Chickens to Ice Caves

by Diana McCollum

I have traveled to many different places inside our borders and out. This year our big trip will be the Mexican Riviera. Our grandson is getting married in Puerto Vallarta. I’ve never been to Mexico and we will be traveling with 37 family and friends of the bride and groom. We’ll be staying for a week. My daughter has booked a boat excursion to an outlying island for one day. Not sure what else we’ll be doing, besides enjoying good food, snorkeling and catching up with friends.  

 

I have two memorable trips that we have taken in the past. Number one is the visit to our nation’s capital when my son was in the Marine Corps and stationed in WA, DC. We stayed with my son and his marine corps roommates in their rented town house. Everywhere we went we had one or two marines with us. Usually my son for sure. 

 

They took us to restaurants that the locals went to, to little bars for music and where one of my son’s friends was asked to play the piano. It was awesome. When my husband and I were on our own we’d walk the mile from the town house to the museums. The town houses all had little front yards with beautiful wrought iron fences. The architecture was old and beautiful. Front yards full of flowers and everyone we passed would say good morning to us.

 

Then there is the Capital, and the mall, and all the museums! Made me proud to be an American. I remember we sat on a bench on the mall and workers from the capital and offices did their walks at lunch time in office clothes and suits and tennis shoes. The air seemed to vibrate with action, knowing in the building’s around us bills were being debated, sent to committees, researched and maybe one day impacting our lives. The hub of American Democracy. 

 

The second favorite trip was through Arizona and New Mexico. We took many side roads rather than the highways.

 

In New Mexico we pulled over at a small shopping center parking lot to look at our map. In the far corner of the lot was a station wagon with a crowd of a dozen people or so. We walked over to see what was going on.

 

The man who owned the station wagon had cages with chickens in, giant Iguana on his roof top and snakes, ugh. His wife walked around with a boa  around her arms. All these animals were for sale. People were bidding on the live chickens and roosters.

Somewhere in NM we went over a 5,000 ft pass and it was snowing in the summer time!

We saw a collapsed lave tube with stairs, about 20, down to a solid ice cap. The owner said it never melts and the college said it was over 10,000 years old.

 

The museum in Albuquerque, NM, was well worth stopping for and we spent several hours in there. Then on to old town, and fantastic food.

 

We saw the Grand Canyon on this trip also. And Sedona, AZ, beautiful place and as the motel sign said “101 things to see in the area”, I think we saw most of them. Lots of Indian cliff structures, Montezuma’s well, etc.

 

In Arizona we found a state park, no trees just rocks, hills and hiking trails. The sign at the parks entrance  said “You may take only ten lbs. of rocks from this park”, never heard of such a thing. It seemed kind of off. We did fill our backpack with some pretty rocks though.

 

We’ve always tried to find to off the beaten path restaurants and sights to see.

 

Do you plan your trips ahead or just head in the direction of your ultimate goal?    

 

 

 

 

Bombs or Bordellos - My Travel Adventures by Judith Ashley

Hi, I’m Judith Ashley, author of The Sacred Women’s Circle series, soul nourishing romantic women’s fiction that honors pagan spiritual practices. My stories show you what life could be like if you had a place like The Circle where you are unconditionally accepted, supported and loved. And where, with this support, you do overcome obstacles and find your happily-ever-after.

I lived well-over a quarter of a century never traveling far from home. I was in my thirties when I first visited other countries unknown to me and experienced a few Adventures in Travel.

But which story do I share?

Ending up in a bordello in Mazatlán, Mexico?

Being stopped by crossing guards and relieved of my passport when leaving Croatia during the Balkan War?

Or the tamer, missing my bus and almost missing my flight back to the US from a visit to Australia? Thankfully the bus driver turned around and came back for me.

Photo bySkitterphoto

While those all were adventures, the one that had the longest lasting effect on my travel was ending up at the United Airline Gate at Heathrow Airport, London, England to take my flight home from a visit in Ireland ---without a security stamp on my passport.

Said passport was confiscated.

I spot against the wall was designated “mine” as in with finger pointed at my heart “stay there and do not move.”

Oh, and I had a travel alarm clock in my checked luggage that “ticked” (this was in 1994 when there were active hostilities between the IRA and England. Passengers were warned that luggage could be destroyed if thought to be carrying a bomb).

If that wasn’t enough, I, unwittingly, had mace/pepper spray in my purse.

My efforts to be prepared on my first trip traveling alone as well as across the Atlantic was a dismal failure.

As I type this I’m smiling.

But in that moment, my heart raced, my hands sweated, my mind imagined all sorts of dire consequences.

I was grateful for a wall at my back when my knees weakened.

So how did I manage to create this disaster?

To this day I’ve no idea. I got off the plane from Dublin to London where I had to change to my flight to the U.S. I followed signs and asked directions to the United Gate. I did end up, at one point, outside Heathrow and knew that I’d taken a wrong turn somewhere. I felt immense gratitude to have finally made it to The Gate when my adventure truly began.

Yep, bright Yellow but tape and words
 "Security Inspection" on it
Photo by Kat Wilcox from Pexels

While polite, the security man was stern.

Did I know that carrying pepper spray was illegal in England and I could go to jail? Words failed and I shook my head.

Did I understand bombs ticked? I nodded.

Those questions I could reply to. The one that, to this day, I still cannot answer is “How did you get here?” Oh, I had a response. “I followed the signs and asked people when I wasn’t sure where I was going.” I’m sure my blurted confession that, at one point, I’d been road side didn’t help.

“Don’t move.” More threatening because of the deadly quiet tone than if he’d yelled.

Here I am in 2019, sitting at my computer, writing about this Adventure in Travel and not including my experiences in an English jail (and No, I do not watch Locked Up Abroad). It seemed hours when in fact it was under an hour before he returned and gave me back my passport.

When I arrived in the U.S., my luggage had bright yellow “security” tape. It had obviously been searched.

The next year when I traveled to Croatia during the Balkan War to help with a conference for my Glasser colleagues, my suitcase was also wrapped in yellow tape. I was pulled from the line and went through additional security when travelling within the U.S. Years later, when I traveled to Australia for yet another Glasser conference, my luggage still was wrapped with the yellow security tape!!!

Who knew that getting lost at Heathrow airport would have such long term consequences!

Available now in e-book and print

However, in 2008 I took my granddaughters with me to a Glasser conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. We flew in to Heathrow, and much to my relief, all was well. We safely made it through baggage claim with no yellow tape in sight! All’s Well That End’s Well!

You can find all of my books at your favorite e-book vendor. Be sure to ask your local library if you’d prefer to read my books through that resource.

Learn more about Judith's The Sacred Women’s Circle series at JudithAshleyRomance.com

Follow Judith on Twitter: JudithAshley19

Check out Judith’s Windtree Press author page.

You can also find Judith on FB! 

© 2019 Judith Ashley

The bumpy, long and winding road of a new author.

By A.K. Smith

“I didn’t know what I didn’t know.” It’s true for so many things in life, AND I still don’t know all the things I am about to experience on this new journey. My debut fiction novel, A Deep Thing by A. K. Smith just released, and I’m trying to follow the road signs---which there are many—and figure out my destination. It’s the journey that matters, right?

Up until my debut book being published, my writing expedition consisted of journaling, half-finished novels, and travel writing. My insatiable desire to see the world and touch every continent on Planet Earth led to querying travel magazines, newspaper and travel blogs.

I’ve published over 100 travel articles in various forms: magazines, on-line blogs and currently write a monthly column for an English newspaper published in Mexico and a blog www.wordstravelfilm.com. Sharing travel secrets with the world and exposing off the beaten path destinations excites me; but, the completion of my first novel has been a bucket list voyage I’ve dreamed of beginning. Now that I can hold the printed book in my hand and share it with the world, I wonder where’s the next layover.

What I believe is this: my first book is just a stop to fill up my tank. I learn by doing, and if I hadn't started this journey, I would never have learned (the little I know) about writing, publishing and promoting. My advice to those who are traveling down this road is to understand every trip has bumps along the way and lessons to be discovered. Ask questions, study the craft, learn from others but whatever you do, start the journey. If you’re not sure where to begin, join a writers group, attend a writers conference and follow a writing blog. Surround yourself with like-minded people and ask questions; don’t be afraid to plan the trip, make mistakes, and walk down the road.

If you would like to join in my journey, follow my blog at www.aksmithauthor.com.

A Deep Thing, published by The Wild Rose Press is a contemporary suspense novel with a love story woven throughout the pages. According to Marilyn Baron, author of Stumble Stones: A Novel, “A Deep Thing by A.K. Smith grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go. A roller coaster ride of romance, suspense, mystery and intrigue, this page turner surprises at every turn and offers a stunning ending you’ll never suspect.”

Amazonlink: https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Thing-K-Smith-ebook/dp/B01MG3FOXS

TheWildRosePresslink: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/1372_ak-smith

A.K. Smith is the author of debut fiction novel, "A Deep Thing" (12-19-2016 from the Wild Rose Press). A.K has lived in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Arizona and abroad in London and Mexico.

She loves all things jungly, beachy and mysterious. Her mission is to write thrillers, suspense, and romance that have the power to make you stay up late.

A.K. loves seeing the world. Her goal is to step foot on every continent on Planet Earth (maybe even the moon)—she’s slowly getting there.  She treasures her family, friends, and kindness.

Email: aksmithbook@gmail.com

Website: http://www.wordstravelfilm.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aksmithbook
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/aksmithbook
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aksmith/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVkF60bSFzA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15985813.A_K_Smith

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/aksmith

Vacation Memories

So we’re talking vacations this month. It’s a bit premature since most vacations happen in the summer. 

I never really took vacations until after I was married and had kids and my husband retired from the Coast Guard and found another job, because we just couldn’t afford to. Our first family vacation was 2002. A trip to Florida. My nieces Heather and Sierra joined us, along with Sierra’s brother Nik. We went to both Disneyworld and Universal studios and had a blast! The kids were all at the perfect age to enjoy the rides and shows.  As much fun as that was though, I think my most memorable vacation was the one I took in 1975, with my whole family. It was the first and only vacation I can remember us taking and the last because a few months later my mom passed away.  I can still remember when she came to tell us we were taking a trip. She just walked in the room while we were watching TV and said, “We’re going on a trip, so pack some clothes and get some sleep. We’re leaving very early in the morning.”  Yeah, it was a spur of the moment thing. I think my aunt and uncle talked her into it, they came with us.

So we all piled into our Suburban…seven kids aged nine to seventeen, a two year old toddler and three adults and took a road trip south along the Texas gulf coastline. I remember we made stops in Alice, Kingsville, Corpus Christie and Brownsville….visiting with family mostly. Then we took a trip across the border to Mexico to do some shopping.  I don’t remember which town it was, there are a few you can cross into that welcome tourists.  Along the river on the Mexico side, you’ll see children of all ages begging for money and scrambling like ants for the measly coins people toss down to them. Once you cross the river via the international bridge and you’re accosted by merchants trying to sell you everything from candies to clothing to wall hangings. Even children, some as young as five, will try to sell you packets of gum.  The streets are lined with stores and the sidewalks are crowded with carts filled with leather belts, handbags, jewelry,  everything you can think of. And, occasionally you’ll pass a store and your senses are filled with the spicy aroma of Mexican food.  I don’t remember if anyone bought anything, although I’m sure we did.  But, you have to be careful who you turn down because if it’s the wrong person, you could end up cursed. I saw a woman give my mother a dirty look when she told her no and a couple of months later mom got sick. (Superstitious much?)

I’ve made a few trips back to Mexico over the years and not much has changed.  The children are still begging for loose change, merchants are still trying to make deals, and you won’t find better Mexican food. Of course, I avoid eye-contact, for obvious reasons. Hah

A few years back, while I was working on my book Dark Obsession (available May 5th), my aunt, cousin and I took a trip back down the Rio Grande Valley (the gulf coastline) so I could get some visuals. Dark Obsession takes place in the valley….almost all of my stories do, actually.  I got some great stories from my aunt’s in-laws as well as some great scenery to use in the story.  

Anyway, speaking of Dark Obsession, the book is being re-released May 5th. I hope you’ll pick up a copy and help spread the word. =)

Here’s the blurb and a short excerpt for your reading pleasure.

 

DARK OBSESSION

A chance encounter seals the fate of a reclusive farmer and a mysterious woman who's on the run from a man who will stop at nothing to control her--including murder.

Ray Chavez  doesn’t believe in visions or omens or the mysticism of his Mexican/Indian heritage. When he’s awakened by the spirit of this great-grandmother with a message that something is coming, Ray passes it off as a bad dream. But he may just reconsider his position when he finds Lexie Solis stranded on the edge of town, in search of a new life. Ray feels an instant attraction, as well as a connection, to the skittish young woman, and he pursues a relationship with her. But what Lexie doesn’t tell Ray or his family, is that she is on the run from an abusive ex-boyfriend and he may be more powerful than even she wants to believe. When Lexie is assaulted by an unseen force, they learn that the man she is hiding from is a master of the dark arts and his obsession with Lexie goes beyond his need to control her; he wants to possess her soul as well. As their past lives parallel, Lexie’s only hope for salvation is in Ray’s hands. But can he accept his destiny in time to save the woman he loves? 

Excerpt:

Sylvia dropped onto the kitchen chair and scowled at her brother. She’d rushed straight from work after her grandmother called and told her about their new visitor. She couldn’t help but wonder if it were the same visitor her cards had been warning her about for the past week and even after she voiced this concern Ray still had the nerve to patronize her.

“She’s not some stray puppy you picked up from the side of the road, Ray,” she said. “I’m just saying you don’t know anything about her.”

Ray leaned against the counter, crossing his legs at the ankles, and sent her a crooked grin. “Damn. And I was really looking forward to teaching her a few tricks.”

“Stop thinking with your glands and think with your head, Big Brother,” Sylvia snapped.

“I’ve been thinking with my glands since I was fourteen. It’s a hard habit to break.”

Sylvia curled her lip at him and turned to her grandmother for support. She had sensed a mal puesta in the young woman and performed a limpia to heal her. It was a ritual they often worked for the families in town who came to see them about their curses. The inflicted would lie on a small cot and her grandmother would wave an egg over them, chanting a series of novenas.

She did this same cleansing on the young woman in Ray’s old bedroom. When she finished she took the egg and cracked it into a glass of salt water. The egg sizzled and cooked, curling its way to the surface like a snake trying to escape the flames of hell.

 Look for this and other works at my website: www.terrimolina.com