Prisoner of Hopes

Category: History

  • Pioneer Park: Travel Goals Alaska

    Pioneer Park: Travel Goals Alaska

    After a quick flight from Dawson City to Fairbanks Alaska, we find our hotel room isn’t quite ready. So we hop on the free shuttle and head to Pioneer Park. It is as good a place as any to spend an afternoon in Fairbanks. We’ve been here before and know that we will have options…

  • Gold Rush: Travel Goals Canada

    Gold Rush: Travel Goals Canada

    Not far outside Dawson, Yukon Territory is the site of the first gold discovery. You can walk to the creek where it all began. If you ask a local the story of how it happened you will get a dozen different answers. What everyone agrees on: The location was Rabbit Creek (later named Bonanza Creek).…

  • Dawson City: Travel Goals Canada

    Dawson City: Travel Goals Canada

    Our plane lands in a small field outside Dawson City, Canada. Just before landing we have a spectacular view of the Alaska Range including the mighty Denali. As we make our way into town, we pass mountains of mine tailings. The earth was ravaged here in the early quest for gold. Dredges sliced and diced…

  • Museum Opening: Travel Goals Japan

    Museum Opening: Travel Goals Japan

    It is opening weekend at the Edo-Tokyo Museum. We are excited to visit. Unfortunately so are thousands of Tokyo residents. There are lines to form lines to get in line to buy tickets. Suddenly, I am not sure this is such a good idea. But we are firmly in the line to get to the…

  • Skagway, Gateway To The Klondike: Travel Goals Alaska

    Skagway, Gateway To The Klondike: Travel Goals Alaska

    I was a big fan of “Northern Exposure”. In fact, I just watched the series again recently. New York City Doctor in the wilds of Alaska makes for some fun television, mostly due to the quirky locals. It seems wild and unsettled. Walking the streets of Skagway after the cruise ships leave port, I can…

  • Yokohama Adventure: Travel Goals Japan

    Yokohama Adventure: Travel Goals Japan

    Yokohama. When I hear the word, I see images in my head of ancient streets and trading ships. I see GI’s sending products home after WWII and wandering dark alleys. I don’t know what put those images there, probably a book I read or a movie I watched. All I really know is that it…

  • Matsumoto Afternoon: Travel Goals Japan

    Matsumoto Afternoon: Travel Goals Japan

    Matsumoto, Japan is the kind of town that I quickly come to love. It is quirky. And boy do I love quirky. It has history and culture and food. Apparently, the town mascot is a frog. I love that we keep running into frog statues in all shapes and sizes. We have spent the morning…

  • The Black Crow of Matsumoto: Travel Goals Japan

    The Black Crow of Matsumoto: Travel Goals Japan

    After almost two weeks exploring Tokyo and surrounding areas, we decide to travel farther afield. The bullet train will take us to Nagano province (about a three hour trip one way). Our destination is the mountain town of Matsumoto. I am excited to see the “Black Crow”, also known as Matsumoto Castle. Built in the…

  • The Art Of War: Travel Goals Japan

    The Art Of War: Travel Goals Japan

    At the National Museum, the Edo-Tokyo Museum, and a number of smaller palace museums there are displays of Japanese armor. Japanese armor first appeared in the 4th century, but during the 1000’s the unique Japanese  armour ō-yoroi and dō-maru appeared. I know next to nothing about Japanese armor. But “o” and “do” make me giggle. In fact, most of the suits…

  • False Creek Ferry

    False Creek Ferry

    Today we take bus 10 to Granville Island. The bus lets us off at an overpass and we try to follow Google Maps down under the elevated main thoroughfare and onto an underpass walkway that leads to the market and the docks. It isn’t as straightforward as we think it should be, but we manage.…