Today is Admission Day for Kentucky, the 15th state, admitted to the Union on June 1st, 1792.

The first time I was in Kentucky, I thought I was in Ohio.

If you’ve been to the Cincinnati airport (airport code CVG), you know what I’m talking about. The Cincinnati airport, which I foolishly believed was in Cincinnati, Ohio is actually located 13 miles south of that city. Not in Cincinnati (which I could understand), but not even in Ohio. Nope, it’s in northern Kentucky. Since I spent time in the surrounding area, during some very long time on the ground, I can say that I have been in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Kentucky is one of four states established as a Commonwealth (the others are Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts), and while that designation has no constitution significance, it means that its government is based on the common consent of its people to be governed, rather than on colonial authority dating back to England.

Known as the “Bluegrass State,” you will find this unique grass throughout the rolling hills of the state, including at many of the famous thoroughbred farms. Thoroughbred breeding and racing is big business in Kentucky, and it is home to the Kentucky Derby, held annually on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

In an effort to increase tourism, Kentucky has launched a new branding campaign, attempting to boost its image with the theme “Unbridled Spirit.” While it may be a play on words, and a tip of the hat, to the horse industry, it may also be an attempt to “spice” up the image of the state. After all, Kentucky is known not only for its genteel Southern culture, but also for its bourbon and whiskey, horse racing and betting, and other types of gambling.

What else is there to do and see in Kentucky?

• Louisville Slugger Museum (the bats are made in — well, Louisville)
• Visit Lake Cumberland
• Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky has the largest cave system in the U.S.)
• Red River Gorge Natural Bridge
• Cumberland Gap
• Trail of Tears (a portion passes through Kentucky)

Followers of political news and current events may remember that Kentucky was involved in the debate and lawsuits over displaying the Ten Commandments on public property.

All of the time spent in Kentucky has been spent relatively near the airport. Since a good friend recently bought a home in Louisville, I’m hoping for an invitation to visit real soon. It would be nice to see other parts of the state.

Photo credits: Churchill Downs (flickr); Louisville Slugger (wikipedia)

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Travelers in San Francisco and San Diego now have an additional choice on how to see the city — a GoCar.  The GoCar is a talking 3-wheeled vehicle that gives directions and tour commentary as you see the sights of the city.  And it speaks five different languages.

You can follow a standardized tour, deviate where you’d like, or just go off exploring on your own.  The GPS tour system is available at no extra charge, and is available for your use as a tour guide.  There is no set tour, take whatever pace you’d like, choosing the attractions that you want to stop and see.  Bustle through the city or take it all in at a leisurely pace, it’s all up to you.  The GoCar will do about 35 miles per hour, and can get into smaller areas where I typical tour bus or van can’t.

The rental is by the hour or the day, and is $44 for the first hour, $34 for the second hour, and $24 per hour after that.  There is a maximum charge of five hours.  Time is billed in increments of 15 minutes, rounded down, so you never have to pay for time that you don’t use.  You must be over 18 years of age to rent a GoCar, and have a valid license and insurance. 

In San Francisco, GoCars can be found in Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf.  Although walk ups can sometimes be accommodated, reserve online  so that you won’t be disappointed.

I’ll be making plans to be in San Francisco sometime over the next couple of months, and plan on checking out GoCar.  On a lovely California day, it sounds like a fun way to tour the city.

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

As part of Conde Nast Traveler’s 20th anniversary, it is having a travel giveaway — and your photos may just be your ticket.  All you have to do is submit a photo , to the “Live the Cover” contest, that you took and that captures a great travel memory.  Tell where the photo was shot and what made the experience so unforgettable.  That’s it! 

The deadline is June 25th, you can enter as many photos as you like, and the winner gets a trip for two to the Frank Gehry designed Hotel Marques de Riscal, in Eliego, Spain.  (The hotel was on the May cover of the magazine.)

I’ve seen some great photos, and I’m going to send copies of this blog post to a few people suggesting that they get busy and enter.  How about you — do you have a shot that captures one of your great travel memories?

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

So, it was probably for selfish reasons, then, that I chose today’s b5media Travel & Culture theme day — Art!

Not only is it a chance for our bloggers to focus on the culture part of our channel name, but it’s also a chance for me to get some new ideas of things to do and see.  Even if I can’t travel the world to see these exhibits, it’s inspired me to find something a little closer to home.  I hope that it does the same for you.

Check out what Art rocks with our bloggers at Filipina Soul.  Thanks to Grace for organizing and publishing this month theme day round up.

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

I talked with a passenger who was reading this biography, and since, I too, am a big fan, had to pick it up (from my public library) and read it as well.

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

In honor of National Library Month, I’m adding a Blog Page where I’ll track what I’m reading. It’s likely to be a pretty diverse list, covering a variety of writing genres, with a couple of common themes: mysteries (of all sub-categories, especially legal thrillers), a fair smattering of chick lit (great for hours spent on the beach or on an airplane), and the occasional interest in an odd topic (I’m curious about people and things).

I’ll update the list whenever I start a new book, and try to annotate the list with a few comments on how I liked the book. (I’m reconstructing this list from January 1st, so some of the previous details may be a little skimpy.)

If, after perusing this list, you have a recommendation about a book you think I’d like, just send me an email. I’m always looking for a new author, or something that I may have missed.

So go check it out at What I’m Reading: 2007, located in the “Pages” section of the sidebar.

What are you reading right now?

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Happy Easter from Flyaway Cafe.

Photo credit:  SXC

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

1. Wear metal studded pants.  You can’t take them off and put them through the metal detector, so they’re going to have to wand you.  What were you thinking?
2. Leave liquids in your carry on bags.  Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you should know about the security directive limiting liquids and gels in carry on items.  Even if you’ve missed it, there are explanatory signs located before you get into the security line.  It’s way too late when you see the screeners pulling your bags off the conveyor belt.
3. Talk non-stop on your cell phone.  I love talking on the phone as much as the next person (maybe even more), but it really holds things up when you are trying to put your bags on the conveyor belt, take off your jacket and shoes, take your laptop out of its bag and place it in a separate bin, and take out your packet of liquid/gels, and do ALL those things with ONE HAND because you can’t hang up the phone long enough to get through the security check point.
4. Complain about crew members and airport employees going to the front of the line.  For a while, airports had dedicated security lines for crew members and airport workers.  Because these lines were frequently under used during much of the day, most airports have adopted a policy that all lines will be open to everyone, and instituted a policy to move employees to the front of the line.  Becoming aggressive about it is practically guaranteeing that your bags are going to be searched.  If you’re that hostile and aggressive to a crew member on the ground, it raises a question about what your behavior will be like in the air.  You may not think it’s fair, but you’re going to have to learn to deal with it.
5. Keep your pocket watch, cell phone, rolls of quarters, and bike chain in your pocket.  That doorway that you have to walk through is a metal detector.  All that stuff in your pocket is NOT going to make it through.  The people in line behind you are going to be groaning as you take one item after another out of your pocket.  Instead, take these things out of your pocket BEFORE you reach the metal detector, place it in a bin to go on the conveyor belt, and walk metal-free through the doorway.
6. Argue with the TSA agent.  I know this one is hard, and sometimes it does seem like they are dumber than dirt.  You may even be right.  But they are the ones who have control (situational power), and your life will go much smoother if you just play nice.
7. Make jokes about security or talk about security breaches.  TSA will take them seriously, and you’ll likely find yourself detained by a bunch of people with guns.  “Hi, Jack” has never been funny; it’s just stupid.
8. Act aggressively.  Menacing and intimidating behavior may be an assault.  Pushing and shoving may be battery.  You can find yourself arrested before you even make it through security, so think about whether you really need to take that route.
9. Get drunk and disorderly.  Well, actually, even if you’re just drunk and not disorderly, you’re likely not going to make it through security.  Federal law prohibits airlines from boarding and transporting anyone who appears to be drunk.  If you can’t make it through security without a problem, chances are you won’t be able to board your flight.  Security will detain you right there at the check point rather than risk a problem in the boarding area.
10. Put your baby in a bin on the conveyor belt to go through x-ray screening.  If I have to explain why this one is wrong, you probably aren’t ready for kids.

While I hope you get a chuckle out of this list, let me assure you that these behaviors are real.  I have seen all these examples occur.  Frequently.  When I go to work for my next trip, I know that one or more of these examples will occur.

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Located beside the River Seine in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in the city.  Following its completion in 1889, it was the tallest structure in the world, and remained so until the Chrysler Building in New York City displaced it from that top spot. 

The Eiffel Tower was originally built as the entrance arch for the Paris World’s Fair.  That  also marked the 100-year commemoration of the French Revolution.

It is now one of the most recognized buildings in the world, and is the most visited.  Since it is now considered a piece of structural art, it’s hard to believe that at the time it was built, many believed it would be an eye sore!  It was also a surprise to learn that originally the tower was to be torn down 20 years after it was erected.  Fortunately, some practical uses came of the tower (including the role it played in helping to catch the infamous spy, Mata Hari), and it remains to this day.

On the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, during the winter, is a skating rink.  You can skate for free, and catch a great view at the same time.

To go up the tower, you can walk up 360 steps to the first level, and another 359 steps to the second level.  But you will need an elevator to go beyond the second platform — once you move past the second platform, the tower is an open frame, with no other platforms.

A few tidbits of Eiffel Tower trivia:

• The tower is painted three different colors in order to make it look like it’s all the same color (it has to do with the light sky and dark ground)
• A con artist tried selling the tower for scrap metal.  It was sold — twice!
• A restaurant was removed from mid-way up the tower, was dismantled and shipped to New Orleans, where it was reconstructed.  It’s been known as the Tour Eiffel Restaurant and the Red Room.
• The Eiffel Tower is popular in movies, including:  A View to Kill, Superman II, and The Hostage Tower.
• There are 72 names engraved on the tower representing French scientists, engineers and other notables who played a part in getting the tower into existence.

If thinking about the Eiffel Tower doesn’t make you want to go to Paris, I’m not sure anything will.

Photo credit:  wikimedia

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe

Thanks to those who voted.  Look for April’s poll to be up next week.

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Post from: Fly Away Cafe