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Don’t Lose Your Family Vacation Photos!

May 18, 2013 By BCOT 7 Comments

Ponte Vecchio Overlooking the Arno River

In May 2009, we (Rolle, My Mama, Her Friend, & Me) went on a 17 day European Vacation. We started out in London, stayed there for four days then we hired a car to take us to Southampton for the start of our 11-day Mediterranean cruise. The ports of call on the cruise were (in this order) Vigo, Spain; Lisbon, Portugal; Gibraltar, UK; Cagliari, Sardinia; Rome, Italy; Pisa & Florence, Italy; Villafranche & Cannes, France; Barcelona, Spain; which is where we disembarked and spent an additional 3 days. During this vacation, I took over 1500 photos, and 300 plus video clips. Just to be “safe” I downloaded the photos at the end of every day to my laptop. The plan was to make informative 3 – 4 minute video postcards for each destination.

When we got home, I put some photos on Facebook, but just a few teaser shots, as I wanted to save the best for my videos. Then one day, the weirdest thing happened, I went to turn on my 10-month new MacBook Pro, and I got this flashing folder symbol, and my computer wouldn’t boot up. After calling Apple Care and going through all of the troubleshooting, I was told I would need to take it into a Mac Store. Since I’m currently residing in Saudi Arabia, I decided to wait until I returned back to the states in November. Up until that time, I tried not to think about my computer. Because every time I did, I felt somewhat nauseous. Immediately upon arrival in the states, that same day, about 3 hours after landing, I take it to the Apple store. They tell me the dreaded words that I was hoping for the past two months I would not hear, “Your hard drive has to be replaced.” ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (that’s me screaming)

They replaced the hard drive, and the ethernet port (this also had died about 2 days before the hard drive), and gave me back the computer along with the damaged hard drive. Being the optimist that I am, I still thought there was some hope. They gave me a card and told me to call Drive Savers. The Apple Genius told me, “They may be able to forensically remove the data, but it will be expensive.” Well what’s considered “expensive?” It’s all relative, right? So, I make the call.

Of course, they cannot give me a quote over the phone. They need to see the hard drive. So, they send me a box to send them the hard drive, and if they were unable to retrieve the data they would send it back at no cost me. I send it in. The next day, I receive a call. The quote I received was a range from $1700 – $2400. Sh*t!! That is expensive. After a few conversations back and forth (over a few days), they offered a price of $1000. I felt desperate, and I was willing to pay $1000.00 to get my stuff off of this hard drive. I told them the photos were the most important thing. About a week goes by, and I receive the dreaded phone call that they could not recover anything. I was pretty much devastated all-over again. Because, even though I was trying not to get my hopes up, inside I was hoping.

The only photos I have from this vacation are the few (about 10 – 20 pics per city) are on FB (Facebook). And since I had uploaded them to FB, they are so compressed that I couldn’t pull them off to make a slide show because it would look horrible. The obvious lesson here is to back up your photos!! So now I back up my photos to an external hard drive and I upload to Dropbox. It doesn’t matter if you have a new computer. Trust me after saving, and spending dang near $2500 for my Mac, to have the hard drive crash beyond repair at 10 months in, is horrible. I would have never thought it. The obvious lesson from this tragic story is to backup your photos.

Following is one of only two photos that I have from being at the Cannes Film Festival:

Terri and Rolle at Cannes Film Festival

Below are links to the few photos I have from this vacation.

London, England: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82812&id=544363929&l=f938a3ad56

London2: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82812&id=544363929&l=f938a3ad56

Vigo, Spain: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82818&id=544363929&l=dead38f400

Lisbon, Portugal: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82823&id=544363929&l=e0cc9b9a8c

Gibraltar, UK: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82825&id=544363929&l=79ce6bfedc
BTW: Crusing into Gibraltar was awesome, we saw the northern coast of Africa and a pod of dolphins. This stop was a pleasant surprise.

Cagliari, Sardinia: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82826&id=544363929&l=41b29efb0c

Rome, Italy: We LOVED, LOVED, LOVED Rome: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82842&id=544363929&l=106d4170c2

Pisa & Florence, Italy: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82845&id=544363929&l=73d4a26188

Barcelona, Spain: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=82871&id=544363929&l=4ca7059693

Filed Under: Photography, Travel Tips Tagged With: black chick on tour, cruise, data backup, europe, european cruise, photography tips, travel photos

New York City: Day Trip to The Walkway Over The Hudson

October 3, 2012 By BCOT 7 Comments

It’s autumn. That means it’s time for visiting locations that provide a great leaf-peeping show. For a great day trip out of Manhattan, check out The Walkway Over The Hudson, located in Poughkeepsie, It’s a quick 1.5 hour drive outside the city.

What was at one time the world’s longest bridge, built in 1888, is now the world’s largest elevated pedestrian bridge. The bridge sits 212 feet above the Hudson river, is 1.28 miles long, and offers fantastic views across the Hudson river and the city.

I showed up a little early for the best of the best in regards to leaf pepping, but was fortunate. The sun was out, with the perfect clouds (puffy cumulus clouds) so I was able to still catch some great photos.

For more information regarding hours of operations, events, the park, etc. check out their website: http://www.walkway.org/visit-walkway

To Enlarge: Click On The Image, Then Click Again

Fall Foliage New York Rt US 9

Walkway Over The Hudson

Houses and Foliage – Walkway Over The Hudson

View from highway US 9 – Walkway Over The Hudson

Thru The Grate – The Husdon River

Walkway Over The Hudson – North Facing View

Mid-Hudson Bridge – South Facing View from Walkway Over The Hudson

Downtown Poughkeepsie – Walkway Over The Hudson

Filed Under: Destinations, Photography Tagged With: black chick on tour, Black Travel, hudson river, new york, nyc, poughkeepsie, walkway over the hudson

[VIDEO] Frankenweenie Hollywood Movie Premiere – Celebrity Interviews

September 27, 2012 By BCOT Leave a Comment

I had the pleasure of working the reporters line while on a recent trip to Los Angeles. It was awesome.

On The Reporters Line – Frankenweenie Premiere

I was reporting from the premiere of Disney’s new Tim Burton movie; Frankenweenie. It’s a movie about a boy and his dog and what ensues when he brings his beloved pet dog Sparky back from the grave.

Check out my celebrity interviews while I was working the red carpet, that was actually white:

Chick Here: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-849211

Filed Under: Fun stuff, Video Tagged With: black chick on tour, Catherine O'Hara, David Arquette, disney, frankenweenie, hollywood, movie premiere, tim burton, travel

Dog Days of Summer Travel Contest Winner

September 4, 2012 By BCOT 4 Comments

Throughout the month of August I was traveling around and sharing my locations and travel tips. I started in Saudi Arabia, then went to Amsterdam, Seattle, San Francisco, Sonoma, ending in San Diego. All along the way I provided clues and hints as to my whereabouts on Facebook and Twitter. Followers and Fans have been providing answers to these clues for their chance to win $500 in Visa TravelMoney.

Today the winner was chosen. Congratulations to Alfreda Frye for her answer submitted via Facebook to Clue #4: America’s Finest City is my hometown & next destination. Where am I going? She submitted her lucky answer “San Diego” on August 5 at 9:51pm.

The winner was picked using a random number selector (Random.org). As participants submitted the correct answers they were entered into the drawing and assigned the next sequential number in order of answer submission. Today the lucky number was pulled and it belonged to Alfreda.

I want to thank everyone who participated. This was my first year doing this type of interactive travel game and it was a lot of work. However, it’s been a blast doing it and I’m already looking forward to next year’s.

Filed Under: Fun stuff Tagged With: black chick on tour, conest winner, dog days of summer, travel, travel contest, travel contest winner, travel game, visa, winner

San Diego Hometown Tourist: Balboa Park

August 28, 2012 By BCOT 2 Comments

Balboa Park is San Diego’s jewel. America’s largest urban cultural park has more than 30 Museums, Performing Arts Venues, and Sports and Recreational Facilities, along with numerous gardens and restaurants. Sandwiched between 6th Ave. on the west and Park Blvd. on the east, Balboa Park is 1200 acres of public playground and lovely green space. This park is the park the locals go to and the cultural attractions are a draw for both the tourist and locals alike.

Lily Pond Balboa Park

Pink Lily Pond Balboa Park

I have so many memories of Balboa Park. The earliest memory I have is when in the 5th grade (age 10) my school’s entire 5 grade class along with 5th graders from other schools spent an entire week at Balboa Park. I remembering thinking how cool it was; every day for a week I would show up at school then get on a bus, to spend the day visiting museums, hiking the park, and most importantly I would not be spending the day in the classroom. I’ve been in pretty much every museum in the park at least once and some 2 and 3 times. At that time my favorite museum was the “Museum of Man.” I think that is because they had naked exhibits and it touches on human sexuality which at the age of 10 I found naughty and giggly. Today, I would have to say that my favorite museum is the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, which I’ve been in at least a dozen times. The Natural History Museum is a close 2nd, and the Botanical Building is cool as well.

Botanical Building Balboa Park

Balboa Park National History Museum

By the time I was a teenager I was roller skating with my friends all over the park, making out with my boyfriend on the back hiking trails, and chillin on a blanket on the hillside (Park Ave side) listening to DJ’s spinning tunes. I’ve spent so much time and have done many things at this park. To this day, I continue to go to Balboa Park on a semi-regular basis, most of the time it’s just to lay out on a blanket and read a book.

Balboa Park Fountain and Child

Balboa Park Spreckels Organ Pavilion

Cool Tips:

Free guided tours leave the Visitors Center’s Prado entrance on Fridays at 1:00 p.m
Free Organ Concert on Sundays at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.
Visit the park on Tuesdays, when many museums have free admission.
Free public WiFi is available in the majority of the museums and theaters in Balboa Park. The WiFi often extends to the sidewalks outside of the cultural institutions along El Prado and the Palisades area (by the San Diego Air & Space Museum).
Dine at the Prado Restaurant for great food in a fantastic setting
Pack a lunch, grab the kids, let them run out all that energy at one of the many play areas, while you lounge under one of the many trees and enjoy the scenery.

Filed Under: Destinations, Photography, San Diego Tagged With: balboa park, black chick on tour, Museum of Man, San Diego, san diego natural history museum, san diego parks, science center, Spreckels Organ Pavilion, travel

Amsterdam and Porcelain Houses

August 27, 2012 By BCOT 2 Comments

One of my travel collections consists of KLM Delft Blue miniature houses. They come out with new house every year, and each one is numbered. Some might say that the coolest thing about them is that they come filled with Bois Jenever (dutch gin). What I find most cool is that they are replicas of houses that still stand today in Amsterdam or some other city in Holland. This collection was building slowly, however, over the past year it’s grown quite a bit. I’ve gone from less than 10 houses to close almost 40 houses. Roland added eight to my collection this past July. Eight!! I don’t know how he got so many when he should have just come home with four, but I’m gonna guess he was scheming and asking people for theirs. (Thanks Baby!! )

About a year ago, I came up with the grand idea to search out these houses and photograph them. I don’t know how I’m going to display the two together, but I thought it was a fun idea. That is what motivated me to purchase some of the houses when an expat leaving Saudi Arabia advertised her collection for sale at 20 Riyals (about $5.30) per house. So, I purchased 18 houses.

Well…I was in Amsterdam earlier this month for 4 days and I checked out some of the houses. It was so cool!! Based on the proximity to my hotel, I narrowed it down to 5 houses. I mapped them and went on my search. I was so excited when I found the first one. I was surprised that they were so easy to find and I think I expected them to “stand out” in some way. But, they look like the other surrounding canal houses, with the exception that this one has a porcelain replica reproduced by KLM.

I spent one afternoon walking a nice route that took me to five of the houses in my collection. This is just the beginning. The next time I’m in Amsterdam, I will select 5 – 6 more houses and do another walking tour of a new neighborhood. Following are the photos of the houses that I took. The photos of the porcelain house is courtesy of KLM.

*To enlarge the photos, click to bring up its own page, then click again. *

Keizersgracht 140 – KLM House #45:
Unlike the facade of many old buildings in Amsterdam that lean slightly outward towards the street, the facade of the house at Keizersgracht 140 was erected in 1896 and stands straight up. Until the first half of the 19th century the house was in uses as a meeting for English Quakers.

KLM House 45

Keizersgracht 140 – KLM House #45

Herengracht 203 – KLM House #53:
The house at Herengracht 203 was built during the early period in which the ring of canals was being constructed and is one of he original buildings. It was build in 1618 following the allocation of the land. A restoration was conducted in 1920.

KLM House 53

Herengracht 203 – KLM House #53

Herengracht 64 – KLM House #56:
Herengracht 64 was built by Jan van Alderwerelt (1585-1636). This merchant’s house was rebuilt around 1700. An historic drawing shows that the house was once crowned by a globe with a cross on top but this ornament has since disappeared.

KLM House 56

Herengracht 64 – KLM House #56

Herengracht 163 – KLM House #59:
A wine merchant named Jan Willemson commissioned the building of this house. The beautiful neck gable crowning the building at Herengracht 163 dates from 1721.

KLM House 59

Herengracht 163 – KLM House #59

Singel 87 – KLM House #72:
This building dates back to 1730. The top is crowned with a bust of mercury, the god of commerce. This symbol was in common uses during the time when Amsterdam was one of the world’s most important centers of trade.

KLM House 72

Singel 87 – KLM House #72

Filed Under: Destinations, Fun stuff, Photography Tagged With: amsterdam, black chick on tour, Black Travel, klm, KLM houses, travel, travel collections

Travel Game Features San Diego

August 26, 2012 By BCOT Leave a Comment

I’m coming down to the home stretch with the Dog Days of Summer Travel Game. And, there is not better place for the home stretch to end than in my hometown of San Diego.

All month I have been traveling around and it’s been a fun filled journey. I started in Saudi Arabia and hung out in Amsterdam, Seattle, San Francisco, Sonoma, providing clues and hints on Facebook and Twitter about where I’m traveling to, what sites I’m visiting, and/or how I’ll get there. People have been providing answers to these clues for their chance to win $500 in Visa TravelMoney.

With this week being the last week, we’re going out with a bang. The clues coming at you all week will feature San Diego. Make sure you’re following me on Facebook and Twitter and stay tuned as we showcase America’s Finest City.

Filed Under: Fun stuff Tagged With: black chick on tour, dog days of summer, San Diego, san diego travel game, travel, travel game

San Diego Hometown Tourist: Presidio Park

August 26, 2012 By BCOT 7 Comments

Perched up on the top of a hill at the entrance into “the valley” Presidio Park is one of my favorite parks in San Diego. With views over Mission Bay to the Pacific Ocean, it’s a favorite for sunset watchers.

As a major symbol of the city, it stands atop the hill recognized as the site where California began. It was here in 1769 that the Spanish Franciscan missionary, Father Junípero Serra, established California’s first mission and presidio. The centerpiece of this park is the Serra Museum, which highlights the four different cultures that have occupied Presidio Hill from the Kumeyaay, Spanish, Mexican and early American periods.

Serra Museum

Padre Cross erected in1913 is made up of tiles from the Presidio ruins.

Just east of the museum is Palm Canyon a half mile of large palm trees shade this canyon and it’s hiking trails. Located just east, on the other side of Palm Canyon, is Inspiration Point. A popular location for weddings, it has views of Mission Valley and numerous trees that offer year-round shade making it a great spot for a picnic.

Palm Canyon

Mission Valley from Inspiration Point

To visit Presidio Park, take Interstate 8 to the Taylor Street Exit. Head west on Taylor Street and turn left onto Presidio Drive. Follow Presidio Drive up the hill then right into the parking lot across from the Serra Museum.

Filed Under: Destinations, Photography, San Diego Tagged With: black chick on tour, Featured, history, junipero serra, presidio park, San Diego, serra museum, travel

[VIDEO] This Morning In Seattle (8/11/12):

August 11, 2012 By BCOT 2 Comments

Early this morning I went for a drive to one of my favorite areas in Seattle; Alki Beach. You can tell from this rough video taken using my phone that this is the beginning of a beautiful day.

Filed Under: Seattle, Video Tagged With: alki beach, alki point, black chick on tour, Seattle, travel, video, washington

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