The Genius of Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926)

May 30, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 4 Comments

Our short stay in Barcelona limited the amount of time we had to view to enjoy Antoni Gaudi’s work to Sagrada Familia. Two of my WordPress friends, Alice and Don, referred me to an earlier blog they did which is more extensive. I always like what Alice and Don present so I am reblogging their post on Gaudi today. Enjoy. Curt

Adventures in Wonderland

It feels as if I’ve known about the work of Antoni Gaudi all my life. Certainly I learned about, and saw pictures of his buildings, in high school art classes when I was a teenager, and have wanted to see the real thing ever since. There is nothing ordinary about his work. It is all inventive, and incredibly creative, and magical; every part of a building was a place for art. There’s nothing like it anywhere else.

As I’ve said earlier, Don and I are not ones for a ton of research or facts, but we learned a few things. He was difficult and ornery. He lived the last years of his life at La Sagrada Familia. His construction method was based on catenary arches – the inverse of holding both ends of a piece of string into a curved position. He converted to Catholicism later in life.

We visited…

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Sagrada Familia… Barcelona’s Masterpiece of Art and Faith Soars Toward the Sky

May 29, 2013March 25, 2018 / Curt Mekemson / 20 Comments

An interior photo of Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Spain

Walking into Sagrada Familia and looking up is like entering a totally different world.

Barcelona arrived in the Twentieth Century with its own brand of Art Nouveau, Modernisme. Combining whimsical and practical with a healthy dollop of nature, Barcelona’s Catalan artists and architects did a makeover of their city. Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926), the best known among the Modernistas, added strong religious belief to his work and became the architect of Sagrada Familia, the Church of the Holy Family.

Started in 1883, the church continues to be a work in progress today. Like the great cathedrals of the Gothic and Renaissance periods, it is a work of generations, and like the great cathedrals of Europe, is a masterpiece of art and architecture. Peggy, I, and our traveling companions walked inside and could only stare in awe at the beauty. I’ve selected the photos for this blog to provide a sense of why.

The front of Sagrada Familia reflects Antoni Gaudi’s love of nature and is sometimes described as looking like a melting cake. My thoughts are a melting ice cream cake. The church is a work in progress. The four towers are the first of 14.

Sagrada Familia towers representing Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

A close up of the towers. The lower right shows doves that Gaudi included on the church.

Subirachs ' Passion sculpture on Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

This sculpture found on the opposite side of the church is one of many included in Joseph Marin Subirachs’ story of Christ’s death. I found the modern sculptures both powerful and moving.

Subirachs sculptures on Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

More sculptures by Subirachs.

Another view looking up inside of Sagrada Familia. The columns inside the church range from 36 to 72 feet tall. The ceiling vault reaches a height of 200 feet. The final tower, which will rest on the beams and ceiling, will soar 560 feet into the air, making it the tallest church steeple in the world.

The columns in Sagrada Familia come in different colors and follow Gaudi’s nature theme. Designed to symbolize tree trunks, they branch at the top. The clear windows will eventually be replaced with stained glass windows.

Stained glass windows in Sagrada Familia

The majority of beautiful stained glass windows are already in place. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

This, and the two photos below, provide more examples of stained glass windows in the church.

Stained glass windows in Sagrada Familia

A rather unique set of stained glass windows.

I thought this interior photo captured the etherial quality of Sagrada Familia.

I love this artistic juxtaposition of the organ pipes and stained glass windows taken by Peggy. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

The Crucifix that hangs above the altar.

A final view of Sagrada Familia. Cranes show work in progress. The church is scheduled to be finished in 2026.

NEXT BLOG: We leave the Mediterranean and head for Lisbon.

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Ghosts, Old Cars, and Chicken Poop Gambling… Buncom Day

May 26, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 11 Comments

Everybody loves a parade, especially ones that feature old cars, marching bands and wild animals.

Everybody loves a parade, especially parades that feature old cars, marching bands and wild animals.

Peggy and I live out in the country. As kids we would have referred to our area as the boonies or sticks. Given that we have a million acres of trees in our backyard, “sticks” seems particularly appropriate. Needless to say, things move more slowly here than they do in the city.

This bumper sticker says it all for country living.

Yesterday we went to one of our areas major annual events, Buncom Day. As one might expect, there was food, old cars, musicians, a parade and ghost hunters. So what if the parade was only a half block long and was repeated four times. As for the ghost hunters, Buncom is an Old West ghost town, so naturally it has ghosts. What else would you expect? I was even privileged to listen to the voice of a ghost that had been recorded in one of the town’s three remaining buildings. He was upset that someone would want to kill him. Peggy went hunting for the ghost.

You are witnessing the beginning and the ending of the Buncom Day Parade. Entrants would reach the stop sign on the right and turn around to begin all over.

The parade featured old cars (6 of them)…

Fiddlers at the Buncom Day Parade in Southern Oregon

A marching band of fiddlers…

A ferocious cougar (mascot for Ruch Elementary School)…

And a friendly mule. Check out the eyelashes!

Ghost hunting has become a popular activity world-wide. It seems like every community has at least one. Since Buncom is a ghost town, we had two separate groups competing to find ghosts. This shot reflects some of the paraphernalia modern ghost hunters with the Oregon Society of the Paranormal use.

Peggy listens carefully for ghosts in the old building that once was a store. Earlier I had listened to a ghost one of the groups had recorded in the store.

Everyone who was anyone was present, including the editor of my upcoming book and the editor of Southern Oregon’s major newspaper, The Tribune. He rode on a tractor in the parade and had a hand painted sign announcing who he was.

I found my editor, Margaret, who teaches graduate English and writing courses at Southern Oregon University, at Buncom Day. "Why aren't you at home editing?" Why aren't you at home writing?"

Margaret, who teaches graduate English and writing courses at Southern Oregon University and is editing my upcoming book on my Peace Corps experience, was also at Buncom Day. “Why aren’t you at home editing?” Why aren’t you at home writing?”

Bob Hunter, Editor of the Medford Triune at the Buncom Day Parade.

Bob Hunter, editor of the Medford Tribune, was also in the parade riding a tractor and carrying his own hand printed sign.

Plus there was gambling, serious gambling. Everybody bet on the numbers, even the kids. You might want to try this in your community. First line a large sheet of paper and put numbers on the squares created. Second, place the paper in the bottom of a chicken pen. Third, have people bet on their favorite numbered square. Fourth, place a well-fed chicken in the pen. Whichever square the chicken poops on is the winner.

Chicken splat gambling at Buncom, Oregon

The rules to Buncom’s world-famous gambling game of Chicken Splat. Watch out Las Vegas!

Our neighbor carefully places his bets.

Chicken participant in Chicken Splat gambling at Buncom, Oregon

The well-fed chicken prepares to do her part…

And leaves her mark on square number 18. Neither our neighbor nor Peggy won.

You might say we are easily entertained out in the sticks. When we returned home, one of our neighbors plopped down at the edge of our back porch to hear all about the day. She was all ears.

One of the 16 or so deer that consider our yard part of our home territory. This young doe plopped down in our back yard about 10 feet away from me and appeared to be listening to what I had to tell her about Buncom.

One of the 16 or so deer that consider our yard part of our home territory. This young doe plopped down in our back yard about 10 feet away from me and listened to what I had to tell her about Buncom Day.

NEXT BLOG: Honoring Memorial Day by returning to the Revolutionary War. After that I will return to Barcelona.

La Boqueria: Barcelona’s World Class Market… Seaports of the Mediterranean

May 24, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 19 Comments

A front view of the busy La Boqueria. The sign and building were done in Barcelona’s famous Modernista art style.

What a place… a kaleidoscope of colors, smells, noises and textures– an imagination gone wild. I walked into the Boqueria Market just off of Barcelona’s Ramblas (most famous street and pedestrian way in Barcelona) and I was captured; enthralled may be a better word. I could have spent a week alone with the fish. There were fruits and vegetables and breads and nuts and meats and drinks… not to mention some 200 square feet of chocolate delights! Who wouldn’t go crazy? Imagine going here to shop instead of your local Safeway or Wal-Mart.

La Boqueria is first mentioned in Barcelona literature in 1217. It may have started as a goat market. The market arrived at its present location in 1835 when St. Josephs Convent burned down. Today it is one of Europe’s best known fresh produce markets, a favorite of both locals and travelers… especially travelers with cameras. One stall owner even yelled at me, “No, no take pictures. Buy.” I could empathize… but I could no more not take photos than refuse to breathe.

Peggy spent what seemed like hours checking out the 200 square feet of chocolate wonders…

… while I was intrigued by the strange fish. This one had a face only its mother could love.

I promptly named this guy Jaws.

Squid, anyone?

I found these shrimp colorful…

… and these, uh, weird.

I found most photos on the web featured fruit stalls like this at La Boqueria rather than my fish. I wonder why? (Photo by Peggy Mekemson… Peggy does not take photos of weird fish)

Being a big fan of spicy food, I found these peppers quite attractive.

Hanging garlic and corn at La Boqueria Market in Barcelona.

I also liked the hanging garlic and corn.

Several types of mushrooms were for sale. I believe these were morels. They grow up behind our house in Oregon. People kill for them.

Delicious fruit drinks at La Boqueria in Barcelona

Fresh fruit drinks were in abundance. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

eating raw oysters at La Boqueria in Barcelona Spain

Peggy’s brother John joyfully downed a raw oyster. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Fruit at La Boqueria Market in Barcelona.

I’ll close with my own obligatory photo of fruit at La Boqueria. Can you taste the strawberries?

NEXT BLOG: We journey to the incredibly beautiful and strange cathedral, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. You will not want to miss this blog.

Cannes: Where the Rich and Famous Hang Out… Seaports of the Mediterranean

May 22, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 6 Comments

The rich and famous hang out at Cannes and I am sure you will recognize this trio from Charlie’s Angels. Do you think Cameron Diaz minded that I borrowed her body? (Photo by Peggy Mekemson, body by Cameron, head by Curt)

The Cannes Film Festival is going on now. The town has filled with an army of glitterati and paparazzi. The famous and infamous have gathered to be seen, party, hang out, party, watch movies and party. We were there at a quieter time, thankfully. Still, we couldn’t help but note that monstrous yachts filled the harbor and fire engine red Ferraris served as rent-a-cars. We did the tourist thing, checked out the walk of actors’ handprints, and had our photos taken with cutouts, which was a close as we got to anyone famous.

This is what rent-a-cars look like in Cannes. My guess is that you wouldn’t get the economy rate.

Celebrities John, Frances and Peggy enjoy their moment on the Red Carpet at Cannes

Much fine, and I might add expensive, food will be served up in Cannes this week. Here I feature an appetizing duck a l’orange.

Peggy couldn’t resist trying out Meryl Streep’s hand print for size. Meryl’s fingers are longer.

I took this photo of Sly Stone's hand print. Can you sense the testosterone?

I took this photo of Sly Stallone’s hand print. Can you sense the testosterone?

We also enjoyed wandering around Cannes and were particularly taken with this building. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Cannes was in the early stages of preparing for Christmas when we visited. I liked the way these decorations reflected an awning below.

Window shopping in Cannes, as you might imagine, was interesting. Take this form fitted chair, for instance… It seemed to go along with the ape lamp above it.

What would Cannes be without yachts? My house would fit in these guys. Damn, maybe my five acres would.

We ended our day in Cannes, France by returning to our own Yacht.

NEXT BLOG: We visit the wonderful city of Barcelona and the most impressive market I have ever been in.

Snapshots of Florence

May 20, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 13 Comments

This is one of those photos that didn’t fit into my blog themes about Florence but definitely deserved to be included. I liked the door, window with its impressionistic reflection, lamp and even the dark wall, which provided contrast.

When I have finished blogging about an area, I always find I have “leftovers,” i.e. thoughts and photos I liked but didn’t fit the particular themes I was pursuing. For example, what do you do with an extra Lamb of God? They are rather hard to ignore. And then there is always an intriguing door or an interesting historical fact that begs to be told. Anyway, before I rush off to Cannes, here are a few of my “leftovers” from Florence.

Peggy captured this bit of Christian iconography… the Lamb of God, which represents Christ leading his flock, I guess. There was something about the perky, down the nose glance that tickled my funny bone. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

These walls were impossible to ignore.

This close up provides detail. Check out the mythological beasts and cherubs in the paintings. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Arno River flowing through Florence, Italy.

The Arno River, running through the heart of Florence, could occupy a professional photographer for days. I am sure it has.

Florence’s city hall with its beautiful clock tower. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

The Piazza della Repubblica with its dominating arch. The message on it reads “The ancient center of the City restored from age-old squalor to new life.” It’s what we call urban renewal where historical treasures are bulldozed down to make way for the modern. Much was lost.

Who can resist a tower? I Googled the heck out of this one but couldn’t find its name. Maybe one of my readers will help.

Cat and Mouse at Florence Christmas market

On the lighter side of things, Peggy and I visited Florence’s Christmas Market where this cat and mouse amused me. Note the mouse’s tongue.

Since I started my blogs on Florence with a lion, it is only appropriate that I finish with one.

NEXT BLOG: The Cannes Festival is going on now. We were there at a quieter time.

Whales, Beavers and Skunks… Sunset Bay State Park

May 17, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 17 Comments

Pacific Coast at Sunset Bay State Park near Coos Bay, Oregon.

We found two beautiful coves in our hike along the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean south of Sunset Bay State Park.

I’ve never lived on the seashore, but I always considered it a second home– after the mountains. At some point or the other in my life, I’ve even visited all the world’s great oceans. My favorite coastline, however, has always been the Pacific Ocean’s rugged seashore starting at Big Sur in California and working its way north to Alaska through Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

Of all the trips I have made to the ocean over the years, I have never, ever been disappointed. Our trip to Sunset Bay State Park near Coos Bay, Oregon last week was no exception. The campground was beautiful. Oregon does a great job with its state parks. Ours even came with a resident beaver. He stopped by to visit us one night. Unfortunately, he was camera shy. By the time Peggy and I had gotten over our surprise and grabbed our cameras, he had disappeared. We also thought we had skunks until we discovered that the brilliant green foliage with large leaves surrounding us was skunk cabbage.

Sunset Bay Campground near Coos Bay, Oregon

The green, green campground at Sunset Bay State Park on the Oregon Coast. The beaver lived in the small stream to the left of the fence.

Peggy and I were surprised to find out that the skunk we were smelling was actually the large leafy plants that surrounded our campsite.

Peggy and I were surprised to find out that the skunk we were smelling was actually skunk cabbage, the large leafy plants that surrounded our campsite.

Skunk Cabbage flower on the Oregon Coast.

The Skunk Cabbage also had this rather unique flower. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

This tree was behind our van in the campground. Peggy loved it. In my last blog I noted you only see tree roots in the tropics. I lied. I could actually walk into the cave created by the roots.

This tree was behind our van in the campground. Peggy loved it. In my last blog I noted that tree roots spend their life underground except in the tropics. I lied. I could actually walk into the cave created by these roots. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

We didn’t see any great sunsets on Sunset Bay due to overcast skies, but we enjoyed the flowers, driftwood, a rock face and a Cormorant island.

Rock face at Sunset Bay State Park in Oregon.

I am always ready to turn rock into a face. This guy had big, bushy eyebrows, a crooked nose, and a gaping mouth. With a little imagination, he also had a tuft of hair on his head. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Cormorants nesting on an offshore island in Oregon.

Off shore islands are always great places for nesting sea birds as well as seals, etc. Cormorants had chosen to turn the trees into their homes on this island off Sunset Bay. I loved the striking cave with its teepee like door.

Kelp on shore at Sunset Bay State Park near Coos Bay, Oregon

Finding treasures are always a reason for beach walks. I considered this kelp a treasure. As children, we found kelp made an excellent bull whip!

To find whales, we headed three miles south of Sunset Bay to Cape Arago and got lucky. The migration period when Gray Whales make their 6000 mile journey from the Baja, Mexico to the Bearing Sea is about over. Although you can’t tell it from our photos*, Gray whales are huge, measuring up to 47 feet long and weighing upwards to 40 tons. A baby can be 15 feet long and weigh 1500 pounds. Imagine giving birth to that! Ouch. * Photos of whales out in the ocean taken with a normal telephoto lens look suspiciously like Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster.

This was the location where we chose to look for Whales off of Cape Arago on the Oregon Coast. A pod of four showed up on the left.

This was the location where we chose to look for Gray Whales off of Cape Arago on the Oregon Coast. Not bad for a scenic point. A pod of four whales showed up on the left.

For our location and our cameral, this is as good as it got. (grin) Still, we were thrilled, as always.

For our location and our camera, this is as good as it got. (grin) Still, we were thrilled, as always. The one if front was spouting. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

We found these interesting heart-shaped leaves on the way back to our van. I liked the unique pattern.

These lower jawbones of a juvenile Humpback Whale were on display at Sunset Bay Campground. Peggy provides a perspective on their size.

These lower jaw bones of a juvenile Humpback Whale were on display at Sunset Bay Campground. Peggy provides a perspective on the kid’s size.

We finished off our trip with a delightful hike along the bluffs on the southern section of Sunset Bay Park.

Flower covered meadow at Sunset Bay State Park, Oregon

Our hike started across this flower covered meadow.

Hiking trail at Sunset Bay State Park, Oregon

Peggy makes her way along the shaded trail along the bluffs.

Looking down into the first cove we came to at Sunset Bay. Another couple of feet and I would have been tumbling off a sheer cliff. Bye, bye Curt! It was a beautifully calm day on the Pacific.

Cape Arago Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast.

Looking north we could see the Cape Arago Lighthouse. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Cove on Oregon Coast near Coos Bay, Oregon

The trail ended by dropping down into this pretty cove. I climbed the cliff on the right.

Peggy provided wifely advice and suggested this cliff might be more difficult to come down than go up… No problem. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

This is what it looked like when I got to the top and looked back down. (grin) My size 14 shoes had no sense of humor about the 2 inch ledge. Was Peggy suggesting I go another way? Dive!

Small waterfall in Sunset Bay State Park, Oregon

This bubbling waterfall greeted us on the way back to camp.

NEXT BLOG: It’s back to Europe to finish up in Florence and then move on to Barcelona.

Sunset Bay State Park, Oregon… The Dragon In the Forest

May 15, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 10 Comments

Peggy spotted this marvelous fenced in tree root dragon across a cove at Shore Acres Park near Coos Bay, Oregon. Naturally we had to go check it out. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

I love trees– everything about them: their size, shape, smell, color, fruit, cones, nuts, needles, leaves, limbs, and bark. I have as many pictures of them as Peggy has of the grandkids, and that’s saying a lot. I even love dead trees, the ones that have passed on to the Great Forest in the sky. Along with other woody things, they may be the only members of the organic world that are as beautiful in death as they are in life.

Twisted tree limb photo of Curtis Mekemson

What better way to frame a photo than a twisted tree limb. Peggy took this photo of me at Sunset Bay State Park on the Oregon Coast.

Unless you are down among the mangroves of more tropical climates, however, roots tend to hide out. They do their work underground. The exception, of course, is when a tree falls over. I had never realized how truly wild and wonderful roots might be until our trip to Sunset State Park on the coast near Coos Bay Oregon. And I wasn’t alone. Peggy spotted the dragon before I did.

Following are some of the fun wood sculptures we discovered.

Dragon tree roots at Shore Acres State Park on the Oregon Coast.

A closer look at the dragon-tree roots.

Dragon Tree at Shore Acres State Park, Oregon

The Dragon Lady Peggy provides a perspective on the size of the roots.

I call this the dark side of the dragon.

Massive tree roots at Shore Acres State Park on Oregon coast.

I couldn’t see any animals in these roots but I liked the way they shot off in all directions and seemed to end in the green pine needles..

Tree roots at Sunset Beach State Park in Oregon

Peggy liked the horns on this fellow at Sunset Bay State Park. I thought he was rather twisted and dubbed him Bum Steer.

Peggy Mekemson and tree roots on Oregon Coast.

My model provides a human perspective on the size of Bum Steer. Maybe his brother was Paul Bunyan’s blue ox Babe. PS… if I have my anatomy right, this guy has a really weird tail.

The grain of the wood on the Bum Steer caught my attention for the beautiful way it flows.

The grain of the wood on Bum Steer caught my attention for the beautiful way it flows.

No animals here… just a striking set of roots on the beach at Sunset Bay State Park. I liked the backdrop of sand, grass and trees. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

These are the same roots seen above but from a different perspective. Note the tree trunk heading off to the right.

These are the same finger-like roots seen above but from a different perspective. Note the tree trunk heading off to the left. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Peggy Mekemson and tree roots on Oregon Beach

A final shot: Peggy and her Oregonian roots.

NEXT BLOG: We find whales, a beaver wanders into camp, and I climb a cliff… against Peggy’s better judgement.

Sunset Bay, Oregon… A World of Whales, Waves and Wacky Roots… Plus Flowers

May 13, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 15 Comments

Rododendron at Shore Acres State Park, Oregon

Rhododendrons and azaleas add splashes of color to the Oregon Coast in Spring. These beauties are found at Shore Acres State Park near Coos Bay, Oregon.

Peggy and I just returned from a five-day trip to the coast. One of our goals as new residents here in Oregon is to explore the state. We’ve gotten off to a slow start. Little things like trips to Europe, Mexico, Burning Man, Las Vegas and Hawaii, not to mention settling into our new home, have gotten in the way. (Grin)

We bit the bullet on Wednesday, packed up Quivera, and hit the road. Quivera, BTW, is the 22-foot van we wandered in for three years. The name derives from a lost Indian city that never stays in the same place. I think it is somewhere out in Kansas now with Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. (We named our first van Xanadu. Peg and I like exotic.)

Our 22-foot van, Quivera, waits patiently for us at Cape Arago, just south of Sunset Bay, Oregon.

Our destination for this trip was Sunset Bay State Park near Coos Bay, Oregon. Our objective was to see whales, the massive Grays that make their way north along the Pacific Coast each spring. We weren’t disappointed. Likewise, as always, we enjoyed the scenic beauty of the Northwest’s famous rugged coastline. I’ll blog about both on Friday. (Next week I will return to Florence and Barcelona.)

For today and Wednesday, I want to write about two surprises. The first is some drop-dead gorgeous flowers. The second is tree roots. Be prepared to enter a fantasy world on the latter. Heck, be prepared to enter a fantasy world with both.

We can thank a lumber baron for the blossoms. Louis Simpson built a mansion on the bluffs south of Sunset Bay. Then he built a flower garden. He lost his fortune during the Great Depression and Oregon had the foresight to acquire both. Eventually, the mansion had to be torn down, but the flower garden still stands as part of Shore Acres State Park. Some 5000 annuals/perennials bloom between May and September.

We arrived at the height of rhododendron-azalea season. (The Internet informs me that all azaleas are rhododendrons but not all rhododendrons are azaleas.) Enjoy!

A small section of the flowers at Shore Acres State Park Botanical Garden on the Oregon Coast. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Shore Acres Botanical Garden, Coos Bay, Oregon

Rhododendron at Shore Acres State Park.

The rhododendrons and azaleas were in full bloom at Shore Acres State Park on the Oregon Coast.

These Azaleas/Rhododendrons displayed one of many colors and shapes on display at Shore Acres State Park.

These azaleas displayed one of many colors and shapes on display at Shore Acres State Park.

Rhododendrons at Shore Acres State Park in Oregon.

Azaleas at Shore Acres State Park in Oregon.

Peggy caught the riotous colors of the rhododendrons in this photo. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson.)

Rhododendron at Shore Acres State Park in Oregon

I loved the delicate colors and blushing pink of these rhododendrons.

Rhododendrons in mass at Shore Acres State Park.

A bouquet of red. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Violet rhododendrons at Shore Acres State Park in Oregon.

Blue Rhododendrons at Shore Acres State Park, Oregon

A touch of blue.

Almost white… (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Flowers were also in abundance outside of the Shore Acres’ gardens. I found this bright yellow monkey flower at Sunset Bay State Park.

Rhododendrons at Sunset Bay State park in Oregon

And these pink beauties with their sprightly green leaves were living in our campsite.

NEXT BLOG: Some absolutely wild tree roots on the Oregon coast. Meet the Dragon!

The Duomo and Santa Croce: Two Great Churches of Florence

May 10, 2013January 24, 2015 / Curt Mekemson / 6 Comments

Looking up at the magnificent dome on Florence’s Duomo Cathedral.

There are three reasons for visiting Florence’s Cathedral, commonly known as the Duomo. First is the Church itself, second is the magnificent bell tower, which stands next to the church, and third is the octagonal-shaped Baptistery, which stands in front.

The dome of Duomo was one of the great works of the Renaissance. (The church had been waiting since the Middle Ages for its top.) Filippo Brunelleschi, who built the dome, first studied the ancient Pantheon in Rome. Like so much of the Renaissance, the dome represented a return to, or a rebirth of, the great Greek and Roman cultures that had thrived 1000 years earlier before the Dark Ages had arrived along with the Barbarian hordes.

This photo by Peggy captured the Baptistery on the left, the Duomo with its Dome in the center and the bell tower on the right. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

A front view of Florence’s Duomo Church

Looking up at the Duomo dome from inside the church.

The 270-foot tall Campanile or Giotto’s Tower, which is located next to the Duomo, was actually completed 100 years before Brunelleschi put his finishing touches on the church. Many consider the bell tower to be among the most beautiful in Europe.

Giotto’s Bell Tower in Florence, Italy

The top of Giotto’s Bell Tower. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

A front view of Giotto’s Bell Tower with the Duomo to the left.

The Baptistery features Ghiberti’s bronze doors. Michelangelo believed these gates were so beautiful they could have served as “the Gates of Paradise.”

Ghiberti’s Bronze Doors on the Baptistery in Florence. (Photo by Peggy Mekemson)

Ghiberti's Baptistery doors in Florence Italy

A closer look at the Baptistery Doors.

Close up of Baptistery doors Florence Italy

This view of the Baptistery door gives a sense of why Michelangelo spoke so highly of Ghiberti’s work.

The Basilica of Santa Croce, a 14^th Century Franciscan church, also had some great doors but is better known for the people buried inside including Michelangelo, Machiavelli, Rossini and Galileo. As we stood in front of the church admiring its doors, a man sent bubbles floating into the sky.