The Greatest Show on Earth

Event

Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus

The XL Center

It seems to be becoming tradition that when that circus train rolls into Hartford, my good friend Sue packs up her boys, picks me up and we head to the XL Center for an evening of big animals, high flying acrobats, cotton candy and this year… fire breathing dragons!

  

For the first time, we all got their early and headed down to the lower level to see the animals up close before the show started.  Lions rolling on their backs in hay, horsed saddled for show, elephants only seven feet away – it is a great part of the experience.  Then it is back up to find our seats then down to the floor of the arena to watch an elephant paint a picture and dance with the performers, there was even a huge bouncy house.  As I am not much the fan of crowds so I watched from above as hundreds of families watched horses perform and visit with clowns.  The birds-eye view is a great place to be.

The show unfolds with our National Anthem sung while a stunning woman waves a US flag riding an elephant.  Then it’s full steam ahead with clowns, motorcycles, dancers, aerialists and a booming Ring Master (a CT native to boot!)  While the trainer was showcasing the awesome personalities of the lions and tigers, one had a bit of sass and attitude and threatened him.  He assured the audience it was part of the act, I was not so convinced of that.  Motorcycles on a highwire, and ladies suspended from the ceiling in plastic orbs filled the upper tiers while men with swords bend steel.  What circus would be complete without someone diving through fire (blindfold… and lined with swords!)  All of that before intermission.

Attendants bring around cotton candy, programs, snow cones and lemonade – all over priced but in some kind of cool souvenir container.   Lots of loud music designed to get you up and moving starts the second act that leads to high flying aerials, men flipping through the air while wearing stilts and a huge crowd favorite, motorcycles in a small cage driving fast and upside down.  This year they had 8 cyclists.  (Sue’s son informed me that it was one more than they had last year!)

The theme of this year’s circus was “The year of the Dragon” and the dragons did not disappoint.  From smaller wheeled ones brought through the hall, to lighting effects (gobos for your techie types), a reminder that with Wisdom, Courage, Strength and Heart – the real dragon would show itself, and that it did, a huge green fire breathing dragon ended the show.  One of my favorite aspects of this show is the live music that is played, right there in the area for each and every act.  A full package deal.

Fly out? Drive Back? Who does that?

A Travel Tip

I think that all those trips back and forth from home to VT for 15 years killed it for me.  I have to say, I HATE driving back and forth on the same route.  That is way Heather and I love this Fly-out, Drive-back concept. (Lets call it FO/DB) We figure out how far we are willing to drive BACK to CT from, maybe we only have 7 days, or want to spend more time in one place than others.  How far are we willing to drive without going crazy?  Then, we book a ticket to that farthest destination, pack light and go.

Yes, it can more expensive this way.  I will not lie to you.  But first, let me tell you the advantages of doing it this way.  Let's face it, airport security is not getting any friendlier.  If you FO/DB, you only have to go through that once.  If you like getting body scanned and patted down by strangers, then FO/DB might not be for you.  They are charging you to have any and all luggage now a days too, this way you can pack really light and pick up a few things on the way back if you think you need them.  You can buy some really cool, fragile, large things along the way home (always wanted a saddle from TX, a rocker from Amish country or Fenton carnival glass from WV), it is yours to enjoy without the worry of transport.

Okay, so let’s look at the cost of car rental – yes it is pricey because there is, what is called, a drop off fee.  A crazy cost that you cannot avoid.  But you can work to lower the cost of the overall rental.

First, shop around.  Get the vehicle that best fits your needs and budget.  Try on-line sites like Kayak or Priceline.  Book early but keep looking for deals.  (Cancel one for another if you can)  Also, be willing to think outside the box. CALL rental companies - talk to a real live person, and see if there are looking to move vehicles from one part of the country to another.  I did this from FL to CT.  The rental agency wanted SUV's brought from the South to the North; we were doing them a favor.  My daily rental cost was $9 instead of $54.  For this trip from TX, I got a great rate through BJ's Wholesale.  Not a member?  The $35 yearly fee is worth the money you will save all over. 

And for someone like me, who doesn't love to fly, it is a great way to travel.  I only have to get on the plane once, only one security check. 

It may not work for everyone, but it really does work well for me.

Stunning, Breathtaking, Majestic

September 2005

Jackson Hole WY & Yellowstone National Park

When Edith invited me to join her for a trip to Jackson Hole WY, I was, of course, game to go but I had no idea what we would see there as I didn’t know anything about the area.  But, as Edith was a travel agent with a history of great ideas, I knew we were going to have a wonderful time.

These mountains were formed by
glacier a REALLY LONG time ago.

We actually started in Salt Lake City, Utah and then drove the beautiful six hours north through Utah and Idaho then finally along the Teton Pass into Jackson Hole, WY.  I had never driven over a mountain before, it was quite the adventure.  Safely arriving, Edith has booked us into a quaint hotel that was actually little two room log cabins. 



Edith and I hitch a ride from town up to the
Bar T-5 Dude Ranch for dinner and a show.



Jackson Hole is the gateway for many people to see the Grand Teton Mountain range and Yellowstone National Park.  Famous for its Elk-antler Arches found in the center of town as well its public art displays, this is a great community to walk around, shop, dine and explore.  While we were there we had dinner at the “Bar T 5”, dude ranch that included a wagon ride to the dinner hall, amazing BBQ and a great show.  We explored the artsy side of town, wandered the amazing shops and took a guided rafting ride down the Snake River, we even watched a Mama bear and her cub lazing on the side of the road!

On one beautiful fall day we took a guided tour through a sliver of 2 million+ acres of National Park!  Our guide picked us and 8 other sight-seers up and started our well narrated drive to the one site we all wanted to see… Old Faithful – the geyser that sets the bar for all other North American Geysers!  When we arrived at the visitor center we learned that Old Faithful was not as faithful as we thought.  It doesn’t go off every hour on the hour, but apparently it goes off in such a way that they can accurately predict the next eruption.  Bleachers line one side of this show and you wait with cameras poised for 5,000 gallons of boiling water to shoot 150 feet in the air. The noise, the spray and even the smell – it is like nothing else you will ever experience.  We wandered along wooden sidewalks from small geysers to mud pools seeing nature just doing its thing.

I have been too many places in the US and around the world, before and after this trip.  When people ask me about the most beautiful place I have ever been, I always think back to Jackson Hole.  From the grassy fields filled with buffalo and elk, to the seven peaks of the Grand Teton Mountains, along the Snake river that winds through the town and the well preserved National Park of Yellowstone, I feel blessed to have been able to visit such a majestic place.