Book Review: Nourished

More and more travel memoirs these days include chapters about food. And more and more books about cooking and food include exotic travel. The two go hand-in-hand and this combination is sure to increase within the book world as people expand both their physical and culinary journeys.

'Nourished' was a wonderfully written account of both. As a travel blogger, I was first drawn to the travel aspect, and Lia Huber did not disappoint. Her travel tales were immediately engaging. I started thinking about the places she included in this book and whether I should start planning trips to Costa Rica, Corfu, and New York City. I could practically taste them and feel the energy of each place and people as I read.

This is also a book about soul-searching. Much of her quest centered on her Christianity. Though this aspect of the book was not as interesting to me, I can certainly see the connections between her wanderings, cooking, and introspection. That's often why I travel: to see how a place changes me. To see how I grow. Just like Lia.












I received this book from Blogging for Books.

Hollywood Comes to Mansfield

When the producers of The Shawshank Redemption began scouting locations, they wanted an empty prison to use. With its imposing structure and stone walls, the Ohio State Reformatory (OSR) was the perfect choice.



Much of the movie features the cell blocks where Andy and Red reside, and the outside yard where their friendship was formed. I had hoped to see the cell blocks featured in the movie, but learned that they had to build that set somewhere else since prison cell blocks don’t face each other. Some of the administrative offices were in good enough condition to be used as movie scenes. The Warden’s office was intact, and the safe we see him enter his ill-gotten gains into was set into the wall here.


I shared the shots of Brooks’ apartment in my last post. That was on location, as well as the room where Red approached the parole board each decade.

What I don’t have pictures of are scenes from other movies filmed at the Ohio Reformatory. Movies like Air Force One, Tango & Cash, Fallen Angels and Harry & Walter Go To New York. Plus, Marilyn Manson once used the site as a backdrop for a fashion layout.

Haunted Mansfield

Not surprisingly, the Ohio Reformatory is also the site of many paranormal investigations. On several occasions throughout the year, the prison hosts Ghost Walks, overnight Ghost Hunts, and Haunted Prison Halloween Tours in October.

Zac Bagans of Ghost Adventures filmed an episode here. Apparently, his partner Nick felt burning sensation in one of the cells. (But then again, doesn’t someone from Ghost Adventures always feel some sort of attack?)

The TAPS crew of Ghost Hunters filmed here, too.

My husband is dying to go on an overnight ghost hunt, but I’m not as eager. The building is creepy enough during the day, with lead-based paint peeling from the walls and ceilings and rusted iron bars disintegrating onto my body and clothes. I peered into many of the cells and then scurried down the rusty plank toward the slightly-more sturdy rusted stairs.





Though I’m sure I’ll give in eventually and hunt for ghosts all night, I was satisfied wandering through the prison during the day. In addition to our regular self-guided tour, we took a “Behind the Scenes” guided tour of the nooks and crannies of the prison. For $5.00, it was quite a value! We spent an hour and a half with our guide, exploring the basement, solitary confinement, the attic, the armory, both cell wings, and learned the history of the prison and the changes it underwent throughout the years.

It’s actually a beautiful building. Even the decrepit parts were majestic, in their way. But I felt no need to wander around there at night with a flashlight and EVP device, crouching in musty, cramped cells looking for ghosts. After all, Ohioan Jeffrey Dahmer’s picture is hanging among the Ohio Penal System artifacts at OSR, and I have no desire to meet him, dead or alive! Nor any of his prison pals, either.

We Got Shawshanked!

The Shawshank Redemption

…voted 2nd best movie of all-time (second to The Godfather) on imdb
…nominated for 7 Academy Awards in 1994
…deemed best film never to have won Best Picture in a 2005 BBC poll
…earned 3 and 1/2 stars from Roger Ebert

If you haven’t seen the film based on a short novella by Stephen King, rent it. If you’ve seen it and loved it, head to Mansfield.



Mansfield, Ohio is a small city in the middle of Ohio with a big claim to fame. It’s where most of the filming of The Shawshank Redemption occurred, and this August the town will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its success.

We were graciously invited by the Mansfield & Richland County Visitors Bureau to explore The Shawshank Trail. It began with a complimentary Shawshank package at the Quality Inn. I wondered if I should worry about a prison-movie package at a hotel, but curiosity got the best of me. What could a Shawshank package mean? A room behind bars with bread & water for breakfast? A rock hammer and a poster so that I could eventually work my way out?


Not quite. We entered the room to find a bevy of goodies relating to the movie: two tickets for the Ohio Reformatory tour, chocolate “prison” bars from The Squirrel’s Den, Jail House Java from the Blueberry Patch, a Shawshank tote bag, Andy’s Diet Root Beer, Red’s Strawberry Soda and a driving map to explore the rest of the Shawshank movie sites around town.

Brooks Was Here. So Was Red.

Our first stop was The Squirrel’s Den, where we wanted to see the chocolate replica of Brooks’ apartment. Brooks, as you may recall, was the old man released from prison, who had trouble adjusting to life outside bars.


A block from there, we stopped at the park bench where Brooks sat and fed the pigeons, hoping his jailbird crow Jake would return. Then two blocks down, we saw the Bissman Building, which was used as the external façade of the apartment building Brooks moved to.




Later when we toured the prison (which I’ll feature in a separate post), we learned that the actual room featured in the film was a small room near the chapel inside the prison. Here we saw the famous “Brooks Was Here. So Was Red” etching in the wood.



Other Shawshank Sites:

You may recognize the background in this scene. This is the outside of the prison where Red and Andy often sat and talked in ‘the yard.’ It’s also the imposing stone wall that Andy first sees when he arrives in shackles at prison and enters the gate.



A few miles away, on private property across from Malabar Farm is the oak tree that Red goes searching for at the end of the movie. There is no stone wall, and the tree looks a little different now that a tornado took down half of it, but trust me. This is the tree.

In addition, other Mansfield businesses have created Shawshank paraphernalia.
— The Ed Pickens Café has a Shawshankwich sandwich.
— Cypress Wine Cellars has bottled a Reformatory Red wine.
— Two Cousins Pizza offers a Redemption Pie.
— The Olivesburg General Store has a Shawshank Sundae, and is where you’ll find the original ceiling lights from the movie.
— Relax, It’s Just Coffee revs up with Shawshank coffee.
— Eatmor Bundt Cake has cooked up a Shawshank bundt cake
— And, of course, the Quality Inn & Suites Mansfield has put together a Shawshank Trail package, a Shawshank Reunion package, and offers Haunted Mansfield packages, too.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a town embrace their Hollywood claim to fame in the way Mansfield has. But maybe it’s because few films are as legendary as this one.
 

The Third Time Wasn't a Charm

I've just returned from my third business trip to Brussels - one of my favorite cities in the world. Each time I go, I sit or stand in the Grand Place for hours, eating waffles and watching people go by. I think it's become my 'happy place.'

But on this trip to Brussels, I did not travel alone. I went with my boss and another colleague, and my beloved Brussels lost some of its magic. No, that's not true. Brussels was as magnificent as ever; I just didn't get to savor the ambiance the way that I have before. This time, it was all business.

I took my companions to the Grand Place since this was their first time there. We looked at it briefly, snapped a few pictures, and then walked on to see Manneken Pis and all the waffle stands. They liked the architecture and the romantic allure of the square, but this was business, and we moved on.

But at night, after we returned to our hotel from dinner, I ditched my crew and ran back to the Grand Place, where I had a few magical moments to myself again. Not nearly enough, though. Not nearly enough.

Swimming On the Edge

When I was on the plane traveling to Singapore, the guy next to me started talking about all his trips to Singapore and things he’d seen and done. I was amazed that he was telling me to go places that hadn’t been featured in any of the tour books I’d read. Then he pulled out his ipad and showed me a picture he took of this Infinity pool at night with Singapore’s gorgeous skyline in the background, and I knew I had to make a trip to this hotel.

It’s supposed to cost $20 to go up to the Skypark at the top if you’re not a hotel guest, but for some reason, my co-worker and I were waved on as long as we went to Ku De Ta at the top for a drink. We did. Our drinks were $25 a piece, but I have to say, the views were worth it. We would have stayed for the breathtaking views of the skyline at night like my plane companion had, but a storn was rolling in.

Still, I was not disppointed. From here I saw the Infinity pool on one side and then all the ships pulling into port off the other side. I loved that view even more! They looked like little toy battleships all askew, as far as I could see. Imagine it. This is just what fit into my viewfinder, but there were ships as far as the eye could see. It was magnificent!

What I Learned at the Peranakan Museum

One of the best things about traveling is learning about other cultures. I knew that Singapore was made up of Chinese, Indian and Malay (not Malaysian, as I always thought), but I knew little about the Peranakan people until I took a fabulous tour of their heritage museum.

I joined a lovely group of women from Tasmania and we all fawned over the beautiful intricacy of the museum's treasures.

Our tour guide explained the things we were looking at and told us a little about the culture and beliefs. His stories were fantastic. For instance, he told us about this funeral altar. You can just make out the coffin behind the flowered altar, covered in an intricate quilt. This coffin would have been left open for three days while the doctor and the wife of the dead sat beside it, keeping away pregnant cats so that they did not suck out the soul of the deceased. And what would have happened if a cat got past them and did that very thing? The deceased would have turned into a zombie!



But hold on. Let's back up. Before death comes marriage, and there are lots of wedding traditions among the Peranakan. For one thing, the Peranakan women are known for their intricate beadwork and embroidery skills. Traditionally, the bride-to-be would embroider beautiful beaded slippers for her mother-in-law. It made me think about my soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Should I tell her I expect some? Think she has time to whip up a pair while she works on wedding plans? Probably not. I'll let it go.



But wait! Before we can talk about wedding presents and ceremonies, we need to talk about how I would have picked her as a bride for my son if we were Peranakan. What I would value most highly is her cooking abilities. Girls are raised very traditionally and master embroidery and cooking. Then, when they're 16, they're married off to boys aged 19 or 20. But how to choose, how to choose? Oh, here's how. As a mother, I would hang out around the kitchen windows of the girls' houses and listen in to what's going on while she cooks. If her mother is telling her to pay attention, or pots and pans are falling, she may not be "The One."


But once I have chosen the right girl, they will have a beautiful wedding procession.

Then, on their wedding night, they will be presented with two chickens: a hen and a cock. These chickens will have been starved for a day or two and put underneath the wedding couple's bed. Then, the father (Baba) will throw down some rice and the first chicken to emerge will be a prediction of the sex of their firstborn child. Apparently 8 of of 10 times, the fowl are right.

Hhmmm.. I'd been struggling with what to get the wedding couple for a present. Maybe a couple of chickens? If my daughter-in-law beads me some slippers, I'll do this for her in return.

The wedding bed is actually comprised of two beds: a single and a double. If the couple is fighting, one can sleep in the single bed. Smart!

The Spectacular Singapore Skyline

Forgive me, Cincinnati, but I think I have a new favorite skyline.

The Merlion statue spouting water into the Singapore River

From Merlion Park, the Esplanade bank and to the right, the Singapore Flyer.

Buildings reflected on the Singapore River.

The beautiful lotus flower-shaped Arts & Sciences Museum.

In back, the Sands Marina hotel and Sky Bar. In front, part of the double helix pedestrian bridge.

Cruise Catastrophe

A friend of mine just returned from a much-anticipated Western Caribbean cruise. It was the same one I took a couple years ago and raved about. We loved everything about our cruise and had a marvelous time. But Sam was not so lucky.

She got caught in the Hurricane Isaac fiasco. The top two decks of the cruise ship were closed. They had 50mph winds and rain. They couldn't dock at one of their ports of call and couldn't even disembark at Tampa, where they'd left from. Instead, they had to circle around Florida in the choppy waves of the sea and dock at Port Canaveral. Then they took a three-hour bus ride to Tampa and got caught in Republican Convention traffic.

It was a disaster. Needless to say, Sam and her husband never want to cruise again. I don't think I'd want to either, if that had been my introduction to cruising. Luckily, it wasn't. I'll be cruising again someday. :)

The Places We Laid Our Heads in Canada

Our trip to Canada was more logistically diverse than many of my trips. We moved around a lot and stayed in a variety of places: a mystery hotel, a haunted hostel, a huge hotel, and a bed & breakfast. Each had its advantages and disadvantages. I’ll share a recap here of things I wish I’d considered.

1. Travelocity Top Secret Hotel – Holiday Inn, Grand Island, NY

An inviting lobby definitely sets the tone for me when I stay at a hotel.

We didn’t know what we were getting with this hotel. I booked it blindly through Travelocity’s Top Secret Deals. All I knew was that it was rated a 3-star hotel and was within the Buffalo/Niagara Falls vicinity. Since we were only staying overnight, I wasn’t too concerned with whether we’d like the place or not. As it turns out, it was a very nice hotel and we were sorry that we didn’t have more time to check out all the amenities that the hotel had to offer.

What Worked: The price and the hotel rooms were great. I’d do it again.

Something to Consider: The hotel was located out-of-the-way on an island. If we ever go back, I’d choose the hotel again, but would definitely allow myself more time there.

2. HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel

As far as hostels go, the HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel was comfortable and clean. And it’s definitely a novel place to stay.

This was actually our main destination for the Canada trip. As amateur ghost hunters, my husband and I couldn’t resist staying in a haunted jail, and it had been years since I’d stayed at a hostel. The place was both kitschy and authentic. It was definitely a unique place to stay and was more private than I’d imagined. The location was great; we walked everywhere in Ottawa. And the Crime and Punishment Tour we took of the jail filled in the background story.

What Worked: We had a unique experience and learned the history of the jail and the hauntings. Plus, the hostel is centrally located, so you can walk everywhere.

Something to Consider: It’s an old jail, so there is no air conditioning. Fans in each cell helped. The bunk beds were creaky and not that comfortable, but okay for a night or two.

3. Delta Chelsea Hotel – Toronto

A nice view is always a perk.

The Delta Chelsea is the largest hotel in Canada and was a bustling hub-bub. The rooms were very nice and again, there were all kinds of amenities we just didn’t have time to take advantage of. The hotel is in the perfect location; close to Yonge-Dundas and accessible to all the vibrant activity of the city.

What Worked: Great location and nice rooms.

Something to Consider: The hotel is Canada’s largest, so be prepared for lots of people and noise. The rooms were quiet, but if you’re looking for a quiet getaway, this may not be the place.

4. A Hundred Church Bed & Breakfast – Stratford, Ontario

B&B’s are a smart choice for the Stratford Theatre crowd.

There are several B&B’s to choose from in Stratford. Our host, Tim, was very nice and our arts & crafts room was very pretty. We had the luxury of a private bathroom, which many B&B’s didn’t offer. What’s nice about staying in a B&B in Stratford is that you’re close to the center of town and can walk and shop and attend the theater without having to drive and pay to park. The closest hotels/motels are just out of town, so you wouldn’t have this luxury unless you chose to stay in one of the many B&B’s.

What Worked: Central location that allowed us to walk. A cozy room and nice conversation with our housemates over breakfast. And since we were all in town to attend the theatre, we could compare notes and share reviews of the plays we saw.

Something to Consider: I didn’t think about this when I made our reservation, but I’d booked other activities for us in the morning that conflicted with breakfast time. Our host fed us earlier than the other guests, but I felt bad. Next time I think of staying in a B&B, I’ll pay closer attention to our itinerary to see whether it really works for us to stay there instead of a hotel where we’re on our own for meals.

Overall, we had wonderful accommodations at every place we stayed during our Canadian adventure. But if I had to choose one place as my favorite, I’d probably pick the Delta Chelsea. If I travel Toronto again, that’s where I’ll stay.

The Pros and Cons of Returning to Haiti

Children at one of the orphanages we visited.

I recently ran into a woman I'd met in Haiti in 2008. She was surprised I remembered her, but I wasn't. Going to Haiti on a mission trip was life-changing. I think I remember everyone I met there. It was an experience I'll never forget.

At the time, I thought I'd like to return someday and bring my daughter with me. There were two young teenagers on our trip and I could tell that their lives would never be the same after going there. In fact, I think one will likely be a missionary, at least for part of her life. I wanted to bring my daughter, too, so she could see how other people live, and see how lucky we are in America and how much we take for granted. She's not a selfish girl at all, but she is perhaps a little sheltered. I want her to experience more than life at home. I wanted to take her to Haiti.

But now the subject has actually come up. Now my husband and I are actually considering making the same trip down there that I did years ago. And now that it's a possibility, I'm not sure about taking her after all.

So I decided the best course of action would be to make a Pro/Con list.

Pro:
1. It would be a wonderful, life-altering experience.
2. She would love helping out in the orphanages and would be a big help.
3. Going as a family would be incredible. We could make sure she's safe, and we would always share in this experience.


Con:
1. Some parts of the trip are dangerous, as any trip to an impoverished nation is.
2. Some parts of the trip might scare her; seeing people hurt or begging might upset her too much.
3. The vaccinations, mosquitos, and potential for disease are real concerns.
4. The bus trips and sitting on the back of a tap-tap is almost a deterrent for me, let alone her. It's dangerous.
5. Selfishly, I don't know if I want to spend my vacation time volunteering this year.

But the biggest consideration is that she's not sure she wants to go. She would, and would willingly help out without complaining, but maybe we need to wait another year or two. In fact, I'm not sure I've quite recovered from the 2008 trip. I may need another year or two myself.

Mosaika: The New Pelicans

Parliament by day

When I was a kid, we took a family vacation to Florida. We spent a couple days at the beach, playing in the sand and surf, not realizing that we were unaware of what my mother was doing.

When we got home, we watched the home videos she took. There we saw pelicans perched on posts in the water. Pelicans flying toward shore. Pelicans landing on water. Pelicans flapping their wings in front of the sunset. Pelicans, pelicans, pelicans. She'd been a woman obsessed.

In Canada, I traded pelicans for parliament.

At least half of my pictures from Ottawa are pictures of the Parliament building. I have pictures during the daytime; pictures during the changing of the guards; pictures on Day 1 and more on Day 2; and lots of pictures of the Parliament building at night. That's when they do Mosaika -- a narrated laser-light show that tells the story of Canada's history. They do it every night at 10pm July-September and it's completely free. Thousands of people gather on the lawn and ooh and aah over the spectacle of it. I'm not sure everyone took minute-by-minute pictures like I did. But I think everyone enjoyed it.

Unfortunately, my camera didn't cooperate as fully as I would have liked. But here's a taste of what we saw. It was fantastic, and ended up being my favorite part of the trip.

Parliament by night (blurry, but beautiful)

Trust me, this is just a sampling. It was GORGEOUS!

We Went to Jail. Directly to Jail.

Our cell.

That's where we stayed in Ottawa -- in jail. A haunted one, no less. The Old Carleton County Gaol, which is now the HI-Ottawa Jail Hostel. We stayed in cell #8.

Outfitted with twin bunk beds, a desk, a storage locker, and a fan (Hallelujah!), we had it much better than the prisoners ever did. In fact, our small cell was actually three combined. Back when it was an actual prison, the cell was basically only as large as a lice-ridden cot.

To get our bearings and learn more about accommodations for the next few nights, we took a Crime and Punishment Tour of the jail. Here we learned about the horrendous conditions of this "model prison" which housed prisoners as young as 7-years-old from 1862 until it finally closed in 1972. 1972! It's almost unimaginable.

Suicide screens filled the gaps from floor to floor so that no one could throw themselves (or a guard) over the staircase. Our tour guide also pointed out the holes in the backs of the stairs, which served their own purpose. The holes allowed the guards to see the shoes of anyone going up or down the stairs, which was telling, since prisoners and guards wore different shoes.

We were taken up to Death Row: three small cells that were separated from a 4th cell. The prisoner facing execution was kept in the 4th cell until he was walked in front of the other three on his very short path to the noose and trapdoor at the end of the hall. The guards would announce, "Dead man walking," while the crowd outside waited. Then a bag was placed over the prisoner's head, the noose placed around his neck, and then the executioner stepped on a pedal, releasing the trap door where the prisoner dropped to his death. You can still see the trapdoor of the gallows in the hostel's courtyard.

Only three men were executed there; all proclaiming their innocence until the end, and all having very little evidence against them. So it would be no wonder that their ghosts (and others) are rumored to wander the halls of the hostel.

Guards

Watching the changing of the guard at Parliament Hill in Ottawa made me think of my son. He served on the Honor Guard in the Air Force last summer and loved all the pomp and precision of it. As I watched them, I thought of him.

People on Glass Floors...

...Shouldn't drag their wives.

My husband and I went up to the observation deck of the CN Tower. Now, I'm afraid of heights, but I was okay on the ledge, looking out past a screen to the city below. In fact, it was very relaxing and the city was beautiful!

Inside, there is a glass floor that you can walk across. If you look down, you can see just how far 118 stories is. My legs were going to water just watching other people. It was a madhouse there. Everyone was laying on the glass floor, taking selfie pictures of themselves with the drop as backdrop. My husband shouldered his way onto the glass platform and goaded me to come out there, too.  Finally, I couldn't resist just *seeing* what it would be like and unpressed myself from the wall to sit on the edge of the glass. I was going to keep my legs on the stable floor 'just in case.' In fact, I didn't even have to look down. I'd just take the picture and look later.

But then, my husband, who I vowed to love, honor, and trust -- grabbed me under the arms and dragged me out to the middle of the floor where it was all glass.

I scrambled and screamed and clawed my way back to the solid floor. Then he had the nerve to say I should come back out because I didn't get my picture taken. As if!

The glass floor supports the weight of 14 hippos. But I'm not testing that theory. Instead, I'm dreaming up my revenge... he'd better watch his step someplace else.

What Are These Ghosts Doing?

I'm currently staying with my husband in a haunted jail hostel in Ottawa, Canada. I'll write more about it in the days to come, but for now, we're wondering what these ghosts are doing. We woke up to find that all of our toiletries were opened and oozing in the plastic bags we'd put them in. (Thank goodness!)  The cap came off his deodorant. The toothpaste is everywhere. And the screw-top lid to our travel-size shampoo was off and shampoo filled the bottom of that bag.

I know the people who stayed here didn't have access to amenities like ours. Are they jealous? Or are they just trying to mess with us? (Pun intended.)

Travelocity Top Secret

I'm not a gambler by nature. Adventurous, yes. A calculated risk-taker sometimes. A gambler, no. But when I saw the mysterious Travelocity Top Secret Hotel option on their website as I browsed for an overnight hotel on our way to Canada, I almost couldn't resist indulging in this grab-bag approach.

What did I have to lose? I figured. We were only staying there overnight. It was simply a place to rest our heads before we got up in the morning and went on our merry way.  Even if it sucked, we could tough it out for the night. Besides, I was looking at budget hotels anyway. Why not gamble on better accommodations at the same, or an actually lower price? Surely Travelocity wasn't going to put us in a raunchy, scary, oh-my-God-we're-gonna-die hotel, were they? They wanted our business, right?

I hesitated all day.  So I asked myself, Do I feel lucky?  And yes, I did.

So - click. I booked our mystery room.

How could I resist? A 3-star hotel was a step up from the budget hotels I was looking at, and $63 was less than those budgets hotels, too.

Here's where they put us:
The Holiday Inn on Grand Island, NY.

We arrived at night and walked into the spacious and busy lobby. We were road-weary and ready for bed, which was a shame because the hotel had tons of amenities that we didn't have time to explore. There were indoor and outdoor pools, restaurants, room service, massage and reflexology spas, wedding services, a coffee shop, etc., etc. But we were just there to sleep.

The next morning we got back on the road and passed by beautiful waterfront houses and wished we had time to explore. Our Top Secret deal was a great bargain. Definitely worth the $63 price. I would have even paid the full $115 they were asking.

The lobby

Underground Manchester

The cavern leading into the other chambers.

"Imagine it," our guide Ed encouraged us. "Every night you face the same question: go to the shelter, where it's stinky, crowded and noisy. Where you probably don't get much sleep. Where your neighbors have come after downing a few pints at the pub to make it through another night at the shelter and then are sick and belligerent while they're down there.

It's pitch black. A doctor is walking around spraying everyone with disinfectant. There are 30 toilets for 1300 people. Chances are, you're not going to get any sleep down there and you'll have to work in the morning.

So, do you do it? Do you take cover in one of Manchester's bomb shelters? Or do you stay at home and risk it?"

Ed painted the scene as we stood in the opening chamber of Manchester's largest WWII bomb shelter. I tried to fathom what it must have been like. I could see the remains of a few notches in the brick and stone wall where the bunk beds had been fastened. I looked over to the not-so-private toilets. We were already underground, so I couldn't imagine having to extinguish all light and spend the night here in pitch black darkness. But neither could I imagine worrying about Nazi aircraft flying overhead and bombing my city while I slept. It's not in my realm of experience.

The shelters were bigger and more spacious than I'd expected. They'd been built in the 1830's as a canal route for boats, and ran under the Great Northern Warehouse which was now owned by the Great Northern Leisure Company, who let Manchester Walking Tours have access to the length of tunnels they still owned for the Underground Manchester Tour.

Though we're not at war right now, and bomb shelters would do no good against nuclear attack and any other threatening attack we'd face in this day and age, the tunnels are still hidden away, with no access other than that granted to the tour company.

 

In order to get in, we'd headed into the AMC Theatres and then were ushered into an office by a security guard who then let us into a locked down that lead down into the chamber where we stood with Ed, imagining what choices we might make if we'd been faced with air raids by the Nazis.

"On Christmas night, 1940, they heard a lot of commotion and loud noise and bombing. There was panic in the shelter. The next morning when the 'All Clear' was given, some people emerged from the shelter to discover that their homes, a few minutes walk from the Camp Street Shelter where they'd stayed, were gone."

Ed went on to tell us that it wasn't until after the war that a fascist named Moseley who'd left England and was a Nazi supporter, told American interrogators that Hitler had never planned to bomb that area. He'd been taken by the grandeur of the Midland Hotel, where our tour group met that night. He planned to use it as his headquarters once Germany occupied England. With 68% air bombing accuracy, he didn't plan to drop any bombs in that general area.

But the people who lived there in 1940 didn't know that. All they knew was that they might or might not survive the night. They thought they'd have a better chance hidden underground in a bomb shelter. If only they could get up the gumption to stay there. Or did it take more courage to risk it and stay home? That was the question, night after night, after night.

Validation

My brother is headed to London and asked me-- ME -- what he should pack. He said since I travel a lot, and I'd just been to England, he wanted to know what I thought. What I thought was  -- Wow. You made my day. He didn't know it, but his question made me feel like people see me as the traveler I want to be.

He said he wants to travel light; just a backpack if he could manage it. He's going for a week. I think he can definitely manage it. He ran through his list of clothes and I suggested he bring a jacket and umbrella and re-think whether he needs a nice outfit. He's in charge of his own itinerary. What would he need a nice outfit for? It would require another pair of shoes, too. He wondered whether he needed a real camera, or whether his iPhone would do. Definitely just an iPhone. His pictures are solely for his pleasure.

The actual advice I gave him doesn't really matter. What mattered to me is that he asked me. And seemed to look at me as some sort of expert. I'm not, but I appreciated it.