Take a Trip to Bountiful!

The shadows on the wall indicate the passage of time. Lying awake, the full moon overhead, you’re anxious. You are compelled to go, to run into the quiet street. The dull ache in the center of your chest, the pulling, the heaviness begins to flutter- “Bountiful…” the whispered word tumbles from your lips before floating into the night sky like a prayer.

On a muggy evening, earlier this week, I made my way through the buzz of electric excitement that is Times Square to the intimate Stephen Sondheim Theatre to see The Trip to Bountiful.

Expertly directed by Michael Wilson, The Trip to Bountiful features an esteemed cast of actors. Cicely Tyson, who won the Best Actress Tony Award for her role as Carrie Watts, gives one of the most profound and memorable performances on the stage this year. Every subtle nuance of Carrie’s struggle was captured effortlessly. Vanessa Williams, as Jessie Mae Watts was seamlessly demanding, cantankerous and endearing. She was an antagonistic character you couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming empathy towards. Cuba Gooding Jr., played the role of Ludie Watts radiating a profound internal sadness.

Aesthetic perfection was achieved with the set, at times gloriously backlit in optimistic specks of amber and cerulean, at others, a reflection of a still star spangled midnight sky. The costuming - stockings, slips, beautifully patterned dresses with matching coats, pearl necklaces and bracelets, rolled hair, gloves, clutches and hats, was authentic and stirred in me a nostalgia for an era I was born decades too late to have experienced.

This brings us back to Bountiful, a place Carrie has clung to, a light in the darkness. Home often isn’t necessarily where we live. It isn’t always the place we hang our hats and lay our heads. Home is more profound than that, more powerful. Home is the place our fondest memories were made, the foundation that built the defining stories of our lives. Home is the place we aspire to go, when everything else has failed us.

The Trip to Bountiful runs through September 1^st, 2013 at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre at 124 W 43rd Street.

MY TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL GIVEAWAY!

I will present one lucky reader with two tickets to The Trip to Bountiful. Here’s how to enter:

1) Sign-up for my newsletter

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2) Follow me on Facebook

3) Follow me on Twitter and Follow Bountiful on Twitter

4) Share this post on your FB page

5) Tweet this post using the hash tag #bountiful and @sojossojourns

The winner will be selected and announced on Friday, July 12^th.

* I’d like to thank the Britto Agency for the tickets and for sponsoring the giveaway!

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24 Hours in Lisbon? 7 Experiences Not To Miss

24 Hours in Lisbon? 7 Experiences Not To Miss- From seductive Fado music, to delectable pastries and great wine, Lisbon is a city rich with history, arts and culture. You could easily spend many days strolling the narrow cobblestone streets, absorbing the many gifts the city has to offer. If you've only got a day to explore, however, here are seven experiences not to be missed!

1 ) Morning espresso and pastries at Cafe Brasileira (Rua Garrett 120)

This famed cafe is an institution in Lisbon. One of the oldest cafes in the city, Cafe Brasileira was where the great Portuguese writers, artist and intellectuals gathered to ponder life, politics and enjoy a strong drink.

2 ) Afternoon shopping at the outdoor market in Rossio Square

Rossio square transforms into a bustling marketplace on Saturdays and Sundays. You can find everything here, from local cheese and wine to flowers and jewelry. Perch by the fountain and enjoy live music and performances in the summertime.

3 ) Have a custom perfume made at Perfumaria Alceste -Rua da Conceição, 85(Lisboa - Baixa )

Perfumarias or perfume shops are a ubiquitous sites on the streets of Lisbon, but Perfumaria Alceste is different. Here, you can custom blend your own perfume. Choose from hundreds of scents to create a fragrance unique to you.

4 ) Ride the Santa Justa Elevator - Rua de Santa Justa

The Santa Justa Elevator is the only remaining vertical lift in the city of Lisbon. Ride to the top for stunning panoramic city views.

5 ) Take a streetcar into the old neighborhood of Alfama

Compact and vintage, the streetcars navigate the narrow winding streets of Lisbon with precision and grace. This is one of the best ways to see some of the older neighborhoods like Alfama. The Moorish architecture in Alfama is absolutely gorgeous.

6 ) Drink vinho verde at the cafe at the end of Rua de Santa Catarina, in Baixa/Chiado

One of the most relaxing spots in the city, this is the perfect place to sip vinho verde (green wine), a local favorite. The cafe bearing the sign Zon, offers a panoramic view of Lisbon and is an ideal place to watch the sun set.

7 ) Enjoy an evening of live Fado music at Senhor Vinho- Rua do Meio a Lapa 18

Declared by UNESCO to be an intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Fado is a melodic expression of melancholy love and loss. Incredibly lyric and moving, Fado is the music of Portugal and nowhere in Lisbon is the Fado finer then at Senhor Vinho. The owner, Maria da Fe, is one of Portugal's great voices of Fado.

What is the first thing you would do if you only had 24 hours in Lisbon?

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Lisbon, Portugal Photo Essay

Lisbon, Portugal Photo Essay- Ten twenty Euro notes come tumbling crisply from the machine. As you reach for your money, you're jolted forward. A gruff hand is on your right shoulder. Your fingers form a tight fist around your money as you swivel around.

"Please, I'm hungry, I need money for food."

A filthy hand is thrust in your face. You step backwards and stare dumbfounded at the dark pleading eyes before you.

"Excuse me." You wave the skinny unshaven man away with your free hand.

"Please, I'm so hungry." He steps closer.

His teeth are brown, you can smell his breath.

You step backwards,shoving your money into your bag without sorting it into your wallet. "No."

You wonder if you should break and run.

"I need money for soup. Please you have money."

"I'm sorry." You shake your head nervously, he's too close.

"Soup. I just want soup." He reaches for your arm again.

"NO!"

The ferocity of your response startles you. Moreover, the ferocity of your response startles him. He steps back, looking confused as you grab your belongings and run-walk down the street.

You follow the acute right angles of the narrow glossy streets. Moorish architecture towers above you. There are so many colors- multiple shades of coral and yellow, jade and blue. A network of wrought iron balconies hover above. An odd violet or rose sneaks between the bars. You begin to relax.

You trek uphill, then downhill, up again, then down. The soles of your shoes fight for tread against the slick tiles covering the ground in black and white marble-like patches. Around every corner, a bookstore, a cafe- this is a place where thoughts, ideas, words, are sacred. You stand, face pressed against glass, like a child at an aquarium, admiring the dark textured wood of the bookshelves. Now this, you think, this is a bookstore. Volumes of fresh books, not a kindle in sight, just a sea of crisp paper and sturdy wood. Breathing in the literary spirit of Lisbon, you feel in kindred company with the faces you pass as you continue your trek uphill.

Lisbon is a city of contrasts and colors.

A city on the water, a city of seven hills.

A city of wealth, a city of poverty.  Immaculately polished streets supported 16th century buildings covered in graffiti.

Lisbon is the place to go for a slow alfresco lunch or dinner. Savor the wine, the flavors, an after dinner espresso.

On the streets of Lisbon, music, entertainment and culture are rich. The Nitty Gritty About This City- Airport: Lisbon's Portela Airport is centrally located- about a 15-20 minute drive to the heart of the city. The close proximity was convenient and meant a taxi ride was only about 6 Euros from our hotel to the airport. Upon arrival, we took the local bus from the airport to our hotel. We paid 2 Euros for the thirty minute bus ride. The buses in Lisbon are clean, spacious (stroller plus bags) and easy to navigate! Getting Around: Lisbon is a walkable city and is pretty easy to navigate once you understand the grid. Old fashioned streetcars roll through the city and can take a load off of tired feet as the city is full of hills. Taxis are a ubiquitous site and they're very easy to hail off the street. You will find many taxi queues as well. Beware of Beggars! We were followed by some extremely aggressive beggars. Be sure to watch your bags and assert a clear and non-negotiable "no!"Exercise caution at ATM machines. In one instance, I was withdrawing money, my sister was standing right behind me with a baby stroller to block me and a beggar still ended up beside me, way too close for comfort. As a New Yorker, I thought I was used to things like this, but in Lisbon, a simple no, or an ignore, means beg harder and follow even closer, you have to be aggressive.

Have you traveled to Lisbon? What were your impressions?

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Cascais: Playground of Portugal's Aristocratic and Elite

Stunning azure water, yachts gliding through the breeze, gated multi-million dollar estates balanced delicately above the sea. A place to aspire to, a place to be seen, Sintra's neighboring municipality of Cascais, is where Lisbon's high society spends luxurious summers and weekends.

What was once a small fishing village and summer vacation destination for the Portuguese Royal family was transformed in the 1930s when a casino was built. Perhaps you've heard of Casino Royale, as in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel? The book was based on this casino which subsequently turned Cascais into a playground for Portugal's high society and other European elite.

Portugal managed to remain neutral during WWII and as a result received many European exiles, particularly from Spain and Italy. In Casais, these former monarchs built sprawling seaside estates riding out the war in seaside luxury. With the beautiful weather and casinos, Cascais became Europe's new riviera.

Today, Cascais is full of luxury resorts and homes. Elaborate golf courses sit at the base of mountains, encircled by palm trees.

The descendants of the Portuguese aristocracy still call Cascais's 5th Quarter home.

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Stunning Sintra: Portugal's Ode' to Romanticism

 

Your sandals slide across the slick cobblestone. Navigating your way slowly uphill through narrow streets cast in mid-day shadows, you take in the sounds. From somewhere in the distance jazz music floats in the air, ethereal church bells trill, there is laughter.

Above, a piercing strip of blue cloudless sky. Flowers dangle from wrought iron balconies. Blue, white and yellow ceramic tile create an ornate and charming facade. You brush your fingers along the cool and surprisingly, not so smooth porcelain and smile- you've arrived.

With a name inspired by the Greek Goddess of the moon (usually pronounced Cynthia), Sintra, Portugal's second most populous municipality, with its high elevation in the mountains, seems the perfect monument to its namesake.

From your first moment there, breathing the crisp mountain air, taking in the stunning panoramic ocean views, it's clear that Sintra is a very special place.

Lush, green, vibrant and beautiful, Sintra was the summer home to Portugal's Royal family from the 13th century to the end of their reign in the 1930s. Palaces, stand as reminders. Pena Palace, a 19th century castle, built for Queen Maria II looms in the distance. In the center of town, the National Palace still stands as a monument.

In addition to hosting royalty, Sintra has the distinction of being the capital of the Portuguese Romantic Movement. During the end of the 18th century, Portuguese and European artists flocked to Sintra to draw creative inspiration. Among these artists were English poet Lord Byron and the Danish master of fairy tales Hans Christian Andersen.

Modern day Sintra holds tight to its aristocratic, literary and artistic past. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995, one could get lost admiring the Moorish architecture and rich history. Wandering along narrow cobblestone paths, you'll find art galleries, ceramics studios, cafes, restaurants and wine bars.

If you're lucky, you'll be able to catch the Feira de Sao Pedro, a large market which occurs twice a month bringing together local artists, farmers and vendors. If you do happen to make the market, be sure to sample a queijada, a small cheese and cinnamon pastry torte, they're a tasty specialty in Sintra.

Sintra is a quick day trip from Lisbon. About 90 minutes by bus, it is well worth the visit.

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