Travel days

Doing dishes. Not so fun.

Posted by Leo. Travel days are the hardest days of our trip. Whenever we move places its always early in the morning so everyone gets up early. All of my family is used to sleeping in, especially me and Griffin. My mom wakes up cranky. She is always making us pack faster and faster. The pressure is high because if I slow down, complain, or give up I'll get yelled at. We try to stay away from Mom but that's impossible because she is everywhere.


I have a hard time staying on track and focusing on packing and cleaning. Many of the things I’m told to do are about cleaning the bathroom. I hate that job because it smells bad sometimes. My parents told me that I needed to get over my “fear” of cleaning them. I really don’t like getting my hands dirty. For example, when I do the dishes I hate touching the ones that still have food or ketchup on them. Last night we had Indian food and the dishes smelled bad and were really dirty.

We headed back to the Lamborghini shop

Lamborghini Aventador

Posted by Leo. When we were in London I went to the London Natural History Museum. The museum itself was boring but as we were getting there I saw six Lamborghinis! As soon as we got off the train and got to street level I saw a black Lamborghini Aventador drive by. Across the street was the Lamborghini London store.
After seeing my first Lamborghini drive by and my first glance at the shop we headed off to the Victoria and Albert Museum. We saw many dull paintings but there was one thing that interested me -- the Iron Work. Iron work is metal bent into different objects like fences, old castle doors, and chests. Beth and I split off from Griffin who continued looking.
We headed back to the Lamborghini shop and on our way over a Sesto Elemento drove by. When we got there, it was closed so we looked through the windows and saw five Lamborghini Hurricanes: two red, one orange, one black, and one white one. That was amazing.

Theater in London

Posted by Griffin. We have gone to see a lot of theater in London. First we went to see Measure for Measure at the Globe. This was a wonderful, very Shakespearean, experience, and I would highly recommend the Globe to anyone visiting London. The Globe has been rebuilt like it would have been in the 17th century. The acting is phenomenal, and I would highly recommend the Globe to anyone in London.

The exterior of the Globe

On Wednesday night we went to see Wicked! Wicked is so fun! It is a musical reimagining of the "life and times of the Wicked Witch of the West". It is amazing, and is pretty much the closest thing to perfection. Ever.

Wicked at the Apollo Victoria Theater

The curtain for Wicked

On Thursday we went to see Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia is such a fun, sunny musical that you couldn't not love it. It's a feel good story that uses hits from the 80's, whats not to love?

Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theater

Theater in London is so amazing! There is such a variety of shows, and the casts are some of the best in the world. Choose whichever show interests you, and go.

Tate Modern

Posted by Griffin. This week Beth and I went to Tate Modern. The museum sits in a converted factory on the bank of the Thames, and the brick silo strikes a dramatic figure against the London sky. The entrance opens into a ginormous concrete hall, with hallways that spill into various galleries.

The exterior of Tate Modern

The galleries are organized thematically, instead of chronologically, which I like. I feel that specifically with modern and contemporary art organizing thematically gives individual pieces context that organizing chronologically does not. The first gallery that we went to was the "Energy and Process" gallery. This gallery had a large number of works, many from, or influenced by, the Italian "Art Provera" movement. This movement was all about using everyday objects to create art. For example the sculpture seen below is made up of only two metal plates, with no attachment, it relies entirely on balance to stay upright. This art is powerful, the materials prompt the viewer to think about their relationship with the material.

Triphammer by Richard Serra

The next gallery that we went to was the pop art gallery. This gallery featured a wonderful collection of works by Andy Warhol and Ray Lichtenstein. These works are fun. They use popular images, hence the name "pop art", to create art. One of my favorite works was Whaam! By Roy Lichtenstein. This work takes it source from a comic, and Lichtenstein replicates comic in painstaking detail, even using the colored dots that comics use to create shaded color. This work is a powerful statement against warfare, and reminds us about the social power of art.

Whaam! by Roy Lichtenstein

Unfortunately we had to cut our visit short in order to get to the theater, but I highly recommend Tate Modern. The galleries are spacious and the art is accessible and enjoyable. However if visiting during the week prepare yourself for school groups, Tate Modern is one of the most visited tourist attractions in London, so go early (or late) to avoid the crowds.

Shakespeare's Globe

The exterior of the Globe 

Posted by Griffin. Yesterday we went to see Measure for Measure at the Globe Theater. The Globe has been reconstructed to the tiniest detail to ensure that you can experience Shakespeare to the fullest. The theater is beautiful, the open roof lets air and light in, and the stage has been masterfully reconstructed. The performance was amazing! All of the actors were top-notch, executing the play perfectly. The Globe was a great experience, and definitely one of my best experiences in London so far.

Interior

The stage

Shakespeare is just too naughty

Stonehenge

Stonehenge

  Posted by Griffin. Yesterday we went to Stonehenge. We had kind of been dreading this visit because we have had very bad experiences with large tourist destinations, for example the Vatican. However we decided to go mainly because it is so famous, and we felt like we had to go. But as soon as we got there we realized that it was amazing. First, for some reason there was nobody there. Solstice is tomorrow, so the Wiccans arrive at sunset tonight, and there are going to be 40,000 of them! Yes, 40,000 Wiccans and druids come to Stonehenge every year. I can see why they do, Stonehenge is so old,it is 5,000 years old by recent estimates, and it really invokes a sense of peace. Stonehenge has been one of my favorite destinations and I would make it a must for anyone in England.

A crow descends 

I thought I would come home with a British accent

Posted by Leo. I love how the people in England all have accents and say different words than us in the States like mate, cheers, rubbish, and many more fun words. I have started using some of these such as mate and rubbish.

My dream is to be British and have their accent because it’s different and I would stand out at home. When I left on this trip I thought I would come home with a British accent but it doesn’t seem it will turn out that way. If you can find a British accent on eBay please text me.

I always thought that if I had a British accent I would become like James Bond or Sherlock Holmes. They have good accents and guns and are cool. As a younger kid I wanted to become a spy and I tried to use a British accent but it always ended up sounding Australian like the Clone Troopers. They don’t have bad accents but it’s not as good as the British.

Beautiful Bath

View from our bedroom

Posted by Elizabeth. Sometimes a photo post is exactly what's needed to capture the spirit of a place. Enjoy this experience of Bath, England.

In Bath

In town



Lane outside our door

The Royal Crescent

View from our bedroom

It's dull being stuck with my parents

Posted by Leo. I always used to think home school would be fun. I had never been home schooled but, like many kids, I thought all kids did was stay home and do maybe an hour of work. 

Once I went on this trip I started being home schooled. Trust me about this but it’s not fun, you don’t get to see your friends and you’re lonely because it’s a one person class. The idea sounds amazing but in reality it’s just horrible. I miss seeing my friends and the only time we talk now is on the weekend.

Some people I know enjoy home schooling, such as my cousins. There are three types of people, kids who like being home schooled, kids who like public school/private school, and kids like me who don’t like either one. I dislike school because I’m lazy and I don’t like working and I don’t like home school because it’s dull being stuck with my parents.

Le Louvre

 Note: Some of the art in this post has been deemed inappropriate by the regime (mother). Please leave if you do not want to see art in an uncensored form.

Storm clouds gather over the Louvre

    Posted by Griffin. This week I went to the Louvre. Yes I went by myself, apparently everyone else had some previous engagement. This is my second time going to the Louvre, the first being with mother back in April, and this time was so much better than the last. Last time mother and I went to see all of the most famous pieces, like the The Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and The Coronation of Napoleon. This time I was able to avoid the crowds and find the lesser known masterpieces.

Venus de Milo

     I started in the antiquities wing. This houses the Louvre's massive collection of ancient Egyptian and Syrian Art, as well as the more famous Greek and Roman Statue collection. Much of this wing was completely empty, with a few exceptions. Every tour group flocked to see Venus de Milo, one of the most well-known Greek statues in the world, yet many failed to even enter the Roman sculpture wing. It may be easy to write off Roman sculpture as an inferior copy of the Greek yet the lack of people really make it worth it. The quiet of the Roman Sculpture gallery facilitates appreciation of great art. Entering the Roman Wing you can feel the difference, there are no large tours pushing, no tour guides trying to talk over everyone, and no one is trying to push you down to get a better view (true story: a woman pushed my shoulders down in order to see better)

The beautiful and quiet Roman gallery

Maybe these sisters are too close

     After the antiquities wing I went to the 17th century painting wing. This wing had painting from Italy, France, and Spain. Unlike the Renaissance wing, this wing was totally abandoned. Literally I only saw one person in he entirety of the wing. This wing does not have the masterpieces of the rest of the Louvre, but the painting is equally as enjoyable. Most of the paintings were religiously themed, but some painters ventured into some vaguely comedic painting (pictured left and below). Overall I left this wing feeling like I had missed the memo about crazy hat day. If only I had known. 

Crazy hat day?

     While I enjoyed the comic relief of the 17th century painting wing after I left I was ready for a change. I left the entire painting wing, and was determined to head where there were no people. I kept walking through tiny hallways, until finally the hallway spilled out into a beautiful open space. This pavilion was stunning. The sculptures were all French sculptures, primarily from the 17th and 18th centuries. This wing was surprisingly empty. The sculptures were mainly in the neoclassical style, embellished by elongated curving lines, and immaculate detail. This wing was one of my favorites, I love the design of this wing, plenty of open air spaces and greenery. The art was exemplary, the marble created a tranquil mood that pervaded the entire space, and the layout was amazing.
The Louvre is immense. Their are too many galleries to count, let alone visit. My recommendation is to get ready to be lost. The directions that the guides give are indecipherable ("just turn left, then go down the stairs, then take a sharp 10 o'clock turn, then take the left elevator"), and the maps provide little help. Just walk through and enjoy the art. 

French sculpture pavilion

Versailles

Posted by Griffin.
     Yesterday we went to Versailles. Along our trip we have tried to avoid large tourist draws, and have suffered the consequences when we do go to these places. After a hellish experience in the Vatican we were apprehensive of touring another tourist packed building. Fortunately none of our fears come true.

The man behind it all: Louis XIV

     As we walked up to Versailles from the train station we were greeted by the longest line I have ever seen. This line was longer than any line I have ever seen, longer than the line for the latest iDevice. This almost scared off Beth fortunately an extremely helpful employee saw us looking terrified and thought to help. She informed us that if we returned in 4 hours there was going to be no line. We wondered what we could do in Versailles for 4 hours, if not see the palace. What we didn't know is that Versailles is so much more than the palace, there are manicured gardens, a bucolic estate, a forest, and an extensive canal system. This woman suggested that we take the mini-train to the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's personal castle/estate. This estate was lovely, it wasn't crowded as it was a 45 minute walk from the Chateau. If Marie Antoinette knew anything it was how to decorate a palace, this palace featured divine pastels and shell curves all executed in rose marble.

Petit Trianon ft. gardner

     After we toured the Petit Trianon we turned our sites to the "Queen's Hamlet". After a few years of living in the royal court Marie Antoinette soon longed for a simpler life, so she constructed her own royal village. A 10 minute walk from the Petit Trianon, her personal palace, she built a lovely little village. Here she could wear cotton dresses, traditionally worn by peasants, and relax in a lovely setting. Of course Marie Antoinette was incapable of truly living like a peasant, constantly travelling with her entourage of servants. This hamlet was truly gorgeous. On a 90 degree day it offered plenty of shady trees to recline under, and the lake had a small breeze that was a god send.

The gardener's house

Marie Antoinette's "Peasant Estate"

Marie Antoinette's hamlet

     After spending 3 amazing hours in Marie Antoinette's estate we decided it was time to walk back to the Chateau. The grounds of Versailles are any control freaks (half of our family) dream. All of the trees are perfectly groomed, in straight lines, not even a leaf out of place. The lawns are perfectly manicured, of course you can't walk on them, and even the dirt seems to be obeying some cosmic order. And the fountains leave nothing to be desired. They are filled with gold and cascading water all topped with stunning statues. 

Heavily groomed trees

The fountains of Versailles are unrivaled

The statues are all copies, the originals are in the Louvre

      Once we arrived at the Chateau we were greeted with one of the most welcome sights a traveler can ever see, no line. We walked right into the Chateau, and immediately felt the grandeur. Louis XIV converted Versailles from a hunting lodge into a palace, and each of his successors added more and more. The rooms are all filled to the brim with the finest jewels, silks, and most prominently gold. Some of the rooms were overwhelming and way to crowded, like Marie Antoinette's bedroom for when she visited the chateau, but others were spacious and did not feel crowded at all, the Hall of Mirrors.
     Versailles was a long day, it takes about 45 minutes on an RER to reach from Paris. The trains to and from Versailles, especially from Versailles to Paris, are extremely crowded. Versailles is wonderful and truly one of the most enjoyable castle tours in Europe, but it was crowded. Especially on a hot day, it was 90 degrees, it can become unbearable pretty quickly. I would definitely recommend going to the Petit Trianon first, and then later in the day going to the Chateau. Versailles is beautiful, and definitely a great day trip from Paris.

Marie Antoinette's bed chambers for visiting the chateau

The Hall of Mirrors

A wing of the Chateau 

Maybe with the right bikini...

Posted by Elizabeth. When I pictured Holland I imagined canals and green spaces, farmland and healthy attractive blond people on bicycles. All of that is certainly true but what I didn't imagine was a beautiful coastline along the North Sea.

We have spent the last 16 days in Haarlem just 15 min by train west of Amsterdam. It's a lovely town full of bike lanes and canals with a picturesque town square and an old fashioned windmill. We just loved it. Every day we rode into town or to the train station to hop the commuter train to Amsterdam. But yesterday we spent the day on the coast. Just outside of town between Haarlem and the sea (or zee in Dutch) is a national park full of sand dunes and wildlife. As expected there are ample paved bike trails through the park and a loop of about an hour and a half that goes through wonderful scenery and ends at the beach. Biking in Holland is easy because there aren't any hills. There were a few small ones over the dunes but we mostly rode at or below sea level. We saw bison, deer, tiny ponies and beautiful swans. There were wetlands and lakes full of birds. At the end there's a popular beach with an outdoor restaurant and a wide soft sand beach full of kids, parents and kites. 

Just down the beach is party central--a section of the beach about a quarter mile long that is made for the 25 year old Dutch model and her surfing boyfriend turned start up mogul. It's all comfy lounges with overstuffed furniture, bikinis galore and dance raves at the weekend. They were setting up for beach party that night and cars, mopeds and bikes were streaming into the area. We decided to skip the festivities. Maybe if I had the right bikini...

On the train headed back to Paris today. Can't get enough of that city. We have some big plans including a visit to the cat cafe, Versailles, a literature tour and a World War II tour. 

The Rijksmuseum

     Posted by Griffin. This week we went to the Rijksmuseum. The Rijksmuseum is the state museum of the Netherlands similar to the National Gallery. It is housed in a giant 17th century Dutch castle. The collection is organized chronologically, ranging from the Medieval Ages up to the 21st century.

     The first section of the collection was northern Medieval and Renaissance art. Much of this art appeared very similar to the Italian art that was in the Uffizi. This art is remarkably peaceful. The landscapes radiate harmony, the portraits  exude regalia, and the biblical scenes display piety in the upmost. The Northern Renaissance art is much more pious than the Italian, definitely no nude Venus here, or any gods for that matter. 

A ceramic parrot

     The next section was the collection of 18th century art. The 18th century was dominated by the Rococo, which began in France with Louis XIV and then spread throughout continental Europe. The ornamentation of the Rococo is impeccable. I personally find great delight in the frivolity of the Rococo. The shell curves and pastels combine for a dazzling effect. This section not only featured Rococo painting but also a lovely menagerie of porcelain animals collected by the Stadholder. Overall the collection of 18th century art is amazing and proves much more fun than any other time period.

The Night Watch by Rembrandt

     Unfortunately the 19th century works were closed so we went directly to the 17th century floor. This floor has the best collection of Dutch Golden Age art in the world. The collection contains masterpieces by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Frans Hals to name a few. The Dutch masters have a very distinctive style, that lifts the best parts of High Renaissance and combines it with uniquely Dutch style elements. I enjoyed the masterpieces of Rembrandt and Vermeer, like The Night Watch, but one of my favorite paintings from this section was The Threatened Swan by Jan Asselijn (below). This painting is just so filled with life. The swan is in mid squak and Asselijn perfectly captures the bird. All of the art that I love is about life, and this painting, more than anything else, captures the ecstatic energy of life.

The Threatened Swan by Jan Asselijn

      The final section in the museum was the 20th and 21st centuries. This collection was wonderfully varied. It had everything from Art Deco vases to a collection of Yves Saint L. Personally one of my favorite pieces was Wombtomb, a giant coffin\vagina. This piece is both humorous, I mean it's a giant plushie vagina, and morbid. This piece is about the futility of life, how we are all destined to die, to return to the void from which we came. I also greatly enjoyed the collection of clothes by Yves Saint Laurent. While not as evocative as the art in the museum this collection was a fun walk through, and a great capstone for the end of a momentous museum.

Wombtomb by Ferdi

Yves Saint Laurent

The Riksmuseum is definitely one of the superior museums of Europe. The collection spans such a great period of time but the museum itself feels very manageable. The building itself is beautiful, very spacious. The exhibits are excellently curated, and it all really makes for a magnificent visit.