dutch embassy event- Van Gogh and more Jan 27,2010

view of trajan's market and medieval tower from terrace of vittoriano museum

Trajan's column from terrace

restaurant on terrace at top of museum where the cocktail party was help

We were invited by the Dutch embassy to a private tour of the Van Gogh exhibit which is currently at the Vittoriana museum. We had seen the exhibit but we were very willing to go again especially with a guide whose  main area of study is Van Gogh. Scott, Christopher and I went and enjoyed an excellent tour with descriptions of the various phase of Van Gogh's life. He started out with his landscape scenes, horizontal and flat focus in his paintings, studied in antwerp and eventually to montmartre in Paris to experience city life and see the impressionists first hand. eventually moved to the south of France where he lived out the rest of his 37 years before he committed suicide. He had always struggled with depression and psychological problems. 

skiing-sestriere, italy dec 26-31st, 2010

a non-flattering photo of us ready for a day of skiing

matthew

christopher, only photo I could get of them. otherwise they were blasting down the slopes

italian and french alps

loved the lighted angels in front of the church, we could see these from our hotel window. there were two of them. in background you can see the lighted slope for the ski show that evening

there were many participants at the ski show on one of the olympic slopes. it was a cold and long show

their olympic symbol and olympic slope in background

3 very nice days of skiing. weather cooperated nicely, about 32 degrees F, little wind and sunshine.  It has snowed a great deal just prior to our arrival which was perfect.  There were crowds but we avoided them by skiing on the shadier side of the mountain. The italians will always seek out the sun. Sestriere also had a lovely indoor/outdoor heated swimming pool which was fun to use after a day of skiing. great to be in the freezing cold swimming outdoors while watching the sun set on the alps. 

revealing of the lion cubs- all 7 of them!

lions coming out for the first time

both moms and cubs

very, very cute

A worried mom was very attentive to the the crowds

One of the many lovely trees in the mall

The national zoo displayed their 7 lion cubs to the press and Fonz members for the first time the other day. 4 of them were born in August and 3 in September to two different lionesses. It was in the high 30's so they weren't allowed to stay out too long. Had to be 32 degrees in order to let them out. They were officially named that day too. Their names are: john, fahari, zuri, lelei,baruti, aslan (after you know who) and lusaka.  They had previously been known as left shoulder, left hip, right shoulder, etc where they had shaved off patches of fur so they could tell them apart.  They gave a great show to the public and the moms were very concerned with all these visitors.

Christmas decorations in D.C

train display at union station, wash. dc.

national gallery of art wash d.c, so tastefully decorated

a very pretty city in the snow

national Christmas tree behind the White House surrounded by 50 small trees, one representing each state

pretty display

union station huge train display

All the malls have gorgeous trees and lights. Train sets are HUGE, there is one at Union Station, one at the Botanical Gardens which goes through the world with models of famous places; the pyramids of giza, lighthouse of alexandria, hagia sofia in turkey, taj mahal etc (those photos to come), another huge set of trains running around the national Christmas tree (was stuck by the snow the night I was there), there was even an overhead train display in the clyde's restaurant I was in the other day.

christmas decorations Dec 11th, 2010

a private home in Ambler, PA. 

one could say a bit over the top

Every Christmas symbol imaginable. we passed by on the first night the lights were on.

a much more tastefully decorated tree at Laurinda's

Had an overnight visit to Philly to visit with Laurinda and her husband, Gil. We had a quality 24 hours, with dinner, a Christmas concert featuring a soprano, mezzosoprano, baritone and bass with piano accompaniment. Very nice, 4 students from the philly voice academy.  This was followed by a tour of the Christmas lights and we hit it big when Gil remembered to drive by this house. There were lots of other very pretty houses with wreathes, white lights, stars and more. Many many houses decorated in their area. Fun and reminded me of when my parents would drive us around when we were kids.

Rhinebeck, N.Y Sinterklaas Day Celebration

Beekman Arms hotel and restaurant, established in 1766 as a tavern/inn and has been in action ever since.  It is said to be the country's oldest continuously running hotel.

band on stilts

amanda and emily with the sinterklaas flag, this year honoring the turtle, and with their decorated birch rods symbolizing royal scepters. kids become royalty for the day

crowns made by the girls since they become the kings and queens of the day

sinterklaas stars in the background - johanna and the girls

Route 9, running through the town, was all decked with lights

dutch reformed church, established in 1731, they say the oldest functioning church in U.S.

sinterklaas on his white stallion with bishop robes, hat and scepter

people lining the parade route with their sinterklaas stars

parade - cauldron and fire

parade dragon

colorful  parade figures


Dec 6th is St. Nicolas Day and is celebrated in Holland as the day when Sinterklaas comes. Rhinebeck being settled by Dutch settlers over 300 years ago takes pride in celebrating its Dutch heritage.  The very pretty and quaint town was decorated with lovely Christmas decorations and lights. There were activities for children where they could make their own crowns and symbolic scepters since children become honored royalty for the day. After dark, Sinterklaas rides into town on his white house followed by many colorful figures, real llamas, a pipe band and much more. Paradegoers wear their crowns, carry their decorated birch branches and all the  sinterklaas large white stars light up the parade route.  It was a very cold (32 degrees) night but we endured it and had a fun day.

pretty cortland site

cortland historic site, george washington was here! then turned into the nursing home for years till they built a new one just next to it.   Spending a lot of time here visiting Helen.