When the Ocean Calls

Many Phoenicians head to California sometime between August and September to escape the heat even if it's just for a day or two.  I would be no exception.  I'm fortunate to have wonderful friends like Julie and Dave who invite me to join them for a few days of R & R.  Of course one of the highlights of these trips is time at the beach.

I think I could spend hours walking along the sandy shore and watching the waves crash onto the rock formations.  Every wave is a little different and each one is accompanied by the soothing roar of that fluid motion.

I enjoyed the cooling breezes and I even enjoyed the water rushing over my toes as I walked along however, I didn't go as far as these two young adventurers who walked out a little further and let the waves splash over their heads.  I did that when I was a lot younger.  

The Mystery of Loretto Chapel

Whenever I visit Santa Fe New Mexico, there is one place I always have to visit before I leave the area and that is the tiny Loretto Chapel.

The construction of this picturesque little church was completed in 1878. However, the only way to reach the choir loft inside the church was with a ladder.

Because the chapel is very narrow, seating inside was at a premium.

The sisters consulted many carpenters but none of them could figure out a way to build a staircase that wouldn't cut out a large section of seating.

The legend says that after determining that there was no logical way to build stairs that would not significantly decrease the capacity of the church, the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.  On the ninth and final day of praying, a man appeared at the Chapel with a toolbox perched on his donkey as asked for work.  The Sisters put him to work on the problem and months later, the beautiful and elegant circular staircase was finished.

The carpenter who built it left without pay or even a thank you from the Sisters and church's community.

The Sisters conducted a search for the man and even placed an ad in the local newspaper trying to find him but, the search turned up not a trace.

Soon the Sisters began to believe that it was St. Joseph himself who had come to answer their prayers.

The design of the staircase was very innovative for the time. It contains two 360 degree turns and there is no visible means of support.  It was built without nails, only wooden pegs.  Other mysteries surround the wood that was used since it is said to not be a wood found in this region of New Mexico.

Regardless of whether it's construction really was a miraculous event or not, I still find it a work of art and I enjoying seeing it every time I visit the city.  The Chapel is privately owned now and there is an admission fee to visit the inside.  It can be commissioned for special occasions like weddings.

Shiny Things

Exploring the City of London, I found numerous works of art to spur some contemplation and enjoyment.  This piece puzzled me.  

It wasn't until I was back home and doing a bit of research that I learned the name of the artist as well as the name of the piece.  The name of this piece is "More Really Shiny Things That Don't Mean Anything".  So there you have it, contemplation over.  There is no meaning.  It's just a big huge ball of shiny objects all welded together.  The name is perfect.  The artist is Ryan Gander and English artist who lives and works between London and Suffolk.  He is a conceptual artist who works with a wide range of materials.  

His bio calls him a "disabled conceptual artist" and I did find an interview with him and noticed that he does use a wheelchair.  However, I personally don't like seeing the word "disabled" used to describe him.  I would describe him simply as a talented, successful conceptual artist whose body of work reaches a variety of materials, sizes and complexities.

If you would like to see the interview I found, you can find it here.

Where the Story Leads....

Last April when I was in New Mexico I took the long drive south on Interstate 25 from Santa Fe to the new Spaceport America that I posted about here.  At some point along the way, I got off the four-lane highway and took a state highway that ran somewhat parallel to the main road.  I thought it might be a more scenic route and I might find things to photograph.  One of the first places I found was this old, abandoned rail station for the town of San Antonio New Mexico.  I never actually saw the town but this rail station was situated near the road so I stopped to take a photo or two.

A few days ago, I decided to do some investigation into this little station to see if there was anything interesting to learn and oh, what a journey that research took me on.

You see, San Antonio New Mexico was the birth place of one Conrad Hilton, hotel magnate extraordinaire.  One of the first things I found out about this old building is how as a very young man, Conrad Hilton would meet arriving train passengers at this station and carry their bags for them to the local hotel which was operated by his father along with the A H Hilton Mercantile store.  At the  age of 21, he took over his father's general store and at the age of 32 he bought his first hotel in the city of Cisco Texas and he would build a vast hotel empire from there.

I found an old photo of the original A H Hilton Mercantile store as part of the University of New Mexico's collection.  You can see it here.  Very humble beginnings for such wealthy man.

I had no idea when I took this photo that the little station would have such historical significance.

Hidden Gem in Rome

The Church of the Gesu (or Gesu Church) is considered the mother church of the Jesuits religious order.  It is also sometimes called a hidden gem in the city of Rome.  I quite literally stumbled on to this beautiful place when I found myself passing through the Piazza del Gesu.  It wasn't on my list of places to visit but, since I was there I popped inside for a quick peek.

I ended up staying a lot longer admiring the beautiful dome and the frescos and other artifacts.

It seemed that everywhere I looked there was something beautiful to see.

I even got to see an art restorer at work in one of the church's chapels.  The chapel itself was closed off by scaffolding and looking up I saw this restoration worker carefully working on one of the frescos on the chapel's ceiling.  I don't believe I could do that job, constantly reaching up above me while holding my paintbrush and other tools steady.  

A Gift to the City of Chicago

A Chicago work of art that is near and dear to my heart is the huge Marc Chagall mosaic located in the Chase Bank Plaza in downtown Chicago.  You see, back in the late 90's when I was working in Chicago, I worked for First Chicago Bank which became Bank One while I was there and later became Chase Bank.  So, this mosaic was right where I could see it every day.

The art work was a gift to the city of Chicago from the Prince Charitable Trust.  It was designed in Chagall's studio in France and then assembled here in 1974.  Chagall was present on September 27, 1974 for the dedication and surprised Mayor Ricard J Daley with a kiss on the cheek at that ceremony.  

The piece is titled "The Four Seasons" and unfortunately, the four seasons of Chicago took a large toll on the piece.  It underwent restoration in 1994 when a large glass canopy was installed over the top of it to help protect it from the elements.  Other than that, it is open to the air.  Anyone walking around in downtown Chicago can enjoy it's beauty.  

The piece has four sides and measures 70 feet long, 14 feet high and 10 feet wide.  The Chase Bank Plaza is located at Dearborn and Monroe in The Chicago Loop.  To put it in perspective that almost everyone will recognize, remember the "Twist and Shout" dance scene in the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"?  That scene is shot right at the plaza with dancers dancing down the steps into the sunken plaza level and there is a brief scene with Cameron and Sloane dancing right in front of the Chagall mosaic.  Honest, look carefully at that scene, you'll see it.

Mustang Country

Many years ago I visited a friend in Forth Worth Texas and she gave me a fantastic tour of her beautiful city.  Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of photos of the trip.  It was before the digital revolution so the few photos I do have are scanned from prints (like the one above).  One of the places she took me was a place called Williams Square in Irving Texas where I saw this wonderful sculpture of mustangs running through a stream of water.  There are little fountain in places around the horses legs so that it gives the effect of the water splashing under their hooves.  It's a stunning work of art created by sculptor Robert Glen.  Glen was born in Nairobi Kenya and is now living and working in Tanzania.  It's a work of art that I have remembered and loved from all those years ago.

A Monumental Monument

There are monuments and then there are MONUMENTS!  This one falls in that latter category.  The Altare Della Patria (Altar of the Fatherland) or the Victor Emmanuel monument as it is known to most travelers, stands head and shoulders above any monument I've seen before.  First of all it is HUGE and second, it's white in a city where shades of brown monopolize the landscape.  It completely dominates a busy intersection just a stone's throw away from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

Riding high above the street in the center of the monument is Victor Emmanuel, the first king of a unified Italy.  He and his prancing horse strike a very commanding pose in front of this grand testament to his glory.

Below the Victor Emmanuel statue and located under a  colossal statue of the goddess Roma, is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier complete with an eternal flame of honor and the constant vigil of two fellow soldiers.  The tomb was added to the monument after Wold War I.

Looking straight up from street level, I felt dwarfed by the magnitude of this monument.  As one might expect about a monument of this scale, its construction created some controversy.  The biggest controversy had to do with the site of the monument since quite a bit of Capitoline Hill (one of the seven hills of Rome) and the Medieval structures that stood there were destroyed.  Other controversies centered around it being a bit pompous and way too large, an opinion I wouldn't argue with.

In recent years, an elevator was added to the back of the monument letting people ride to the top to take in some spectacular views of the city.  I missed that.  It will have to be on the agenda for my next trip to Rome.

A Supreme Experience

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to hear a case argued before the Supreme Court of the United States.  My good friends Julie and Dave were attorneys for a case that made it's way to the Supreme Court so we all went to Washington DC for the event.  Julie and Dave had special seating because they were named in the case.  Julie's mother Glenda and I were there to observe.

Anyone can observe a case at any time.  It just takes some determination, the ability to get up very early, and a heavy coat if the case will be heard in the winter months.  This one was in December and it was very, very cold when we lined up in front of the court hoping to get in.  There are only a select number of spectator seats available so it's important to get in line as early as possible to be assured of a seat.  If I recall correctly, we waited in line in the freezing cold for around two hours before the guards came and issue numbers to us, assuring us of a seat.  Only then were we able to go inside and warm up.  While we waited for the session to start, we went to the cafeteria for breakfast and warmth.

You are not allowed to take a camera or a purse, or a briefcase, or even a coat inside the courtroom.  The only thing you can carry is a pad of paper and a pencil.  We stopped at the coat room where coats were checked and lockers secured our belongings.  After the session was over, I was able to snap this one photo looking toward the courtroom.

It is an experience that I will never forget.  I was lucky enough to hear a case that had impact on the state of Arizona but, I highly recommend hearing oral arguments for any case that is being heard while you are in Washington DC.  The experience of seeing those judges at work is priceless.

Going on Safari

As I sit here to write this post, I can look up above my computer and see this wonderful face staring down at my from my office wall.  I loved this photo so much that I had it enlarged to 16X20 and matted and framed and it now hangs above my desk.  He has such and engaging face, it's hard to believe he could be so fierce.

This post is about my visit a few years ago to Safari Park in Escondido California, an extension of the San Diego Zoo network.  Only this place is like no zoo you've ever seen before.  It's huge, over 1800 acres of rolling hills the look very much like the African savanna.  Of course, I've never been to the African savanna but judging from photos I've seen, this place looks pretty darn close.

They have over 300 species of African and Asian animals all living in very large, natural-like compounds where they have room to roam and get plenty of exercise.

The facility has tram rides that take you through these far away places so that you can get a good look at the animals and they can get a good look at you.  In fact, I think this guy was saying "hey, are you taking my picture?"

In addition to the animals, there are many species of birds.  Some of them live in the compounds out in the open like these beautiful flamingos.

Others live in large aviaries where guests can walk through and get a closer look.  The lorikeet even land on your hands or arms if you offer them the food they love so much.  This was the first time I'd seen a lorikeet.  They really are the most colorful birds I've ever seen.

If you are interested in visiting Safari Park, you can check their web site for more information.  They offer a large variety of tours and safari experiences.  They even have an overnight camp stay that mimics some of the real African safari camps.  I'd love to do that one day.

The Lure of the Underground

Does anyone remember that old poster from 1927 by Alfred Leete?  I have a post card version that is in a frame with some other classic post cards hanging in my hallway.  Here is what it looks like.

I've had my post card for at least 20 years and I've always loved it.  Maybe because the London Underground lured me in the first time I visited that city way back in 1985.

There is something so cosmopolitan about taking those long escalators deep under the bustling city streets and sidewalks and hopping on an arriving train and being whisked off to my next destination.

And when I get off at my station, I love hearing the whoosh of the train as it closes its doors and speeds out of the station with a burst of wind and the clickety-clack of the tracks as it rolls on to the next stop.

If I take the underground out to the end of the lines, I might end up in a car with only a few people in it.  But, I can assure you that most of the time and especially during rush hours, it will be standing room only inside each car.  I might even have to pancake myself into the car and stand nose to nose with another commuter.  I've done it many times.

Some of the stations are sleek and modern with futuristic features that remind me of Star Trek and spaces so wide open that the announcer's voice echoes through the area.

Other stations are old, quiet and tunnel-like and almost devoid of the crowds found at the more popular stations.  It's times like this when I can close my eyes and see images from period dramas set anywhere from 1930 to 1950 with all the men in wide lapels and all the women wearing stockings with seams and all of them waiting for the next train.

I'll bet this station looked just the same back then.

Gallery in the Sun

On my recent trip to Tucson, I visited the DeGrazia's Gallery in the Sun, the studio and home of the late artist Ted DeGrazia.  DeGrazia was born and raised in Arizona the son of Italian immigrants.  He moved from the mining town of Morenci to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona and eventually earned three degrees including a Master of Arts.

He and his wife bought the then remote 10-acre property where he would build his Gallery in the Sun after the city of Tucson grew up around his original studio.  I wonder what he would have done if he had lived to see the city once again grow up around this property.  The gallery was designed and built by DeGrazia using traditional adobe bricks crafted on-site.  He is said to have built the gallery so that his paintings "would feel good inside".

The gallery is home to more than 15,000 DeGrazia originals including oil paintings, watercolors, ceramics and sculptures.

Among those on display is the one to the left titled "Fiesta at San Xavier" painted in 1960.  It's one of my all time favorites.

One of the gallery rooms included this display of DeGrazia's paints and easel.  It almost looks like he just stepped away for a moment.

Also on the grounds is this little mission that he built in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  As I approached it I could hear the call of that wind chime bell high up on the top.

Inside the mission, the roof is open to the sky and the walls are painted with DeGrazia's southwestern inspired art.  Stepping through the door to the mission was almost magical.

In 2006, the 10-acre site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.  The Gallery is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm and there is no admission charge.  It is such a beautiful place, it should be high on the list of places to see when visiting Tucson.

The Colosseum

I released an audible gasp as our taxi approached the Colosseum.  The magnitude and beauty of the place was almost over whelming.  I simply couldn't believe that I was actually about to step foot on such an ancient and historic place.  

It is the largest amphitheater ever built and is considered one of the greatest works of architecture and engineering.  And, construction began in 72 AD.....imagine that!  

Built under the orders of the emperor Vespasian, it was completed under his successor and heir Titus, just eight years later in 80AD.  To me, that's even more amazing.  Just eight years to build something that will last and be admired for centuries.  

I had read in my travel guides that the wait to  get inside can be quite long but, my timing must have been perfect because within minutes after purchasing our tickets, we were inside this incredible structure where between 50,000 to 80,000 spectators gathered for gladiatorial contests and public events.  When it was in use, it had a sand covered wooden floor build over the top of an elaborate underground structure called the "Hypogeum" which literally means 'underground'.  Little remains of the original floor so you can see directly into the hypogeum and its network of tunnels and cages.

It truly is a masterpiece of architectural design and construction.  I loved standing back and looking at  it and picturing the activity around the place all those eons ago.  Was it bustling with people around it just like it is today?

I could even picture a gladiator or two wandering about and guarding the entrance!