Thoroughly Modern Mimi

One lantern in Old North Church meant that the British were marching on land.  Paul Revere galloped on horseback from Boston to Lexington. He spread the alarm, awakening every house along the road.

Mimi was warned to awaken by the alarm on her cell phone. She knew, “The British were coming, get down to the town green.”  And by the time she arrived at 5:00 AM, a huge crowd had gathered.

In Massachusetts, The Battle of Lexington is re-enacted yearly on Patriot’s Day , on the very ground were it first took place in 1775.  From there the Revolutionary War began.

Today locals participate in costume as anarchists or members of the British regiment .  Many children are also dressed in colonial garb. Some stay with their mothers, running onto the battle field after the conflict to tend the wounded, while other young lads beat drums in the corps.

The battle has been staged for 38 years to honor those who fought for our freedom. The scene is solemn, the crowd is hushed and the participants act with pride. The pre-dawn ceremonies begin with an announcer recounting the story of April 19, 1775 , the fateful day of “the shot heard round the world .”

The actual fight was very brief; the colonists were confused and lacked leadership.  The British regiment marched in unison, their lobster red coats piercing the early morning fog.

No one knows who fired the first shot, but after it was heard, mayhem broke out on the green and the local militia retreated.  They are defeated in the skirmish, fell back and regrouped.

In 1775, many colonists traveled to nearby Concord to join other rebels. There they surprised and over powered the British. All day, they attacked the troops along what is now called Battle Road .

As I watched from the back of the crowd, the young children around me gasped at the face to face combat and rifle smoke.  The teens were drawn into eye witnessing living history.  But, I was awestruck by the bravery of the fighting men.  The courage and bravado these first Americans showed was immense; they truly were passionate in their beliefs.

The crowd of thousands, present at the early hour, bespoke of their reverence for the day.  I viewed the event as a wake up call, one that left me with a clearer understanding of Patriot’s Day and the debt we owe our forefathers.

The Boston area offers a variety of activities on this holiday weekend:  the annual Boston marathon , Red Sox games, the re-enactment of Paul Revere’s ride and the battles at Lexington and Concord .  However, the small town of Lexington (population 30,000) deserves to be especially proud of the dignity preserved during their event.  The re-enactment at dawn runs on time, remaining faithful to history.   I was humbled and honored to stand on sacred ground.

I wasn’t traveling the full 1.21 jigga-watt speed required to jettison me Back to the Future, but fast enough to lose a season.

Florida was warm and sunny, in full-foliage springtime bloom when I left.  I landed in Boston ’s cold, bleak and leafless-tree winter. However, I grasped the future in my arms, picking up my newborn grandson, his script yet to be written.

I focused on my grown daughter Abby, a new Mom, beaming with love at her first baby. Thirty years replayed in my mind; the entire generation gone at mach speed.

In the movie, Back to the Future, Michael J. Fox ’s character arrives in the past, surrounded by people wearing vintage clothing; retro hair styles, eating 50’s food and speaking outdated slang.

Mimi finds herself befuddled by new and improved objects-at least those for baby care: musical vibrating bassinets , diaper genies , crib video monitors and car seats that cleverly snap into strollers .  There must be twenty styles of binkies and bottles.

Luckily, infants remain unchanged. They still need midnight and three A.M. feedings, stacks of diapers, doll-sized outfits and baby shampoo, the kind that smells powdery sweet. But, oh my, nothing beats the bliss of cuddling a new babe.

Forget sending me back to the future, blast me forward.  I’d like to stick around (in good health) to see my grandchildren grow.

Little Jonah, welcome to your world.  May you wander through life under sunny, non-turbulent skies, at whatever travel speed you desire.

Mimi wanted a new suitcase with spinner wheels; the kind with four wheels instead of two, so the bag can slide sideways, as well as be pushed or pulled.  She also wanted one as lightweight as possible.

Lo and behold, when she popped into T.J. Maxx one day (not looking for luggage), she found this amazing silver bag.   The piece lifted like a feather, much lighter than the others on display.  The exterior was sleek, made from polycarbonate; a hard sided plastic but somewhat flexible.  And the thing was even expandable with a divider and straps on the inside to keep your stuff from falling out.  Best of all, the price was low, only $70.

So, even though I didn’t recognize the manufacturer, I bought the Heys .  I figured I could search the Internet and compare quality, prices and ratings.  I could even return it, if necessary.

Here is what I discovered:

“The World’s Lightest Spinner Luggage”  The HEYS USA 4WD is a 4-wheel Spinner luggage that is made from a Polycarbonate composite and uses Japanese made wheels. Polycarbonate is the same material used in the making of Bullet-proof glass. It is both durable and flexible so that when under stress, it flexes to absorb the impact and then afterwards flexes back to its original shape. Another great feature …is its expandability, one of the few hard-sided luggage that can expand for up to 25% more space.”

After reading that and other reviews, I kept the valise and have used it five times.  My conclusion: “Best luggage I’ve ever had, I’m crazy about it.”  The piece rolls easily; even my grandson can slide it sideways.  Max, as I named it, came through baggage claim unharmed and being silver colored, was easy to pick out, compared to those searching through the black suitcases.

Target, Costco, JC Penny, E-bags and many other online stores carry the Heys line.  The ultra-lights also come in black, blue and red.

Mimi gives her new luggage a max 5-star over-all rating at a mini 3 star price.

Mimi’s previous post noted that the famous Paris landmark, the Eiffel Tower, had temporarily closed because of striking workers. As of Easter Sunday, some good news.  The site partially reopened, allowing tourists to ride up a few of the elevators.  Be forewarned, the lines are very long.

Strike or no strike, the City of Lights is so romantic. If you love Paris, and Mimi certainly does, you will be delighted by friend Sarah Towle’s blog, FrancoFiles .

Sarah has a way of making history come alive.  Her most recent post discusses The Conciergerie , or the Palais de Justice.  The building was first constructed as the Palais de la Cite, or royal palace of the first kings.

In an earlier article Sarah presented some fun facts about the Eiffel Tower. Be sure to check out her blog .  Merci.

Image of Conciergerie courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, image of Mimi in Paris by Gary Granfield.

First the Parthenon in Athens , now the Eiffel Tower in Paris.  What famous tourist attraction will striking workers close next?

The 120-year-old city landmark did not open Wednesday or Thursday due to workers demands for higher pay.

According to the Associated Press, “More than 500 people work in the Eiffel Tower, from welders and plumbers to security guards and cooks.”

Normally the historic site receives 18,000 visitors per day, offering them the most fabulous views of Paris, a restaurant for dining and a few gift shops.

Back in 2003, Mimi rode the elevator up nearly 1,000 feet for that essential Parisian experience. She chose to walk down and savor the sights.

Once again, Mimi is saddened for the people being turned away.

Terracotta Warriors Exhibit

Mimi’s daughter, the critic, is rather hard to please.  So when she called to say, “Mom, the terracotta warriors were terrific,” I was happy.

“The museum had this cool video that showed how the soldiers were made,” she added.

And my husband, not the biggest fan of galleries, wholeheartedly agreed. “The visit was fascinating and well worth our time,” he said.

The exhibition comes from one of the greatest archaeological digs of the 20^th century, the unearthing of China’s First Emperor’s terracotta army in Xian.  Initially discovered in 1974, more than 9,000 figures were buried for 2,000 years.  The excavations are ongoing, but these pieces are on loan from the Chinese government.

Mimi was disappointed that she was unable to go to Atlanta , but on Laura’s rating alone, she can honestly recommend the show.  Now hurry, the soldiers are marching on.  They leave Atlanta’s High Museum on April 20, 2009.

Those who live near Houston , Texas can make plans to view them at their Museum of Natural Science after May 22. The last US opportunity to examine the statues will be from November 19, 2009 - March 31, 2010 at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, DC.

To whet your appetite and learn more about the terracotta army, watch this excellent video.

I was shocked and saddened to hear about the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Italy last night.  While I’ve never been to the town of L’aquila, I spent some time in the area about a year ago.

 A traveler gains serendipitous knowledge of a place just by visiting.  When we open our hearts, we gain an understanding of the people and their culture. Because I am able recall trip memories, I can visualize an Italian hill town, feel a connection and the tragedy becomes more profound. 

Italians live in tight communities; they know their neighbors, they chit-chat on the streets.  Young and old sit on the front steps or the benches by the town fountain.  They sip coffee together or meet in the market. They love their children, family and religion. 

Lamentably, the 13th century church of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, near the city gates of L’Aquila, was severely damaged.  Pope Celestine V was crowned there in 1294.  Just think– that date is two hundred years before Columbus set sail to discover what is now North America.  This Pope was also buried in the crypt.  And, by the way, an interesting fact –he was the only pontiff ever to resign.

I’m sorrowful about the loss, but of course buildings can be rebuilt.  The lives that were lost(275 dead, 1,500 injured) are gone forever.  My heartfelt prayers are with the people who live in or near this historic city. 

 
“Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Lived.”  A tour guide at Hampton Court taught me that saying-an easy way to remember the fate of Henry VIII’s six wives. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

Now for the Proclamation of the Day:  The new season of The Tudors begins tonight, April 5th at 9:00 PM ET, on Showtime .  Fireworks please.

Never fear, if you haven’t watched the first two seasons you can jump right in. Henry divorced first wife, Catherine of Aragon, who later died, and wed Anne Boleyn.  He breaks from the Catholic Church (because they won’t grant the divorce) and creates The Church of England.

Things don’t go well for Anne and he has her beheaded at The Tower of London. His two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, one from each former wife, are now declared illegitimate.  Juicy , I’d say.

This series is packed with fantastic acting and gorgeous actors (like Henry Cavill, who plays the King’s friend, Sir Charles Brandon.) The costuming is worthy of a museum exhibit (I would love to see them go on tour), authentic castles and countryside, high definition filming and expert production. But, the story itself is the winner: lust and sex, friendship and betrayal, births and deaths, religion, greed, power, war, as well as medieval torture.  What more is there?

Season three begins with Henry’s third wedding, this time to Jane Seymour .  But here’s my secret:  use this link to watch the new episode on your computer right now.  Not as good as big screen TV, but a tantalizing taste.

And speaking of food, to publicize the season premier Showtime asked Sara Moulton of the Food Network to create a royal feast .  I saw the photo spread in Gourmet magazine  and  was enticed to make the beet and orange salad.  The dish was so impressive I’m featuring it and the recipe on my food blog .

It’s a royal day.  Please kind sirs, don’t call me tonight, I’ll be with Henry and Jane.

Bonus: You can catch up on the story with The Tudor Timeline .

Charleston , South Carolina is what you call a southern city.  The folks like grits for breakfast; they like shrimp and grits for dinner. 

They’re also fond of fried chicken, cornbread, peach cider and pralines.  An aura of the Antebellum Old South lingers: stately mansions, cobblestones streets, and the smell of jasmine. These thoughts set my mind a-swirling.  I envision hoop skirts, confederate soldiers, debutante balls and Tara.  

I decide to visit a real plantation based on a travel brochure which claims, “Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is one of the top 25 most visited historic houses in America.”If true, this home joins a pretty impressive list: the Biltmore Estate, Mount Vernon, the Betsy Ross House, and Graceland.  In addition, the brochure boasts, “Magnolia maintains the oldest major public garden in America, and is also America’s oldest man-made attraction, having been open to the public since the late 1860s.”  Bold statements indeed; I deem this a must-see. 

The historic site lies off Ashley River Road, just a 20-30 minute drive from downtown. You turn onto a long single lane, stop to pay admission (still in your car) and follow a circuitous path through lanes of tall oaks and Loblolly pines.

 First I take the house tour, which begins on the immense warp-around porch. Once again my mind wanders; how relaxing it must be to sit here at sunset and rock back and forth. Then, I come to my senses.  South Carolina summers swelter with heat, humidity and mosquitoes; consequently I disband all sentimental thoughts.

The Manor, as it is called, was originally constructed in 1775 and is the third house in the same the location. Fire destroyed the first two, the second ignited by Union soldiers during the Civil War. 

The owners lost most of their wealth in the war, as did many southerners, so they moved a brick cabin to the original site and added on. My guide, Wanda, explains all this and the family history and furnishings - a mix of early-American antiques, museum-quality quilts and various works of art.

She says, “Magnolia is one of very few estates still owned by the family that built it.”  The current, an 11th generation Drayton, lives on the grounds.  I exit into the rear garden, which turns out to be the front since it faces the river.  Fuchsia azaleas, scarlet camellias and lilacs are in bloom, while delicate branches of dogwood trees blossom pink and white.  The scene dances with spring color yet genteel grace.   Live oaks, doused with Spanish moss, guard the riverbank like sentries , except they appear asleep at their post. The mood is tranquil. Couples stroll along the romantic walkway while other folks laze on benches.  My attitude has turned into one of, frankly, not giving a damn. The afternoon beams with radiance, gone is the wind and I’ll listen to the Song of the South. 

If you go:

In addition to the Manor and swamp garden (detailed in an earlier blog) Magnolia Plantation offers slavery to freedom tours, boat rides, a nature tram, and miles of walking and biking paths.  Why you can even bring your dog or a canoe, and lest I forget, there’s a petting zoo, gift shop and cafeteria. Sounds rather tacky, but I confess, pretty well concealed into the landscape. www.magnoliaplantation.com

  My doctor thinks I have Rocky Mountain spotted fever; I was worried about Lyme disease.  Both are caused by tick bites. Trouble is I’m not sure what nipped me.