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chrysser
United States | view profile

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Screen name:

Rick the Sports Writer

Age:

47

Gender:

Male

If you must know:

I'm happily married

Travel status:

Traveling soon

Hometown:

Washington, D.C.

Currently in:

Waldorf, MD

Expert Washington, D.C., United States

I'm a rarity in Washington. D.C. -- a native. There aren't many of us in a metropolitan area of 4 million. Most people come here for a few years or maybe 20 and then return from whence they came. That leaves an obligation to those of us who were born, raised and probably die here -- to advocate what a great town it is despite the daily news reports of the government's work that most Americans associate with D.C. My family came to Washington before the Civil War so we know a bit about it. One of my great uncles even operated one of those tourist trams around the monuments and my mom sold tickets when she was a girl. I'm a sports columnist with one of the town's daily newspapers after covering sports here since 1978. If you need some info before coming to my town, just send me an email. The natives here really are friendly.

Traveling Next:

You never know, but China's the goal.

Favorite places I've been:

Venice, London, Rome, Osaka Japan, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Miami, Chicago, Toronto, San Juan, Santo Domingo.

Places I want to go to:

China with the Great Wall is the No. 1 goal. Russia, Iceland, Artic Circle, western Canada and United Kingdom would be great. I've been to 36 states of U.S. and would like to see all 50.

About me:

I'm a sports columnist for a Washington, D.C. daily newspaper -- dcexaminer.com. Travel is one of the perks to offset short pay and long hours over my career. I've been to 36 states and four territories plus 10 foreign countries. I also have my own book publishing company and am a Realtor so I guess you can say at age 47 I'm enjoying different things in the second half of life.

Profile URL:

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/rickthesportswriter

Read more about Rick the Sports Writer

I'm fired up on:

The coming U.S. presidential election, though I haven't begun to pick a candidate. When you live in the nation's capitol, politics is the favorite pastime. I just feel it's part of our city. I love my hometown and telling people its history. I'm planning to expand my book publishing company to release paperbacks on the great stories tourists want to hear away from the official travel guides. I'm also a recycling nut and love the outdoors. In another life I'd like to be a U.S. park ranger.

Tunes I rock out to:

As a child of the '60s, it's always rock and roll, though I usually keep my tastes contemporary. One goal -- to see U2 perform in a Dublin stadium. I think I could listen to Bono anywhere, but Nickelback is awesome, too.

Travel style:

I'm a planner who takes the family. Not to the minute, but I usually have a day's itinerary and have studied maps beforehand so we can cover the most ground possible. Hey, you may only pass that way once so why miss anything? But, it's not like the Giswaulds in Europe where Audrey dies on the museum steps. I just like to have the fundamentals covered beforehand so I can enjoy the trip without worrying how to get somewhere. I usually have the internet nearby to discover places.

Quote:

"American by birth, Southern by the grace of God." -- Lewis Grizzard.

Sports I do:

Water aerobics, biking

Favorite artist(s):

We'd be here all day discussing this.

Favorite books:

Anything by Terry Brooks, John Grisham.

Who I'd like to meet on my travels:

God. I'm saving Him for last. I like everyday people more than celebs.

I want to make a difference by:

Helping young people find their dreams. I love mentoring young writers or others in the media, but just being around those in high school and college keeps me young. Makes me remember to look to the future.

Languages spoken, other than English:

Spanish. I'm good at picking up key words whereever I am.

I felt the most immersed in a foreign culture when:

Working in the Dominican Republic. I was dreaming in Spanish.

Why I travel:

You'll never understand the actions of others around the world unless you go see them. Who knows, they may be right or have a better perspective.

Ideal place to watch the sunrise:

My own front yard, which is next to a state park.

Ideal place to watch the sunset:

San Simeon, Calif. The local motels have decks on the edge of the ocean where you can see the seals and watch the sun kiss the ocean.

Before I die I'd like to:

Write a travel book. I've written six books on sports, alternate medicine and cooking, but I want to do something different on travel that people will enjoy.

Let's collaborate:

I'm up for anywhere if you're up to paying for a professional writer with 30 years experience. Washington, D.C. is my hometown so I can write about anything you need on the nation's capital. I'm a writer, photographer and budding videographer, but my 11 years as a publisher also lets me consult those looking to produce a book.

My links:

www.mywaythebook.com www.fatboysrealestate.com www.dcexaminer.com

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Cherry Blossoms in Washington

By Rick the Spo... | Location: United States | 03/29/08 | Pics: 6

The smartest tourists come to Washington in late March-early April for the cherry blossoms. I was reminded of it the other day when driving across the Tidal Basin area where tourists flock to see the trees bloom. I snapped off a few photos from my car to post that actually aren't half bad.

Mostly,...

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Super Bowl mania and I was a maniac

By Rick the Spo... | Location: United States | 01/29/08 | Pics: 0

It's the biggest week of the year in U.S. sports. The Super Bowl. No detail too small, no activity too outrageous during the week of parties.

For six Super Bowls, I was among those 5,000-plus reporters trying to inform the world of what they already knew -- it's a lot of fun. Most days, you'll hear...

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Washington's National Cathedral

By Rick the Spo... | Location: United States | 12/11/07 | Pics: 3

Want to see an old Roman church in Washington, D.C.? The National Cathedral is the closest thing I've found since touring Italy last summer.

The world's sixth largest church is celebrating its 100-year anniversary despite finishing the final construction in 1990. You may recognize the church from...

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