July 2021 With the exception of feeling sad that LaClede Landing was all that remained of Old St. Louis, I was still on a high about the city before I walked through "downtown" on my way to the former train station. My opinion of St Louis was about to change radically. I first passed the Federal Reserve Bank (not surprising given the past importance and location of the city). Then I entered downtown. Even during COVID, it was clear that the city center had fallen on ver

January 2020 While exploring a largely shuttered Valencia (due to Epiphany), I came across this outdoor painting. I was surprised mainly because Indonesian art is not very popular outside of Indonesia (with the exception of the Netherlands). What was even more striking to me was that it was not the entrance to an Indonesian restaurant - it appeared random. Wayang Golek in Valencia? I was filled with questions - it was all so unexpected. The mural was also "incorrect".

July 2021 All that remains of "Old St Louis" is the small neighborhood of LaClede's Landing down on the Mississippi. The area now is filled with shops and restaurants with a lovely path to walk along the river. It made me realize that St Louis is actually built far above the floodplain of the river (good choice), so it has escaped the ravages of flooding over the years. The quest for founding the city of St. Louis began in 1763, when a French merchant named Pierre Laclèd

July 2021 I was never compelled to visit the Gateway Arch. Built to impress, it always looked out of place in photos. In my case, it is a monument that needed to be visited in person. It IS impressive and overwhelming. I am so happy my travels led me to it. Beyond its memorial significance, the arch is something that can be photographed multiple angles at various times of day to yield very beautiful (and different) results. I became an arch fan shortly after walking u

June 2018 Toledo’s former major Synagogue, today Santa María la Blanca, is an icon of the city and of sephardic history in it. Its white columns have been a symbol of Toledo for centuries, transporting visitors to a bygone era and offering a haven of peace in today’s bustling world. The monument is well preserved, allowing visitors to appreciate its original design. The large surrounding garden offers a space to relax and enjoy a unique experience. Recently, an innovative LE

After exiting the library, I came back to the green axis cutting across St Louis' city center. Even grander than the one in Indianapolis, it extends from the Gateway Arch on the river to the former Union Station. The size is just a little shorter than then National Mall in Washington, DC. Soldier's Memorial Military Museum Following World War I the City of St. Louis set out to memorialize the 1,072 local service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in the War to End All

The train ride to the Gateway City was short from Springfield and I felt excited to explore a new place. We crossed the Mississippi from Illinois and I caught a glimpse of the Gateway Arch. Sadly, the city skyline was underwhelming. The train slowly pulled into the station. St Louis long ago abandoned its beautiful railway station and now Amtrak serves a mostly underground, bus/train terminal. Exiting was confusing and I needed to cross a highway to get to the hotel

June 2018 The hilltop city of Toledo is crowned by a fortress. The castle is visible from all over the city as well as from a distance. That imposing Spanish castle/fort is located right in the city center. Once used as a Roman palace in the 3rd century, it was turned into a fortress in the 10th century during the reign of Cordoba Caliph Abd ar-Rahman III. It was restored under Charles I (Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor) and his son Philip II of Spain in the 1540s. In 152

Springfield took me completely by surprise. What a lovely place: it is a state capital yet retains a small city charm. The city is not as podunk as Frankfort, Kentucky (which I loved, but is extremely small), yet feels frozen in time from a gentler age. There were several things I liked about Springfield: railway tracks The north-south train tracks run through town at grade. They are still in use by both freight trains and Amtrak. That means that when a train passes t

July 2021 If there was one thing I liked about Springfield, it was its "low rise" skyline. The city only has two or three "tall" (not really) multi-story buildings, so the state capitol dome is visible from many places in town. I decided to enter following the tradition AQ and I had started on the trip. I missed him a lot - mainly because it ended up being the best state capitol building I had ever seen. I sorely wished he had come as far as Springfield and returned a

The Bear and the Strawberry Tree. July 2014 The Puerta del Sol (English: "Gate of the Sun") is a public square in Madrid, one of the best known and busiest places in the city. This is the centre (Km 0) of the radial network of Spanish roads. The square also contains the famous clock whose bells mark the traditional eating of the Twelve Grapes and the beginning of a new year. The New Year's celebration has been broadcast live since 31 December 1962 on major radio and televisi

A slightly longish walk from downtown lies the Oak Ridge Cemetery - final resting place of President Lincoln. Learning the history of his tomb and burial was fascinating (and rather disturbing). The entrance avenue to the cemetery is stately but now lined with normal homes. At the time the mausoleum was opened to the public, there was a steady stream of visitors, so the entrance avenue looked like other such places that cater to visitors - filled with establishments create

June 2018 The province of Castille & León produces most of Spain's wheat. Spain's output is similar to Italy's and varies greatly year on year due to climate (mostly rainfall). Given that parts of Spain are nearly desert-like at times, I was surprised to find wheatfields at all. On several journeys using long distance trains, I passed through endless fields of grain. Spain is not even close to being a big player in wheat production.    It certainly consumes all it grows a

On my own AQ dropped me at the bus/train station in Indianapolis and headed back to Kent, Ohio. I was sad to see my travel companion go, but I understood his reasons. His car was not the greatest and he didn't want to be too far away from his home base in case of any problem. I had hoped he would continue with me to Springfield at least to see one more state capital. The Amtrak bus service to the rail line in Illinois was easy to book online, but in one of those "I knew

July 2021 The Indianapolis 500 I grew up with the race and even if I wasn't a fan, I certainly knew about it. I remembered it had special cars only for its track (different from similar Formula One vehicles). The one place AQ and I had not visited in the city was the racetrack. At the end of the day, we made it our final stop (luckily it was open on July 4th). Perhaps the reason I didn't know more about the city is that its famous race eclipses all other things. For

January 2017 The University of Seville originally dates to the 15th century. Created by Archdeacon Maese Rodrigo Fernández de Santaella, it was originally called Colegio de Santa María de Jesús. In the 16th century (1505), a Bull of Pope Julius II granted the college the faculty to teach degrees in Theology, Philosophy, Law, Medicine and Arts. In 1551, the City Council allowed it, by means of a Royal Provision, to officially become a university, enjoying all the privileges of

July 2021 Indianapolis is home to several "hip" neighborhoods. AQ and I wanted to visit at least one (and get some good coffee) before we moved on. The closest to downtown is Fountain Square. Once home to farmland in Indianapolis’ early days, the district grew to a bustling commercial district at the turn of the 20th century. Following revitalization in the 1990s and 2000s, Fountain Square has grown into an energetic and unique destination. Its sister neighborhood, Fletche

November 2025 As I stood on the cold, rainy platform of the DC metro at Reagan National Airport, I kept reflecting on Hollywood Beach. I had just left there - now I had to face the reality of winter in the Northeast after a three year absence. After the cruise from Barcelona [see: Transatlantic Cruise ], I ended up staying in the Port Everglades area for a couple of days - partly to transition from the cruise and the long journey, and partly because plane tickets were punis

July 2014 The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest in Europe (in use). On that first visit to Madrid with AFVdR I had no idea what to expect. The building is actually the replacement of an earlier building started by the Moors, subsequently renovated and expanded. On Christmas Eve 1734, the alcázar was destroyed by a fire that originated in the rooms of the French painter Jean Ranc. Response to the fire was delayed due to the warning bells being confused with the call to

Museum The Indiana State Museum complex was one of the largest I had ever encountered (for a state museum) in the US. I was impressed by its scale and that an entire pavilion had been devoted to Native American culture and art. Since it was July 4th, the museum was closed, but I made a mental note that it looked "entrance-worthy" if I found myself in the city again. We continued back toward the city center to the state house. Unfortunately, it was closed due to the holid