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How to Protect Yourself When Traveling Alone
AREA - As the world continues to open up after years of pandemic-related shutdowns, the public has rekindled its love affair with travel. Many people are eager to escape their backyards or hometowns and embrace new travel itineraries.
Scheduling conflicts may not allow every person to travel with family or a group of friends. Rather than waiting for a time that accommodates everyone, some people may be making plans to travel solo. In fact, solo traveling can be particularly rewarding and set to one’s individual pace. However, the resource Solo Traveler also says traveling alone requires special attention to safety that may not be necessary when traveling in a group.
Think safety before you leave
When planning a trip, make sure safety is your top priority.
For example, research areas that pose a higher liklihood of robberies occurring or other crimes based on traveler feedback. Consider all-inclusive resorts that keep activities con- tained in a protected and managed area. Also, research the safety statistics of particular hotels and cities.
Aim for connectivity
Find out if you will have mobile phone service and what extra charges there will be for roaming, if any. Being able to call home and keep loved ones apprised is important. Avoid doing “touristy” things
Do not draw unnecessary attention to yourself by appearing as the stereotypical tourist. This can include walking with your face in a guide map or wearing a fanny pack/money bag. Investigate places to eat, shop and visit in advance so you know where you will be headed and won’t get lost or have to ask for directions too often.
Separate your money and identification
Stash money and credit cards in different places so you will always have a backup plan if belongings go missing. When sightseeing, AARP suggests keeping a copy of your passport’s data page, while locking your actual passport in the hotel safe. Always take steps to ensure that you can be identified and have enough money to get back to your hotel safely. Wear clothing with zippered pockets and other pickpocket-proof features.
Limit late nights
An area that may be perfectly safe during the day could be an entirely different place after dark. Plan to travel around mostly during the day. Return to your accommodations and lock up securely in the evening. Avoid becoming intoxicated
Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol can severely lower inhibitions. That may mean you make unsafe choices or become an easy target for those looking for victims.
Learn key phrases
Many foreign countries have a bevy of English speakers, but it’s always wise to learn important phrases in the native tongue so that you can communicate. These should include “I need help.” “Do you speak English?” “Where is the telephone?” and even “I need the American/Canadian Embassy or Consulate.” Bring proof of vaccination
It’s a new world, and certain cities or countries may have specific requirements regarding COVID-19. To play it safe, bring quality face masks and keep vaccination documenta- tion at the ready. Safe solo traveling requires a little extra planning and a greater emphasis on safety than traveling with companions.
Museum’s Photography Exhibit
Honors Sacrifices by Nation’s Famed and Unsung Heroes
AREA - A thought-provoking photography exhibition at a New Jersey museum invites the public to reflect on and honor all the brave individuals who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. military.
Through a collection of 21 large-scale photographs and a compelling clip from a New Jersey PBS episode, the Morris Museum, founded in 1913 and the only Smithsonian affiliate in the state, commemorates the initial sacrifices during the Revolutionary War – a price that continues to be paid in subsequent battles for liberty
The At Home With George exhibition presents contemporary fine art pho- tographs of Washington’s military headquarters at the Ford Mansion, the site of the nation’s first historical park established by Congress and President Herbert Hoover within the National Park System.
“As we approach Memorial Day on May 29th and Independence Day on July 4th, my photographs aim to not only highlight the natural connection between General Washington and these significant dates but also pay tribute to the often-overlooked men and women who lost their lives or endured extreme hardship through the decades in the fight for freedom,” explains Xiomaro, the artist commissioned by the National Park Service over five years to create the first and only artistic photographic collection of Morristown National Historical Park.
The thread recognizing these sacrifices emerged in 1971 when Decoration Day, originally observed in remem- brance of Civil War soldiers, was expanded and renamed Memorial Day to honor all fallen U.S. military heroes.
Xiomaro’s photographs poignantly and dramatically contrast the varying hardships experienced depending on the chain of command and societal structures of the colonial era. One of the striking images on view reveals Theodosia Ford’s bedroom, repurposed as sleeping quarters for Washington and his wife, Martha. Theodosia was a widow who selflessly offered her home as a military headquarters. She chose to sleep in the dining room with her daughter while her three boys were cramped in the library. Another photograph showcases a small room where Washington’s aides and visiting dignitaries squeezed onto narrow cots. While these accommodations were spartan, the rankand-file soldiers encamped in nearby Jockey Hollow faced the harshest conditions. A rare close-up unveils the rustic interior of a reproduction log hut that housed up to 12 soldiers within a claustrophobic space measuring only 14 feet by 16 feet. Yet another photograph of a hut, set in the snow, captures the life-threatening conditions suffered during one of the most severe winters of the century.
“Xiomaro’s photography is distinctive. His images are composed from unique vantage points typically unseen by the public while his use of natural light captures the experience of living in the 1700s, where interior spaces were often dimly lit,” explains Anne Ricculli, Ph.D., the Director of Exhibits and Collections who curated the exhibition with the support of Curatorial Interns Emily Rainbolt, Elizabeth Shack, and Jamie Zurek. The collection, with more than half never being printed and publicly exhibited, is uniquely displayed in the Bush-Compton Gallery with subdued lighting suggesting a period-appropriate candlelight ambiance. “As if walking into a dark room, the viewer’s eyesight must adjust to see all the details.”
For the past 12 years, Xiomaro (pronounced SEE-ohMAH-ro) has specialized in photographing iconic historical sites to raise awareness of their history, culture, and natural beauty. He is the author of Weir Farm National Historic Site (Arcadia Publishing) with a foreword by Senator Joseph Lieberman. The artist’s work has been exhibited at Harvard University as well as in museums and galleries across the United States, Scotland, and Italy. Xiomaro frequently appears as a guest on mainstream television news outlets, including ABC, CBS, and News 12. A rock musician, he turned to art photography after recovering from cancer, which prompted his departure from a career as an entertainment attorney representing Village People and other celebrity recording artists. To symbolize the transformative experience and to acknowledge his Cuban and Puerto Rican roots, he adopted the pseudonym “Xiomaro,” said to mean “ready for battle.”
At Home With George is on view now until July 30, 2023, at Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, New Jersey, with support provided by The Martin Guitar Charitable Foundation. For more information, visit www. xiomaro.com or the museum’s website https://morrismuseum.org/on-view/current/athome-with-george.