Do you take pictures of local people during your travels? Do assume think they want their picture taken or do you build a rapport?
Before you do… read this poem by Haitian Poet, Felix Morriseau-Leroy
(The word “blanc” literally translates as “white” or “white person,” but in Haitian culture the word has the functional meaning of “foreigner.”)
KODAK
Tourist, don’t take my picture
Don’t take my picture, tourist
I’m too ugly
Too dirty
Too meager and too thin
Don’t take my picture, blanc
Mr. Eastman wouldn’t approve
I’m too ugly, too thin
And your Kodak will break
I’m too dirty and too black
Your Kodak will burst
Don’t take my portrait, tourist
Let me be, blanc
Don’t photograph my donkey
Donkeys here carry too much
Donkeys here are too little
Donkeys here don’t eat
Tourist, don’t shoot my house
My house is a house of hay
Don’t take a picture of my poor house
My house is a house of clay
Go shoot the National Palace
Shoot Bicentennial Avenue
But don’t take a picture of my garden
I have no plow or car or tractor
Don’t take a picture of my tree
Tourist, I’m barefoot
And my clothes are all torn
Isn’t this what you see?
Tourist, look at my hair
Your Kodak’s not used to its color
Tourist, don’t take my picture
You won’t understand my pose
You won’t understand a thing
My affairs aren’t yours, tourist
Gimme five cents and be on your way
Mommy & Me Day 1 @ Grape Arbor B&B, North East, Pennsylvania.
After driving something like 10 hours (we got lost O_o) to redeem our Living Social Escapes deal for Grape Arbor B&B, my mom and I arrived in North East Pennsylvania to have a relaxing girls weekend. Our suite is pretty plush with elegant Americana decor with one bedroom that had a half bath and a smaller bedroom (cause mom snores like a bear) and a full bath down the hall. We had it all to ourselves :)
We started our next day with a FANTASTIC three course breakfast of apple crumb pie, fresh fruit, fresh harvest rolls, and a choice of eggs florentine or french toast with a side of bacon. Filled up and energized we took a walk through town and found some antique shops to satisfy our internal urge to shop. We found some vintage earrings and bracelets, kitchenware, and of course vintage luggage at Marks Coins & Collectibles on Main Street, Olde Times Sake and Ye Olde Vineyard on Lake Street! Tomorrow… mom is thinking about going back for some lamps.
Here’s a listing of some vendors local to the Erie/North East area of Pennsylvania: http://www.pavendors.com/antiques/eriecounty.htm
Next while I took a little afternoon siesta, mom got an hour massage back at the B&B. When she was done getting her rub down we had an afternoon wine, cheese & chocolate pairing at South Shore Wine Company. We tried 6 wines made from grapes and fruit made in one of the many rolling vineyards in the area. (Fun Fact: Welch’s Grapes come from here.)
Afterwards, just up the road we soaked up the wine with some comfort food from Freeport, a local family restaurant on Lake road. Behind it we enjoyed the majestic view of the sun filtering through the clouds at Freeport beach.
via @chelciesporter:
Much of the damage from Katrina can still be seen in the cemetery. St Louis cemetery New Orleans, LA
via onearth:
There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of Jeju Island, even though it’s a newly named “Wonder of Nature,” a UNESCO Global Geosite, and an incredible spiritual, culturally and ecologically unique land.
It’s also “cursed” with the geostrategic disadvantage of being just about the perfect place for the U.S. military to build an anti-ballistics missile defense base, to keep us safe from China.
Locals are protesting the construction, but they’re running out of time.
The Battle for Jeju Island: How the Arms Race is Threatening a Korean Paradise
(via brandx)
Taking new pics for our etsy shop… New items tomorrow! http://etsy.com/shop/realtimetravlbags
Accent theme by Handsome Code
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