alexandriacardinals

May 15

Salem

[On this day, we went sightseeing in Cape Ann.  Cape Ann is a rocky cape in northeastern Massachusetts on the Atlantic Ocean. It is about 30 miles northeast of Boston and marks the northern limit of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester and the towns of Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, and Rockport.  (Wikipedia)  Before moving to Salem, our hosts lived in Rockport.]

[We drove through here, but I missed a photo of the city sign – so I stole these off the internet.  There was a recent movie named after the town, as I recall?]

[Hammond Castle is located on the Atlantic coast in the Magnolia area of Gloucester. The castle, which was constructed between 1926 and 1929, was the home and laboratory of John Hays Hammond, Jr. He was an inventor who was a pioneer in the study of remote control and held over four hundred patents. The building is composed of modern and 15th-, 16th-, and 18th-century architectural elements and sits on a rocky cliff overlooking Gloucester Harbor.  At present, the castle operates as the Hammond Castle Museum, displaying Hammond’s collection of Roman, medieval, and Renaissance artifacts as well as exhibits about his life and inventions.  The Great Hall contains a huge pipe organ which has been used for concerts and recordings by many famous organists including Richard Ellseasser and Virgil Fox.  Unfortunately, as of 2015, the organ is no longer functional. (Wikipedia)]

[We’ll be back to the castle shortly after a drive through the neighborhood . . . ]

[Dick mentioned some interesting stuff about the previous four photos, but I forgot.  Now we’re back at the castle.]

[Geez, no sunshine again today?]

[Five photos by the Super taken here . . . ]

[Then on to Gloucester . . . ]

[Surely you recognize this guy?]

[The tall, slender twin lighthouses on 50-acre Thacher Island, on the Town of Rockport’s seal since 1888, are an indespensible part of the local seascape. Now designated a National Historic Landmark, the island is also recognized as a significant historic site for the nation as a whole.  (neewenglandlighthouses.net)]

[We’ve made several visits here harkening back to the old days . . . ]

[Your basic Rockport business district businesses.]

[And harbor . . . ]

[Rockport harbor]

[Over the ages, we have taken many, many photos of this building.  And here’s why . . . ]

[Motif Number 1, located on Bradley Wharf in the harbor town of Rockport, is a replica of a former fishing shack well known to students of art and art history as “the most often-painted building in America.”  The original structure was built in 1840 and destroyed in the Blizzard of 1978, but an exact replica was constructed that same year.

Built in the 1840s as Rockport was becoming home to a colony of artists and settlement of fishermen, the shack became a favorite subject of painters due to the composition and lighting of its location as well as being a symbol of New England maritime life.  Painter Lester Hornby (1882–1956) is believed to be the first to call the shack “Motif Number 1,” a reference to its being the favorite subject of the town’s painters, and the name achieved general acceptance.

In the 1930s, painter John Buckley used the shack as his studio.  He sold it to the town in 1945, dedicated “In 1945, the town of Rockport purchased the Motif as a monument to Rockporters who had served in the Armed Services.”  The town, recognizing its iconic value, has taken pains to preserve both its structure and appearance, finding a red paint which appears weather-beaten even when new, and keeping the area clear of overhead wires, traffic signs and advertising.  (Wikipedia)]

[The Super sneaking in among the lobster traps for a shot . . . ]

[And here’s the photo she took.]

[And a photo of the harbor from the same spot.]

[Indiana University has been playing a big role in our lives lately – and here’s one of its most famous alums.]

[When Rose and Dick fled the nation’s capital, many years ago, this is where they first alit, a classic New England house.  They were only a couple blocks from the ocean here and walking distance to downtown Rockport.]

[And just driving around their old neighborhood, an animal sculpture garden . . . ]

[Riding around in a car sightseeing can build up quite an appetite.  So we stopped at one of Rose and Dick’s favorite restaurants, Soma in Beverly.]

[We returned to Salem so Reetz could meet up with an old friend.  This, and the following three photos by the Super.]

[Claire once lived in Nashville, Indiana, her connection to Rita, and has lived in the Boston area for many years.  She took the train up to Salem for an afternoon visit.]

[While the ladies went out for a walkabout in Salem, Dick and I stayed home with cognac and cigars (well, maybe someday, again).  The fellow in the background was allegedly with the Secret Service, but nobody was talking?]

Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.  ~  Henry David Thoreau

Up Next:  End of trip?

May 14

Salem

In keeping with the traditions of the trip, it was rainy day.  Thus, it was a good day for indoor art & culture.  Thus, Rose and & Dick dropped us here, a place we have enjoyed on previous trips . . .

The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) in Salem is a successor to the East India Marine Society, established in 1799.  The museum holds one of the major collections of Asian art in the US.  Its total holdings include about 1.3 million pieces, as well as twenty-two historic buildings.  The Peabody Essex ranks among the top 20 art museums in the US by measures including gallery space and endowment.  Once the Advancement Campaign is complete and the newly expanded museum opens in 2019, PEM will rank in the top 10 North American art museums in terms of gallery square footage, operating budget and endowment.  The PEM has more than 840,000 works of art and culture featuring maritime art and history; American art; Asian, Oceanic, and African art; Asian export art; two large libraries with over 400,000 books, manuscripts.  (Wikipedia)

[First, see the movie . . . ]

[Then wander out into the halls again and act like tourists.]

[This looks like a place for an overview shot.]

[The Super’s photo she took for FB . . . OK, the photo was taken by her tablet!]

[Into the art exhibits, browse at your own speeds . . . ]

[The Biddies added for perspective.  Wow, what vases!]

[I circled the room and ended back with these guys again.]

[A large room for figureheads.  (Though tempted, I won’t go there.)]

[What the h*** is it?]

[While perusing these rooms, there was a statuesque Asian woman in a long black dress who was posing in various places throughout for someone who appeared to be a professional photographer.  But there were also three small children with them – a family?  Anyway, she was quite striking, but I figured it would be bad form to try to take her picture.]

One of New Zealand’s cultural success stories over the past 28 years is the spectacular World of WearableArt® or WOW®. At the core of WOW® is an international design competition that attracts hundreds of entries from all over the world. The annual Awards Show presents the finalist garments in a theatrical extravaganza that collides at the intersection of fashion and art.

[At least The Biddies seemed as bewildered as me.]

[Now the following 10 WOW photos were taken by the Super.  They may make an interesting psychological study on how different sexes view the same exhibit . . . or maybe not?]

[Really, I haven’t a clue.]

[And now back to my stuff.  This house will be “addressed” when we get to the bottom of this page.]

[A tough bareback ride.]

[The multi layers of PEM]

[And two from the Super, of me with the whole lunar in my hands!]

[Me again . . . I think I could be a fan.]

[And a final two from the Super.]

[Me again, I have no idea but it was cool.]

[Yin Yu Tang, a 200-year-old Chinese house, was brought to America and re-erected at the Peabody Essex Museum.  Yin Yu Tang was formerly located in the small rural village of Huang Cun, in the hills of Xiuning County in the Huizhou region of Anhui Province. Huang Cun is approximately 250 miles southwest of Shanghai.  Though the exact date of its construction has not yet been determined, it appears that the house was built by the 28th or 29th generation of the family at the turn of the 18th century. Since the present living family members are of the 34th through the 36th generation, the house was probably built 175 to 200 years ago.  (pem.org)]

[Excited, but exhausted by, our tour of the world of art, we returned to our hosts’ abode where Dick reintroduced The Biddies to the fine art of cribbage and wine.]

[Ever the gracious hostess, if somewhat camera shy, Rosie returns to the kitchen to make sure all our wants and needs are tended to.]

[Good-bye for the day from the Super’s tablet.]

It’s not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on.  ~  Marilyn Monroe

Up Next:  Even more Salem.

June 30

[But we begin with Vinnie Rose . . . ]

[Who had to the 2:00 – 6:00 slot earlier . . . ]

[And we wanted to catch a little of Vinnie too, particularly since forecasts of a likely rainy afternoon never came to fruition – it was quite lovely!]

[The crowd began filing in about 6:15 for The Killer Vees 7:00 – 10:00 show . . . ]

[Run fast to get your glass of wine . . . ]

[And hors d’oeuvres . . . ]

[Plenty o’ kegs . . . ]

[And here they are!  The Super catches The Killer Vees, i.e., Tommy (the bassist) and Jeff (the drummer) are Bobby Vee’s sons; Matt (lead singer) is Bobby’s nephew, and Julie is Matt’s wife.  Unfortunately I did not catch the names of the keyboard player or lead guitar player (who is from Elbow Lake, which is a sanctuary city for musicians)?]

[Better take two.]

[Karin joins the press coverage.]

[Thank you boys and girl . . . ]

[Of course, Matt is probably best known for his cover of Neil Diamond.]

[It appears folks on Medicare can still shake their respective booties!]

[One of our requested favorites.]

[The Owner leads the group through line dancing . . . ]

[Known for making sure sunlight does not fade the back of his cap . . . ]

[Escapees from Arizona.]

[You may recognize several of the dancers in the this one.]

[And a final pic set of the group really into it!]

[Our table mates tripping the light fantastic . . . ]

[A rousing good time was had by all . . . ]

[Dancing the night away.]

[And the wrap-up!  Happy 4th, everyone!]

If Mozart were around now he would write a killer rock song.  ~  Vanessa Carlton

Up Next:  Back to Salem?

May 13

Boston

[This is it!  We’ll be disembarking the Veendam shortly . . . for the last time.]

[Have you ever done a slow pass past a container ship?]

[And this is about it for Beantown.  Not that we don’t like Boston, we love Boston.  But we’ve been here a few times, most recently just a couple of year ago . . . ]

[We bid adieu to our fellow travelers.  Let’s do it again some time, kids!]

Salem

[We came down the gangplank just in time to be picked up by friends Rose and Dick McMullen, who live in the city put on the map by another friend, Jess Lourey.]

[The Biddies and I would spend a couple of days with the McMullens, reacquainting ourselves with the nearby lands north of Boston, beginning here with the Salem witch hunt cemeteries . . . ]

[OK, other than witches are buried here too.]

[A classic cemetery of the horror movie genre.]

[Well, The Biddies don’t look too scared!]

[They ran out of rope?]

[And now Rosie and Dick join the shopping brigade.]

[And whom amongst us doesn’t enjoy a little pain every once in a while.]

[The classic downtown streets of Salem, walking distance from Rose and Dick’s.]

[To the town hall . . . ]

[Where certain crafts were being displayed, included beekeeping . . . ]

[And here’s the photo The Super took, because daughter Jami is now a beekeeper.]

[Once Bewitched . . . ]

[Forever Bewitched!!!]

[I suspect Rose and Dick have done this a few times.]

[Back “on the road again.”]

[Catching up on stuff since our last visit.]

[The statue overlooking the town square on which the McMullen condo resides.]

[Crossing the square, heading directly toward our residence for the next two days.]

[The light blue building in the center, the 2nd floor, is the ultimate destination.]

[And then a little fine dining at Bella Verona, a cozy little restaurant back on the other side of the square again . . . ]

[Mmmm, penne!]

[My swordfish and salmon . . . ]

[A delicious consensus from everyone!]

Boston is actually the capital of the world.  You didn’t know that?  We breed smart-ass, quippy, funny people.  Not that I’m one of them.  I just sorta sneaked in under the radar.  ~  John Krasinski

Up Next:  More Salem