Jones County COVID-19 Vaccination Drive Through Clinic!

Jones County COVID-19 Vaccination Drive Through Clinic Drone Video!

 Public Health Clinic in Trenton.

Over the last five months, it has been an honor to help at the Jones County COVID-19 Vaccination Drive Through Clinic with other individuals from across the State of North Carolina, from local residents, health department staff, emergency personnel, and retired volunteers to members of the National Guard. 

Read more about Jones County and this vaccination site on the Treasures Of Traveling website. 

--Luke Keeler

Jones County COVID 19 Vaccination Drive Through Clinic

Here is a drone video I created while helping out at the Jones County COVID-19 Vaccination Drive Through Clinic over the last five months. It has been an honor to help at this drive through clinic with other individuals from across the State of North Carolina, from local residents, health department staff, emergency personal, and retired volunteers to members of the National Guard. Jones County is a very rural area in eastern North Carolina and because their health department, at the start of the pandemic, only had six employees who covered the day to day operations, COVID-19 was a huge burden. They requested help from the state so I volunteered to be deployed to Jones County to help with the implementation of the vaccine administration. It was a fantastic experience and I thoroughly enjoyed working with such a wonderful group of individuals dedicated to the public health and safety of the residents of Jones County and the NC Community, as many individuals drove from other counties and bordering states to receive the free vaccine. Whether it was a cold day and we had to bundle up or a bright sunny day where I forgot sunscreen and got a sun burn or having to wear a rain jacket to keep dry from the rain, we were there to help keep NC citizens healthy and end the pandemic. I was also thankful to be able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during that time. If you want to get the vaccine, you have a spot, so take your shot! Find NC vaccine locations here: https://myspot.nc.gov/

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/KbDQJCxTrwI

5 Things to do in Nerja Spain!

 Treasures of Traveling in Nerja

Nerja is a beautiful and charming coastal beach town located along Spain’s sunny Costa del Sol that has kept its traditional charm with its narrow cobblestone streets and whitewashed houses. Nerja is well known for its spectacular coastline between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains of the Sierras de Tejeda. If you are visiting Andalucia, the region of southern Spain, there are many cities like Granada, Sevilla and Cordoba that are filled with historical wonders, but Nerja’s coast will draw you in to relax for a few days under the Andalucian sun. It’s located between the larger cities of Granada and Malaga and Sevilla isn’t that far away. Nerja isn’t just a beach resort town and actually has many other things to offer, other than beaches. Read more about the five things to do in Nerja on the Treasures of Traveling website.

-- Luke Keeler    

The Best Beaches in Nerja!

Nerja is well known throughout Spain for its famous beaches and coves because many of them are featured as the best beaches in Spain. Nerja is one of Costa del Sol’s most well known destinations as this community has kept its traditional fishing village feel with its whitewashed store fronts and small town feel so it has become a well known seaside resort. The majority of people who visit Nerja come to vacation and relax on one of the many beaches along this stretch of Spain’s Costa del Sol. Many of the beaches are in stark contrast as some have long stretches of sandy shores, while the majority are small and tucked away in quiet coves between different rock outcroppings and cliffs. Many of these cliffs offer beautiful views, but one of the best views of the coastline in Nerja is from the Balcón de Europa. Many of these beaches are also in walking distance from the center of Nerja so it makes it easy to enjoy the beach and explore the town on the same visit. Even if you don’t feel like walking far, there are restaurants, stores, public restrooms and showers close to the shoreline. Another reason that makes a beach day in Nerja so comfortable is the large number of lifeguard stations located along the beaches in Nerja. There are actually so many different beaches in Nerja that you could visit a new beach each day of the week. Let’s take a closer look at seven of those different beaches by visiting the Treasures of Traveling website.  

--Luke Keeler 

Exploring Nerja’s Balcón de Europa!

 

If you plan to visit Nerja, the main focal point of this beautiful coastal town is the Balcón de Europa (Balcony of Europe). It’s one of the most famous landmarks in Nerja, where you can just wander along the palm-lined broadwalk to the large circular plaza at the end. This plaza is extremely popular for both locals and tourists to be seen and meet up with friends. It has a nice pedestrian plaza area with stores, restaurants and cafes. While visiting Balcón de Europa, I suggest stopping and ordering an ice cream from a gelateria as this Mediterranean hot spot just begs you to savor some gelato while enjoying the views from one of the many benches overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. One of the main reasons this viewing terrace is so popular with visitors is because of it’s balcony over the rocky cliff that has wonderful views of the Nerja coastline in both directions. You can view many of Nerja’s popular beaches, the Mediterranean Sea that stretches for miles and the rugged mountains of the Sierra de Almijara that surround this lively Mediterranean town along Spain’s famous Costa del Sol. Read more about the Balcón de Europa in Nerja on the Treasures of Traveling website. 

-- Luke Keeler 

Visiting Andorra la Vella!

 

Treasures of Traveling in Andorra

Have you heard of Andorra before? If you don’t live in Europe, most likely you haven’t heard of this small landlocked country located between Spain and France in the eastern Pyrenees Mountains of the Iberian Peninsula. Andorra is the sixth smallest nation in Europe and 11th smallest county in the world if you are looking specifically at its population. Otherwise, it’s the 16th smallest country in the world based on its land mass. It might have a small population, but is a huge tourist destination for millions of people throughout the year. Tourists flock to Andorra for its winter sports which include multiple ski resorts to its abundance of summer time activities like hiking and mountain biking opportunities that abound in all corners of this tiny country. I can’t forget to mention this country’s stunning natural beauty! Every direction you turn there is a beautiful view of mountain peaks to small towns and villages tucked into the valleys.

There are many wonderful treasures of traveling to visit in Andorra. From museums and churches in the capital city of Andorra la Vella, to spectacular views of endless mountain ranges, there is a tremendous amount of exploring to do throughout this tiny country so start exploring by visiting the Treasures Of Traveling website to learn more about Andorra. 

-- Luke Keeler 

The French Riviera: 3 Must Visit Cities on the Côte d'Azur!

 

3 Must Visit Cities on the French Riviera!

Treasures of Traveling along the French Riviera

The French Riviera, or Cote d’Azur, as it’s locally known, is world renowned for its stunning natural beauty along the rugged Mediterranean coastline. From the larger cities to the smaller villages, the scenery of the mountains or the sea, the French cuisine and culture that surrounds you, the whole region is captivating! It’s a wonderful destination for any traveler searching for history and culture, served with a side of food and wine. The temperature is generally moderate throughout the year and even if it does get hot on some of those summer days, you will be cooled by the Mediterranean sea breezes. There are a whole host of places to explore throughout the entire region, but I have chosen a few you just can’t miss. Check out the Treasures of Traveling website to discover the three must visit cities along the French Riviera. 

-- Luke Keeler 

Top 24 Places to Visit in Monaco!

Top 24 Places to Visit in Monaco

Treasures of Traveling in Monaco

Monaco is the second smallest county in the world and if you exclude the Vatican City, Monaco is the smallest country in the world! It’s famously known for the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, its casinos and tax free status. It’s a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to the French Riviera, also known as le Cote d’Azur with many other famous beach towns like Nice and Cannes, located right next door in France. Monaco is a small principality headed by the Prince of Monaco and it’s an extremely affluent spot along the French Riviera. Monaco has a lot of things going for it. From the warm climate to the beautiful blue water of the Mediterranean Sea, along with the natural beauty of the mountains and the multiple gardens located throughout the city, it is a beautiful place to visit! It is tiny because the whole area of Monaco is only two square kilometers. That’s really small, but there’s actually a lot of things to see and do while visiting Monaco. Here are 24 places to visit in Monaco you won’t want to miss! Check out the Treasures of Traveling website to read more! 

-- Luke Keeler

10 Things to Visit on top of the Rock of Monaco!

 

Monaco is the second smallest county in the world and if you exclude the Vatican City, Monaco is the smallest country in the world! It’s famously known for the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix, its casinos and tax free status. It’s a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to the French Riviera, also known as le Cote d’Azur with many other famous beach towns like Nice and Cannes, located right next door in France. Monaco is a small principality headed by the Prince of Monaco and it’s an extremely affluent spot along the French Riviera. Monaco has a lot of things going for it. From the warm climate to the beautiful blue of the Mediterranean Sea, along with the natural beauty of the mountains and the multiple gardens located throughout the city, it is a beautiful place to visit! It is tiny because the whole area of Monaco is only two square kilometers. That’s really small, but there’s actually a lot of things to see and do while visiting Monaco. Check out the 10 things to visit on top of the Rock of Monaco!

-- Luke Keeler

10 Things to Experience in Nice, France!

 

Treasures of Traveling in Nice

The south of France is known for its many beaches along the French Riviera, also known as le Cote d’Azur and Nice is just one of the many cities that stand out. It’s a great place to visit because of the beautiful beaches where you can relax and enjoy the blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. It also has many cultural attractions like Nice’s Carnival as it’s one of the largest Carnival celebrations in the world. Since Nice is located along the Mediterranean sea, it has a mild climate year round and perfect for relaxing on the beach from May to October. The boulevards are lined with palm trees and tropical flowers giving visitors the perspective of being in paradise. Nice has beaches, delicious restaurants, amazing views and a wonderful culture. Nice is just one of the many treasures of traveling throughout the French Riviera so check out these 10 things to experience in Nice, France. 

-- Luke Keeler

The Coronavirus and Public Health!

The Coronavirus and Public Health

The Coronavirus and Public Health in New Zealand

Last week the World Health Organization (WHO) congratulated New Zealand for successfully fighting COVID-19 within their country through “testing, isolating and treating cases and tracing contacts!” This is fantastic news because they have had no new infections in weeks!  New Zealand is just one of the dozen countries that does need to be congratulated by the World Health Organization for successfully fighting COVID-19!

There is definitely no need to congratulate the United States of America because we have done an awful job at reducing the virus. There has been a complete failure because of the lack of US leadership from the beginning of the pandemic. The USA doesn’t need to be congratulated because the cases keep increasing! What happened in the United States? Read my viewpoints on what occurred that allowed the number of new cases to increase and spread throughout the US.

--Luke Keeler

Happy PRIDE: Remembering LGBTQ History!

Happy PRIDE: Remembering LGBTQ History!

Happy PRIDE: Remembering LGBTQ History! 

The world has completely changed due to COVID-19 and that includes the lack of Pride celebrations throughout the summer Pride months, but you can still have Pride in yourself and educate others about LGBTQ history! Take some time to learn about it by watching two Netflix documentaries focusing on the transgender community which has faced a lot of discrimination and continues to face a lot of discrimination in the world we live in.    

Never stop learning, educate yourself and always be kind to others! Life is hard so treat others with respect and dignity, just like you would like to be treated! To watch video clips of each of these documentaries, visit Remembering LGBTQ History. 

--Luke Keeler