Travel

It's Electric

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It's Electric. Capri, Italy. June 2015. 

It's Electric. Capri, Italy. June 2015. 

I made the escape to Capri my first weekend free from Expo. I had not been in 12 years and it was refreshing to go back, enjoy a sail around the island, and the boat ride into the Grotta Azzurra. While the singing of "Volare" reverberating off the cave walls is boisterous and fun, the boat ride is slightly disappointing in that it only lasts for a few minutes. It's worth the trip, but you have to move fast to get a good shot and enjoy the electric blue water. Every time I look back at this photo, I hear "Nel blu dipinto di blu, felice di stare lassù..." on repeat. 

The Novacento View

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The Novacento View. Milan, Italy. November 2015.

The Novacento View. Milan, Italy. November 2015.

This room in the Museo del Novacento is my favorite view overlooking Piazza del Duomo. Museo del Novacento has a fantastic collection of 20th century Italian art, however I would often visit just for this view (and the bar that also overlooks the piazza). Pictured here is my friend Kata, a statuesque beauty that I worked with at Expo. When we visited Novacento together, we had just wrapped up a phenomenal Expo experience and were candidly a bit nostalgic and aimless. We had a large void to fill now that Expo had run its course and we were both plagued with the nagging "what next?" question. Kata and I decided to take a few hours to get out of our heads and enjoy our newly acquired free time by going to Novacento to take in this view. We had been so busy working that we hardly ever saw the Duomo or piazza during the day. This was a healthy change of pace and the best part of it was that we were able to go during off-peak hours and have the whole view to ourselves. 

Authentically Agnès

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Authentically Agnès. Bologna, Italy. August 2015. 

Authentically Agnès. Bologna, Italy. August 2015. 

I made some good friends living in Milan and Agnès is one of them. A talented linguist and writer, Agnès and I were colleagues at the USA Pavilion during Expo. She studied in Bologna and wanted to show me the city she once called home. We went on ferragosto so it was quiet as most people vacate cities for the seaside during this time. This moment highlights just how quiet the city was. These streets would typically be bustling with students and residents, however since it was a slow day in August, I was able to spot Agnès resting yards away and get a quick candid of her. 

Lovely Lyon

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Lovely Lyon. Lyon, France. December 2016. 

Lovely Lyon. Lyon, France. December 2016. 

This is my first time in Lyon and I have fallen in amour....Granted it is love at first sight so we are still in the honeymoon phase.

Lyon is a lovely city known for its vibrant culinary culture. It has been regularly pegged as the gastronomic capital of the world and home to the "Pope of French Cuisine" Paul Bocuse, Daniel Boulud and many many others. Lyon has (at a minimum) 1,500 restaurants with 13 of them awarded Michelin Stars. I read that Lyon has the highest number of restaurants per inhabitant in France, which is truly incredible. The spectrum of restaurants is impressive as well, ranging from century old brasseries and bouchons to more experimental nouvelle cuisine.

Lyon is the third largest city in France, but you don't feel rushed or lost in a sea of people when you are here. There is space to breathe, walk, eat, and take in UNESCO sites sprinkled throughout the city. Architectural powerhouses Calatrava and Renzo Piano have created buildings in/near Lyon, however my favorite in this context is still the beaux arts style found in the old town; this particular façade is in Place Saint Jean.

Stop Wars You Will

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Stop Wars You Will. Miami, Florida, U.S.A. December 2016.

Stop Wars You Will. Miami, Florida, U.S.A. December 2016.

Over the weekend I traveled to Miami to attend Art Basel and its surrounding art shows for a dose of creative inspiration. The city is always colorful, alive, edgy, and during Art Basel it is even more so. I took this photo in the Wynwood District, Miami's artistic beating heart. Wynwood is renowned for Wynwood Walls, however the entire neighborhood is an urban graffiti park. 

Artists from around the world have left their mark in Wynwood including Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra who painted this mural during Art Basel last year. Kobra is known for his colorful, kaleidoscope wall murals. If you were in New York last year, you may have caught his large tribute to Alfred Eisenstaedt's "V-J Day, The Kiss" off of 25th St. and 10th Ave near the Highline (it has since been painted over). Similar to "The Kiss" mural, this one also addresses the topic of war, this time featuring the all-knowing, powerful Jedi Yoda. Murals in Wynwood get painted over so if you are in Miami, make it a point to catch this one and Kobra's entire wrap around this building while you can. 

Gateway to Enlightenment

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Gateway to Enlightenment. Kyoto, Japan. December 2014. 

Gateway to Enlightenment. Kyoto, Japan. December 2014. 

On a father-daughter excursion to Japan, my father and I visited Kyoto and made it a priority to hike Fushimi Inari Shrine together. Dating back to the 8th century, it is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the god of rice and sake. We visited on a cold December day, but the air felt very refreshing especially after hours of hiking up stairs and inclines. The torri gates were endless and distractingly beautiful—we just had to chase that orange lined path. The calligraphy you see on the gate is the name of the individual, family, or organization that purchased and sponsors the torii. 

During the uphill climb, my father and I thought we had reached the summit a few times before actually reaching it. The hike up to the top takes about 2-3 hours and while the view from the summit is remarkable, it was the journey through the thousands of torii that made this shrine a beautiful experience. 

Love Actually Season

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Love Actually Season. London, England. February 2016.

Love Actually Season. London, England. February 2016.

We are quickly approaching the holiday season which also means we are quickly approaching 'Love Actually' season. 'Love Actually' made 27 St. Luke's Mews one of the most famous addresses in Notting Hill (next to Hugh Grant's bookstore featured in 'Notting Hill') and whether you like the film or not, if you have seen it once, you will likely recognize this charming home from the film. Notecards, Keira Knightley, Andrew Lincoln, a profession of love, is it coming back?

St. Luke's Mews is a nice, short detour off of Portobello Road; a quiet street with plenty of green to complement the colorful façades. Tourists make this home a destination, so applause to the owners for keeping it photo ready because it is 'Love Actually' season here all year long.