Top ways that travel feeds the soul

Many people list travel as their favorite thing to do, and for a good reason: it introduces one to new sights, sounds, and cultures, and in these new places one can feel completely at home as well as a total stranger who has some discovering to do. But how does traveling truly nourish the mind and spirit? What’s in it for people who travel?

Reconnecting with nature

The crash of the ocean waves and the inviting greenery outside. Who wouldn’t want to be re-introduced to these things after spending long days inside the office or school? The vastness of nature reminds a traveler of how small they are in the great scheme of things – but at the same time promise exciting possibilities. Getting out of nature allows one the gift of grounding, getting sun exposure, and appreciating the great big outdoors.

Unplugging and stepping out of work

Traveling offers much-needed rest and respite, allowing one to unplug and just have fun. This holiday is a time for the body and mind to relax, especially in this culture where downtime is scoffed at, and ambition and productivity are pursued at nearly all costs.

travel-1749508_1280 — Image source: Pixabay.com

Creativity

Travel also invites one to open their own creative mind. Creativity, while an in-demand skill in today’s workplace, cannot be forced and needs space and time. Swimming on the beach, hiking, or sightseeing in new territories can be a catalyst for creative thinking.

Self-discovery

Being in a foreign place can give one the opportunity to learn more about the self, such as the unusual things to do and types of food that one can actually enjoy. When another country is vastly different from one’s home, chances are there are plenty to learn and discover from within, from strengths and weaknesses to possibilities for self-improvement.

Adam Smith is a retired banker who now lives on Martha’s Vineyard. He loves to travel to Europe and is currently vacationing in Paris. Visit this page for similar reads.

All aboard: The best train trips in Europe

One of the most pleasant things about traveling to Europe is that tourists can visit a lot of places and enjoy the splendid sights and scenery by train. While there are plenty train trips that show the majesty of Europe, the jury is still out on which of them is the best. Check some of these rail trips below:

The Glacier Express

A well-known train trip is Switzerland’s Glacier Express, with some even calling it the “best seven hours you can spend on a train.” The journey carves through the Swiss Alps at a bit less than 40 kilometers per hour and allows passengers to bask in the scenic views through its panoramic windows.

The Chocolate Train

Another sweet trip across the Swiss is the Chocolate Train, which runs from Montreux to the medieval town of Gruyeres. A tour of the cheese factory, local sites, and the Cailler-Nestle chocolate factory makes the almost ten-hour roundtrip more memorable.

Trans-Siberian Railway

An integral part of the Russian culture is this epic train trip that connects Moscow and a port on the Pacific Ocean in the city of Vladivostok. The journey takes 19 days to complete, crosses eight different time zones, and breaks down social barriers as the poor can socialize with the rich, the young with the elderly, and the foreigners with the locals.

Hi there, I’m Adam Smith a retired banker residing in Martha’s Vineyard. I’m an avid traveler, and Europe is my favorite destination, which you can read more about here.

Beyond Hollywood Forensics: The Truth Behind Procedurals

I’ve been an avid follower of police procedurals and legal dramas, having followed them religiously since before blogs were even a thing. In those halcyon years of my youth, I, too, had the mistake of thinking that at least some of the scenes you see in those investigation shows were real. Over the years, my fascination with crime stories and court dramas led me to watch actual documentaries on detective work and criminal justice.

One of the many frequently seen breaks from reality is the length of these investigations. Mist detective shows tackle cases that could be closed within less than a week. Real cases usually take months and sometimes even years to resolve, an uphill battle. Other inaccuracies include characters meant to be detectives analyzing evidence (a task left to laboratory technicians) and relying on types of evidence such as DNA that’s not nearly as reliable in real life.

Some of the other more commonly encountered tropes in procedurals are themselves technical impossibilities. Enhancing images on surveillance equipment, for instance, cannot be done due to the low-resolution usually used in security cameras. Likewise, not a few legal dramas portray rather inaccurate (or in period pieces, anachronistic) proceedings and rulings.

Emotions also run high both in real court cases and, contrary to widespread belief, in real crime scenes. One rather comforting fact is that, compared with what you see on TV, certain wrongdoers like serial killers are remarkably rare in real life.

One thing I have learned to accept over the years is that these inaccuracies have their purposes, especially in weekly shows that don’t always have runtime on their side. But that doesn’t mean accurate crime and courtroom stories do not exist: a few are remarkably so spot on in their depictions that they can be used as training material.

I’m Adam Smith, a former banker and retiree enjoying my golden years. For more updates on what I’ve been up to these past few years, follow me on Twitter.

“Csi” The Procedural That Revolutionized Primetime Tv

I remember when police shows were all about cops going after robbers. Sure, the police would solve some mystery, and when the fish were big, would even present evidence to the grand jury. But it was mostly about action and car-chases, and gun fights. But then “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (or simply “CSI”) came out and changed everything. It caught the fancy of viewers who were interested in true crime, but though documentaries were just too boring for their taste.

When “CSI” first aired, television as we knew it would never be the same. On very rare occasions did a single television show create such an impact on several genres at the same time. Such was the power of “CSI.” It took celebrated cases from police and FBI files and depicted them in the most appealing way Hollywood could offer. It was still very much a cop show at heart, but it made audiences think more than any of its predecessors ever did.

In fact, after a few supremely successful seasons, a number of spin-offs were released. Other networks that caught whiff of the cash such shows generated created police procedural dramas of their own. Although nowadays, the popularity of these shows has simmered down a bit, because of that first “CSI”, they were kings for over a decade.

Image source: entertainmentwallpaper.com

Adam Smith is a retired banker who now lives in Martha’s Vineyard. A big fan of cop shows, Adam also loves to travel and is presently vacationing in Paris. Learn more about him here.

What the ‘Lethal Weapon’ TV Series is Getting Absolutely Right

Admittedly, when Fox announced that it was bringing “Lethal Weapon” to television, many fans (this one included) of the beloved movie were skeptical. For one, “Lethal Weapon” is arguably the greatest buddy-cop movie franchise ever made, and together with “Die Hard” is one of the best action vehicles the ‘80s had to offer.

Another reason we weren’t sold on the idea is the fact that we’re all sick and tired of Hollywood reboots. Whether on the big screen or on TV, Hollywood remakes have generally been “meh” at best. But thank the stars that something unexpected happened, and we now have one of the more endearing cop shows out there today.

Not only does “Lethal Weapon” rev up the action, but their comedic timing is also a hoot-and-a-half. These are two of the things the movies did supremely. The banter between Mel Gibson’s Martin Riggs and Danny Glover’s Roger Murtaugh were among the funniest in an action movie, ever.

But what the TV series, more specifically, its two lead stars does though, is make the roles their own. Sure, we all compared Clayne Crawford to Gibson at first, noticing all the shortcomings. But a few episodes in, we get to care for him as much as we did Gibson. Damon Wayans though hit all his notes smoothly right away.

We can only hope for greater things in seasons to come.

Adam Smith is a retired banker who is a big fan of cop shows. Learn more about him and what he does here.