Weird Travels
Some of my favorite people, places, and things.
The Red Sox
My love of the Red Sox came at a early age, handed down to me by my grandfather. If only the MLB and NESN would stop trying to price the middle class out of the game, I’d attend more games with my family. This photo was taken on a trip to Fenway with the scouts in April, 2024. Aged using Photoshop.
007
My dad was a Bond fan, and I grew up during the Roger Moore era. Goldfinger is the seminal film, though Casino Royale (2006) is a huge favorite of mine. I’ve read all of the Fleming books and found them enjoyable, despite being even more, shall we say, problematic than the films. Sean Connery is still the best, though Daniel Craig is fantastic as well, and Roger Moore was a better man than Connery could ever hope to be. (Image created using Microsoft AI.)
Palate Cleansers
I listen to too much true crime, and sometimes it really gets under your skin. Here are a few of my go-to podcasts when I need to lighten up, laugh, and feel better about the world.
Agatha Christie
When I was a child, my two maiden aunts had a large collection of hardcover Agatha Christie books, so I always associated her work with being for old folks. It wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I picked up And Then There Were None, and I was hooked. I am particularly fond of Hercule Poirot, especially in the preeminent performance by David Suchet. (Image created using Microsoft AI, finished in Photoshop.)
Cryptozoology
I’m not saying that I believe Bigfoot is real. I’m just saying that I want Bigfoot to be real… and I want Bigfoot to have his own spaceship. The link below leads to the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine, a place I have visited twice and hope to visit again. (Image created using Microsoft AI.)
Criminal Podcast
Yes, there are way too many true crime podcasts out there, and I listen to too many of them. Criminal is a little different. It rarely delves into the extreme cases, and host Phoebe Judge always warns of explicit content. It does, however, present stories with a twist, and in each episode, I feel there is something to learn, not just be horrified by. The image above is by Julienne Alexander, created for the Criminal Podcast website.
Uncanny Podcast
My son and I have really enjoyed this podcast, which examines true stories of hauntings with input from both skeptics and believers. It’s delightfully creepy.
New England Legends
Not only do Jeff and Ray chronicle legends from all over New England on their podcast, their website also hosts a map so that you can visit these strange and mysterious places (if you dare).
Devil's Hopyard
I’ve been visiting Devil’s Hopyard since I was a child, and it’s still one of my favorite places. I took this photo of Chapman Falls for a high school project in the mid-1980s. I now go back for day hikes with my own family. Below is the link to the Connecticut State Parks website about the Hopyard, as well as a link to Jeff and Ray’s Devil’s Hopyard episode on New England Legends.