What time is it? It’s that time of the year. Everybody is going over the hills and through the woods to grand ma house for some of that dressing, mac and cheese and that caramel cake. When you look at the airports, train stations, bus stations, and especially the highways it’s crowded, but can you blame them when 2020 had us all shut in like a prayer closet. We couldn’t spend time together for almost two years.
However; with that being said the virus is still out here, especially since a lot of people refuse to wear masks or get a shot, shouting it’s their right and they have the freedom to do whatever they want. Unfortunately that may be true, but at what cost. Somebody’s kid, or your grandma, or that nice lady at the store who just had her last chemo treatment for cancer.
I believe in having the freedom to be and do whatever you want, but that’s not always the case or even realistic, because at some point you will have to consider someone else as you travel the highways and hedges to your destination. So consider this; just like you prepare for your trip by having insurance, and pre-booking at the airport, doing the covid screening at the train, and even making sure you get the right seat, while you’re traveling here are a few more things you need to know when you travel.
- Don’t wear your best jewelry, purse, or fur coat, because this is the time of year that people are struggling, hungry, broke, and robbing.
- Make sure you look on instant street view and see where your hotel or motel is located before you book.
- Make sure you have one of the apps for lyft or uber before you go, unless you are renting a car; in which case you need to book that early, because at this time there is a short supply for rent a cars.
- Please don’t walk around with a camera around your neck. That screams tourist and victim at the same time.
- However; do use your phone to take pictures and enjoy your family and friends while you still have them, 0ver 700,000 people have died from covid.
Once you get the traveling bug you are hooked. It’s mind blowing to be in one place and in a matter of hours you could be in a completely different city, state or even country.
This was right outside our window in New York. This trip was planned with my daughter for a graduating gift. We have always wanted to go to New York and it was amazing. The blocks are long (which nobody told us) and we walked miles trying to get to this store. The food is expensive, but the pizza was to die for. I have never seen so many yellow cabs in my life. We stayed at this lovely chic international hotel right across the street from the Brooklyn double bridge. We went to Central Park and we tried on some manaolo blahniks $2000 shoes. We saw Rockerfeller plaza and we stood on the red steps of Time Square. We definitely had to go see Harlem and the Apollo Theater and Greenwich village and ruckers park. Everybody was rushing, running, biking, honking horns, and tourists taking pictures, all at the same time; it was like cooking a gumbo just throw everything in and see what it comes out to be. But what an adventure. I love what Mark Twain says about travel.
(“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”) Mark Twain
I definitely have the bug. What’s so crazy is I had never been anywhere in my life and my first trip was by myself to Jamaica. I went to another country and that was a culture shock for sure, but it was wonderful. Eating all that good food and the best thing was the people. I fell in love with the weather, the country, the food, but even more than that was the people. They are so nice and they really want you to enjoy their country, so much so; they will go out of their way to make sure that you get to see, enjoy, and go to all the most popular places they have there as well as where they live, shop, eat, and play. I went to their schools, their church, their stores and their clubs and then I just went to the beach and laid out in the sun and watched the people.
Mark Twain said it best you can’t be prejudice and travel the world. You can’t be narrowminded after traveling to other countries, cities and states. You can’t have bigotry when you see how people live and what they go through. Your mind will expand and you will learn more about yourself than anybody. Because when you are taking flights to and fro, or hoping on and off trains, and buses you realize you have more in common than what’s different about the people you meet. It is very hard to hate foreigners coming to America when you go see where they live, and how they live. You will gain compassion and you will see that if it wasn’t for your ancestors coming to America and building a family that could have been you.
There are a lot of people who make a living going on excursions, taking journeys that people want to take and experience the trip of a lifetime. There are apps. groups to travel with and organizations that help you with your quest for adventure. There are cruise groups, tour charters and all kinds of things to help you with your plans to see the beautiful world God has made. Here are is a group to help you navigate your plans.
Blacksintourism.org They specialize in black cultural heritage tours. NATIONAL BLACKS IN TRAVEL & TOURISM COLLABORATIVE
Leveling the Playing Field: Inclusion. Diversity. Equity. Access.
Did you know that all the museums in Washington D.C are free. I definitely didn’t know that. You just have to check with the times and register to pick a day and time especially since the covid. I definitely know without a shadow of a doubt I want to go see those museums as well as these other museums too.
National Civil rights Museum in Memphis is the Lorraine Hotel where MLK was shot and killed.
National Museum of African American history and culture.
National Memorial for Peace and Justice Museum in Montgomery Alabama, also known as the lynching Museum.
The Legacy Museum in Montgomery Alabama.
As you can see traveling can be a learning opportunity as well as a fun adventure. Some destinations may just be in a city near you. It could be visiting families, as I am sure most of us will be doing in the next few weeks between Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year there will be plenty of opportunities to commute, drive, and even ride to other places for concerts, games, shows, and such. One of the most important things that we all should do and that is be careful as we travel along these journeys. Some places we have been and some are new, at any rate it pays to watch your surroundings; unfortunately in this day and age we have to watch and pray, or as the FBI says if you see something say something. We all have seen, heard and maybe some of us have even experienced tragedy in the most unusual places. So My advice to you and to everybody who plan to travel this holiday season is pray before you go, pray while you are riding, flying, and pray that your flight doesn’t get delayed and you get stuck at the airport eating stale over priced nuts. You better pack some snacks, water and a whole lot of patience. I will do the same when I go too.
Finally; sometimes travel is just a few miles away and those are the concerts, shows, and games coming to a city near you. This is what we call a staycation; which is sometimes more fun than actually going far from home, because you know you will be able to get back home with minimal mileage.
Here are some events coming up soon:
Harlem Globetrotters, Ludacris, Nelly, Kenny G, and my favorite a Gospel extravaganza and show. Enjoy the journey which is just as good as the final destination. Everybody Have a Happy and safe Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. God bless everyone.
Marvin Sapp December 26 at the House of Hope in Chicago. $73 tickets.
LETS HOPE AND PRAY FOR EVERYBODY!!!