En La Ciudad

The Same.

2012-01-19T14:06:00.001Z

Lavender watering system to match the lavender plants in the park.

Rooftop.

2012-01-17T14:03:00.001Z

Roof detail from somewhere in the old city of Cuenca.

Hanging Out.

2012-01-16T13:59:00.001Z

The famous hanging houses of Cuenca, Spain.

After walking around the old city for a bit, we had a fancy lunch in the window of one of the hanging houses and were able to look out over the river valley.

Painting the Town.

2012-01-15T13:30:00.001Z

Just some beautiful art on the side of some apartment buildings.

It reminded me of the playing cards from a German board game we like called Dixit.

Green Zone.

2012-01-14T13:29:00.000Z

Okay, so maybe Spain is totally out of money right now. But hey, they sure knew how to spend it when they had it. A few pictures from a recently opened park by the river. The entire park sits where the freeway used to be. Instead, the local government spent billions to bury the freeway in the same spot and put a beautiful park on top.

Modernista V

2011-11-16T15:11:00.001Z

And finally, just a few details from the Parque Guell.

Modernista IV

2011-11-15T15:08:00.005Z

Over at the Parque Guell, Gaudi built this gecko to hang out in the middle of a variety of his buildings. On warmer days, water pours out of his mouth too.

Face It. VIII

2011-11-14T15:06:00.001Z

This was some sort of advertisement for the Barcelona Metro System, and some kind of social networking contest thing.

Lydia found it incredibly disturbing and will probably not be thrilled that I took a picture of it and have posted it here.

Face It. VII

2011-11-13T15:05:00.002Z

Don't know who he is. Anybody else?

Modernista III

2011-11-12T15:05:00.000Z

Just a few of the many sculptures on the roof of "La Pedrera." There was a line down the street to get in, but it was way worth it.

Modernista II

2011-11-12T14:03:00.001Z

Gaudi's final masterpiece, La Sagrada Familia in the distance, rising above Barcelona.

Face It. VI

2011-11-11T14:02:00.000Z

Modernista I

2011-11-10T13:09:00.002Z

One of several Gaudi buildings we visited while in Barcelona for a long weekend. Here is the Casa Batllo at night.

Face It. V and a half.

2011-11-09T13:07:00.003Z

Also in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, and also sort of creepy faces, so I guess it qualifies for this series.

Face It. V

2011-11-08T13:05:00.002Z

In the aptly named Gothic Quarter of downtown Barcelona.

From Upon High.

2011-11-07T13:02:00.002Z

Oh well, nothing really to say about either of these pictures other than that I think they look neat and I could see them out the window of my hotel.

I like the reflection in the side of this one:

And this one made me think of something I would happily roll marbles down for hours as a child.

In Your Dreams.

2011-11-06T13:02:00.000Z

What's that you say? You're such a big fan of the film Hook (directed by Steven Spielberg in case you forgot) that you wish there was a pirate themed Hook bar. Well, I guess dreams really do come true.

Those Were the Days.

2011-10-23T18:33:00.010+01:00

When men were men, and they wore metal hats and gloves and shoes. And they rode horses. And they composed sonnets.

(Everything I know about medieval history I learned from Disney movies and Monty Python.)

Why are the shoes so pointy? Why, the better to kick your head-in with, my pretty.

Face It. IV.

2011-10-22T18:29:00.005+01:00

Pig tails? Bunched up ends of a head covering? Either way, she doesn't seem very happy about it.

Face It. III

2011-10-21T18:25:00.001+01:00

Mythologically inspired water fountains in one of the many royal palaces that are now historical sites. These are part of a huge garden complex at a former royal hunting retreat.

Face It. II

2011-10-20T18:22:00.001+01:00

Hovering above the choir section in Segovia.

Face It. I

2011-10-19T18:22:00.000+01:00

A few details from the choir pews in the grand cathedral of Segovia. I'm sure some incredibly skilled artisan spent months of his life carving these, but that doesn't in any way reduce their creepiness.

Lights, Camera.

2011-10-12T18:54:00.004+01:00

Yes, there are good photographers and bad photographers. I like to think that I fall into the category of people who can at least point the camera in the right direction and then I let all of the super-amazing auto features do all the rest of the work.

But I will say this (and my friends who actually make incredible pictures for a living can disagree with me), having something beautiful to point the camera at and the right light at the right time of day goes a really long way to making a photo look good.

Below, two shots from the Mosque of Cordoba and the Cathedral of Segovia respectively.

Taking Flight

2011-10-11T18:49:00.010+01:00

In Spain, the high speed train is called the AVE, which is an acronym for Alta Velocidad Espana. Cleverly, the word ave also means bird; as in the train operates at such a high speed it is like one is flying down the tracks.

Below, a picture of two aves in their nest at the station getting ready to take flight.

Kyiv V

2011-10-10T20:45:00.001+01:00

Nothing to do with Ukraine at all. I just think that a deflated bounce house is one of the saddest things.

Kyiv IV

2011-10-09T20:42:00.001+01:00

Orwell wrote persuasively about double-speak and how it was used by fascist and quasi-fascist governments. In modern Kyiv, they believe strongly in truth in advertising.

Kyiv III

2011-10-08T20:41:00.000+01:00

Just another evening of break dancing to Russian hip hop in the streets of downtown Kyiv. Nothing to see here.

Kyiv II

2011-10-07T20:36:00.004+01:00

In former Soviet Ukraine, truck coffee you!

Kyiv I

2011-10-06T20:35:00.000+01:00

By luck and circumstance, I found myself in Ukraine's capital, Kyiv for about 48 hours. Most of that time was spent in meetings and office buildings, but I did manage to run about for a bit and see a few beautiful churches.

If feels good to know that someone (with a large cross) is keeping watch over the river.

Because I had to.

2011-09-25T18:12:00.000+01:00

I guess you could say that biking is really big in Spain.

In a Blur.

2011-09-24T17:58:00.000+01:00

Last weekend the final stage of the three week long bicycle tour of Spain, La Vuelta, was held in Madrid. For about an hour, a brilliantly colored mass of top cyclists from around the world (Go Team Astana!) sped through the closed-off streets of downtown Madrid.

Below, the peloton speeds by as Chris Columbus looks down from his perch.

The trees stand still while the cyclists pass in a blur.

Eggplant.

2011-09-23T17:58:00.000+01:00

One of the strange but also lovely things about living in Spain is that one can drive in just about any direction for 40 minutes or so and eventually hit a town with some sort of ancient castle or church or palace. Sometimes all three. Occasionally all three are combined into one.

In this case, we were in the city of Guadalajara simply to go for a drive and came across this beautiful purple domed cathedral. It was in the middle of some sort of school campus, but I don't really know much more beyond that.

Bad Habits

2011-09-18T10:19:00.000+01:00

A slightly different take on a different young couple I saw this morning in Retiro Park.

I was running through the park, and while it was Sunday morning I assume that the couple I saw strolling by, blinking at the sun light, were not on their way to church. I say this because the young woman was wearing a tight black tube dress and high heels and the guy was wearing some sort of fashionable jeans and a dress shirt.

It was 9:30am.

My assumption is that after a late night of clubbing this couple had chosen the royal family's former gardens as a place to, uh well, as a place for their amorous adventures? That sounds stupid. How about let's just call it humping.

Anyway, the fun part about seeing them this morning, post-humping, was that the girl was teetering by in black high heels while the guy was carrying his shoes in his hand and walking in his socks. Through a public park. On a Sunday morning.

And this is how I know that I am truly old. My first thought: Oh, that's going to ruin his nice socks.

Wares.

2011-09-13T18:06:00.000+01:00

I guess they just build the cities a little different over here in Europe. I don't recall a lot of views like this when looking out over several dozen warehouses anywhere in the US.

But then again, these are 300 year old port warehouses built along the Douro River in Portugal. That's a little different than taking a drive out to the Music Warehouse in Fairfield. Or the Computer Warehouse near Natomas.

Billions and Billions

2011-09-12T17:53:00.005+01:00

Wow, okay, I think there's a lot one could say about imperialism and the role that a modern American franchise like McDonald's plays in what some would consider modern imperialism, and then one could probably make some sort of parallel but somewhat ironic comment about seeing an Imperial McDonald's in Portugal's former mercantilist northern city of Porto.

One could.

But maybe instead I'll just say that this was a very strange thing to bump into while on a long weekend in Portugal. While I was not interested in trying any of the regional cuisine in this particular dining establishment, I did stop in long enough to admire the multiple chandeliers and the midday crowd.

Variety.

2011-09-11T17:12:00.000+01:00

Just a few of the many spices we were so pleased to taste while in Portugal. Spain brought back gold from the New World colonies, but Portugal brought back spices from Goa, Macau, Oman, Mozambique, Angola and Brazil.

Spain may have funded their empire for a lot longer than the Portuguese, but I can definitely tell you who has the wider range of flavors in their food.

(And yeah, I know that this is just a picture of garlic, which is found all over Europe, but I was trying to make a point.)

Complete.

2011-09-08T18:35:00.004+01:00

The Madrid government renovated the Principe Pio metro/train station a few years back. They kept the exterior frame and put a bunch of chain stores and fast-food places inside. But for some reason, they neglected to renovate the back entrance.

Maybe they just ran out of money before they could finish?

Closing Time.

2011-09-07T18:05:00.000+01:00

During the day it's a tiny cafe at the train station, but at night it closes up and transforms into an alarm clock/bedside clock for a giant.

Very clever.

Bubble Boy.

2011-09-06T18:05:00.000+01:00

You may have heard about the advances in stem cell growth and cloning over the past decade or so, but did you know that the Spanish have already perfected the science of growing children in bubbles?!

It's true, and available now at the mall.

The Train.

2011-09-02T17:04:00.001+01:00

The world is miniature and all this jerk can worry about is some train crashing through a brick wall? Don't worry man, the train is only like three inches tall.

What More.

2011-08-29T16:06:00.000+01:00

Singing and dancing.

Stomping and clapping.

Drinking and drinking.

What more could one ask from a night of Flamenco?

All Along the Watchtower.

2011-08-28T15:58:00.000+01:00

Oh, right, and the actual city of Avila that we visited a few weeks ago. It's really beautiful and just a quick drive from Madrid. The old town within the walls can be walked entirely in just a few hours, and you can even climb up onto the walls to get a better view out over the valley or of any one of the several huge churches inside.

We had a really great, long lunch at a table outside and then walked around a little longer before heading back home for the day.

Cache.

2011-08-27T15:58:00.000+01:00

Who would have guessed that down this stairway and along a corridor on the way to a parking garage one would find some of the best tasting and least expensive Chinese food in all of Madrid?

Life and Limb.

2011-08-21T17:15:00.000+01:00

When a regular mail slot just won't do, try these lion mouth mail slots at the Avila post office. Want to send a letter but first feel the need to risk life and limb by putting your hand inside a lion's mouth? Well, you've come to the right place.

Poor cats.

These Days.

2011-08-20T17:14:00.001+01:00

You can probably just file this one under: They sure don't make 'em like they used to.

Don't Knock It.

2011-08-19T17:14:00.000+01:00

If one were interested in such a thing as a competition for the creepiest possible door knocker, I would proudly submit the following:

Truly, just begging to be thrown into a horror movie.

Children's Crusade Just Doesn't Sound Quite Right.

2011-08-16T15:22:00.001+01:00

Hundreds, if not thousands of uniformed bodies lay in the grass, scattered around the park. It looked like an impromptu field hospital from a Ken Burns documentary, but of course with much less blood and nary an amputation in sight.

Rather, all of these napping and lounging youngsters were wearing matching t-shirts and hats for the large gathering of Catholic Youth from around the world this week in Madrid.

World Youth Day 2011 is expected to draw over 100,000 young faithful from around the world. It will be a week long celebration of the Catholic faith with the grand finale being a visit from the Pope himself.

All very exciting I'm sure, but on this warm afternoon, it seemed as though all 100,000 kids had descended upon Retiro Park to take naps in the shaded grass. Not generally a bad idea, but Retiro Park is also the location of choice for amorous young couples, dog walkers, roller bladers, street performers, families and the occasional expat out for an afternoon jog.

I felt as though I were running an obstacle course of devout children.

The Scraps.

2011-08-15T15:20:00.000+01:00

Occasionally I'm asked about the current state of the Spanish economic crisis (or as we call it here, La Crisis), and my usual response is that I'm pretty isolated from it. There are protests now and then, and graffiti scattered around town but for the most part I don't see much. A lot of this is due to where we live (in the wealthiest neighborhood in Madrid) and who I see at work (mostly people who can afford to study or work overseas).

But today while on my way home I passed a younger guy standing next to his bike and furtively glancing over his shoulder up the street. As I came closer I noticed that he had pulled a small, discarded microwave out of a street-side dumpster. The guy was dressed casually, but neatly. Nothing about his dress or appearance indicated that he was living on the street.

He cradled the microwave in one arm and with the other was making small jabs into the back of the motor with a screwdriver. I stopped and asked him what he was up to. "El Cobre," he said. The copper. Hay un valor en este? Is there a value in this? I asked.

He nodded and then turned back to his task at hand. I decided that a person desperate enough to scavenge copper from a microwave in a dumpster was probably someone not to bother with too many probing questions. I offered him buena suerte, good luck, and continued on down the street back home.

Outside the City.

2011-08-14T09:53:00.000+01:00

Several weekends ago (has it been that long already?) we took an hour long bus ride up into the foothills outside of Madrid and spent the day wandering around El Escorial, a palace, monastery and mausoleum belonging to the Spanish royal family. The palace is beautiful, and filled with rugs, paintings and other artifacts from the time that the palace was inhabited regularly by Phillip II.

A view out over some of the gardens. Located in the hills outside the capital, the palace is ideally built as a respite from the summer heat.

The main entry to the royal monastery. It give the impression that solicitors aren't really welcome, without having to actually put it in writing.

Choices.

2011-08-06T18:51:00.000+01:00

Seven different kinds of tomatoes?

A dozen different types of shrimps?

They really know how to live here.

Safety First.

2011-08-05T18:27:00.000+01:00

While out one day, wandering around by the royal palace (still used on occasion for royal events) we just happened upon this band playing near a park. It turns out they're the official Madrid Police Band. I had no idea there was such a thing.

This might be the place where a more cynical person would make some sort of remark about police officers playing music in a park while Spain has one of the highest petty theft rates in Europe, but I certainly wouldn't be the kind of person to do that.

I will say, that if I were to join a band like this I would definitely want to play the cymbals. Just look how much fun they seem.

Arts.

2011-08-03T20:27:00.000+01:00

I thought it was modern art, but it turns out it was just some construction debris.

Red and Blue.

2011-08-02T20:26:00.000+01:00

A more portly take on the classic Barber Poll.

Respite.

2011-07-31T07:34:00.000+01:00

Work work work. Sometimes after a long day of linen sales, you just want to relax with the paper.

Keeping Cool.

2011-07-30T07:47:00.000+01:00

But how do you decide with so many choices?

Madrid Meringue

2011-07-25T12:28:00.000+01:00

While DC and the rest of the US have fallen prey to the wave of cupcakeries that have engulfed America over the past few years, Madrid is a relatively cupcake-free city.

Rather, these beautiful meringues (in flavors like coffee or strawberry) are readily available. Fortunately for all involved, I've yet to hear about a reality TV show that follows the trials and triumphs of meringue cooks.

Conjecture.

2011-07-24T10:24:00.000+01:00

The city continues to charm with its wonderful and sometimes confusing mix of styles and design. Why is this apartment building topped with a tower that contains arches, byzantine tiles and a floppy hatted dome reminiscent of something from the Caucasus or Russia?

I suppose if I actually knew anything at all about what I was talking about, that might help clear matters up a bit.

What Would Homer Do?

2011-07-23T10:07:00.000+01:00

I tried to order a doughnut for breakfast, but the bartender just looked at me confused for a moment. I repeated it and then explained that I didn't know the Spanish word for doughnut but I made the shape of a round thing with my hands and said simply, con chocolate.

Aha! The bartender quickly returned with a small plate and my desired chocolate doughnut. He explained that the word for doughnut in Spanish is doughnut, but it is pronounced with the T silent, as in doe-new.

I'll know better next time.

The Bomb.

2011-07-20T06:22:00.000+01:00

At an antique shop, talking with the elderly proprietor (in Spanish):

Excuse me ma'am, how much does that bomb cost?

The bomb is 100 euro, but it is on sale for 60 euro.

Oh, I see. Thank you.

(Note: This was not a translation error. This antique shop full of all kinds of over-priced junk included a foot-long, fin-tailed unexploded munition. Aside from being much more expensive than I thought a piece of rusting metal should be, I did not purchase this unexploded ordinance precisely because it was an unexploded ordinance. It was not disarmed, or defused. It was very likely a dud, but it still had the potential to harm people. So, we walked away from the bomb and thanked the store owner for her time. End Note.)

Specialized.

2011-07-19T07:00:00.020+01:00

For anyone who has visited or lived in Spain, it comes as no surprise to hear that it is a country that takes its meat very seriously. Entire aisles at the grocery store are dedicated to differing cuts of cured ham. And it's almost impossible to avoid the rows of dangling jamon iberico, huge legs of the specially bred and fed pigs that have become famous worldwide.

Along with all of these specialized types of meats come specialized butchers who excel in carefully slicing the thinnest and lightest bits of marbled cured ham.

But then again, for every job there is the right tool and we can't all be samurai jamon masters of the buttery smooth slice.

Mislabeled.

2011-07-18T07:22:00.009+01:00

In Madrid, the store called FOREVER YOUNG exclusively sells men's leather shoes, rather than what I assumed would be sold there; clothes for women in their 20's and 30's who want to believe that they are still in high school. Either that or maybe a store for huge fans of Alphaville's 1984 hit.

The whole thing is very confusing.

On Display.

2011-07-17T07:03:00.002+01:00

Yes, a beautiful display, but notice two things: 8.80 Euro per kilo? That's about $6 per lb. Also, who was the poor guy that had to stack every single on of those cherries?

Jazzy.

2011-07-16T19:30:00.017+01:00

Come learn exciting new English phrases like "Jazz up your English" and "Stay fresh cool daddies!" Everyone you know will think your English is the cat's meow.

By the Gallon.

2011-07-15T19:28:00.000+01:00

Several months ago while visiting my sister in New York, we were over in Brooklyn and stumbled upon the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co. I enjoy Dave Eggers' writing and really like his series of non-profit tutoring and writing centers around the country, so we figured we'd take a look.

At the New York store, part of the decor included these gallon paint jars filled with super powers for heroes and villains.

Last week in Madrid while wandering around our new neighborhood I spotted these in the window of some high-end clothing store.

I don't know what the metric conversion for fashion to vengeance is, but the concept (at least in window display design) has made its way across the ocean.

Granted.

2011-07-13T06:37:00.000+01:00

I've never lived in Europe before, and this is my first time even visiting southern Europe. After just a few short weeks it's easy to forget just how beautiful Madrid is. Maybe not forget, but take for granted that around every corner one is likely to bump into an old palace or fountain or simply beautiful apartment buildings.

Symptomatic.

2011-07-12T19:06:00.000+01:00

For the love of Gout! Sounds more like a strange way to swear about things than the label from a mustard jar.

Of Course.

2011-07-11T18:27:00.002+01:00

The Luxembourg Embassy in Madrid is literally located above a Tiffany & Co jewelry store.

Open Letter.

2011-07-09T10:57:00.000+01:00

To the young couple passionately making out against a BMW:

Hello!

I see that you've decided to grope each other while leaning up against a BMW parked in my neighborhood. Is this your vehicle? Are you aware that the parking meter rates in this part of town are outrageous?

I've also noticed that you happen to be in front of Miu Miu store, is this coincidence or were your passions inflamed by the sight of high-end luxury goods produced by a sub-brand of Prada?

Here's the thing. I certainly can appreciate young love, or even just lust. And I understand that these feelings can sometimes lead to foggy decision making; but it is currently seven in the morning on a weekday. Are you just now concluding last evenings revelries? Do you not have jobs or school to attend today?

Also, I've noticed that the gentleman's hand is up the ladies dress and his face is pressed into her chest. Once again, I'd like to mention that it is seven in the morning on a weekday and you are in front of a fancy store in a busy shopping district.

Finally, it seems that your two friends are standing three feet away from you, bored and smoking (breakfast?) cigarettes. Do you think that your actions might be a bit inconsiderate to your friends? Perhaps they would like to get an espresso or maybe even head home for sleep? Are these the owners of the car your are using as a makeshift vertical bed for your amorous embraces?

Just wanted to say hello and I hope you've had an enjoyable evening/morning.

See you around the neighborhood,

Adam

Without a Name.

2011-07-06T15:21:00.000+01:00

We were at a neighborhood bar having a late afternoon lunch and I saw the bartender mixing draft beer with lemon Fanta. I asked him (in Spanish) what the mix of beer and Fanta was called. He said, "Oh this? This is just a mix of beer and lemon Fanta."

Fair enough.

I asked him for my own glass. It was delicious.

It's What Counts.

2011-07-05T15:19:00.000+01:00

We ate hamburgers to celebrate the 4th of July. Mine came with a lovely little grilled onion marmalade and thick cut slices of brie. My heart was in the right place, but my stomach was eating a deliciously European brie-cheese burger.

Unforgettable

2011-07-04T17:46:00.004+01:00

Now, there was something I was supposed to do today, but what the hell was it?

Fine Arts.

2011-07-03T17:51:00.000+01:00

And I call this next piece, 'Why are you being such a big baby?'

El Sabor

2011-07-03T17:38:00.001+01:00

I asked the waiter for a Fanta, but he said all they had was this:

I was doubtful, but thirsty enough not to care. By the time I was done with the can I was a convert. Lookout Fanta, I've moved onto to a new drink, Schweppes Naranja!

(This has been an unpaid advertisement for Schweppes Naranja. Try all of the delicious flavors -yes, even including dry grape ginger ale- of Schweppes at a store near you now. Now!)

On the Way Down.

2011-07-02T07:10:00.000+01:00

Retiro Park, the large open green area in Madrid akin to Central Park in NYC, contains quite a few fountains including one that is known as the fountain of El Angel Caido, the Fallen Angel.

Many folks believe that the fallen angel is a depiction of Lucifer at the moment he has been cast from heaven. Some go as far as saying that this fountain is a monument to the devil, but I'm guessing with the Catholic tradition of Spain, it is much more of a warning about what awaits in hell.

Just take a look at these water spewing gargoyles awaiting the angel at the base of the fountain. They do not seem to be the most welcoming group to greet the fallen angel that will presumably be their new boss.

Niche.

2011-06-29T19:44:00.000+01:00

Or, at least presumably the shoes that pretty ballerinas would wear.

On Sale.

2011-06-28T20:46:00.005+01:00

Hmm, Colon Max 3? I guess it'll really get you sparkling clean. And now at a Super Precio!

Under Pressure.

2011-06-27T20:46:00.000+01:00

A few weeks before moving from DC, my father-in-law and I made a quick visit to the National Museum of the US Navy. Lots of interesting stuff to see there, but my favorite was this diving suit.

Imagine what it would take to want to put one of these on and then get lowered to bottom of the ocean. Just crazy.

And what would possess someone to get sealed up inside one of these. I understand the sense of exploration, but this is something else.

Bob Esponja.

2011-06-26T15:53:00.000+01:00

Translating an English language TV program into Spanish can be difficult. There are a lot of idiomatic expressions and concepts that cannot simply be translated word-for-word for them to make any sense. I submit to you a simple, but effective example.

Sponge Bob Squarepants (or simply Bob Esponja as he is known in Spain) has a neighbor named Squidward. This is a play on a Squid + the name Edward. To translate this name into Spanish, the concept of a squid is first translated (Calamar) and then adapted using the same, albeit altered, formula. So Squid + Edward becomes Calamar + Eduardo, and hence Bob Esponja's neighbor is Calamardo.

After One Day in Madrid.

2011-06-17T19:05:00.000+01:00

A beautiful stroll around the neighborhood after work. People out walking and sitting in sidewalk cafes. A small bar a few blocks from home. A beer and a glass of wine with a few small pieces of meat and cheese for only 3euro. Scooters lining the street.

Crafts.

2011-06-05T01:16:00.001+01:00

A few weeks back while visiting Los Angeles, we were fortunate enough to stay with family friends. They have a very nice house in Century City with a garage in the backyard that's been converted into an artist studio. Lots of fun stuff in a small space.

Most of the art made here is ceramic, which means lots of cool chemicals and compounds.

Also, something called Superpax.

And a convenient place to keep your spare nails.

Something, Nothing.

2011-06-03T20:29:00.001+01:00

I was living in California and had not yet returned to college from summer break on Sept. 11, 2001. I was at my parent's house and slept in late. Eventually I got up and was reading the morning's paper while eating breakfast when I got a call from Lesley. The power was out in her neighborhood and she wanted to know if it was out where I was too? And did I think it had anything to do with the plane crashes?

What plane crashes? She told me to turn on the TV. She and her mom were in their car in the driveway listening to the radio, scared that the power outage was part of some sort of attack on California.

Close to a decade later it feels very strange to visit the home of a future memorial. For now, the World Trade Center Memorial doesn't feel like much more than a construction site. The absence of a structure does not have the same emotional impact that I thought it might.

There is simply nothing, where there once was something. Large banners explain that someday soon, there will be something to commemorate the something that was there before.

Truth in Advertising.

2011-06-02T20:25:00.000+01:00

Wasting.

2011-05-31T00:01:00.002+01:00

The camera crew camped out across the street from the corporate hotel building that Dominique Strauss-Khan had been released to on parole. It was a Sunday morning and he was not expected to be leaving the building for any reason. And yet, half a dozen major news outlets had staff parked across the street just in case he showed his face. What a wonderful use of resources.

Very Exciting.

2011-05-30T23:59:00.000+01:00

And just a few blocks from our hotel. Perhaps you've heard of it? The Holiday Inn Wall Street.

Another Time.

2011-05-29T23:57:00.000+01:00

I was not the only person who wanted to get their picture taken with the famous Wall Street 'Charging Bull.' The scrum of tourists didn't let up at any time during the morning that I was in the area.

A Metaphor for Something.

2011-05-28T23:55:00.000+01:00

With a bit of extra time before my train left, I spent an hour on a misty Sunday morning wandering around the Financial District and Battery Park in New York City.

I headed south to see if I could catch a glimpse of the State of Liberty through the light rain, but was instead treated to the sight of two statues. Now, we all know that the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France, but did you know that when you speak to her she responds in a man's voice. In Spanish.

I'm sure that a Spanish speaking Statue of Liberty wrapping an American flag around an Asian tourist is a metaphor for something, but I don't really know what.

After the Invasion.

2011-05-15T14:41:00.000+01:00

The last time I saw streets this empty I was living on a little island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The monthly fuel tanker had broken down (or skipped us or didn't pay the monthly bribe or who really knows what happened) and the island very quickly ran out of gasoline.

Within about a week, the road (singular) was almost completely devoid of cars. The local government was able to find enough fuel to run the island's one school bus, and this was used as a makeshift commuter shuttle for all of the government employees.

But the rest of the road was empty. This meant that I could finally ride my bike down the middle of the street, weaving back and forth without a care. On occasion we work ourselves up into questions about a post-oil future, but I'll say that for a few weeks it was quite nice.

Capitol Hill wasn't having a fuel shortage this morning, but several blocks were closed off to traffic for a 10k run. I wasn't officially registered for the run, but I was able to take advantage of the empty streets while I was out jogging on my own. And once again, running down the middle of normally busy streets held a certain charm.

Oh My!

2011-05-03T22:28:00.000+01:00

Okay, okay. Everybody just calm down. There's nothing to get excited about 'round here.

Curios.

2011-05-02T18:34:00.013+01:00

One of our gracious hosts for the weekend described the Museum of Jurassic Technology as, "Quirky beyond..." and then her voice just kind of trailed off. And that's probably one of the better descriptions out there.

Inside the museum itself (which, naturally, is housed inside a random old house in Culver City about 2 blocks from a giant movie studio) one can watch a short film that explains the origins of the museum. According to the film, the museum is essentially a shared relation to both the modern museums of today, and also carnival sideshows.

The Museum of Jurassic Technology traces its lineage from the collections of relics held in European churches throughout the middle ages to the quiet reading rooms of learned men who would sit, surrounded by their collection of curios while waiting for inspiration from the muses. Thus the root of the word Museum.

Or maybe it's all just a hoax. Or a collection of odds and ends left in a set of deteriorating shadow boxes and dioramas.

I have a suspicion that it is more than a hoax, but it can be hard to explain how a dimly lit collection of impressionist portraits of dogs from the Russian Space Program qualify as the trigger for inspiration from the muses. Or maybe it's not difficult at all.

The Chairman.

2011-05-01T18:08:00.007+01:00

The man responsible for the death of 40 - 70 million people? Or a hip reference for an organic "peasant style" Chinese food restaurant on Melrose?

Converged.

2011-04-30T17:59:00.014+01:00

I would really love to have seen the business plan these guys presented for a loan.

"Well you see, we're proposing a business that, are you ready for this, provides, are you ready, Thought Convergence!"

"That's right! Our business will Converge Thoughts! Together! All in one place!"

"And we're gonna call it, are your ready? Thought Convergence!"

"Now where do we sign for that check?"

And then.

2011-04-29T17:53:00.000+01:00

And then? Well, one can hardly visit the desert outside of LA without a trip into LA too. To some living out east, California (and Los Angeles in particular) can seem another world.

For instance: what does it mean to be California Casual? Fine Wines and French Fries might be a good start.

Right 'round.

2011-04-28T17:53:00.000+01:00

Just back from a very nice, but much too brief, visit to Palm Springs. A bit of wind, but otherwise the skies were clear and the windmills were spinning.

The windmill is, I suppose, a rather ancient technology (Wiki says the first ones were built in the year 1 AD), but every time I see a giant field of rotating blades powering unseen generators, the whole tableau seems very futuristic.

Tradition!

2011-03-27T23:45:00.000+01:00

Ah DC, just like downplaying the murder rate (we're only number 7 in the nation!) and gentrification (housing prices are UP), the first snow of spring is a regular tradition. A few pictures from around the neighborhood before today's high of 44 melted last night's dusting.

Produce.

2011-02-23T17:07:00.000Z

In the produce section at Safeway, filling a bag with broccoli. An older guy is next to me filling up a bag with green beans:

"Oh, no no. Broccoli is not for me. None of that cauliflower either. Nuh uh. I'll stick with these here long beans."

Gotta Hand it to 'em.

2011-02-22T20:44:00.000Z

Good to know that the Arlington Fire Dept. has a sense of humor (and bear drawing skills). I guess a lot of guys were kicking the flush handle?

Still Fresh.

2011-02-21T17:12:00.006Z

I inherited from my mom a tendency to take pictures of flowers, either growing wild or simply part of a bouquet on the table.

There's probably an obnoxious comment to be made about globalization and the ability to have fresh flowers in DC while there's still snow in the street, but I'll just appreciate these for what they are for now.

Up Again.

2011-02-20T13:41:00.000Z

Just couldn't resist another beautiful sunrise photo. Makes the morning a lot more bearable.

More Language.

2011-02-01T20:32:00.000Z

Today in class I learned:

Una persona sin alfabeta; an illiterate person. But more literally a person without alphabet. It sounds so much more sad that way.

Royale with Cheese.

2011-01-25T19:47:00.002Z

Today in class we learned that a Happy Meal in Columbia is called una Cajita de Feliz. Literally: a little box of happy.