Ashley Explores Dubai – Have Camel, Will Travel

Ashley meets a friendly camel at the Bastakya heritage district in Dubai. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley the Traveling Teddy learned about the United Arab Emirates during her quick trip to Dubai, where she came very close to a camel and met some students from an international school.

Ashley travels for the third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio. The Traveling Teddy program is a geography outreach of the Society of American Travel Writers.

She toured the Bastakya heritage district in Dubai, and then sailed out into the Gulf of Arabia, past the Atlantis resort. She got a bit sunburned, but is was worth it!

Ashley meets Tess, Tara and Jack of the Wellington International School in Dubai. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley sails past Atlantis in the Gulf of Arabia. Betsa Marsh photo

All That Glitters: Ashley Prospects for Welsh Gold

Ashley gears up for her gold mine tour. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley the Traveling Teddy became a deep thinker on a recent tour of Wales–very deep, down 70 steps into a dark  shaft once worked by Romans 2,000 years ago.

Ashley travels for the third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio. The Traveling Teddy program is a geography outreach of the Society of American Travel Writers.

The Romans, who built a fort nearby at Pumsaint,  searched for gold at Dolaucothi using a drift mine into the hillside rather than a vertical shaft. They used fire and water to crack the quartz, and little children ages 10 to 14 would then sort out the quartz, looking for gold. It took a ton of quartz, according to Ray Miller of the National Trust, to yield an ounce of gold about the size of a peanut.

Archaeologists have found fragments of the Romans’ water wheels

Ray Miler of the National Trust teaches Ashley the ropes. Betsa Marsh photo

on the mining site. They’re now on display in the Cardiff Museum.

After the Romans, small-scale mining resumed in 1853 and grew until 1912, when, according to the BBC, the complex geology of the site brought an end to work there. Miners returned to Dolaucothi one last time between 1933 and 1938, after which the equipment was sold off.

Today, the National Trust has reconstructed the mineyard to the 1930s period. There’s a gold exhibit, a shop with rare Welsh gold and a tea room.

You can, of course, pan for gold there–Ashley tried her paws, but didn’t find enough to quit her day job as traveling ambassador for the students of St. Joseph.

Ray Miller of the National Trust welcomes Ashley and other travelers to the Long Adit, the Roman opening to Dolaucothi Gold Mine in Wales. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley Savors the Sweet Side of New York

Ashley the Traveling Teddy indulged her sweet tooth in New York City’s

Ashley with all-day suckers at Economy Candy in New York. Betsa Marsh photo

Lower East Side, popping into Economy Candy and Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery.

Ashley travels for the third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio. The Traveling Teddy program is a geography outreach of the Society of American Travel Writers.

Economy Candy has been dishing up sweets since 1937, and stocks every delectable adults remember from their childhoods.

Ashley with giant Pez dispensers. Betsa Marsh photo

Next up, a light bite at Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery on Rivington Street.  Ashley and her pal Marilyn Marx of New York split an Ooey Gooey with chocolate cake and chocolate-almond buttercream. Yum!!

Ashley, an Ooey Gooey and a cappuccino--perfect! Betsa Marsh photo

And the eating wasn’t done yet! The next day, Ashley attended the VisitBritain luncheon at posh Daniel, and saw Chef Daniel Boulud himself! For a bear who loves to cook, it was a big event!

Ashley at Daniel. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley the Bear Braves the Cookie Smack-Down

Ashley with Cookie Queen Leslie Laine, who wears the royal Cookie Queen tiara and sash and holds the Golden Spatula and star bouquet.

Ashley the SATW Traveling Teddy attended her first holiday cookie exchange this weekend, and got to pose with the once and future Cookie Queen, Leslie Laine. Leslie won the cookie smack-down last year, and repeated this year with double chocolate ginger cookies. Cookie competitors are members of the Ladies Discoursive and Digestive Society of Greater Cincinnati.

YUM! was Ashley’s verdict. The only thing that could have made them better was a big dollop of honey!

Ashley travels for the third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio. Traveling Teddy is a geography outreach of the Society of American Travel Writers and Build-A-Bear Workshop.

Go West, Young Bear! Ashley in New Mexico

Ashley the Traveling Teddy took the advice and headed to the dry, dusty land of New Mexico. She learned a lot about Southwestern art and Native culture, and about cooking with chiles—WOW!! HOT!!

She started at Encantado Resort and Spa, and had a fabulous jet-lag massage with Sue Robuck. AHHHH!

Ashley with Sue Robuck at Encantado

Resort and Spa. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley travels for the third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio. The Traveling Teddy program is a geography outreach of the Society of American Travel Writers

In Santa Fe, Ashley spent a reflective moment at the altar of San Miguel Mission, the mission church in America, dating back to 1610.

Ashley in San Miguel Mission. Betsa Marsh photo

Walking in Santa Fe, Ashley met Judy Rosetta, a Kewama Indian from the Santo Domingo Pueblo. Judy was making jewelry near Loretto Chapel, and let Ashley try her paw at stringing beads. Judy even gave Ashley her own beautiful turquoise necklace, and Ashley wears it as a fond memento of New Mexico.

Ashley with Judy Rosetta. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley then went north, to visit more artists in their studios. When she stopped by Jeff Brock’s studio, he let her help make more jewelry, and his wife, Star Laina York, surprised Ashley with a giant bear sculpture she’s making! It will eventually be a large bronze.

Ashley with Star Laina York. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley helps Jeff Brock make jewelry. Betsa Marsh photo

Nearby, she traveled to the studio of artist Doug Coffin, a Potawatami Indian whose work has been in galleries around the world. Doug introduced Ashley to his mutant rhinoceros Oswell, about 110 years old from Africa.

Ashley with Doug Coffin and Oswell, the mutant rhinoceros from Africa. Betsa Marsh photo

And finally, how better to wrap up a big trip than with chocolate? Ashley checked out all the extravagant Day of the Dead decorations at Todos Santos in Santa Fe, and met Harmony Heffron. She showed Ashley the milagros, small tokens made for prayer requests and thanks. But these are chocolate, brushed with edible silver and gold. Heavenly!

Ashley the Bear Tries Traditional Kentucky Crafts

Ashley the Traveling Teddy toured the Bluegrass recently, enjoying the turning leaves and learning some new ursine skills. She met students at Berea College, which for more than a century has offered full scholarships to needy Appalachian students in exchange for their work.

She helped freshman Madison Carey, busy at her loom making placemats.

Ashley helps Madison Carey make placemats at Berea College. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley travels for the third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio. The Traveling Teddy program is a geography outreach of the Society of American Travel Writers.

Then Ashley crossed campus, looking for students at the broom making and woodworking centers, but got lost! Sophomore Jessica Brown was nice enough to hop off her skateboard and walk Ashley in the right direction.

Jessica Brown helps Ashley find her way at Berea College. Betsa Marsh photo

At the broom making workshop, Ashley was lucky enough to chat with senior Alicia Brown. For her first two years at Berea, Alicia, an agriculture major, worked with the pigs at the Berea College farm. For the past two years, it’s been brooms. Ashley had to admit to being sort of relieved.

Alicia Brown shows Ashley the tricks of making brooms at Berea College. Betsa Marsh photo

Ahoy! Ashley Gets Her Sea Paws!

Ashley the Traveling Teddy has taken the helm of several boats recently, and captain and crew all lived to tell about it!

Ashley with Capt. Nick Manuel on the Silva Tall Ship in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley travels for the third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio. The Traveling Teddy program is a geography outreach of the Society of American Travel Writers.

This summer, she helped Capt. Nick Manuel take the tall ship Silva out of her Halifax harbor for a breezy tour of the Narrows. She sailed past

George's Island Lighthouse, Halifax. Betsa Marsh photo

George’s Island Lighthouse and met a new friend onboard, 19-month-old Bri Hurlbut from Nova Scotia.

Bria Hurlbut didn't want to give Ashley up. Betsa Marsh photo

Recently, Ashley toured the Bluegrass region of Kentucky and helped another captain steer his ship.

At Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Ashley joined Capt. Richard Herring in the pilot house of the paddlewheeler Dixie Belle for a trip down the Kentucky River.

She got to see the palisades and waterfalls, but she knew the Captain was joshing when he talked about piranhas in the river and snakes on board the Dixie Belle! Eeuuw!

Ashley  with Capt. Richard Herring on the Dixie Belle.  Betsa Marsh photo

She went under the High Bridge, which was once the highest railroad bridge in the world

and got to see the Kentucky flag snap in the breeze. 

Drive-Ins and Dummies for Ashley the Bear

Ashley the SATW Traveling Teddy made a day of it recently at Northern Kentucky museums, even watching a drive-in movie in a 1959 Buick Electra at the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington, Ky.

Ashley takes the dashboard of the '59 Electra at the Behringer-Crawford Museum in Covington, Ky. Betsa Marsh photo

Ashley travels for the third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder at St. Joseph’s Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio. The Traveling Teddy program is a geography outreach of the Society of American Travel Writers.

After her spin in the Buick, Ashley headed for the Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, Ky., to pop in on more than 700 ventriloquist dummies–hey, who you calling a dummy!?!

Ashley cuddles up to Benny the Bear, a European bear covered with real fur, at the Vent Haven Museum. Betsa Marsh photo

She made friends with dozens of figures, and tried a bit of ventriloquism herself. Can you hear me now?

Ashley makes friends with Peanut, used and donated by Jeff Dunham. Betsa Marsh photo

Teddy Walks on the Wild Side in Indiana

By Betsa Marsh

The Traveling Teddy’s still catching her breath from ferocious adventures in Indiana–no one told her the state was so wild!

Little did Teddy know during lunch at the Naked Tchopstix that she would need all the luck she could get in Indiana. Betsa Marsh photo

Teddy, who will be adopted and named by the third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder this fall, learned to mold liquid glass into a paperweight at the Indianapolis Art Center. It sure was fun, but man, where those furnaces HOT!! Students as young as Mrs. Schroeder’s can take the class-Teddy gives it paws up.

Teddy is part of the Traveling Teddy geography outreach program of the Society of American Travel Writers.

Then, just when she thought things were cooling off, Teddy jumped back into trouble at Stapp’s Circle S Ranch in Greensburg, Ind.  Jim Stapp was nice enough to show her all the animals,

Boo-Boo reaches out for her little cousin.

from bison and billy goats to wallabies and wolves. But when she got to the den for the American black bear–look out! Kinship only goes so far–Boo-Boo and Yogi, 18-month old bears, were very interested in their little stuffed cousin. Whew! She escaped by the fur on her head and took off for home.

Prince Edward Island Teddy-Made for Bears

The Traveling Teddy has been on a fabulous cruise through New England and Canada aboard the ms Maasdam–boy, some wild adventures! On Prince Edward Island, he met Steve Parsons, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, just as he left the ship in Charlottetown. Traveling Teddy globetrots

for the third-grade class of Meredith Schroeder at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio. The students will name the Teddy when classes resume in fall. Traveling Teddy is a geography outreach program of the Society of American Travel Writers.

With his new pal Grant MacRae of Prince Edward Island, Ted visited the Anne of Green Gables house and discovered a buggy-full of children, 

then went to the PEI Preserve Company and

tasted some fabulous jams–yum! Percy

Gougan helped Ted with his choices.

Outside, Ted tried his

paws at the bagpipes and

then got to eat lunch at Carr’s Oyster Bar. But not

before nearly losing his life in a lobster trap.

HELP!!