Frank Lloyd Wright is probably the best known American architect, with a body of work that has influenced and shaped the course of building in this country. His former home, Taliesin West (pronounced Tally-ehssen) in Scottsdale, Arizona, has become the international headquarters for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, and is also open for public tours. Taliesin West was built in the mid-1930’s, and is an example of Wright’s concept of organic architecture — building that evolves naturally out of it’s location. He design and built ecological sound, sustainable architecture long before it’s current popularity. It’s no surprise then, that Wright, along with some architectural apprentices, gathered desert rocks and sand to build this showcase home that is both in the desert and of the desert. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that this is just another museum. Part home, part museum, […]
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Pez Museum Puts Candy on Display
I enjoy museums, and try to get to one on a fairly frequent basis. Art, history, science, culture — it all has appeal to me. The the thirst for knowledge, information, or just seeing and experiencing something new is always a good time for me. And then there are other kinds of museums. The quirky ones, the ones with all sorts of odd collections and exhibits, the ones that you secretly want to check out even if everyone else laughs at you. The Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia may very well fall into this latter category. Created by an Austrian candy executive in 1927, Pez is an abbreviation of the German word for peppermint (Pfefferminz), the original Pez flavor. Originally the candy was sold in small tins, and marketed as an adult mint for people who were trying to quit […]
Read MoreIsola Madre, the Largest of the Borromeo Islands
Lake Maggiore, with its low key atmosphere, has an extensive network of ferry service around and across the lake. In fact, ferries have landing stages in nearly every town along the lake, making it quite easy to get most places by boat. In addition to the traditional (and slower) ferry, there is also hydrofoil service. Not only is it a faster boat, but it has more direct service, rather than stopping at all the smaller towns. The boats generally operate between 7 am – 8 pm, with a reduced schedule in the winter. Fares can be found on a chart, and have a scale based on where you want to go. Hydrofoils have a small surcharge. Our first full day at the Lake, we struck out fairly early for the Borromeo Islands. The Borromeo’s are three islands located in the […]
Read More2009: My Year of Travel
Despite a sagging economy, increased issues involved in air travel, and juggling a host of responsibilities, I still managed a fair amount of travel this year. Here’s how my travel resolutions stacked up for the year: Visit two new countries – I accomplished this with visits to Switzerland, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Visit two new states – Not so good here. Visited lots of new cities, but no new states. Re-visit five places that I’ve already been, but see and experience them differently – I did pretty well with this one, although didn’t quite make it to 5. Discover new restaurants, hotels, and resorts and share those experiences with you – This one was pretty easy, as I discovered new places in the Seattle area, as well as discovering others on my travels. Here are some of my other travel highlights […]
Read MoreJulia Child’s Paris
During the holiday season it seems like I watch lots of movies. Whether it’s catching up on television, renting videos, or indulging in pay-per-view, it’s an enjoyable way to spend some lazy winter days. Assuming you like the movie, of course. I like a variety of movies, but the ones at the top of my list are those that give me a sense of time and place. Movies that make me want to be where the movie is, and sometimes even when the movie takes place. Earlier this week I watched Julie & Julia, a great movie, and one that made me long for a return trip to Paris soon. Julie & Julia was written and directed by Nora Ephron, and stars Meryl Streep as the famous chef Julia Child and Amy Adams as Julie Powell, a young, and somewhat […]
Read MoreParis Museum Pass Helps Save on Admission Fees
Since I’m a big museum buff, I knew that I’d be spending a lot of time visiting museums while I was in Paris. As part of my pre-departure research, I prepared a pretty long list of museums that I’d like to visit, and while I knew that I would only be able to see a fraction of those on the list, I quickly realized that admission fees were going to add up right quick. Further research turned up the Paris Museum Pass, a multi-day, multi-admission pass, that would save both time and money. Since time was at a premium while I was there, the saving time part grabbed my attention. Museums in Paris are notorious for long lines, and the ability to bypass the line for immediate admission meant the potential for a big time saver. With only five days, […]
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