There’s sun!  And coming from Seattle, there’s a lot to like about the sun!

I spent much of today out on the water of Key Biscayne, enjoying a little sun and getting into a little different state of mind.

I spent time aboard one of the boats from Island Queen Cruises, enjoying a nice lunch buffet, cocktails, and great company.  They have sightseeing cruises starting at $25/person, with an internet discount available.   and it’s wonderful way to enjoy time on the water, enjoy a great view of the city, and catch a glimpse of the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

We cruised what’s known as Millionaire’s Row on Star Island, an assortment of fabulous mansions owned by celebrities and other prominent people.  Some of the residents included Rosie O’Donnell, Donald Pliner (of gorgeous shoe and boot fame), Julio Iglesias, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, and Sean Combs.  No star sightings, nor invitations for cocktails or dinner.

Shaquille O’Neal’s has a place there that is up for sale, complete with a 75 foot salt water lap pool.  Price tag on the mansion is reported to be a cool 23 million.

Photo credits:  all from personal collection

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Between the hours of 9 am – 6:30 pm, a complimentary van service makes scheduled trips between the airport and Temple Square.  The service delivers you to one of the two visitor centers where complimentary tours are offered.  You can take a quick guided tour of this 10 acre area at the center of the city, then return to the airport for your outbound flight.

Regardless of religious affiliation, Temple Square is one of the most popular attractions in the state.  It is home to the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Salt Lake Tabernacle and the huge pipe organ that accompanies the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The Temple, with is six-spire design, is an operational house of worship.  No public tours of the interior are available.  (If you are member of the church and wish to enter the Temple, a temple recommend is required.)  The rest of the grounds are open to the public.

There’s no reason to feel stuck at the airport here in Utah.  Put down your work, and enjoy a little cultural outing.  It’s one of the most unusual cities that I’ve visited, and I’m fascinated at how religion as shaped its architecture, culture and development.

NOTE:  Allow a minimum of 90 minutes for the tour and round trip transportation.

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The Modern, as it is generally called, specializes in post-World War II art, housed in five long pavilions set into a reflecting pond.  Located in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, about two miles west of downtown.  The impressive building is as much a work of art and what’s contained within.

The permanent collection includes pieces by some of the great modernists, including Picasso, Jackson Pollock, and Andy Warhol.  Although it can be partially blocked off when setting up new exhibits, it’s an impressive and diverse collection, and worthy of repeat trips to see everything.  The collection also includes sculpture, photography and video.

Currently on exhibit is Kara Walker:  My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love, running through October 19th, 2008.  It consists of her signature black cut-paper silhouettes, along with other film animation and other paper art.  She is probably best known for her room-size silhouettes depicting historical perspectives, often related to the subjugation of life in the American South.

Although I’ve not seen this traveling exhibit, I have seen some of these silhouettes.  They are both fascinating as an art form and disturbing as a commentary on our history.  It would be worth a trip specifically for this exhibit.

The Modern is located at 3200 Darnell Street in Forth Worth.  Hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, 11 am – 5 pm.  It is closed on Mondays and holidays.  Admission is $10 for adults, $4 students and seniors, and FREE for children 12 and under.  Additionally, admission is free on the first Sunday of every month, and every Wednesday. 

Photo credit:  Courtesy of Dallas-Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau

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Lucy the Elephant, a couple miles south of Atlantic City in Margate, New Jersey, is one of those quirky attractions that I’ve heard a lot about, but haven’t managed to see yet.

Lucy is a six story, 90 ton elephant made of wood and tin sheeting, and was erected in 1881 to attract tourism and development to the south Atlantic City area.  While architecturally unique at its time, she was only the first of several zoomorphic (elephant-shaped) buildings.  Zoomorphic architecture is apparently extinct, and Lucy is the only one to still exist. 

Lucy has been a restaurant, office building, and a tavern, before being moved, refurbished and designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976.  Yep, that’s right – this elephant is a historical landmark!

You can find Lucy at 9200 Atlantic Avenue, in Margate, New Jersey.  I’m hoping to get back to Atlantic City in the next few months, and visiting Lucy is on my to-do list.  Why?  Cause she’s just too quirky to pass up!

NOTE:  Interestingly, Lucy has tusks – found only in male Asian elephants – so feel free to draw whatever transgender elephant conclusions you wish.

Photo credit:  Flickr (head shot); (full elephant)

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The imposing cylindrical Castel Sant’Angelo, situated along the Tiber River in Rome, was built between 123 and 129 AD.  It was first known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian, serving as the resting grounds for the ashes of the Roman emperor.  Ashes of Hadrian’s family, as well as subsequent emperors, joined him there.

The tomb was ransacked during one of Rome’s less civilized periods, and the Castel Sant’angelo was later used as a fortress (Popes hid out here), castle (connected to St. Peter’s Basilica by a covered corridor), and prison (executions were held in the interior square). 

Today it is the location of the National Museum’s collections of weapons, ceramics, furnishings, and Renaissance paintings, and still a formidable presence on the Rome’s skyline.

It’s worth stopping by to look at the architecture and history of the building, and the great views, and much as it is to view the collections.  There’s a beautiful papal apartment inside, built to accommodate a Pope in the event of a siege upon the Vatican,  and an interior spiral ramp that dates back to the original mausoleum days.  Rumor has it that there’s also a special art room, but since I didn’t personally see it, it must remain a rumor for me.

The Castel Sant’angelo is an easy stop off after seeing the Vatican.  Walk back toward the city, and you can’t miss it.  The crowds are substantially less, meaning you can take a far more leisurely approach to what you are seeing.  I’d recommend allowing 60-90 minutes, depending on what piques your curiosity.  There are lots of photo ops!

You’ll find the Castel Sant’angelo at Lungotevere del Castello 50.  This is near the Ponte Sant’angelo ( St. Angelo Bridge).  Seriously, head toward the bridge and you can’t miss it. 

Open hours are Tuesday – Sunday, 9 am – 6:30 pm.  Closed on Mondays, Christmas Day, and New Years Day.  Admission was 5 euros for adults, and those under 18 admitted FREE.

Photo credit: Personal collection

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The Baroque-style fountain, designed by architect Nicola Salvi, is located in a busy section of the city, not far from the popular Via del Corso.

To get to the fountain you walk down narrow streets, some of which seem more like alleys than streets, to the historic center of Rome.  You can hear the noise of the fountain as your approach the piazza, and it gets louder as you approach.

Then, you step into the Piazza di Trevi and before you is the majestic Baroque-style fountain with its intricate sculptures, cascading water, and faded stones.  The design is a tribute to the power and lushness of the sea, both in its design and the roaring water spilling over the rocks.

The fountain, which was completed in 1762, is about 85 feet high and 65 fee4t wide, and presented almost theater-style (especially noticeable when seen from overhead).  

Against the backdrop of the fountain is a large sculpture of Oceanus in the center, along with chariot in the shape of a shell drawn by seahorses.  Additional sculptures flank each side of Oceanus, resting in the niches.  In the water are additional sculptures representing sea creatures, both real and mythological. 

I was expecting something pretty cool — but walking into that Piazza and seeing the fountain for the first time was incredible!  I visited during the late afternoon and also in the evening, both times the Piazza was full of people and energy.  The glow of the fountain in the evening was beautiful and quite romantic.

Even if you haven’t visited Rome, you may have seen Trevi Fountain in the movies:

• In Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), three American roommates working in Italy wish for the man of their dreams after throwing coins into Trevi Fountain.
• In La Dolce Vita (1960), you see Anita Ekberg jumping into the fountain (fully clothed), inviting Marcello Mastroianni to join her.
• In the Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003), Hillary Duff graduated middle school and vacations in Italy.

So what’s with the coin throwing tradition?  Keep reading to find out.

There are a couple of variations on the coin throwing story, all rooted in tradition and interpretation.

The most popular interpretation is that throwing a coin over your shoulder into the water of the fountain will ensure a return visit to Rome.

A current version of this tradition is throwing three coins with the right hand over the left shoulder.  This tradition of three coins probably comes from the movie Three Coins in the Fountain.  In that movie, however, it was three different women each throwing one coin into the fountain.

Still another version of the tradition is that throwing two coins will ensure a marriage coming soon, and three coins means a divorce.

I opted for one coin, throwing it into the fountain with my right hand over my left shoulder.

Whatever the interpretation, thousands of visitors throw coins every day.  It’s estimated that over €3000 a day is collected from the fountain.  The money is used to support needy projects around Rome.

Trevi Fountain is located at 57 F$, Piazza di Trevi.  If you get lost, or turned around as I did, just look for the signs or ask anyone on the street.  The narrow streets, few of which are straight or set up on a grid, can be confusing.  I just asked for help, and people were very cooperative in getting me pointed in the right direction.

Photo credit: personal collection

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I’m still traveling, and wanted to share another photo from the road.  This one is of the ruins at Pompeii.  It was a warm day, and I spent hours wandering the ruins and marveling at this ancient civilization.  There’ll be more about this fascinating place in a later post.

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I spent a day in Florence getting just a taste of the Renaissance Art of the region.  This photo is of the Duomo, one of many must-see attractions in the city.  (I’ll have lots more details about various parts of my trip to Italy over the next several months, so be sure to keep reading!)

Photo credit:  personal collection

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Located in Helena, Montana (530 North Ewing Street), the Cathedral is modeled after the Votive Church of the Sacred Heart in Vienna, Austria.  It was opened in 1914 (when the first service were held), but wasn’t finished, however, until 1924.   Although the Cathedral was seriously damaged in an earthquake in 1935, it was reconstructed preserving both the impressive architecture and adding earthquake-proofing construction.  It still maintains an impressive and imposing presence in Helena.

As you walk up the stone stairs leading into the Cathedral, take a moment a look behind you at the downtown view of the city.  Then turn back to enter the cathedral, looking up at the domed ceiling an around at the pillars and stained glass windows.  The 59 stained glass windows came from Bavaria, and include a set of 37 that tell a story starting with the fall of Adam and Eve continuing to the years of the Church in the early 1900’s.

Since its repair after the earthquake, the cathedral has been completely restored and renovated, including adding some gilding in the interior.  It continues to be carefully and lovingly maintained, including upkeep and repairs to the stained glass windows.  The most recent renovation (2002-03) resulted in the addition of a gift shop and socials halls on the lower level, and the renovation of the sanctuary, chapel and addition of a baptistry on the upper level.

With a little luck, your Cathedral visit will be complete with music from its Pipe Organ.  It is as impressive to view as it is to just sit and soak up its beautiful music. 

The Cathedral is open for viewing Monday – Friday, 7 am – 6 pm; Saturday, 8:30 am – 6 pm, and Sunday, 7:30 am – 6 pm.  Summer hours may be shorter.  Guided tours are given Tuesday – Thursday at during the summer.  Reservations are required for tours at other times of the year (406-442-5825).

The Cathedral is a place of worship, and all are welcome to attend.  Check the mass schedule for details.

Admission is free, although donations are gratefully accepted.

Photo credit:  Cathedral of St. Helena

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Located beside the River Seine in Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in the city.  Following its completion in 1889, it was the tallest structure in the world, and remained so until the Chrysler Building in New York City displaced it from that top spot. 

The Eiffel Tower was originally built as the entrance arch for the Paris World’s Fair.  That  also marked the 100-year commemoration of the French Revolution.

It is now one of the most recognized buildings in the world, and is the most visited.  Since it is now considered a piece of structural art, it’s hard to believe that at the time it was built, many believed it would be an eye sore!  It was also a surprise to learn that originally the tower was to be torn down 20 years after it was erected.  Fortunately, some practical uses came of the tower (including the role it played in helping to catch the infamous spy, Mata Hari), and it remains to this day.

On the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, during the winter, is a skating rink.  You can skate for free, and catch a great view at the same time.

To go up the tower, you can walk up 360 steps to the first level, and another 359 steps to the second level.  But you will need an elevator to go beyond the second platform — once you move past the second platform, the tower is an open frame, with no other platforms.

A few tidbits of Eiffel Tower trivia:

• The tower is painted three different colors in order to make it look like it’s all the same color (it has to do with the light sky and dark ground)
• A con artist tried selling the tower for scrap metal.  It was sold — twice!
• A restaurant was removed from mid-way up the tower, was dismantled and shipped to New Orleans, where it was reconstructed.  It’s been known as the Tour Eiffel Restaurant and the Red Room.
• The Eiffel Tower is popular in movies, including:  A View to Kill, Superman II, and The Hostage Tower.
• There are 72 names engraved on the tower representing French scientists, engineers and other notables who played a part in getting the tower into existence.

If thinking about the Eiffel Tower doesn’t make you want to go to Paris, I’m not sure anything will.

Photo credit:  wikimedia

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