Monday, March 12, 2012
Dubai
MARCH 10
Wendy (Sheri Frenzil’s sister) drove us on an orientation tour.
Dubai is even more OVERWHELMING than we could imagine.,
High, HI-RISES galore.... Many......many.....High....... many...
OVERWHELMING
Lunch watching skiers in snow skiing down a 40 story high mountain.
Made us want to ski with them.
****************************
MARCH 11
Guide and driver..... tour....... A marina surrounded by hi-rises.
Built in the last 5 years!!!!!!!!
Bob guesses 33 buildings from 35 - 60 stories with balconies.
Residences, many with restaurants on the first floor.
.........A catalog of building styles.
Lunch was out doors near a fountain that “performs” only at night.
...........................SURPRISE.......
We are wet
The lunch was after watching scuba divers feeding ocean fish, sharks, rays,
many schools of colorful others. We were on eye level with them.
Made us want to jump in.
Each lunch was in a different shopping mall. Many people buying everything from
refrigerators to very high end stylish spike heel shoes to boxes of cheerios.
Stores from all over the world, many from America -
Bloomingdales, Cheesefactory etc.
Stopped at a new Art Museum which turned out to be a place owned by one family.
Very exquisite items:
Shawls from Pashima, the wool softer than the skin on my face,
Carpets from Kashmir. We sat on sofas and were shown beautiful patterns
while sipping fragrant tea in delicate cups,
Jewelry ...... hand painted tablecloths ..... beautifully painted crafts
All these lovely items for sale.
Our hotel is on the beach but set back about 800 feet,,,,,, swimming pools
and gardens. The breakfasts have an array of global dishes, served
beautifully enough to have delighted Bob’s mother .
We tired out in old Dubai, cut our tour short and came “home” to nap.
****************************************
Wendy (Sheri Frenzil’s sister) drove us on an orientation tour.
Dubai is even more OVERWHELMING than we could imagine.,
High, HI-RISES galore.... Many......many.....High....... many...
OVERWHELMING
Lunch watching skiers in snow skiing down a 40 story high mountain.
Made us want to ski with them.
****************************
MARCH 11
Guide and driver..... tour....... A marina surrounded by hi-rises.
Built in the last 5 years!!!!!!!!
Bob guesses 33 buildings from 35 - 60 stories with balconies.
Residences, many with restaurants on the first floor.
.........A catalog of building styles.
Lunch was out doors near a fountain that “performs” only at night.
...........................SURPRISE.......
We are wet
The lunch was after watching scuba divers feeding ocean fish, sharks, rays,
many schools of colorful others. We were on eye level with them.
Made us want to jump in.
Each lunch was in a different shopping mall. Many people buying everything from
refrigerators to very high end stylish spike heel shoes to boxes of cheerios.
Stores from all over the world, many from America -
Bloomingdales, Cheesefactory etc.
Stopped at a new Art Museum which turned out to be a place owned by one family.
Very exquisite items:
Shawls from Pashima, the wool softer than the skin on my face,
Carpets from Kashmir. We sat on sofas and were shown beautiful patterns
while sipping fragrant tea in delicate cups,
Jewelry ...... hand painted tablecloths ..... beautifully painted crafts
All these lovely items for sale.
Our hotel is on the beach but set back about 800 feet,,,,,, swimming pools
and gardens. The breakfasts have an array of global dishes, served
beautifully enough to have delighted Bob’s mother .
We tired out in old Dubai, cut our tour short and came “home” to nap.
****************************************
Friday, March 9, 2012
LONDON GOOD TIMES
Sunshine!!!! Flowers in bloom. I will have spring 2 times this year.
Yesterday: Tate Modern..........Yuyio Kusama...... fire at restuarant Caprice ........
"One Man Two Guvnors".....
That's the short version. If you have more time, here's more.......
We really liked the work of Kusama, an interesting Japanese woman who came to the US because Japan was too rigid and male dominated for her. She used many media in one art work. She also created installations which blew our minds - colored lights, black light and mirrors - very disorienting. A Mom carried her baby into the room and the baby started screaming.
Our hotel, Dukes, is in St. James, a location we love. The hotel is small, old and charming. An additional highlight is the world renowned martini bar. Last night before dinner we had a martini there. Feeling no pain we walked down an alleyway to a fine restaurant which had lighted candles on the table. All of a sudden my menu was on fire. I quickly smothered it with a napkin but not before the staff was at my side.
Later at the theater Bob actually snored. ..........Tonight we did not have a martini.......
The play was slapstick, which I usually do not enjoy. But it was so silly I really laughed. Good music too.
Today, Thursday, we had a meeting with an architect at Strata Tower, a 42 story new building that has 3 wind turbines at the top. The energy produces about 15% of the needs of this condo building. All new buildings are required to produce energy. It is the first new structure in a neighborhood that is slated to be gentrified. In the rest of the neighborhood public housing is being torn down. Most of the people living in Strata Tower are young students who are Asian. Their parents have purchased these expensive units for their children. I watched very stylishly dressed young people walking thru the lobby.
Then to the Design Museum. We have been getting around on the underground trains- some of them must be 10 stories down.
We had dinner with nephew Jake Roth who is doing his junior year at the London School of Economics.
We got to know and enjoy each other.
Now, March 9, I am at the airport in the British Air business class lounge waiting to go to Dubai.
It is very comfortable. One could eat like a queen in this lounge.
The pictures from the last few days will follow. I have to get them from Bob's camera.
Yesterday: Tate Modern..........Yuyio Kusama...... fire at restuarant Caprice ........
"One Man Two Guvnors".....
That's the short version. If you have more time, here's more.......
We really liked the work of Kusama, an interesting Japanese woman who came to the US because Japan was too rigid and male dominated for her. She used many media in one art work. She also created installations which blew our minds - colored lights, black light and mirrors - very disorienting. A Mom carried her baby into the room and the baby started screaming.
Our hotel, Dukes, is in St. James, a location we love. The hotel is small, old and charming. An additional highlight is the world renowned martini bar. Last night before dinner we had a martini there. Feeling no pain we walked down an alleyway to a fine restaurant which had lighted candles on the table. All of a sudden my menu was on fire. I quickly smothered it with a napkin but not before the staff was at my side.
Later at the theater Bob actually snored. ..........Tonight we did not have a martini.......
The play was slapstick, which I usually do not enjoy. But it was so silly I really laughed. Good music too.
Today, Thursday, we had a meeting with an architect at Strata Tower, a 42 story new building that has 3 wind turbines at the top. The energy produces about 15% of the needs of this condo building. All new buildings are required to produce energy. It is the first new structure in a neighborhood that is slated to be gentrified. In the rest of the neighborhood public housing is being torn down. Most of the people living in Strata Tower are young students who are Asian. Their parents have purchased these expensive units for their children. I watched very stylishly dressed young people walking thru the lobby.
Then to the Design Museum. We have been getting around on the underground trains- some of them must be 10 stories down.
We had dinner with nephew Jake Roth who is doing his junior year at the London School of Economics.
We got to know and enjoy each other.
Now, March 9, I am at the airport in the British Air business class lounge waiting to go to Dubai.
It is very comfortable. One could eat like a queen in this lounge.
The pictures from the last few days will follow. I have to get them from Bob's camera.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
HISTORY
Visiting History
Tuesday we took the tube to Wimbledon to visit with Loretta and Elisa Simon and Loretta's family.
(Loretta is married to Len Simon's son, Mark. Len is our daugher, Denne's, husbnd. Mark is currently working on an assignment in the U.S. We had never before met Loretta's family.) We were excited to be greeted by Loretta at the station. She took us to her family's restaurant. They own 5 restaurants in London where Loretta's Mom, Dad, and Brothers work.
What a lovely welcome for us - a large table, where 7 family members were waiting to meet us!!! Even though the Older Generation speak mostly Italian, Loretta's Mom and I got along well. We were feted and well fed.
Loretta then walked us through the old "market town" - old churches and buildings where royalty had escaped the smells and bustle of the center of London. Coronations had taken place here.
In the open- spaced large square vendors were selling beautifully arranged fruits and vegetables.
Even fresh fish. All very colorful.
The highlights of Monday: The David Hockney Art Exhibit and dinner at Rules. Both excellent
Tuesday we took the tube to Wimbledon to visit with Loretta and Elisa Simon and Loretta's family.
(Loretta is married to Len Simon's son, Mark. Len is our daugher, Denne's, husbnd. Mark is currently working on an assignment in the U.S. We had never before met Loretta's family.) We were excited to be greeted by Loretta at the station. She took us to her family's restaurant. They own 5 restaurants in London where Loretta's Mom, Dad, and Brothers work.
What a lovely welcome for us - a large table, where 7 family members were waiting to meet us!!! Even though the Older Generation speak mostly Italian, Loretta's Mom and I got along well. We were feted and well fed.
Loretta then walked us through the old "market town" - old churches and buildings where royalty had escaped the smells and bustle of the center of London. Coronations had taken place here.
In the open- spaced large square vendors were selling beautifully arranged fruits and vegetables.
Even fresh fish. All very colorful.
The highlights of Monday: The David Hockney Art Exhibit and dinner at Rules. Both excellent
Monday, March 5, 2012
Anniversity trip
Thanks for all your good wishes.
LONDON
Started a day early, left Chicago Sunday !!
First class sleeping in a space capsule is FUN..
London COLD AND WET.
Having A GREAT TIME.
Champagne from hotel and last night's restaurant.
(You guessed right,
we tell them we are celebrating our
62nd wedding anniversary)
Dinner at Bentley's
(old oyster bar, and I mean old, 1926?)
Walked to ICA Institute for Contemporary Arts where we saw a marvelous film
showing 8 middle eastern artists. Seven were women.
LONDON
Started a day early, left Chicago Sunday !!
First class sleeping in a space capsule is FUN..
London COLD AND WET.
Having A GREAT TIME.
Champagne from hotel and last night's restaurant.
(You guessed right,
we tell them we are celebrating our
62nd wedding anniversary)
Dinner at Bentley's
(old oyster bar, and I mean old, 1926?)
Walked to ICA Institute for Contemporary Arts where we saw a marvelous film
showing 8 middle eastern artists. Seven were women.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Around the World
On March 4th Bob and Syl will board a plane from Chicago to London, the start of a trip to see the tallest buildings in the world.
Itinerary: London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, Vietnam, South Korea
and Shanghai. A few stops do not have tall buildings but we need some "R and R". And a few places we just wanted to see and experience.
We have been reading and learning about this part of the world, never before having been to any of these Asian lands. Because of this studying we feel that we are already on the trip.
I intend to update this blog often. Maybe even a few sentences every day.
Thanks for joining us on this exciting trip.
Syl
Itinerary: London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur, Vietnam, South Korea
and Shanghai. A few stops do not have tall buildings but we need some "R and R". And a few places we just wanted to see and experience.
We have been reading and learning about this part of the world, never before having been to any of these Asian lands. Because of this studying we feel that we are already on the trip.
I intend to update this blog often. Maybe even a few sentences every day.
Thanks for joining us on this exciting trip.
Syl
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