Jerry John Rawlings - Stabilizing Force and Hero of Ghana

 

J.J. Rawlings of Ghana in his final role as elder statesman.

Jerry John Rawlings was a Ghanaian military officer, aviator and politician who led the country for a brief period in 1979, and then from 1981 to 2001. He led a military junta until 1992, and then served two terms as the democratically elected president of Ghana.  His second period of rule (1981–2001) afforded Ghana political stability and competent economic management.

Rawlings was born as Jerry Rawlings John on June 22, 1947, in Accra, Ghana. He attended Achimota School and a military academy at Teshie. Rawlings was married to Nana Konadu Agyeman, whom he met while at Achimota College. They had three daughters: Zanetor Rawlings, Yaa Asantewaa Rawlings, Amina Rawlings; and one son, Kimathi Rawlings.

Rawlings died in 2020 at age 73 and was accorded a state funeral.

Jerry Rawlings, J.J. Rawlings, President of Ghana
by Fiedler_Mundt

Truly Salvador and Making Waves - El Salvador's President Stops at Nothing to Restore Order to Country

Nayib Bukele looking unflappable in full presidential regalia.

Nayib Armando Bukele Ortez is the 43rd president of El Salvador. He is the first president since José Napoleón Duarte (1984–1989) not to have been elected as the candidate of one of the country's two mainstream political parties: the left-leaning Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) and the right-leaning Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA). 

Bukele served as mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán for three years from 2012 to 2015, and then served three years as mayor of San Salvador, the country's capital, from 2015 to 2018.

On 5 June 2021, Bukele announced that he planned to introduce a bill to the Legislative Assembly which would make El Salvador the first nation to make bitcoin legal tender. The Legislative Assembly passed the bill on June 8, 2021.

Bukele has successfully brought crime under control and is now focusing on attracting more tourists to El Salvador. Thanks to Bukele's efforts, an influx of bitcoin enthusiasts, surfers, nature lovers, and anglers have visited El Salvador, many for the first time.

Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvadore
by Fiedler_Mundt

Congress Street in Portsmouth, NH Shows Lively Downtown Scene

Portsmouth, NH is a popular weekend getaway destination in New England.

International travel ground to a halt during the global Coronavirus pandemic. As a result, many rediscovered destinations that were closer to home. Portsmouth, NH is an easy drive from New York City and just up the road from Boston.

A historical and quaint city, Portsmouth offers a refreshing dose of New Hampshire hospitality. Downtown Portsmouth is very walkable, with the downtown historic district dating back to the 1600s. Colonial homes and buildings are common, thanks to Portsmouth's past status as a major seaport. 

Portsmouth is recognized for its eclectic restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries. Visitors also take advantage of New Hampshire's zero sales tax, stocking up on everything from tobacco products to appliances!

Vintage Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH Photo
by Fiedler_Mundt

Scooters in Italy Source Of Concern For American Tourist

I love traveling in Italy, and most of the time I'm overly cautions. My preferred mode of transportation is walking, seconded by public transportation such as a bus or subway. I try to avoid taxi's, although Uber has made them more feasible.

Last year, I was traveling with a group in Italy. My compatriots were first time tourists to Italy and hell bent on renting scooters. We were in Naples, which I had visited a few times before. Scooters are part of the Italian charm and woven into the fabric of the country, right up there with cappuccino.

But I hate scooters. They're dangerous. Renting a scooter in an unfamiliar city is a recipe for disaster. Naples, Italy isn't some laid back banana republic style island destination. It's a bustling city where harebrained scooter drivers hit the gas whenever they see a gap wide enough for their bike.

Road rage seems common. Impossibly tight squeezes the norm. If you have experience riding scooters, put your pride aside and venture through the streets of Naples on foot. If you've never driven a scooter and plan on learning while on vacation in Italy, slap yourself in the face.

Italy with Scooter 2 Inch Square Magnet by Fiedler_Mundt
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Allego Train - St. Petersburg to Helsinki In Under 4 Hours.

Helsinki, Finland and St. Petersburg, Russia have long been uneasy neighbors. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the relationship has warmed as economic ties increased considerably.

Despite continued difficulties between Europe and Russia, the nearly five hour drive is a popular one for citizens of both countries. The Allegro Train cuts the journey down to a bit over three hours.

Macro economic differences are irrelevant to Finns seeking cheaper consumer goods or Russians visiting Finnish hospitals.

Leningrad, CCCP, St. Petersburg, Russia Trucker Hat by Fiedler_Mundt
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Killington, Vermont In The Summer - Yes, The Golf Is Good!

When it comes to East Coast skiing, Killington likes to throw its weight around. Much of Killington's advertising and literature seems to focus on the resort's status as "Beast of the East".

Until this past summer, I'd only visited Killington in her natural state - winter with plenty of snow. A Killington, Vermont vacation in July seemed about as normal as drinking frozen margaritas on a freezing January night.

One day, everything changed. Scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed, I saw a friend's photo of Green Mountain National Golf Course. The course itself looked like Heaven's Mouth.

Beautiful, expansive, and not so crowded. I'll save you the details, but Killington is in serious contention when it comes to New England golf vacations. Lots of amenities, and the price is right.

Looking at Killington Peak without snow cover will forever feel abnormal, but drinking a cold beer while playing a round of golf has become a new Killington ritual.

Killington, VT, Ski Bum Shirt by Fiedler_Mundt
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Leipzig, Germany Holiday Like Taking Walk Through Cultural History

People call me crazy, but I wish I was able to visit the Soviet Union before it collapsed. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I admired their way of life or wanted to be a citizen of the USSR, I just think it would have been interesting.

Luckily, I've visited several former Soviet Republics, as well as Soviet satellite states in Eastern Europe. My business has taken me to Leipzig, Germany quite a bit. Leipzig was an important city of the DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik).

Although the former East German economy is mostly on par with its western brethren, relics of the communist state shine through. Taking the tram around Leipzig, urban blight is common. Dilapidated factories covered in graffiti are reminiscent of Rustbelt cities in America.

But time has marched on. Leipzig now has a reputation as Europe's haven for artists and musicians seeking cheap rent and studio space.

Leipzig's best trait is its walkability. Combined with an excellent tram system and a focus on bicycling, an automobile is a luxury many choose to do without. Restaurants, bars, and a great music scene are all good reasons to visit Leipzig. There's even Starbucks.

To me, walking around Leipzig is like taking a walk through time. I enjoy learning about the storied past of an intellectual and creative city who's citizens have made significant cultural contributions.

Stasi, Ministry for State Security, East Germany Shirt by Fiedler_Mundt
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