Teotihuacan
Around CDMX
Holbox
Petra
Day in Petra, I could have easily spent another exploring more cave temples and rooms. The site was significantly more expansive than I imagined.
Tel Aviv
Wadi Rum
Being in Wadi Rum was like landing on the surface of mars. We took a tour via SUV w/ a guide and hit up those tourist photo op stops… Plenty of scrambling up rocks and sand dunes and trying to photograph the vast red-ness of the whole place.
We stayed at a “bedouin camp” which was essentially glamping for Western Tourists in permanent tents with comfy beds. The clear night sky showed had the best star watching I’ve ever experienced.
Martian Wadi Rum
Around Jerusalem
Jerusalem, not really my favorite place I’ve visited… religion and its intensity on display at every corner. Trinkets for god. gods. saints. But the layers are fascinating. Stone on stone. A temple, a church, a mosque. This guy can go here, that woman can’t. That guy, but not that guy is welcome. Rules layered on rules. A place of complexity and hypocrisy.
I spy the Dome
Amsterdam
Paris Photo Shoot
Morning Paris Photo Shoot – judge away our cheesy photos only Americans would take
In Bruges
Villa Savoye
Villa Savoye and when Harper learned to crawl. She just needed the Corbusier inspiration.
Paris : Art Museums
| City: | Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 95°, sunny |
| Site: | 1st Arrondissement |
| Activity: | walking, Palais Garnier, Musee D’Orsay |
After landing from our overnight flight from NYC we rushed into that relentless Paris sunlight otherwise we may have slept the day away. Even with our baby missing half a nights sleep we saw a lot of Central Paris:
Galeries Lafayette Haussman
Palais Garnier
Amazing Sandwiches from Le Petit Vendôme
Eating in the Tuileries Garden
Monet Water Lillies at Musee L’Orangerie
Impressionism of Musee D’Orsay
Walk by the Louvre, Palais Royal
Paris: Pantheon, Pompidou, Etc
Around Madrid
| City: | Madrid, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 65°, sunny |
| Site: | Caixa Forum |
| Activity: | lots of cab rides |
Granada Churches
The Alhambra
| City: | Granada, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 63°, sunny |
| Site: | Alhambra, Generalife, and Nasrid Palace |
| Activity: | 4 hour tour |
We learned about the Alhambra in Architectural History and we’ve been really looking forward to getting over there since then. Problem was, I didn’t realize how many other people felt the same way. It was probably the most crowded architectural site I’ve ever been to. (more than the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, Statue of Liberty…) So actually touring the site wasn’t as enjoyable as I hoped, but it was beautiful. And HUGE. It’s a walled city on a hill with multiple palaces and gardens.
Around Barcelona
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | beach, Barcelona Pavillon, Contemporary Art Museum |
| Activity: | lots of cab rides |
We did so much in our short 36 hours in Barcelona, mostly by hopping in and out of cabs which were really easy and cheap. Probably the best part of the day was Paella on the beach. I don’t take photos of food but I’m kind of regretting that decision this time. Our big plate of rice, muscles, scallops, shrimp, rabbit, and sausage… perfectly yellow with saffron. And a glass of white wine to wash it down with.
Hospital de la Santa Creu
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Hospital de la Santa Creu |
| Activity: | colors |
This hospital was not designed by Gaudi, but it shares its whimsy and time period with many of Gaudi’s work. Also, Gaudi died here after getting hit by a tram. The Hospital de la Santa Creu is another example of Catalan civil-Gothic architecture
Casa Battlo
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Casa Batllo |
| Activity: | Dodging high school tour groups |
So many amazing details to comment on. See below. Every tiny bit of this home is thought out.
Sagrada Familia
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Sagrada Familia |
| Activity: | Looking Up |
More of a collage, hodge podge, Disney castle than I expected but still had some really beautiful moments. Like those colors inside! Expected completion… 2028. Almost 150 years after it was started.
