INTRODUCTION TO LANCASTER COUNTY, PA

MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2012

Dscf6523

Rented a car today with Lancaster County as my destination for the next 3 days. It is only  1 ½ hours drive from  Philadelphia. (Driving  in Philly is a nightmare so if you ever travel here, avoiding driving at all costs. ) As for Lancaster County, I cannot say enough wonderful things about it.  Especially if you are interested in the Amish way of life.    This area is home to approximately 30,000 Amish people, many of whom are farmers.  It is a beautiful area with gentle rolling hills dotted with farms complete with barns, silos, fields, cows and horses  grazing and a  home with  the laundry hanging on the clothes line, an Amish buggy or two in the driveway.  Their children could sometimes be seen outside either playing or helping with the farm work, wearing the traditional blue shirts, dark pants and staw hats for the boys   and the girls wearing  the blue dress with a dark colored apron and  their hair pulled up. The fields were full of corn, alfalfa and tobacco.

While driving out and about , the Amish  horse and buggies can often  be seen parked in  parking lots, on the road with their horse and buggies,  and the Amish people walking, or using a scooter along side the roads. Plus many of the young Amish women work in the restaurants and some of the shops.  I learned on this trip that their schooling only goes through the 8th grade for both boys and girls  and once they are married, the girls almost never work outside the home.

There are several little towns in Lancaster county but I only had  time to visit Bird-In-Hand, Paradise, Intercourse, Ronks and Strasborg.  One more important thing to mention is the food.  There are  many wonderful places to eat, referred to as Pennsylvannia Dutch cooking.  Most are smorgasbords or served family style and the food is WONDERFUL.

Dscf6199

Parking Lot of a Farm Supply Store

Dscf6315

I Always Liked the Laundry Look in a Yard!

Dscf6194

Telescopic Lens are Great!

Dscf6205
Dscf6207

Beautiful Farms and Beautiful Country Everywhere You Look!

DAY 4 in PHILADELPHIA, MORE HISTORY, ROCKY, AND ART

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2012

Dscf6081

Benjamin Franklin

Today was the last walk through the Historic District. I still wanted too see City Tavern where George Washington frequented, then the First and Second Bank. Second Bank is now a portrait gallery of famous country men since the start of our nation. I also went in Carpenter’s Hall and the Military Museum, but mostly because it was air conditioned and free. Then I stumbled upon The National Liberty Museum which is really a hidden gem. It is dedicated to Heros. The obvious Hero of course, but it also told stories of ordinary people who stepped up to the plate in the moment of need. Along with the wonderful stories, there were many art pieces in the museum, both beautiful and thought provoking. Chihuly’s Flame of Liberty is in this museum. I spent 2 hours in the Liberty Museum, although you could easily be there much longer.

Next stop was the Rocky statue. The line to stand with Rocky for a photo was a mile long! Longer than the line I stood in for the Liberty Bell ! And, of course, each person had to do their Rocky imitation for the photo. Cheap entertainment. In case you are wondering – no, I did not pose with Rocky – I’d prefer Ben Franklin. Next on the list of entertainment was to watch these sudo-Rockys run up the steps of the Philly Museum of Art (just like Stallone did in the movie). I dutifully scanned the surrounding area for an emergency defibulator but didn’t find one. Guess the City of Brotherly Love can only love so much.

Quickly I had seen enough Rocky impersonators and entered the Philly Museum of Art. It is huge and I totally enjoyed the American Art Paintings, Glassware and Pennsylvania Dutch Furniture and the European Art Paintings. I was delighted to see one of my favorite Renoirs –  Protrait of Mademoiselle Legrand.

Today was an entertaining day. Tomorrow I drive to Lancaster County, land of the Amish.

Dscf6094

The First Bank

Dscf6145

The Rocky Statue

Dscf6146

Steps of Philly Museum of Art &

Where Rocky Ran Up

Dscf6167

Beautiful Renoir Painting in the Art Museum

Dscf6123

Funny Mirror in the Liberty Museum

DAY 3 in PHILADELPHIA, A DAY of ART AND BODY PARTS

SATURDAY, AUGUST  25, 2012

Dscf6008

One of the Love Letters

Today was a wonderful  mixed assortment of entertainment. I started the day on a Mural Arts Tour where we rode the “el” (short for elevated subway) and saw  30 ” Love Letters” that were painted on the sides of buildings. It was a story of “boy loses girl,  boy tries to win girl back, girl rides this el route to work every day”.  It was a great tour and the Love Letter Murals were wonderfully  touching and creative.

http://muralarts.org/tour

My second activity of the day was the Mutter Museum.  Orginally used as a teaching museum for doctors, now open to the public.  Incredibly interesting and disgusting at the same time. After a good dose of observing skeletons, rotten  and dissected  body parts, drawers and drawers of recovered objects that people had swallowed, shelves FULL of skulls, dozens of fetuses in jars, creepy looking medical instruments, and a dried up over-enlarged intestine that held 40 lbs of waste when the guy passed, I finally called it quits and needed fresh air.  BTW, this museum was packed so I’m not the only person who enjoys this gross stuff.

http://www.collegeofphysicians.org/mutter-museum/

My last hurray for the day was the funky Magic Garden, which was a building/garden full of mosiacs solely created by a man that is now 73 years old.  He started it 6 years ago and its continues to grow. Truly a one of a kind, very interesting and a mixture of beautiful colors, whimsical as far as the objects he includes and groups together and fascinating, that someone has this kind of patience to create this one little piece of glass at a time.

http://www.philadelphiasmagicgardens.org/

Dscf6002

View from the El on the Love Letter Tour.

Dscf6026

The Mutter Museum

Dscf6033

Mosiac on Building Next Door to Magic Garden

Dscf6056

Mosiac in the Magic Garden

PHILADELPHIA – LOTS TO SEE, DAY 2

Friday, August 24, 2012

Dscf5922

Robert Indiana’s Famous Sculpture in Love Park

My sightseeing list is a mile long so I could not afford to waste any time today.  Besides  visiting Love Park, I also toured the Mint,  paid my respects to Ben Franklin’s grave where visitors leave a penny for good luck  ( “a  penny saved, is a penny earned”), saw the Besty Ross House, and walked through  the Comcast  Building Lobby to see the interesting decor of “beam walkers”        ( see photo). But the highlight of my day was enjoying the Rodin Art  Museum and the Barnes Foundation Art Museum.  The Barnes is the private collection of 800 paintings and 1700 other objects of  the now deceased Albert Barnes.  Barnes  co-developed Argyrol, an anti gonorrhea drug and subsequently, made a fortune.  My favorites were the  Impressionist and Post Impressionist paintings and Dutch  furniture and decorating items. Lots of beautiful art to see!      It was wonderful!!

Oh, I almost forgot -after going through some serious  xrays machines,  I also  went into the Federal Reserve Building  to see a display about, what else? Money!  One tidbit I retained – The US has 12 Federal Reserve Buildings. Each has a vault about  the size of a football field and on a daily average,  each contains $7 billion dollars. As I left, they did give me a bag of money – the only catch – I have to glue it back together.   : (

Dscf5950

The Comcast Lobby

Dscf5893

Hanging Beside Ben Franklin’s Grave

Dscf5935

Even the Barnes Sign is Impressive.

Dscf5958

One of Many Sculptures All Over the City.

PHILADELPHIA, PA DAY ONE IN HISTORIC OLD CITY DISTRICT

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Dscf5837

Independence Hall

Thanks to a frequent flyers award  ticket that was burning my pocket,  I am  now enjoying and exploring the historic city of Philadelphia.  Upon arrival, I wasted no time setting out to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution were written.  The very chair where John Hancock and George Washington sat, is still there today.  It is awe inspiring.

Among other sights,  I also saw Christ Church where Benjamin Franklin  and, later, George Washington worshipped and the First Bank.

Dscf5827

The Liberty Bell – the unpopular side  you never see that’s not cracked.

Dscf6078

Does this seem just a bit inappropriate to you?

Dscf5966

But a wide range of other patriotic items  for sale…..

MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN’S LANTERN FESTIVAL, by night

June 17, 2012

Dscf4745

This posting is actually a continuation of my previous post regarding the Lantern Fesitval at St. Louis’ Missouri Botanical Gardens  this summer.  The displays are beautiful during the day, but if you see them at night when they are lit up, it is spectacular.

These photos are a sampling of a night time viewing….

Dscf4769
Dscf4712
Dscf4788
Dscf4779
Dscf4756Dscf4723

MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN’S LANTERN FESTIVAL, by day

June 17, 2012

Dscf4674

Time to see some of the sights in my own home town…

The Missouri Botanical Gardens, in St. Louis,  has a spectacular “Art by Day, Magic by Night” display this season, called the ” Lantern Festival.”  There are 26 different displays throughout the garden, so be sure to pick up the guide at the ticket window so you don’t miss any.   The displays are beautiful during the day and even more magical when they light them up at night.    Whenever you choose to go, you won’t be disappointed, but I recommend you see both!!

Refer to the Missouri Botanical Gardens website for the days, hours and price of the Festival.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/things-to-do/events/special-exhibition…

Here’s a sampling of the daytime viewing…..

Dscf4520
Dscf4577
Dscf4590
Dscf4656Dscf4559
Dscf4541

Dragon was made out of china (plates, cups, etc)

Dscf4603Dscf4610Dscf4664

REFLECTIONS ON SAN FRANCISCO

Back home  I reflect……….

Dscf3525

Cable Cars – still a symbol of the city and a most  entertaining ride.

Now that I am back home, I  Iook back at my photos and my thoughts. San Francisco and the Bay Area is a region of cultural explosion , perfect weather, sunny days, beautiful architecture,  spectacular gardens sculpted  by people and wildflowers  by  Mother Nature, a  very wide mix of interesting people and  different languages, Bay and ocean views, marinas full of boats and the love of the water, Ferry Boat rides,  great food of all ethnics, shopping, shopping, shopping and a seemingly endless list of entertainment.

What a great trip and it seems to have calmed my addiction………..at least for the time being……

Dscf3688
Dscf4119
Dscf3722

Golden Gate Bridge

Dscf4081

Rural post office on way to Muir Woods.

Dscf4337Dscf4326

Redunant signs

Dscf4315

Dog walking is a serious career here.

Dscf4352Dscf4356

Gotta Love San Francisco

A WALK IN PACIFIC HEIGHTS, SAN FRANCISCO

May 7, 2012

Dscf4285

The Painted Ladies

My Last Day in San Francisco was dedicated to adding 4  1/2 more miles to my pedometer and walking the Pacific Heights Area to absorb the beautiful California weather and the gorgeous Victoria architecture.  This is the neighborhood of the elite and the gawking tourists.  Easily one can tell the difference.  Hope you enjoy my photos as much as I enjoyed my day….

Daniel_steele_home

Home of Romance Writer, Danielle Steele.

She had 6 cars parked  in back.

Dscf4306

Barbra Streisand drove a VW Bug down these steps in

the movie ” What’s Up Doc?”

Dscf4324

Used in filming the movie “Mrs.  Doubtfire”.

Dscf4342Dscf4287Dscf4295

Random Beautiful Homes

Convent

Catholic Convent – keep those donation baskets rolling…….

(Can you tell I’m a recovering Catholic?)

MONTEREY and CARMEL MISSION

Dscf4145

May 6, 2012

Road trip day  again- this time to Monterey, California to visit the Aquarium, Cannery Row ( now shops and restaurants),  and the 17 Mile Drive.  The Aquarium is huge and a great place to take kids.  Now if they could only build one for the adults.  The 17 Mile Drive, especially the coastal section, is awe inspiring.  Carmel By The Sea is a quint little town nearby with shops, restaurants and an interesting old Spanish Mission from 1770. Clint says to tell you all Hello.

Dscf4137Dscf4148

Aquarium Residents

Dscf4176

Old Cannery building, now a microbrewery.

Dscf4185Dscf4229Dscf4204

17 Mile Drive photo ops

Dscf4204

Sea Lions on 17 Mile Drive

Dscf4246

Carmel Mission

Previous Older Entries Next Newer Entries