In summer 2023, I put a reminder in my phone for Christmas 2023 to look for a small journal in the attic over the Christmas holiday when I would be visiting my family. I was prompted by a memory from childhood. The memory was hazy, but I saw myself in the library with my classmates at my elementary school and we were going through a box of stuffed animals that had just completed a six-month journey. Some of the animals went around the United States and some of them went around the world. The memory was a brief flash. The more I thought about it, the more elusive it was.
Continue reading “Travels with Moo”Category: Travel
A Long Weekend in Chicago
“As I am traveling alone this time, I have leisure to think over all I have seen and done during the past few months, and I do so with great pleasure.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Italian Journey
It was late Sunday afternoon and was standing near the lakefront looking back at the skyline at the north side of the Loop. It was pouring down rain and the tree I was standing under was providing marginal shelter at best. But I didn’t mind. Part of the fun of exploring is going out regardless of the weather. I was taking in the view and reflecting on the weekend I had.
Continue reading “A Long Weekend in Chicago”A Rainy Day in Frankfurt
The final city I visited on my trip was Frankfurt, the largest city in Hesse, and the fifth largest city in Germany. Frankfurt lies on the river Main, which is the longest tributary of the Rhine. It is home to Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, which is named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Frankfurt’s most famous former resident. His portrait hangs in Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie (Städel), which is the same portrait that was used for the cover of his travelogue, Italian Journey. Its airport and main train station make it a convenient and perfect disembarkation point for a trip around western Germany. I began my journey here and here is where it ended.
Continue reading “A Rainy Day in Frankfurt”A Rainy Day in Strasbourg
The next city on my itinerary was Strasbourg, a major city in France in the Alsace region. It is located on the river Rhine, which serves as the border between France and Germany. The historic core of Strasbourg is called the Grande Île (German: Große Insel; English: Large Island) and its border is formed by the river Ill and a canal that was constructed off the Ill called the Canal du Faux-Rempart (English: Canal of the Fake Rampart). The city is home to the European Parliament, a university, a medieval church, and some beautiful parks. The Grande Île was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988.
Continue reading “A Rainy Day in Strasbourg”A Rainy Day in Freiburg
Next stop on my trip was Freiburg im Breisgau, the fourth-largest city in Baden-Württemberg. Freiburg is located on the Dreisam River, a tributary of the Rhine, and sits on the western edge of the Schwarzwald (Black Forest). Looming over the town is a large hill called the Schlossberg. It is home to a university, a medieval church, and a lot of interesting features for a wandering tourist.
Continue reading “A Rainy Day in Freiburg”A Rainy Day in Heidelberg
“I saw Heidelberg on a perfectly clear morning, with a pleasant air both cool and invigorating. The city, just so, with the totality of its ambiance is, one might say, something ideal.”
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I recently took a trip to Germany and France. First stop on my trip was Heidelberg, a quaint city located along the Neckar River in the German state of Baden-Württemberg. One of its most famous attractions is Heidelberger Schloss (Heidelberg Castle) that sits on the lower slope of the Königstuhl (King’s Chair) hill in the Odenwald mountains. The weather was cold and rainy and perfect.
Continue reading “A Rainy Day in Heidelberg”My Favorite Travel Memory
This summer I was asked to answer some questions about traveling for a luggage company. A few of my responses were selected for inclusion on their website. One of the responses that wasn’t selected was about my favorite travel memory. I chose to write about Paris. Paris was my first solo trip abroad and the memories I made there inspired me to start this blog. The photo I am using for my profile photo is the one my friend took of me after we walked around the Rodin museum. My goal with this blog has always been to inspire myself and to inspire anyone who reads it.
Here are some photos from Paris and my favorite travel memory.
Continue reading “My Favorite Travel Memory”A Sliver of Gray
“I live my life in widening circles that reach out across the world.”
Rainer Maria Rilke
Continue reading “A Sliver of Gray”“Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them.”
Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
An Architectural Icon: Pasadena City Hall
Pasadena City Hall is located in Pasadena, California and was constructed in 1927. It was designed by an architecture firm based out of San Francisco called Bakewell and Brown.
I took these pictures when I was in town for a work trip in July. I was waiting to go to the airport and it was a beautiful summer morning. Sometimes, the best mornings are spent sitting in front of a fountain listening to the sound of running water.
Continue reading “An Architectural Icon: Pasadena City Hall”New York City in the Springtime
“Heavenly clouds, eternal travelers”
Mikhail Lermontov
“All gardening is landscape painting”
Alexander Pope
Here is a photo series from New York City from April 2023. The flowers in Central Park were in full bloom and everything was fresh and green. It rained most of the weekend and the colors of the park and architecture were glowing with dazzling splendor. It was interesting to see the skyscrapers plunge headlong into the low-hanging clouds. My favorite seasons are spring and fall and I have now visited New York City in both.
Continue reading “New York City in the Springtime”
A Walk Through The City 