How An Origami Paper Crane Became a Symbol for Peace – The Story of the Hiroshima Children’s Peace Monument

For me, the most moving monument at the HIroshima Peace Park was the Children’s Peace Monument with its statue of Sadako Sasaki holding an origami crane. I am sharing Sadako’s story and how her paper cranes became a symbol for peace.

 

This is our cry;

This is our prayer;

For building peace in this world

These were the words that greeted me at the Children’s Peace Monument in the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park. On August 6, 1945, the world’s first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. After the second bombing, Japan surrendered and the World War II conflict in the Pacific was over.

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My Visit To The Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park – A Continuing Classroom for Peace

A visit to the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park should be on all Japan travel itineraries. I’ve been fortunate in that I had the opportunity to visit twice, most recently during my small ship cruise with Heritage Expeditions.

The original version of this story was recognized with an Honorable Mention in the 2018 North American Travel Journalists Association Competition in the  Historical Travel-Online category.

As a teenager, I learned about the devastating effects of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. On my visits to the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park as an adult many years later, I encountered present day Japanese teenagers learning their history in this living classroom for peace.

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Why I was Thrilled to Finally Visit Little Petra

On my second visit to Jordan I was finally able to visit Little Petra. Much smaller than its famous neighbor, I found this site to be a nice compliment to all that I had seen at Petra.

The “lost” city of Petra in Jordan is no longer lost – in fact it is quite famous. It was rediscovered in 1812 by the intrepid Middle East explorer Johann Ludwig Burkhardt, and since then has become a very popular tourist destination.

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How to Visit Petra – 25 Petra Travel Tips For A Perfect First Time Visit

Are you planning to visit Petra? After two trips to Petra, I share this long list of tips to help make your visit to Petra memorable and easy.

There are many wonderful things to do and see in Jordan, but for most, a trip to the Hashemite Kingdom in the Middle East is not complete without a visit to the rose city of Petra.

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Ancient Petra Photos – A City of Mysteries in Black and White

Petra has been described as a city of mysteries and nothing accentuates that more than seeing Petra photos in black and white.

The ancient city of Petra is Jordan’s premier historical site and also the country’s most visited tourist destination. It is also a popular photography subject.

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Inside Petra by Night and Day – How to Spend 1 or 2 Days in Petra

The Treasury is its most recognizable landmark but there is so much more to see inside Petra. I share ideas for a 1 day and 2 day Petra itinerary to give you options on the best way to explore the mysteries of Jordan’s most popular sight at a leisurely pace. I also share information about the Petra by night experience.

Read on to discover all there is to see inside Petra, Jordan, the “Rose City”, one of the 7 New Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage site. I have been fortunate to visit Petra twice in the last couple of years and I am sharing all my Petra visit experiences as well as all some of my best Petra photos to inspire and to help you plan your own trip to this unique historic wonder.

Regardless of whether you have 1 day in Petra or are planning to spend 2 days in Petra, you should find these travel tips helpful.

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An Intimate European Waterways Loire Valley Barge Cruise on the Renaissance

A week long Loire Valley barge cruise with European Waterways was a truly relaxing and slow paced journey with intimate service, gourmet food and wine, and visits to out of the ordinary sights in the French countryside.

Before there were planes, trains and automobiles, France developed a vast network of canals that were used to transport goods from one part of the country to another. These canals connected to the major rivers and also to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The canal network made it easy to move all manner of goods from one part of the country to the other, and in particular, allowed Parisians to easily taste the delicacies from all corners of their realm.

Today, the canals and their many locks are used primarily for recreation.  European Waterways expertly manages a fleet of 12 luxury barges that ply the many canals of France on a variety of itineraries. I had already experienced a wonderful cruise along the Burgundy Canal on the La Belle Epoque and was quite familiar with this unique way of touring France’s less visited countryside.

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My France Canal Cruise – Quiet Luxury in the French Countryside

Luxury barging in France on the Burgundy Canal with European Waterways has been one of my most memorable travel experiences. Discover why a France canal cruise should be at the top of your bucket list with this detailed review.

To have unique experiences is at the heart of why I travel. Recently I was privileged to have one of the most extraordinary luxury travel experiences that I have ever had. I was invited on a France canal cruise on the barge La Belle Epoque with European Waterways. For six days on my Burgundy, France Canal cruise, I had the ultimate slow travel cruising experience that included gourmet meals, amazing wines, impeccably attentive service and uniquely curated excursions.

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A Paris to Chartres Day Trip – Exploring One of France’s Greatest Cathedrals

I discovered that a Paris to Chartres day trip was an easy escape to see the historic Chartres Cathedral with its beautiful stained glass windows. I also enjoyed discovering the quaint and not overtly touristy town of Chartres.

If you are not “churched” out after a visit to Paris, then take a Paris to Chartres day trip, to see one of the greatest Gothic churches still in existence, along with a quant French town that will not be overly touristy.

The Chartres Cathedral is considered the pinnacle of high Gothic architecture and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. As one of the best preserved Gothic churches, it is still adorned with most of the original sculptures and numerous beautifully detailed stained glass windows.

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