Munch museum

Munch was a prolific painter. His most famous was the Scream. I think his paintings are dark and are indicative of a tortured soul. I see bits of other famous artists in his work - Picasso, Gaugin and Monet.

The museum has a larger collection of his work than I anticipated. And it wasn't everything.

On the plus side, we got in free because it was 30 minutes before closing time. On the negative side, that probably wasn't enough time.

In the book.

Vieux Nice

Vieux Nice = Old Nice

In "the book."

This is the type of neighborhood where you want to get lost. Don't use a map. Just wander around and see where the winding streets take you. You can't really get lost because of the geography, so just go with the flow!

We walked through a market on the edge of Vieux Nice.



I stopped in a chuch that was built in 1640. I lit a candle there for the baby of a colleague. (This one's for you Kaylee Hope!)

I saw maybe a dozen art studio/stores. I love to buy from local, struggling artists. I didn't buy anything though because I saw too many beautiful things and couldn't decide.

I saw pretty fountains and was mooned by a pigeon who was bathing in one of them.


I ate passion fruit gelato.

I ate in a Dutch restaurant. (Yep, this was a bit strange in this part of France, but it was tasty.)


We climbed up to Castle Hill and saw beautiful panoramic views of the Mediterranean. We also stopped and played in a playground.

We saw a Shiba Inu as we were walking down the hill. He was just as stuck-up as my Shiba. I always miss my pup when I am traveling. (My prayer to all of the missing Shibas and humans in Japan.)

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

I admit it - I only went to this museum because it is in "the book." But.... I am really glad I did. The courtyard alone is worth a visit. It is so beautiful I could have spent the whole afternoon there. Pretty flowers and ferns - very well maintained. I especially liked the mosaic tile floor in the middle. It would be a great place for a wedding.

There are some really impressive pieces at this museum, and they had a huge theft 20 years ago; but there were entirely too many religious pieces. IMHO (I am considering starting a new list - the number of Mary and baby Jesus paintings I have seen in museums.)

Sadly, the theft included a Vermeer.

Mediterranean Cruise - October 2006

My first cruise ever! And I loved it. I vow every year to go on another cruise, but so far haven't been able to work it into the schedule.

I won't be going into tons of detail, but wanted to document places I visited during this trip that are featured on "the book."

Athens
This was where we embarked on the cruise, but we arrived a day early to see some of the sights. We should have spent more time here.

The Acropolis - it was a beautiful, clear morning and I could see for miles all around Athens.

Turkey
First port.

The Roman Ruins of Ephesus

Malta
We went scuba diving.

Rome
I loved Rome and can't wait to go back.

Forum
Trevi Fountain
Vatican City
Coliseum
Sistine Chapel - we were the last group of the day and had it to ourselves
Mount Etna - we saw lava!

Monte Carlo
Fantasy day spent where the truly rich live, work and play.

The Grand Casino - I left them 20 euros.
Hotel de Paris - beautiful lobby, very expensive

We also went to the Jacques Cousteau museum, but it isn't in the book.

Barcelona
Museu Picasso - we nearly got kicked out because DH was taking unauthorized pictures.

Lisbon
This was the port where we disembarked. It was a national holiday and many things were closed.

Amsterdam March 2008

Spring break - Andy's senior year of high school

This was Andy and Jill's first trip to Europe. We selected it for a few reasons, in no particular order:
1. Most people understand and/or speak English
2. Most people would know how to pronounce our last name (it is Dutch)
3. We knew it would be easy to get around

Our first big decision was made after watching a Samantha Brown program - where to stay? We decided to rent a houseboat on the Amstel river. I would make the same decision again. We loved it. Granted, it was a bit cozy, but it was a fun experience. The boat was solidly anchored, so there was no movement at all. And, it came with a cat, who belonged to our hosts who lived in the other (bigger) side of the boat.

Amsterdam has one of the best science museums I've ever been to. We spent an entire day there - in part because the weather outside was miserable. I wasn't sure when we arrived if there would be enough stuff to entertain two teens, but there was. It was a really good day. Picture was taken at the science museum - Jill enclosing herself in a gigantic bubble.

We spent the equivalent of one day in art museums - Van Gogh's and the Rijksmuseum (sp?).

In keeping with being American tourists, we did have one meal at the Hard Rock Cafe.

We took a day trip to the Hague, and one to Delft.

Highlights - and places to check off my list:
Anne Frank house
Cafe society (No, I didn't)
Canal cruise - relaxing and a great way to see the city
Oude Kerk - old church (it is really, really old)
Red-light district (No, I didn't) - great people watching
Rijksmuseum - most of it was closed for renovation though
Van Gogh museum - loved it!
Delft - lovely town
Het Mauritshuis - great gift shop

London 10 November 2009

I had a little time today to spend at the Tate Modern. Awesome art!

The highlight of the day:

London theatre......


.....wait for it....

Phantom of the Opera

Enough said.

Europe 2009

These are the places from "1,000 places to see before you die" that we visited on this trip.

London
The Connaught Hotel
Tea at the Ritz
Paris
Hotel de Crillon
Cathedrale Notre Dame de Chartres
Biarritz
The Dordogne
St Emillion
Madrid
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
San Sebastian
La Cathedral de Toledo
Catalan National Art Museum
La Sagrada Familia
Figueres

Barcelona Spain

4 places from "the book" to check off:

La Sagrada Familia - Gaudi's unfinished cathedral (might be our last cathedral of the trip).
Museu Picasso
Figueres - not in Barcelona. We drove through this part of Spain on our way to elBulli. I wish we had spent the whole day here.

Catalan National Art Museum

We didn't see as much in Barcelona as expected because nearly everything was closed on June 24th for some holiday.

We did spend some time in Guell Park - a park by Gaudi. It was cool. Jill did some swinging. The girl on the swing next to her lost her smile every time the swing slowed down, and smiled big again when mom gave her another push.

Madrid art

We went to the Prado museum on Friday and the Museo National Centro de Arte Reine Sofia today. The Prado has lots of darkish, Dutch masters paintings. Reine Sofia has lots of Dali and Picasso. I like the Reine Sofia much better than the Prado.

The rooms in Reine Sofia are white, clean, and open. Some of the rooms in the Prado have dark paint on the walls, which I think can be distracting to the art.

Toledo Spain

Toledo is a significant town for several reasons, some of which are:

Roman Catholic Cathedral
El Greco
Old city with unusual combinations of architecture

This cathedral is featured in "the book." We started by wandering around the town for two hours before reaching the cathedral. It is not an easy town to walk. Small-stone, narrow streets; and lots of little hills. I picked the wrong day to wear sandles with a little heel. I was in serious pain before we arrived at the cathedral.

I perked up when we went in the cathedral. It is amazing. The detail and craftsmanship is unbelievable. Each stall in the choir area is hand carved in wood and features a different scene. The altar has lots of gold, and is very detailed and intricate.

They have an amazing art collection including works by Caravaggio, Ruebens, Titian, Rafael, and lots of El Greco. It was worth the trip!

Bonus of the day -- no parking ticket despite arriving almost 90 minutes late. Perhaps the local police were having their siesta.

Downside - DH was pick-pocketed. Luckily the only thing they got was the key card for our hotel. My bag was opened twice in five minutes when I was looking at jewelery in a local store. It was probably the same two people DH caught in his pocket. They didn't get anything from my bag.

Madrid Spain

Madrid is a hot and vibrant city. We had a slow start - none of us had been here before.

I'm really tired, but determined to do a post tonight, so it is bullet points:

Old Madrid - Plaza Mayor, Palacio Real (pic is of palace)
Prado Museum - Andy actually requested we visit an art museum because he thought it would be cooler inside than outside.
Basilica de San Miguel and Mercado de San Miguel
Museo de Jamon
McDonald's - finally ice with our soda (France doesn't do ice)

We walked lots and lots, but I didn't wear my pedometer.

We had a great evening - stopped at two different restaurants/cafes for tapas, cerveza, sangria, cava and paella. The city really comes alive at night, but I was too tired to stay up late.

Bilbao Spain

The people of Bilbao are very friendly. However, the town itself is not tourist friendly. We stopped in Bilbao to see the Guggenheim museum (in the book). It must be the biggest attraction in this area.....yet, we never saw a single street sign to help us find the museum. (First tirade of the day.)

(Second tirade of the day) -- We also never saw a McDonald's. I don't go to Europe to eat at a restaurant I never eat at when home; however, I do not like the 1-3 meals that seem to be the norm here. I am trying to see as much as possible. I don't have time for a 90-minute lunch. I only allot enough time for a 10-minute lunch. I really don't want traditional American fast food when in Europe - I just need good food with fast service. Restaurant service has been mostly bad everywhere, except Biarritz.

The Guggenheim building is impressive. I don't like modern art.....there, I said it. I enjoyed the building but not its contents.

Yesterday at the beach was better than today in Bilbao.

Paris - 13 June 2009

First, let me document the places from "the book" that I saw today or on previous trips:
Paris (my third trip)
Hotel de Crillon (today)
Taillevent (12 March 2001) - nicest restaurant I have ever ate at
Cathedrale Notre Dame de Chartres (today)

Started our day at the bakery and took the subway to the Eiffel Tower. We then walked along the Seine and around Place de la Concorde. We went to the Orangerie - tried to go here in 2001 but it was closed. This is a great museum that features huge Monet paintings.


We walked through the Hotel de Crillon. It is beautiful. We then did some window shopping at the exclusive Rue du Faubourg-St-Honoré shopping area. (Hermes, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, D&G, and more)

We then had a leisurely lunch at a Parisian cafe. Took the subway to Notre Dame, waited for a long time, and then walked to the top. The weather was beautiful and we had great views of Paris. I then got to experience this great ice cream place DH and the kids had been to twice already.

We finished with dinner at Alain Ducaisse's Aux Lyonnais restaurant. Jill had her first glass of wine at a restaurant. She did not let me take a picture though. We were not exactly fresh looking after that long walk to the top of Notre Dame.

8,440 steps walked today.

New York

Another big state that I've visited many times. Let's start with "the book" - 10 entries and I've been to 4.

The Adirondacks
NYC
Historic Downtown New York
Museum Mile

My most recent trip was April 2007. It was Andy and Jill's first trip to NYC. Highlights from that trip:

American Museum of Natural History
Central Park (it snowed a bit)
Empire State Building
Rockefeller Center
Times Square
Seeing Rent on Broadway

Illinois

Places from "the book" I have visited during my numerous visits to Chicago.

Art Institute of Chicago - better enjoyed without teenage boys
Charlie Trotter's - great meal
Frank Lloyd Wright tour


Places not in the book that I enjoy - Shedd Aquarium (BIL built their first website), Field Museum, Alinea restaurant, American Girl Place, Shopping on Michigan Ave, Navy Pier

I drove through southern Illinois in late December and saved a kitten who was stranded or abandoned at a truck stop. Yeah, I wanted to keep him, but I have too many pets now. I hope he is ok.

California 2002

Finally....a trip to California on an airplane! This was my first trip to LA as an adult. We went over Memorial Day weekend and had a blast.

We started at the Getty Center (in "the book), went to Universal Studios City Walk, Disneyland, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the beach.

The highlight of the weekend was dinner at Mr. Chow's. I sat next to Holly Hunter. I don't remember the food, which I'm sure was fabulous, because I was too distracted by Holly Hunter.