A Walk Through Mexican History - The Coachella Wall

Today's post is about a work of art that really touched me. I learned from it as well as was taken in by all it's beauty. I hope it reaches into your heart and encourages you to go see it and learn more about this wonderful collaboration of artists and a city.

Enjoy!

The Coachella Wall

The black, gray, and white checkerboard design on the floor is an optical illusion. You feel like the dancers could fall through to another era. Sounds of Swing music are in the air. The couple dances the night away. He's dressed in a canary yellow zoot suit and matching yellow fedora sporting a white band. His white shirt collar is over-sized. His tie, that's black on one side and white with black bulls eye circles on the other, has spilled over the buttoned up jacket from the frenzied movements of his dancing. Wearing black and white wingtips, he dances to the music, eyes closed, as if nothing else matters.

This is one small piece of a 1,400-foot long mural. Tucked away on an unassuming street in Coachella, California, you will experience the pride of the Mexican people. From the dawn of civilization, through the Mayan empire and Spanish conquistadors, to their place in American history, take a walk through time.

Numerous artists collaborated to create this historical depiction of the Mexican people. I left with a desire to learn more about Mexican mythology, the Sleepy Lagoon trial of 1942, and the Zoot Suit riots of 1943. All of these and more are depicted in these mini snips of Mexican history.

While visiting our friend Ramiro Aguilar who lives in Mecca, he took us to see the wall. He told me, "This mural means a lot to me. As a Mexican growing up in the Coachella Valley, I have a passion for history; therefore this mural reflects my history. Many of the paintings show early discoveries and conquest of the Americas; in a way they make me fuse with the painting. Other paintings show Chicano History, such as the Bracero Program, which my grandparents were a part of. These paintings make me appreciate Coachella, but most importantly, my history."

"This mural is dedicated to the mystic place of Atzlan and the great people of Mexica - past, present and future". This is how the Coachella Wall begins and it truly delivers.

To see this masterpiece of Mexican history, travel to Coachella and find the Dateland Park on Shady Lane. Across the street you will see this incredible work of art/history.

To read more about this mural masterpiece check out this link: 
http://coachellaunincorporated.org/2012/01/20/mural-project-beautifying-coachella/

Lose Yourself in Naval Aviation History

The National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida

The Spirit of Naval Aviators from WWI to Desert Storm

Life size bronze statues of pilots from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam and Desert Storm gather on a rough marble slab. The pilot from WWII demonstrates how he shot down Japanese and German planes. You can see in their faces they understand. A biplane hangs overhead and behind them, the American flag. Welcome to the National Naval Aviation Museum. 

Celebrating 50 years in 2013, the National Naval Aviation Museum has lots of exhibits and planes to see. Wander through rooms filled with planes from the past. See some of the retired Blue Angel planes hung from the ceiling above the atrium. With over 350,000 square feet of planes, helicopters, memorabilia, short films and exhibits; it could take you several days to see it all.

Welcome to the National Naval Aviation Museum

Blue Angel Planes

The NC-4 and Hangar Bay One

One of the most impressive planes is the NC-4. The building was built around the Navy/Curtiss when it was donated to the museum, because it's so big. This was the first plane to cross the Atlantic. Back in 1919, she flew 3000 miles in 19 days with LCDR A.C. Read, USN in charge. Built to be an antisubmarine aircraft, her wingspan is 126 feet; she's 68 feet long and weighs 15,900 pounds empty. Under one of her wings is a walk-in history display with ariel photographs and a movie about her flight across the Atlantic. Under the other wing is a full size biplane.

The NC 4: First Plane to Cross the Atlantic

Hangar Bay One has an impressive display of Coast Guard aircraft. Several different helicopters like the Sikorsky HO3S-1, the HNS Hoverfly, the RD Dolphin, as well as other planes are there. A Lunar Excursion Module and Marine One Presidential helicopter are also on display. There are many other small exhibits on the premises. Walk through a bamboo wall with palm frauns for a roof and experience life in a Vietnam prison camp. Check out the actual artifacts from some of the prisoners. They include: poetry, architectural drawings, clothing, how they made pencils last and even a needle made from a piece of copper. Read about where they got the thread they used to repair their uniforms.

Inside Sky Lab 2

Vietnam POW pencil and needle

Learn more through available tours

Join one of the free 45-minute guided tours held throughout the day. Learn about Naval Aviation history from retired military personnel and volunteers. If you prefer, you can download their mobile app for .99 and learn at your own pace. On the second level, interactive tours begin above the Cubi Bar Cafe. Some of theexhibits on these tours include:

- The frictionless air track - demonstrating Newton's three laws of motion

- A space scale - see what you'd weigh on different planets, if you dare

- A wind tunnel - shows you how a wing produces lift with Bernoulli's Principle

George H.W. Bush, Space Lab 2 and the Wall of Honor

While you're upstairs, visit the George H. W. Bush exhibit and see our 41st president's naval aviation history. Peek inside the Space Lab 2 capsule. Could you live in something so small? I couldn't. Then check out some of the space suits. The oldest one there is from 1953. Another impressive exhibit on the second level is the Wall of Honor. Naval Aviators are remembered with a bronze plaque listing their extraordinary accomplishments.

Some of the other attractions are:

- an IMAX Theater and a few other exhibits like the 3D flight simulator charge a fee

- a flight line trolley tour: free 45-minute tour of about 50 aircraft displayed behind restoration hangar

- National Flight Academy - right next door. They have programs for students as well as adults.

- Emil Buehler library and archives open M-F from 9am-4pm

The museum is located inside Naval Air Station, Pensacola. If you are a civilian, don't worry; you can get on base by showing your ID, like your driver's license. Follow the signs to the museum at 1750 Radford Blvd. Admission and parking are free for the museum. Hours of operation are 9am - 5pm daily and the store is open from 9:30am - 5pm. IMAX shows start at10am with the last show beginning at 4pm.

Fort San Carlos De Barrancas - Pensacola Looks to the Past

 A Florida Treasure

I look down as I walk across the moat. There are slits in the walls of this brick and mortar fort. Usually the moat would be filled with water. Surely this is some different design, because if there were water in this moat, the fort would be flooded. What are they for? I wonder.

On each side of the entrance there's a large iron roller with heavy chains wrapped around it sitting at the ready to raise the drawbridge in case of an attack. I walk inside and down to the narrow passageway along the sides of the fort where these slits are to explore.

Musket Loopholes

As with all forts, there is a lot of history here. Fort Barrancas has had several owners over the years. The Spanish, French and British all took turns occupying her before the American Confederate Army took over. The Spaniards built the water battery, named 'Bateria de San Antonio', in 1797 as well as the earth and log Fort San Carlos de Barrancas above it. To protect the harbor, gunners in the battery fired smoothbore cannon shots at ship masts or skip shots across the surface of the bay hoping to hit the wooden ship hulls at the waterline.

Fort Barrancas

Under the supervision of William Chase, 60 slaves took five years and over 22 million bricks to build the new masonry fort in the 1840s. Built for foreign invasion protection, the only action this fort ever saw was during the Civil War. The Confederates held the fort until they abandoned Pensacola in the spring of 1862. The Union Army took over and in April of 1865 assigned several Colored Troop regiments to guard the fort for the final major battle outside of Mobile, Alabama.

Fort Barrancas and its Advanced Redoubt are part of a three-fort system that protects the Pensacola harbor from invading ships. Fort McRee and Fort Pickens are the other two. Together they kept invaders at bay. During the Civil War, the Confederate and Union soldiers fought against each other in this system. The only fort left standing in good condition was Fort Barrancas.

Entrance to Fort Barrancas

Some historians say the first shots fired on Union troops came from here on Jan. 8, 1861 starting the Civil War before the firing on Fort Sumter in April of 1861.

I find my answer to the slits in the walls. They are called 'loopholes'. This fort, and its Advanced Redoubt have dry moats. The crisscross of fire from the riflemen would catch the enemy by surprise in a deadly shootout.

The Advanced Redoubt was the inland protection for the fort system. The way she was built marked an end to an era in coastal fortification. It's masonry walls that were filled with cement, were transitioned into reinforced concrete batteries that resisted cannon fire better than brick did.

Advanced Redoubt Dry Moat

This fort system is a great part of our country's history and worth a visit when you're in the area. The Fort is at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. Civilians can go on base as long as they show ID, like a driver's license, at the gate. Follow the signs to 3822 Taylor Rd., Pensacola Naval Air Station. At For Barrancas and the Advanced Redoubt there are scheduled tours daily at 2:00 pm and on Saturday at 11:00 am. The visitor center is opened March-October from 9:45 am to 4:45 pm and November-February the hours are 8:30 am to 3:45 pm. For more information you can call 850-455-5167.

While you're on base, you might also want to visit The Pensacola Lighthouse and the National Naval Aviation Museum.  Enjoy your day today, whatever you do.

The Pensacola Lighthouse - Climb to the Top

Learn About the Wild Ducks, Lightning Strikes, and the Rooster

Less than a third of the way up the 177-step cast iron spiral staircase, it hit me, a soft blanket of humidity. The higher I climb, the heavier it gets. Is it worth it? I ask myself. The view from the top says yes. As I walk around the gallery, (the catwalk circling the top) I can see Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island, downtown Pensacola, and the Grande Lagoon. 191 feet below me I can see the rest of the buildings on the lighthouse 
grounds and overhead, gargoyles. 

Shining Her Light For Over One Hundred Years

Looking up at lighthouse

 

                                                     Looking down from the top

The Pensacola Lighthouse has been shining her light for mariners since 1859. Still a working lighthouse, it's maintained by the US Coast Guard. The lens is the original First Order Fresnel Lens. During the Civil War, the Confederates took it out and shipped it to Montgomery, AL. After the war it was returned to shine warnings to ships at sea. 

First Order Fresnel Lens

At the top, I met lighthouse volunteer Tayler Hildebrand. When I asked her why she volunteers, her response was, "This is just a really awesome place". She has lived in Pensacola her whole life, loves history and geography, and next January plans on enlisting in the US Air Force to become an aviation mechanic. 

Lighthouse Tales From The Past

All Lighthouses have tales to tell, this one isn't any different. Back in 1885, a flock of wild ducks flew into the lantern room windows damaging them. Lightning blew the roof off two different times. Why? It wasn't grounded correctly. My favorite story is about the son of one of the Lighthouse keepers. Apparently the family kept chickens and roosters on property. The rooster liked to peck at the boy's feet. One day, he'd had enough. Picking up the rooster, he walked all the way to the top of the tower, even though he wasn't supposed to, and threw the rooster over the edge. Now, of course the rooster flew away, but I bet the boy felt like he's won this time. 

Gargoyles Guard the Top

Looking down the 177 stairwell

Need to Know When You Visit

The lighthouse is at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. Civilians can go on base as long as they show ID, like a driver's license, at the gate. Follow the signs to 2081 Radford Blvd. There is a cost of $6.00 for adults and $4.00 for children under 12, seniors, and military with ID. Hours of operation are 10am - 5:30pm Monday - Saturday and 12 noon - 5:30pm on Sundays.

Important things to be aware of:

1. Coast Guard regulations specify children need to be at least 44 inches tall or 7 years old to climb the tower.

2. To walk the 177 steps to the top, you need to have on close-backed shoes. If you wear flip-flops, like I did, you'll have to walk up barefoot.

3. Only bottled water is allowed in museum.

4. Children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult.

While you're on base, you might also want to visit Fort Barrancas and the National Naval Aviation Museum. I'll tell you about them in future articles. Enjoy your day today, whatever you do.

Welcome To My New Blog! Come Sail Off into the Sunset with Me in Key West

Welcome! Curl up in your favorite chair, grab a cup of tea (or coffee or whatever you like to drink while you read) and journey with me through our adventures both current and past.

These first few posts were on Yahoo Voices, but, since they are shutting down, I decided to move them over here to kick start my new blog. So, here is my first post:

The beginning of the adventure.

Sailing into the Sunset in Key West

Fun to Be Had on the Schooner Jolly II Rover

On a sultry autumn night, we set sail. As we clear the sea wall, one of the crew climbs up the ratlines to release the sails at the top of the mast. We glide across the waters of Key West harbor in search of dolphins. There are none to be found this night. The captain gives the order to come about, and the schooner gracefully turns around, heading out of the harbor into the channel and beyond. A guest takes over the helm. The captain weaves tales of days gone by; pirates, navy ships and the islands of the Florida Keys.

We are on board the Schooner Jolly II Rover. The only square rigged, topsail schooner in Key West, she is an 80-foot long replica of a coastal sailing ship from the 1800's. Her owner, Bill Malone, brought her here from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. If you're looking for a true sailing experience, this is the choice to make. The captain will let you help hoist the sails and steer the ship if you want. Or, you can just relax and enjoy.

A crew member climbing the ratlines.

Whether it's a day sail, birthday party, sunset sail or educational cruise, the Jolly II Rover is a fun sailing experience for the whole family. Guests can bring their own food and drink on board (cold bottled water is provided), take pictures, go explore below deck and watch the captain fire a real cannon at 'enemy' ships as they pass by.

Wandering on deck, I asked several passengers their thoughts on their experience. Maggie and Wayne, from Maryland, said the sunset was gorgeous, the sail was relaxing and they definitely would do it again on their next visit to Key West. Jayna, from California, enjoyed the sunset, but like Wayne, would have liked a bit more wind in the sails. Sandy, from Texas, was celebrating her birthday. She felt the captain was informative and entertaining with his talk about pirates and the keys. She also said the sunset was beautiful.

Heading out of the harbor.

One thing they offer is a Frequent Sailor Card that's good for 30 days. Your first sail is full price, ($45.00) your second sail is $10 off and your third sail is free. If you are a local to Key West, they offer you a great $15 discount, encouraging you to sail with them and bring your friends when they come to town. Their prices are reasonable and the experience is one of a kind.

So, how can you take advantage of this great adventure?

Check out their website at http://www.schoonerjollyrover.com/

Buy tickets online at http://www.zerve.com/JollyRover or call 800/979-3370

Or call them at: 305/304-2235

My Friend Sandy Hatch enjoying the sail.

A Key West sunset is always perfect.