Tagged With "Statues and monuments"
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 18 2013: Milan's Bronze Typist
I enjoy the photo and the story, PHeymont, but am drawn to the typewriter. In a few more generations, children will be wondering, "what's that strange thing the man is holding on his lap?" I still remember owning and using a typewriter, but few under the age of 30 do. I recall reading a SciFi short story collection written in the 1950s not long ago that featured a story about a journalist traveling on a space ship. He needed to keep his typewriter anchored so that it didn't float away in...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Dec. 18 2013: Milan's Bronze Typist
I was struck, actually, by the size of the typewriter (sort of like an Olivetti Lettera 22, the chic portable of the 1960s). When Montanelli started out, surely a typewriter you could put on your knees was as strange an idea as computers were in our childhood (I'm giving away my age, I know)!
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
Your piece will serve inspiration for many future trips,I'm sure of that.I had no clue as the extent of Eiffel's work but I now want to see several of them in person. This serves as an example of why TravelGumbo is so different and needed
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
PHeymont, Your post reminded me that I had seen a pre-fabricated church designed by Eiffel in Baja, Mexico. It is in the small town of Santa Rosalia and still in use. There is more info here .
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
Absolutely fascinating, thank you. And I thought that UK's Isambard Kingdom Brunel was prolific!
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
Brunel has fascinated me since reading a book on the Great Eastern, an unlucky ship he designed. Perhaps someday I can find time to post about his work...unless I hear a volunteer? Thanks!
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
I'm personally acquainted with one of Brunel's railway bridges, the Gatehampton Bridge over the Thames in Berkshire, England. I was advised by my Thames Path guidebook that I was approaching it. There was a strategically placed bench in a meadow where I sat, had a snack and looked at it from a distance for a bit before walking under it. Not at all knowledgeable, or even much interested, in bridges I tried to get at least a glimpse of what the guide meant when it said "one of Brunel's Great...
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Re: The "Eiffel Tour" Only Starts with the Tour Eiffel
T&N, you make an interesting point about the air circulation and coolness of Eiffel's building. These days we are constantly reading about advances in "green design," intended to reduce excess energy use. Ironic how well some of those principles of making life bearable were known so long ago by those who didn't have the option of mechanical air-conditioning! Another example is in today's blog about Gaudi's Casa Battlo in Barcelona, which uses an open well through the center of the...
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Re: Laughter Set in Stone: Fun with Statues
Well, here's another I would have included in the original post—except I didn't remember I had it! Unintentionally ironic or not...it speaks up for a local guy in an unusual way!
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Re: Laughter Set in Stone: Fun with Statues
That's a fun piece, PHeymont! I, too, have noticed larger numbers of whimsical statues. The city this struck me in the most was Bratislava, in Slovakia. For example, here's their "Men at Work" And here's one that's a tribute to shutterbugs like you and me.
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Re: Laughter Set in Stone: Fun with Statues
Thanks! those are great...we need a bit more humor in everyday life!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 13: Brussels' Saucy Statue
He's much smaller than I thought -- and I'm talking about the height of the little guy. Besides chocolate their tinkling mascot, the Belgiums also love beer and comics. I was quite surprised at what a comic book culture they have.
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Re: Arches National Park — One of America’s Finest
There's a ton of stuff to do around Moab, Travel Luver. There's also scenic Canyonlands National Park nearby, well worth exploring. Off-road biking (bicycle, not motorcycle) is extremely popular. Hiking in the cooler seasons. Whitewater rafting is excellent in the summer. And you're less than a day's drive from your next Utah destination, such as Bryce, Zion, or Monument Valley. One of my favorite spots in the US!
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Re: From the Shoebox: Germany in the early 60s
I was stationed in Heidelberg with the US Army twice (1971-1973) and (1990-1993). I believe your 2nd photo is the Ehrenfels Castle near the town of Rüdesheim and the grape variety Ehrenfelser is named after the castle. I think the next photo is also near Rüdesheim and I think the thing poking up in the left distance is t he Niederwalddenkmal which is a monument constructed to commemorate the foundation of the German Empire.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, September 25, 2014: Statue of Elvis Presley, Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
I'm old enough to remember the Vegas Years, although was too young at the time to go see Elvis in Vegas. Fans always commented that Elvis was at his best in Vegas -- relaxed, chatty (talking to the crowd a lot), and despite it's large size, it was a fairly intimate performance venue with lots of direct audience contact. (Watch the video all the way to the end to see the audience) The statue was unveiled by Barron Hilton just outside the showroom where Elvis performed, and it stood there for...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, September 25, 2014: Statue of Elvis Presley, Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
DrFumblefinger: I really appreciate your feedback and extra information you provided in the above comment. As Elvis would say "Thank you. Thank you very much. Your a beautiful audience. Thank you."
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, November 13, 2014: Statue of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, Kuhio Beach in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii
So there really was a "Big Kahuna". I thought it was just a slang expression.
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Re: Devils Tower National Monument
Nice photos of a fascinating place, Ottoman! I also visited the monument many years ago, and recall what an imposing and striking place it is. I can certainly see the cinematic appeal to Mr. Speilberg, who uses the physical drama of the place so very well in the last half of the movie.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, January 8, 2015: Statue of Elvis Presley, Beale Street, Memphis, TN
Great pictures, Ottoman! And for rock'n'roll fans, a special day. Elvis at 80 is a little hard to imagine, but I'm sure were he alive he would just crack a joke about it. TravelGumbo is doing a series on Elvis destinations in the south next month, so keep an eye out for that!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, August 12, 2015: Venus de Milo
One of the greatest works of art of all time! Nicely captured, Sarcee!
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Re: 12 Most Beautiful Museums in the World
A lover of more intimate buildings, they might have called these the grandest, rather than most beautiful, as I see it. In the eye of the beholder and all that implies. A smaller building seems to tell me more, though, about the subjects on display and the origins of the building and collection. For instance, I much prefer the old Getty in Malibu to the new one shown in the link, more building than content by far, monument to ego. In any case, here are some I find more "beautiful."...
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Re: Lego Store, NYC: Only the Best is Good Enough
The Lego Store is becoming a High Street regular. I spent way too long admiring the model of Hogwarts School at a store in Pennsylvania. Lego is something you never grow out of.
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Re: In the Cotswolds: Sezincote
I think the ruling class would have admired this monument to empire, source of wealth and employment for younger sons. And then there's the tradition of eccentricity among those of their class so I suspect no one thought much about it.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, September 10, 2015: Statue of Mary Tyler Moore, Minneapolis, Minneosta
Thanks for sharing this post. I had no idea there was an MTM statue in Minneapolis. MTM show remains one of my all-time favorites. Superb writing and character development, great acting, fine story telling. Wish more shows like this were still made.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, September 10, 2015: Statue of Mary Tyler Moore, Minneapolis, Minneosta
I totally agree DrFumblefinger. When you see much of the material that passes for television these days, it makes me appreciate even more how good the Mary Tyler Moore show really is.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, September 10, 2015: Statue of Mary Tyler Moore, Minneapolis, Minneosta
The characters on MTM were generally functional people, with problems, and with a sense of purpose (even if some had purposes a bit off-kilter). Even Ted was not a total idiot. Think how many shows today rise to that standard...go on, I'm waiting...
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Re: Jan. 28: Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, Berlin
When I was in Berlin I wanted to see this tribute, but I simply ran out of time. Thank you for sharing these wonderful photos of such an important monument.
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Re: New York Harbor: A visit to Lady Liberty!
I still remember passing her at 5.30am as we cruised into New York...she is beautiful, majestic and one giant world landmark!
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Re: New York Harbor: A visit to Lady Liberty!
It's good to see Liberty made a full recovery after Hurricane Sandy....
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Re: New York Harbor: A visit to Lady Liberty!
Thank you for reminding us of that memorable Marilyn Monroe scene! Yes, Lady Liberty is doing well. Full recovery.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 9, 2014: Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Pennington County, South Dakota
Hi Travel Luver I apologize for the lateness of this response. In answer to your question, I unfortunately did not see the monument lit up at night...my travel schedule didn't permit it. I too hope to go back to Mount Rushmore in the near future, primarily to see it lit up, for I have heard it is quite special, and the photos I have seen confirm that. When you make it back to Mount Rushmore, I hope you will share your adventures with us. Thanks for your feedback. I appreciate it. Take care,...
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 24, 2014: Statue of Oscar Wilde, Merrion Square, Dublin, Ireland
So that's Oscar Wilde lying on the rock? I thought it was you, Ottoman!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 24, 2014: Statue of Oscar Wilde, Merrion Square, Dublin, Ireland
DrFumblefinger... The gentleman sitting on the rock isn't holding a Guinness, that's how you can tell it's not a picture of me
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More Frequent Flier changes in the air
The world of award travel and elite perks continues to shake and shift. Delta, which like United, has switched for next year to awarding flight miles based not on distance but on price paid for ticket—a move that hurts many frequent...
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Devils Tower National Monument
Devils Tower is an igneous intrusion or laccolith in the Bear Lodge Mountains (part of the Black Hills) in northeastern Wyoming, above the Belle Fourche River. It rises dramatically 1,267 feet (386 m) above the surrounding terrain and...
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Tupelo, Mississippi. Birthplace of the King of Rock 'n Roll
This is the first post in a short series on visiting Elvis Presley related sites. I've been a huge Elvis fan all my life and my love for the man's wonderful music has not abated in the 35+ years since he died. My brother (Ottoman) and I...
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Lisbon's Jeronimos Monastery and Tower of Belem
Our first day in Lisbon was awesome. We got to see so much of the city, and watch the sunset from a castle. On our second day in Lisbon we took the train to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Torre de Belém...
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Walla, Walla: “So nice they named it twice!”
What’s a Walla Walla? It’s a Indian name meaning “many waters”. It’s also the name of a charming city in southeastern Washington; nestled close to the Columbia and Snake River valleys, and with a river of its...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 13, 2013: Jeronimos Monastery
Sunlight and shade highlight the complex carving of this stonework at the Monastery of Jeronimos at Belem, in Lisbon. This late-Gothic style is called Manueline, after King Manuel I. It’s marked by ornate stonework, often including maritime...
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Washington State’s Long Beach Peninsula
For most travelers, the southwestern corner of Washington state is easy to bypass. It lies well over an hour’s drive from the busy I-5 Interstate Freeway. The broad mouth of the Columbia River limits access from the Oregon...
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Washington state's Wild Horses Monument & Gingko Petrified Forest
The Columbia River is one of the most interesting and beautiful geographic features of the Inland Northwest, from its headwaters in British Columbia to the dramatic Gorge just east of Portland, Oregon. When...
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Cologne Cathedral, Germany. Where Gumbo Was #83
Gumbo was visiting the magnificent Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. The puzzle destination was recognized rather quickly by Roderick Simpson -- congratulations Roddy! I first saw Cologne’s Cathedral on a...
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Left Bank of the Tiber
I’d looked online for an apartment for my week in Rome, until I was sick of the thought of going. At some point I came across a recommendation for a women’s hostel in Trastevere (Tras TAY veree), on what I came to think of as...
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Colorado National Monument
While many of the units of the US National Park system are frequently visited and very busy, there are also a few less crowded places. Colorado National Monument (known to locals as " The Monument" ) falls into the latter category....
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, January 8, 2015: Statue of Elvis Presley, Beale Street, Memphis, TN
Today is Elvis Presley's eightieth birthday. In honor of this event, it seemed fitting to do a Picture of the Day dedicated to "The King". I came across this attractive bronze statue of Elvis on Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee....
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San Juan's El Morro: Layers of Stone, Layers of History (Where Gumbo Was, #84)
El Morro, the giant fortification that's guarded San Juan Harbor for nearly 500 years, is the sight we saw before we saw it. Its image is everywhere when you do online research for a trip to Puerto Rico; its "garitas"—small domed...
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Visiting Santiago de Cuba
I really had no idea what to expect of Santiago de Cuba , afterall the next biggest city in Cuba is always overshadowed by Havana. So Santiago was going to surprise us - it could only leave a good or a bad impression right? We showed...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, March 12, 2015: King Kamehameha Statue, Kapaau, Hawaii Island, Hawaii
King Kamehameha I (1758 - 1819) conquered the Hawaiian Islands and united them to formally establish the Kingdom of Hawai ʻ i in 1810, thus founding the Kamehameha Dynasty. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha...
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Route 66 - Pasadena to Needles
Last summer I had the opportunity to do something I had always wanted to do - drive a significant portion of Route 66. Having spent 4 days in LA, I started a drive to Albuquerque to meet up with The Amazing Ms. D. Instead of rushing down the...