Vienna: Aug. 31 - Sept. 3

In the late morning, we took the Super City Train from Prague to Vienna. After a 4-hour ride, we arrived at Vienna Südbahnhof. From there, we made our way to the U1 metro station and got out at Karlsplatz. As we approached one of the exits, we were amused by the "Toilette mit Musik," what looked to be a plushly-decorated WC blasting The Blue Danube Waltz. Only in Vienna! (People have actually uploaded youtube videos of this bathroom!) We took the escalator out of the subway station and were greeted with the impressive vision of the Vienna State Opera. As we crossed the pedestrian area next to the opera house, a man dressed in 18th century garb approached us with open arms and said, "Free hugs!" He asked where we were from and was about to attempt to sell us music tickets, but we cut the exchange short, fixed as we were on finding our lodgings, Pension Suzanne. (Though this first ticket-pusher was amusing, the throng of them constantly milling around the opera house can be a bit of a nuisance.) After getting settled in our pension, we headed out to Prater Park to ride the giant Ferris wheel. It was cool to experience the historical landmark, and the ride provided very nice views (though Vienna's cityscape isn't as charming as Prague's). Evening fell as we walked through the amusement park in search of dinner. We ate at a beer garden overflowing with lively patrons. Our dinner of pork stew and spinach dumplings in cream sauce was flavorful and filling. All in all, it was a great way to begin our stay in Vienna.

The next day, we took the U4 to Schönbrunn Palace. I remember well the distinctive buttery yellow and mocha façade from my first trip here a decade ago, but I was glad for a second visit to better appreciate its history and opulence. This summer palace, a sort of Austrian Versailles, showcased some amazing rooms and beautiful portraits. It was here that a 6-year-old Mozart performed for Empress Maria Theresa. Kennedy's meeting with Khrushchev also took place at Schönbrunn. The palace reflected many personal touches, as the royal family took a strong hand in its décor. There's no doubting the splendor of the richly appointed rooms we saw, but my favorite part of the visit was touring the grounds. Our Classic Pass included admission to the palace (with audio guide), the Privy Garden and Garden Above the Cellar, the Maze and Labyrinth, the Gloriette Viewing Terrace, and the apple strudel show in the Court Bakery. All were enjoyable, though the maze thoroughly stumped us, and we were only able to get to the center platform with help. Walking to the Gloriette required some effort, as it was uphill and the sun was strong, but the amazing view from the terrace was well worth the trek. We ate lunch (pancake with mincemeat accompanied by a side salad) at the Gloriette Café. Our last stop at Schönbrunn was the strudel show. The small sample of apple strudel was just okay, but the presentation was entertaining and I liked the cute room in which it was held.

We then headed back to the city center and took a tram to Belvedere Palace. After the splendor of Schönbrunn, the palace and gardens of the Belvedere didn't seem quite so impressive. However, our main reason for visiting was the art collection housed in the Upper Belvedere. I very much enjoyed the 19th century paintings, including a couple of Monets and Renoirs. However, the highlight was Gustav Klimt's The Kiss. It was amazing to see this iconic work in person. The richness and details are so striking, and the entire painting is emotive and utterly romantic. Many other works by Klimt were also on display, and it was interesting to see the wide range of styles he produced.
That night, we had dinner at a heurigen located on a small cobblestone lane a few turns off the main pedestrian drag of Kärntner Strasse. The meal was enormous! Appetizers included spinach strudel, onion quiche, and vegetable strudel. Then came a big salad and the main course: several kinds of schnitzels and a heaping plate of meats, potatoes, and cabbage. Needless to say, I was stuffed before we were anywhere near finishing the dishes spread across our table. I felt a bit guilty about wasting so much food. After dinner, we went to the Haus der Musik, an interactive museum about sound and music. My favorite part was probably the dice game that resulted in a waltz composition.

The next morning, we walked to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, which contained many works by the Masters: Titian, Raphael, Correggio, Rembrandt, Rubens, and Bruegel, among others. There were many impressive, beautiful works displayed in the museum's gorgeous, sumptuous settings, but the most awe-inspiring part of the visit was seeing Vermeer's The Art of Painting. All of Vermeer's works are so atmospheric and lovely, and this one was painted on an uncharacteristically large canvas. I lingered over its rich details, particularly the hanging fabric and the beautiful blue of the model's dress. I've come to think of this lovely shade as "Vermeer Blue."
Afterward, we walked to the Hofburg Palace to see the Imperial Treasury, a display of wealth and intricate craftsmanship. We then had a quick lunch of vegetable strudel and traditional beef broth with dumpling at Oberlaa. We bought a couple of pastries to go and hurried to get in line for the 2:30 tour of the State Opera. Lots of people were already waiting, and it got more chaotic when we entered the crowded foyer. Luckily, things got better once our group gathered and we were assigned our guide. The opera house is truly magnificent and our guide knowledgeable and charming. Oddly enough, the stage set for the State Opera's current production of Manon Lescaut contrasted sharply with the plush surroundings. The modern interpretation of the opera apparently includes walls of gray concrete and a Lexus. (Not coincidentally, Lexus is one of the State Opera's sponsors.) During the tour, we saw some elaborate halls and galleries, got a glimpse of the imperial box, sat in orchestra-level seats, and even visited the huge, chaotic backstage area. It is astounding the number of different productions the State Opera presents in a year; the opera rotation is such that the same production is never shown back to back. There were so many cool things about this opera house... from the standing room areas (costing only €3-4 per place) to the personal subtitle screens to the annual opera ball, where the stage, orchestra, and seating area is converted into a ballroom. For any lover of the performing arts, a tour of the State Opera is a must when visiting Vienna!

Since the State Opera was dark that night, we decided to catch a show at the Volksoper. When I saw Die Fledermaus advertised, I knew that was the show I wanted to see. It is the quintessential Viennese operetta, after all. Not to mention, I love the overture. We grabbed a box of open-face finger sandwiches from Buffet Trzesniewski and took the metro to the Volksoper. It was wonderful to see this Strauss operetta in Vienna. The music is absolutely wonderful, but I must admit I couldn't help thinking of the Tom and Jerry Hollywood Bowl episode, where Tom conducts selections from the Die Fledermaus overture! But, I digress. I really enjoyed the night's performance, from the lovely set design to the beautiful costumes to the engaging cast and the talented orchestra. Die Fledermaus is fun and frothy, with wonderful dancing and great arias. I can see why it is tradition to stage the operetta on New Year's Eve in Vienna. Click here to see a great video promo of the Volksoper's Fledermaus.

We started the next morning with a visit to St. Stephen's Cathedral. Then we toured the Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg. The combo ticket also included admission to the imperial silver collection and the Sisi Museum. ("Sisi" is the affectionate nickname for the beautiful Empress Elisabeth, wife of Franz Joseph. She was a sort of Princess Diana of the 19th Century.) After touring Hofburg, we bought some finger sandwiches and pastries from the famous Café Demel and walked to Stadt Park. There, we ate our lunch on a bench near the famous golden statue of Strauss. After lunch, we hurried back to Pension Suzanne to collect our bags and head for the metro. A transfer and several mad dashes later, we got on the 1:50 p.m. train to Budapest with barely a minute to spare! The train literally started moving seconds after we climbed aboard. Thus ended our adventures in Vienna. Onward to Budapest!

P.S. Some additional random notes. One: J. and I puzzled over why the Vienna metro did not include a U5 line. All the metro maps showed lines U1 through U6, but always sans U5. Turns out that all the plans to build the U5 line never came to fruition due to reasons such as insufficient expected traffic. Two: If there were a Czech-inspired Tom and Jerry episode, I could've dubbed this trip the "Tom and Jerry Trip." In addition to the episode showcasing the overture from Die Fledermaus, there is an episode where the cartoon cat and mouse actually live in the house of Johann Strauss! Tom teaches himself to play piano waltzes to lure Jerry, who can't resist dancing when he hears Strauss's music, out of his hole. Another episode presents Tom as a concert pianist performing Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody! Anyway, I think it's cool that old cartoons incorporate classical music. ;)

Prague: Aug. 28 - Aug. 31

It had been a few years since I last took an overseas vacation, so it was with great anticipation that I embarked on my recent trip to Europe. Prague, the golden city of a hundred spires, had long been on my "To Visit" list, and finally seeing it in person certainly did not disappoint. It is a city full of picturesque charm and vibrant energy.
Getting to Prague took some effort: two flights, a tight changeover in London Heathrow, and a traffic-filled shuttle ride from Prague-Ruzyne Airport to our B&B, Lida Guesthouse. We spent the remainder of the afternoon planning (with a lot of invaluable, friendly guidance from our B&B host), resting, and getting our bearings. The next day, we began our sightseeing at Vyšehrad, a castle only one metro stop away from our B&B. The large castle compound included a Romanesque Rotunda, the Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, and a cemetery where reknowned Czechs such as Dvorák and Smetana were laid to rest. Jumping from the old to the new, we next visited Frank Gehry's Dancing House. I enjoyed seeing an example of his work that differed from the signature look exemplified by the Guggenheim and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Then it was off to the Strahov Monastery. There, we paid admission to view the famous libraries, but one of them (the Library of Philosophy) was undergoing a massive renovation. Scaffolding hid the entire room from view, and we could only get a sense of its opulence from a poster. The Library of Religion, however, was open for viewing. At the end of the spacious room, we glimpsed the glass cabinets where forbidden texts were held. I was a bit puzzled by the sculpture near the door to the library. He was probably a lamenting monk or saint, but he looked as if he could just as likely be suffering from a toothache. The hallway joining the two libraries were filled with curio cabinets and ancient tomes with dusty, peeling spines. The slightest touch probably would've disintegrated the ages-old books. Of the specimen held in the cabinets, I found the preserved baby dodo to be the most interesting.

Afterward, we walked down the hill to Prague Castle. We ate a quick lunch (I had a salad and mini potato croquettes), and we got to the castle gate just as the changing of the guard took place. Once inside the castle, we visited St. Vitus Cathedral first. It is a massive and inspiring piece of Gothic architecture. I thought the interior even more stunning than the exterior. I especially loved how the light filtering through the stained glass windows painted lovely splashes of pinks, oranges, and blues on some of the stone columns. Of the many differently styled stained glass windows adorning the cathedral, my favorite was, of course, the one designed by Alphonse Mucha, the brilliant Art Nouveau artist. We next wandered the castle grounds a bit, making brief stops at the old royal palace and St. George's Basilica, though these were rather anticlimactic after St. Vitus. However, the balconies from the palace did offer gorgeous views of Prague. This city really does seem to have wonderful views wherever you look! The last area we visited in the castle was the Golden Lane, a picturesque row of cute little houses now serving as souvenir shops. Franz Kafka lived in the blue No. 22 for a time.

That evening, we had a good, filling dinner at a restaurant called Josephina. I tried the turkey with ham and peach, an entrée that probably wasn't Czech in any way, but it was tasty, particularly the peaches. We then rushed back to the city center to catch a concert at Smetana Hall in Municipal House, a glorious Art Nouveau building. The small orchestra played favorites from Mozart and Strauss, giving us a sort of musical preview of our next destination. Two opera singers and two ballet dancers accompanied the orchestra. It was an enjoyable show, but it definitely catered to tourists and felt rather brief. My favorite part was the dancing; it was by turns lively and romantic, and the costumes were beautiful.

After taking care of some travel logistics the next morning, we headed for the Mucha Museum. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the delicate intricacy of Mucha's Art Nouveau posters up close. Having long been a fan of his work, I found it rather wonderful to experience such a variety of his original works in person. Aside from theatre posters and magazine art, the museum displayed studio photographs, paintings, lithographs, books, stamps, money, and a small collection of decorative arts, all designed by Mucha. I learned a lot from the video biography of Mucha playing at the back of the museum.

Next, we strolled through Old Town, the highlight of which was the central square containing the Huss Memorial, St. Nicholas Church (one of two so-named churches in Prague), and the astronomy clock tower. We watched the very brief "show" when the clock struck at the top of the hour. A skeleton (Death) on the elaborate clock rang the bell while 12 saints rotated through 2 open windows. I found it amusing when the large crowd applauded as the mechanism stopped. It was hard to tell if the applause was genuine or sarcastic. The astronomy clock itself, however, is truly a beautiful marvel.
We wandered a bit through the Jewish Quarter and walked up Paris Street, Prague's version of the Champs-Élysées. It's a lovely tree-lined street filled with high-end shops and sporting a view of a kinetic sculpture (a giant metronome) on the other side of the river. Apparently, the metronome replaced a statue of Stalin. The afternoon was wearing late, so we went to a tea house in Wenceslas Square for respite and sustenance. I ordered the flower bud tea, a green tea with a jasmine flower that unfurled as it steeped. J. had a red tea with the intriguing name of hair tea. For food, we had hummus with pita and veggies, a savory couscous bowl, and a sweet couscous bowl.

Later, we strolled a bit along the beautiful Vltava River before reaching the famous Charles Bridge. Despite the fact that parts of the bridge were under renovation, it was still very cool to walk across this landmark, taking in the statues, tourists, vendors, and most of all the magnificent views of the river cutting through the city. We then entered the Little Quarter, where we made a quick stop at St. Nicholas Church (the other one) to snap some photos. Daylight was fading by the time we caught the funicular up Petrin Hill. The funicular exited into a large park at the top of the hill. An observatory stood in the distance, and we walked through a couple of rose gardens to get to Petrin Tower. The 60m structure looked like a mini Eiffel Tower. We climbed the 299 steps up the tower's double staircase to appreciate breathtaking views of this lovely city as the sun sank below the horizon and dusk darkened into evening. Really, it was a perfect way to end our Prague sightseeing.
Next stop: Vienna!

Kimonos and Robots

In the past several weeks, I finally got around to watching a couple of DVDs that I’d been meaning to for quite some time. The first was Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of As You Like It. Given that this is one of my favorite Shakespearean comedies, I was really excited about the film version. And Branagh has done such wonders with film adaptations of Shakespeare plays, the best being (in my humble opinion) Much Ado About Nothing. Branagh set his interpretation of As You Like It in nineteenth century Japan, which I found very intriguing. And it certainly was visually stunning. The costumes, in particular, were gorgeous—a fusion of Victorian and Japanese garb. Bryce Dallas Howard was a vibrant Rosalind, and Romola Garai nearly outshone her as Celia. (I didn't even recognize her as the same actress who portrayed the 18-year-old Briony Tallis in Atonement!) For all its good points, however, the film never grabbed me the way I expected it to. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something seemed lacking. I came away with the vague feeling that perhaps As You Like It simply works better as a play. When I read it a few years ago, I remember loving the language and thinking, "Wow, I think this may have just become my favorite Shakespearean comedy." Then, I saw Sir Peter Hall's RSC production at the Ahmanson Theatre. With a 1930s, depression-era backdrop, it was both nuanced and memorable. Branagh's version is beautiful to look at, and all the actors were extremely competent. But, the spark that truly brings a film to life and creates a deep connection between the audience and the characters on screen remained elusive.

One last note: Brian Blessed had the difficult task of portraying both Duke Senior and his power-hungry brother Duke Frederick. Blessed was excellent in both roles, but images from his stint as Old Deuteronomy in Cats kept leaping unbidden to my mind! Okay, so this picture here isn't of Brian Blessed, but my searches came up empty. This was the best I could do, but I think it gives a good idea of why the image interfered with my ability to focus on and truly enjoy Blessed's efforts in the film!

If you haven't yet guessed, the second DVD I watched was Wall-E. Yes, I know, I work at Disney. How could I have waited till now to watch this film? What can I say? 2008 was an insanely busy year! Anyway, Pixar did its usual amazing job with this film. I appreciated its lofty goals and its artistic achievement. How it gave essentially non-speaking robots such personality and soul really was brilliant. And, of course, its environmental message certainly is timely and relevant. But, just like Branagh's film, Wall-E left me not entirely satisfied. The obese humans' return to a still-toxic Earth seemed unrealistic, and I didn't understand why some live acting was injected into an otherwise all-CGI film. Because I couldn't see the purpose for doing this, it actually distracted me during the movie. Also, the messages, while extremely important, seemed a bit overhanded. Overall, I liked the film, respected what it set out to do, and marveled at what it accomplished artistically and technically. But, I didn't love the film. Perhaps I can best convey my feelings with a comparison to its Pixar predecessor: Wall-E is a more important film than Ratatouille, but I liked Ratatouille more.

Things I Saw This Weekend

Terra Cotta Warriors: On Sunday, I trekked all the way down to Santa Ana to visit the Bowers Museum. Some weeks back, I had caught a PBS special about how the museum was exhibiting a collection of the famed terra cotta warriors from China. Since I have no idea when I will actually make it to China, I figured I should take this opportunity to experience at least a small sampling of the so-called "Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World." Though the tickets were a bit pricey (with the good ol' AAA discount, it was $24 per adult), I'm still glad I made the effort to catch the exhibition. The workmanship and uniqueness of the life-size figures are impressive, and the audio guide informative, if a little hokey at times. The sheer magnitude of Emperor Qin's tomb, not to mention the quantity and craftsmanship of all the figures buried within, is astounding. Walking through the exhibit, I found myself marveling at not just the skill and labor that went into 2000-year-old artifacts. I mean, think about the level of megalomania that one must possess in order to build such a mausoleum (complete with booby-traps, rivers and lakes of mercury, and thousands of soldiers, servants, musicians, acrobats, and animals).

Lots of Colorful, Pretty Gemstones: Another exhibit I caught at the Bowers featured a myriad of gems from around the world. Some were sculpted into artworks, others set as jewelry. All the bright, sparkling colors were a feast for the eyes. And it's quite an interesting experience to gaze upon a hunk of semi-precious stone weighing several thousand carats. In addition to seeing lots of pretty jewels, I learned that the name amethyst derives from Greek for "not intoxicated." According to mythology, a beautiful maiden named Amethysta was fleeing from Bacchus, the god of wine. The goddess Diana heard the poor maiden's prayers and turned her into a beautiful quartz statue. Bacchus wept tears of remorse over the stone. His tears turned into wine, transforming the quartz into a lovely purple. (Yes, it is Daphne and Apollo revisited. These gods never seem to learn.) Still, I like the story . . . and the gemstone to which it gave its name. Besides, the heroine of one of my favorite childhood stories, The Ordinary Princess by M. M. Kaye, is named Amethyst (Amy for short). Anyway, the Greeks and Romans apparently believed that the amethyst stone would prevent drunkenness. They would wear amethyst or fashion drinking vessels with it to avoid becoming intoxicated.

Cool Children's Book Illustrations and Historic Photos of the LA Dodgers: On the way back from Santa Ana, I stopped at the Central Library downtown. I love that library. It is so full of history and architectural beauty, and there always seems to be cool exhibits on display. The collection of books, CDs, and DVDs is also quite impressive. Anyway, the Getty Gallery presented an exhibition titled Children Should Be Seen: The Image of the Child in American Picture-Book Art. By turns whimsical, moving, photo-realistic, bold, and stylized, the diverse illustrations were fun and wonderful to behold. Downstairs in the First Floor Galleries, a series of black-and-white photos comprised the Play Ball! Images of Dodger Blue, 1958-1988 exhibit. Being a long-time Dodger fan, I appreciated the historic glimpse of our men in blue. One of my favorite photos was one of a young Vin Scully, the golden voice of the Dodgers. I have never heard a better baseball announcer; we LA fans are so lucky to have him.

Cat Preying Bird: Okay, if this were the SAT, this last item would be the one that didn't belong. (Then again, I have no idea how much the standardized test has changed since I took it, so my reference would probably fly over the heads of young'uns out there.) But, since this happened in my backyard after I came home from my long day at the museum and library, I figured it sort of fit. Anyway, on Sunday evening, I saw a neighbor's cat lounging in the backyard. At first, I didn't take much notice since neighborhood cats occasionally pass through our yard. A little while later, I realized that the black feline was actually prowling a small injured bird. The cat seemed to be toying with the bird before finishing it off. The tableau was just like watching a nature film, except there was a domestic cat instead of a panther and a small bird instead of a gazelle. I felt the same sense of fascination, pity, and discomfort. We ended up scaring the cat away, and the bird managed to struggle into the bushes, but it was impossible to tell if the injuries were too severe for the bird to survive.

It certainly has been an interesting weekend...

Chalk Festival

One of the perks of freelancing for a creative giant is the exposure to amazing artistic talent. A week or so ago, there was a chalk festival held at the offices. Despite the scorching heat, employees and their children happily created ephemeral art on the concrete ground. It helped that the company provided Baskin Robbins ice cream to participants and browsers alike. (The only downside was that I got pulled into an impromptu meeting as I was finishing the last of my Mint Chip ice cream, and sat there blissfully unaware of the melted chocolate at the corner of my mouth until a team member kindly gave me a napkin. Rather embarrassing, but I digress.)

Much of the art was so beautifully crafted and awe-inspiring that I was moved to share some images with you. Hopefully, none of the artists will take offense at my posting their work on my humble blog. (Click on images to see them larger.)

Two different but equally lovely takes on the dreamy Alice (of Wonderland fame)...

Two wonderfully rendered Disney villains...

This Narnia homage was created by professional chalk artists hired for the event. You can get a sense of the 3-D effect in the first image. And check out the detail of the lion. Quite amazing.

I just loved this classic illustration of the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

Cuteness, close up...

With the movie opening in June, several people portrayed Wall-E. I found this one particularly adorable.

I just found this image hilarious. Hey Kool-Aid!

Okay, I never really liked the Popeye cartoons, but this image is so brilliantly subversive that I had to include it. Disney folk will understand why it's subversive. ;)

With blasting winds and a couple days of unexpected showers, the chalk art has become mere smudges of color on concrete. I am so glad I took pictures before they faded into memory.

Detox

One would think that I'd be luxuriating in my newfound freedom by now. It is true that there have been moments when an unexpected smile would sneak up on me, taking me by surprise and causing me to marvel at this new stage in my life. I would close my eyes, take a deep breath, and let the smile spread through my being. Those are certainly nice moments, but I apparently still have some anger to work out during this detox period, and what better way to get it out of my system than through this blog?

There have been many times in the past year and a half that I wish I had the courage and audacity to carry this bag around Madame, my former boss. (Former ~ how lovely that sounds!) The bag features characters designed by Lela Lee, founder of Angry Little Girls. True, I was not actually born here, but I might as well have been. English, though not my first language, is my best language. When EvilRedhead first showed me the ALG site, I connected with Kim (the angry little Asian girl) for obvious reasons. She's the cartoon embodiment of my rarely-seen dark side. Of course, I also liked Xyla, the gloomy girl who seems to be a human, female version of Eeyore (one of my favorite Disney characters). Although I never got around to purchasing this bag and parading it in front of certain insidiously prejudiced individuals, it's nice to see someone find such a creative, funny, and financially rewarding way of dealing with unpleasant experiences and the darker emotions.

It is interesting how products can often crystallize our experiences, thoughts, and emotions, sometimes in uncanny ways. Take this beautiful perpetual calendar I purchased last month. The gorgeous book features a work of art and a related quote for each day of the year. After tearing off the shrink wrap, I spent a good amount of time perusing and admiring the glossy artworks. I also looked up various birthdays of family and friends. Quite by accident, I came across Madame's birthday. Much to my amusement and sense of the apropos, the artwork for that day was Henry Fuseli's The Nightmare, a piece I was quite familiar with from my grad school days. The painting has been frequently used on covers of Gothic fiction, and critics have noted connections between it and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Given Madame's nightmarish reign, Fuseli's artwork was eerily fitting...

A Piece of Ancient Italy in SoCal

Over the weekend, I finally had the opportunity to visit the Getty Villa in Malibu. While I've been to the Getty Center numerous times and love that museum, I'd never been to the Malibu location, not even prior to the renovation. So, as you can imagine, I was very excited about this visit. And the Villa certainly did not disappoint. Set in a spectacular hillside location overlooking the sparkling Pacific, this replica of a first-century Roman country house offered an intimate, unique experience. In some ways, it was like stepping into a different time and place. The architecture and landscaping followed the Roman ideals of symmetry and axial design. Even all the plants in the various gardens were species that existed in first-century Rome. The setting provided the perfect backdrop for the exhibits dedicated to the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.

At the same time, there persisted the feeling of hushed reverence and immaculately clean quality associated with modern high-tech museums. The harmonious combination of past and present created a sense of peace and wonder that permeated my tour of the grounds and galleries. For its pure beauty and deceptive simplicity, the Getty Villa is truly a museum not to be missed.

The museum's main entrance.

View from one corner of the inner peristyle.

View of the pool in the outer peristyle.
I love how the pool seems to extend to the ocean beyond.

View from the western end of the outer peristyle.

Glass cameo art depicting Andromache.
(In Greek mythology, she was the wife of the Trojan hero Hector.)

A review of Classical columns:
Doric (left), Ionic (center), and Corinthian (right).
I think I like the Ionic columns best.

Fountain sculpture of a satyr riding a wineskin.
This was the funniest sculpture I saw. Doesn't it look like the satyr is riding a turkey as if it were a Harley?

North colonnade of the outer peristyle.

Fairy Tales Come to Life

While we are on the topic of Disney, I recently came across a series of portraits that Annie Leibovitz shot for "The Year of a Million Dreams" campaign. This Disney Dream Portrait Series includes six beautiful photographs that are by turns romantic, dramatic, and whimsical. They feature entertainment and sports celebrities in the roles of beloved characters from classic Disney animated films. Here are a few of the portraits for your enjoyment.

Actress Scarlett Johansson as a lovely and ethereal Cinderella

Tennis ace Roger Federer as heroic King Arthur

Actress Rachel Weisz as a serene, picture-perfect Snow White

Soccer star David Beckham as valiant Prince Phillip from Sleeping Beauty

To view and learn more about all the portraits, visit the Disney Parks website, "where dreams come true."

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

Yesterday, a friend and I went to see the Noah's Ark exhibit at the Skirball Cultural Center. Apparently, the exhibit had received prominent coverage in the LA Times and the NY Times, but I was blissfully unaware of this. When my friend briefly told me about the exhibit, I assumed the display would include an intricate ark in miniature, with myriad animals on or boarding the vessel. Imagine my delighted surprise when I walked into the exhibit space and found myself immersed in a hands-on, interactive experience populated with animals of all shapes and sizes made from found objects! The creativity that went into this project was awe-inspiring. I marveled at the amazing artistry of the puppet-sculptures even as my inner child gleefully emerged to create mini-cyclones, generate rainstorms, and animate various creatures by pulling levers, pumping hydraulic systems, and spinning wheels. The place truly is designed for kids of all ages.

Here are some pictures I took while wandering (and playing) through the exhibit.


Notice how the elephant's trunk is fashioned out of bamboo baskets, the kind commonly used to steam dim sum! His feet are made from steel drums, and although you can't see it in this picture, he has a "gong-able" heart. The deer's ears are shoe horns, the zebras' bodies are rotating turbines, and their manes are made from organ keys. Talk about clever usage of materials!






This picture shows part of the ark. You can load the ramp with foam animal pairs and send them up to "board" the vessel. How can one not feel like a kid again surrounded by all these cool contraptions and toys?!









More animals on the ark...

Check out the crocodile made from a viola case! And the flamingos below it have purses for bodies, fly swatters for legs, and combs for feathers on their wings.

More cool animals...



















At first, we had trouble figuring out what these brown critters were. We just thought it was cool that they had boxing gloves as bodies. Finally, I realized that these were kiwis! How cute! For more great images, check out the Skirball's website. (The penguin and hedgehog are amazing, not to mention adorable!)