Fred and Ginger

When I think of Prague (Praha), I think of large castles, architecture, churches and the Holy Roman Empire. One of the things that makes the city so fascinating, is the contrasts. A blend of young stylish people of a young democracy contrasted with a grim faced older population that has spent most of their lives living under communism or dictatorial rule. The architecture reflects that contrast.

Ancient bridges, castles and historic architecture contrast with buildings and sculptures by the likes of modern artist David Černý. These two intertwined office buildings were constructed to display that contrast and are known in the city as “Fred and Ginger” because they evoke the dancing shapes of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers.

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Fred and Ginger

Fred and Ginger

The World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock

I am not really a fan of Cuckoo clocks. A German friend of mine told me they were just for tourists and are seldom found in German homes. I passed on the Cuckoo Clock Making Class that was part of our tour and spent my time in the glass works instead. However this clock was just amazing!

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The World's Largest Cuckoo Clock

The World’s Largest Cuckoo Clock

Black Forrest Glass Works

The Black Forrest always makes me think of Hansel and Gretel and delicious cake. Which is more interesting when you think that the witch in was pretty much gonna bake those kids. I knew we were going to the Forrest to see nature and cuckoo clocks and I am not really enamored of cuckoo clocks but do love nature so I was in.

I didn’t spend much time looking at clocks though because I found the glass works. I have always been impressed with the art of glass blowing and glass sculpture. The craftsman here were maybe not as good as the ones we saw in Biot, France but they were amazing artists all the same.

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Glass Blower

Glass Blower

Finished Product

Finished Product

Claude Monet’s Jardin de l’eau

You could easily visit Giverny and miss the water garden. The house is a fun tour and the gardens are quite large. Then in the back of the gardens you will a little sign which reads Jardin de l’eau and a little tunnel that leads across a stream and to a path through the Water Garden.

Monet’s water garden in Giverny is located just outside of Vernon France. It is a short day trip from Paris and worth the train and bus ride. The house and gardens are unique and stunning and kept in the same way that they were during the time of Claude Monet. If you have the time it is worth spending a night since the entire area is really a tribute to nature and art.

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Jardin-de-leau

Jardin-de-leau

A Curator with a Sense of Humor

I am sure museum curators view themselves as special people and they should. They have to be extremely knowledgeable about a subject and love the minute details. They have to make difficult judgements which may impact people that are largely emotional and probably sometimes complete assholes. (artists) In addition they have to live the rest of their lives, raise families, go shopping and deal with mundane physical society in the same way that common folk do. I can see where this could dramatically impact a persons psyche and they could take themselves far too seriously.

Then there is the person that is the curator for the hall of architecture at the Carnegie Museum. This person is obviously a real human being with a sense of humor. I saw this and laughed and realized there is at least one curator in the world with a sense of humor. Thank you whoever you are.

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Curator with Sense of Humor

Curator with Sense of Humor

A Couple of Statues

We went to see the Ai Weiwei exhibit at the Pittsburgh Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The sculptures were quite magnificent and next week we plan to revisit the Warhol Museum to see the rest of his exhibit in Pittsburgh. He is an awe inspiring artist and if you live in Pittsburgh it is a must see. I don’t usually photograph art in museums but I was taken with how statue like the guard was. He was almost as still as the sculptures themselves. What a zen job.I hope Ai Weiwei will forgive me for photographing his art.

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A couple of statues

Captain Jack Swigert at the Capitol

I learned a lot of interesting things during our tour of the US Capitol. I did not know that each state was allowed to have two sculptures inside the Capitol. There is one area that is full of sculptues and others are scattered through the magnificent building. I partuclary liked this one that stands guard in the Capitol Visitor Center.

This is Jack Swigert who was a native of Colorado. He was an American test pilot, mechanical and aerospace engineer, United States Air Force pilot, and NASA astronaut. He is one of the 24 people who have flown to the Moon. I like the reflection of the visitor center in his visor.

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Captain Jack Swigert

Captain Jack Swigert

Found Art

Some of the most wonderful “art” in the world is stuff you just find walking around. There is no artist signature, no gallery lighting or people walking around going “hmm” while they touch their chin. This is an ornamental design integrated into a wrought iron gate found near Cancún in the Mexican province of Quintana Roo.

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Found Art

Found Art

Fountain in the Garden

The Florida Botanical Garden in Largo Florida is a wonderful experience and it is FREE! It addition to acres of stupendous plantings there is a Florida Heritage Park attached with historic buildings from the the beginnings of the State. There is a school, rail siding, auto repair shop and many others. The place is very large and can’t be seen in a single visit. This beautiful fountain is in the Tropical Plants area.

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Fountain in The Garden

Fountain in The Garden

The Funky Mailboxes of Sunset Beach–Part 2

Treasure Island and adjacent to St. Petersburg. Sunset beach is a little dead end barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico and primarily made up of houses and small condos. There is little traffic, only two restaurants and a magnificent beach and small boardwalk along Boca Ciega Bay. Although we did most of our walking on the beach, we also walked through the community and noticed that many people had really special mailboxes. Here are a few of the better ones.

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