Lydia Likes It

Seeing in color {turquoise}

Turquoise, the color of stones in beautiful jewelry made by many Southwest Indian artists, seems completely at home on this old pick-up we saw in Raton, New Mexico. 

Baggallini, the perfect travel bag

Most women spend a lifetime, and a small fortune, searching for the perfect travel pocketbook. It should be lightweight, water-resistant, filled with pockets inside and out, and easy to carry flat against your body. A great color doesn't hurt, either. Enter the Baggallini Everywhere Crossbody Bag. I love it so much that I bought two, one in red, the other in a papaya orange (and I just might need this violet one, too). This particular bag has a front pocket I use for keys, another pocket for my phone, and a large back pocket (with a zippered bottom) that slips over a suitcase handle or holds a book or maps. The crossbody strap is long enough to wear the bag at any height. There's a zip pocket inside, and a separate RFID pouch that's great for protecting sensitive items, like a passport. The large main compartment holds my wallet, sunglasses, fan, pen, iPad or Kindle, gloves, and the occasional apple. The bag is small and stylish enough to carry anywhere, without making you feel you are lugging a sack. I've road-tested this bag on one trip thus far, and I use it for everyday, too. I highly recommend it.

National Museum of African-American History and Culture, Washington DC

On a recent visit to Washington DC, everyone told me it would be impossible to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the newest gem in the Smithsonian Museum's crown, without having procured passes months earlier. Admission is free (as are all of the Smithsonian museums -- the biggest bargain anywhere), but timed passes are required, and are booked months in advance. However, being an early riser pays off, as the museum issues a limited number of same-day passes online, beginning at 6:30 in the morning, and I was able to snag them on my first try. When you go, allow a full day to explore the museum. Begin at the bottom, with three floors of gut-wrenching history from pre-slavery to the civil rights movement and beyond. Work your way to the top floor, which focuses on culture (food, music, art and craft), and ends your visit on a joyous note. This museum is worth a special trip to Washington DC, even if you're not going there for a march, and if you can get there during Black History Month, there are many special events.

Lighthouses

Lighthouses mark the way home: Safe passage! Steer clear of shallow water and rocky shores! I love the iconic lighthouses of Prince Edward Island, in Atlantic Canada, where we visited last week. This one is West Point Light, on the far southwest tip of the island, in the heart of French Acadian country. The shape is typical of PEI lighthouses, but the stripes are unique; most of the island's lighthouses are white, with red trim. You'll find small models of this lighthouse all over the island, planted at the end of people's driveways, marking the way home.

Waste Land

With our attention turning to the World Cup matches in Brazil -- and the recent takeover of Rio's largest favela (slum) by the military -- it's a good time to focus on the beauty of the country and the dignity of its people. In the 2010 documentary Waste Land, artist Vik Muniz found beauty where you would expect despair. The portraits he created with garbage pickers in Jardim Gramacho, on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, hang in some of the world's great museums and art collections, and the money raised has helped build a better life for the catadores who live and work in the world's largest landfill.