 |
| Cynthia and Dave on a rainy day in Hawaii |
 |
| Four and one-half Carrots |
Byodo-In Temple (47-200 Kahekili Hwy, Kaneohe, HI;
808-239-8811) is a wonderful place
to go for a peaceful, relaxing interlude.
Inexpensive (See Old Time O’ahu)
 |
| Vince and Cynthia at Byodo-In Temple |
Cities of Light tour with Viking Cruise kept us
entertained and interested throughout the cruise. The local tour guides were
knowledgeable, patient, and amusing. It was a truly amazing trip. (See Review of the Viking Cruise from Prague to Paris)
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (600 Museum Way, Bentonville, AR, 479-418-
 |
| Spring by Macdonald-Wright at Crystal Bridges |
The Louvre (Rue de Rivoli, Paris, Île-de-France 750001) is, of course,
a must see in Paris. We’ve been several times and still haven’t seen it all.
This time we were focused on seeing the Etruscan exhibit; of course it was
extensive and wonderful. There is also a new, at least to us, exhibit of giant
statues that are absolutely wonderful. The docents all speak some level of
English and are very helpful; they smilingly listened to my high school French
and immediately switched to English. Be sure to get to the museum at
opening time. Even with a ‘fast pass’ you may have to stand in line to get into
the pyramid. Once inside, if you have a ticket, you’ll immediately go to the
one of the desks to get a map, then to any of the entrances. If you don’t have
a ticket, you’ll stand in the regular line, but if you’re there early it won’t
be too very long. Once inside go to the kiosk where you can pay by credit card,
grab a ticket and head for a map and one of the entrances. If you want to see
one of the ‘famous’ exhibits, schedule your viewing for either early in the day
(right after opening) or just before closing. The Winged Victory is fairly easy
to see since it’s on a pedestal at the top of some stairs, but the Mona Lisa
will try your patience if you want to get up close. The Venus de Milo is also
on a pedestal, but it’s not on stairs, so you have to be patient if you want to
get close to it, as well. Restrooms are at a premium everywhere except by the
restaurant, so be prepared to stand in line if you use one in other parts of
the museum. Plan on eating at odd times if you want to stay in the museum; the
restaurant can get rather crowded. (See Pausing in Paris)
Notre-Dame Cathedral (6 Parvis Notre-Dame, Place Jean-Paul II,
Paris 75004) lives up to
its billing. This is an amazing place with wonderful
stained glass windows, chapels, alters, markers and icons. Entrance to the
Cathedral is free; the line to get in looks intimidating, but it moves very
quickly. Your bags are scanned and that’s want slows down entrance. If you are
lucky enough to be in the cathedral when there is singing, you’ll thoroughly
enjoy how the acoustics affect the sound. There is a charge if you want to
climb the tower; I did that years ago and it allows for wonderful views. The
grounds out behind the cathedral have plantings of shade trees, roses and
seasonal wildflowers. Evidently it is a popular place for wedding portraits
since we saw several couples posing with the flying buttresses in the
background. There is also an area for children to play and some benches from
which folks were feeding pigeons. (See Pausing in Paris)
 |
| Notre-Dame |
Punchbowl Crater and the National Memorial Cemetery
of the Pacific (2177 Puowaina Dr, Honolulu; 808-532-3720) is another
historic site that should not be missed. Free (See Honolulu Happenings)
Sainte-Chapelle (8 Boulevard du
Palais, 75001 Paris) has the most amazing stained glass windows I have seen.
There are literally walls and walls of windows. Since their restoration,
the
colors are vibrant and the light coming in makes the alter area seems to glow.
This is still an operating church with an active congregation, so visitors are
asked to be very quiet. The Crown of Thorns relic is supposed to be presented
with other relics to the believers for veneration on the first Friday of each
month, every Friday during Lent at 3 pm, and on Good Friday from 10 am to 5 pm.
However, the Crown of Thorns may not be among the relics at every presentation.
There is a cost for entrance to the church; the ticket is bundled with the
ticket for the Conciergerie. (See Pausing in Paris)
 |
| Sante-Chapelle |
Timken Museum of Art (1500 El Prado, San
Diego, CA 92101, 619-239-5548) was established through the Putnam Foundation
and is free. The audio guide is well worth its cost but is a bit verbose. Plan
to spend several hours in this little jewel of a museum. There is paid parking
in the area. (See Retreating in San Diego and Reviews)
 |
| USS Arizona Memorial |
Waimea Valley (59-864 Kamehameha
Hwy, Haleiwa; 808-638-7766) is a wonderful garden with a lovely waterfall and
swimming hole. There is an entry fee. (See The Vog and other Scenic Events)
 |
| Four Carrots |
 |
| Silk Embroidery of a Carp at the Bishop Museum |
Botanical Building and
Lily Pond (1549 El Prado,
San Diego, CA 92101, 619-239-0512) is free to the public and a lovely place to
spend half an hour to an hour. Depending on when you’re there, you may be
treated to some amazing seasonal flower displays. There is paid parking in the
area. (See Retreating in San Diego and Reviews)
Buffalo Bill Center of
the West (720 Sheridan Ave,
Cody, WY 82414, 307-587-4771) has
really expanded. There are now five parts to
it: Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indian Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum (old
to modern plus sculptures), Cody Firearms Museum, and Draper Natural History
Museum. It is very well done. The ticket is good for two days and if you take
your time you’ll need that long. Really interesting displays plus well-spoken
and knowledgeable docents are available in all of the areas; there are also
regular free tours in each museum. An outside area is devoted to more
sculptures, plants and special presentations such as the one they were
currently doing about raptors with the actual birds there. You can also do an
hour or half-hour horseback ride and tour. There are discounts for seniors and
for veterans. (See Towns along the Road)
 |
| Pioneer Mother |
As we expected, Capulin
Volcano National Monument (46 Volcano Rd, Capulin, NM 88414,
575-278-2201) was lovely. At the visitor’s center there is a nature walk with
informational cards that tell about the plants and the rocks. There is also a
small museum that is worth a visit. At the top of the volcano you can see the
four lava flows and take a two mile hike around the top or a one mile round
trip hike down into the crater. Generally, there is a ranger available to
explain what visitors are seeing. (See On the Road to Yellowstone)
 |
| Ute Agency by Pietka |
Diamond Head hike (off Diamond Head Road; see map) is great fun if you take your time.
The views from the top are wonderful. Free (See The Vog and other Scenic Events)
 |
| Hibiscus flower on the Dole Plantation |
Église de Saint-Germain-des-Prés (3 Place Saint-Germain des Prés 75006
Paris) is one of the oldest churches in Paris. It also has great stained glass
windows in a very small alter area. What I really like about the windows is the
distinctively different, rather more primitive, art they show. Like Sainte-Chapelle,
this is an active church so visitors must be mindful of services and members of
the congregation who are worshiping. There is a small garden with some
interesting sculptures around the side of the church; it also has some small
flying buttresses. Entrance is free. (See Pausing in Paris)
Garden of the Gods Park (1805 N. 30th Street, Colorado Springs,
CO, 80904, 719-634-
6666) is a great place for a nice walk. The popular
features, such as Balanced Rock and the Overlook, attract a lot of tourists, so
keep that in mind when planning your visit. You may get a chance to watch
people practicing rock climbing or to see rabbits, mountain goats and deer.
None of the critters seem too bothered by the tourists. (See Colorful Colorado)
 |
| Balanced Rock in the Garden of the Gods |
Grand Teton National Park (John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial
Parkway, WY, 307-739-3300), along with the road up to Gros
Ventre and The Mormon Row are certainly worth finding the
roads to get to these sites. Depending on the time of year, there may be oodles
of wildflowers and people stopped to take pictures of them. (See Cold Mountains, Sliding Trees and a Lot of Hot Water - Part
1)
 |
| Saint Ursula Triptych |
The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort
and Spa (2005 Kalia Rd, Honolulu; 808-949-4321) is my favorite ‘knock
around’ place. I can spend hours looking at the sculpture, enjoying the gardens
and animals, poking in and out of shops, and snacking my way through the
restaurants. Free unless you park; parking is expensive (See Old Time O’ahu)
Jardin des Plantes (rue Cuvier, rue Buffon, rue
Geoffroy-Saint-Hilaire, place Valhubert, 75005 Paris; +33- 01-40-79-56-01) is a
lovely botanical garden that has walking trails,
shade trees, formal plantings,
huge greenhouses, and a series of beds for specific plant species. The variety
of plants in each of these beds shows the range of leaf shape and blooms a
species can attain. Within this garden is the Menagerie du Jardin des
Plantes. While the Paris Zoo fits into the ‘modern’ zoo framework, the
Menagerie is a much smaller offering. The animals kept here are small to medium
in size and are not what you’d expect to see. We particularly enjoyed the Asian
Furry Donkeys who seemed intent on checking out visitors for handouts. There
was a well-appointed monkey house, exotic cat area, aviary, herpetarium, and
pens with natural landscaping for llamas, and mountain goats. There is a fee
for the menagerie, but not for the botanical garden. There are plenty of places
to eat around the gardens and you can bring food into the parks. (See Pausing in Paris)
 |
| Snake Dancer Statue in Paris |
Koko Crater Botanical Garden (7491 Kokonani St, Honolulu; 808-522-7060)
actually sits down inside the crater. There is nothing to eat or drink, so
bring what you’d like to keep yourself hydrated. Free (See The Vog and other Scenic Events)
 |
| Bird Walking Stick |
Mokoliʻi (viewed from Kualoa State Park, 49-479 Kamehameha Hwy,
Kaneohe) is also known as Chinaman's Hat. The small park is quite nice with a
large parking area and plenty of places to have picnics. Free (See The Vog and other Scenic Events)
Nuʻuanu Pali overlook (off the Pali highway; see map) is beautiful. The winds can blow so
hard that you think that you’ll come off the top. There are a couple of hiking
areas that are interesting if it’s not too damp. You must pay for parking, but
it’s reasonable. (See The Vog and other Scenic Events)
Old Town Trolley Tours (4010 Twiggs St, San Diego, CA 92101,
619-298-8687) are a
great way to see San Diego. The best way to get tickets is
to book online. If you’ve got the time, it’s well worth taking two days to
enjoy this tour, getting off at most of the stops. The guides are all
well-prepared, but some are much better than others; tipping is allowed. By the
time you rent a car and pay for parking, the cost for this tour is more than
reasonable. Depending on where you are staying, you may have to pay for parking
near one of the Trolley stops. (See Retreating in San Diego and Reviews)
 |
| Hawk on Weather Vane in San Diego |
The Petite Palais (Avenue
Winston Churchill, Paris 75008) has one of the most eclectic art collections in
Paris. It was surprising to be walking along the hall looking at an old master,
then to come face-to-face with a sculpture or a painting from the last five to
ten years. Since this was built as a palace, the building has wide, sweeping
staircases and long, wide halls. The building, itself, is a work of art. Its
exhibits range from furniture to paintings to sculptures to jewelry. There is
an inner garden that is quite pretty and a small restaurant. Evidently local
Parisians like the area for lunch since we saw several groups with their sack
lunches sitting in the garden. Entrance to the Petite Palais is free, except
for the traveling exhibit that may be in residence when you visit. The Petite
Palais is just off the Champs Elysees, so there are lots of green areas that
are decorated with interesting statues very close. (See Pausing in Paris)
Pikes Peak Cog Railway (515 Ruxton Ave,
Manitou Springs, CO 80829, 719-685-5401) is
a lovely way to get to the top of
Pikes Peak. As usual the announcer was silly but informative. It wasn’t nearly
as cold on top as we thought it would be. The trip down was equally beautiful.
It’s an expensive trip, but worth the cost. During tourist season, the ride is
crowded, so it is wise to book early; at other times of the year it’s
significantly less crowded and just as pretty. Make sure that you are there at
least 30 minutes early to get a good parking place even if you have pre-paid
for parking. Also be sure to take water on the train; altitude sickness
(dizziness and nausea) is a possibility. There is less air at the top of the
mountain, so you need to move slowly, very slowly. The donuts are good; the hot
chocolate is passable. (See Colorful Colorado)
 |
| Vince, Dave, and Cynthia on top of Pikes Peak |
Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau State Historic Site (see map)
is off Pupukea Homestead Road from Kamehameha Highway 835 on the North Shore.
Not only are the views of Waimea Bay and Waimea Valley wonderful, but you also
get a sense of the way the ancient Hawaiians lived and worshiped. It is well
worth the drive to enter a much less ‘touristy’ area. Free (See Old Time O’ahu)
Quarry Exhibit Hall - Dinosaur National Monument (Jensen, UT 84035, 435-781-7700) has been
improved since I was there in the 1990s. There is a gift shop with some
informational
displays and a movie that has been dummied down from what it was years ago. The
exhibit, itself, is still well maintained with some nice informational panels
and several rangers to answer questions. There is a place that you can touch
the actual bones. You have an option of riding the cart up or walking; your
choice will be dependent on the temperature. While this is the high desert, it
gets very hot very quickly and the sun is blistering. (See Diggin’ Dinos)
 |
| Wall of dino bones |
Rijksmuseum (Museumstraat 1, 1071 XX Amsterdam, The
Netherlands, +31 (0) 20 6747 000) is a huge place and it’s very easy to get
lost ending up completely outside the museum. The guards are nice enough to let
you back in if you show your ticket and ask for directions to where you thought
you were going when you got lost. The big artists to see here are Rembrandt and
Vermeer. Of course, since this is a world class museum there are examples of
works from all of the big names. There is a place in the museum to eat, but it
is pricy. (See Around Amsterdam)
Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (Rue de la Régence / Regentschapsstraat 3,
1000 Brussels, Belgium, +32 (0)2 508 32 11) is an amazing set of museums. It’s
got more twists and turns than the Louvre but not as confusing to navigate as
the Groeninge. Plan on spending an entire day to see the whole museum; there is
a place to eat. My two favorites were the Magritte Museum and the Old Masters.
(See Staying in the B&B: Brussels and Bruges)
 |
| Strange Masks by Enson |
San Diego Museum of Man (1350 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101,
619-239-2001) is an interesting museum with many attractions for kids. There
are all sorts of artifacts to see and examine. There is paid parking in the
area. (See Retreating in San Diego and Reviews)
Jenny Lake Boating (Jenny Lake, WY, 307-734-9227) provides an hour long scenic cruise that is informative and fun. Our guide was very knowledgeable and had a good
 |
| Jenny Lake |
While the Spice House (400
N Water St, Milwaukee, WI 53202; 414-431-0835) is a place to buy spices, it’s
also a great place just to look around. The owners have lots of information
about the spices they sell and are happy to answer any question you may have. I
thoroughly enjoyed looking at all of their wares and talking about where they
came from; I also brought a few spices that we can’t get in the Dallas-Fort
Worth area.
Talimena Scenic Drive (Arkansas Highway 88
intersects U.S. Highway 59/71 in the town of
Mena; U.S. Highway 271 Intersect
Oklahoma Highway 1.) is a lovely drive no matter what time of year you take the
time. (See Arkansas Art)
 |
| Wildflowers |
Universal Orlando Resort (6000 Universal
Boulevard, Orlando, Florida, 32819, 407-363-8000) is a combination of
Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, and City Walk –
Orlando. There is plenty to do here if you like rides, shows, parades, places
to eat, shopping, and inventive architecture. There are plenty of places to
relax and simply watch people. While we didn’t experience the crowds on this
visit, they can be a real trial during high season. Other negatives are noise
levels – you are made to hear rather than asked to listen; on a couple of the
rides I thought I had lost my hearing. For children this is a major
concern, especially since the sound level isn’t tied to explosions, gun
fire, and the like, but to the sheer volume of the music and dialog. It would
actually be easier to understand what was being said if the volume was less or
the sound effect were on a different (quieter) track from the dialog. Beyond
the entrance fee, reasonable if you intend to participate in even half of the
amusements available, the prices for souvenirs and for some of the food are
quite high. (See Aliens and Spiders and Dinos …Oh My!)
Van Gogh Museum (Paulus Potterstraat
7, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, +31 20-5705200) is an interesting place because
it doesn’t just show Van Gogh’s work, but tells the
story of his life. Plan to
get there early and do get the audio tour. There are information plaques by
many of the pictures, but they don’t go into the depth the audio tour does.
Seeing everything will take around four hours and you won’t be bored.
(See Around Amsterdam)
 |
| Rabbit Art near the Van Gogh Museum |
Yellowstone National Park (John
D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, WY, 307-344-7381) is spectacular; from
the mountains to the geysers, to the glacial features it’s lovely. The only two
down sides are the numbers of tourists with their lack of manners, and the road
construction. Things are different from what I remembered from the 1990s; some
geyser features are gone due to the earthquake but some new ones have formed.
The bison are around, and there are some herds of elk, but we didn’t see a
moose or a bear. In any case, stop at every turn off and take all the hikes you
can. The scenery is remarkable. Do not assume that just because there is a
wheelchair sign that there are not steps or that the site is completely
accessible; things are open to a point, then you just have to go with what is
actually open. (See Cold Mountains, Sliding Trees and a Lot of Hot Water – Part
2)
©2015 NearNormal Design and Production Studio -
All rights including copyright of photographs and designs, as well as
intellectual rights are reserved.
 |
| Vince and David half way to the North Pole |
No comments:
Post a Comment