American Fashion at the Museum

When I was in New York last fall, I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art twice while I was there.  On one of the days I was there, they were opening a new exhibit called "In America, A Lexicon of Fashion".  There was a long line of people waiting to go through the exhibit and after some deliberations, I decided I should see why it was drawing such a crowd. I waited my turn and went in to see it.

It was organized to appear like a patchwork quilt, a metaphor for America and our diverse backgrounds. Each cube hosted a costume that was created by an American designer, some well known and others I had never heard of before.  

In addition, each costume represented an assigned "word".  The four words here are Continuity, Commemoration, Connection and Celebration.

This is Unity.

Here we have Ebullience.

Harmony is this one.

This one is Assurance.  Assurance is very flashy.

The word for this one is Sexuality.  

This one represents Closeness.  This might be a little too close for my taste.

This was my favorite of all of them (and there were many, many more than I've shown here).  This one is representing Joy.  

Here we have Respect.

This last one represents Realness and Authenticity.  Authenticity appears to be a dress made of the lining of a Burberry raincoat with the label still showing at the neckline.  

This exhibit was the first of a two-part exploration of fashion in the United States in the Anna Wintour Costume Center.  The second half of this exhibit is scheduled to open on May 7, 2022, just a few weeks away.  A word of advice in case one of you wants to go, wait until a few days after the opening.  The second show is likely to draw as big a crowd as the first.

California Blooms

 

One thing I love about California is all the wonderful plants and flowers I see there.  The climate is so different near the coast and that makes it good for some tropical plants like the bird of paradise above.  I love these blooms and I snap lots of photos of them when I visit California.

I also love seeing such a variety of lilies, many of them growing in wild spaces.

Though they tend to be in more landscaped spaces, I also see dahlias in many colors and sizes.  

The very dark blooms of a certain type of succulent are also more common in California than they are here in the desert.  

I always find and abundance of water lilies when I visit California.  These are such spectacular blooms that they just beg to be photographed.  

I cheated a bit on the orchid to the left.  It is in California but I found it inside a greenhouse.  

These are just a few of the wonderful variety of blooming plants I get to admire when I travel to California.  It seemed like Spring was the perfect time to showcase them.  

Favorite Photos from European Travels

 

Last week I posted some favorite photos from travels around the United States.  Today I have some favorites from travels in Europe.  First up is a photo from Florence Italy.  I snapped this photo during the golden hours from a window in my hotel.  

Here is another photo from Italy, this time from Venice.  I love that the lady with the blue umbrella stopped to look across the canal just as I was crossing a bridge.  Perfect timing.  I have a 16 X 20 enlargement of this one done on metal.  

I really love this photo.  It was taken inside a church in Verona Italy.  That angel has such a melancholy look.  I have a framed print of this one hanging in my dining room.

Here is another favorite from a trip to Italy.  This castle sits at the edge of the city of Sirmione located at the southern end of Lake Garda.  In fact, you enter the city through a passage located all the way to the left of this photo.  I have a large, framed print of this castle hanging on a wall in my office.

I have several photos of Stonehenge that I like but this is the one that I had enlarged and printed on canvas.  I've visited Stonehenge twice, the first time in 2000 when I took my Dad on a trip to London.  The second was on my last trip there in 2016.  

This is a photo from Paris France.  This is the Lapin Agile, the largely unchanged night spot where famous painters and writers would enjoy some libations.  It still serves as an old style night club to this day.  

This last photo was taken on the coast of Wales in the village of Portmeirion.  This is not a classic photo from this quirky village.  I walked down a narrow lane between some buildings to catch this view of a beautifully coiffed tree overlooking the estuary. The village of Portmeirion was designed and built by Sir Clough William-Ellis who wanted to pay tribute to an atmosphere of the Mediterranean when he designed the village.  I did a post about this place that you can see here.

Favorite Photos of U. S. Travel

Last December, I did a post about my favorite photos from London.  I thought I'd do the same thing for my favorite photos from my U.S. Travels and then from my other international travels.  Today I have an assortment of favorites from around the states.  These are all photos I've either hung on my walls or framed some other way.  The photo above greets me daily.  A framed enlargement hangs over my desk. It was taken in California at the Safari Park and Wildlife Sanctuary.  

This one is from Tucson Arizona. It's the entrance to the bar that is part of the historic El Charro Restaurant.  I love the color, light and shadows in this one.

I love the textures in this one contrasted with the blue sky full of big, puffy clouds.  This is one of the ancient walls at Tumacacori National Historical Park in Southern Arizona.  An enlargement of this one hangs in my bedroom.

This one looks like it might be from Egypt but it's actually from San Jose California on the grounds of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.  

This photo was taken in Santa Fe New Mexico.  This is a view of the Inn at Loretto Hotel.  It looks like an authentic Native American pueblo but it's actually modern hotel.

I took this photo near Prescott Valley Arizona.  I drove down a farm road and found this very gnarly tree near a field.  There is a little bit of rain in the background to add another element to this scene.

I take a lot of photos of flowers everywhere I go but I especially like this perfect waterlily that was found in small pond at the Getty Villa in Los Angeles.  The colors of this bloom are stunning.

This last photo was taken several years ago when I stopped in Tombstone Arizona to have a look around.  The little bit of rain didn't stop the normal tourist activities like a ride in an authentic stagecoach.  

These are just a few of my favorite photos from travels around the states.  I'm looking forward to getting on the road again and taking more memorable photos.  

 

Underwater Activity

 

At the Seattle Aquarium, visitors can get an up close underwater experience without getting wet.

As you can see in the photo above, the kids love watching fish and the diver who is feeding the fish.

That big fish on the right appears to be waiting his turn for a tasty treat.

The Aquarium also has an outdoor section where guests can watch the very sleek seals.  These fellows seemed to enjoy the attention they were getting.  

This fellow wasn't interested in the crowds.  He was just enjoying a leisurely swim.  The Seattle Aquarium is one of the best in the country.  The underwater area is huge with multiple viewing stations.  

My Italy Highlights

 

I've only been to Italy twice so I'm no expert on what Italy has to offer.  However, I can summarize some of my favorite sights.

We'll start with the Coliseum in Rome.  I remember well my first glimpse of this incredible place from the back seat of a taxi.  I literally let out a gasp.  Walking around this place I marveled at the history it has seen and how it has survived over all those years.

The city of Florence has so much to offer but, one experience stands out.  Seeing Michelangelo's David was another breathtaking experience.  I circled this magnificent statue so many times that my travel companion went on to the next room without me.

Siena is one of those walled cities with narrow, ancient streets just perfect for exploring.  Visiting the Siena Cathedral was a highlight.  I loved the striped granite pillars inside that are mirrored by the bell tower on the outside.  There was so much to see inside this church.

All of Tuscany has a never ending supply of beautiful scenery.  Places like Cortona and San Gimignano are both beautiful and inspiring but just driving in this area and taking in the views is enough to captivate the senses.

And then there is Venice!  Such a beautiful and historic place that quite literally sits in the water. It's mind boggling.  In Venice the streets are waterways, the architecture is unique and the history is alive and there for all to experience.

Verona is another city with lots to see.  There are cathedrals to tour and a coliseum where events are still being staged today.  And don't forget to take a quick peek at Juliet's balcony.  

In northern Italy, the mountains are the star.  The Dolomites are part of the Alps and their jagged peaks rise above in awe inspiring beauty.  The mountains have wrapped their arms around the winter sports town of Cortina hugging it in a rugged embrace.

Milan is not always on many Italian itineraries but it is certainly worth a visit.  The Duomo di Milano alone is a spectacular sight and it can be toured inside, outside and on its roof among the pinnacles and spires.  While in Milan also see da Vinci's The Last Supper, La Scala, and the gorgeous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele for a spot of high-end shopping.  Milan has plenty to keep you busy.

The last place I'll mention is Lake Como.  It is probably one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.  Staying in one of the beautiful villages along the lake is a grand experience.  You can visit exquisite villas, incredible luxury hotels and magnificent gardens all while criss-crossing the blue waters.  

These are all places that I've loved on my trips to Italy.  I'll bet travelers who've been there more than I have will think of many, many more places.

Around St. Louis

 

There are a lot of things to see and do in St. Louis but I'm sure the most well known is the Gateway Arch.  

I took the these two photos back in the 90's when I was temporarily working in St. Louis.  This was the view out the window of my small apartment.

After you've visited the Arch, head over to Forest Park to visit the St. Louis Art Museum.  It's a beautiful museum with a wonderful collection and an inspiring variety of special exhibits.  In the photo of the outside you can see King Louis IX of France leading the charge in front of the museum.  He is the namesake for the city of St. Louis.

Another fun place to visit is the Anheuser-Busch Brewery.  After parking in the lot, you might be greeted by one of the majestic Clydesdale horses.  They are magnificent creatures and they are pampered like the royalty they are.

St. Louis has a vast array of interesting architecture.  There are so many buildings I admired and the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court Building (to the left) is one of them.

The campus of Washington University (above) also has some unique architecture. 

The last place I'll list to visit is the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.  The beauty of this church would rival almost any grand church around the world.  I did a post about this incredible building a few years ago.  You can see it here.  The inside is worth seeing.