Prisoner of Hopes

Category: History

  • Imperial Palace: Travel Goals Japan

    Today we visit the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda, Tokyo. While it is the primary residence of Japan’s Emperor, the inner palace area is closed to visitors. Instead, we head to the East gardens. Both the palace and the gardens are built on the grounds of the former Edo Castle, the seat of the Tokugawa shogunate. There are…

  • War Eagles: Rural Road Trips

    The War Eagle Museum is a privately owned museum filled with historic aircraft and cars. It is located at the Dona Ana County airport at the border of New Mexico and Texas. We are only here because it popped up on the GPS as we were driving to El Paso. I have zero expectations and…

  • Beautiful Surprise: Travel Goals Japan

    Just walking through Tokyo, we take a short cut suggested by Google Maps. We are on our way to Tokyo Tower to get an aerial view of the city. Google says we can walk through an ancient wooden door. My husband is leery because it is obviously not a street and Google has taken us…

  • El Paso City: Rural Road Trips Texas

    From thirty thousand feet above the desert floor I see it there below A city with a legend, the West Texas city of El Paso Where long ago I heard a song about a Texas cowboy and a girl And a little place called Rosa’s where he used to go and watch this beauty whirl  I don’t recall…

  • Queen of the Desert: Rural Road Trips

    Today we head to Bisbee, Arizona. It is a small town built on a legacy of copper. The copper queen mine sits just at the edge of town, a reminder of a booming past. The present condition of Bisbee is the opposite of booming. It has seen better days. Still there are antique shops and…

  • Tiny Town that is Somehow Larger than life-Tombstone: Rural Road Trips

    The show down at the OK Corral….every kid (at least kids my age) has heard of it. It was immortalized in print and film. My favorite version is Tombstone with Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, and Val Kilmer. So on this road trip through Arizona, I am determined to see the place for myself. There may…

  • Random Stop at the Chandler Museum: Rural Road Trips

    A random stop turns into a profound learning experience as we face history and our current national condition

  • Inari Tokyo: Travel Goals Japan

    I am drawn to sacred spaces, especially if they are authentically in use. While I know little about Shinto, I can relate to the seeking and penitent hearts.

  • Remembrance: Travel Goals Japan

    You can learn a lot about a culture in a cemetery. We explore a large burial ground in Tokyo and encounter generals, artists, and even a famous dog.

  • Dove of the Desert: Rural Road Trips

    A beautiful church in the desert provides refuge for an Indian nation. I am moved by its elegance and authenticity.