Approaching the building, possibly the Magnum Opus of Frank Gehry’s career, is an unexpectedly emotional experience. Beginning with the childhood trope of, “Is it a bird, is it a plane…?” and continuing on to the discomfort of confronting extreme departures from form, the structure is composed of contradictions and surprises. Frank Gehry is an interventionist, […]
There are soldiers with guns positioned all over Paris, especially in the Marais where there are many Jewish businesses and synagogues. A very young soldier with a machine gun politely asked me not to take his photograph. So, I did not. These pictures of plaques commemorating murdered deportees and resisters are probably more appropriate, given […]
Like most Americans, I have a pretty tortured relationship with Paris. This is not unlike my relationships with other iconic cities, especially those in the USA – Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Chicago. Cities are cities. Big, messy, crowded, dirty places where people rush from A to Z while the moments tick by. But, […]
I never get enough of Barcelona, even in the sweltering heat of July. I hear this is a city built for hedonists with pulsating clubs and designer cocktail bars. I’ve never experienced this Barcelona of night owls and vampires. I am more familiar with the Barcelona of Freddy Mercury and Monserrat Caballe, perhaps Rufus Wainwright. […]
Mahon, also known as Maó, became the capital of Menorca under British rule in 1722. British rule also left behind a rich Georgian architectural style, unique in Spain. The second deepest natural port in the world, the harbor is lovely and full of restaurants, but the real beauty of this city can be found in […]
The white-washed seaside village of Fornells could be just one more tourist trap on another island full of trapped tourists. But, because the people here are so kind and good-humored, and fiercely proud, an authentic experience of life on the island is easily within reach. There are also many outstanding restaurants, specializing in seafood from […]
I am so glad to have a camera. I’m not a professional photographer but, thanks to the critical eye of a constantly disapproving parent who was, I can snap a decent photo. Being able to record the world around me, as I see and experience it, allows me to revisit unforgettable moments of pure ecstasy […]
Looking at the world from a boat or from behind a camera, the view is uniquely solipsistic. You are a soul unaccompanied, nearly abandoned as you try to decipher the visual signs of the world unfolding before you. My favorite books growing up were stories of shipwreck, abandonment, and deserted islands. I suppose this might […]
Hort Sant Patrici is a working farm, a family operation for over thirty years. The property still produces cheese, wine, and olive oil. There is also an extensive sculpture garden, really a small park, full of works by international and Menorcan artists. The main house, Ca Na Xini, was rebuilt in 2005 and offers eight […]
Tapas, tapas, tapas. Maybe I’ve just been very lucky but I can’t imagine a bad meal in Barcelona. I think you’d have to work pretty hard to find one. Order a drink, in the simplest of places or even the most touristic, and it will arrive accompanied by a plate of olives, coca (grilled bread […]
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