Forest Bathing

FOREST BATHING
 

definition:  In Japan, a forest bathing trip, called Shinrinyoku in Japanese, is a short, leisurely visit to a forest and is regarded as being similar to natural aromatherapy.

 





This is me, "forest bathing" in Acadia National Park, Maine...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     Not bad, eh??

Mr. Cowan Goes To Washington

A sign of the times
 

Highlights of my week in Washington DC included:

     -warm, sunny autumn weather...gotta love that fall sunshine!

     -monuments, monuments, monuments

     -having the luxury of time to see the city at a nice leisurely pace and spending some time getting a sense of how some native Washingtonians live

     -spending time in the many green spaces the city has to offer

     -it was exciting being there this close to the election

     -lunch at the World Bank Group

     -an Old Town Trolley tour of the city
 





Washington Monument

Honest Abe and Honest Bob

No matter which door we tried, the Obamas weren't taking drop-ins.
Clearly, they missed our calls to host us

I mean bars...really?  Not very subtle!
:)

 

Martin Luther King, Jr Monument-
Mountain of Hope from Mountain of Despair

Vietnam War Veterans Memorial

 

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery

 

Challenger Space Shuttle Memorial

Columbia Memorial

 

The eternal flame for JFK and family

American History Museum to see...

the original Kermit!!



Archie Bunker's chair and

 

    Of course, having some awesome, "locals" to act as tour guides didn't hurt at all either! They were most gracious hosts and I am ever grateful to them for letting me take advantage of their hospitality for an entire week. 
     And that, as they say, has made all the difference!! :)
    

At the Theodore Roosevelt Monument

Some lovely accomodations at the
Kennedy-Warren apartments



  

Along the `Mall`on the steps of the Lincolm Monument

 

 

 

      So, with autumn well under way in Washington, I took this picture on my last day as a sign of things to come before I fly up to Bangor, Maine to see what all the fuss about the New England fall colors is.  I`m sure I won`t be disappointed and, as always, I am looking forward to seeing what is out there!!!

A sign of things to come!

It really is a helluva town!!

Can't have much more of a
typical New York experience than this!

     I can't believe what an amazing week this has been!!  In the past seven days, I  have slept in San Diego, Saskatoon, Washington DC and New York City.  It's been awesome!
      Chilly autumn weather quickly replaced the warm California sun while I was home for two days before boarding a plane last Thursday and flying to Washington DC.  I am so lucky to be able to stay with my dear friends Rich, Mona, Zoe and Elinor while I am here.  We had a great day together before we packed up and promptly left for a fantastic, two-day, whirl-wind weekend in The Big Apple!  We had a blast in New York City and covered a whole lot of ground in 48 hours!
     This was definitely a memorable Thanksgiving/Columbus Day weekend, to say the least!  Late night driving, train, ferry and taxi rides, New York cheesecake, staying in New Jersey, crowds, smells, pizza, being thwarted by the subway token tolls and machines, High Park, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, carriage ride in Central Park, 9/11 Memorial at World Trade Center, Peace Towers, supper at a great French restaurant in Times Square, a Broadway musical, a rat, supper in SoHo and to top it all off, a helicopter ride over Manhattan pretty much sums up the most excitement I have packed into 48 hours in recent memory.  Great times, great memories, awesome friends!!

Moon Over Manhattan

This was the view from our hotel!

Not a bad view on a Friday night!


"Empty Sky" 9/11 Memorial to the victims from New Jersey

.

At the Statue of Liberty.

PeaceTowers.




Carriage Ride in Central Park.




Dessert in SoHo at "Rice to Riches"-who knew there were that many varieties of rice pudding!

 

Matinee of Broadway play "Spiderman:  Turn Off The Dark".




Broadway and 42nd Street.




The humanity that is Times Square.



One of the many who are enjoying the atmosphere in Times Square for the evening.

 

Preparing for a definite "Bucket List" item !!

 

Manhattan from 'above'!




Central Park and so much more!




The helicopter was brand new and cost 3 million dollars!




Fantastic!

      This has been an amazing kick-off to the east coast leg of my adventure.  What an incredible part of the world.  I feel so lucky to be able to see it in such a way.  And, as always, I am sure looking forward to seeing what else is out there!