Basaic's VirtualTourist Home Page

First of all I am a teacher and former soldier (now retired!!). I taught a number of college level classes and loved working with my students. I am still a student. I really believe the saying "no day is truly wasted when you learn something". That is also one of the reasons I love travel and VT. You can learn so much from both. I will always consider Florida my home, even though sometimes (like now) I am living somewhere else. I am currently living in Sierra Vista, Arizona.

My latest trip was mostly to watch my nephew Steve get married in San Francisco. I combined it with driving through Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Here is a photo of Steve and I at his wedding, and no, I was not totally sober.

These are my friends Justin and Athena. We were celebrating her birthday at Outback Steakhouse. As you can see, they are still like newlyweds, and I hope they stay that way for many years to come. They are both great people and I am very fond of them. Justin is a former soldier and has traveled overseas. I am trying to get him to join VT.

So far, I have lived/worked/traveled in many countries (I count one extra because I went to West and East Germany while they were separate countries) and 46 US States. It would take too much room for me to list all the highlights. Maybe I will list one and change periodically.

One place I really enjoyed is San Marino. San Marino is the third smallest state in Europe, after the Holy See and Monaco, consisting of only 61.2 square kilometers about .3 times he size of New York City. It is located in Southern Europe an is surrounded by Italy, and is one of the European Microstates. San Marino is the oldest constitutional republic n the world still in existence. It was founded in 301 A.D. by Marinus of Rab, a Christian Stonemason fleeing religious persecution. According to the July 2006 estimate the population of San Marino was about 29,251 almost all San Marinese. The 2001 estimate of the per capita income was $34,600. The people of San Marino are predominantly Roman Catholic.
Legends state that Marinus left the Adriatic Island of Rab and went to the town of Rimini as a stone worker. After being persecuted for his Christian sermons, he escaped to the nearby Mount Titano, where he built a small church and founded the state of San Marino (officially on 3 September 301 A.D.).
During the early part of the Italian unification process in he 19th Century, San Marino was a haven for numerous persons who did not support the unification. As a result of this support, San Marino was not forced into incorporation into the Italian state.
During World War 2 San Marino remained officially neutral. Axis troops retreated through San Marino, pursued by Allied Forces; but Allied Forces did not remain in the country.

Places I Want to See: (In no particular order)

The Great Wall and the Forbidden City
Beijing
Shanghai
Prague
Budapest
Lake Balaton
Ayers Rock
Sydney
Rio
Machu Picchu
Angkor Wat
the Pyramids
(I'll add more soon)

One of my other passions is movies. I have a fairly extensive collection of movies from around the world. I'll highlight one movie and change periodically.

Across the Universe is a love story set against the backdrop of the turbulent 60s. The story is told partly through the singing of Beatles songs. A great movie for people like me who love their music. The singers are talented and the visuals inventive. They also have a character called Sexy Sadie who is modeled after Janis Joplin and one named Jojo modeled after Jimi Hendrix.

June: Davis Mountains, Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery, and Washington on the Brazos State Parks; Fort Davis National Historic Site; the towns of Fort Davis, Balmorhea, Brenham, Seguin, and Onalaska all in Texas. Jean Lafitte National Historic Park; Vermillionville; and the towns of Kinder and Lafayette in Louisiana. Shepard State Park and the town of Ocean Springs in Mississippi. Gold Head Branch State Park and the towns of Crestview, Melrose and Middleburg in Florida. Then Okefenokee Swamp NWR; Jimmy Carter and Andersonville NHS; Laura Walker, Georgia Veteran's, Kolomoki Mounds and Providence Canyon SPs; plus several small towns in Georgia. Tuskegee Airmen and Tuskegee Institute NHS; Horsehoe Bend Battlefield NMP; Chewacla SP; and Dadeville in Alabama. Arkansas Post NM and Hot Springs NP; Arkansas Post Museum and Queen Wilhelmina SP; and several small towns in Arkansas. Poverty Point NM and SHS and two small towns in Louisiana. Winding Stair Mountains NRA and Washita Battlefield NM; Lake Wister and Heavener Ruinstone SP; and several small towns in Oklahoma. Lake Meredith NRA and Alibates Flint Quarries NM in Texas. Portales, New Mexico.

July: Zion NP, Cedar Breaks NM, This is the Place, Antelope Island, Piute Lake, and Deer Creek State Parks; and some nice towns in Utah; Craters of the Moon NM, Minidoka Internment Camp NHS; Massacre Rocks and Henry's Lake State Parks; and some nice towns in Idaho; Devil's Tower NM, Bighorn Canyon NRA, and Medicine Wheel NHL; Boysen and Hot Springs State Parks, Connor Battlefield, Trails End and Fort Phil Kearney SHS; and some towns in Wyoming; Little Bighorn Battlefield NM, Pompey's Pillar NM, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, and New Mexico.

August: My only trips in August were to Tucson to see doctors and get heart surgery (not much fun).

September: California: Death Valley and Redwood NPs; Lava Beds NM; Golden Gate and Smith River NRA; John Muir and Rosie the Riveter NHS; Angel Island SP; Benicia Capitol SHP; East Shore SP; Humboldt Lagoons SP; Petaluma Adobe SHP; Richardson Groves SP; and Sonoma SHP; and the towns of San Francisco; Albany; Alturas; Benicia; Berkeley; Eureka; Martinez; Montclair; Oakland; the San Joaquin Valley; Santa Rosa; Sonoma; and Tehachapi.
Oregon: Crater Lake NP; and Columbia River Gorge NSA; Collier Memorial SP: Memaloose SP; Pilot Butte SP; and Rooster Rock SP; and the towns of Bend; Central Point; Klamath Falls; Madras; Maupin; Moro; and the Dalles.
Washington: Mount St Helens NM; Fort Vancouver NHS; Beacon Rock SP and Lewis and Clark SP; and the cities of Chehalis; Kelso; Maryhill; Marys Corners; Stevenson; Vancouver; and Washougal.
Nevada: Lake Mead NRA; Walker Lake BLM Recreation Area; and the small part of Death Valley National Park in Nevada; Fort Churchill State Historic Park; the cities of Beatty; Carson City; Goldfield; Patrick; Reno; Sparks; Tonopah and Yerington; the ghost town of Rhyolite; and the Mustang Ranch (somebodt had to write the first travel page for VT).
Arizona: The towns of Ash Fork; Chloride; Eloy; Kingman; Seligman and Wikieup.

I hope to start a collection of postcards from VTers (I'll send you some too if you ask). So far:

1 Malta (from Cliff Claven)
2 Penang, Malysia (from SL Liew)
3 Phnom Penh (from Cliff Claven)
4 Tamorindo, Costa Rica (from Ed (Kaspian))
5 North Bay, Canada (from Ed (Kaspian))
6 Rotterdam (Margaretvn)
7 Talinn (Travelchili (Ande))
8 Cascais, Portugal (VT Meet)
9 Marrkech, Morocco (Kaspian)
10 Chicago, Illinois (Kaspian)