Paris -- again and again.

Train to Paris after trip to Amsterdam.  Always a thrill to return to the City Of Lights............my favorite city.  Feels like my second home.

The new experiences were having a gourmet dinner with friend/chef Eddie and Max.  We started the meal with a wonderful Street market selecting fresh food.  Eddie goes there all the time and knows all the vendors.  That in itself was a fun experience.  They had fruits and veggies I had never seen before.

Over to their apartment where we all worked together chopping, slicing and dicing under the oversight of chef.  He'd make one plate and we'd photograph it and then eat.  We only managed to eat 3 plates.  He had planned on several more and so sad we got full.  It was a perfect day and one I'll always remember.

Got to attend a preview showing at the Louvre that was very special.  Imagine being in there with maybe 200 people.  Took photos showing how empty it was.

On this trip  I made the effort to go alone across the city to visit the Rodin Museum.  On my Paris list for a long time.  I've loved Rodin's sculptures since I read "Naked Came I" around 1967.  A biographical fiction about the artists life.  I remember being thrilled to see a copy of his "Thinker" in San Francisco at the Legion of Honor museum, also in 1967.  A large and wonderful museum in Paris that I thoroughly enjoyed.  Rodin was amazing.

Denver, Boulder and FFI Global Conference 6/17 - 6/26

Home for one day from France, wash and repack and off to Denver.  My friend Sue came with me and we had a truly super time together.  We flew to Denver. And Sue rented a car.  We stayed in a great...maybe my favorite Airb&n for about 5 days.  It was hot, hot there but we just plugged along.

Visited a little town, Manitou, where we enjoyed high tea with hats we could borrow at Maramont Castle, which we toured after tea.  We walked around the cute town.  Drove through the Garden of the Gods.  The red rocks were balanced and very picturesque.

I had a visit with two old friends I hadn't seen in over 20 years.  Had a nice dinner with them and fun to reminiscence.  A huge part of why I enjoy traveling, seeing far away friends.

We took a walking tour of Denver and also toured the state capitol.  Participated in a special cooking class and in general enjoyed our time in Denver.

We also attended the FFI Global Conference.  People from around the world and many members of my Suncoast Florida club attended.  We had over 400 participants.  We stayed at the University of Colorado Boulder in a dorm room which was different.  Like camp going down the hall for the bathroom. 

Thrilled a buy a much-needed fan.

Record breaking heat while we were there.

FFI BBQ dinner with bluegrass

My travel mate, Sue.  We had a very enjoyable

 trip with lots of laughs.

 Attended many good seminars and got some ideas to take back.

Last day up at 3:30 a.m. and Ubered to airport for an early flight to Tucson for a 10 day visit with friends.

Feel I got a good overview of Denver.  It is an interesting city with a good mix of old and new.  They have saved a lot of the downtown and huge neighborhoods with terrific homes with varied architecture , well maintained and beautiful.  Denver has the most breweries of any city in the USA.  Culture and fun rolled into one.

DeGrazia Museum & Gallery - Tucson, AZ

Have been aware of work by this famous artist for many years so it was a treat to visit.  Cheryl knows I love art so  me she brought me to  visit.

Ted DeGrazia was an interesting native Arizonian who I want to learn more about.  I'm sure he was quite a character.    He was definitely an individualist who seemed to love his state and the original people who homesteaded.

His art has lots of movement and color.  Preferred to work in oil with a knife, but also did pen and pencil along with watercolor and chalk. many collections - children, bulls, rodeo, and other topics.  Also worked with metal, clay and other mediums.

Diego Rivera, whose art I enjoy, actually sponsored an exhibition by DeGrazia.

I enjoyed my visit to his studio/gallery, the chapel and grounds.

Enjoy.

DeGrazia's chapel

He painted such sweet children

 Century cactus.  Blooms once and then dies.

Rain starting.

Downtown Historic Tucson

Had a fun day taking pictures

Missy, Mike & Cheryl's dog.  Quite a

little character

New Orleans -- the Big Easy 4/10 - 4/15/2019

There is a special flavor to this grand city and seldom have I met such friendly people.  I do love hearing ma'am too and the people have sweet accents.

I visited my friend Joann (who I met in Russia on an FFI trip) for 5 days and she showed me the best time.  Our main focus was music in New Orleans and we sure did enjoy it all.

Had an informative visit to the old State Capitol.  My second visit there but an amazing building.  I think it has my favorite winding staircase.

Got to drive over a 24 mile bridge over the Mississippi River several times.  Good attentive driving is a must.  We spent a little time and money at the casino, but that afforded us free parking.  Had a few drinks for a tip there.  Walking distance to music all over downtown.

We did get to visit a plantation which was something I wanted to do.  This was a lovely one and it is a State Historic Site protected by Louisiana.  Named Rosedown Plantation and Gardens.  We took the home tour and it was interesting learning so many facts.  Built in 1835, taking six months to build with a cost of $13,109.20!!!  It was a cotton plantation.

Drove around Joann's city and the next one over.  Cute little towns that both had trailheads and nice hiking areas.  Many green and stately trees and the weather was very nice when I was there.

Food, it is called a city of food.  I had all the items they are famous for from crawdads to beignets.  My first meal at my friend's house was gumbo that was quite delicious.  There were many epicurean delights and it is a great eating city.  I have now expanded my knowledge of food.  My funny food experience was when I picked up a crawdads to pull off the tail I squeezed the head and had gray brain splattered on me, shooting brains.  It was so weird.  I did not "suck the heads"  which most locals do.

We had so many laughs and a great visit.  Joann went out of her way to show me a super time and I appreciate all she did.  And if she'll have me this area deserves another visit.  Now I'm waiting for her to come visit me!!