Memorial Day Weekend
Its Memorial Day here in the USA, which i guess is supposed to be a time to reflect on the sacrifices our armed forces, as well as our forefathers, have made so that we Americans can have such prosperous lives. I do not take it for Granted. My family was in town this weekend, and we spent alot of time in and around New York City. That is one special city, i gotta tell you. For those who have never been, you really need to see it before you die, hopefully LONG before you die. (I also say that about many other places I've been, Paris, Rome, Prague top the list, definitely all MUST SEE places.) and if you are American, you MUST visit Normandy, France in your lifetime. Actually, if you are American, French, German, British, or Canadian you owe it to yourself as well as to the men who laid down their lives on the beaches and countrysides of Normandy to visit there and pay homage. Normandy is a serene and emotionally powerful place. To look across those beautiful peaceful beaches, you cannot possibly imagine what took place there, but you know that it really happened, and if it didnt, the world would be a much different place today. I think thats worth a visit.
Back to New York City. I took my family on the Circle Line Cruise, which is a large boat that takes tourists on a sightseeing journey around the island of Manhattan. Most notable on the voyage is passing lower Manhattan and seeing the diminished skyline, knowing what used to stand so tall above it, then passing the Statue of Liberty and taking in all it stands for. Powerful stuff. My mothers side of my family immigrated here 3 generations ago from Finland. We're not sure if they went thru Ellis Island (also a feature of the tour), but did you know at one time 10,000 immigrants a day came thru Ellis Island every day? On a lighter note, seeing New York City from the water is just a spectacular view all around. Did you know the Brooklyn Bridge was constructed BEFORE automobiles were invented!!! And it now has over 40,000 cars a day travel across it. Arent i just a bundle of information today? I got lots of great pics, I might post a bunch, but they are on my other computer and i'm too lazy right now. Maybe tomorrow.
For those of you know who i LOVE art, i also went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. WOW. What a place! Its so big that you easily get lost half the time, and you could never hope to see the whole museum in a day, not even close. So, i saw the Egyptian exhibit, and the Arms and Armor (very cool), and some European sculpture, but mostly my favorites the painters. I've seen them all before many years ago at the Met, but i could never get tired of them. Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Pissarro, Cezzanne, Rembrandt, Rubens, Rodin, Degas. I really am a sucker for the old masters. Of course they achieved the moniker of "Masters" for a very good reason. Their works will be studied and adored 1,000 years from now as much as they are today. I've seen plenty of their other works at other museums, but the Met's collection is really first rate. Where else (other than Paris) can you see 13 Van Gogh's and at least as many Monet's? By the way, Monet's paintings make so much more sense when viewed from about 25 feet away instead of up close. try it some time. Anyway, if you ever visit NYC, and you like Museums at all, visit the Met, but take some advice. Because the museum is so massive, learn to quickly pass by the stuff that doesnt interest you, and find the stuff that captivates you. I dont personally get into the deep meanings of paintings, I just know what i like to look at and what moves me. i dont really care if it was painted yesterday or 1,000 years ago, my eyes tell my soul how to feel when i see it.
Happy reflections on this Memorial Day wherever you are in the world.
-Ken Lewis
Back to New York City. I took my family on the Circle Line Cruise, which is a large boat that takes tourists on a sightseeing journey around the island of Manhattan. Most notable on the voyage is passing lower Manhattan and seeing the diminished skyline, knowing what used to stand so tall above it, then passing the Statue of Liberty and taking in all it stands for. Powerful stuff. My mothers side of my family immigrated here 3 generations ago from Finland. We're not sure if they went thru Ellis Island (also a feature of the tour), but did you know at one time 10,000 immigrants a day came thru Ellis Island every day? On a lighter note, seeing New York City from the water is just a spectacular view all around. Did you know the Brooklyn Bridge was constructed BEFORE automobiles were invented!!! And it now has over 40,000 cars a day travel across it. Arent i just a bundle of information today? I got lots of great pics, I might post a bunch, but they are on my other computer and i'm too lazy right now. Maybe tomorrow.
For those of you know who i LOVE art, i also went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. WOW. What a place! Its so big that you easily get lost half the time, and you could never hope to see the whole museum in a day, not even close. So, i saw the Egyptian exhibit, and the Arms and Armor (very cool), and some European sculpture, but mostly my favorites the painters. I've seen them all before many years ago at the Met, but i could never get tired of them. Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Pissarro, Cezzanne, Rembrandt, Rubens, Rodin, Degas. I really am a sucker for the old masters. Of course they achieved the moniker of "Masters" for a very good reason. Their works will be studied and adored 1,000 years from now as much as they are today. I've seen plenty of their other works at other museums, but the Met's collection is really first rate. Where else (other than Paris) can you see 13 Van Gogh's and at least as many Monet's? By the way, Monet's paintings make so much more sense when viewed from about 25 feet away instead of up close. try it some time. Anyway, if you ever visit NYC, and you like Museums at all, visit the Met, but take some advice. Because the museum is so massive, learn to quickly pass by the stuff that doesnt interest you, and find the stuff that captivates you. I dont personally get into the deep meanings of paintings, I just know what i like to look at and what moves me. i dont really care if it was painted yesterday or 1,000 years ago, my eyes tell my soul how to feel when i see it.
Happy reflections on this Memorial Day wherever you are in the world.
-Ken Lewis
posted by Protools Mixing at 12:15 AM
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