April 6, 2018 - Memories and Plans for Krakow and Jazz Appreciation Month

Tanya's Daily Scoop​
Covering the West Coast & the World
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 6 DAYS

Memories and Plans for Krakow

I can't believe that it's already Friday!

Where did this week go???

Sometimes time really just flies by. From time to time I'm sure we all experience this. 

Anyhow I was looking over travel plans yesterday and happened to come across and glimpse at a trip that I have planned with Cosette in November. CHINA! I booked this almost a year ago (June 2017) and cannot believe that it is now only 7 months away!!!

In my world this is like tomorrow. November is right around the corner.

Sure I have plenty and I do mean plenty going on before that, but perhaps that is why it will be here before we know it!

I guess I'm gonna need to apply for our travel visas soon and start looking at the various tours for this
5 city trip to Asia.

But for now I've got so many more trips to fill with details...
Over the course of this week and as of yesterday I had shared with you Days 1, 2, 3 & 4 for the upcoming Poland, Germany and Beyond trip, so now let's take a look at what I  have planned for Days 5 & 6.
*Before I get ahead of myself I need to make a correction in stating that although what I listed as Day 1 - it is not including our travel day which is technically the real day 1; But for now and for the purpose of the Day to Day planning I will leave it as is.

Poland, Germany and Beyond (note the title change)...
Day 5 - On this day we will be leaving Gdansk after breakfast and heading to Warsaw. Founded in 1200 Warsaw is the sprawling capital of Poland.

Its widely varied architecture reflects the city's long, turbulent history, from Gothic churches and neoclassical palaces to Soviet-era blocks and modern skyscrapers. The city's Old Town was restored after heavy damage during WWII.
​Its heart is Market Square, with pastel buildings and open-air cafes. The Monument of the Warsaw Mermaid at its center is the city’s symbol. -Wiki
​

credit: expedia.com

My plans for Warsaw are simple - to check out the city's Old Town & Market Square, as well as to see the view from the Observation Tower and to find a nice place to have lunch. To my surprise Warsaw has a great number of vegan and vegan friendly eateries that look and sound delicious that it was kinda difficult to choose the one I wanted to try the most! But eventually I chose Lokal Vegan Bistro as where we shall have lunch.
After checking out the bare minimum and enjoying our meal, we will be on the road headed for Krakow!

Day 6 - Still in Krakow checking out The Wawel Castle, Main Square, ​Wawel Cathedral. 

Wawel Cathedral (c)travelincousins.com

Now as a little FLASHBACK check out a couple of the days and the great time Elisa and I had back in 2015.

June 30, 2015: European Rail Trip: Day 6: Krakow

July 1, 2015: European Rail Trip: Day 7: Krakow

Elisa and I, touring Krakow in 2015 (c)travelincousins.com

Well as I'm sure you've noticed, there are no pictures here from our visit to the stables yesterday. Good reason...

I don't think I mentioned that my lovely little point and shoot Canon has not been functioning properly. Frustrating me like crazy.

So my dear sweet Dave bought me a new point and shoot for my birthday. Little did he realize that he bought me the same camera make and model! LOL

Well I have that thoughtful gift still sitting in the box. I have yet to decide what to do with it.

But what I have done is send my frustrating camera back to be repaired - I was brilliant enough to purchase the extended warranty for it.

And now I'm awaiting whether it comes back good as new or what will happen next. I do kinda feel NAKED without my little camera.     

I'll keep you posted!

Time for me to go,
-Travelin' Tanya

Elisa's Daily Scoop
Covering Long Island & NYC Boroughs
​NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 14 DAYS

Jazz Appreciation Month

I'm back!!  It was a little nutty yesterday and I'm sorry, I had to take the day off.  I was getting all my "stuff" together for my taxes.  YUCK!!
April 15th is right around the corner!

With all the illness on my end, and then of course, the Easter holiday, I have not had time to talk about the fact that this month - April - is Jazz Appreciation Month!!

There is so many ways Jazz ties into travel, especially when you consider the number of iconic places, festivals, and historic landmarks that are tied to jazz!!

The celebration of Jazz for a whole month was created in 2001 by John Edward Hasse, PhD, curator of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.  

Jazz Appreciation Month, or "JAM" as it is affectionately called, was created to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz for the entire month of April.

According to the National Museum of American History website:

"JAM is intended to stimulate and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz - to study the music, attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings, read books about jazz, and more."
​

This is the 2018 Jazz Appreciation Month poster, called: Jazz and Justice.  

It is the second in a three-year series (2017, 2018, 2019) featuring the center section of LeRoy Neiman's Big Band, a large-scale painting that hangs on the first floor of the National Museum of American History.

The JAM Posters from 2017 and 2019 feature the left and right side of the painting respectively, so that when all three are hung next to each other, the iconic painting can be recreated!

Big Band is a gift of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation. I just love it!  If you click the link above, ("LeRoy Neiman's Big Band), you can request a free poster!  Supplies are limited, but if you love jazz art, give it a shot!

You may also consider a weekend trip to Washington D.C., with a visit to the National Museum of American History, for all the festivities they have planned!  Not to mention, you will be able to see LeRoy Neiman's Big Band painting up close and personal!

You'll also catch the Cherry Blossom Festival, which goes on through April 15th!!

The 2018 Cherry Blossom Festival will be held March 20 through April 15. (photo credit: cherry blossom watch)

Check out these ideas for enjoying JAM!!

Top 10 Ways to Celebrate
Jazz Appreciation Month

(photo credit: amazon.com)

1. Read Gene Seymour's overview of the music, Jazz: The Great American Art.

2. Read Langston Hughes's First Book of Jazz.

3. Read a biography about one of your favorite jazz musicians​.

4. Attend a jazz concert or other live jazz opportunity at a local concert hall, performing arts organization, church, school, college, or jazz society.

5. Play jazz music at home and talk to your kids about what they like about different musicians, who their favorite jazz
artists are, and more.

6. Watch a jazz documentary, film,
​or performance.

7. Visit a local jazz exhibition, jazz museum, or historic jazz site.

8. Tune into a local jazz radio station or online radio station or playlist.

9. Make a pilgrimage to your favorite jazz city, jazz museum, or to a musician's birthplace or gravesite.

10. Donate to a local performing arts organization, museum, jazz site, or other non-profit who holds jazz programs, concerts, and educational offerings.

A big Jazz fan myself, I'm looking forward to telling you MORE about the things to do, places to go and all around fun facts about jazz.

More to come!

On that "note" - wishing you a jammin' day!!

-E
xoxo