One month later

No, this is not New York, but Boston's skyline seen from East Boston.  We live in a suburb West of Boston.  Walking on the piers, we wonder if we should move to East Boston to have this spectacular view and the smell of the harbor which reminds us of dear Seattle.  Something to think about.
In the meantime we start our move back to France and Paris.

We will not be snowbirds this time, just ducks flying away when it's time for migration.

Berlin and Paris

On this grey and rainy Sunday in Paris we were lucky to go to the Eiffel tower with visiting friends to walk along the colorful parade of 140 Berliner bears.  No ordinary brown bears  but dressed up in the costumes symbolizing the 140 nations of the UN.

To talk about the artistic value is not the right moment. The excitement and positive surprise of tourists from all over the world visiting the Eiffel tower was palpable and infectious. Nice to notice that the US bear was by far the most popular to pose with for the camera.

The message of tolerance and living together in peace warmed everybody's heart and soul. We all felt positive and a little sad that this parade will leave tomorrow.  Will they parade perhaps in Jerusalem? 

http://www.buddy-baer.com/en/united-buddy-bears/world-tour/paris-2012.html

Veterans Day in France

This week we remember World War I and World War II which destroyed so many young lives.  Which left so many grieving mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children.  The impact of the millions who died can never be measured.

The American Military Cemetery in Suresnes is small with 'only' 1565 graves.  Just outside of Paris at Mount Valerien and the view from there over the Bois de Boulogne to the Eiffel tower and

Montparnasse tower is impressive.  

The European Union has to stay strong and work out all the difficulties to keep the peace!

http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/su.php

"The Hippie airline" - my favorite then and now

There are still some people who remember when Icelandair went under the name Loftleidir .

At that time the Luxembourg airport in the 'heart of Europe' was the only place one could check in to fly to New York.  Always with a stop over in Keflavik on Iceland, a former US military airport. 

One had to leave the plane and walk in the fresh and cold air to the waiting hall.  There rows and rows of Iceland sweaters could be bought in the Duty free store. 

Now, Keflavik International Airport is a large modern building which can accomodate numerous arriving and departing planes with direct access gate to plane.  Alas, no fresh arctic air to inhale when changing planes.  One can still walk along the long corridor to the Duty free stores and there in a corner of a fleece sporting and outdoor clothing store are the well known hand-knitted sweaters like in the 70's.

http://www.loftleidir.com/our-history/

Respect for Mother Nature

When Mother Nature 'tricked' us, like it did last weekend, it gives us an occasion to think about the many 'treats' we get every day and every year.   A selection of 'treats' from her can always be  admired in the exhibition of minerals, gems and meteorites in the Harvard Museum of Natural History.

Let's think about and practice to treat Mother Nature well and with respect so that we are not 'tricked' soon again.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/harvardmuseumofnaturalhistory/show/with/2900201354/

Day and Night in the MFA

This Fall was filled with many events at the MFA. The large new Shapiro Family Courtyard has become a focal point in the new American wing.  Early in the morning the 'New American Cafe' serves breakfast. At lunch time there is a line to get a table and in the evening it can host receptions for large private parties.  The tall 'Lime Green Icicle Tower' by Chihuly stands guard with icy beauty mirroring itself in the glass wall day and night.
http://www.boston.com/ae/theater_arts/articles/2011/07/26/mfa_takes_up_collection_to_buy_chihuly_piece/

Splendor in the grass

After several years of neglect, the front lawn got removed and we got a new one.

The weather played along with many rainy days and now we are proud of this 

perfect American lush green giving the house a well needed lift.

and we are humming ".....life is moving oh-so fast,  I think we should take it slow,

rest our heads upon the grass and listen to it grow....."

(One of the songs on the last Pink Martini CD)http://pinkmartini.com/news/

Surprising Wedding Anniversary

Sometimes very pleasant surprises come your way:  The husband is getting celebrated by many friends and colleagues and because it happens to be our anniversary we received wonderful flowers and large baskets filled with a wide selection of Champagne.  Quelle surprise!

Enough reason that today, last day of a busy September, we are filled with gratefulness and feel so blessed.

Thank you -  Tack så mycket - Merci mille fois - Herzlichen Dank!

Saturday on Cape Code

We had a lovely weekend on the Cape. The sun was still warm and the nights cool with a clear star lit sky. The thousand of summer guests had packed and returned to school and work and the beaches seemed deserted with the many footprints still visible.

However, we were not the only one visiting the beach to walk along the shore. A small crowd was watching the photographers using the sand, sky and sea as back drop for wedding pictures.

While children had collected pebbles to build towers, oblivious to all the excitement of the bride and groom and their important day.

Opening Reception for Paul Klee Exhibition

One of the last warm summer nights yesterday became festive when a student Jazz band played in front of the entrance to Devlin Hall on the BC campus. A welcome to celebrate the opening of the exhibition for which the planning started four years ago.

The galleries quickly filled with curious visitors who then patiently waited their turn to come close up to study the delicate paintings.

A buffet with sandwiches, sweets and coffee was offered in a room nearby:

The artist baker had applied two images ('Collection of Figurines' and 'N.H.D.')

on the huge chocolate cake.

In the 'Little Museum That Could' you can have your pictures and eat them too!

Boston College Fall 2012

Labor Day weekend is coming up and the BC class of 2016 has already arrived and moved in to their dorm rooms. Next week classes start on the same day as 'la rentrée' for the school children in Paris.

I met some of the 2.250 Freshmen today on campus and it was fun to see them in their individual summer clothes.

That will change when they visit the Bookstore in the coming days where the required books are waiting for them.

Because part of the bookstore is stocked with clothes, it is easy to get a new outfit and melt right in becoming part of the 14,600 Boston College students.

From Versailles to Woodstock in Vermont

Last Sunday I visited Versailles to escape the heat of Paris and to walk in the shade of the trees in the park. Wednesday I was back in Boston for the Fall semester and over the weekend we were in Woodstock in Vermont.

It takes 6 days to come over the time change of 6 hours. For the culture change, it may take a little bit longer.

The next generation

This poster to support the idea about paternal leave was made 34 years ago!

It took a while for men to discover that caring for their children would not harm their masculine image. To see men occupied with their children during daytime is now a common sight in Stockholm.

There are some critical voices who say that men take the parental leave only during the summer to enjoy being outside in the sun. A form of disguised vacation....

May that be the case - I will leave Stockholm with good memories of happy people (me included) enjoying the sun and the water and the fresh air. All the rain is already forgotten.

City on the rocks

Whenever there are large construction sites it is impressive to see the work involved to remove the bedrock on which Stockholm is built. Protruding granite cliffs here and there visible give the city the character of solidity and sturdiness.

And then this change in the subway which to a large part is 'just' drilled into and through the rocks. There numerous artists changed the granite to form a fairy land which brightens up the life for millions of commuters.

More on: http://www.architizer.com/en_us/blog/dyn/42033/art-enters-the-underground-stockholms-tunnelbana/

Olympic Summer Games

While watching the Olympics games on television, let's not forget that it is only 100 years ago that all the excitement happened here in Stockholm live and in the stadium which is still standing and in use.

Sculptures of athletes in different olympic disciplines decorate the front entrance of the stadium. We recognized the sprinters reaching the goal, the relay runners in a crucial moment,

but with these two 'wrestlers' we had some difficulty recognizing if it was a competition or play.

A twinge of envy

The 19th century idea of a small house with garden - Schrebergarten or Victory garden - has a renaissance.

When living in an apartment in the city with no balcony, the idea of escaping to a self made paradise becomes very attractive. Forgetting snow and ice during the winter and not thinking about digging and weeding and watering, we just wished we could have such a cute red house and then cutting flowers and picking our own vegetables.

We are not the only one with this dream. The list for an available lot is long and it would take years to become an owner. In the mean time we visit the local farm stands and supermarkets.

A museum with royal roots: Waldemarsudde

One of Stockholm's most loved museum is the former residence of Prince Eugen. After his death in 1947 it became - unchanged - a state owned museum in accordance with his testament.

Not only the art he collected and created but the interior design with the original furnitures is impressive. An important part are the seasonal decorations with fresh flowers and plants that makes this residence coming alive. Could it be that the Prince is still painting in his studio on the top floor?

Part of the museum is a large flower garden with many bronze sculptures and then a splendid view over the water. There we walked around, sat on a bench and forgot time..... ZEN!

Off the Motorway

It is always good to go off the motorway! If you would drive between Bordeaux and Paris on the A 10, take your time to go off at exit 34 to Poitiers on the D 950. In this way you will be able to see some beautiful romanesque churches which are on the Unesco World Heritage site.

We found the St. Peter's church in Aulnay where we had the good fortune to come on Sunday morning during the service. It was moving to see the gathering of the congregation in this 800 year old church.

Not to disturbe the Mass, we walked outside around the church and took our time to admire the richly carved capitals and facades.

No summer weather

Does that look like a cheery summer day at the Seine? It is the day before Bastille Day and one expects warm sunny weather for the festivities with dances and fireworks. This year will be more on the grey and rainy side.

The golden top of the obelisk on the Place de la Concorde should make a connection to the sun for the parade tomorrow on the Champs Elysee. On this photo one can see the build up podium with the roof colored red-white-blue under which the political elite will be seated with many foreign dignities. The TV cameras are installed ready to bring this event to thousands of French people who will watch from their homes.

When the sun is shining, the brass buttons on the uniforms and the brass instruments from the bands will shine and the severity of the military power will be less prominent.

"Rain, rain go away and come back another day!"

Munich pics (2)

One of the world's largest urban public parks is the English Garden in Munich. There are many opportunities to relax or to exercise while running, biking, swimming.....

The Chinese Tower - 25 meter high - is in the center of a Biergarten which seats 7.000.

There are stands to buy some of the rustic food and drinks (mostly beer), pay and then find a place on one of the benches. A convivial togetherness is assured and conversations in all languages start easily.

For the surfers the ideal spot is at the entrance where the artificial Eisbach is pumped into the English garden. The stream forms a constant wave on which the surfers glide for a short while one after the other and over and over again. A daily free spectacle for the audience on the bridge.

And at the Eisbach further down, a quiet place found by a couple to rest and have a picnic alone.

No wonder that the Englische Garten is loved by the Munich people in all seasons during the year. In the summer, the large grass areas can be used for sunbathing. Warning: if you feel embarrassed by nudity then do not look around. It is allowed to feel like Adam and Eve in paradise before biting the apple.