Category Archives: Travel

The Russians Come To Assen

We are here to see the exhibit “The Soviet Myth” at the Drents Museum.

The Drents Museum

This show has been put together on a scale that could rival a Hollywood production. Barnum & Bailey would be proud. It starts with the gigantic, spotlighted Lenin statue, erected at the apex of the major roads and canal adjacent to downtown. Because of the scale, its presence is slightly surreal, like being transported to a different time and place.

Super Lenin

Welcome

The paintings themselves are as massive as they are fanciful. Bright carnival colors, huge images of dedicated, industrious, self-assured, healthy and purposeful young men and woman. Ever striving.

The Joy of Communal Work

Death Defying Deeds

Completely engaged super solders forcing back a faceless evil.

Benevolent leaders like fathers and super heroes all in one.

Massive, over 40′ wide.

My trusty partner steps In for scale.

And that Red! Always that Red!

At first glance these images seem designed to simply motivate, inspire and create an overwhelming sense of pride and confidence in the people they are supposed to represent. But then, in the west, we were taught to distrust these images, as I’m certain they were taught to distrust images of us. Perhaps, with all that behind us now, these iconic paintings have simply moved into the realm of a classic, incredibly well done and very enjoyable advertising campaign.

Bye Now.

Big Lenin – Little Wendi

“It’s The Ijlst We Can Do.”

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The sun came in and out today so we decided a short road trip was in order. It’s a little windy and cold, 29 – 30F, but very beautiful.

My God the folks are hearty around here. In all the little towns we passed through, everyone, 9 to 90, goes everywhere on bicycles. Bright red hands and faces peddling against a 15 mph headwind. Tough. Way tougher then us.

The Center of Ijlst

Our first stop was Ijlst. I’ve heard it pronounced 10 times and still can’t get it right. A lovely little bedroom community now, at times it is a stop on the famous Elfstedentocht, the legendary ice skating marathon on the Friesland canal system. The race is 124 miles long and encompasses eleven cities. Our route was similar but somewhat shorter and warmer and involved frequent stops for coffee.

Ijlst

Bakery – Ijlst

Lumber Mill Windmill 2 – Ijlst

Lumber Mill Windmill – Ijlst

Hindaloopen

Lockkeepers House – Hindeloopen

Makken

Canal Locks at Makken

Workum

Art Gallery – Workum

The View From Staveron

Ijsselmeer

Even The Off Ramps Look Nice

N354

A Rainy Day In Leeuwarden

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Leeuwarden St. Bernard

It’s not really drizzle. But then it’s not really rain. It’s rizzle. And with rizzle you have to persevere. In this case persevering constituted a short drive to Leeuwarden, the capital of Friesland. Leeuwarden’s most celebrated daughter was probably Mata Hari, a Dutch exotic dancer, courtesan, and accused spy who was executed by firing squad in France under charges of espionage for Germany during World War I.

Mata Hari

This is a lovely little city despite the wind and cold and rizzle. Nice lunch, small shops, culture and beer.

Nieuwestad – Downtown Leeuwarden

They got cheese.

Coffee at the Fire Cafe

Keramiekmuseum Princessehof is an amazing structure and has a huge collection of Asian and European ceramics and tiles which, quite frankly, can make me a little nervous. When I was a kid we weren’t allowed anywhere near the “Good Dishes”. This is an entire palace full of the “Good Dishes”.

Keramiekmuseum – Leeuwarden

But then you get to the attic and they have life size contemporary pieces.

Yellow Dog -Keramiekmuseum

Boy -Keramiekmuseum

Just a little wacky.

Off To Holland

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Our long awaited Home Exchange has at last begun in earnest. This trip is special as we were fortunate to be able to enjoy some time with our Dutch exchangers Jan & Anneke. A great couple that we exchanged homes with 5 years ago. Adventurous, smart, fun, generous, let’s face it the Dutch are cool.

Anneke

Some gadget time with Jan

Over the years quite a few folks have expressed an interest in Home Exchanging but admit to a slight apprehension. All I can tell you is that there seems to be a little Zen in it. The nicer everyone is to each other, the better it works.

For those of you who have never ventured into Home Exchange before, exploring is the key. As lovely as Jan & Anneke’s home is, we didn’t come all this way to sit around the living room. Holland is a fascinating country with Amsterdam, de Hague, Harrlem and hundreds of picturesque towns. Copenhagen, Berlin, Hamburg, Bruges, are all in relatively easy striking distance by car or train. And with fairly inexpensive short European flights, the net gets even wider.

That been said, we are going to spend the first bit exploring Friesland when the sun is still low in the sky and spring is just now waking up slowly.

Canal side homes in Sneek, NL

Cloverdale to Hebo

Grapes and Gravel

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Bits and Pieces.

A little of this and that with some of these and those. Whenever we’re finishing up one of these roadtrips there are always a few images that don’t really fit into any group.

So these are just a few loose ends. See you all soon.

A Happy House

They’re Watching!

The Provocateur

The Inspector

Nap Time

The Beach at Cardiff By The Sea

The Sign Doesn’t Fill Me With Confidence.

Bryar Is Ready To Go.

The Butcher Boy – SD Maritime Museum

Johnson Sea-Horse

So Simple But So Scary.

This is where the torpedo goes.

Stylin’

Kindness Bus Tour 2012

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The Hippies Are Back! And Not A Minute Too Soon!

I bumped into this “smile on wheels” today while in Encinitas.

The Kindness Bus Tour

Apparently Bob Votruba and his dog, Bogart, are dedicated to spreading one million random acts of kindness all over the nation. Ya gotta love it!

Check them out at http://www.onemillionactsofkindness.com/.

Song Of Sand

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“If sand waves were sound waves. What song would be in the air now?”

Suzanne Vega

Cardiff Beach 3

Cardiff Beach 4

Cardiff Beach 5

Cardiff Beach 7

Cardiff Beach 8

Cardiff Beach 9

Money For Nothing – Part 2

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Oh Goody Another Tip Jar

Tip Jar

What the hell’s with the tip jars, those ever present containers that are constantly soliciting for funds on counter tops from coast to coast. In the last few years these little beggars have sprung up everywhere. I blame coffee vendors. They clearly need to pay their employees more money and stop asking us to subsidize their wages.

The price of a cup of coffee has risen faster then a helium balloon. We obviously like and want our designer coffee, and are willing to pay for it. That’s fine, but tips are not gratuities for simply doing your job. They are extra remuneration to show appreciation for providing exemplary service. In a coffee shop I have to wait in line, decide and order with no guidance or suggestions from the staff. I have to pay and tip when I order, before I even know if the product is any good or my order is correct or how long I will have to wait to get it. Then I generally have to stand around until it’s done, get my own lid, straw, napkin, sugar and cheap wooden stirrer, bring it all to the table myself and bus the table when I’m finished. Damn, I almost feel like I should come back after hours to empty the trash and mop the floor. What’s the tip for? Smiling at me. Making the coffee. I know what you’re thinking, What’s with the bitch? Just don’t tip. I’m sure your right, but there is clearly pressure to tip. The placement of the evil little tip jar. The cute little “My College Loan Thanks You” sign with the little stars and smily faces. The slightly pleading look in the cashier’s eyes. The blank tip line on the credit card slip. The cashier’s awareness of who tips and who doesn’t. Why not just put a forlorn looking panhandler next to the cash register. “Thanks A Latte”.

What really set me off was when I saw a tip jar in the dry cleaners the other day. The dry cleaners! Really?? I even saw one at a flea market yesterday. What’s next, Home Depot? The DMV?

No Tipping Please

Money For Nothing

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Panhandling…Begging or Working?

I pulled into La Jolla Village yesterday. For those of you who have not been here, La Jolla is one of the wealthiest communities in America. A place where the recession/ depression seems to be more a rumor or slight inconvenience then an every day reality.

At the 5 way intersection by the entrance to the Mall were 6 panhandlers. The closest to me was a twenty something with a sign proclaiming that he was a “down on his luck” Vietnam Veteran in desperate need of money. Given his age, this was clearly untrue. I made the comment to my friend that someone that young could find some job that pays as much as standing on a corner. Is there no shame? My friend told me not to be so quick to judge and explained why I was wrong. “The young man in question does have a job. He makes his own hours and pays no taxes. Begging is it”.

In the new America begging represents the height of entrepreneurial spirit. The act of making something from nothing with minimal resources. Standing on the corner with nothing more then a sad look and a piece of cardboard is boring and tedious work. But, given the right person with the right facial expression, the right amount of dirt and the right sign, on the right corner, someone can make as much as $50 or $60 an hour during peak traffic times.

The truthfulness of the sign is irrelevant. It is advertising, plain and simple. It is designed to illicit sympathy and spur the “customer” into giving. My friend also pointed out that it really isn’t “Money For Nothing”. The panhandler is providing a service. Everyone that hands over a dollar feels better and is saying to themselves, “There, but for the grace of God, am I”.

Still, if all of this is true and begging is just a new type of business, we quickly noticed that the “advertising” signs being used are poorly crafted and hugely antiquated for such an affluent community. After all, advertising has rules. Your message should be three to five words, maximum, finish by asking for the sale and, most importantly, know your demographic.

Wendi & I have decided they need our help.

Am desperate for an IPhone4..... God Bless

OMG the price of Jimmy Choo... Be Kind

Premium Cable Went Up...Again! Pls Help $

Premium Cable Went Up... Again! Please Help $

Pilate bill is past due...Please Help Now

The Spring Line is in...Please Give

BruceWPeterson Photography

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