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Vancouver, WA: Operation Schnitzel: Gustav’s Remains a Trusted Rally Point

Gustav's 1705 SE 164th Avenue Vancouver, WA 98683 Phone number:  (360) 883-0222 gustavsvancouver.com Prices: $$ $$ After redeploying fro...

Showing posts with label war. Show all posts
Showing posts with label war. Show all posts

Monday, September 4, 2017

Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzogovina: Beautiful Town Home To A Miracle - Must See, Must Visit - This Video Has Proof!!

My YouTube video on the Miracle at Medjugorje does not have over 868,000 views for nothing ...


Human spirituality is unique in the world of animals. We went to Medjugorje and experienced a Miracle. I would not have believed it if I had not seen it with my own eyes, touched it with my own hands. Now you can see it up close with your own eyes in this short video which clearly shows the miracle happening!

Medjugorje is a Catholic pilgrimage site in Bosnia-Herzegovina, not far from the war-torn city of Mostar. If you go, stay in the beautiful and historic city of Mostar, a 30-minute drive from Medjugorje. The ancient bridge in Mostar was rebuilt after it was blown-up during the Bosnian War, but remains a beautiful and iconic symbol of a city rich in tradition.

Contact CombatCritic at http://www.CombatCritic.com if you need information on traveling to Medjugorje or Mostar. 

You can also watch video tours and reviews on the CombatCritic YouTube channel or follow me on Twitter @CombatCritic http://www.twitter.com/combatcritic

StayPresent; BeResilient; StayTheCourse ... CombatCritic ... OUT!

Title: Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzogovina: WOW ... You Have to See This to Believe It ... INCREDIBLE!

Key Words: Human, spirituality, Medjugorje, miracle, Catholic, pilgrimage, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mostar, Bosnian, War, CombatCritic, Bosnia, Jesus, Christ, God, travel, val

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Kansas City, MO: "Great War" Museum Not As Great As Expected


National World War I Museum and Memorial

Liberty Memorial
100 W 26th Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
Phone: (816) 888-8100
Website: theworldwar.org
Prices: $$$$

Maybe I was expecting more based on the reviews and word-of-mouth regarding the National World War I Museum, but comparatively speaking it is not even close to the top of my list of "must see" museums. Do not get me wrong, the grounds are impressive, the memorial iconic and spectacular, and the view of downtown Kansas City, Missouri unequaled, but the museum itself is overpriced and lacking in many ways.
Beside the numerous cannons and artillery, there are two airplanes, a tank, a couple vehicles and not very many World War I relics. Like the Eisenhower Library in Abilene a couple hours west on I-70, there are plenty of things to read and a couple movies, but authentic, original World War I artifacts and memorabilia are sadly lacking.
One interesting, interactive display is a large, life-size trench running down the right wall as you enter the first hall. You can access holes in the trench wall at various points as you meander through the first five or six exhibits. As you stick your head through the wall to get a glimpse of what might have been happening nearly 100 years ago, the voice of a soldier reading a letter home or making a diary entry automatically comes on, an interesting and surprising addition.



We paid $12 each with our military and teacher discounts, still a bit stiff considering the size of the museum and the number of exhibits. A significant portion of the museum is occupied by a large circular, central room containing what are supposed to be interactive displays on a variety of subjects. If they worked, they would have been quite interesting, even spectacular. Massive computer screens laid out like large tables, you are supposed to be able to use the little red flashlights, attached to the tables by a cord, to point to the horizontal screens and retrieve information on a particular World War I topic. However, the flashlights did nothing, so the screens displayed whatever they were programmed to display and nothing more. The most interesting aspect of these central rooms were the numerous soundproof studios where you can sit and listen to music and voices of famous people of the time among other things.

Another overly large exhibit portrays trench warfare in a 100 foot long trench, below the overhead walkway and viewing area, with soldiers marching and a bi-plane overhead, all in front of a large screen running a narrated video of how the US entered the war (undetermined schedule). The video was interesting, but we happened upon it by chance, having no idea exactly what it was at first or how often the 15-minute show ran. This exhibit, along with the central rooms with interactive displays discussed previously, take up at least half of the museum's square footage and could have been better utilized in my opinion.


There were several uniforms and guns, flags and banners, even two Congressional Medals of Honor, an early delivery truck, an ambulance, a mule train, a bi-plane and a tank. We had planned on spending an hour-and-a-half, but were done in a little over an hour.














At $14 for a two-day pass, I am not sure what you could possibly do for two days here, the museum is not particularly cheap. Something more in the $7 to $10 range would seem more appropriate. Don't get me wrong, the "Great War" does not get the attention it deserves and a far as Kansas City is concerned, this museum and memorial is a big, important attraction. But having seen the Smithsonian and National Air Museum (both free by the way), the Vatican Museum and the Forum in Rome, the Louvre, Musée D'Orsay and L'Orangerie in Paris, Del Prado in Madrid, the National Archeological Museum in Athens, and the British Museum, Tate Gallery and Tower of London in London (of course), just to name a few, this museum just does not stack up in terms of exhibits, artifacts and bang-for-the-buck. Did I say the view of downtown Kansas City is phenomenal?


CombatCritic Gives The National World War I Museum and Memorial 7 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!


Seven Bombs Equates To:
Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - Elite '14/'15/'16

TripAdvisor - Top Contributor

Tabelog - Official Judge (Bronze)

Zomato - #1 Ranked Foodie

View my food journey on Zomato!



... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube


Tabelog Reviewer CombatCriticView my food journey on Zomato!




Title: Kansas City, MO: "Great War" Museum Not All That Great

Key Words: National World War I Museum, national, Kansas City, Great War, great, war, World War I, museum, memorial, liberty, world, war, I, 1, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, review, Yelp, TripAdvisor

Translation for Civilians: S&G = "Shits & Grins"

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

St Joseph, MO: Patee House: An Eclectic Menagerie Of Missouri Memorabilia

Patee House
1202 Penn Street
St. Joseph, MO 64503
Phone number (816) 232-8206
Prices: $$$$

Patee House is St. Joseph, Missouri's only National Historic Landmark and was listed in True West magazine as "one of America's Top 10 Western Museums" in 2008 and "one of 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die".

Built in 1858 as a luxury hotel, Patee House served as the Pony Express headquarters from 1860 to 1861 and during the Civil War, the Union Army occupied the building, using it as their Provost Marshal's office and holding war trials in the ballroom.  Adjacent to the home of the infamous outlaw Jesse James whom was shot and killed there by Bob Ford, the James family stayed and were interviewed in the hotel after his death.

The Patee House Museum features two full floors of exhibits where you can climb aboard an 1860 train, ride the vintage "Wild Thing" carousel, or explore an 1877 railroad depot, stagecoach, cars, trucks, fire trucks, wagons, buggies and carriages, Jeeps, horse-drawn hearses and a real gallows among much, much more. Entry for adults is a fair $6, considering the abundance of historical artifacts and memorabilia. You should allow 1-2 hours depending on how much detail you want to get into.

The collection and exhibits are eclectic to say the least. There is junk and there are treasures. Historic American battle flags sit next to stuffed animals and a full-size locomotive. The woman at the front desk was unfriendly and when I asked if they had a "military discount", she looked at me like I had a penis growing out of my forehead. Patriotism! The young woman at the back entrance was much nicer and informative, telling me the history of the carousel and how they got the locomotive in the building.
Patte House is definitely worth a visit if you find yourself stuck in St Joe, needing a couple hours to kill. The Jesse James house sits right outside the backdoor, but other than the bullet hole in the wall from Jesse James' murder, nothing is apparently original and the bullet hole is even questionable. The house is very small, so if you want to spend $4 for a 3-minute tour, knock yourself out.

CombatCritic Gives Patee House 6 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better! 



Read Reviews By CombatCritic:

Yelp - "Elite '14/'15"

TripAdvisor - "Top Contributor" 

Tabelog - "Official Judge (Bronze)

Zomato - "Super Foodie"

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube

Tabelog Reviewer CombatCriticView my food journey on Zomato!
















Title: Historic Patee House: An Eclectic Menagerie Of Missouri Memorabilia 

Key Words: Patee House, patee, house, museum, hotel, Pony Express, civil, war, landmark, national, historic, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, TripAdvisor

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