LOCATION INSPIRATION
8/27/2007 4:56:43 PM by Clint Brownfield
Shimmering seas, tranquil ponds, crashing waves — water in general. It can mesmerize, excite and terrify. It has also inspired artists of all stripes to create some of our greatest literature, music, movies, television shows and paintings. Here, we present several watery places that continue to bring joy and inspiration into our lives.
Israel & Jordan | The Bible
You’ve read The Book, you’ve seen the movies, but have you been to the places? With some careful planning you can travel to Israel and Jordan and see with your own eyes such watery inspirations as the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, the Red Sea and the River Jordan where baptisms can be arranged today — in the same waters where it’s believed that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Visitors can even enjoy rides in ecologically sound small boats on the Dead Sea; snorkel and skin-dive in the Gulf of Aqaba; swim and enjoy spa treatments in the Dead Sea on both sides of the border; and enjoy beautiful Mediterranean beaches along the Israeli coast. The Marina at Eilat, Israel, pictured here, is one of our favorites. A wealth of information may be gleaned at SeeJordan.com and GoIsrael.com. Ongoing tours of the region, including Egypt, are being offered by Abercrombie & Kent: Info@AbercrombieKent.com.
Panama | Survivor: Exile Island
Survivor TV fans are a unique and always-growing group, encouraged in no small part by the exotic locations that serve as the seasons’ backdrops. And, as most of us may know, Survivor: Exile Island featured lush locations in and around Panama. It’s time to explore. There’s a growing “Panama” buzz currently which matches the addition of some nifty resorts, villas, marinas and fine places to wine and dine, such as the resort featured here. Even the Trump Organization is getting in on the act with Trump Ocean Club, International Hotel & Tower in Panama City scheduled to open in 2009. But don’t wait until The Donald arrives to enjoy a taste of Panamanian paradise. For travel information, go to VisitPanama.com.
Lake Geneva, Switzerland | Queen & Freddie Mercury
This placid and gorgeous lake simply cannot help but inspire, with serene views of the water from its beautiful shores and a ring of stunning Alps so amazing that you may just want to fire up your easel and begin painting away — or at least wear out the shutter on your camera. It’s the largest mass of freshwater in central Europe. It was here where Freddie Mercury was so taken with the area that he bought an apartment there. Today, a statue of the artist graces the landscape. Freddie and the group Queen produced their last two albums here, including such seminal hits as Mother Love. Visitors to Lake Geneva can still enjoy cruising on the largest fleet of Belle Époque vessels in the world: eight paddle wheelers (including five steamers) and eight propeller vessels. Delicious cuisine is available as passengers are taken between France and Switzerland, Geneva and Montreaux, via Evian and Lausanne. For all the facts on this world-class destination, go to Region-Du-Leman.ch.
Hannibal and St. Louis, Missouri | Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), or Mark Twain to us, is perhaps America’s most beloved author, humorist and literary figure. He was born along the shores of the Mississippi River and spent his early years traveling up and down the Mississippi in a steamboat as a pilot until the Civil War put an end to normal river traffic. His experiences during that time gave him his inspiration to write Life on the Mississippi. His base was St. Louis, Missouri, and as you can see from the photo below, it’s not a bad place to seek inspiration. He also took his pen name from river slang for “two fathoms deep.” The author went on to produce some of our most beloved classics including Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Many of his earlier works were produced just a few years after Lewis and Clark made their trip up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. St. Louis and Hannibal offer 21st century visitors an array of “Twain” experiences — from the informational ride up the arch in St. Louis to recreations of his boyhood home and a museum devoted to him in Hannibal. Three historic steamboats still carrying passengers up and down the Mississippi and are now under the umbrella of Majestic America Cruises, including the Delta Queen, which is on the National Registry of Historic Places. To plan the perfect itinerary, go to ExploreStLouis.com, VisitHannibal.com and MajesticAmerica.com.
Kauai, Hawaii | Puff the Magic Dragon
For years, it’s been common knowledge that Puff the Magic Dragon was a code for “funny cigarettes” enjoyed by the authors on the shores of Hanalei (honah lee) on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai. Well, dear readers, this is one of those urban myths that has picked up steam and is generally accepted as truth. For the full story, go to Snopes.com/Music/Songs/Puff. As you will see, it’s really about lost innocence…but, under no circumstances let this deter you from traveling to Kauai — undoubtedly one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Even if it wasn’t the inspiration for Puff the Magic Dragon, it has been the inspiration and/or location for some of our biggest blockbuster movies and TV shows like Jurassic Park, Blue Hawaii, South Pacific and Fantasy Island, to name a few. In fact, tours are now being offered featuring the locations of these popular shows and movies — a great way to discover Kauai in the process. For an incredible array of places to stay and dine and a myriad of fun water activities, go to Kauai-Hawaii.com or KauaiDiscovery.com. For the movie tours, go to HawaiiMovieTour.com.
Bimini, The Bahamas | Islands in the Stream by Ernest Hemingway
Islands in the Stream was discovered after Ernest Hemingway’s death in 1961 and was published in 1970 as a novel in three “acts.” The first one is entitled Bimini. As we know, Hemingway was heavily influenced and inspired to create some of his best work as a result of his great love of Cuba, Key West and other spots in the Caribbean, Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico — picking up the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes along the way. Bimini itself is thought to be home of The Fountain of Youth and is also perhaps one of the most charming and historic islands of the Bahamas. The island nation is on the fast-track to international stardom, thanks to a slew of luxury resorts and properties arriving in the area. Among the best is Bimini Bay Resort & Marina, where you can dock up in a yacht and almost immediately begin to take advantage of the island and all its beauty. For $1,000 a night, you can rent a four-bedroom oceanfront home. To schedule your stay, email Reservations@BiminiBayResort.com.
Arno River, Florence, Italy | Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli
Sandro Botticelli’s Birth of Venus (c. 1485) is thought by some scholars to have been inspired by Florence’s Arno River, not the sea, as evidenced by the characteristic winding, grassy shores depicted in the painting. Today, Florence is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy, and is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Botticelli’s painting is reported to have been commissioned for the villa of the ruling patron Lorenzo di Pier Francesco de’ Medici at Castello. In the painting, the classical goddess Venus emerges from the water on a shell blown toward the shore by flying wind-gods as a nymph receives her with a flowered cloak. The sexual undertones are endless. To see the Birth of Venus in person, go to the Uffizi Gallery at VirtualUffizi.com. For a tour of the Arno River and Florence’s other landmarks, go to AboutFlorence.com.
Martha’s Vineyard | Jaws
In Peter Benchley’s novel, Jaws, published in 1974, Amity is a small fictitious island off the coast of Long Island. Although the 1977 film doesn’t specify which state Amity belongs to, in the shooting of the film, Martha’s Vineyard was portrayed as Amity Island. The movie, which stands up very well after 30 years, put Steven Spielberg on the map and is generally considered to be the first “summer blockbuster.” If you’ve never seen Jaws or haven’t watched it recently, Netflix it before summer’s over. It’s still a prime example of pure movie magic and Martha’s Vineyard is magical, too. For trip ideas on how to have a safe, non shark-infested visit here, go to MVY.com.