A Good Day for Ducks

March 26, 2017

March 26, 2017 (085/365)

"Playing in the rain is gratitude for life, a dancing prayer of thanks to nature." - Terri Guillemets

Art in Bloom 2017

March 25, 2017

March 25, 2016 (084/366)

"What is art? Nature concentrated." ~ Honoré de Balzac

Today, for the fourth year in a row, I attended Art in Bloom at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Unlike last year, many of this year's floral interpretations seemed so literal. I did, however have a clear favorite: the accompaniment to Cornelia Parker's Edge of England sculpture (above).

My favorite this year

I was a bit disappointed this year, but see for yourself.

French Friday: Le Métro

March 24, 2017

March 24, 2017 (083/365) Ligne 6

« La vie, c'est comme le métro, lorsqu'une porte s'ouvre il faut foncer. »

The best way to get around Paris is always à pied -- on foot. I certainly got my exercise in a week, walking 45 miles and climbing 99 flights of stairs (that's about 1188 steps). Most of those stairs were in the Paris Métro. When the weather was bad or I was in a hurry or simply exhausted, I would take the Métro. It's such an efficient way to navigate Paris. Some people prefer the bus because you can see where you're going, but I have a hard time figuring out the bus routes. Besides, almost half of "my line" (3.8 miles), Line 6, is above ground with gorgeous views of Haussmannian apartments in the 16th arrondissement and several Paris' most famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower as it crosses over the Pont Bir-Hakeim. Though the Métro is convenient, I also love the Art Nouveau details of some of the original entrances designed by Hector Guimard, as well as more modern interpretations like the Kiosque des noctambules at the Palais Royal. Some of the underground stations, such as Abbesses (12), Arts et Métiers (3, 11), Cité (4), and Concorde(1, 8, 12) are also fascinating.