months in (this could be different for JET; I never found out, so I’m just sticking to telling you my experiences, ha ha~). I remember they gave me two options: to start training in August so I would be prepared for September, or to come in March to be prepared for April, when the school year officially started. It was June when these options were presented to me, and since I didn’t have anywhere NEAR the funds I needed, I chose the latter and took a cashier job to build up my funds/pay student loans.

My company worked with me throughout the months, updating me on things like what I would need to bring and where exactly in Japan I would be placed. They made sure to check that I would be comfortable in my placement and if I had any questions while working through the processing of the paperwork I had to send them, so I never felt like I was at a standstill with them, which was nice~

And then, at long, LONG last…it was time for me to go. I booked my plane ticket a month in advance, my grandmother (who was heartbroken that I was leaving) was gracious enough to throw me a going-away party, and my family saw me off at the airport. I was anxious that the sudden SNOW IN APRIL would delay my flight, but things went off without a hitch. (Flight delay due to snow happened to me just this past winter, though; that super sucked. Oh, important advice: MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHO’S OPERATING THE FLIGHT. It might say one airline, but it could really be operated by another airline altogether. Which reminds me: DON’T FLY UNITED. WORST AIRLINE TO FLY OVERSEAS ON.)

And then…I was here.

Been here for a while; going into my third year with my elementary school, and the four kindergartens I teach at. Some days are harder than others, but the kids are really cute, and I’ve found that if I try my best, they’re usually willing to reciprocate. And it makes my heart swell when they get excited to eat lunch with me, even if they ask some inappropriate questions (the amount of times I’ve been asked if I’m married/have a boyfriend…)

What I want to say, though, before I get further lost in my rambling, is that everyone’s experience is different. Some people love it here; some people leave half-way through their contract because they can’t stand it. It all depends on how well you can adapt. The language barrier sucks sometimes, and you feel “other” sometimes when the Japanese folk stare…but overall, I find it a pleasant place to live. My coworkers are nice, my town is small and convenient, and I found that it very quickly became home for me. I don’t know what everyone thinks when they picture Japan, but to me, it’s just where I live. The people just happen to speak Japanese here. :P

If you’re seriously considering living here, the truth is that, in some ways, you will be inconvenienced, compared to what you’re probably used to. The people at the convenience store ask you a question you can’t understand, the NHK man comes knocking at your door demanding payment for a service you don’t use, TALKING CARS AT 11 PM. But there’s a lot of good about it, too, so much that it would make this answer waaaaaaay longer than it already is.

But I think the most important question, Nonny, is this: how bad do you want it?

[michael-radi-the-glamorous-life]

Summertime, And The Livin' Is Easy...

Well, folks. For me, summer has now officially arrived!

Hooray!

I am now settled into Naples, NY for a three-show contract that will take most of my summer between June 1st-September 1st! (There will also be a little vacation and a week-long teaching contract thrown in the middle there as well!) And it’s all going to be super fun and not crazy or exhausting at all!

…Right?

Well, not quite. It’s all extremely exciting, but it will be incredibly busy as well!

So let me tell you a little about the exciting parts while I have your attention! :-D

Naples Is *Magical*

If you’ve ever seen Brigadoon, then yeah…it’s a little bit like that.

Naples, NY is this beautiful vacation town that emerges from the snows of winter each spring to provide the Finger Lakes Area with breath-taking beauty, fantastic theatre, delicious wine, excellent local food, festivals, art, music, lakes, nature, parks, and pie! Yes, pie gets it’s own listing here. Come visit and you’ll see why!

The town is nestled in a valley at the south end of Canandaigua Lake, which is one of the most gorgeous lakes in the entire country - backed up by the fact that it has the most expensive lake-front property in the US.

It’s also a short jaunt to Honeoye Lake, Keuka Lake, Canadice Lake, Seneca Lake…are you getting the picture? Hills and lakes and trees and gorgeousness.

The Finger Lakes Region is also one of the top Wine Regions in the country (voted #1 the past two years!).

Every larger lake is surrounded with wineries that provide incredible wine trails for some of the most fun summer days I’ve ever had. And for those of you who don’t like wine, there are now a multitude of Micro-Breweries, Distilleries, and Cideries along these trails as well!

Oh, also, Naples has two wineries right on the Main Street of town…so you don’t have to go far!

As for accommodations, there are plenty around! There are delightful Bed & Breakfasts both in town and nearby (with some insane views), and AirBnB exists all over. Plus the Naples Hotel is right in town, totally haunted, has two bars and a restaurant, and is worth a stay…if you’re daring.

(Pie. So much pie.)

And then the Bristol Valley Theater, which is what ultimately brings me back to Naples this summer!

Bristol Valley Theater - or BVT - is a brilliant and wonderful gem of a non-equity regional theater in Western NY. The people are some of the best I have ever met, the work is fantastic (far above what should be achievable at its size) and fulfilling, the audiences are enthusiastic and grateful, and the respect shown to the employees across the board is virtually unheard of for a theater this size.

It’s a delight and honor to work there, and I’m stoked to be heading back!

(Learn more about BVT here!)

“What are you doing there this summer, Michael?”

Excellent question, dear reader!

So Happy Together

The first show on which I will be endeavoring (beginning tomorrow morning) is a 1960s musical revue called So Happy Together.

For this show I will be acting as the Musical Director, which is going to be incredibly fun!

We have a cast of 4 performers who will, with myself and the director, be putting together a show that covers the musical genres and cultural topics of the 1960s. We’ll be covering genres like: Rock, the British Invasion, Protest, Motown, and more!

It’s a little bit of a hectic process - as we only have a week to create, learn, and stage the show - but isn’t that what makes summer stock theatre fun? I think so!

I’m not yet certain what the final result will yield as far as actual content, but I have done a little pre-work as the MD. For instance, I know for certain there will be a medley of 10 Beatles songs (‘cause duh!), an a cappella section, and a medley of the major dances of the era. So at least a small amount of the music is prepped and ready in advance!

Basically, if you enjoy the music of the 1960s (and who doesn’t?) you’ll enjoy So Happy Together!

More information and Tickets here!

Murder For Two

Okay, if you don’t know this show then you have been missing out!

When I saw Murder For Two Off-Broadway in 2013, it was one of my all-time favorite theatrical experiences. And you know what? It still is.

For those of you who don’t know the show, here’s the premise:

It’s a musical. There’s a murder. There’s only two people onstage. One person plays all 9 suspects, and the other plays the naive cop. What’s the catch? Both performers also play piano…for themselves, for one another, and sometimes at the same time on the same keyboard.

It’s absolute zany and delightful fun!

It’s incredibly tricky, since both performers have to be excellent pianists/accompanists, singers, and actors. I’m itching to get started! Though I’ve been practicing the music for a while now, it’s a totally different beast once both performers are working in the same space.

It’s going to be excellent!

More information and Tickets here!

The King’s Legacy

Wahoooooooo!

As I’m sure you all know by this point, my original musical The King’s Legacy will be receiving its premiere production this August!!!

I’ve been in preparation for this production since the fall: Meeting with the Director, Rewriting, Orchestrating, Preparing the Materials, doing Readings, Rewriting even more…you know, all the things!

So, to say that I cannot wait for this process to begin would be a severe understatement bordering on a crime!

“What is this show?”

Thank you for the question, clearly new reader to my blog!

Bristol Valley Theater’s website quotes:

"In his obsessive quest for a male heir, King Henry VIII careened through six wives, palace plots, beheadings and a confrontation with the Pope. And nearly tore his country apart. But it was his daughter, Queen Elizabeth I, who changed the world. A thrilling musical journey through the intrigue of the Tudor court."

And the website for the musical writes:

"The King’s Legacy is a celebration of women’s accomplishments against all odds in an oppressively patriarchal world, told through the story of the wives and daughters of Henry VIII. The show portrays how Henry’s obsession for a son tore his country apart, and how his daughter with Anne Boleyn, Queen Elizabeth I, unexpectedly saved them all. The musical is performed by a small troupe of Players in honor of the fortieth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I’s celebrated reign (London, 1598) and spans thirty-three years between two story lines. The present consists of Henry’s attempts to obtain a son, while Anne Boleyn seizes all opportunities to forge her own path, and the subsequent consequences for Catherine of Aragon and the English court. The future centers on Henry and Anne's daughter, Elizabeth, as she grows up and learns how to become a great monarch through her mother’s legacy and Henry’s later wives."

The show includes:

5 women

3 men

1 young girl

20 characters

22 songs

4 instruments

3 musicians

6 queens consort

1 queen regnant

Intrigue

Drama

Fun

Laughs

And so much more!

And in addition to all of my duties on this show, I will also be doing some extra talks surrounding the writing and production at local libraries and events!

It’s going to be a brilliant end to the summer!! :-D

The King’s Legacy runs August 22nd-September 1st!

Tickets here!

More information here!

Well, Maybe The Livin’s Not That Easy

Summer stock theatre - and particularly 3 shows across 3 months - will mean a large amount of work and lots of crazy business.

Rehearsals are long yet compact, tech is short, and runs are a total of 10 performances. It’s certainly a whirlwind each and every time!

Therefore, dear reader, I will be cutting back my weekly blog over the summer months. A sad prospect, I know. However, you will all also be busy and having fantastic times of your own!

I will still put out a post at least every two weeks, so don’t you fret! I’ll do what I can when I can!

And in the meantime, plan yourselves a trip to Naples, NY for this summer to see one of these wonderful shows!!! (*cough* especially The King’s Legacy *cough*)

I hope to see your shining faces in the BVT lobby sometime this summer!!! Cheers!

[useyourrwords]

Book Review // All Out – History Has Never Been as Straight As You Think

Details Title: All Out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout The Ages Edited By: Saundra Mitchell Authors: Saundra Mitchell, Anna-Marie McLemore, Natalie C. Parker, Nilah Magruder, Mackenzi Lee, Robin Talley, Malinda Lo, Dahlia Adler, Kate Scelsa, Elliot Wake, Scott Tracey, Tess Sharpe, Alex Sanchez, Kody Keplinger, Sara Farizan, Tessa Gratton, Shaun David Hutchinson, Tehlor Kay Mejia Publisher: Harlequin Teen Age: YA Genre: Anthology, Historical, Fantasy Released: February 27, 2018 Trigger Warnings: I don’t have any because I read this so long ago before I decided I needed to start making an actual effort at TWs. Likely there was homophobia, transphobia (I think in Every Shade of Red??? Maybe???) Representation*: OMG, so much!! I will include rep for each story as I go! But safe to say this is heavy gay, I love it.

Synopsis**: Take a journey through time and genres and discover a past where queer figures live, love and shape the world around them. Seventeen of the best young adult authors across the queer spectrum have come together to create a collection of beautifully written diverse historical fiction for teens. From a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood set in war-torn 1870s Mexico featuring a transgender soldier, to two girls falling in love while mourning the death of Kurt Cobain, forbidden love in a sixteenth-century Spanish convent or an asexual girl discovering her identity amid the 1970s roller-disco scene, All Out tells a diverse range of stories across cultures, time periods and identities, shedding light on an area of history often ignored or forgotten. 

This anthology is goddamn important.

If we must lie to the world to be true to our hearts, then we would.

All Out is an anthology written by LGBTQIAP+ authors for LGBTQIAP+ readers.

Historical fiction has long been monopolized by straight people. Often this is explained away as being historically accurate as if we queers haven’t always existed.

Sorry to burst your bubble but yes, we have always existed y’all just like to call us ‘very close friends’ or erase people’s bisexuality because they were in a m/f romance at some point.

Now the gays are staking their claim on their own history and I could not be more excited.

We had done this: Robin’s lost boys and lost girls, the children society had thrown away. We’d woven together a family of orphans and outcasts and exiles. Not one of us shared blood. Not one of us would balk at spilling our own blood for a brother or sister.

This anthology was so damn enjoyable that I didn’t want to put it down.

Honestly, I just couldn’t wait for Elliot Wake’s story because I am trash for his writing but there were so many great stories in here that I didn’t even mind the wait!

Stories that are so good they are worth buying this whole anthology for just them alone are;

 Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore  Burnt Ember by Mackenzie Lee  Molly’s Lips by Dahlia Adler  The Coven by Kate Scelsa  Every Shade of Red by Elliot Wake  Willows by Scott Tracey  Three Witches by Tessa Gratton  Healing Rosa by Tehlor Kay Mejia

     That was how Léon and I left them, both of us showing hearts so fierce these men considered them knives. We left them with the salt-sting memory of us, a brazen girl, and a boy with a heart so fearless wolves were his guardian saints.

││Roja│Anna-Marie McLemore│El Bajio, México, 1870│★★★★★│f/m, trans love interest, Latinx MC│

Roja follows a burja as she works to free her love from imprisonment.

This story was so beautiful and every time I read one of Anna-Marie McLemore’s stories in an anthology I am reminded that I need to read one of her books.

I love magical realism and more than that, I love playing with the idea of cursed families and anger; how to use it and not let it destroy you.

This story starts the whole book out strong.

     │The Sweet Trade│Natalie C. Parker│Virginia Colony, 1717│3.5★‘s│w/w│

The Sweet Trade follows Clara and Pearl as the both escape their husband/husband-to-be in search of adventure as pirates.

This was really cute and had me laughing within the first sentence, unfortunately, that was all it was for me and I wanted something deeper.

     │And They Don’t Kiss At The End│Nilah Magruder│Maryland, 1976│3.5★’s│m/f, ace & black MC, Filipino love interest│

In the time of disco and rollerblades, Dee starts her journey of self-discovery when she questions her sexuality.

This was cute, and Dee’s inner monologue as she’s trying to work out her thoughts and feelings was really accurate, I thought.

Having had a similar conversation with myself before realizing that no, I’m not quite ace but maybe in the grey-ace area, I found this story authentic but really short. I guess I just wanted more.

     “I am the boy most accomplished at not becoming distracted by the first naked woman we draw. Which is something, I suppose.”

││Burnt Ember│Mackenzie Lee│Netherlands, Amsterdam, 1638│★★★★│m/m│

Burnt Ember shares the story of a budding painter who has no difficulties painting nude subjects until one of the subjects is his crush, an ex-classmate.

I love Mackenzie Lee’s sense of humour so much!

Just the awkward and cringey conversations a young person can have with their crush when their flustered and overwhelmed.

This was hella cute!

     │The Dresser & The Chambermaid│Robin Talley│Kensington Palace, September 1726│★★★ │w/w│

Chambermaid Susannah is very frustrated with the new Dresser Mary who seems to have no idea what her job does and doesn’t include. This story follows these two girls as they learn from each other how to do regal hair and how to fall in love.

This was cute but boring. It felt like it went far longer than the story needed.

I don’t know, this just didn’t do it for me.

     │New Year│Malinda Lo│San Francisco-January 21, 1955│★★★│No Romance, Chinese-American sapphic MC, drag/trans side character│

Lily is super intrigued by the queer scene of San Francisco, especially a certain someone who catches her eye at her friend’s family restaurant.

Uhhhhh, I kinda can’t really tell you much about this one because it was a little forgettable for me.

I remember it feeling disjointed and that I couldn’t get into it and not much else.

     “He has a daughter now,” she’d said so many times, tracing glossy magazine photos of Frances Bean with her finger and a wistful sigh that told me she would’ve given anything to trade place with the blond infant. “He’ll fix himself for her. Watch.” I watched. It broke my fucking heart.

││Molly’s Lips│Dahlia Adler│Seattle— April 10, 1994│★★★★★│w/w│

Molly’s Lips follows Annabelle as she and her best friend Molly celebrate Kurt Cobain’s life and mourn his death and shows us how, in grief, we can remember the important things in life, like showing our love for one another.

THIS WAS SO CUTE I CAN’T DEAL! 

I loved it, it was heart wrenching and beautiful and their friendship was so pure and god this was wonderful.

     I had been planning on trying to kiss Vivie for a month at this point. The idea occurred to me one day and then I just decided that I would do it. I was simply taking my time. I watched the other women in the cafe with jealousy—the girls who held hands and wore pants and didn’t seem to care what anyone thought. I wanted to say to Vivie “We are like them,” but what we had felt like a magic spell that I was afraid to break.

││The Coven│Kate Scelsa│Paris, 1924│★★★★★│w/w, Neurodiversity│

The Coven follows Dean as her best friend Vivie seeks to become the next great writer and Dean seeks to clear her brain of the fog and maybe get a kiss from Vivie too.

I really liked this, I identified with Dean when it came to brain fog as someone who has battled mental illness and FMS which makes brain fog a regular visitor.

I love the whole witchy lesbian vibes this story was giving.

     Forty lashes, but forty-five marks on that boy’s back—five of which were mine. As I watched him writhe I could still feel his taut muscles moving against my skin, smell the salt and sea musk of his sweat. My father had said, “If it happens again, I will kill him.” Then you may as well kill me, too, I’d screamed with my hands, stabbing my finger at my own heart.

││Every Shade of Red│Elliot Wake│England, Late Fourteenth Century│★★★★★│m/m, deaf MC, trans love interest, queer POC cast (w/w, ace)│

Every Shade of Red is the diverse af retelling of Robin Hood we all deserve.

No seriously. I loved it. I loved it so much I didn’t want it to end and certainly not like that.

This story broke my heart but was so gentle with it up until the drop. It was just so damn beautiful.

I loved every single thing about it, from Trans Robin, deaf Will and a band of queer misfits making a family and home from themselves because they ones they were born into refuse to accept them for who they are.

Elliot Wake, you are cruel but also can you write a whole book dedicated to this story??? Seriously, I need more of it NOW!

     Sebastian said nothing. Some thought the blacksmith’s boy simple, but it was just that he chose his words with a sharp-eyed precision. Each was a precious gift he was loath to give away. In some ways, it reminded Benjamin of Mariot, of the way she would wrap up her thoughts and tuck her words into her pockets, only sharing what she could bear to part with.

││ Willows│Scott Tracey│Southwyck Bay, Massachusetts, 1732│★★★★│m/m, enby/gender fluid MC??│

Willows follows Benjamin who can remember his past selves in a town where anyone with unnatural abilities is thrown off a cliff.

Guys this one is so fucking weird and yet??? I really liked it.

Don’t get me wrong, I had no idea what was happening or how the magical?? element in this story worked for 90% of the time and yet I didn’t care because I was pulled in straight away and wanted to understand.

Curiosity will be the death of me, honestly.

     │The Girl With The Blue Lantern│Tess Sharpe│Northern California, 1849│3.5★‘s│w/w│

A girl takes an ill-advised walk into the forest and meets a wood- sprite who can help her survive the winter until the wood-sprite wants something in return.

So ummm, this is another one I don’t really remember and this is exactly why I should write reviews within a week of reading the damn book but ya girl is behind, man.  

I think it was cute and the writing was pretty??

I just don’t really remember a whole lot which is probably not a good sign for my enjoyment of it.

     │The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy│Alex Sanchez│Tidewater, Virginia, 1969│2.5★‘s│m/m MC, Cuban love interest│

The Secret Life of a Teenage Boy follows a boy as he toys with the idea of taking off with an older guy, (ADULT!) to avoid telling his much-loved family that he’s gay, so he can live his truth.

Hmmmmm nope. I just can’t guys, I really can’t.

I know that it’s quite common of LGBT+ kids to venture out with older people when discovering their sexuality for the first time but I can’t with the adults being interested in children.

I get it, there’s not that big of an age gap except they’re both in completely different stages of their lives and with different maturity levels and I hate it.

Also the entire time I was getting serial killer vibes because this is exactly how every cautionary tale of a boy who goes missing after running away with an adult man begins.

Every single one of them, and do you know how they end??? With the boy dead.

I will admit that I really loved the MC’s relationship with his sister and how she was encouraging of him to be who he truly is but girl, don’t encourage him to go with the possible serial killer, your mum is right to be wary.

     │Walking After Midnight│Kody Keplinger│Upstate New York, 1952│3.5★‘s│w/w, demi MC??│

Walking After Midnight follows Betsy, a teenage actress that can’t help feeling washed-up and passed her prime already as she takes a night stroll with Laura, a waitress at a small town diner.

This was cute and all but also kinda meh.

Like enjoyed their conversation but I also could have done with more of just about everything.

     │The End of the World As We Know It│Sara Farizan│Massachusetts, 1999│★★★★│w/w, Turkish MC│

The End of the World As We Know It follows two ex-best friends as they become reacquainted when facing the end of times.

I loved this story, it was so cute and fluffy but also didn’t shy away from showing the dynamics of female friendship and how it can turn south.

     The Holy Mother was a virgin who never knew any man, and so is Violante. She prays, she knows the ecstasy of love and longing, desire, and the pure, perfect happiness of hands-on hands, lips on lips, the breeze of fluttered lashes. Yet she has never known any man. Is that not perfect love?

││Three Witches│Tessa Gratton│Kingdom of Castile, 1519│★★★★★│w/w│

Three Witches follows a girl who has been sent off to a conversion therapy facility by her own brother for her love of women, and the nun who nurses her back to health.

Read this and try and tell me you are not changed by the end of it.

I finished this feeling so many things most of which were a mixture of hopeful and broken.

Ugh, I don’t know how to put into words how beautiful this story is????

I just loved it so much.

This book hit the nail on the head when it comes to questioning how something everyone tells you is wrong and is a sin can be a part of who you are, something that you cannot change no matter how much you want it to, or try to pray it away.

     │The Inferno & The Butterfly│Shaun David Hutchinson│London, 1839│3.5★‘s│m/m│

The Inferno & The Butterfly follows two magician’s assistants as they work to set each other free.

This was good, I just didn’t really connect to it that much and felt kinda meh about it by the end.

     “What does it matter if he understands? You’ll be alive! We’ll be together!” “I’m all he has,” she said, and her tone told me her decision had been made. “So you’ll die? You’ll die so he doesn’t have to face his own prejudice?” Her eyes filled with tears, and I hated myself for them. “He’s my father. I’m sorry.” she turned away. She ran. She didn’t look back.

││Healing Rosa│Tehlor Kay Mejia│Luna County, New Mexico, 1933│★★★★★│w/w, Latinx MC│

Healing Rosa follows a Bruja who learned the craft from her grandmother and now must use her gift to save the love of her life. Except that the father of her love refuses to let her help, putting his own daughter’s life at risk.

I loved this story so fucking much.

This story reminded me of all the healing women in my family and how fucking frustrating it can be to not be allowed to just help someone, especially someone you love, because of another person’s biases and prejudices.

I just- It’s just-. Ugh. It’s beautiful and heart-wrenching. Go read it.

We lived. We survived to whisper our names to each other even if we could not yet confess them to anyone else.

As a whole, I really enjoyed this anthology! Like a lot, but I already knew that would be the case.

If you’re craving queer stories, want to see queer people in history, want to read something incredibly diverse, or just want a really good anthology, I beg you to pick this up. It shares both the heartbreaking and hopeful stories of LGBT+ youth throughout history.

My only complaint was that the settings were only in America and Europe and like, us gays are everywhere, man. I wish this collection had reflected that. I also wish there had been more stories from further back in history. I want gay stories from as far back as humanity existed! 

“That is the secret to survival. Teach fear to those who taught you to be afraid.”

Where to buy │Goodreads│Book Depository│Kindle│***

Representation will be an amalgamation of Nadia’s, Elise’s & Destiny’s reviews because, again, this was before I really tried to take proper notes during reading. Taken from Goodreads. If you would like me to include links to purchase books from a specific store in my reviews please let me know! I receive a small commission off the following link

I read this book as part of my 2018 Library Love binge, where I read as many library books as possible to take advantage of my great local library network! To follow my binge reading adventure just visit my 2018 Library Love shelf. Or I’ll also be updating my 2018 Library Love Blog Post as I go!

Have you read All Out? What did you think of it? What’s your favourite anthology?

│Blog│Goodreads│Instagram│Twitter│Tumblr│

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2RZC5jE via IFTTT

[karakrauze]

Greetings & Happy Holidays!

We’ve had another exciting and full year at Voices From War — with more on the horizon! Some highlights below as we look forward to a new year and celebrate the good in 2017! We hope you can take a moment to share in our ongoing successes.

To all of our Voices From War supporters  Thank you! and, if you’re able, please consider making an end-of-year donation, as we head towards 2018!

Another great year of WORKSHOPS – Manhattan & Bronx

Thank you to our hosts!

The 14th Street Y in Manhattan, where we just concluded our 9th Season! with Writing and Reading War Stories in the 21st Century

The Morris Park Library (NYPL) in the Bronx, where The Craft of War Writing recently wrapped up Season 4!

REGISTRATION for Winter-Spring 2018 begins in January!

OPEN HOUSE – Sunday, FEBRUARY 11th, 4:00-6:00 pm. Join us!  #14Y

2018: Winter-SPRING – Season 10:  Manhattan workshops moving to Wednesday! Starting FEB 28th, 7:00-9:00 pm.

2018: Spring – Season 5:  Bronx still on Saturdays, new time: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., starting in March.

Public Reading in the Theater at the 14th Street Y!  June 25th, 2017 – Wow!

Writing & Reading War Stories in the 21st Century – Our workshop participants shared their work with a fantastic audience in the Theater this past June! STAY TUNED for Next JUNE – June 3rd, 2018 – Back in the Theater at 14Y!

The New-York Historical Society  –  Amazing Veterans Weekend – Nov. 12, 2017 – Thank you!

What a thrill to share current and recent participants’ original stories with new audiences! Fabulous readings followed by important conversations with Voices From War on November 12th, uptown at the New-York Historical Society, part of the NYHS Veterans Day Weekend 2017! We heard from some of our Vietnam veteran participants along with recent veterans, including Iraq and Afghanistan.

Family Day at the NYU Military Family Clinic

It was great to share Voices From War’s model with veteran and military family members, once again, at the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Military Family Clinic (NYU Langone) this past January!

The INTREPID Sea, Air and Space Museum  –  Intrepid After Hours – Voices From War returns MARCH 2018!

We had a great time running a Voices From War workshop for Intrepid After Hours in November 2016 — and we can’t wait to return in March! (Veterans: Save the date! Wednesday, March 21st, approx 5:00 pm)

Additional HONORS and EVENTS

Another scintillating and heartwarming roundtable, last May, at Poets & Writers, discussing workshops supported by Poets & Writers Readings & Workshops grants around NYC.

The chance to speak to a packed room of arts providers and supporters at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council‘s Annual LMCC Community Arts Breakfast, speaking about Voices From War’s work.

Attendance at an evening in September honoring The Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Awards recipients.

More participant publication news! — coming soon to the website — including work in Foliate Oak … War, Literature, and the Arts … The War Horse … Proud to Be … itscomplicated.vet … and more!

We’ve had some amazing guest authors and writing professionals over the years, some of them with new books and other publication news. Don’t forget to check out their work! Including: Christopher Paul Wolfe, Boris Fishman, Nicole Goodwin, Roxana Robinson, Maurice DeCaul, Peter Blackstock, Siobhan Adcock, Cathy Linh Che, Phil Klay, Rob Spillman….

Thank you, writers and publishers!

NEW and Continued SUPPORT

We are thrilled to have received new support in 2017 from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and Amazon Literary Partnership, and we are so grateful for continued support from Poets & Writers and The Rona Jaffe Foundation!

More instructors! Two new Teaching Associates joined us this past year, Nina Semczuk (teaching with Kara Krauze) in Manhattan and John LoSasso (teaching with Jeremy Warneke) in the Bronx. We are thrilled to have both of them moving to co-Instructor in 2018! And we welcome another new Instructor, Scott Reel, to the 14th Street Y workshop for Winter-Spring 2018!

More workshop opportunities – coming soon! We are excited to be planning toward a new mini-workshop effort with particular attention to issues affecting veterans and the broader community. Through our new pilot Voices Initiatives we will strive to bring together engaged veterans and non-veterans with shared stake in a common theme. We are looking at Disability and Diversity for our pilot programming themes.

Stay tuned and stop by the website for more updates, new bios, upcoming 2018 REGISTRATION and MORE!

As always, each of you continues to make Voices From War’s successes and ongoing growth possible — through your participation, whether as attendee, audience member, supporter, volunteer, engaged community members and contributors!

Thank you! We hope you will continue to follow our progress in 2018, participate in our workshops and attend our events!

And please consider making an end-of-year contribution.

ALL donations help support our ongoing success, showing our community-based support and community engagement! Whether you can give $20 or $200, or somewhere in between, your support helps us grow and strive!

Here’s to a rewarding and healthy New Year, rich with community and more stories!

#MoreVoices

To make a tax-deductible donation, visit our fiscal sponsorship page on Fractured Atlas…or click-through via our website.

Warmest wishes!

With thanks,

Kara

Kara Krauze Founder, Director Voices From War Writing Workshops for Veterans VoicesFromWar.org

________________________________

JOIN US at the NYHS!

THANK YOU to our SUPPORTERS

Thank you! & End-of-Year Appeal! Help celebrate @VoicesFromWar successes in 2017! Your #support & #engagement help us thrive! #MoreVoices Greetings & Happy Holidays! We've had another exciting and full year at Voices From War -- with more on the horizon!

[andrea-cristina-travel-blog]

From Rome to Lapland – Here’s what we’ve been up to lately

Each month, we jot down a personal wrap of our travels, life updates, and general happenings in the life of The Common Wanderer. No bullshit, just our honest thoughts. It’s been quite a while since we last did a wrap up on here (about 5 months!), and it’s safe to say that life has been so busy it’s borderline insane lately! In fact, sometimes when we look back at what’s been happening since our last update, our head spins and we need to lie down for a while. There’s been lots of travel (despite “slowing down”), and some pretty massive life changes for us both. Here’s exactly what’s been happening in the world of The Common Wanderer lately… FROM ROME TO LAPLAND AND BEYOND – HERE’S OUR OCTOBER 2017 UPDATE WE MOVED HOUSE When we first arrived in London, we moved into a sweet terrace house overlooking a park in Surrey Quays. The room was beautiful and h-u-g-e (even taking London’s shoebox standards into consideration!), but there just wasn’t much happening in the area. No nightlife, no good restaurants, and not even a cute cafe down the street to grab a coffee from on the weekend. Obviously, this isn’t the kind of expat experience we were after, so we’ve now made the brave decision to go where no Aussies before us have ever gone (lol jk – it’s the only accent we ever hear now) and moved to Clapham in South West London. We’re in a bright, light, ground floor apartment with one other housemate, and slowly feeding our addiction for indoor plants and IKEA furniture, and cool homewares that we really don’t need. MIM WENT FREELANCE AND MARK STARTED A NEW JOB When we arrived in London in September 2016, I (Mim) started managing Content for a well-known global travel brand just 4 days later, while Mark managed the blog and our business full time. Since then, I’d been balancing a double life: weekdays at an extremely busy 9-5, and evenings, weekends, annual leave, and any other random snatched moments working on our freelance projects. If that sounds exhausting, well, it was. Eventually, running between the two became too much and quite frankly, I was burnt out. Meanwhile, Mark recently started working for an amazing travel brand, so we decided to change things up a little. With my professional experience as a writer, the blog growing pretty quickly, and an increasing number of opportunities coming our way, we decided it would be better for me to focus solely on growing our freelance business moving forward. It’s been 4 weeks now and I have to say, I am loving working on our business from the comfort of home. Ps. if you’re reading this and have a business in need of some help in the word-and-picture department, well, holla at ya girl! WE CELEBRATED A YEAR OF LIVING IN LONDON On August 30, we celebrated an entire year of the expat life here in London. It’s hard to believe that it’s been that long since we first stepped off the plane at Heathrow, bleary-eyed (it was 7am!) and excited for a new adventure. In many ways, it feels like we’ve only just arrived. In 12 months we’ve lived in 3 houses, survived an English winter (and an English “summer”), complained about the weather daily, gained two jobs and quit one, travelled to 8 countries, been squashed against the tube doors 348209348 times, enjoyed some major blog wins, feasted on many a grand pub meal (but never an English ale), and most importantly: landed amongst an incredible group of people we’re privileged to call our family and friends. It’s certainly been a ride! READ MORE: HOW WE SAVED TO TRAVEL THE WORLD, AND YOU CAN TOO WHERE WE’VE BEEN TRAVELLING TO LATELY The last few months have been an absolute whirlwind of travel for us both (so much for slowing down!). Here are some of the places we’ve been wandering to: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA  Back in May, we spent some time in Bucharest for the Experience Bucharest project and absolutely loved it. We really didn’t know what to expect from Bucharest (or Romania more generally) prior to going, nor had this part of the world ever really factored onto our ‘future destinations’ list. Turns out, we’d really been missing out on one of Europe’s trendiest and most fascinating cities. Touted as the ‘new Berlin’ for its hipster vibes and grungy feel, Bucharest is cool. Really cool. We spent our days getting better acquainted with its heady mix of charm and decay, latin spirit and Balkan passion, great food and brilliant coffee, and can’t wait to return again someday.  ATHENS, GREECE From Bucharest, we jumped on a flight to visit Mark’s granddad who lives in Athens. Now, Mark has been to Athens more times in his lifetime than he can probably count and he doesn’t rate it too highly (read: he hates it). But I’ve never been, and I had really high hopes for this ancient city that cradled the birth of modern ideals.  I really wanted to be able to love Athens. To see past its recent economic woes. Or at the minimum, just to find a way to prove Mark wrong. But the truth is, I just didn’t. There were riots every day we were there, the ruins were terribly maintained, and basically, we just didn’t get a good vibe from being there. That said, being able to spend time with Mark’s Opa (aka the coolest 90-year-old you will ever meet) was extremely special, for us both. MENORCA, SPAIN  After a mad rush back to London and one night to repack our bags, we found ourselves on another plane, this time bound for the Spanish island of Menorca. This was our first jaunt to the Balaeric islands, and we were there with 50 other top UK influencers for the #MustSeeMenorca Mini-Conference and press trip. If you haven’t been to Menorca yet, we suggest you book that trip pretty quickly. It’s absolutely stunning, far less tourist-trodden than its neighbours Ibiza and Mallorca, full of charming cobblestoned streets, and outdoor activities for everyone. And the food and wine? Ridiculously good. Honestly, we loved this little Mediterranean gem so much that we’ve been looking at island property prices ever since… SANTANDER, SPAIN Spain seems to be the flavour of our 2018, because next on the list was a weekend in Santander – although Mark flew solo for this one!  Cantabria’s capital isn’t about impressing you on a first glance. It doesn’t have the old-world charm of other Spanish cities (much of the old town burnt down in 1941), but the coastal town definitely makes up for it in character, natural beauty, and tasty, tasty tapas.  Mark can also lay claim to being the first blogger to walk through the halls of the newly opened Centro Botin art gallery, having visited on the opening weekend! Designed by the same architect who created Paris’ Centre Pompidou, the gallery is a masterpiece both inside and out. PORTUGAL, SPAIN, MOROCCO WITH INTREPID TRAVEL Another trip, another solo adventure for Mark. This time, he doubled as talent for a new video of Intrepid’s Spain, Portugal and Morocco tour, as well as the photographer and social guy. For two weeks, he feasted on all the delicious tapas, tagines, and churros, danced with locals in Lisbon, and explored the winding alleys of the Moroccan medinas – all while documenting it all on his camera! See everything they got up in this awesome video, produced by the legends at Betty Wants In ROME, ITALY  Mark’s third solo trip this summer (I’m definitely overdue some travels!), a quick jaunt to Rome to catch up with a friend from home. This was a rare opportunity to be a real tourist for the first time in a long time. In an effort to see Rome without the tourists, Mark and his mate Ryan would be up before the crack of dawn each day, exploring the beautiful ancient streets as they awoke for the day ahead. Afternoons were for siesta time, while evenings were spent eating great food and enjoying a few too many beers. The perfect break before returning to full-time work again!  2018 TRAVEL INSPO: OUR PICK OF DESTINATIONS TO VISIT IN 2018 SWEDISH LAPLAND Lapland had been sitting at the top of our bucket list for a looooooooong time. We’d almost come to view it as the holy grail of our travel and blogging lives; a wintry wonderland, raw and untamed wilderness, and a way of life so extremely different to our own upbringing. Sprinkle in some reindeer herds and the northern lights, and you basically have our ultimate trip. So when our inbox pinged with an opportunity to spend a week exploring Swedish Lapland in Autumn with Visit Sweden, my fingers could barely type a frantic ‘check email check emaiiil CHECK EMAIL’ message to Mark from sheer excitement. In early October, we spent a week exploring the region, going hiking, foraging, fatbiking, and getting to know the local culture – under Autumn skies and surrounded by crisp forest air. And you know what? This is one place that totally lived up to the hype. It was utter magic, and we’re absolutely keen to go back in Winter, Spring, and Summer to find out what it’s like then too. We’ve got a whole lot of posts almost ready to go live, so watch this space! And that’s a wrap! We plan to start doing these more regularly, and they’ll be full of all the good, bad, ugly and otherwise happenings of our travels (and lives) – so watch this space this time next month. Travelling soon? Why not use our AirBnB code and get yourself up to £30 off your next booking! FOLLOW OUR ADVENTURES ON FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST JOIN OUR TRIBE & WANDER WITH US Join 30,000+ people and receive travel stories, tips + hacks, and stunning photography to inspire your wanderlust. Straight to your inbox We hate spammers. We'll never be those people.   The post From Rome to Lapland – Here’s what we’ve been up to lately appeared first on The Common Wanderer.

https://www.thecommonwanderer.com/the-common-wanderer-update-october-2017/

[fadingfartconnoisseur]

12 Things To Do in Frankfurt: A Local’s Guide

Frankfurt am Main is among the 5 biggest cities in Germany. Thanks to its international stock market and business centre, it’s also referred to cleverly as “Mainhatten”. However, it’s far more than just a financial hub. In this post I’m going to tell you how to plan the perfect trip to the city, including 12 things to do in Frankfurt that you shouldn’t miss!

Before You Go

Frankfurt is a relatively easy city to navigate and with excellent connections by air and land, it’s not difficult to plan a visit here from pretty much anywhere in the world. But there are a few things to note before you head to the city and some things you may want to keep in mind while planning your trip.

Festivals

Frankfurt is a city that his home to numerous celebrations throughout the year including the Festival of Stoneware, Day of the Forest, Night of the Clubs, Festival of Light, Skyscraper Festival, Museums Riverbank Festival and more. It pays to check the dates of these festivals for a couple of reasons.

For one, the city can be packed at these times and the price of accommodation can go up considerably or be fully booked. If you’re not interested in seeing the festivals, perhaps plan your trip around them.

If you are into festivals, then Frankfurt is a great place to experience them. Check the dates of festivals and events in the city and try to be there for a celebration.

Lines and Crowds

Because Frankfurt is one of the most visited cities in Europe, you’ll find that it can be quite busy, especially on weekends and public holidays or during festival times. At these times, it can be difficult to book tours and you can sometimes wait in line for hours to access the main sights.

Even on a regular day in the city, you may stand in line for an hour or more. TripVerse has an excellent list of things to do in Frankfurt and in many cities around the world. They also offer skip-the-line tickets to many of Frankfurt’s main sites. So if you’re reading this post of the best things to do in Frankfurt and you’re not interested in waiting in long lines and wasting your day, you can check them out.

When To Go

Frankfurt is typically characterized by a temperate oceanic climate with the average annual temperature hovering around 10.6°C with summers reaching around 25°C and the coldest temperature not often going below 0°C in January.

The best time to visit the city is between may and September, but again, this may change depending on what festivals you wish to see or what kind of climate and activities you’re seeking in Germany.

1. Visit the Römerberg

This historic square is situated in the heart of the old town and had to be completely reconstructed after the bombings of World War II. As iconic as the gabled houses that frame the Römerberg, is the Fountain of Justice (Gerechtigkeitsbrunnen) which is an ancient well built in 1612.

It shows the four human virtues of justice, hope, moderation and love. Small female statues on the side of the wall represent each virtue. Watching the crowds wander around the square while enjoying a coffee in one of the cafes is one of my favourite things to do in Frankfurt, especially in the summertime.

The Römerberg Christmas Market

In December, the square is home to a lovely traditional German Christmas Market. This is the best place in the city to get yourself in the mood for the holy night.

Christmas Markets in Germany are something special.

Definitely try some Roasted chestnuts and mulled wine while listening to the sound of perfectly cheesy Christmas music. You’ll soon understand why Germans love their Christmas Markets more than any other event of the year!

Note: Heading to the capital? Check out 10 Things To Do in Berlin

2. Panoramic View From the Main Tower

At 259m in height, the Main Tower is the fourth highest building in Germany. It provides visitors with fantastic views over both the city and surroundings. Climbing the 198 metres to the visitors platform can be challenging for those afraid of heights. But it is certainly worth it for the views and is one of the top things to do in Frankfurt.

Stunning Views from the Main Tower.

A single ticket is €7.50 ($9), or €5 ($6) for students. They can be purchased online through TripVerse if you prefer to save time on long waiting hours at the tower’s base.

3. Try the Hessian National Drink

Everyone knows that Germany has some of the best beers in the world. However, the Hessian regional drink Ebbelwoi is a refreshing alternative to quench your thirst and sampling it is one of the best things to do in Frankfurt. Ebbelwoi translates as “apple wine” and at 5%, it’s low in alcohol…and calories. People also sometimes enjoy it warm during the cold winter months.

The apple wine, which is less filling than beer, can combine perfectly with a traditional German meal. Try it with something like pork ribs and sauerkraut with potatoes. I recommend the Ebbelwoi Unser or the Apfelwein Dax for some authentic German cuisine and and an exquisite taste of the Hessian regional drink.

4. Take a Main River Cruise

For a change in perspective, take a look at the impressive skyscrapers from the water. This is one of the best things to do in Frankfurt for sunset. Depending on the length of your boat ride, you can buy tickets €10 – €13 ($12 – $15.50), with 20% off for holders of the Frankfurt Card.

After purchasing a ticket at the tourist information or ticket counter, you can sit back and relax on the spacious deck. Alternatively, check out the air-conditioned indoor facilities while contemplating the impressive urban architecture of Frankfurt am Main.

The Primus-Linie offers a tour for every occasion, taking visitors on stunning sunset-tours or a beautiful Sunday brunch on the water.

5. Visit the Museumsufer

Spread out on both sides of the river bank, this stretch offers a variety of cultural exhibitions. These include both the historic Jewish Museum and the Museum of German Architecture.

For rainy days, I recommend buying the Museumsufer-Ticket. With this you can check out all permanent and temporary exhibitions in the area for 2 days and it only costs €18 ($21.40).

The Museumsufer is especially nice in summer.

Some of the other best things to do in Frankfurt for culture fanatics include the Nacht der Museen (Night of the Museum) in Spring and the Museumsuferfest (a cultural festival by the river bank) in August. During these festivals, people of all ages wander through the different exhibitions and enjoy food and drinks by the water.

See Also: The Best Off-Track Museums in Germany

6. Shopping Along the Zeil

Frankfurt has more than one shopping district, but the Zeil is the oldest and most popular one. In early centuries, owning an apartment in this street was considered a symbol of prestige for wealthier families.

There is nothing you won’t find in one of the countless shops and designer stores along the Zeil. This is probably the reason it’s one of the highest revenue shopping streets in Europe. It’s also why shopping ’til you drop is considered one of the best things to do in Frankfurt.

The futuristic building of the Zeil in Frankfurt.

The futuristic building of the Zeil Gallery has 7 stories and a rooftop restaurant with outdoor terrace from where visitors get a perfect view of the city.

Where to Stay in Frankfurt

Here is a list of the top 3 rated, affordable properties in Frankfurt. Click on the links and check them out for yourself!

MOXY Frankfurt Airport – From $118 / Night, Rating 8.8. Click here to see the latest price on Booking.com

MOXY Frankfurt Airport 1

MOXY Frankfurt Airport 2

MOXY Frankfurt Airport 3

Schöne Aussicht – From $128 / Night, Rating 8.2. Click here to see the latest price on Booking.com

Schöne Aussicht 1

Schöne Aussicht 2

Schöne Aussicht 3

Apartments Duval – From $140 / Night, Rating 8.8. Click here to see the latest price on Booking.com

Apartments Duval 1

Apartments Duval 2

Apartments Duval 3

☞ Click here to see all accommodation options available in Frankfurt

7. Go Inside the House of all Germans (Paulskirche)

The House of all Germans played an important role in German history and is associated with the foundation of German democracy in 1848.

You can visit the church everyday between 10am and 5pm for a wander through the aisles and a journey back in time. It won’t cost you a cent, so is one of the best things to do in Frankfurt for free. Today, the Paulskirche also functions as a public space for exhibitions, memorials, and as a meeting place.

8. Taste German Foods in the Local Market Hall

The Kleinmarkthalle has everything you would expect from a traditional German food market. The aromatic smell of smoked sausages, roasted nuts, pretzels and sweet German pastries lure the visitor from one stall to the next.

Grab some delicious street food or fresh ingredients for a picnic to go before you continue your city tour through Frankfurt. You could also finish off a long day of walking with a glass of wine on the outdoor terrace of the market hall’s upper level. The Kleinmarkthalle is open weekdays from 8am to 6pm and Saturdays till 4pm.

9. Relax in the Forest Play Park Goetheturm

The Goethe Tower is 43 metres high and – once you have conquered the steps – you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the so-called Green Belt of Frankfurt. The Tower is surrounded by 3 hectares of playgrounds with slides, swings, and even a water-park in the summer.

No matter if you are coming to the Goetheturm for the view or to have your kids entertained for a couple of hours, the relaxing atmosphere in the park is a nice change to the urban city vibes.

10. Attend a Concert in the Old Opera House

Missing out on the Opera House in Frankfurt would be to ignore the cultural highlight of this city, it’s most definitely one of the top things to do in Frankfurt. This impressive, historic building was bombed completely during World War II before being reconstructed in the 1980’s.

The Old Opera House by night.

Today the Opera House is not only considered an important part of Frankfurt’s historic heritage, but presents a variety of contemporary and classic music concerts in its spacious hall. Tickets can be purchased online, but even without attending one of the concerts, the Old Opera House is extremely photogenic and well worth a visit.

11. Explore the Freilicht Museum Hessenpark

Exploring the Outdoor Museum Hessenpark is one of the best things to do in Frankfurt if you have kids or family. The village reconstructs life in rural Germany during the 18th century. It contains farm houses, shops, a traditional bakery and a mill for brewing beer.

Learn how to bake traditional German bread.

Adults pay €8 ($9.50), or get the better value family card for €16 ($19), to spend an exciting day on the tracks of German history. Students and kids from the age of 6 get in for only €2.50 ($3) and there are exciting handicraft workshops on offer several times a week.

12. Master the Escape Game in Frankfurt

Looking for something different to do in Frankfurt? This city is popular for a diverse offering of Escape Games. They’re not only entertaining for locals, but can be a playful way of spending a rainy day for visitors.

Escape Games can be booked with larger groups of 7+ people and are usually set up around a crime story. The group is then challenged to detect and solve individual puzzles linked to the final story.

You will have to purchase your ticket for a 60-minute play online and can expect to pay between €20 and €30 ($24 – $36) per person. Choose between the different themes such as the Jail-House-Escape or Black & White, depending on your preferences and begin!

Frankfurt is often thought of as the financial capital of Germany. Businesses choose it for its central location within Germany and Europe, its airport and the flourishing stock exchange market. There’s a great selection of cool things to do in Frankfurt. For millennials and students, the city has the perfect mix of style and innovation, chic restaurants, cafes and a vivid nightlife.

The post 12 Things To Do in Frankfurt: A Local’s Guide appeared first on Goats On The Road.

via Travel Blogs http://ift.tt/2j4tX2n

[superkrispypeanutstudentstu-blog]

China Travel Tour

Mainland China, formally the Individuals's Republic of China, is the biggest country in the world by population, with a population around 1.35 billion. What are the things I needed I knew about Hong Kong Disneyland? It is a small place so it is easy to whereas away the day and miss out on among the rides. The Toy Story rides shut earlier than the others and its way over the other finish of the park. Yup, we missed those (to the good disappointment of my son), because we thought half a day was sufficient for Disneyland. Subsequent, take into accout two key occasions you may need to see. First is the four:00 pm parade that runs by the park, I loved this quite a bit, and next is the 8:30 fireworks display right before the close. Disneyland is clear, handy and really pleasant plus it has its very personal personalized prepare that hyperlinks up with the MTR. Taiwan is essential to us. We don't need to wait ceaselessly. Taiwan is a steadily rising, medium-sized marketplace for UK schooling. Taiwan can also be hit by typhoons, usually from July to October. Vacationers planning a trip to Taiwan can get hold of general information about pure disaster preparedness on the Internet from the U.S. The central section of Lingering Garden defines the character of your complete backyard and is the unique a part of the backyard that dates back over 400 years. The other three sections have been added later during the Qing Dynasty. A seven hundred meter long corridor winds by way of the park connection the 4 completely different sections. Whereas journey across the nation itself is seldom problematic, it would be flawed to pretend that it's an entirely simple matter to penetrate trendy China. Nevertheless, a journey by means of this colossus of a rustic ensures mesmerising encounters with the most populous people on earth. Taiwan is a small island nation off the southeast coast of mainland China. Not normally thought to be a prime vacationer vacation spot in Asia, Taiwan is nonetheless a captivating mix of cultures from the area. Taiwan is amongst few developing nations that introduced specific targets to reduce its greenhouse gases emissions. The country made a commitment to stabilize its CO2 emissions at 12 months 2000 ranges by the year paper intends to discover what components lead Taiwan to pursue or eschew the adoption of renewable energy policies within the transitions towards a sustainable power system. Taiwan is dominated by the Central Vary of mountains which runs north to south, with the tallest peak being nearly 4 thousand metres excessive. Within the east the mountains reach close to the ocean, and in the west there's a fertile coastal plain which extends far and vast. Taiwan is just not usually acknowledged as a sovereign nation internationally and is subsequently not thought of eligible for membership in nonproliferation treaties or export control regimes. The United States has taken an ambivalent official stance on Taiwan's status, recognizing neither the sovereignty of Taiwan nor the PRC's claim to sovereignty over the island. Taiwan is America's tenth-largest export market. Taiwan has Asia's fifth-largest army and Asia's second-largest merchant-marine fleet (after China's). Taiwan can also be well-known for it is many evening markets and energetic temples, particularly Snake Alley and the Lungshan Temple. If all of the traveling wears you out, stop in at considered one of Taiwan's many pure scorching springs for some rest and relaxation. Water cities is a term given to cities that have been constructed on the canal system for easy irrigation and transportation. These towns haven't changed a lot in the previous couple of hundred years so visiting them may give you a good suggestion of how China's cities looked in the past. The homes in these cities are not normally greater than three tales in height, stone bridges are frequent and streets are divided by canals. Taking a boat experience in a water city or eating at a water city restaurant that opens to the water is a delight. When is one of the best time to journey to China? Generally speaking, spring and autumn are quite delicate and so April, Might, September and October are good instances to travel to China. Nevertheless, it's a good idea to keep away from ravelling on the first Could or 1st October as these are Nationwide Holidays, and likewise Chinese New Year - it's possible you'll discover lodges and planes full, the streets and attractions crowded because the Chinese are all on holiday. Beijing and the north - scorching summers with rain in June and July, temperatures can reach 38 levels C or one hundred F. Winters are bitterly cold, hardly ever above freezing, and windy but often dry and sunny however. Spring and autumn are good occasions to travel, with temperatures round 20-30 degrees C or 68-86 F throughout the day, cooler at night. Another factor you will want to look ahead to if you're on one of many many excursions of China is folks claiming to be college students and wanting to follow their English. Many instances these are not college students however individuals being paid to lead you to consuming locations or retailers the place the prices have been jacked as much as an outrageous quantity. Do not hire any kind of driver both except a respectable licensed taxi service. It's simply one other approach of being scammed. The taxis in Shanghai are, total, quite good. Attempt to get the Blue, Blue'ish Turquoise, Gold and White taxis, these are the very best... these are the four major taxi firms and are typically recognised by their single color paintwork. The others are OK, simply older and a rougher ride (the others also could have faulty metres). No drivers will converse English. Golf is changing into a popular sport in China particularly amongst the elite Chinese language locals. This has led to the invention of a number of the world’s most interesting golf programs and resorts all full of oriental touches. Some tour operators have deluxe golf travel packages designed to permit international tourists spend some time golf within the lush country sides of Kunming and Beijing. The perfect place to get pleasure from golfing in China is in Kunming popularly often known as the “Spring Metropolis”. Bargaining is common besides in massive stores and authorities-run outlets, but be sure you and the seller understand the price appropriately, and that you simply evaluate costs for related items on different stalls first. Watch out if buying jewellery or antiques unless you totally understand the standard of what you might be buying. If you're a British passport holder you have to a visa to journey to China. You possibly can receive one from the Chinese language Embassy in London, and may enclose one passport-sized photograph and the relevant fee of round 30. Please ensure you've a full empty web page in your passport and that it is valid for at the least six months after the date you're as a result of exit China. British passport holders visiting Hong Kong for lower than six months don't require a Hong Kong visa. On arrival in China you will be given three kinds to complete, a Health Declaration Kind, an Entry Card and a Customs Declaration Form. Ask about discounts. Many stores, sights and transport choices could have seniors journey reductions out there, however you will need to ask about them. In and around Beijing, many attractions such because the zoo, Nice Wall and Summer season Palace now supply half-value admission to seniors over 60. They settle for passports or driver's licenses showing date of beginning on them as proof of age. Many people all through the world like Chinese language food. Chinese cuisine seems like the most effective meals there is. The truth is that Chinese language food has distinctive characteristics to it. In China they eat little live squid so in case you are not into that sort of thing you need to beware of seeing this in the Chinese eating places. As you are in the Chinese language restaurant you will find lovely Chinese language music enjoying within the background. You probably have not realized it by now meals just so happens to be considered one of China's important vacationer sights. While many individuals go there to view the wonderful work and vacationer points of interest that China has in addition they benefit from the meals that China gives. If you want to convey home some attention-grabbing momentous out of your China travels, there are nice-worth and good high quality objects produced everywhere in the country. Beijing is noted for cloisonne enamel and contemporary water pearls; Shanghai is famend for jade; Xian is well known for antiques and rugs, while Guilin is known for scroll paintings and bijouterie. Significantly, Suzhou and Hangzhou are well known for silk and tea. All of Suzhou's gardens undertaking an atmosphere of harmony and tranquillity and that is particularly so with the Master of Nets Garden. Though it is small, you want at least 2 to 4 hours to slowly savour and totally respect it. Guilin and Yangshuo can be used as a base to visit the ethnic peoples here with Zhuang, Yao, Miao and Dong minority villages to the northwest within the cities of Longshen and Sanjiang. 2) The Nice wall of China. In response to French vacationer authorities, common visitors to France from China spend US$three,000 on one visit. Against this, average spend by visitors from North America and Europe stands at merely US$1,000. • Guangzhou - A affluent and liberal city close to Hong Kong in Southern mainland China. There are eight totally different Chinese visas each represented by a letter of the alphabet. For instance, vacationers who travel to China for tourism will apply for an L visa. Those that go to have interaction in business will apply for an F visa. Crew visas are represented by the letter C, work visas by the letter Z, student visas by the letter X and resident visas by the letter D. An rising variety of journey agencies are offering custom-made packages based mostly on travellers' individual interests and price range. For example, China Tour Service provides tailor-made excursions like the Yangtze River Cruise, Tibetan Journey, Silk Road Tours, Shangri-La China Travel, and World Heritages Excursions. China Highlights Travel supplies Yangtze River Cruises in a selection of over 40 ships including deluxe Victoria Cruises, the 5-star luxurious East Queen, the smaller, yet comfy, Princess Sissi, and budget ferries that natives take as every day transport vessels. Phone calls: Phoning home during your China trip using your mobile normally isn't an issue, however it may be a very pricey affair. Web Phone (IP) cards are the most cost effective strategy to cellphone residence. You should buy these cards at kiosks and motels in larger cities. If you want to use your individual cell phone throughout your trip, it is best to purchase a prepaid sim card at a Chinese language phone store. SHELLEY: China's peak travel instances are around Chinese language New Year (some time in Jan.-Feb., relying on lunar calendar), Could 1st, July-August, and the first week of October. The perfect time to visit would be from late-April by June, when the weather is heat, students are nonetheless in school, and plenty of establishments are nonetheless on off-season pricing. The autumn is also a nice time to journey with out the crowds (however avoid the Oct. 1st holiday week) and see stunning foliage, particularly in the north. China is full of tourist sights and an enthralling expertise is on playing cards while you visit the nation. Whether or not you speak about Shanghai - the town by the ocean otherwise you look to visit the cultural middle of the country - Beijing, the nation promises loads to its tourists. Not only will your day be crammed with stunning websites to go to, however cities like Shanghai offer entertaining evening attractions. CHINA TOUR COM supplies a wealth of sensible info, from visas to currency to vaccines. In addition they collect news stories related to travel in China, provide info on organized excursions, and supply transient guides on Chinese language culture. Shanghai is likely one of the most cosmopolitan cities of China. It is usually in style with its nightlife. Nanjing Road, The Previous Town, Yuyuan Backyard, Jade Buddha Temple, The Bund, Grand View Backyard, Shanghai Wildlife Zoo are the popular attractions of the town. The grounds of the backyard are divided into the japanese, central and western sections with every part having its personal type and character. The focus level of the garden is the pond which makes up 60% of the actual garden and is the cause of the gardens appeal and serene nature. Though you may journey various places on your own but, in the event you actually need to learn about every place, getting alongside a neighborhood travel guide is the easiest way to discover the wonders of the 'Forbidden metropolis.' And, that is true as a result of most tours led by journey guides usually guarantee good lodging at affordable charges and quality providers. Not only do they information the vacationers with historic facts and values of vacationer-attraction locations, in addition they make arrangements for commutation and all. Actually, a travel information delivers you with ample of information about Chinese culture and traditions and makes you utterly aware of the place. -When greeting a gaggle of people, all the time greet the oldest member of the group first. A handshake is the most common greeting with foreigners. Do not be shocked if the person you might be greeting appears to be like at the floor. This is quite common. You'll probably be meeting many new individuals within the technique of your Chinese language international adoption. Deal with the individual by an honorific title and their surname. If they need to move to a first-identify foundation, they are going to let you know which name to use. The federal government takes rip-off drivers in all cities, Beijing and Xian especially, very severely and in case you complain they may lose their license. That is their livelihood. Up to now I have had not one driver in 3 years that has not backed down and we now have then agreed a value for the journey or solved our problem. -The idea of "Face" in China could be very robust. "Maintaining face" is extraordinarily essential, and "losing face" in public is simply unacceptable, and might probably end in a fight. It is important to by no means disgrace, embarrass, demean or yell at a Chinese particular person. Loosing face is unacceptable, and if you trigger somebody to unfastened face, you will not get what you need, and you may find yourself getting one thing you don't want. Always remember to treat people respectfully. Guilin situated on the Li River, is a small city; however, a preferred place as a result of its lovely scenery. Its geographic formations and breathtaking magnificence attract travellers. Li River, Elephant Trunk Hill, Longji Terraced Area, Inexperienced Lotus Peak and Yangshuo are standard sightseeings. Kknmíng can be one of many cosmopolitan Chinese cities. Town owns lovely sights equivalent to Stone Forest, Xishan, Jiuxiang and Yunnan Nationalities Village. Up until now we have largely talked about the natural magnificence that the country possesses. Naturally with the type of financial system that China has, rather a lot goes into the event work and mission. Consequently, the metropolitan cities of the nation have witnessed fast growth and have taken new tolls in terms of tourist attractions. To truly appreciate the Yangtze River, it's endorsed that you additionally find out about its culture. One such alternative can be the International Tourist Pageant of Three Gorges in Chongqing in the month of June, which will likely be an educational and entertaining expertise for guests with its trade talks, folk art displays and performances. Tour of China is not complete without seeing the huge and amazing panorama that the nation has to offer. China is blessed with the sights of nature thus, it has turn out to be one of the must go to locations in Asia or somewhat in the world. That is not all! The weather conditions of China coupled with its properly-developed transportation facilities make it among the finest locations in the list of Vacation spot World. With a measurement of 23,300 square meters, the Lingering Backyard is much smaller than the Humble Administrator Garden and was initially additionally a private backyard. In feudal China when the gardens had been developed, only the Emperor or noble (wealthy) households owned gardens so all of Suzhou's four famous gardens and principally every different backyard in China was non-public. The easiest approach to get to town of Dongguan is by flight. The nearest international airport is the Guangzhou airport. It is just over an hour drive away from the city. If you do not wish to land at Guangzhou airport, then it's possible you'll land at Shenzhen airport as a substitute. It's about the identical distance from the city compared to Guangzhou airport, but it's closer to some other towns. The highway from Guilin to Yangshuo doesn't provide such spectacular sights, thus many people determine to return via the river and depart via the highway. • Suzhou - 'Venice of East', with its many gardens and canals, quite near Shanghai. When you have been to China and want to share your China Travel Tips, please feel free to contact me anytime. the driving force "Disneyland" only to see him shake his head. Hong Kong taxis are available in two colors: purple and green. The crimson ones are for the interior city and the inexperienced ones can take you outdoors. So I obtained out of my red taxi searching for what turned out to be a really uncommon green taxi. No luck, and thank God for it. I went again to my hotel and decided to speak it over with the concierge who steered the MTR. I finally found my option to the MTR station and acquired ready for what I anticipated to be a confusing time. First I had to determine the best way to get a ticket and I had to figure out the vacation spot. Man, I used to be completely satisfied this was going to be difficult. The most cost effective and most handy technique to get round China is via rail. Quick journeys can cost round US$5-12 for a one-way ticket, whereas longer journeys will price up to US$50. Expect to pay more than US$a hundred, nevertheless, for a non-public sleeper compartment for 2 people. 7) Finally the South West - specifically - the Landscape round Yangshuo, Guangxi - towering cliffs with rice paddy's and river give the traditional Chinese really feel as China was for 1000's of years. These weathered limestone formations from Karst are a photographers dream and impressed thousands of landscapes. I heard a rumor that they have been going to construct an MTR to Ocean Park. I hope its true. No extra tour buses and no more stopping at that freaking jewelry shop. Yet one more go to to that shop and its going to appear in my nightmares, I swear. For extra information about China Journey, China Tour - Vacations, go to Passport to China. A full day excursion to the Stone Forest, one of many pure wonders of the area, and a typical Karstic Landscape. On the best way, go to to a typical Yi minority village and meet the native individuals. Tonight you'll witness the good Torch Competition of Yi People cheap hotels exeter . • Journey And Transportation: When traveling from one city to a different, it is safer to leave your driver's license, passport and other IDs within the hotel room's safety box or on the reception desk. If, however, it's good to carry them with you, make sure that they're saved safely. When touring by prepare, don't trust anybody who is not in uniform to maintain your baggage safely. The railway stations in China are crowded, so all the time ensure that your luggage is with you. If you are traveling by taxi, it is better to have the lodge name for one. Ensure that contact info of the hotel, as well as the place that you just want to go to, is written in Chinese language and in English. As soon as in the taxi, take a note of the driver's name and registration quantity. This will make sure you get back your objects, in case you have left any in it. China has famous cities that are also necessary journey destinations. Beijing is the capital of China and has all the time been among the many famous cultural and historic cities. It is China's most popular city for tourists. It owns number of temples, historic houses, museums, parks. The highest points of interest of Beijing are The Nice Wall, Forbidden City, Summer time Palace, Temple of Heaven and Ming Tombs. The Nice Wall with its worldwide fame is a historic place and for certain must-see place. The great surroundings additionally pleases the guests. The Forbidden City also known as the Imperial Palace is a city-within-a-metropolis that owns historic buildings. The Summer time Palace is the biggest Royal Park. Summer season Place contains buildings that are included by towers, temples, pavilions, bridges, and corridors. Ming Tombs is the burial site of 13 out of 17 emperors of the Ming Dynasty. Additionally, Tian'anmen Square and The Temple of Heaven are among touristic locations of Beijing. Photography: The Chinese are often honoured if you would like to take their picture. Don't forget to ask their permission first although. Taking photos or capturing a video at army sites in China is highly unlawful. Many museums, palaces and temples also don't enable pictures to be taken or only help you take photos for a payment. It's best to all the time be on the look-out for the signs posted relating to photography and to be careful. Among the best China Travel bathroom Suggestions I can provide you, is use resort foyer toilets; these are all over the place and are at all times clear. Still they might not all the time have bathroom paper. It is determined by the category of lodge that you are using. Travelling overseas is a means of acknowledging the distinctive contribution that cultures have made to our widespread human heritage. While our cultures and our languages differ enormously, our songs, tales, and histories express a shared human sentiment. This shared sentiment invites us to visit the Taj Mahal in India or the Nice Wall in China and say this belongs to us and it's our common heritage there for us all to share and respect. These China Journey Ideas, Survival Methods, will enable you to get round and make your journey to China simpler, so you will be able to experience the actual China with a little less stress. Historically, Chinese language residents haven't been allowed to travel freely and have not had passports with which to do so. Within the final three years, this case has changed dramatically. The major festivals of the Bai People are the Raosanlin, the Torch Competition, the Patron God Festival and the Shibaoshan Mountain Music Competition. An important of all is the Third Month Honest in Dali which falls on March fifteenth on the lunar calendar and lasts 7 days. Whereas there might be infinite potentialities on the place you possibly can select to tour, listed below are my suggestions for 3 should-see locations. The Naxi people imagine in Mahayana Buddhism, Taism and Lamaism. The well-known Lijiang Murals effectively reveal their attitudes of broad-mindedness and their assimilation of numerous cultures. Last year, round 31 million Chinese language travelled abroad. In the main, they visited other Asian destinations like Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea, but two million Chinese additionally travelled to Europe and that determine is set to rise year on 12 months. By 2020, Europe can count on thirteen million Chinese visitors annually. Whereas holding onto something for help with both palms, lower your body down right into a low squat position, so that the cheeks of your backside is sort of touching your heels or the again of your calf. Now, let go together with your arms. See for those who stay on this position for not less than 1 minute. In the event you fall backwards or you cannot rise up, then a squat toilet might be an issue for you! Follow, you will be pleased you did. Those days are over. China these days is just as difficult, or as simple to travel as every other Asian country. That's, after all, in the event you do your homework. One factor many travelers underestimate are the distances. Flying from west to east China take three hours, north to south, around 1.5 to 2 hours. So planning is essential. China Travel Tips- Taxis - Taxis are an experience that may have you ever griping the seat and gasping for breath; nevertheless you soon get used to it, after the primary few rides, you are an outdated hand. If you'll keep in massive cities attempt to book hotels through the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) as most Chinese try to escape from the town to the countryside during weekends. The areas near the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea are alluvial and the inhabitants density is the utmost on this area. The opposite important area is the primary delta area, where the Yellow River and the Yangtze River stream. The northern space is stuffed with grasslands in the Inner Mongolian Plateau. The Western China consists of the excessive Himalayan mountains and Tibet, in addition to the Gobi Desert. Mainland China has 23 provinces, with 4 vital municipalities, particularly, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing. Hong Kong and Macau are the two areas which are special administrations areas of China. Serving as the Capital to 11 Dynasties over four,000 years you already know there has to be one thing special about this web site. The Xi'an Metropolis Partitions 14km's long, give you the sense touring back in time. You'll be able to imagine arriving in a caravan from the west looking for China's special silk and other merchandise. Within the city as numerous pagodas, temple and places of curiosity together with the Shaanxi History Museum. The backyard is made up of three sections, the residential section, most important garden section and interior garden part. The main target level of the large garden is a giant pond that takes up a significant part of the backyard. The pond comprises a pagoda that's solely accessible by a bridge that is less than a foot wide at the narrowest point. You may go to a number of sections of the Great Wall which have been opened to public entry, each possessing its personal unique surroundings. The Badaling part might be the most visited by vacationers because of it being accessible by way of only an hour's drive from the capital Beijing. The terrain is usually pleasant for walking, while the views from the top are merely incomparable. There are times when it isn't an ideal thought to go to Beijing. During nationwide holidays, the city is often packed. To keep away from the jam, don't visit the town through the Chinese language Spring Pageant, which occurs in early February. International Labor Day, which occurs the primary week in Might, is one other crowd-heavy event in Beijing. One final time to avoid is the first week in October, which is the week of National Day, another very populated time for Beijing. Unless you love the crowds or are going for those specific events, it is probably best to stay away.

[markwatkinsconsumerguide]

Consumer Guide / No.47 / award-winning Japanese illustrator Yuko Shimizu in her own words with Mark Watkins. 

MW : Where is home?

YS : I’ve been in New York for last 18 years. I call this place home. Other than high rent pushed me out to Brooklyn between 2001 (right before 9-11, if I waited like two more months, I probably would not have moved out to Brooklyn) - 2004, I have lived in Manhattan. I think I am above the age-group where they pride themselves in being cool kids from Brooklyn.

Whenever people ask me why I still live in Manhattan (most of my friends and peers don’t live here), I tell them that the New York I dreamed about living before I moved there from Tokyo was not in Brooklyn, but in Manhattan. I know I am becoming some kind of rarity, but I love being on this island.

MW : What sort of child were you?

YS : I was definitely a smarty-pants. I remember my mom telling me to stop always asking “WHY?” all the time when I was really little. I am still all about WHY. Which does help me now I teach. When students know why they have to do something, or can’t do something, they understand and focus way better.

MW : What sort of adult are you?

YS : Still a smarty pants, and always asking or analyzing the WHYs.

MW : If you could pop into a Time Machine, what year would you set on the dial, and why?

YS : I am sorry if I sound boring, but I really don’t have much interest in visit past or future. I am pretty happily living now. And I believe it is better not to know what will happen in future. I would make a terrible Sci-Fi writer.

MW : Describe your favourite subway journey in New York…

YS : I don’t like taking subways. It’s old, always having troubles. Summer on platforms are boiling hot, and winter can be ultra cold. But it is a necessity, what can I do?

I used to have long commute, when I lived in Japan. To go to my high school from home, it was an hour and half each way, on four different train/subway lines. Right now, I am just happy that though I still need to take subway to commute, my ride is max of 15 minutes, which is the shortest on record. The only thing I miss from long commute days was that I was able to read a lot of books. I used to read close to 100 books a year. Well, if you have 3 hours each day to read, that is totally possible.

Now, though commute is short, I am trying to get back into reading. I got back into habit of reading anywhere when I have extra time. Of course, 100 books is just a dream, I am back to at least 30-35 books a year. Which is not bad for a very short commute I have. (of course, I read when I am not commuting too.)

So the best part of subway ride is that I get to travel to different world through books I read. It makes subway ride less torturous.

MW : What's involved in being your assistant? What kind of boss are you?

YS : Some were my former students, some were through recommendations from people I trust. They all have been young artists who don’t mind working once or twice a week or so for me. They eventually get busier with their own work, and ‘graduate’. It’s hard to lose a person I grow to feel very comfortable with, but I also feel happy for them moving forward with their own artist self.

My assistant usually helps me with office work. But the last few have been able to help me with Photoshop coloring process. Which has been working well for me. Sometimes there are office work to do but no coloring, and sometime it’s the other way around. So, when an assistant can help me with both, I can have her/him more steady schedule.

I try to help them as much as possible, but you have to ask my assistants to know what they are actually feeling about me as a boss.

MW : Describe your studio set-up ; what are your tried and trusted materials ?

YS: Relatively small industrial space in Midtown Manhattan they call “Garment District’. It’s noisy as hell, but at least I have one wall full of windows, which is nice.

Never owned a desktop computer. So, there is a 15 inch MacBook Pro hooked up to old Apple Cinema Display. Adobe Photoshop is something I cannot live without. And Epson’t extra large format scanned Expression 10000XL.

Drawing supplies are Dr. Ph. Martin’s Black Star ink, Boku-Un-Do calligraphy brush from Japan, TH Saunders Waterford.

And an old Chihuahua Bruiser who still likes to commute with me to work every day!.

MW : Tell me how you got involved with (The) Word magazine?

YS : Matthew Ball, the Art Director there,  used to work for Rolling Stone Magazine, and when he started to work there, he called me. I did the CD covers for quite some years. Then they eventually went out of print. I think I worked on them about ten years ago. Time flies.

MW : Indeed, OK, let’s take a look at some of your art pictured here...

YS : The trio were used as some of the earlier covers of  (The) Word Magazine’s monthly supplement CD ‘ Now Hear This!’

The art direction (from Matthew Ball) was very loose. They wanted cool looking women in music theme. Initially they wanted Japanese theme, then I started running out of ideas, and we also felt it starts to be repetitive, so eventually branched out to different ideas, still dealt with music and women.

Batman Returns made as a part of two limited edition posters for Dark Hall Mansion. I rewatched the movie for the first time in a long while for the project. I was surprised how good the movie was. It still doesn’t feel old. It is still my favourite Batman movie. 

The Future is Japanese anthology book cover. Commissioned by Viz Media and its imprint of translated Japanese books Haikasoru ; Art Director, Nick Mamatas. It was supposed to be one off, then it turned into multiple “Japan” anthology series.

There are also Phantom Japan (ghost stories) and Hanzai Japan (crime stories) books.

Maradona’s Hand of God was for soccer magazine Eight by Eight ; Art Directors, Robert Priest and Grace Lee. I am not into football, but I am a child of the 80s, so I do know enough about Maradona. The idea was to draw his famous/infamous goals from an angle that does not esixt in actual photos and footage. It was a bit of work to do research. There are so many die hard fans, so you can’t cheat. You really have to do thorough research.

MW : Are you a "Culture Vulture"?

YS : I don’t know if I am. I don’t have TV or internet at home, which is great, because I feel like I am always online or visually stimulated, and need a downtime. But of course, not having them is making me watch movies and TVs less. It may be a phase but I am OK with that.

I am in a very visual occupation, and it is sometimes good to recharge with something non-visual. As I wrote earlier, I am really into reading and getting inspired by non-visual medium for me is exactly what I need.

My current assistant is from South America, and she gave me ‘Savage Detectives’ by Roberto Bolaño for birthday. I will be reading that as soon as I am done reading what I am on right now.

MW : What are your favourite sports to play AND watch ?

YS : I am the least sporty person you would ever meet. I don’t watch any sports, and I don’t really play any either.

Now I am getting older, I try to work out at least few times a week. I started running in my 40s. It feels good to sweat from the top of my head.

Though it’s tiring and I don’t particularly love the act of running, but it feels really good when I am done.

MW : Tell me what’s coming up next...

YS : Well, I can’t usually talk much about future projects, but I have a few books in works. One is already announced, I will be illustrating Oscar Wilde’s fairy tales, which I will most probably start around next week.

Because my dog is old and sick, I decided to not do any major summer vacation, but I have a plan to go to Barcelona in October to speak at Smashing Conference, which I am very excited about.

https://smashingconf.com/barcelona-2017/

And… I teach once a week on Mondays at School of Visual Arts. Summer is quickly going. I will back to teaching in September.

MW : Where can we find out more?

YS :

Website : www.yukoart.com

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/YukoShimizuArt/

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/http://instagram.com/yukoart

Twitter : http://twitter.com/yukoart

© Mark Watkins / July 2017

[blogbotgovind-blog]

What Happens on April Fool's Day Around The World?

History:

April Fools’ Day (sometimes referred to as All Fools’ Day) is observed the world over. While most countries celebrate it on the first of April, there are some countries that celebrate it on different dates. Though historical evidence is ambiguous, most believe that when the Gregorian calendar was adopted in the late 1500s, the New Year was moved from April 1 to January 1. Those who kept to the old tradition and the old date were termed as fools, hence the association.

Read on to find out how the day of pranks and jokes is celebrated across the globe.

France

In France, the holiday is also known as Poisson d’Avril, which translates to April Fish, and is also celebrated in Italy as Pesce d’Aprile. Historically, schoolchildren will stick an image of a fish on the back of an unsuspecting victim and wait for the transgression to be discovered. So if you do get stuck in a fishy situation, you can always learn from the French and Italian!

Scotland

The people of Scotland celebrate making a fool out of their comrades so much that they’ve extended the holiday into the second day. April 1 was traditionally Hunt the Gowk day, although the name is fading out. Gowk means cuckoo, and sending a mate on a fool’s quest is the name of the game: One should ask someone to deliver a sealed message asking for help, the contents of which instruct the recipient to pass it along and continue the chain. The second day is known as Taily Day, which seems to have spawned the infamous “Kick Me” sign, and numerous posterior jokes. Better watch your back if you’re traveling to Scotland this holiday!

Iran

The 13th day of the Persian New Year is called Sizdah Bedar and usually falls on April 1 or April 2. Pranks have reportedly been played on this holiday since 536 BC, making it perhaps the oldest known joke day. It’s customary to spend the afternoon outside, celebrating the new season and indulging in food, laughter, games, and good-natured jokes. After a picnic, you throw away green vegetables, known as sabzeh, which represent any potential illnesses or bad luck for the coming year.

Spain

In Spain, the day of jokes and prank is celebrated towards the end of the year on December 28 as Holy Innocents’ Day or Childermas. The celebrations are also spread across Latin America. Though it technically is a Christian feast day, the pranking tradition that it’s now known for is strictly a cultural invention. Victims are instructed not to be upset because the jokesters are considered to be innocent.

Portugal

The Sunday and Monday, prior to Lent is when the Portuguese celebrate April Fools’, and they have embraced one prank as their own: throwing flour on someone. Some could say it is better than having a fish stuck behind you.

India

India’s Holi festival is celebrated on March 31st and is a day to play jokes, toss colored dust and wear face and body paint to inaugurate spring. While it is not really a day to celebrate jokes or pranks, the Indian culture embraces happiness in various forms of which jokes and pranks carried out in good spirit is a part of it.

Denmark

The Danish and the Swedish have a day each in two different months to let themselves loose and have some fun. May 1 is Maj-kat (May cat), a joke day, although bother Denmark and Sweden also celebrate April 1 as April Fools’ Day. The Scandinavians definitely know how to bid adieu to a long gloomy winter and welcome brighter spring in good spirits.

Brazil

April Fools’ Day in Brazil is known as o dia das mentiras, literally, the day of lies or dia dos bobos, a day of fools. It is a day for pranks that are playful and spirited. April 1st became popular in Brazil after a satirical publication called A Mentira, dedicated to stories about the “ephemeral life”, wrote its first spoof news headline on April 1st, 1828, announcing the death of Don Pedro, Emperor of Brazil. The periodical lasted for quite a few years, but eventually, it ran into financial difficulties. Fittingly, on its last number dated September 14th, 1894, A Mentira communicated to all its creditors where they could go to get the money they were owed. The only problem was that this too was a prank and the place at the published address did not exist!

Greece

Protos Aprilis, (protos = first + Aprilis = April) was absorbed into Greek culture very fast. The basic idea remains the same like everywhere else: on April 1st, everyone tells innocent lies in order to trick the “victim”. It is so widespread that one finds different customs in different parts of Greece. In some parts, it is considered good luck for the prank to be successful. The person who manages to trick another is going to have a fortunate year, as opposed to the person who gets fooled. In Naxos, an island in the Cyclades, they still take part in pranks, only on March 1st.

Germany

The tradition in Germany is exactly the same as it is in the US, though with a slightly bigger overall importance. On April Fools’ Day, you play a prank (called an “Aprilscherz“) on family members, co-workers and friends-even solid lies are customarily excused on that day. Newspapers, TV and radio stations typically have at least one story which is generally harmless, but “out of this world” and completely made up. To reveal the joke, Germans say April, April: literally April, April. The Germans definitely take their pranks seriously! Here’s hoping your pranks are successful and should you be a victim of one, plan ahead for the next year!

[andrea-cristina-travel-blog]

The Common Wanderer update: October 2017

Each month, we jot down a personal wrap of our travels, life updates, and general happenings in the life of The Common Wanderer. No bullshit, just our honest thoughts. It’s been quite a while since we last did a wrap up on here (about 5 months!), and it’s safe to say that life has been so busy it’s borderline insane lately! In fact, sometimes when we look back at what’s been happening since our last update, our head spins and we need to lie down for a while. There’s been lots of travel (despite “slowing down”), and some pretty massive life changes for us both. Here’s exactly what’s been happening in the world of The Common Wanderer lately… WE MOVED HOUSE When we first arrived in London, we moved into a sweet terrace house overlooking a park in Surrey Quays. The room was beautiful and h-u-g-e (even taking London’s shoebox standards into consideration!), but there just wasn’t much happening in the area. No nightlife, no good restaurants, and not even a cute cafe down the street to grab a coffee from on the weekend. Obviously, this isn’t the kind of expat experience we were after, so we’ve now made the brave decision to go where no Aussies before us have ever gone (lol jk – it’s the only accent we ever hear now) and moved to Clapham in South West London. We’re in a bright, light, ground floor apartment with one other housemate, and slowly feeding our addiction for indoor plants and IKEA furniture, and cool homewares that we really don’t need. MIM WENT FREELANCE AND MARK STARTED A NEW JOB When we arrived in London in September 2016, I (Mim) started managing Content for a well-known global travel brand just 4 days later, while Mark managed the blog and our business full time. Since then, I’d been balancing a double life: weekdays at an extremely busy 9-5, and evenings, weekends, annual leave, and any other random snatched moments working on our freelance projects. If that sounds exhausting, well, it was. Eventually, running between the two became too much and quite frankly, I was burnt out. Meanwhile, Mark recently started working for an amazing travel brand, so we decided to change things up a little. With my professional experience as a writer, the blog growing pretty quickly, and an increasing number of opportunities coming our way, we decided it would be better for me to focus solely on growing our freelance business moving forward. It’s been 4 weeks now and I have to say, I am loving working on our business from the comfort of home. Ps. if you’re reading this and have a business in need of some help in the word-and-picture department, well, holla at ya girl! WE CELEBRATED A YEAR OF LIVING IN LONDON On August 30, we celebrated an entire year of the expat life here in London. It’s hard to believe that it’s been that long since we first stepped off the plane at Heathrow, bleary-eyed (it was 7am!) and excited for a new adventure. In many ways, it feels like we’ve only just arrived. In 12 months we’ve lived in 3 houses, survived an English winter (and an English “summer”), complained about the weather daily, gained two jobs and quit one, travelled to 8 countries, been squashed against the tube doors 348209348 times, enjoyed some major blog wins, feasted on many a grand pub meal (but never an English ale), and most importantly: landed amongst an incredible group of people we’re privileged to call our family and friends. It’s certainly been a ride!   WHERE WE WENT The last few months have been an absolute whirlwind of travel for us both (so much for slowing down!). Here are some of the places we’ve been wandering to: BUCHAREST, ROMANIA  Back in May, we spent some time in Bucharest for the Experience Bucharest project and absolutely loved it. We really didn’t know what to expect from Bucharest (or Romania more generally) prior to going, nor had this part of the world ever really factored onto our ‘future destinations’ list. Turns out, we’d really been missing out on one of Europe’s trendiest and most fascinating cities. Touted as the ‘new Berlin’ for its hipster vibes and grungy feel, Bucharest is cool. Really cool. We spent our days getting better acquainted with its heady mix of charm and decay, latin spirit and Balkan passion, great food and brilliant coffee, and can’t wait to return again someday.  ATHENS, GREECE From Bucharest, we jumped on a flight to visit Mark’s granddad who lives in Athens. Now, Mark has been to Athens more times in his lifetime than he can probably count and he doesn’t rate it too highly (read: he hates it). But I’ve never been, and I had really high hopes for this ancient city that cradled the birth of modern ideals.  I really wanted to be able to love Athens. To see past its recent economic woes. Or at the minimum, just to find a way to prove Mark wrong. But the truth is, I just didn’t. There were riots every day we were there, the ruins were terribly maintained, and basically, we just didn’t get a good vibe from being there. That said, being able to spend time with Mark’s Opa (aka the coolest 90-year-old you will ever meet) was extremely special, for us both. MENORCA, SPAIN  After a mad rush back to London and one night to repack our bags, we found ourselves on another plane, this time bound for the Spanish island of Menorca. This was our first jaunt to the Balaeric islands, and we were there with 50 other top UK influencers for the #MustSeeMenorca Mini-Conference and press trip. If you haven’t been to Menorca yet, we suggest you book that trip pretty quickly. It’s absolutely stunning, far less tourist-trodden than its neighbours Ibiza and Mallorca, full of charming cobblestoned streets, and outdoor activities for everyone. And the food and wine? Ridiculously good. Honestly, we loved this little Mediterranean gem so much that we’ve been looking at island property prices ever since… SANTANDER, SPAIN Spain seems to be the flavour of our 2018, because next on the list was a weekend in Santander – although Mark flew solo for this one!  Cantabria’s capital isn’t about impressing you on a first glance. It doesn’t have the old-world charm of other Spanish cities (much of the old town burnt down in 1941), but the coastal town definitely makes up for it in character, natural beauty, and tasty, tasty tapas.  Mark can also lay claim to being the first blogger to walk through the halls of the newly opened Centro Botin art gallery, having visited on the opening weekend! Designed by the same architect who created Paris’ Centre Pompidou, the gallery is a masterpiece both inside and out. PORTUGAL, SPAIN, MOROCCO WITH INTREPID TRAVEL Another trip, another solo adventure for Mark. This time, he doubled as talent for a new video of Intrepid’s Spain, Portugal and Morocco tour, as well as the photographer and social guy. For two weeks, he feasted on all the delicious tapas, tagines, and churros, danced with locals in Lisbon, and explored the winding alleys of the Moroccan medinas – all while documenting it all on his camera! See everything they got up in this awesome video, produced by the legends at Betty Wants In ROME, ITALY  Mark’s third solo trip this summer (I’m definitely overdue some travels!), a quick jaunt to Rome to catch up with a friend from home. This was a rare opportunity to be a real tourist for the first time in a long time. In an effort to see Rome without the tourists, Mark and his mate Ryan would be up before the crack of dawn each day, exploring the beautiful ancient streets as they awoke for the day ahead. Afternoons were for siesta time, while evenings were spent eating great food and enjoying a few too many beers. The perfect break before returning to full-time work again!  SWEDISH LAPLAND Lapland had been sitting at the top of our bucket list for a looooooooong time. We’d almost come to view it as the holy grail of our travel and blogging lives; a wintry wonderland, raw and untamed wilderness, and a way of life so extremely different to our own upbringing. Sprinkle in some reindeer herds and the northern lights, and you basically have our ultimate trip. So when our inbox pinged with an opportunity to spend a week exploring Swedish Lapland in Autumn with Visit Sweden, my fingers could barely type a frantic ‘check email check emaiiil CHECK EMAIL’ message to Mark from sheer excitement. In early October, we spent a week exploring the region, going hiking, foraging, fatbiking, and getting to know the local culture – under Autumn skies and surrounded by crisp forest air. And you know what? This is one place that totally lived up to the hype. It was utter magic, and we’re absolutely keen to go back in Winter, Spring, and Summer to find out what it’s like then too. We’ve got a whole lot of posts almost ready to go live, so watch this space! And that’s a wrap! We plan to start doing these more regularly, and they’ll be full of all the good, bad, ugly and otherwise happenings of our travels (and lives) – so watch this space this time next month.   FOLLOW OUR ADVENTURES ON FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | PINTEREST JOIN OUR TRIBE & WANDER WITH US Join 30,000+ people and receive travel stories, tips + hacks, and stunning photography to inspire your wanderlust. Straight to your inbox We hate spammers. We'll never be those people.   The post The Common Wanderer update: October 2017 appeared first on The Common Wanderer.

https://www.thecommonwanderer.com/the-common-wanderer-update-october-2017/