Maximum City and other stories...

Created with flickrSLiDR

We're back from India, where we had a family reunion of sorts, and then went to Rajasthan for a whirlwind trip. As my sister mentioned, these are not just photographs; these are memories that I will cherish for a life-time.

At the Guggenheim

Last Saturday was a virtual overload of senses. We went to the Guggenheim in the afternoon, and then the evening show of the Phantom of the Opera. I was really impressed and overwhelmed with the collection and the exhibitions, and of course the interior space at the Guggenheim. I literally got goose bumps when I saw the famous paintings that I had seen only as postcards before in real life, so close that I could smell the paint on them (well, ok I exaggerate). Early Picassos, Kandinskys and Légers made the afternoon really memorable.

The Phantom of the Opera

We were in NY for the labor day weekend, where we had a mini reunion of sorts with some high school friends and finally managed to catch the longest playing Broadway show ever after so much anticipation. And boy, it did not disappoint. The sets, the music, the acting and the costumes made it a real treat! I loved the Phantom's lair and the smooth ride in the boat. Candles and wrought iron cages and smoke appeared from nowhere and disappeared just as seamlessly. If Lalunadiosa is to be believed, the show was nothing compared to Les Misérables, but that didn't stop us from raving about it.

Old San Juan

Old San Juan mesmerized me with the cobbled-stone alleys, the curio shops, and the vibrant colors on the walls. What fascinated me was that seemingly ordinary buildings and in fact even chain stores used these colors to create an effect of harmony and vibrancy. Of course, the city has done a great job in maintaining this effect, and it definitely is not a coincidence that the redeveloped section of Old San Juan where El Morro, and the galleries are, also have repeated this architectural style. The architecture in San Juan seemed to be a medley of Spanish and island architecture - no wonder it seemed like I was in Goa. Featured pic (the ubiquitous Burger King – San Juan style)

Puerto Rico!

I'll let the pictures do the talking for you. Watch this space for posts on our travel.

Revenge of the auto rickshaw

TucTuc, a CNG-powered autorickshaw service is the quintessential rickshaw with a twist - it comes in different designs, and is used in Brighton, UK as a tourist vehicle (and attraction)!

Incidentally, the picture on the left is the "Burberry" TucTuc which is being repainted because Burberry filed a lawsuit against the TucTuc'ers.

Arco Degli Acetari

Arco Degli Acetari is a charming little courtyard in Rome. When gazing at the pictures, charcoal paintings and the caricatures in Piazza Navona, I chanced upon this oft-used little courtyard – bright red, quintessential Rome. So we asked this graphic artist dabbling in tomography where we would be able to see this courtyard; so we felt really proud about discovering this small neighbourhood. It more than lived up to its imagery; L captured a good picture of it – I particularly like how the light seems to almost flood one corner of the picture.

Enchanting Europe

L and I are back from Paris, and I cannot stop thinking about it. For the past few days, I have reliving it by writing this blog, typing long emails, talking about it with my friends and family and tagging our online pictures.

My flight to Paris from Baltimore was very eventful to say the least. I got delayed by more than 12 hours...it was really awful. The book I was reading "The Accidental Tourist" turned out to be an ominous sounding title after all. We stayed that night in Paris which was close to the Eiffel Tower, went to see the Eiffel Tower, by sunset. The next day, we went to Rome, and were floored by the Colosseum, the Roman ruins and the Pantheon. Truly unforgettable! These ruins cover a massive area, and it is not hard to imagine the kind of life the Romans lived. Palatial gardens, artistic temples, and the larger-than-life orgy that they led on a day-to-day basis.

The next day, we went to St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, and explored the small neighborhoods and squares in the evening. We went all the way up to the dome at St. Peter's, even saw the tiled mosaics on the dome. Really extravagant and an amazing architectural feat. What was kind of disturbing was the fact that most of the bronze, gold and marble used in the Basilica and the Sistine Chapel had been plundered from the Roman forum, the Pantheon and other pagan symbols. Sistine Chapel was really awesome, and I'm glad I took the audio guides for the explanations. There are so many parables woven into "The Last Judgement", "Genesis" and other Michelangelo frescos, that L's Sunday school teachings would not have been enough:)

Paris was a totally different experience; we hit the usual touristy spots – the Louvre, The Pompidou centre, Montmartre neighborhoods, Notre Dame, Hotel De Sully, Place Des Vosges, the Isles…I still cannot get over the fact that there was history at every corner, every square, and yet the locals seemed untouched by it all. After all, they're Parisians right?

I absolutely loved the idea of the "piazza" in Rome and the "places" in Paris. Highlights of the trip were delighting in the concept of a "caffe" bar in Rome, the inevitable "Made In China" Pinocchio keychains, gawking at the wonderfully dressed people in Paris, discovering small courtyards in the inner alleys in Rome, going all the way up to the top and enjoying the breathtaking vistas of Paris from the Georges restaurant on top of the Pompidou and enjoying the fabulous food, wine, gelatos.

We're still soaking in this unforgettable trip, and are bashing "America" for not being even close to Europe...the faux Corinthian columns adorning the office buildings and churches here are so passé.

I will try to cover each place in detail in the next few days.