Travel Page and travel by Jenna Tomlin
Interesting people and places are to be found around the corner and over the hill so to speak, so out of curiosity I went to a few of these places to see what I could see and learn. Back to Main Page
Trip to Southern California July 13th through 25th
Santa Monica July 13th 2011
I flew in at 8:30am, got a Super Shuttle from LAX to Graydon's house and after
breakfast at a wonderful little breakfast place, Jennifer and I took a bus down
to
Santa Monica Pier so I could see the beach and walk around the Santa Monica
Pier. Many buskers, many tourists, many shops selling crappy trinkets and
the air was filled with warmth and a tinge of ocean water saltiness.
There's two sides of beach that the Pier divides and Vince Beach is for some
reason less active then the other side. It's more of a muscle beach then a
tourist beach.... so that's where we went. Filling our shoes with sand as
we walked to the water.
I've always loved the sounds of water coming in and I love the layers the water
takes on as it rolls and crashes up. I did actually get my shoes wet when
a waves sloshed up and I was talking on the phone, not noticing the incoming
little tidal force.
After getting my feet wet in the Pacific again, Jennifer and I headed back to
wander around the shops of Santa Monica. We had some gelato, some water,
lots of window shopping and I ended up with a bit of a sunburn on my chest, but
that cleared up the next day.
Drove Graydon to the airport 6 or 8 hours later, and Jennifer and I drove up to North Hollywood where she lives. I went to work with her the next day because she works near The Grove at The Farmer's Market. I took a bus down to the crush of museums about two miles away and walked down to The Tar Pit!!!
Los Angeles July 14th
I've been wanting to see a real tar pit for many, many years. So I was
very excited to actually see this one. It's even staged with prop animals
struggling to survive the inevitable outcome.
I opted to not pay the $11 for the museum part, but I did climb the stairs so I
could look down into their open air tropical gardens.
Overlooking the gardens at the Tar Pit Museum
Some of the pieces I really enjoyed at LACMA. Spent the day basking in awesome art. There was a kick ass Tim Burton exhibit as well, but no recordings or photographs allowed:
There
is a small Rodin sculpture garden outside
LACMA -
Los Angeles County Museum of Art. I think
I remember about ten different Rodin's.
These
Urban Light, a sculpture by Chris
Burden that
incorporates more than two hundred restored cast-iron lampposts and are
apparently one of the most photographed sites in LA.
I
can believe it. I myself took several and was captured by their elegance.
This is a view from around back of one of the buildings. Each building is
part of the larger complet and you have to show your ticket to get into each
building or floor (essentially every outside entrance demands a ticket shown)
This escalator goes up five floors and then you can walk down each floor on the
outside to get to each new floor/exhibit.
Once up there, you actually get a clear view of the Hollywood sign. It's a
bit in the distance and a little hazy, but it is there. It's a good
view of Hollywood itself.
I liked looking some of the palm trees right in the fronds.
One of my favorite exhibits was, "The
Mourners: Tomb Sculptures from the Court of Burgundy;
features thirty-seven sculptures from the tomb of John the Fearless (1371–1419),
the second duke of Burgundy. His elaborate tomb, once housed at a
monastery on the outskirts of Dijon, is now one of the centerpieces of the Musée
des Beaux-Arts de Dijon.
During
the 14th and 15th centuries, the Valois dukes of Burgundy ruled over extensive
territories in present day France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands from
their capital in Dijon, which during their reign became a major center of
artistic patronage.
Their court’s sculpture workshop produced some of the most profound and original
art of the period. The tombs of the first and second Burgundian Dukes, Philip
the Bold and John the Fearless, are among the summits of their achievement. Each
tomb includes in its lower register an elaborate arcade in the flamboyant gothic
style, populated by a solemn processional of alabaster figures of monks and
clerics that appear to circulate around the tomb as if it were a cloister
.
These sculptures, known as the mourners, are small-scale embodiments of late
medieval devotion. While some of the figures are shown wringing their hands or
drying their tears, others appear lost in solemn contemplation, while still
others hide their faces in the deeply carved folds of their robes."
Apparently it was not uncommon for the Pope on down to the lowest stable boy to
be given mourning robes to wear for the mourning period. It symbolized
that death comes for all no matter what rank - we are all equal in death.
Although, to be fair, only the most notable peerage received this treatment on
their passing. It was still a very moving and...still, display for its
fateful symbolism and the skill in workmanship was exquisite.
Picasso (they had several)
Marcantonio
Raimondi - The Witch's Procession (this was marked as one of Tim Burton's
favorite's and an inspiration for his own work)
Monet (they
also had a small lily pond one that I really enjoyed as well)
Winslow Homer - The Cotton Pickers. I was entranced by this one. The
subjects are beautiful and powerful. The history behind is just hits you
in the face, plus that cotton field looks like it could just start blowing out
of the frame at you.
Taller then me. I felt dizzy walking around it.
Both of these are Robert Therrien. I did a self portrait in the silver
pitcher if you can spot it.
"Tsukioka
Yoshitoshi's earliest major series, the One
Hundred Ghost Tales of China and Japan, of
1865, and one of his last series, the New
Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts, begun
in 1889 with the last three designs produced by students after Yoshitoshi's
death." Wall after all, hung with brilliant images of haunting ghosts and
demons. I kept thinking that human imagination still covets these images
in novels and on screen. Wicked indeed. And oh so glorious.
Huntington Gardens July 17th
The first thing we did was visit the Illuminated Manuscript Building. Some
of the items I saw in their words, " Ellesmere
manuscript of Chaucer’s The
Canterbury Tales (c.1410); a
Gutenberg Bible (c.1455); a world-class collection of early editions of
Shakespeare; original letters of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and Lincoln;
an unsurpassed collection of materials relating to the history of the American
West; and outstanding holdings in the history of science and technology."
The science part would what got me really excited, although I did love looking
at the books. These first light bulbs riveted my attention for quite
awhile. Also, I loved photographing them. Maybe you could tell that
already.
As we left the building, several ladies were standing back and looking down at
the step, ooing and awwing. I looked down, grabbed my camera and wiggled
my way in very slowly and snapped off several shots of this cute little guy who
was contemplating his daily sun bath. He was very understanding about my
camera and swiveled his head this way and that to get a better look at me, while
I was getting slightly different angles for him. An excellent model.
I thanked him for his time and we left.
About thirty seconds later, I noticed these lovely flowers and a tiny, wonderful
hummingbird flitting about. So I whipped out my camera and started
shuttering away. I think I took about 50 shots, but these were the ones I
liked best. In several of them, notice there's a honey bee as well.
There were many hummingbirds on the grounds. They actually plant many of
their plantings to attract and keep the little birds, as well as the bees.
The grounds are stunning, and I'm guessing it's in large part to the well
cultivated wildlife as well as to the skill of the humans involved. They
impressed me enough with their desire to bring in and attract birds and insects.
There are lavish rose gardens (see more of those photo below) but I wanted to
capture a honey bee by herself for several frames, and I think it segueways
nicely.
This is the archway to the main gardens after you have walked the grounds from
the Manuscript Building. Breathtakingly captures and radiates light.
The Rose Garden. Blue sky, warm summer sun, blooms and the amazing scent
of thousands of rose blooms, gently wafting around. I had to call Ryan to
describe the scene. It was like I had just stepped into Alice in
Wonderland but without the Caterpillars and Card Soldiers.
In the Herb Garden
I decided I really wanted a butterfyl shot because there were many butterflies
flitting about, but never sitting still. So I hunted this butterfly for
about 20 minutes before he came to rest very briefly on these two plants.
I was very pleased with my capture.
Next Jennifer and I made our way to the Chinese Gardens (the Japanese Gardens
were undergoing renovation, but we got a peak as we walked past and they looked
very restful and gorgeous). There is a pagoda when you walk in, with a
small restaurant but then you can make your way around the large pond and there
are many areas to rest and look out. The lotus were incredible and the
blue dragonflies were very happy. Not only were there carp in the pond, but
turtles as well! Everyone you looked, there was something picturesque
happening - the architects did an amazing job of laying out the rocks, bridges
and gardens. We spent quite a bit of time taking photos, and talking.
We stayed about four hours, but then had to leave. I think this is a
place, that, if I lived in Pasadena, I would have a membership to. There
were several museum buildings we didn't go into, several gardens and waterfalls
I didn't see and then, of course, the Japanese Gardens were closed.
Stunning grounds and I think the museums are world class.
San Diego Comic Con International 20th - 25th. More in my convention review page
Spirit of Washington Dinner Train Sunday the 16th 2006 - Brunch
arrived at the train - departure 11am
some coffee as we take off. If you look closely, you can see the
reflection of my arm, coffee and our croissants in Jonathan's sunglasses.
some very pretty scenery
some not so pretty
a brief glimpse of the winery from the back
we passed through Woodinville very quickly to advertise the train - apparently
Spirit of Washington isn't allowed to actually advertise, so they stop the train
so residents can see how tempting the train looks.
inside the Columbia Winery looking down into the storage area from the tasting/giftshop
area. Yummy tasting. The 2006 Riesling was really yummy
The Train, the Winery
ahhhhh refreshing
aren't we the pair.......
Lake Washington
going through a train crossing and passing some blurry graffiti
Wilburton
funny train reflection
Wilburton Trestle - 102 feet high and made of wood
taking in the wind as we travel backwards back to the station
yay highway system =P
Lake and Mercer Island
we take each other's picture at the same time. have I mentioned how much I
love this guy? well, I do.
the open air car. had a lot of fun out there on the way back.
wheeeeeeeee!
Jonathan stands in front of the caboose where we were sitting for lunch. yummy food - too much food, but really good. I had a glass of Ice Wine which blew my taste buds away. My thanks to Jonathan who bought me a glass ($10 a glass and worth every delicious sip).
Denver, CO September 2005
Denver, CO Science Museum
Justin and Megan's Wedding Rehearsal 09 17 2005
Denver from Lookout Point
Mat and Sander kidnapped me off to Alberta, Canada (August 2005)
Mount Revelstoke National Park
Skunk Cabbage Trail - wetlands with plank trail
Glacier National Park
Hemlock Grove Trail - old growth of Western Hemlock trees
Yoho National Park
Natural Bridge - a natural rock bridge that arches over Kicking Horse River
Emerald Lake
Random couch on the road from Emerald Lake
Much rejoicing as we finished our couch photographing (taken by Mat)
Takakkaw Falls
Takakkaw Falls - means 'magnificent' in Cree. One of Canada's highest
waterfalls
Banff National Park
Lake Louise
Lake Agnes - trail from Lake Louise up the mountain
Further up the trail from Lake Agnes
Ground Squirrel asking for food at the TeaHouse (up from Lake Louise/ Lake Agnes
- same trail) (taken by Sander)
Lake Moraine - lots of rock fall left amazing evidence of
trace fossils
Sulfur Mountain Vista via Banff Gondola!
Cascade Mt, Banff Townsite, Mt Aylmer, Tunnel Mt and Lake Minnewnka
Continental Divide sign - one side water goes to the Pacific, the other, the
Atlantic
Johnston Canyon - Lower Falls
Kootenay National Park
Ochre Creek Paint Pots
Castle Cliffs
All three of us at the very end of the trip before we leave all the Parks and
make the very serious drive back to Tacoma (taken by stranger with Mat's camera)
My Junior Year of High School I was able to go to Japan with my Japanese Language classmates (well, some of them anyway). Quite amazing, I got to see old friends that had come over as exchange students (I had the honor of hosted every year during high school). Anyway, there really aren't many pictures yet, but there will be more.
Very polite deer in Nara, they bow to you if you bow to them.
The Golden Pavilion. Plus there's a whole lot more
behind.
If one were to walk behind the Pavilion, one would find a rock garden of
perfect simplicity. This rock held my attention for some time before we
had to leave to go to a tea ceremony.
I call this one Remembrance...this building was left to remember what happened
the day the bomb fell on Hiroshima.
Guardian to a Monastery
Another Monastery up in the mountains
A morning up in the Mountains above the snow line
Once upon a time, for the celebration of the 21st year of my birth, I was given a trip to Europe where this wonderful friend of mine who lives in Holland gave me a whirlwind trip though Holland, a bit of Germany, London and Paris. So somewhat in order, I would like to share a few of those pictures.
***
Amsterdam
Yet again. It was very beautiful even though I was suffering from jet lag.
As we were driving down to Germany. The scene just really struck me as
something out of that old British country animal doctor show of which I don't
remember the name but remember watching of PBS when I was a kid.
A watermill we passed as we were driving into Germany.
A last second shot as we were walking away from the Tower and I realized I had
yet to capture an image. It just happened to be a perfect shot -IMHO.
Inside Notre Dame - this is Joan of Arc, someone I want very much to believe and
so have constructed a very elaborate alter dimension to explain her visions
since I do not believe in her God (if you where at all curious...at all).
Sacre-Coeur.
Street
Performer. Caught him in the act of getting ready for his day.
Sits in front Musée du Petit Palais
Pantheon. The is a series of paintings on five walls that are
dedicated to the life of Joan
From The Louvre - alright.....I admit - I didn't take the middle picture...it's
from a postcard. But I did still see it!
The only one of London so far.
Evidently I really loved photographing Paris.
And if we are going to be strictly correct about venturing into other countries I have made many forays into Canada being in Tacoma, WA and all. I have these amazing friends up there that I just love to visit when I get the chance.
From Stanley Park in Vancouver
I consider hiking/climbing to the tops of mountains an exercise in travel as
well. This being my wonderful uncles and myself one year.
And then descending the mountain...which is all about travel too - I'll be
needing to post a pic of us getting down the side of this geologic collision
by sliding down the snow on our butts. Very fun, very fast and a little
hair raising.
Took a detour one day as I was driving up to Washington from Kansas. Very
worth the trip- beautiful conservation of land.