The busy streets below

The hustle and bustle on a Saturday night in downtown Nashville, Tennessee.

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.”

— Socrates

The Mounains

Alaska... “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity” ― John Muir, Our National Parks

The Amazing Mountains

The mountains in Alaska jut from the earth sharply and are kissed by the crisp cold air as the warmer air below makes its way up. Snow from the top then mixes with the warmer air on its trickle down and creates even more fog, preventing you from seeing the peeks.

Naturalist and father of our National Parks once stated, John Muir stated, “The mountains are calling and I must go.” No truer words were spoken as he was considered a “Wilderness Prophet,” which was his nickname. Muir was one of the true explorers of Alaska in search of beauty, which he became engulfed in.

Amazing Alaska

Some mornings you wake up barely breathing. The next morning you wake up to see what takes your breath away.

"The most beautiful gift of nature is that it gives one pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see." - Albert Einstein

Photo: I took this in Alaska - Twin mountain tops high above the frigid ocean #alaska, #sonyalpha

David wanted noodles in downtown Victoria, Canada

David lives in Victoria, Canada and as he was walking out of a Japanese Sushi restaurant he looked at me and described how they wouldn't give him any leftover food for the night. I looked at the sign on the door which read, "CLOSED."

He said, “I really wanted a bowl of noodles, that's all.” I told him that I would buy him a bowl of noodles if he knew where another Japanese or Chinese restaurant was located. I then followed him for the next three blocks simply observing those we passed at about 9:45 on a Friday night. Some would move to the far opposite side while others refused to make eye contact. David never noticed, but I couldn't help but to notice.

We finally arrived and as we walked in the woman behind the counter handed David a menu. He quickly scanned over it unable to make a decision. I told the employee that he would simply like a large bowl of noodels and David jumped in and said, “With seafood on it, like shrimp.”

I paid and told David it would take about 10 minutes for his order to be prepared. He followed me outside and I snapped a couple of photos of him.

As I turned to walk away David said, “Wait, let me go inside to make sure you paid.” I laughed and said, “Good idea, let's double check.” We headed back in and he asked the hostess, “Did he already pay for my noodles?” She smiled and told him, “Yes, he sure did.” David then shook my hand and thanked me.

Ketchikan, Alaska and the Bridge to Nowhere

Inside the small island community of Ketchikan, Alaska you will feel at home.

The population rings in at 8,208. During fishing season, that number grows to about 12,000 seasonal residents. The island is locked in by water.

One local resident told me, “Remember hearing about that bridge to nowhere project? This is the town that wanted that bridge built because it was not a bridge to nowhere.” As the man talked more about the proposed bridge he pointed across the waterway and said, “See, that is our airport (pointing towards an airport about 200 feet across a narrow waterway), we needed that bridge because you currently have to take a ferry to get to our small airport which helps our local economy.”

So now you know, the bridge to nowhere was actually a bridge to the Ketchikan airport and to homes on the neighboring island.

BONNAROO 2018: The family concert

BONNAROO 2018: Ahhh, the family concert... the family who see's Eminem together at midnight sticks together.

BONNAROO 2018: The American Flag

BONNAROO 2018: She showed vigorous support for America with not only her outfit, but also her blanket as she sat in the midst of thousands of people walking from concert to concert.

Some may disagree as they were taught not to wear or sit on the flag. Others may high five her, which is the Bonnaroo way. 

"How do I look," she asked. The shutter shut, "Great," I quietly responded as she handed me her cellphone. "Would you take my picture with my phone," she asked.

Another shutter click and I disappeared into the crowd where I next came across a large shirtless man that had a "Lost Soul" tattoo across his stomach. He was carrying a unicorn... I will get to that photo later.

The Place

Have you ever been somewhere that just made you feel as if you were standing somewhere great or amazing in some way?

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is said to be one of two of the holiest sites in Christianity. The church, referred to sometimes as the Church of the Resurrection, sits on the site of where Jesus was crucified.

The location of the church that dates back to the second century AD, you will find five representations of the final passage of Jesus. However, after the crucifixion the building did not start out as a church. It started out as a temple dedicated to the goddess Venus built by a Roman Emperor named Publius Aelius Hadrian.

The Roman Emperor built the temple dedicated to Venus to cover up the cave in which Jesus had been placed in and later arose from. It wasn’t until year 325 that Constantine the Great ordered a church be built in place of the ungodly temple. The church construction was finished in year 335.

Welcome to Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Israel is the second largest city in Israel, just behind Jerusalem at number one. The city and its immediate neighbors are a mixture of massive and modern along with old and rustic.

Tel Aviv has a population of 438,818 residents. It even has its own Silicon Valley known as Silicon Wadi, which is another name for Gush Dan. The so called valley area is filled with high tech companies, much like the Silicon Valley in California.

It is known as the “Party Capital” of the Middle East with a lively nightly that includes 2.5 million visitors annually, a 30,000 student university,

Prostitution is fully legal in Tel Aviv in the form of brothels. However, to so called act of “Pimping” is illegal. Human trafficking is a big problem for the area, but little is being done to solve the issue. Organized crime is reportedly behind much of the legal and illegal forms of prostitution in Israel, according to a past HAARETZ news article.

While driving into ultra-Orthodox Jewish areas on the Sabbath in Jerusalem are discouraged by the officials due to past cases where cars have been stoned as they pass through, it is not an issue in Tel Aviv. Nor is the need to dress modestly.

The legal age to buy alcohol in Israel is only 18 and there are no set closing times for bars. As for the cost of a stiff drink, expect to pay an added tax of 25%.

OUT Media has called Tel Aviv the “most gay-friendly city” in the Middle East. Other cities throughout Israel are not as open with such activity, even though laws regarding homosexuals were removed from the books in the 1980s.

The Roman Aqueducts Along the Mediterranean Sea

While it may appear to be a bridge, it is actually an ancient Roman aqueduct along the Mediterranean coast in Caesarea, Israel. The structure goes for miles and miles ending in the city that was founded by King Herod of Judea in 10 BCE. The letters BCE stand for “Before Common Era where “BC” simply stands for Before Christ.

The Romans were amazing architects as they built not only the aqueducts, but also an artificial harbor digging out the shallow sand near the short to allow for wooden cargo ships to pull closer to land.

In year 6 “Common Era,”” Caesarea was declared to be the seat of the Roman government and the political capital of Judea.

As for the pictured aqueduct, it was one of three that delivered fresh water from different areas of Israel to Caesarea, a city of about 50,000 residents at the time. The aqueducts went to various springs up to 8.5 miles away.

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Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre you see visitor after visitor make their way through the crowds to bend down and kiss or place their face against the sacred anointing stone. The church is said to be one of two holiest sites in Christianity. The church, referred to sometimes as the Church of the Resurrection, sits on the site of where Jesus was crucified.

Within the walls of the church that dates back to the second century AD, you will find five representations of the final passage of Jesus. However, after the crucifixion the building did not start out as a church. It started out as a temple dedicated to the goddess Venus built by a Roman Emperor named Publius Aelius Hadrian.

The Roman Emperor built the temple dedicated to Venus to cover up the cave in which Jesus had been placed in and later arose from. It wasn’t until year 325 that Christian emperor, Constantine the Great, ordered a church be built in place of the ungodly temple. The church construction was finished in year 335.

The Stone of Anointing is where Jesus’ body was laid to rest. It is one of the first items you will come to as you enter the church from an outside courtyard. Some have questioned the stone saying that it was placed in the church during an 1810 reconstruction.

Inside the church is a stairway that is regarded as the site of where the crucifixion actually took place. Also inside the church walls is The Altar of the Crucifixion.

A Maze of Streets, Steps and People

In the marketplace of Jerusalem you will find vendor after vendor selling everything from foods to fabrics. You will also find a maze of walkways.

The stairs and alleys throughout the area are second nature to local residents who don’t have any problem finding their way through the maze of crowds and paths. Children who walk home from school each day are equally knowledgeable to their common route.

Each afternoon it is likely that you will see hundreds of children running through the streets excited to head home after a day of schooling. The kids will sometimes stop for a cold Popsicle, a Coca-Cola or piece of candy on their walk home. Other times, they simply skip down the steps in an attempt to get home at the same time as their friends.

The Art of Negotiating

Attorney Herb Cohen stated, "Care, but not that much." In other words, you have to care what you are negotiating for, but not enough to get emotionally involved. You have to be able to walk away. As you walk away, you will likely be stopped by the opposite side of negotiating and that often equals winning. I think those are them most simple words to remember when negotiating. 

Prayer on the Western Wall

Prayer along the Western Wall in Jerusalem is something that many participate in. From Jewish to Christians, you will see a variety of visitors. 

Many write notes to God and place them into the cracks of the wall. Sometimes, detailed secrets or confessions are placed into the cracks. 

During the late 19th century, there was not a separation between men and women at the wall. Today however, there is a partition dividing the male and female side of the wall.