I Confess, I'm a Street Walker

Not that kind of street walker but a street walker all the same.  You have probably guessed that I'm addicted to the city of London and one of my favorite things to do when I visit there (or anywhere) is to just walk the streets.  The amazing things I see never fail to surprise, inspire and charm me.  On my last trip to London, I stayed across the street from Russell Square, a leafy and popular green space that pulled me in that direction several times.  I also loved that row of houses across the street from the park.  What a perfect spot to live!

When I walk in the other direction down Southhampton Row, I was thrilled to see more gorgeous old buildings lining the street.  I enjoyed dinner in a couple of the restaurants along this stretch of the street.

I love finding streets with sections of half-timbered buildings that have an "oh-so-English" look to them.


And a peek down a narrow passageway revealed a brick wall scene that just begged me to snap a photo.

On Carey Street on the other side of the Royal Courts of Justice, a row of those iconic red phone boxes stopped me in my tracks.  You have to love those bright red boxes even if they have become obsolete.

Another street provided a view of some gorgeous white buildings.  Another fabulous place to own or rent a flat.  They look very upper-crust!

This street provided apartments with balconies and a pretty green space across the street to provide some shade and a touch of nature.

And then of course, there are the "mews", wonderful narrow drives filled with houses that long, long ago would have housed the horses and carriages.  There are hundreds of these places all around London and they are always impressive in the way they have been turned into interesting and sometimes eclectic accommodations.

I could go on and on about the things I find on my walks and I probably will but, in another future post.  Looking at these photos is giving me the itch to go again.  That usually happens to me when I haven't been for two years.  Guess what, it's been exactly two years since my last visit.  I'm due!

Searching for Frank

This post is a trip into the past in more ways than one.  First of all, the photos date back to 1998 and are scanned from prints (sorry about the graininess).  The other element of the past are these homes which date back to 1895.  Back when I was working in Chicago, some friends and I made a trip out to Oak Park to see the street of Frank Lloyd Wright designed homes.

We began our day by attending a church service at Unity Temple in Oak Park, the Frank Lloyd Wright designed church that still operates and holds services.  Unfortunately, I couldn't locate any photos I'd taken there but you can get a look at it by clicking here.

After the service we headed over to Forest Avenue to see the houses.  The one pictured above is the Nathan G Moore House and it was originally built in 1895 but, was damaged by fire and in 1922 FLW redesigned it.  It sits sideways on the lot so it was impossible to photograph directly from the front.

This is the Arthur B. Heurtley House.  It dates back to 1902.  

This last one is the Frank Thomas House dating to 1901 and it is believed to be Frank Lloyd Wright's first "Prairie Design" for a home.  This one is my all time favorite.  I'd love to see inside.  All of these are private homes so visitors can only see them from the outside.  The only home that is open is the one that was actually Frank Lloyd Wright's home when he lived in Oak Park.  I don't have a photo of that one either but, you can see it by clicking here.

There are many more homes along this street.  I think I need to make another trip to Chicago and make a point of visiting here again.  

A Great Place to Stay

I've developed a fondness for Kimpton Hotels and I've started seeking them out when I travel.  When I was in Seattle earlier this year I chose the Kimpton Palladian which was conveniently located near downtown and within walking distance to Pike Place Market and the waterfront.

This hotel chain decorates in a very eclectic (some might say quirky) way.  This hotel was full of portraits of some of Seattle's favorite sons.

The staff told us that Bill Gates had come in to see this portrait and he approved!

Across from Bill Gates was this portrait of Jimi Hendrix.

Two more portraits of famous people connected to Seattle flanked the lobby fireplace.

In addition to the great atmosphere, I've found the staff at these hotels to be very friendly and this hotel was no exception.  Everyone provided great service and a welcoming smile.

The hotel bar is called Pennyroyal and it had a "speakeasy" atmosphere that was both enticing and charming.  My friend and I stopped off for nightcaps on the days we were there.

This was the third Kimpton Hotel I've stayed at and I've never been disappointed.

Creatures by the Sea

Last July I got to spend one whole week in beautiful California at Newport Coast just north of Laguna Beach.  It's a part of the state that I have visited many times and that I thoroughly enjoy because it's so familiar.  On this trip I got to spend a little more time than I have in the past so I had more time to enjoy being by the sea.

Besides just walking on the beach and listening to the waves crash on the abundant rocks, I love to get a closer look at all the creatures who live by the sea.

The pelicans are one of my favorite birds to watch.  They are just such silly looking birds but when they take flight, they look so graceful and elegant.

The cormorants are another interesting bird. With their dark feathers and green eyes, they tend to have a somewhat sinister look.  They also always seem to preening and taking pride in their looks.

The sandpipers are fun to watch as they use their long legs to wade in the surf looking for tiny tidbits to eat.  

And of course, there are the ever present seagulls keeping a watchful eye on everything that goes on.  They are nature's scavengers and they are more likely to steal your french fries or Cheetos than to catch small fish or insects.

On this trip I spent some time exploring the volcanic rocks on the beach and searching the tide pools for tiny sea creatures.  This cute little crab was kind enough to pose for me.

Of course, people-watching is also good sport while strolling the beach.  The children tend to be hyper-active as they run back and forth from the beach to the water.  I also notice how people tend to cluster in one spot to set up their beach blankets and umbrellas while I tend to step away from the crowds and watch from a distance.  No matter which method is chosen, you can't beat a day communing with nature's coastal offerings.

A Cordon Bleu Experience

Last month I posted about visiting a Farmer's Market in Paris and I mentioned that the trip to the market was part of a day spent at the Cordon Bleu Cooking School.  I thought I'd finish the story about my day a that infamous culinary institute.

After the trip to the Farmer's Market, our chef returned to the school and our guide/translator took us to the famous Poilane Bakery, known for their sour dough loaves embellished with the "P" on each loaf.

We not only got to visit the bakery but, they took us into the basement where this young man was busy shoving loaves of bread, each in one of those baskets you see to the left, into a huge, wood-burning oven.  We learned that Poilane does have a more industrial bakery out in the Parisian suburbs but bread is still made this original way here at their in-town bakery.

After the bakery visit, we headed back to the Cordon Bleu for the lunch I featured in last month's post.  Then it was into the classroom to watch the chef prepare several dishes.

He made a wonderful fish dish with fresh vegetables and tiny potatoes and then he topped it off with poached whole pears in a white wine and orange and vanilla syrup.  And, since he was cooking just for us, we got to taste it all before we left.  In fact, when we left around 6 PM, we didn't bother with any further dinner that night.  We were full of gourmet food and feeling pleasantly satisfied.

I made a point of having my photo taken with the chef.

While I took this photo of two of my friends who spent the day there with me.

It was day I won't ever forget.  A wonderful way to experience something unique and to learn a few new kitchen tricks.  And, I have the certificate hanging in my kitchen to remind me of it every time I start to prepare a meal.

Beyond the Nile

Hippopotamus of red marble, 1-100 AD, Roman

Last week I posted about the architecture of the The Getty Center high atop a hillside overlooking Los Angeles.  This week I'll show you some treasures from a temporary exhibit that was called "Beyond the Nile; Egypt and the Classical World".

The exhibit was showing Egyptian artifacts along with Greek and Roman works and discussing how these three different cultures traded with each other influencing each other's cultural accomplishments..


Sarcophagus of Wahibreemakhet, 600 BC.  Egyptian

These two statues are dated around the same period (520 to 660 BC).  The one in the back is Egyptian and the one in the front is Greek.  The guide pointed out the differences in the artistic styles of the two cultures.  The Egyptian being more stylized and stiff while the Greek statue is more life-like with defined muscles.

The statue to the left is of Isis holding an infant Horus.  The guide discussed how the Roman sculptors depicted children as just miniature adults and indeed, that baby looks more like a doll than an infant.

I'm always in awe of ancient glass pieces.  I marvel at how something so fragile could survive to this day.

This is an Egyptian cup made of glass with blue pigments and gilded figures.  It dates back to 250-300 AD and it was discovered in the Sudan.

This last piece is the bust of Antinous and it was found in Hadrian's Villa in Tivoli Italy.  It is a handsome figure looking very proud and strong.

It was a fascinating exhibit and I am so glad I decided to tour it with a guide.  I learned so much more listening to her explanations than I would have on my own.

I enjoyed the exhibit so much that I stayed after the tour and wandered back through the rooms to revisit the big pieces and get a closer look at the smaller ones.

A Lasting Legacy

The Getty Center in Los Angeles has to be one of the most beautifully designed museum complexes in the world.  It sits on a hilltop of the Santa Monica Mountains with views of Los Angeles in one direction and the mountains reaching the Pacific Ocean in the other.

The center opened at the very end of 1997 and it must have been around 1999 or 2000 when I last visited.  It was even more beautiful than I remembered it.

The architect was Richard Meier and he used 1.2 million square feet of Italian Travertine to clad the multiple buildings that make up the center's campus.  The effect is brightly lit space with light reflecting from the buildings and radiating warmth in the evenings when the air starts to cool.

Everyplace I stood while on the campus seemed to create another spectacular view.

The public spaces in the museum were awash in natural light and even the galleries were naturally lit in a way that protects the art while giving guests the right light for the art on display.

One of my favorite parts was the garden in the center of the complex.

I couldn't wait to make my way down there to explore.

There was a lot to discover in the garden.  The path follows a stream and crosses it several times on the way down.  I loved the bougainvillea artfully contained within custom rebar trellises shaping them into umbrella-like trees.

The water of the stream makes it way over a waterfall and into the central pond witch contains a beautifully designed labyrinth of green plants.

I could spend all day just admiring the architecture and gardens but, that would mean I'd miss all the wonderful art inside.  It's a very good thing that I planned my visit on a day that the Getty Center was open late!