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Photo Shoot + Photography Tours: Get Snappy in Italy This Month
Published by Taols Luxury Travel
by Marla Brannan
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Whether you’re coming to Italy for work or play, it’s a safe bet at least half a dozen people said, “Take lots of pictures!” before you got on the plane.
Though there are certainly times to put away the camera and just breathe in a foreign country, capturing permanent memories during your trip to look at forever is important.
Truthfully though, not all of us have an eye for photography or own equipment fancier than our phones, and although phones today take incredible pictures, sometimes you just want more.
Perhaps you’d like to take a photography class, go on a photography tour or simply have someone take professional pictures of you, your family or your special celebration surrounded by the beauty of city settings or country scenes.
Regardless, there are many ways to get snappy in Italy. Here are just a few.
First, you can schedule a photo shoot with a professional.
Getting engaged or married - or eloping! - in Italy is a prime time to hire an in-country photographer who knows the best spots and the best time of day to ensure your pictures are worth a thousand words.
If the engagement, wedding, honeymoon, anniversary celebration or renewal of vows is a surprise, an Italian photographer familiar with the area can help you decide on a perfect location prior to leaving home, and take care of the details so your special moment will be stress-free.
Visiting Italy as a family is another time to hire a professional. Many photographers will join you for a specific amount of time while you tour to take candid lifestyle portraits, making the most of setting, light and emotion for dreamy, one-of-a-kind images.
Or, if you just want to avoid the hassle of asking strangers to take pictures of you in front of an incredible fountain or work of art, or be relegated to taking constant selfies, you could hire a photographer to follow you around for a day, snapping pictures and giving you the freedom to truly enjoy your surroundings.
Second, if you want to grow as a serious photographer, take your amateur skills to a new level, or even delve into photography for the first time, you might want to consider taking an actual photography class while in Italy.
Your whole trip might be photography-focused, with daily workshops teaching you tips for more beautiful and balanced images. These tours can last as many as 14 days and include tour guides, professional photographers and transportation to locations throughout a particular region.
Even publications like National Geographic, with some of the most renowned and prolific photographers in the world, run lengthy tours throughout the country. These often include luxury accommodations, insider opportunities to view and photograph art or locations not available to the general public and small tour sizes.
Finally, if your dream is to take a shorter tour at a specific location to maximize the quality of your snaps, there are many great options to choose between.
And, because the photographers leading the tours are locals, you won’t simply visit tourist hotspots, although those are also included. You’ll get off the average path into the beating heart of a city or town, which will result in truly unique images.
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These tours come in all shapes and sizes. For example…
...taking one on one 3-hour tours of Venice with a professional photographer as guide and teacher.
...learning low light methods and tips while touring Rome at night, bathed in moonlight while drinking prosecco.
...cycling in Bologna or walking in Florence, Venice or Rome on a tour specifically designed to catch Instagram-worthy moments.
...or enjoying a vintage-tinged tour of major Italian cities using retro Polaroid cameras.
Regardless of which type of photography-focused trip you’re interested in, or if you need a local to take pictures of your event, rest assured: When you return home you can make your friends happy by saying, “See? I took lots of pictures just like you asked!”
Sherpa Personal Tour
Touch the Sky
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Harmony.
What does it mean to you?
Physical or mental wellness?
Peace? Comfort?
Spiritual transformation?
What about being connected to the beauty of nature or fresh mountain air?
Being deeply aware of your place in this big world - where changes happen in nanoseconds and busy lives, stress, and responsibilities can take over your life - by traveling someplace new?
Where physical and emotional fatigue can be all-consuming, and adventure, inspiration and wonder get lost in everyday routines?
Where smart phones, tablets and computers keep us “connected,” but true connection with others, the beauty of the natural world and especially our spiritual selves gets lost?
​
Do you dream of getting away from it all, to immerse yourself for days or weeks, in a country where life is slower and more concerned about personal interactions with flesh and blood humans than a virtual world dominated by people you’ve never met?
If you’re tired of searching for harmony in your hectic life at home, there’s a beautiful, tranquil country just waiting for you to discover it.
An age-old land where you can bond deeply…
...to nature surrounded by the tallest mountains on earth.
...to a vibrant ancient people and culture.
...to mind/body connection on yoga or wellness retreats.
...to spirituality in some of the world’s oldest Buddhist monasteries.
A place to Touch the Sky - emotionally, spiritually, physically.
Nepal.
You may be asking yourself, “Wait a minute - isn’t that a country just for adventure-seekers who want to trek to base camp or even climb Everest? What about the altitude?”
“Won’t I have to give up every luxury?”
“Will I be safe? Comfortable?”
"Won't I be forced to take a large group tour?"
“How do I find someone who understands the country and has the knowledge to make sure I have a once-in-a-lifetime experience?”
These are some of the questions long-time friends Peter and Arthur had before their transformative bespoke trip, one that took dreams, forged them into goals and met their needs for a personally fashioned tour that would forever change their lives.
Peter visited this beautiful country as a young man and longed to return, to relive his experience trekking in the Annapurna range, to rediscover his passion during an authentic, fulfilling respite away from it all.
He wasn’t concerned about getting fit or the possible difficulties, and was willing to forego creature comforts in order to meet his goals.
Arthur saw the Himalayas as he flew over them and marveled at their beauty and majesty.
He was surprised, but very skeptical when Peter said enjoying those mountains was attainable for people like him, people who aren’t interested in maneuvering icy crevasses or serious mountaineering, hiking long distances or going without every creature comfort.
Still, as someone who loved to travel but typically booked group tours through a large agency, he doubted a bespoke tour was the way to go.
...those who desire a significant physical challenge...
But, Nepal is for anyone...
...and those whose dreams of being in the heart of the Himalayas include sipping wine and eating local cuisine like Yak cheese and Dhal Bhat after enjoying a helicopter ride to base camp, no heavy trekking destroying their hopes of a transformative experience.
And it was so much easier than they expected. Everything was taken care of for them and they were able to relax without worrying about the details.
Peter’s dream was finding harmony within himself on a physical quest.
Arthur’s was finding harmony within himself on a spiritual quest, one that furthered his interest in Buddhism and offered the tranquility of monasteries and internal self-reflection.
Peter wanted to be in the mountains, trekking them up close and personal for several hours a day at least.
Arthur wanted to be surrounded by the mountains, feeling and enjoying their magnificent presence closer to sea level while maintaining the possibility of shorter treks or walks at a lower altitude.
Peter had questions about his fitness level and where he needed to be physically to achieve his goals at a higher altitude...
...but he was convinced this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to break away from all the headaches of home and truly reconnect.
Arthur had questions about yoga, wellness and the possibility of volunteer travel, to give back at an orphanage or women’s center…
​
...but he was convinced he didn’t want to risk such a trip, regardless of Peter’s assurances…
3
Sherpa Personal Tour
Touch the Sky
Touch the Sky in Nepal
Peter and Arthur:
The Trip of a Lifetime
I am a lucky man. I have had a dream and it has come true…
Edmund Hillary
It was an uphill battle.
Two steps forward, three steps back.
There were boulders to move and rivers to cross.
Seemingly insurmountable problems and misconceptions.
And...so many questions.
But Peter was determined to overcome every obstacle.
To keep forging ahead.
To toss aside rocks and wade across streams.
To never say well, I guess it can’t be done.
In short, to drag his friend Arthur - at first kicking and screaming! - up his mountain of doubt and into a transformative bespoke trip surrounded by real mountains.
The tallest mountains in the world, actually.
The backdrop to a landscape of surprising variety.
Home to an ancient culture.
Birthplace of an age-old religion.
Sublime vacation destination.
Nepal? Where is This Country, Anyway?
Peter had to begin with the most basic of basics.
Nepal, he told Arthur, is a country in South Asia, bordered by India and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
It’s the birthplace of Gautama Buddha...
...home to four World Heritage Sites and a fabulous capital city...
...location of eight eight-thousanders - mountains higher than 8,000 meters (26,000+feet)...
...and, for Peter, a land reminiscent of his best youthful memories.
As Earth’s tallest point, Mt. Everest extends toward the heavens like a rocky cathedral, 8,848 meters (29,029’) into the sky!
Even though he didn’t climb to the top, base camp, at nearly 18,000’ above sea level, was a significant and challenging trek, one Peter was proud of.
Those memories - the people he met along the way, bright prayer flags against the snow, the satisfaction of reaching his goal - reminded Peter of a time when he was deeply connected to himself and to nature, a transformative experience he longed to recapture 40 years later.
But could he do it again? Arthur had some thoughts about that…
Are You Out of Your Mind?
To be fair, Peter kind of agreed with that sentiment - was he out of his mind for wanting to relive this chapter of his youth?
Granted he could walk 18 holes and swam regularly, but he was also ancient by comparison, had a few extra pounds around the middle, and hadn’t been hiking at higher altitudes for several decades.
But, as a seasoned traveler who preferred to do his own vacation planning, he started researching anyway, and was thrilled by what he discovered.
There were in fact many opportunities for easy to challenging trekking in Nepal that, with a little work beforehand, he could certainly accomplish.
For example: He could spend as little as three days walking along the edge of the Kathmandu Valley rim, just an hour’s drive outside the capital, enjoying local culture and staying in 5-star resorts like …………..and ……….
He could do something a bit more difficult, trekking in the lower elevations of the Annapurna where he’d experience world cultural villages like Ghandruk among some of the best mountain views in the country.
Or, if he had someone to help him prepare for the altitude, he could even try trekking the lower elevations of Everest itself.
Of course Arthur had something to say about that, too, mostly along the lines of that person doesn’t exist so...
You’re Being Unrealistic, Peter!
But…
Could Peter find that person, somebody to help him prepare with a bespoke program so he could achieve his goal to once again trek Nepal?
A program that included things like:
*The perfect fitness plan
*A punch list of everything to do before leaving home
*What to pack
*How to prepare for higher altitudes
*The best clothes and gear for trekking
*The names of his Sherpas and guides
*A detailed itinerary?
He told Arthur he was sure he could. That person must exist.
Arthur was beginning to get the picture, but there was one thing he still couldn’t understand: Why in the name of Mt. Everest was Peter asking him to go?!
In fact his exact words were, “Yeah, yeah. Fine. That’s great - but have you ever gotten the impression I’d be interested in climbing mountains? No? Well you’re right, so…
...What’s In it For Me?!”
Fortunately, since this was a predictable response from Arthur, Peter had an answer ready.
A lot.
There’s a lot in it for you, Arthur.
Things that are right up your alley, surprising things you didn’t think you’d experience on a trip to Nepal of all places. Transformative things that will make this the trip of a lifetime.
Or, pursuing inner harmony - in the country that celebrated wellness long before it became on-trend in the western world - by taking yoga classes or getting spa treatments?
How about a jungle safari?
Touring Kathmandu and Bhaktapur world heritage sites - or even extending your trip to include India and Bhutan?
​
Taking a helicopter to Everest for breakfast and a Bloody Mary? A morning mimosa? Popping a cork at base camp?
Exploring the temples and monasteries of two of the oldest religions in existence today?
Volunteering at an orphanage or refugee camp?
And, you can do all that while traveling sustainably, so you don’t have to worry about your trip affecting the environment negatively.
Sound more like it, Arthur?!
Peter could tell his old friend was intrigued, curious to know if this could be his next trip, maybe the one that could top all the others.
But...
...What About Margaret’s Hip?
(Peter had wondered how long it would take for Arthur to bring up Margaret and her bad hip.)
She doesn’t want to walk too far...
Peter understood Arthur and his wife Margaret, life-long travel partners who’d been all over the world, never left home without the other. Now that she’d had hip replacement surgery they figured the most exotic trips of their lives were those in the past.
But Peter had some insider information: There was a way.
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They could still enjoy another up-and-coming country like the many they’d visited together - before they became inundated with tourist traps or a McDonald’s on every corner.
“Guess what?”
​
“What, Peter?”
​
“I think we can find someone who’d create a bespoke tour with Margaret’s hip in mind!”
“Really?”
“Sure! You can see monasteries, temples, mountain views - all of it! - without having to walk long distances. Cars and even helicopters can drop you off close to everything you want to experience.”
“Wow!! But, Peter...
...you know we like some luxury!”
Peter knew that Arthur and Margaret were accustomed to upscale group tours, usually in more well-developed countries. He remembered that even their South African safari was a package deal from a large travel agency - and that they’d paid a lot for a tip-top experience.
They had high expectations for such an extensive, once-in-a-lifetime trip.
First class accommodations.
Five star level food.
Having their needs met before they asked…
(Just one more thing…)
...and that they didn’t typically use in-country travel agencies. Wary of language barriers or cultural differences, they preferred to work with better-known companies who understood their needs.
A company that wouldn’t just provide luxury, but could be trusted to honestly answer their other questions:
Are people hostile to outsiders?
How do I know if someone’s trying to scam me?
Will I be safe?
Finally, Peter told his old friend the full story...
Let Me Introduce…
Pramod Khatiwada
and Sherpa Personal Tour
You might not believe it at first, Arthur, but I found that person!
The one who can help me get ready for trekking at higher altitudes with a bespoke fitness program specifically for me.
Who can tell me what to pack, what to buy ahead of time, what to buy in Nepal, the gear I’ll need to be as comfortable as possible.
Who will take care of every detail from hotels and tea house lodging...
...to Sherpas and guides...
In short, a bespoke trip that meets my needs with my goals in mind.
...to World Heritage side trips from Kathmandu...
...to flights from my front door and back...
...to a daily itinerary that gives me time to see exactly what I want to see - and not be shackled to a group and the two hours allowed for sites that may need an entire afternoon.
And, if you give him a chance, Arthur, he can meet your needs with your goals in mind (and Margaret’s!)
Here’s the best part: Considering all that, the Sherpa Personal Tour bespoke trip Pramod will create just for you and Margaret is cheaper than a traditional tour.
As a boutique tour operator he doesn’t have a staff of hundreds to pay like large companies.
He doesn’t have executives or shareholders telling him what he can and can’t do.
He has personal contacts and friends in Nepal, India and Bhutan that are trusted guides who can give you not just the best service, but more inside information about the wonderful sites you’ll be visiting. He’s also lived in Australia for 20 years - he knows the expectation of westerners and how to make sure they’re filled.
He’s that person.
He’ll listen to your dreams, help you define your goals and then meet your needs.
Perfectly.
So…
...what do you say, Arthur?
Lifestyle Choices: Gluten-free + Vegan + Organic Italy
However, you must eat gluten-free, are vegan, or prefer eating organic, sustainably-sourced, environmentally friendly products.
You dream of taking cooking classes and tours while you’re in Italy.
So you’re a foodie.
by Marla Brannan
Published by Taols Luxury Travel
4
Is Italy still for you?
Si. Yes. Definitely.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie, an experienced home cook or a gourmand, Italy has classes and tours that cater to your vegan, gluten-free and organic sensibilities, without sacrificing quality, taste or luxury.
Flour Power: Gluten-free in Italy
Making gluten-free pasta from scratch is just as simple as making starch pasta from scratch. Anyone can do it, but if you’re insecure or simply want to learn something new, consider taking a gluten-free dough class while on holiday in Italy.
Gluten-free baking mixes are typically a blend of ground amaranth, buckwheat, corn, different types of millet, quinoa, rice, sorghum or teff flours. (Note: Be aware that these grains are often ground in facilities that also make flours containing gluten or nuts.)
Typical pasta dough is made with just wheat flour and eggs, with the possible addition of salt and water, but gluten-free pasta has another ingredient: xanthan gum (a sugar usually derived from corn) or baking soda (bicarbonate of soda.)
Because the flour doesn’t contain gluten, there must be a stand-in to make the pasta dough elastic. Without xanthan gum you run the risk of a crumbly dough that cracks, splits and is a headache to run through a pasta maker.
Here are a couple bonus tips for successful gluten-free pasta from the experts:
1. Check that the pasta is al dente by taste, not time.
2. Non-wheat pastas don't store well, so only make what you need.
3. Gluten-free pasta tends to absorb more sauce, so you may need to add some water once you’ve added all your ingredients together.
Italian chefs offer gluten-free pasta, pizza, bread and dessert classes in restaurants and cooking schools throughout the country. Taols can easily plan this into your vacation.
Say Cheese: Vegan Fun in Italy
Vegetarian and vegan cooking classes and tours are becoming increasingly available and popular in Italy, and eating according to your preferences isn’t difficult.
But, what about all the cheese?
Italy is famous for some classics like parmigiano, asiago, mozzarella, gorgonzola and pecorino. Often these cheeses play an important or even starring role in Italian dishes.
For example, one of the main ingredients in the ultimate Italian dessert tiramisu is mascarpone, and the classic pizza quattro formaggi (four cheese pizza) would just be crust without the traditional combination of mozzarella and three other local cheese varieties.
Of course, cheese is made with the milk of cows, sheep, water buffaloes and goats - so what’s a vegan to do?
Easy. Swap out Italian dairy cheese for Italian vegan cheese, sometimes created and aged exactly the same way - the way it’s been done for centuries.
Depending on the cheesemaker and recipe that’s used, vegan cheese can be made from soy protein, solidified vegetable oil, nutritional yeast, thickening agar flakes, nuts, tapioca flour, natural enzymes, vegetable glycerin, assorted bacterial cultures, arrowroot, and even pea protein.
Though there’s some North/South angst concerning fiddling with a national institution like mozzarella, it was one of the first kinds of cheese to attract plant-based makers. Mozzarella has a moist, springy texture and delicate taste that’s easier to reproduce than hard, smelly cheese.
But Italian plant-based foodies and chefs are rapidly expanding the cheesy possibilities, which can include provolone made from cashews, creamy ricotta from raw buckwheat, parmesan from almonds and mozzarella from refined coconut oil.
So rest assured - the vegan tour Taols can plan for you won’t be sans ooey-gooey pizza toppings or ricotta-filled ravioli.
Grower’s Paradise: Go Organic in Italy
If you’re into non-GMO foods sustainably produced using environmentally friendly practices, Italy is a great country to visit.
The European Union both controls some of the uses and the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in its member countries, and makes the rules governing what is and what isn’t considered organic farming and organic products.
To market your products as organic in the EU, a farmer must be certified through a central, country-wide control body that will conduct yearly checks to be sure producers are complying with the rules.
Prior to receiving the “organic” stamp though, the farmer or producer must go through a process called “conversion” - a period of time where the crops or animals must be raised organically, but cannot be sold as organic products.
By the time you eat that organic produce you bought at the hilltown market, sip that organic wine or stay on that organic farm, the vintners and farmers have met rigorous standards.
There are myriad ways to enjoy going organic in Italy. Some are simple decisions to eat at organic restaurants using locally-sourced foods or getting your afternoon gelato from an organic gelateria.
But if you want a more thorough trip, there are also ways to experience Italian food and wine producers returning to the methods followed naturally by their grandparents and great-grandparents a hundred years ago.
First, you can take an organic food tour. Private day tours offer transportation, an English-language guide, off-the-beaten track visits to farms where you can support the local economy as well as conscientious producers.
Second, you can do an organic winery tour. Of course on a food tour you’ll experience famous Italian wines, but consider a no-stress vineyard specific day tour, transportation and English-speaking wine expert included.
Organic winemaking in Italy is a booming business. In fact, as of 2018 Italy was home to 26% of the world’s organically farmed vineyards - and the trend has continued upward with more and more turning to sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices.
Third, you can go on an entire organic foodie holiday. These tours can last close to a week and may include cooking, trekking, truffle hunting, eco-luxury accommodations, agriturismo stays, cycling, yoga, olive harvesting - the possibilities are truly endless.
If you’re a foodie who also happens to be gluten-free or vegan, or who wants to celebrate organic food and wine producers by visiting their farms, orchards or vineyards, Italy is the perfect place to vacation whether for a long weekend or several weeks.
Let Taols plan the perfect Italian adventure and make your foodie dreams come true!
Stonewall Resort
5
Scenic Stonewall Resort in the heart of West Virginia is quite possibly the finest state park you’ll ever visit.
by Marla Brannan
From the first glimpse of perfectly manicured greens on the Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, a visitor to Stonewall Resort near Roanoke, West Virginia, quickly realizes that this place is unlike any state park visited before, a place that can live up to a motto like “Close to Nature. Far from Ordinary.”
Consider this: Stonewall Resort includes amenities like a 1920s-style Adirondack lodge, full service spa and salon, gourmet food, an award winning golf course, first class conference facilities and breathtaking hills-and-lake views in every direction.
This might come as a surprise, little wonder since Stonewall Resort, a public/private venture located in Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park north of Charleston, is a one-of-a-kind that looks and feels far different than a conventional state park.
This unique resort is the only successful endeavor involving a public, state-owned park backed by significant private investment in the United States – and it’s conveniently located just two and a half hours from the Huntington area!
Its beginnings were inauspicious – in the mid 1980s the United States Corps of Engineers built a dam to control flooding of the West Fork River and Skin Creek near Weston, WV, thus creating 2,650 acre Stonewall Jackson Lake.
The lake, West Virginia’s second largest, covers 26 miles and has 82 miles of shoreline; the surrounding land is owned by the Corps and is thus uninhabited and tranquil. As part of dam construction the Corps built the state park, which opened in 1989.
Construction began on Stonewall Resort in 2000 with $44 million from the private sector and $18.5 million from the state. The golf course opened in June 2002 and the lodge in October 2003.
A new course clubhouse and a 75 foot dinner and excursion boat, which both opened to the public in July, bring that total investment to a number approaching $100 million.
According to the resort, “The mutual goal of the Corps of Engineers and the WV Department of Natural Resources was to enhance the facilities already offered at the park and to be a regionally recognized destination for leisure and group travel.” The park has more than met those goals, in fact met them well enough to garner a Four Diamond rating from AAA.
Greg Parsons, General Manager of the Resort, says it was the refreshingly helpful attitude of the staff that pushed Stonewall into the Four Diamond class.
“The reception we’ve had for our staff has been incredible,” Parsons said. “It’s because we want them to go beyond the expectations, do whatever needs to be done to make the customers happy. Treat people the way you want to be treated. And it’s not just how they treat customers, it’s how they treat each other and the community.”
To encourage this, the resort has a program called OAK, which stands for Outstanding Acts of Kindness. Way beyond typical employee of the month programs, awardees are chosen because they’ve volunteered in a special way in the local community or schools, or because management discovers they’ve helped a fellow employee in a time of need.
A two-pronged approach to marketing the resort targets both leisure and group travelers and ensures that Stonewall Resort isn’t just a destination for vacationing with family or friends. It is also a high-tech conference center.
Not only does Stonewall offer an inspiring location (and plenty of windows to enjoy it even while working), it offers 22,000 square feet of dedicated conference space, including a 15,000 square foot conference center and 7,000 square foot exhibition center. The larger meeting rooms have 14 foot ceilings, built in projection systems, wider than average tables with a hard writing surface, ergonomic seating and climate control. There are also numerous smaller break-out rooms.
Other conference amenities include T1 lines throughout for high-speed internet access, high-speed networking capabilities, conference planning manager and concierge on-site to coordinate all meeting details, highly-skilled on-property audio/visual and IT staff, full banquet facilities, 24 hour meeting storage space and continuous refreshment breaks.
All in all, Stonewall Resort is an extraordinarily comfortable and cutting edge conference location.
And just as the resort shines in the “group” category, it outdoes itself for the “leisure” traveler.
The lodge, with 198 guestrooms and suites, is impressive in numerous ways. The main entrance, under a large porte-cochere, leads directly into the Great Hall, a room remarkable for its warmth and size – characteristics that are often mutually exclusive.
Towering ceilings, an impressive fireplace (lit in the evenings and perfect as a marriage ceremony backdrop) and comfortably grouped leather and “twig” style furniture make the lobby a perfect place to put up your feet and read a good book. Reading is, in fact, a pastime Stonewall encourages. A lending library off the Great Hall contains tomes of nearly every variety.
If you’re hungry after settling in your room, Stonewall provides a wonderful in-room menu (including fabulous chocolate-covered strawberries), as well as two excellent restaurants. T.J. Muskies Lounge has a laid-back atmosphere and is a great place to have a drink before dinner or a less formal meal. Stillwaters Restaurant continues the easy Adirondack lodge feeling but serves gourmet, seasonally fresh food either from the buffet or a la carte three meals a day. In season, restaurant guests may choose to dine lakeside on the patio. Boat docking facilities are close by.
There are plenty of activities for both adults and children to work up an appetite worthy of a meal at either resort restaurant. Stonewall has a program for kids ages 5-12 called Resort Rascals that goes way beyond simple day care.
Adults can rent a kayak, a paddleboat, a houseboat or a bike; hike a vast network of trails in the surrounding hills; fish in Stonewall Jackson Lake, nationally recognized as a premier fishing location with species like Bass, Sauger, Muskie, Crappie, Blue Gill and Catfish; swim in the indoor/outdoor pool; repose in the Jacuzzis, steam room or sauna; work out on the gym’s Cybex equipment; or spend an hour – or an entire day – at the spa.
For those who find relaxation on the links, The Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course recently received a huge honor: Mr. Palmer is putting together a book of his best designs and it will include the 17th hole at Stonewall Resort. The course is nestled among the native terrain and incorporates Stonewall Jackson Lake. Multiple tee boxes on every hole and acceptance by the Audubon Society make this both a challenging and scenic course.
For those who find relaxation in pampering the body, Mountain Laurel Spa offers manicures and pedicures, a full service salon, facials and a variety of soothing massage therapies. Indulgence packages incorporate various aspects of the spa and make great gifts.
So, the next time you’re planning a conference or just want to unwind, give Stonewall Resort a try. You’ll find it is truly “Close to Nature. Far from Ordinary.”
6
Heritage Farm Village & Museum
Heritage Farm is one of Huntington’s best-kept secrets with everything from cozy bed and breakfast inns to spacious banquet facilities to suit your next social gathering.
by Marla Brannan
According to Mike Perry, owner and operator of Huntington’s Heritage Farm Village and Museum, guaranteeing a lasting museum can be a challenge. So the retired attorney and banker, along with his wife Henriella, figured out a more secure source of revenue than just the price of admission – using the beautiful structures at Heritage Farm in an alternative fashion.
In so doing, the Farm has become Huntington’s hidden hideaway. With four bed and breakfasts, it’s the perfect close-to-home romantic getaway or alternative to downtown lodging for out-of- town guests.
Located just two miles from Fifth Street hill on Harvey Road in Wayne County, Heritage Farm Village and Museum is a collection of more than 15 authentically outfitted buildings ranging from a one-room schoolhouse and general store to a blacksmith shop and sawmill.
But what many people may not realize is that four antiques-filled homes, the church, the Welcome Center and Heritage Hall are all available for rent at extremely reasonable rates. The bed and breakfasts (Strawberry, Hollyberry, Blackberry and Apple Butter Inns) look and feel rustic with log walls, period pieces and wood burning fireplaces, but are actually fully modern with kitchens, heating and air conditioning, laundry facilities and a pool.
As Mr. Perry says, “The Farm merges our extraordinary heritage with the beauty and conveniences of our modern society – atmosphere and convenience – six blocks from the city limits.”
Heritage Farm grew out of Mike and Henriella’s desire to not just preserve our Appalachian heritage, but to show the world (and ourselves) that it is something of which to be proud. “One of our challenges in West Virginia is that people have either quit dreaming or they have low self-esteem, and I’ve become convinced that no one outside the state will think more highly of us than we think of ourselves. We think that when people come through the Museum they’ll see their ancestors in a different light.
The story that’s never been told is the wonderful story of those who came down the rivers and over the mountains and created this marvelous quality of life. They got lost between the settlement of the East Coast and the western movement. What about them?
The ‘good old days’ weren’t so good – but the people were!
We should be immensely proud of our Appalachian heritage. These people were ingenious in the variety of ways they could live off the land and were as self-reliant as any group of people I’ve identified in this country since our Native Americans.
Give me two hours at the Museum and people, whether from Appalachia or not, can’t help but leave with an appreciation of these people and who we are and why we have every right to be proud. That’s why we’re delighted to have people from all over visit.”
This is the Museum’s philosophy: Study the past. Gain an appreciation of the present. Think about and plan for the future. It isn’t about simple nostalgia; it’s about noticing how those Appalachian pioneers welcomed and bested change. And, it’s about how we could learn a valuable lesson from them. Mike and Henriella think this lesson is important enough that they’re spending their retirement years pursuing it.
“I’m so proud of my wife,” Mike says. “Here we are in retirement and she has a full time job! Her day starts feeding the animals, and she runs the Museum and takes care of arrangements for people who want to use our facilities. Lots of people are taking cruises and traveling and playing golf.
But this is what we enjoy and what we think is important. We don’t want to have spent this much time and energy for something that will have to be dismantled when we’re gone.”
Growing out of that desire was the need to find a way of securing the future so schoolchildren and grandparents alike can continue discovering the ingenuity, industriousness and perseverance of their ancestors. At first only the church and Apple Butter Inn were used for small parties and weddings. Mike decided to focus on activities that would bring people to Heritage Farm and make it well-known as more than a wonderful museum. He certainly succeeded.
“Now we have four large homes available for bed and breakfasts, a church which now has beautiful pews making it more suitable for weddings, a Welcome Center which can seat 80-90 for dinner, and the recently completed Heritage Hall that can seat 150 for dinner. This makes it possible to deal with events like high school or family reunions with people coming in from various parts of the country.”
And don’t worry about the kids. With a petting zoo and hay rides available there’s plenty to keep them busy. In fact, one concern the Perry’s often hear is parents’ fear that their kids will be bored. It’s rarely a problem.
“I’m hoping these facilities will catch on and help subsidize the museum so school-children can keep enjoying this place. We’re not going to compete with the Radisson and large downtown weddings with receptions at the Guyan Country Club. I just want this place to maintain itself and stand once I’m gone.”
So if you want a peaceful, convenient and affordable alternative for your romantic getaway, wedding, reunion, party, strategic planning meeting,
Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, out-of-town guest lodging or children’s birthday party (or anything else you might dream up), consider Heritage Farm Village and Museum. You’ll find the tranquility and simplicity an inspiration for your daily life. As Mike affirms...
“The whole purpose is to slow down, unwind, talk to each other, play games, take a walk, get things back in perspective. Let’s figure things out and remember what’s important. Let’s not get stuck in the past or the present – let’s look toward the future.”
The Heritage Farm Village and Museum won the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Medal for Historic Preservation.
3.
Peace of Heart.
Peace of Mind.
4 Ways Missionary Travel Insurance Will Positively Affect Your Life Abroad
by Marla Brannan
You love God. You love people. You’ve found a mission that laid a calling on your heart and you willingly followed that call.
There were MANY details to check off your list: How do we raise support? What country? What specific calling? Teaching? Church planting? What about our children?
Is It Safe?
Over time the answers to most of those questions presented themselves, one by one. People stepped up. Decisions were made.
But have you thought about Missionary Travel Insurance?
Consider the following alarming statistics from the CDC:
motor vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of death accounting for 484 deaths
My name is... I love God and love people, just like you. And, I believe in a long-term approach to protecting those living abroad with quality, comprehensive travel insurance.
If you are one of the following, I am here to ensure your Peace of Mind so you can focus on your chosen calling:
In the sections below I will detail 4 ways missionary travel insurance will positively affect your ministry. There are many specific, cost-effective insurance solutions available today.
1.
Missionaries
2.
Mission Boards
3.
Organizations
4.
Churches
5.
Promoters
#1: Peace of Mind In General
Most of the time, God willing, your insurance needs will revolve around typical care and non-emergencies. That doesn’t mean they’re less important.
How to and whether you can get check-ups and medications are things that simmer on the back burner and threaten to boil over any minute.
The insurance plans I offer cover both INSIDE and OUTSIDE the U.S. and Canada. They include benefits like general surgeries, hospitalization with included room and board, and Rx coverage
#2: Peace of Mind In Emergency
If the worst happens and you’re faced with a health
emergency or other crisis while abroad, these insurance plans cover every contingency, INCLUDING plans for getting you out if need be.
#3: Peace of Mind in Regard to Children
Living abroad brings with it many issues you wouldn’t necessarily need to consider while living at home. One thing never changes: The desire and responsibility to take care of our children, especially their health and welfare.
This insurance plan covers an ambulance to the hospital, emergency room care, ICU for serious ongoing care, physical therapy if necessary--even dental work needed as a
result of an accident.
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And, should you need help from home, you can rest assured: Emergency Reunion is part of this plan, so a member of your family, organization or church can travel to you in your time of greatest need.
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In the event you’re in a serious car or water accident or the victim of an attempted homicide, don’t become one of the statistics listed above. Get insured.
This insurance covers all of a child’s wellness checks in addition to the general and emergency features covered above. And just in case a new member of the family arrives, pre- and neonatal maternity care is also included.
#4: Peace of Mind In Danger
Danger is a fact of life.
For those like you pursuing your calling to missions, political disruption, coups, gang violence and other types of human-inflicted violence can bring life-threatening danger to the front door of your home, your mission, or your children’s school.
Natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, drought and earthquakes can add another dimension of terrifying danger.
Should any of those scenarios affect your life abroad, we will get you out. Immediately and without reservation.
Whether it be political turmoil or natural disaster, emergency evacuation is included in your coverage. You can have Peace of Mind knowing you and your family will be protected and cared for should something beyond your control threaten your lives.
Now your peace of heart is also peace of mind.
Your ability to fulfill the mission God has given you is of great importance to me personally. I support those who use their time, talent and treasure to serve populations in countries around the globe.
One of the ways I do that is by providing quality insurance at the best possible price point. You can rest assured: I’ll take care of the details so you can concentrate on the call of your heart.
Contact me today and I’ll give you a FREE QUOTE. Together we can determine the best policy for you and your travel insurance needs.
4.
The Fanny Pack is Back!
7 Reasons to Jump on This Hot Trend!
by Marla Brannan
You read that right. The 90s dad-bod staple--the fanny pack--is back! And after strapping one across my chest (yes my chest!) on a 10-day trip to Scotland, I’m completely won over.
What is now often referred to as a “belt bag” or “waist bag” has quite a long history.
On November 22, 1954, Sports Illustrated advertised a lightweight “fanny pack” to hold the wax and lunch of a cross country skier. And in the 70s, downhill skiers wore them in lieu of a heavy knapsack.
In fact, Kendell Jenner--yes one of the 5 sisters of KUWTK--has carried one so frequently she’s thought to be the reason fanny packs are back.
Now in the 20-teens the fanny pack has mega cool factor as models and Instagram style icons wear them on the streets of New York and L.A.
#1
First off, fanny packs have the benefit of being hands free. So whether you’re flying, taking a train or subway or simply sightseeing, you’ve got two hands at all times.
#2
But wait, you say--there are several types of bags that also give you the advantage of having both hands free when you need them.
Here are 7 Reasons to Jump on This Trend NOW!
Consider this: None of those other options are quite so handy. A fanny pack is right where you need it when you need it, easy to access for your passport, subway ticket or keys.
Also, it’s easy to wear under a jacket so you can get by with a little extra luggage on a flight.
#3
Modern fanny packs are large enough to carry everything you need and have pockets to keep things separated and easy to find.
I was surprised to find there was space not just for my wallet, passport folder and phone, but a fold up umbrella, very important when traveling in Scotland.
Another benefit of a fanny pack is you can keep it strapped on at all times.
#4
You don’t ever have to set it down and risk forgetting it or having it stolen when you’re not looking.
And unlike a purse, backpack or crossbody bag, it isn’t an easy target for pickpockets that frequent tourist attractions.
A purse or backpack might start out light, but gets heavier as every family member feels the need to put stuff in it. (Souvenirs they had to have? Water bottles? Guidebooks?)
#5
You switch it from side to side or take it off every chance you get, but your shoulders still ache. Not so with a larger sized fanny pack. First, every member of the family can easily carry their own. Second, it’s easy-peasy to switch it from across your chest to around your waist if one or the other gets tired.
For Men
#6
Fanny packs come in all colors, sizes, price points, and styles from utilitarian to belt bags just large enough for phone, credit cards and lipstick.
You can buy one at Target for $15 to $27.99. You can splurge on classic Gucci for $1,290 or metallic gold from Michael Kors for $278. And everything in between is available in stores, or with a click or tap.
#7
And, finally, perhaps the coolest reason of all to jump on this trend’s bandwagon: Batman carries a fanny pack. Ok. He calls it a utility belt and instead of lip balm there’s a sonic bat beacon and kryptonite. But still, one of the baddest superheroes of all time has a “fanny pack,” and if nothing else, that’s one way you can talk your kids into strapping on their own.
So there you have it. 7 reasons to run out and buy a fanny pack today!
5.
The Mummy
A Huntington Museum of Art exhibit offers a lesson about culture and religion during Egypt's 21st dynasty.
by Marla Brannan
Upon your death your family doesn’t bury you in a pre-arranged, mass-produced casket ordered through the funeral home. Instead, a coffin is made specifically for you, with a beautiful idealized human face on the lid and with hand-painted allusions to American history, culture and religion covering the outside. Your family could choose an American flag, an eagle or perhaps the 23rd Psalm written longhand.
The Huntington Museum of Art currently exhibits just such a coffin – with the minor difference that this one dates to Egypt’s 21st Dynasty (1075-945 B.C.) and houses a three thousand-year-old human mummy. These two extraordinary objects are on loan until 2005 from the Michael C. Carlos Museum at Emory University, Atlanta. The Mummy! exhibit also contains 20 funerary and daily life artifacts from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. These range in date from approximately 1400 to 500 B.C. and add background and context to the coffin and its mummy.
For Sue D’Auria, HMA’s associate curator and Egyptologist, the coffin is the most spectacular aspect of the Mummy! exhibit. “While the mummy and artifacts are fascinating, the coffin is important because its decoration and construction explain a lot about Egyptian culture and religion during the 21st Dynasty.” Sue, who holds a Masters in Egyptology from the University of Pennsylvania and comes to HMA after 20 years at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, goes on to explain that the religious symbols and texts, once found on inner tomb walls, were handpainted on the coffin to help transport the deceased to the afterlife.
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On this coffin, the deceased is pictured as a human-headed ba-bird, which Egyptians believed could fly between this world and the tomb, and is also depicted presenting bread and other offerings to the gods. The gods and goddesses themselves, including Nut, Horus and the sons of Horus, are represented in many forms. The coffin also reflects the Egyptian culture’s concentration on the cycles of life, or birth and rebirth, with numerous pictures of the scarab beetle and lotus flower.
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Even the shape of the coffin, or “chest of life” as they were called, is filled with meaning. The anthropoid or mummy shape refers to the god of the dead, Osiris. The lid represents the sky, so it has images of the sky-goddess Nut, and the base represents the earth. The yellow background color identifies the deceased with the gods, whose skin was made of gold. Because of some minor damage to the top of the coffin, the wooden construction is seen plainly. It is interesting to note that, despite its importance as a vehicle for the dead, this coffin is constructed from numerous pieces of wood held together by dowels. This points to the reality of living in ancient Egypt where 90 percent of the country was treeless desert.
Egyptologists believe this coffin came from Thebes, center for the worship of the god Amun, and theorize that the person buried in it was an official or priest. Although his name unfortunately has not survived, it is believed the body is that of a male who died between the ages of 20 and 35.
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The mummification process spanned 70 days: First, the lungs, liver, stomach and intestines were removed and placed in funerary jars topped with small busts of the four sons of Horus. By the 21st Dynasty they were wrapped and replaced, and the now solid funerary jars became “dummies.” The brain was removed through the nose; the heart was the home of intelligence and it remained untouched. (Curiously, mummies have been found where the heart had been removed accidentally and stitched back into its cavity.) An Egyptian salt called natron was then pressed into and around the corpse; after 40 days, the body was completely dehydrated. After packing it with materials intended to reshape it and make it smell pleasant, the corpse was wrapped in many layers of linen, sometimes bed sheets collected for this purpose during the person’s life.
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Emory University Hospital took CT scans and X-rays of this mummy and found some interesting details. (The results of their findings are also on display.) This man was wrapped diagonally in only six layers of linen, a small number for the time, and its packing included a shawl with fringe and a mended shirt. The linen near the heart had been cut and partly unwrapped, probably the work of grave robbers seeking jewelry or amulets.
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Egyptologists believe this corpse was treated roughly after death (possibly during transport on the Nile River) because its ribs in particular are broken and jumbled. And unlike most mummies from this era, this one still contains several organs, including the brain. Although the man behind this mummy is a mystery, the coffin and CT scans help defray scenes from B movies and cartoons and show that this was a human being with a strong cultural and religious heritage.
Like props setting the scene in a stage production or film, the 20 artifacts from the Metropolitan Museum of Art add depth to the coffin and mummy. Included are a stela or inscribed tablet, shabtis (funerary figures) made of faience, numerous amulets and pieces of jewelry, and a pot used in the mummification and burial of Tutankhamen. Also included is a charming statuette of Ked, the Chamberlain of Amun, with his wife and daughter. According to Sue, ancient Egyptians were optimistic people who enjoyed life and placed a high premium on family; Ked and his wife, arms around each other, certainly seem happy.
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Though it appears an unlikely story, the Carlos Museum acquired this and a number of other coffins and mummies for $2 million from the Niagara Falls Museum and Daredevil Hall of Fame when the latter closed in 1999. The citizens of Atlanta raised the money in just two weeks. The Huntington Museum of Art is borrowing the coffin and mummy through the Museum Loan Network (MLN), an MIT-based national collection-sharing program that facilitates the long-term loan of objects between museums. The objects are listed in a computerized directory which covers more than 8,000 pieces of art from 60 different museums. The objects represent over 1,000 cultures.
According to the MLN web site, “The Museum Loan Network facilitates and funds the long-term loan of art and objects of cultural heritage among U.S. institutions as a way to enhance the installations of museums, thus enabling them to better serve their communities. The MLN grant programs help museums respond to the increasing public demand for installations that are relevant to a range of age groups and cultural heritages, and to better provide artistic, cultural and historical contexts for works on display. The MLN programs have led to the sharing of objects among different types of museums, fostering collaborations between institutions of varying size and discipline throughout the United States.”
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Funding for Mummy! is provided by the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund and its sponsors are Fifth Third Bank, Huntington Mall, West Virginia Humanities Council, Cabell County Commission and West Virginia, Wild and Wonderful.
Well over 14,000 people have seen Mummy! since its opening January 18th, but the actual exhibit isn’t the only opportunity HMA offers to learn about ancient Egyptian culture. Numerous specialists from around the globe will speak at HMA over the two year exhibition period, most imminently, Dr. John Taylor. Dr. Taylor is an author and Keeper of Egyptian Antiquities at The British Museum and will lecture on “A Good Burial in the West: Ancient Egyptian Funerary Practices.” He is particularly well-versed in Egyptian coffins; it was the topic of his dissertation.
The Museum offers numerous unique ways to supplement your Mummy! experience throughout this year besides Dr. Taylor’s lecture. For the plant lover, Dr. Mike Beck, Director of HMA’s Conservatory, will hold a workshop entitled “Aquatic Plants of Ancient Egypt.”
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The workshop is scheduled for June 14 at 10 a.m. For the avid reader, book discussions covering Egyptian topics will be held May 6 and October 7, both at 7 p.m. The books will be available at the Museum shop. For more information call David Owens at 529-2701, ext. 47.
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And for everyone, Sue D’Auria will be conducting Gallery Talks in the Mummy! exhibit on June 10 at 7 p.m. and on October 31 at noon with a Halloween Luncheon at Café Bauhaus.
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Entrance to the museum is free, but Mummy! costs $3 per person or $10 for a family of four or more. Entrance to the exhibit is free on Tuesdays.
For more information concerning hours, tours and future Mummy! events, log on to www.hmoa.org, or call the museum at 529-2701.