iSawNEWS » History

San Xavier Mission – Tucson, AZ

Admin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:50:55 +0000

The San Xavier del Bac Mission, located just south of Tucson, Arizona, was built from 1783 – 1797 by a pair of Franciscan Fathers. It has been in continuous operation as a functioning parish church of the Diocese of Tucson since its construction. The mission mixes styles from Moorish, Byzantine and late Mexican Renaissance architectures – its elaborate arches, domes, and towers can be seen on the horizon for miles around the area.

The Mission has a long and fascinating history, and is currently undergoing extensive internal and external restoration. Despite the restoration activities, the Mission is open to the public daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., for visitors of all faiths. Regular services are also held, and all visitors are welcome to attend. Admission is, of course, free.

The building itself is a work of art, but a self-guided tour of the interior of the Mission also reveals many stunning wall paintings, frescoes, and gilt artwork. It is a landmark destination that anyone visiting the Tucson area should be sure to visit.

Photo Credits (in order of appearance):
- “San Xavier Mission, near Tucson, AZ” by Crunchy Footsteps on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “San Xavier Mission, Arizona, 1990″ by Fliss Phil on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “San Xavier del Bac Mission” by Dr Starbuck on Flickr Creative Commons.

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10 Tips for an Authentic Holiday in Ireland

Admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:42:06 +0000

Ireland is known for hospitality, pubs and craic (pronounced crack it loosely translates to fun or to have a good time). Unfortunately, too many travelers miss out on the craic. Allow me to help you find it and make your Irish holiday one filled with fond memories.

Photo by Jody Halsted www.havekidwilltravel.com

10) Drive yourself. This is truly the best way to tour Ireland. The pace is your own. You can follow the intriguing sign for hot tea and scones or try to find the castle you think you see in the distance. In Ireland, getting lost is half the fun. Really. The only time to avoid driving is in the city of Dublin (they have fabulous public transport) or if you want to do the Ring of Kerry (though I recommend skipping that and driving the Dingle peninsula). Think of it this way; do you want to meet the Irish or other tourists?

9) Get off the highway. Unless you are in a hurry to catch your flight, get off the highway. Many of the greatest sights in Ireland are far off the beaten path (Glendalough, the medieval town of Kells and the Burren to name only a few). Sure, you may get lost (see tip #10) but in Ireland you don’t remain lost for long- it’s not that big!

8) When you visit a pub sit at the bar. It’s a fact- locals sit at the bar; tourists sit at tables. So grab a seat and say hello. You’ll surely make a few friends if you buy them a pint and you’ll be invited to join in on the craic. If you’re traveling with kids (as we do) sitting at the bar isn’t the best option. Pick a table as close to the bar as possible and order your drinks from the bartender. Strike up a conversation. If you’re lucky the craic might move to your table!

7) Ask questions. It doesn’t matter if you have your day planned or if you know where you’re going; ask what you should see, where you should eat or the best way to get to your destination. This is the best way to learn where the locals eat, find the best music and get tips on sites that most tourists miss!

Poll na Bron portal tomb in the Burren Photo by Jody Halsted

6) Visit the sites. That’s why you’re there. But instead of rushing through take time to talk to the staff. They are filled with information and can give you amazing insights on the history of a place and any interesting quirks it may have. Engage the guides in conversation; ask about their favorite feature, inquire about legends, ask about locations associated with the site you are visiting. Who knows, it may lead you somewhere you never imagined.

5) Attend a local sporting event. Don’t worry about not knowing the rules; nothing will gain you more new buddies than cheering on their team. Hurling is an uniquely Irish sport, or try rounders which is similar to baseball. To learn more about Irish sports visit the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) website.

4) Kids, no matter where they live, like the same things. Step back and relax at a park or playground. Children are so outgoing they are sure to find a new friend quickly. Follow their lead and say hello. You may just learn about a local children’s festival or a theatre hosting free plays.

3) Be flexible. You never know when an opportunity will present itself. The day we had planned to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral it was closed for a graduation ceremony. We visited the Dublin Zoo instead- it was November and we practically had it to ourselves. We were invited by the caretaker of the primates to follow him from enclosure to enclosure as he fed them.

2) Relax. Do something you wouldn’t do at home. Join in a song at a pub, dance a ceili. Let go a little; you’re on vacation.

1) Slow down! You’re not going to “see it all” so don’t even try. Savor what you do see and enjoy your vacation.

Jody Halsted shares travel experiences at

her site Have Kid Will Travel. She hopes to

one day live in Ireland.

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Breast Cancer Survivors And Patients Encouraged To Have Medical History Readily Available

Admin — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:28:00 +0000

In the United States, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes, according to the American Cancer Society. Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among woman.
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Los Angeles for The Entitled – Movie Locations #3

Admin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:22:55 +0000

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

I think that should be repeated…a few times – both for confirmation’s sake and to up my word count.

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

I mean, sure, you’ve seen it and loved it, but let’s recap very quickly some of its finer attributes before getting into the locations around Los Angeles you can visit and pay homage.

First of all, it was written by Quentin Tarintino before he got all…well, Tarintino. Directed by Tony Scott before he became the guy that directed Domino. Score by Hans Zimmer – who’s still cool. Some of the most memorable scenes that you’ll still hear quoted to this day, be them about Sonny Cheeba, or Elvis, Sicilians and where they came from or movies made about Vietnam – which bring us to the actors.

Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Dennis Hopper, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman [in his greatest role], Samuel L. Jackson, Brad Pitt, Christopher Walken, James Gandolphini, Michael Rappaport, Saul Rubinek, Chris Penn, Tom Sizemore, and Bronson Pinchot.

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

Now, while most of the movie takes place in Detroit, only in Hollywood would you find a place that was made to look like Detroit – which even sounds strange to write. But if you’ll remember on Clarence’s birthday, he goes to see not one, but “three kung fu movies” – this is where he meets Alabama, in the theater itself.

The beauty lies in how in the world they made a hipsters theater like The Vista into a Motor City dive on a cold evening is beyond me. The place itself is actually worth the hype that all the tapered jean-wearing ironic kids outside claim it to be and well worth a visit should you want to see a movie in the land where they make movies.

The other scene that sticks out in my mind as one to visit would be The Safari Inn – this is not only the context of Brad Pitt’s funniest dialog ever, but also where Gandophini took his character to such depths, that there was no question about who to cast in The Sopranos.

And while it’s a drive out to Burbank, it brings back what you wish all movie locals would. There’s the overhang where Alabama kisses Clarence and tells him what she’s going to do until he gets back, the exterior of the room that housed one of the most intense scenes in cinematic history and the street they all pull out on after [spoiler].

So visit ‘em both.

And when someone asks why, you can tell them:

There is no better movie in the history of movies than True Romance.

Well done, you’re really sounding like you believe that.

All photos by author. More photos here. Dig.

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Hawaii’s Aloha Festival Parade

Admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:19:52 +0000

Aloha, hula!

Hawaii puts its rich cultural history on display for visitors in many ways, but once a year, they really pull out all the stops with the Aloha Festival.

On my recent visit to Oahu to explore the island and experience the festival, I was hosted by the very friendly and laid-back representatives of the Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau, so I had a bit of an inside look into how Hawaii is faring these days. It was hard to tell that tourism is down. Everywhere I looked there were tourists, and most of those were happy and smiling. With perfect weather, lush surroundings, and gracious staff at almost every place I visited, how could one not be happy?

(Don’t forget, you can enter to win a trip to Hawaii until October 23rd. Details here.)

For a busy mother of two, this trip held lots of promise of down time and relaxation. But. Once I got to Hawaii and there was an undiscovered delight lurking around every turn, I found I couldn’t stop my mind from spinning even when my body was exhausted. I only had just over three days there. “I’ll sleep on the plane,” I told myself.

My home base was the famous Waikiki beach area. As I first drove down Kalakaua Ave. with its upscale shops and spotless sidewalks and impeccable landscaping, I couldn’t help but think it was just like Beverly Hills, but with humidity. Off the side streets, however, Waikiki had a little bit more grit and personality. I stayed at a hotel one building removed from the beach, but high enough that my room had a view of the beach and Diamond Head beyond. Okay, it wasn’t oceanfront, but it was better than no hotel room with a partial view of Diamond Head. I found everything to be pretty convenient from this location: it was only a quick walk to a selection of restaurants with a good price range, shops, convenience stores, or the beach. For certain jaunts I took the beach route which was out of my way but prettier than walking on the street, and that’s saying a lot because the streets are pretty enough.

Edge of Waikiki at Dawn

Let’s talk about the streets. Everywhere else on the island you can drive like a normal person, but Waikiki is full of one way streets. The main drag, Kalakaua, runs west to east, and if you go too far you have to turn north before Diamond Head and loop back around the west to east road, Ala Wai, and carefully choose a north to south street to get back down to where you started. I got pretty good at this after a couple of times. There’s so much to look at in Waikiki, it’s easy to get distracted, so just stick to your directions or keep your ear out for your GPS voice thingy, and pay attention! If you really want to slow down and check things out, it’s better just to walk, because then you get to really look at stuff like this:

Duke Kahanamoku, draped with lei offerings, at Waikiki

The main reason for my visit was to check out Hawaii’s Aloha Festival. In its 63rd year, this annual celebration of Hawaiian culture was a month of events including a block party, a royal court crowning ceremony, and a finale in the form of an elaborate parade. But this wasn’t just any parade. Oh sure, there were marching bands and funny cars, but the highlight of this parade was the representation of each of the Hawaiian islands by its ceremonial pa’u, or equestrian, unit. Fourteen Hawaiian organizations entered floats decorated with flowers and other organic material, and four hula schools danced in the parade in as part of the central theme of the festival which highlights hula this year.

I was escorted around the parade preparation grounds to watch the floats being built the night before by volunteer crews who stayed up through the night to get their jobs done. Under a typical glorious sunset, the teams worked unhurriedly, which I came to realize was the island way.

Applying seed pods to a float

Hawaiian Airlines float detail in progress

Then before some of them were finished, perhaps, I got up before dawn to walk down to the park where the pa’u units were getting dressed and set up for their march. For them, getting dressed was no easy feat. The princesses who rode to represent their islands wore dresses that hang down the side of the horses, and the skirt of the dress is made up of long lengths of billowing fabric that had to be expertly draped around them by a specialist.

Pa'u princess getting draped

They also wore beautiful fresh flower arrangements in their hair and around their necks in the form of thick long leis, which also hung on the coordinatingly dressed horses. Each unit had a special crew of pooper scoopers as well, who had their own very elaborately decorated poop wagon. (Incidentally, the pooper scooper teams got the most consistent applause from the parade viewers later.)

Poop wagon from Lana'i pa'u unit

Because it was dawn, I stepped around the pa’u teams lightly, trying not to make a sound and distract the dressers from their tasks. But the air was charged with a lively excitement. Children ran around us all, horses pawed impatiently, and when the sun broke over the skyline the flowers picked up its light and everything burst with color. This is the moment I will remember the most when I look back on my whirlwind trip to Oahu. Sunrise, ceremony, and flowers.

Sun-kissed pa'u princess

Color-coordinated horse

The parade itself was resplendent and wonderful. I am a sucker for a marching band, even if it’s a junior high school and they’re uncoordinated and terrible. Bless their little hearts for marching in the hot sun and sweating to death under their uniforms. Bless everyone in the parade, on that note, because it turned out to be a very hot afternoon and the parade route along Kalakaua Avenue was a long stretch of hot concrete and tall buildings. Despite the heat and sun, the floats and the pa’u units held up nicely by the time they got to the midpoint of the parade, where I sat near the reviewing stand so I could hear the announcer’s description of each spectacle as it went by.

The princesses and horses keep their cool in the heat

Coolest marching band uniforms, ever

Hawaii's military bases were well-represented in the parade

The excitement and the heat finally got to me, however, and I needed a rest by the pool before I headed out to my next adventure of the day. I counted myself lucky to be staying in Waikiki, then, but later when I got to the North Shore, I changed my mind. Stay tuned for North Shore tales, coming up.

More photos of the parade and prep in my Flickr set.

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Favre takes it to the Packers: Vikings win 30-23 (AP)

Admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:58:13 +0000

AP – Brett Favre added another feat to his overflowing resume: He’s the first quarterback in history to beat all 32 NFL teams.

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Four Washington DC Landmarks Featured in The Lost Symbol

Admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 01:05:11 +0000

I’m a pretty big fan of Dan Brown, so of course I purchased a copy of The Lost Symbol the week that the book came out. I read it in a day and really enjoyed it (though “Angels and Demons” remains my favorite of the “Robert Langdon” books). More than any other reaction I garnered from the book, I was left with an increased desire to visit some of the historical landmarks of Washington D.C., which is where the book took place.

I’ve always wanted to go, but now I really want to go. Without giving away any of the plot lines of the books, here are four of the landmarks featured in “The Lost Symbol”:

The Library of Congress, along with being the largest library in the world, is “the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress.” The Thomas Jefferson building, which hosts the Library of Congress Experience, is located on 1st Street S.E., between Independence Avenue and East Capitol Street, on Capitol Hill. It is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. There is no charge to visit, though entrance wait times sometimes exist, and vary from 15 to 45 minutes. Tours occur daily, and various concerts, exhibitions, and other events occur throughout the year.

The Washington Monument was built in honor of George Washington, and was constructed in stages between 1848 and 1884. It is located near the west end of the National Mall, between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, and stands over 555 feet tall. It ranges in thickness from 15 feet at the base, to 18 inches at the top. Operating hours for the Monument are 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Entry is free but requires a ticket – tickets can be reserved in advance for a transaction fee by going online at Recreation.gov. Tickets for same-day visits are on a first-come first-served basis and can be obtained from the Washington Monument Lodge along 15th St., beginning at 8:30 a.m. Visitors can take a short elevator ride to the top of the monument and see views of the entire Washington D.C. area, for up to thirty miles.

The US Capitol Building houses the US Senate and House of Representatives. The Visitor Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and is accessed via the East front at First Street and East Capitol Street, NE. Tours are available daily, for free, but advance reservations are required. Exhibitions include the US Constitution, the House and Senate Theaters, and the Statue of Freedom.

The Smithsonian is a complex of 19 museums, 9 research centers, and a zoo. Visitor information, including locations, hours, and maps, is extensive, so visit The Smithsonian’s website for more information. Most museums, including the Smithsonian Castle, the Air and Space Museum, and the American History Museum, are open daily from 10:00 a.m to 5:30 p.m. Tours of the various museums and exhibits are scheduled daily. Per the Smithsonian’s official website,

“The Smithsonian Information Center in the Castle is centrally located at 1000 Jefferson Dr., SW, Washington, D.C. Ten of the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C., span an area from 3rd to 14th Streets between Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue, approximately 1 mile (1.6 km). Because you will do a lot of walking between and within museums, plan to wear comfortable clothing and shoes!”

It is best to visit all four landmarks by using the Washington Metro public transportation. Visit their website for details.

Photo credits (in order of appearance):
- “USA Flag catches the wind” by Will Palmer on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Jefferson Building (Library of Congress)” by Cliff 1066 on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Washington Monument” by Cloud Soup on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Capitol” by Alykat on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Smithsonian Castle Garden” by David Paul Ohmeron Flickr Creative Commons.

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Would Polanski get a pass if he were a paedophile priest?

Admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:16:54 +0000

It’s hard to watch France’s political and cultural elite rush to support filmmaker Roman Polanski against extradition to the United States on a decades-old sex charge and not wonder exactly how they interpret the national motto “liberté, égalité, fraternité.” It’s tempting to ask whether they’re defending the liberty to break the law and skip town, respecting the equality of all before the law and championing a brotherhood of artists who can do no wrong.

(Photo: Roman Polanski, 19 Feb 2009/Hannibal Hanschke)

Here in Paris, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner declared the arrest was “a bit sinister … frankly, (arresting) a man of such talent recognised around the world, recognised in the country where he was arrested — that’s not very nice.” He and his Polish counterpart have written to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the issue. Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand said “just as there is a generous America that we like, there’s also an America that scares us, and that’s the America that has just shown us its face.” Directors, actors and intellectuals have been signing a petition demanding Polanski’s immediate release.

Almost all the focus is on the argument that Polanski is a brilliant director, the charge of unlawful sex with a 13-year old dates back to 1977 and the victim herself says she wants the whole issue to be forgotten. Almost completely ignored is the fact that he fled the U.S. to escape sentencing, which added a crime to the original crime. There is such a widespread assumption that all artists and intellectuals would automatically support Polanski that Paris papers today — both the left-of-centre Libération and the conservative Le Figaro — wrote with an air of surprise that Hollywood was not storming the barricades to back him.

The French Greens leader Daniel Cohn-Bendit made headlines by bucking the trend and saying he was “ill at ease” with the rush to absolve Polanski of raping a minor and the culture minister should have been more cautious in his comments.

Across the Atlantic, by contrast, Hollywood’s hometown paper, the Los Angeles Times, reviewed the objections by Polanski’s supporters and concluded: “Plausible or preposterous, these arguments are eclipsed by a simple fact: Polanski fled the country … the Justice Department and L.A.’s district attorney are right to seek extradition.”

And almost nobody in the media here in France asks the tough questions that Fr. Tom Reese, S.J. (photo at right) did in his Washington Post blog post entitled “Father Polanski would go to jail”:
“Polanski’s defenders … argue that he should not be punished. They say that the girl was willing and sexually experienced and she has forgiven him (after receiving a settlement). They even cite his tragic childhood and life as an excuse. And besides, it is ancient history. Such arguments from paedophile priests would be laughed out of court and lambasted by everyone, and rightly so…

“The Catholic Church has rightly been put under a microscope when 4 percent of its priests were involved in abuse, but what about the film industry? The world has truly changed. Entertainment is the new religion with sex, violence and money the new Trinity. The directors and stars are worshipped and quickly forgiven for any infraction as long as the PR agent is as skilled as a saintly confessor. Entertainment, not religion, is the new opiate of the people and we don’t want our supply disturbed.

“Is there a double standard here? You bet.”

There’s a lot to say about the different ways Americans and French approach the law. But let’s go right to Tom Reese’s question. Do you think Polanski’s supporters cut him slack they wouldn’t think of permitting for a paedophile priest? Is the entertainment industry setting our values?

Follow FaithWorld on Twitter at RTRFaithWorld

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Three Photography Workshop Vacations

Admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:48:08 +0000

Travel to exciting destinations while receiving expert instruction to expand your photography skills!

Y Explore offers custom photography tours/workshops of Yosemite National Park. Learn techniques from expert photography instructors in the dramatic scenery that Yosemite is famous for. Photographic subjects during the tour include granite monoliths and domes, waterfalls, wildflowers, black bears, and other wildlife. All levels of photography experience are welcome. Prices range from $250 to $600 per person, depending on the workshop.

Combine your photography vacation to Northern California with Shasta Cascade regional destinations, such as exploring Historic Highway 99, taking a trip on the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train, or indulging in a luxury houseboat rental from Silverthorn Resort.

Adventure Photo Expeditions are “designed especially for photography, by a photographer”. Plan a trip of a lifetime to such destinations as Mexico, Haiti, India, and France – all while expanding upon your skills as a photographer. Learn from a former photographer for National Geographic. Prices vary according to location and length of tour.

A weekend tour of Carlsbad Caverns in Southern New Mexico, scheduled for February 26 – March 01, 2010, could be combined with a vacation that includes other nearby areas of interest. The New Mexico Bureau of Tourism has a wealth of recommendations and destinations to choose from.

PhotoExperience.net specializes in photography workshops in Peru. Workshops have focused topics and teach photographers how to capture the culture, spirit, and history of the land. Packages range from $2000 and up, and include all instruction & materials, lodging, first & last dinners, all breakfasts & lunches, entrance fees and transfers within Peru.

Take the opportunity while in this exotic land to visit the historic Machu Picchu, the coastal Capital city of Lima, or explore the rainforests near Iquitos.

Photo credits (in order of appearance):
- “Yosemite Falls” by The Tahoe Guy on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Bright Onions” by Maurice on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “besthike.com Ausangate Circuit, Peru” by Rick McCharles on Flickr Creative Commons.

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Scenes from Independence Pass, CO

Admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:32:27 +0000

A bridge in the Grottos Day Use area in Independence Pass, CO.

Independence Pass connects Aspen and Leadville, Colorado via State Highway 82. It is the second-highest paved highway in Colorado, reaching 12,095 feet at its highest. With a 6.5% grade and narrow switchbacks all along the road, traversing Independence Pass is an adventure in the summertime, and prohibited completely in the winter (the road is closed altogether).

The ghost town in Independence Pass, CO.

In the late 1800’s, Independence Pass was the main route into and out of the Roaring Fork Valley during its heyday as a location for silver mining. The town of Independence was established in 1879, and by 1880 was inhabited by 1,000 people. Once the silver ore was completely mined, the population dwindled until the last person moved out in 1912. The ghost town is currently an historic landmark and active archaeological site.

Roaring Fork River

There are pull-offs all along Independence Pass from which visitors can enjoy the views. The Grottos Day Use Area provides an excellent stop for a picnic, and features short entertaining hiking trails along the Roaring Fork River, Lincoln Creek, and among the ice caves.

The Grottos Day Use area.

Vast groves of standing Aspen and Birch trees line the route through the Pass. I highly recommend pulling over, getting out of the car, climbing down among the trees, and looking UP. The scenery was stunning in the summer (we were there in August of ‘09) – I can only imaging how much more so it must be right now, in the fall.

Birch trees along Independence Pass

Photo Credits (all) – Laura Charon.

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