Date Of Event: July, 8, 2023 (usually held the second Saturday in July)
Location: Brenton Point State Park, Ocean Drive, Newport, RI (1 hour south of Providence, RI or 1 hour southwest of Boston, MA)
Cost: Free
Parking: There is abundant free parking
Dog Friendly: Yes
Universally Accessible: Yes
Summary: People from all over New England and farther came to Brenton Point to fly or view the many kites at the Newport Kite Festival.
It’s a bird. It’s a plane. Oh it’s just the 2023 Newport kite festival!
Kites of all shapes, colors and meaning could be seen flying through the air at Brenton Point.
Because of its location along the coast, Brenton Point offers scenic views and the perfect conditions for flying kites.
Each year since 2006, kite fliers and fans of kites have come to Brenton Point to fly and view dozens of kites at the most southern tip of Newport, Rhode Island. But, the history of the event goes back even longer.
From 1982 until 2005, the “High Flyers Flight Co” led by Sue Moskowitz and Steve Santos, coordinated a kite flying get together. But, for unknown reasons, the event stopped in 2006. But, that did not stop kite flyers from congregating and flying their kites. For the next 2 years the kite flying events took place off and on. Then, in 2009, Kitt Kites took over the event and it has flourished since.
Now, you can see kites from all over the country and the world for that matter.
One of the other great things about this event was that people of all ages and backgrounds could participate and enjoy the kites.
There weren’t just kites at the kites festival, though. A dj, event announcer and special events.
These kids were participating in a race in which they had to pull a kite.
And, yes, even dogs like kites! Since the Newport Kite Festival is dog friendly. Buck, an 11 week old Blue Heel terrier, decided to stop by!
Summary: Over 500 colorful umbrellas can be found floating in the air in Newport, RI! The art display will be up until Oct. 5.
No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. Those fuchsia, blue, yellow, green, and orange umbrellas are indeed “floating” in the sky of Newport, Rhode Island. At least they are in the Brickmarket area of Newport.
This art display and similar art displays have been installed in places like Miami, Florida, New York City and even the Middle East! But, this is the first time this particular art display has appeared in New England.
The upside to this art display by Artscape is you can view it regardless of the weather since the canopy of umbrellas are sure to keep you dry. Additionally, there are events such as karaoke, local musical events and a kid’s bash that are planned to take place during the Saturdays and Sundays while the umbrellas are still there.
The umbrellas are most vibrant when the sun is out . The sun rays hitting the umbrellas really do make the colors pop. When I originally arrived at the umbrella display, it was overcast. So, I drove around Rhode Island and photographed some other things and came back a few hours later. The sun was out and there was a noticeable difference when I returned for the second round of photos.
The first photo was taken during my first visit.
This photo was taken during my second visit.
One of the great things for me was being able to take photos from so many different angles. In fact, I took some of them lying on the ground!
Don’t wait too long to see these umbrellas! They will only be there until Oct. 5.
Below is a video that shows what it’s like to walk through this art display!
Beaches aren’t the only place to find sand sculptures! Thirty two sand sculptures have been sculpted and set up throughout the city of Yarmouth, MA.
FitzySnowman has sculpted all of the sand sculptures all with a summer, beach or Cape Cod feel to them.
Since it has rained so much, some of the sand sculptures were damaged. But, most of the sculptures held up ok. Only two of the sand sculptures were damaged beyond recognition. Which isn’t too bad considering all of the rain we had been getting in June. Although you can visit them in any order, I will list the sand sculptures in the order I visited them. The first, of course, is located at the Visitor Center on Route 6.
Visitor Center, Route 6
Spongebob and Patrick seem to be popular characters for the sand sculptures each year.
Just Picked Gifts – 13 Willow St, Yarmouth Port
The Cooperative Bank Of Cape Cod – 121 Route 6A, Yarmouth Port. I’ve heard of a safe cracker. But, a squid cracker? That’s a first!
Voila! Designs By Frederique – 169 Main St #6A, Yarmouth Port. As you can see by this photo and other photos of the sand sculptures, the backgrounds and accessories added to the sand sculptures really make the sculptures stand out! And at least one of the sand sculptures is lit up during the evening.
Strawberry Lane, Yarmouth Port
Winslow Crocker House – 250 Route 6A, Old King’s Highway, Yarmouth Port
Bass River Rod & Gun Club – 620 Route 6A, Yarmouth Port
Kinlin Grover – 927 Route 6A, Yarmouth Port. Some of the businesses always have the same kind of sculptures each year. This particular real estate company always has a sand castle on their property. I like this. It gives some routine and stability in an otherwise at times unstable world.
Taylor Bray Farm – 108 Bray Farm Rd North Yarmouth Port
When you do stop this sand sculpture make sure to stop by the farm and check out the animals on the farm!
Bay Berry Golf Course – 635 W Yarmouth Rd, W. Yarmouth
Cape Cod 5 – 514 Station Ave, S. Yarmouth
Today Real Estate – 487 Station Ave, S. Yarmouth – This sand sculpture was demolished due to the elements.
Dunkin’ Donuts – 436 Station Ave, S. Yarmouth
Rockland Trust Bank – 428 Station Ave, S. Yarmouth
Bass River Golf Course – 62 Highbank Rd, S. Yarmouth
Cape Cod Creamery – 1199 Route 28, S. Yarmouth
Yarmouth Town Hall – 1146 Route 28, S. Yarmouth
Dunkin’ Donuts – 1050 Route 28, S. Yarmouth
Seafood Sam’s – 1006 Route 28, S. Yarmouth. This sand sculpture makes me hungry since this is usually the half way point where we take a break and have lunch!
Cand Co – 975 Route 28, S. Yarmouth
The Pancake Man – 952 Route 28, S. Yarmouth
John G Sears & Son – 221 Old Main St, S. Yarmouth
Freebird Motor Lodge – 553 Route 28, w. Yarmouth
Holiday Vacation Condominiums – 488 Main St, W. Yarmouth
Route 28 Visitor Center – 424 Route 28, W. Yarmouth
Laer Realty Partners – 411 Route 28, W. Yarmouth
Bellew Tire & Marble – 280 Main St, Yarmouth
Sunbird Cape Cod Resort – 216 Main St, W. Yarmouth
The Cove at Yarmouth – 183 Main St, W. Yarmouth
Cape Sands Inn – 149 Main St Route 28, W. Yarmouth
Putters Paradise Mini Golf – 119 Route 28, W. Yarmouth
The sand sculpture at Hampton Inn & Suites – 99 Main St Route 28, W. Yarmouth was too damaged by the elements to be photographed
While the sand sculpture trail is a fun, family friendly experience, please do keep in mind it does require traveling through the Cape during peak season! I always figure it will take a “few hours” and yet after 4 hours I am still photographing sand sculptures. But, if you’re just driving by or looking at them it should be quicker than that.
Location: 380 Corys Ln, POrtsmouth, RI (30 mins south of Providence, RI and 1 hour southwest of Boston, MA)
Cost: $25 for adults, $10 for children 6-12, children under 6 get in free (you can also purchase combo tickets for tours of the mansions in Newport, RI, on their website). Customers are encouraged to purchase tickets for timed entry on their website. (special rates are available for groups of 10 or more, details are on their website)
Parking: There are about 50 free parking spots located across from the topiary (see below for additional info about parking)
All visitor parking for Green Animals is in the St. Philomena School parking lot. The only entrance to Green Animals is from the St. Philomena parking lot from June 17 – August 27. There will be no access to enter the property from the Green Animals parking lot.
Summary: Dozens of carefully clipped green sculpted shapes are scattered around the 7 acre topiary. There is also a special exhibit by Sean Kenney made out of Lego Bricks. Audio self guided tours are also available.
The numerous parks, sanctuaries and zoos in Rhode Island aren’t the only places in the Ocean State to see animals.
While they may not be as cuddly or cute, the animals at the Rhode Island Green Animals Topiary are just as impressive. The well kept topiary includes a variety of animals such as an elephant, giraffe and a human being.
But, there are so many more animals in this well kept exhibit.
But not all of the greenery is sculpted into animals. They were also trimmed into an airplane, heart and arch.
The 7 acre topiary also has pretty flowers and beautiful views.
As if this wasn’t fun enough, there is also a special exhibit by Sean Kenney. The Sean Kenney Nature Connects is a special exhibit of several art sculptures entirely made of Lego Bricks.
Each exhibit has a sign with information about each animal. The sculptures are listed below. Due to the dimensions and textures of the Lego bricks, the images look better in their full image size. You may want to look at the in full size or zoom in to see them better.
Peacock
Bird Bath (yes those pesky critters use even fake bird baths!)
Buck
Fawn and Doe
Hummingbird
Butterfly
Ant Hill. This cute display has holes for people to stick their heads into while they pose for photos.
Turtle
Rose
Dragonfly
Spider (I’m still having nightmares about this one!)
Wheelbarrow and gardener
Bumble Bee
Remember, these are made entirely out of Lego bricks! I had to keep reminding myself of this as I photographed each one. Also, if you do get lost or can’t keep track of where the Lego brick sculptures are there signs to help point you in the correct directions!
While the topiary is scheduled to remain open until October 1, the Nature Connects exhibit will only be at the topiary through September 10. Just make sure to not step on any of the Legos when you visit!
We all consider ourselves brave, fearless and calm under pressure. But, what would we really do when faced with a life or death scenario? In all likelihood, we would fall short of our expectations.
Commander Donald F Haviland faced this very same scenario on February 23, 1945. He, however, made a much different decision.
While transporting Norwegian refugees from Russia on the SS Henry Bacon, the ship Haviland was on encountered a heavy gale. The ship had to be taken out of Convoy RA 64 to make repairs from the damage resulting from the gale. This left the SS Henry Bacon vulnerable and German air fighters took advantage. Twenty three German planes attacked the SS Henry Bacon. Despite the USS Henry Bacon shooting down several planes and warding off most of the attackers, the ship did sustain one hit which made the USS Henry Bacon founder.
As the ship was sinking, it was determined there was not enough life boats for all the refugees and personnel. Upon hearing this information, Chief Engineer Haviland, he forfeited his life boat so that a younger man could take his place on in the life boat. Haviland went down with the ship.
Haviland earned the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal posthumously for his selfless act of heroism.
This memorial always gives me pause when I visit Webb Memorial State Park. What would we do in this situation? Would we have the same brave and selfless spirit? Likely no. But, Haviland and people of his ilk are a different breed. The valor he displayed is truly remarkable.
Each Fourth of July and other days of remembrance, flowers, flags, shells, rocks and other displays of tribute are left at Haviland’s memorial.
A photo of Haviland was also placed upon the memorial during my visit.
Admiral Emory Scott Land put it best in regards to Haviland’s sacrifice when he stated Haviland’s “unselfish action in sacrificing his life to save a shipmate constitutes a degree of heroism in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Merchant Marine.”
You can’t throw a rock, or a bagel for that matter, in Massachusetts without hitting a Dunkin Donuts. But, among all of these coffee shops, there’s a special one in Quincy, MA.
Like many successful companies, the Dunkin’ Donuts franchise had humble beginnings.
The origins of what would become Dunkin’ Donuts began during World War II when a shipyard worker decided to provide food options for his co-workers. William Rosenberg, a worker at the Fore River Shipyard based on the Quincy and Weymouth areas, noticed there weren’t many eating options for his coworkers and himself at the time. While this is far from the case now, Quincy did not have a wide variety of dining options.
Initially, William opened the “Industrial Luncheon Services” with a $1,000 loan and another $1,500 start up money. “Industrial Luncheon Services” was a a food truck that sold sandwiches, coffee, doughnuts, and other snacks.
William noticed that at least 50% of the food and drinks he sold were doughnuts and coffee. So, William decided to start a food business that focused on these foods and renamed his business “Open Kettle.”
Eventually, in 1950, William would open a brick and mortar store at its current location, 543 Southern Artery. After noticing many of his customers dunked their doughnuts in their coffee, William changed the name of his shop to “Dunkin’ Donuts.”
While many of the Dunkin’ Donuts coffee shops updated their decor and designs, the Dunkin’ Donuts on Southern Artery went in another direction. In December, 2011, the shop was “retro-renovated” to honor its original look.
From the original outside design to the indoor decor, the shop on Southern Artery transformed to a coffee shop from back in time.
The interior of the Dunkin’ Donuts has a mural of a photo of the original Dunkin Donuts and a display of the various logos the company has used over the years.
While the logos, design, dining options and decor may have changed at many of the coffee shops, one things remain clear; New Englanders still love their Dunkin’ Donuts.
New England has a long history of sea faring servicemen and women. Tragically, some of these people were lost to the sea.
These people may have been lost but they are not forgotten. Certainly not by the people of Hampton, New Hampshire or the people who visit the New Hampshire Marine Memorial.
Each year, thousands of people take selfies, admire the beauty of the statue or sit on the bench at the memorial.
I took these photos of the memorial on two different days. The first set of photos were taking after I took photos of the sand sculptures from this year’s Sand Sculpting Classic at Hampton Beach and the second set were taken on June 25. Since there are usually crowds there, I went early to avoid the crowds and to get the photos with the serene morning light.
Dedicated to all New Hampshire servicepersons lost at sea due to warfare, the New Hampshire Marine Memorial is a mid-sized statue of New England granite on a tiered granite base. A woman holding a wreath casts her gaze along the water.
Inscribed on the upper (middle) step is the phrase BREATHE SOFT, YE WINDS, YE WAVES IN SILENCE REST. These words are from a poem by John Gay, written in 1714, in his “An Epistle to a Lady.”
Originally, 248 names in 10 rows were added to the back of the memorial with the state seal at each end. Sadly, over time, names have been added. The last name added was on Aug 6, 2022 when Marine Cpl. Jonathan Currier’s name was added to the monument. The 21 year old Cpl. Currier, from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, went overboard in the Sulu Sea off the Philippine coast on Aug. 9, 2018.
What few people may know is the memorial didn’t start out as a memorial. What would become one of the most recognizable memorials in New Hampshire, if not New England, originally began as a grave marker.
William E. Downs of Manchester, NH, had inquired see if the federal government would furnish a grave marker for his son, Captain William D Downs, who was buried at sea May 25, 1945. Little did he know at the time his request would result in such a well known memorial for all service people lost at sea. The memorial would go on to become a memorial to all New Hampshire sons and daughters lost or buried at sea during World War II. In fact, it would go on to remember those lost after World War II.
However, the quest to get the memorial built was a long one. Initially, Downs’ request to have a grave marker built was denied. But Downs did not give up. After many proposals, such as placing the memorial at “Pulpit Rock” at Rye Beach and, after that proposal fell through, “Ragged Neck” at Rye Harbor, Downs was able to gain the support of a memorial from Governor Sherman Adams in 1950. Eventually, the then Governor Hugh Gregg agreed to have the memorial built at Hampton Beach. The statue was dedicated on May 30, 1957 (fittingly Memorial Day). On Veterans Day, 1970, the American Legion Post 35 of the Hamptons, dedicated two flag poles at the monument, which fly the American and state flags.
As you can tell by the events and actions outlined below, there were a lot of people involved in the creation of this memorial.
A design by Concord (NH) resident Alice E. Cosgrove was approved for the 12 foot statue.
Cambridge, Massachusetts sculptor, Teodors Uzarins, was commissioned to model the life-size statue in clay at the Caproni Galleries in Boston. Uzarins, worked closely with Alice, to produce the features that everyone who has seen it remembers.
A 24-ton granite block from Swenson’s Granite Quarries of Concord to sculpt the memorial. That 24 ton granite block was then shipped to Barre, Vermont where it was shaped. It was then sent to Hampton after 17 tons of that block had been removed by Italian artisan, Vincenzo Andreani of Marr and Gordon, Inc., Granite Works. Andreani used a plaster cast of the lady in the memorial for point-by-point measurements.
All of this hard work paid off, as the memorial is not only a respectful tribute to those who have served the country honorably. It is also one of the most recognizable sculptures in New Hampshire.
Click on the link below to see my photos on my Facebook page
Summary: Ten sand sculptors put their talent to the test in the 23rd annual Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting Classic. The sculptures will be available to be viewed until Sunday, June 25 and they are lit up at night
It’s amazing what you can do with sand, especially if you are one of the gifted artists at the Hampton Sand Sculpting Classic.
The sand sculpting event, which took place June 15-17, attracts world renown sculptors from all over the United States and abroad. But, if you pay attention to the event or visit the competition, you may notice some familiar names as many of the artists compete in the event each year. In fact, one of the persons instrumental in the creation of the event, Greg Grady, has competed each year since its inception in 2000.
Some fun facts about the sculptures: 200 tons of sand is imported for the sand sculptors to use for their own sculptures and for the main design. Those sticks on tops of the sculptors you may see in some of the photos are not for artistic value – they are used to prevent birds from landing on the sculptures. And each sculptor is given 10 tons of sand to make their work of art.
Each year, the sand sculpting classic has a different theme. All of the sculptors work together to make the sculptures in the centerpiece design. Some of the themes in previous competitions were “The Greatest Show In Sand” (in 2022) and Sand, Sun and Fun in 2021″ (in 2021 of course). This year’s theme is “The Sand Before Time” with a nod to the Old Man of the Mountain (I had a hard time finding it too).
Although it’s good to see teamwork, this is a competition after all. Each sculptor had 3 (or more like 2 and a half) days to make their sand sculptures. From Thu morning until Saturday afternoon the sculptors toiled away, despite some inclement weather. But, despite the wind and rain they carried on.
The sculptures are listed below in the order they are located. Whenever possible, the meaning or other information about the sculptures are included in the description. The information and quotes were found on the Hampton Beach Facebook page and various new stories.
Rusty’s inspiration for this sculpture came from unexpected source; Audible. He said he enjoys listening to audio books. He went on to say how the immersion of a story or music can take you out and how you can be encapsulated by these different mediums, especially when you listen with noise cancelling headphones. This experience of listening to words or music can be immersive to your ears eyes and mind. Rusty also mentioned how the piece shows, “how your mind doesn’t need your eyes to see a vision sometimes, it’s just the audio. The sound comes through without them.” He also made a joke about how he ironically lost his own earbuds in the sand while making this work of art.
“The Devil In The Details” – Chris Guinto (Captain Cook, Hawaii) – Governor’s Choice Award
Chris Guinto secured a spot in next year’s competition by winning the Governor’s Choice award, perhaps not so ironically, with his sculpture “The Devil In The Details.”
“Love Is A Universal Temple” – Melineige Beauregard (Captain Cook, Hawaii) 1st Place Winner & People’s Choice Winner
Melineige, who won first place last year, snagged first place this year as well for her sculpture “Love Is A Universal Temple.” It is also the third time in four years she has won first place in this competition.
Melineige said the sculpture, which shows a mother and child embracing in the shape of a cathedral, was about ” “the feeling of being in love, whether it’s human or animal,” Beauregard said. “It’s very sacred. It is its own temple by itself.”
For her efforts, Melineige was awarded $6,000 for first place and another $1,000 for the People’s Choice Award.
“Obsolete” – Carl Jara (Lyndhurst, Ohio) Third Place
Carl, another familiar face at the competition, won third place for his effort “Obsolete.”
Carl said his sculpture was based on being old and obsolete and was “something of a vulnerable piece” for him. Carl went on to say he has been sculpting for 32 years and sculpting at this event for 23 years (every year it has been held) and he’s seen the progression and change over the years.
“For an old guy like me, you know with years of experience…I don’t have time to innovate again. I feel sometimes a little obsolete,” Carl said explaining his sculpture. He also stated this “old God” feels these same feelings of being obsolete as there are no “new god’s” and, out of sheer frustration, he has thrown his six pack into the TV monitor while he sits on his lounge chair with his fast food or chips by his side.
“Futurism: Man’s Best Friend 2.oh-no” – Greg Grady (New Hampshire)
At this risk of dating myself, all I could think of when I saw this sculpture was Muffet (the dog from the TV show Buck Rogers). If you get that reference, it may be time to join AARP.
“Ascent” – Bruce Phillips (California) Fourth place (tie)
Bruce Phillips said this sculpture is about how Artificial intelligence is basically replacing free thought.
His sculpture tied for 4th place with the next sculpture.
Karen tied for 4th place with her “Raptor Ryder”. Karen said the inspiration for this sculpture was based on two of her favorite things and was tied into the “Sand Before Time” theme. “Heavy metal and dinosaurs, two of my favorite things” she explained.
“Guardian Of Her Dreams” – Matthew Deibert (New Jersey)
Matthew Deibert, a retired Atlantic City firefighter captain who has been competing in sand sculpting competitions since 1999, made his debut at this competition this year. His piece “Guardian of Her Dreams” depicts a young girl sleeping in bed with her teddy bear, sword in hand, protecting her from nightmares.
“The Struggles We Face”- Josh Gordon (Massachusetts)
Another familiar face at the competition, Josh Gordon, created the sculpture “The Struggles We Face.”
“Dave Is Here” – Abe Waterman (Prince Edward Island) Second place & Sculptor’s Choice Award
Abe’s sculpture was a tribute to another sculptor, Dave Andrews.
Abe said he made this sculpture in honor of fellow sand sculptor David Andrews who had previously competed in the Hampton Beach Sand Sculpting competition. Sadly, David passed away last year. Abe said the sculpture is for David, “but it’s also for all of us.” He went on to say “David was an incredible guy and sculptor.”
This sculpture of Andrews also won the Sculptors Choice Award, voted on by those competing in the contest.
The sand sculptures are expected to remain up until Sunday, June 25. Then, they will be taken down. They will also be lit up at night for evening viewing.
Date Of Visit: May 5, 2024 (this event has ended. It was scheduled from April 22 to May 16)
Location: Naumkeag, Trustees, 5 Prospect Hill Rd Stockbridge, MA
Cost: $15 for non-member adults ($9 for members) on weekdays and $20 for non-member adults ($12 for members) on weekends. Tickets for children cost $5 each ($3 for members) no matter the day, and admission for children younger than two is free. Tickets are sold for timed entry and must be purchased online; Tickets were sold in a time based entry system.
Parking: Free parking is available on site with a nearby overflow lot
What better way to celebrate the beginning of spring than walking along the 8 acre gardens of the Naumkeag (pronounced “Nom-keeg”) estate? More than 130,000 colorful tulips, daisies and minor bulbs greeted the visitors at the garden of Naumkeag.
My 24 mm prime lens and 18-400 mm telephoto lenses helped me get some really great bokeh (background blur) in the photos accentuating the beauty of the flowers. It didn’t hurt that the flowers were arranged in a such a pretty array of colors.
There were also some beautiful backgrounds at Naumkeag that provided some beautiful photo opportunities.
I could spend all day photographing these beautiful displays of flowers!
While the daffodils and tulips and other flowers were the main attraction at the event, there were other pretty and impressive statues and structures at Naumkeag. And, yes, those are bubbles at one of the statues there!
There were also models of eggs that looked like larger versions of the eggs birds lay with the name of the bird that lays them.
The “summer cottage” at Naumkeag was bult in 1884 when Joseph Choate, a prominent New York attorney and U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain, and his wife, Caroline hired an architect to build the 44 room home. Tours are available on the first floor and, of course, you can purchase items in the gift shop also on the first floor.
There are additional events during the fall and winter seasons at Naumkeag. You can check out there website for more information.
Summary: Old Sturbridge Village celebrated St Patrick’s in style with dancers, musicians and a few other special events!
Everyone was Irish at the inaugural Celtic Celebration at Old Sturbridge Village. The Celtic Celebration event celebrated Irish culture and history. The event also also included horse carriage rides and animals on the grounds. The babies were especially popular.
The event also showcased some of the cultural aspects of Celtic tradition. Lee (MA) Irish Dance performed a style of dance called Step Dance. People from a variety of age groups, abilities and experience danced to Celtic music. Step dance is a form of dance that is deeply rooted in Irish tradition. As you can see in the photos below, the dancers incorporate a stiff upper body with fast and precise movements of the feet. The dancers kept their vision at eye level (likely ignoring or trying to not notice their friends and family who were intently watching them) and exhibited a serious manner. The dancers dressed in an array of colorful, glitzy apparel. They even added sparkly accessories to their footwear. Their abilities as well as their poise and concentration were all very impressive
In addition to the dancers there was also Celtic music performed by a skilled harper.
Celtic Harpist Cate Mahoney performed Celtic songs. It was amazing watching her make such beautiful music with such ease. Just to show how difficult and taxing it id on her fingers to make this music, you may notice a white bottle on the ground of the second photo. Between songs, Cate would have to use talc on her fingers. Her music, which you can hear in the video below, was very soothing and pleasing.
There were other family friendly events such as dipping candles, a bagpiper performing and readings from Celtic literature. Or, you could just walk around and take in all of the Irish culture in the air and be Irish for at least one day!
New England Nomad 