4 . . 3 . . 2 . .1 . . 0: Mouths hang open and a look of shock plagues their faces. The Saints fans in New Orleans watch the final moments of the game in disbelief, and for ten seconds following the moment of victory, not a word is spoken. They’re still trying …

Our goal was to get people interested in history… from a different angle,” says Upplev Mer owner Anna Broman. So far it seems to be working.

The Swedes are definitely ahead of the game when it comes to exploring the outdoors and taking advantage of their natural surroundings. In the northern city of Sundsvall, there is hardly a local who doesn’t know how to pick their own berries and mushrooms from the surrounding forests to prepare into jams, wines, or butters …

Sweden’s national parks and nature reserves (over 3,200 reserves in total) cover 12% of the country’s surface area, and I don’t think I’ve ever experienced such a diversity of stunning landscapes in such a small area and in such a short amount of time.

In Sweden, all are encouraged to maximize usage of the outdoors under a common law privilege called the “right of public access,” or as the Swedes call it, “Allemansrätten”

It’s possible to be an “off the books” archaeologist in your own neighborhood, even with only 30 extra seconds to spare.

The dragon has since become the symbol of Sundsvall, representing their devastating past and triumphant move forward from the ashes. From high school mascots to store names, their presence can be found everywhere in the city.

What I witnessed on her return is now a mental picture of my mother, forever frozen in time.

For the first time during the deployment I felt stripped of my uniform; it was as if for a moment we were somewhere else, forgetting the unfortunate circumstances surrounding us. She wanted to understand my world and my culture just as much as I wanted to understand hers.

They radiated samba-reggae rhythms while they drummed in a performance titled “Global Vigil in Support of the Women of Congo.”

If you’re one of the lucky tourists, you might even run into what I call the “Legends of Savannah.”

Do not fight over beads. Remember, at the end of the day they are just plastic, although somehow we’re convinced that they’re worth more than gold during the parades.

The place to be is in uptown New Orleans, on St. Charles Street in the Garden District area. It offers a little more of the easygoing “laissez les bon temps roulez” (let the good times roll) temperament of the natives without the pushing and shoving that you are more likely to experience downtown.

“We had no idea it would be the success it was,” recalls Kay Garletts, who has been heavily involved with the production since its small inaugural performance in 1996, in the church’s former location on Tibet Avenue.

Picture this – 34 degrees (freezing for us Savannahians) and the sun is just starting to rise. Eli’s crew has already been staged and ready to roll for the past hour.

“This was a huge collaboration with the Community. We had representation from every possible source in Savannah. Everyone cared,” Tammie tells me while describing the endless list of donations, from practice locations to hair and make up specialists.

“The shark was a pleasant surprise after those stupid jellyfish!” Nash McIntosh tells me.

“I was devastated,” he recalls. “I thought the entire building would go.”

Admitting that the Ball may have been a bit too “stiff” to entice the younger crowd in the past, this is Jackie’s invitation to partake in “the most prestigious event in Savannah.”

The irony of it all, I’m thinking, as I photograph a TV Guide Network cameraman and reporter who are covering a Fox 28 reporter who is preparing to report the 6 p.m. news.