Category Archives: Musings

Musings

France

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France

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Places Visited:

  • Paris
  • Aix-en-Provence
  • Pourrières 
  • Lacoste
  • Bonnieux
  • Vauvenargues
  • Maximin
  • Baume

Paris

French_Tourists

This was not my first time to Paris, so I had no interest in battling it out for a hunchback’s view of Notre Dame, or elbowing my way towards the gaze of Momma Lisa. Instead, I did the Louvre on roller skates and then spent the rest of the time poking around arrondissements, riding bikes and running on the Seine.

I threw enough Euro around to feed a small village, and www.agapesubstance.com was no exception. But it was worth every unfair conversion because, well, it is Paris and there simply is no other.

Tip: Stay in the St Germaine district.

Aix-en-Provence

Provence

After a few wonderful days in Paris it was off on the train to Aix-en-Provence where a rental car was commandeered and put in to perpetual motion around one particular roundabout. Signs for Marseilles, Aix and Avignon passed by repeatedly. The Earth traveled around the sun and then the car was shot in to the gravitational pull of another roundabout.

Tip 1: Get a rental car with GPS, roadmap and a guide book specific to the Provence region.

Tip 2: Always be clear about what side of Aix you are leaving from and relate it to where you are going. Highway exits where you can turn around are not as predominant as they are in the U.S.

Tip 3: There is a parking garage on the south end of town as you enter – use it.

Tip 4: Musée Granet is worth a visit to get a good understanding of what life was like in Aix in the early days, as well as see some of the works of Cézanne, Picasso and others.

Pourrières

Eventually a village with a name that stands for putrid or rotten flesh appeared in the headlights. The Romans obliterated a few testy Galls at the base of Saint-Victoire in 100 B.C. Unfortunately Cézanne was not alive yet to catalogue the blow by blow, but apparently they started to stink up the place and the name Pourrières was born.

 

Tip: There is no reason to stay in Pourrières but there are some great vineyards to visit in close proximity, and the trailhead to hike Saint-Victoire is nearby.

Lacoste & Bonnieux

Biking

The Marquis de Sade called this area home and settled in a little
hilltop village called Lacoste. Interestingly enough, the Savannah College of Art and Design recently did as well. The best route to the ruins is walking through the village. His chateau also serves as a museum of modern art and there are some provocative sculptures and installations.

The nearby village of Bonnieux is also well worth a visit if not simply for lunch and a stroll to the top of the hill.

Tip: There is great road and mountain biking in this area.

Vauvenargues

Vauvenargues

Picasso purchased a not-so-shabby chateau in the nearby village of
Vauvenargues; in fact, he’s buried on the grounds. I know, I know, he’s gotten to be a bit of a cliché, but it is for good reason. The man was a master of many mediums, and you will certainly appreciate them here.

Tip: You must schedule a tour ahead of time as they do fill up.

Maximin

Baum

If you want to look headlong in to Mary Magdalene’s eye sockets then this is the town to visit. I’m not buying the oarless floating boat fable, but it is purported to be Jesus’s very mother that is entombed at the Basilique, which was constructed in the 1200s. The religious fervor extends not only to the beautiful architecture of this cathedral but also to the Sainte-Baume mountains where you will find a spirited walk up to a cave containing another place of worship. The views are gorgeous and granite is all around.

Tip: Another 1.5 km from the cave and you are presented with panoramic views of the Mediterranean.

Wine

I regret not having made it to Arles, Avignon, Cassis, and about a billion other places, but I think we often forget to actually relax on our vacations. I did not forget. Keep in mind there are some wonderful wineries in the Provence region, and plenty of cafes and street corners to sit back and soak it all in.

Final Note

Upon returning to Paris, I was struck by the deep connection to America. Not only are there prominent statues, for example, of Washington and Jefferson, but we share many common bonds when it comes to revolution, liberty and education. In the 1800s many Americans traveled to Paris and the Sarbonne to learn more about medicine and architecture. The Brooklyn Bridge and a myriad of medical procedures wouldn’t exist without the French. Chances are we would not have won the Revolutionary War without them.

So any of you still eating freedom fries, get over it.

Musings

NCAA

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I post this because I know quite a few folks who have been hard at work on the ncaa.com website. Burning the midnight oil at Turner Broadcasting’s headquarters in Atlanta, Drupal developers are bringing some very cool functionality to the Web. Aside from the impressive organization of content, live streaming video, social media, developer toolkit and much more, I especially like the way they have integrated ads in to the experience.

This is a great use case of a media company using open source effectively to build a profitable and user-friendly experience online.

Musings

Florida Mountain Biking

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The_Plunge The_Plunge_Balm_Boyette Ridgeline_Balm_Boyette

While the rest of the country bundles up and digs out, folks here in Florida have to make tough decisions in January like, should I ride a surfboard, bike, both? Went out to Balm Boyette today for a bike ride with a buddy and brought the camera, which is something I have been rather slack about doing lately. Tons of fun rides to do including The Ridgeline Trail.

As the Swamp Club accurately describes,

The Ridgeline Trail, completed in December of 2008, is unlike any trail in our system. The climbs are challenging, but within one’s reach. The descents are definitely steep enough to cause a moment of hesitation, but the smooth run-out at the bottom puts each drop within your grasp. The trail is wide, with few turns; all designed to allow the rider to build and maintain speed. This trail is all about going downhill really fast…

Fun stuff!

Musings

Surfing

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Surf

Tampa. 4:45 AM. Alarm. Surfboard. Car. I-4 East. Thick Fog. 7:00 AM. Cocoa Beach. Thick Fog. Wetsuit. Surfboard. Wax. Sand. Water. Paddle. Waves. Duck Dive. Breathe. Outside. Thick Fog. Quiet. No Landmarks. Drifting? Waves. Overhead. Offshore. Glassy. Paddle. Riding. Smiling. Repeat. 2:00 PM. Surfing. Sunny. Tired. Car. I-4 West. 4:00 PM. Tampa. Days Later. Thinking. Surfing.

Musings

Rally to Restore Sanity

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Rally_to_Restore_Sanity

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I happened to be in Washington, D.C. for the Online News Association 2010 conference when the Rally to Restore Sanity took place. Needless to say, I took a little walk down to the National Mall to see what all the fuss was about. There wasn’t much fuss, just a few hundred thousand people blowing mainly positive steam on a beautiful fall day in the nation’s capital. I’m neither a Democrat or a Republican, but I do need satire and sarcasm, and John Stewart and Stephen Colbert certainly fit the bill.

I produced the above collage from a few pictures I took that day.

Musings

Happy Halloween Deadpool

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Deadpool

This is a little taste of dark geek humor. I originally took this photo in Philadelphia about a month ago at the Christ Church Burial Ground. Benjamin Franklin is buried here along with some other original signers of the Declaration of Independence. I had a little fun with it and added the names of a few technology companies that recently met their maker (click here for a larger view).

Musings

Danes and Gators

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Alligator

Because Scandinavians do not have alligators in their neck of the woods, it is important to get them nice and close when canoeing.

Musings

Oceanfront Getaway at Sebastian Preserve

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Morning_Coffee

If you turn south from Cocoa Beach and wind down A1A you will notice the tropical blue waters of Florida turn a shade more brilliant just before the entrance to Seashell Suites. This little eco-retreat is nestled in the maritime forest that clings to a narrow strip of land defying the periodic pummeling of Atlantic hurricanes.

I like it down here. The beach is natural and beautiful. The only litter on the sand is that of newly hatched turtle shells. Fishermen catch pompano and permit while surfers ride waves through streams of bait fish. Nothing but the sound of waves and wind.

There is something very much removed about Seashell Suites. Maybe it is the good surf, sauna, or comfy beds, but I always feel something loosen within me. While there are many different hotel accommodations dotting the coastline from Cocoa to Vero Beach, I never achieve the same level of relaxation that this oceanfront resort provides.

Seashell Suites also has new managers. Don and Joanna have instituted some welcome changes. Apart from the usual onsite amenities, they have added subtle but important touches like good coffee and continental breakfast. They are also good company. Through many years of experience they know how to strike that important balance between giving you enough space while also making sure your needs are met.

IMG_1871

In the morning when the tide is right, I quietly crawl out of bed, careful not to wake my wife. I walk towards the ocean deck past the cupola where last night a Great Horned Owl landed above me. Down the beach I see beautiful blue waves cresting on the outer reef. The wind is offshore and no one is out.

Musings

Golf is Not My Game

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Robert_Golf

Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina, one would think I would have learned how to play golf. Family play. Friends play. Colleagues play. But I do not play. Not well anyway.

After graduating from Clemson University, I made my way out West. I peddled, paddled, climbed, hiked, and some times even crawled across all kinds of varying terrain, but never once did my trajectory meet a fairway.

Then came graduate school. I was studying business. And you know the saying, a lot of business gets done on the course. Fair enough. So I turned to a classmate who had actually competed in high school and was nothing short of a pro. He gave me some old clubs and took me under his wing….for an hour or two. At least I learned how to keep score and drive the cart.

Directly after obtaining my MBA, I took up a job in marketing and public relations. It wasn’t long after I had gotten over the initial discomfort of being in a new company that my boss  announced there would be an upcoming golf tournament where my participation was required. Yes!

The morning began bright and beautiful as I looked out across the well manicured fairways at Lakeridge golf course. My boss, Jennifer, and I were paired with Charles and Melissa. They worked at a creative agency in town. Charles was also the president of the local advertising association.

It is important to note that while I was at least dressed to be outside, the other three were costumed in outfits cut directly from a golf catalogue. But I didn’t feel awkward at all. Nope, not a bit.

Continue reading Golf is Not My Game →

Musings

Tropical Storm Colin

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Tropical_Storm_Colin

Tropical Storm Colin didn’t turn out to be what many Florida surfers wanted, but for early August when waves are typically nonexistent, who can complain about head high, glassy waves with offshore winds? This narcissistic pic is from Saturday morning. It got bigger and better throughout the day.

We are entering the peak season for hurricanes in the Atlantic. Let’s see what the next couple of months bring…