May We Never Forget

May We Never Forget

Tragedies require a heroic response. The September 11, 2003 attack on the World Trade Center massacred thousands of innocents and devastated Manhattan's skyline; it left a scar in our soul and in our beloved New York City.  Tragedy has been met heroically and respectfully with magnificent monuments, memorials, museums, and two majestic towers rising to fill the void of the Twin Towers' collapse.   

Where the towers once stood white flowers are laid and water fills holes like wells of tears continuously weeping at the memorial fountain. Freedom Tower is mirrored flawlessly by Tower 4. A brave and valiant response is expressed so we may never forget.

White Roses

Near the 911 Memorial old meets new, vintage New York with old brick and mortar Architecture gives way to steel and glass skyscrapers defining the urban landscape. 

Old Meets New

Tower 4 looming down from the sky looks over the the classic city.

Tower #4

Close to the epicenter a copper bas-relief shows firefighters battling calamity and catastrophic collapse. The plaque reads "May We Never Forget". We never will.

Freedom Tower

Freedom Tower pierces the sky with 1776 feet of construction proudly erected to a height symbolic of the year 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was written. By design it is mirrored on the smooth sky-blue glass wrapping Tower 4. The effect is unmistakable: Freedom Tower is replicated as a phantom on the glass, filling the void left by the Twin Towers.

Freedom Tower Reflection on Tower #4

The public space around the memorial is immaculately manicured lawns shaded by exuberant Callery Pear trees like the ones killed when the Twin Towers crashed. Only one tree survived and is aptly named The Survivor Tree, a miracle of resilience. It had been thought dead, yet through charred bark new growth sprung to life, powerfully symbolizing rebirth.

Manicured Landscape

New urban trees shelter those arriving to pay their respects while trying to make sense of an incomprehensible evil.

Callery Pear - The Survivor Tree

A serene entry sequence leads to the memorial building with its awe inspiring hall devoted to security. People are screened quickly and respectfully before descending into a larger subterranean space. The grand stair case holds a steady stream of visitors flowing past two steel column, relics of the original structure. These rusty behemoths are gently illuminated by the last natural light filtering through giant windows, standing steadfast in the first lower level.

Rusty Behemoths

Along the downward journey, tortured remnants of the terrible tragedy illuminate the human procession like Stations of the Cross at a Cathedral; enormous bits of wreckage perfectly illustrating the destruction's magnitude.

Contorted Structural Steel

 Gnarly, contorted structural steel sculptures; scarred concrete stairs once serving as the sole means of escaping the maelstrom; ripped turbines; a ravaged fire engine, torn, flattened, and defiled by fire; all poignant artifacts helping us remember.

Ravaged Fire Engine

Finally, at the lowest level is the museum proper. Here mysteries are explored, some are explained. Yet the unfathomable human cost remains a mystery; it is left to be experienced at a private and intimate level so that we may never forget.

Well of Tears

Phoenix Lake

Springtime Phoenix Lake

Tucked in the heart of Marin County, California near San Francisco is Phoenix Lake.  This small gem feels remote on the outskirts of Ross, a wealthy bedroom community.  Parking may be difficult: only twenty stalls are provided and street parking is not allowed.  Eight spots a mile out next to the Lagunitas Country Club allow parking Monday through Thursday but it is closed weekends.  This space offers the best starting point.

Wellness Wellspring

The path to the lake meanders through redwoods, trickling creeks, and aromatic California bay trees. A graciously provided rustic drinking fountain at the trail head foreshadows great things to come and fortifies body and spirit with a sense of wellness. Drink and enter.

Redwood Refuge

Along the way, remnants of early logging linger and old sawed-off redwood stumps wide and welcoming in their decay signal shelter: redwood refuge for forest fauna.

Beyond, a mile up the moderate trail sits placid Phoenix Lake in its humble wooded basin. Springtime flowers colors the lake yellow and bright green framing views of Mount Tamalpais.

Lush Lake

Abundant foliage grows thick and lush reflections glimmer brightly on the water with illusions of undisturbed wilderness.

Root Wrapped Rock

Veering left and hiking entirely around the lake is easy to moderate to wonderful, proving that travelling a good path is as rewarding as the destination. Wander off and discover nooks and brooks secreted away. Giant roots hold steep wooded banks gripping large rocks in their sinuous search for water. Spring-time runoffs nourish moss, which thriving brilliantly round out jagged rocks a soft velvety green.

Black Spring Moss

The hike is not altogether wild and steps have been taken to ensure some safety while safeguarding against erosion. Woodland stairs lead up and down roller coaster hills past forest undergrowth.

Woodland Stairs

Near the water, where shallow coves serve soggy soils Giant Horsetail - Equisetum Telmateia - thrive, their fertile stems holding up large cones laden with spores later to explode in the summer heat.

Giant Horsetail

Hike around to the North shore and Forget Me Not flowers appear trail-side splashing blue accents on sienna paths and verdant hillsides.

Forget Me Not

The round trip is roughly five miles and is relatively easy. More challenging trails lead from the lake up Mt. Tam or to four more lakes in the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed making up the Marin Municipal Water District. The possibilities are vast. All are open to the public.  Enjoy.

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Rising Mist

Guggenheim's Bilbao Museum is an exquisite display of contemporary Architecture. Formally designed to showcase art, the building morphs seamlessly into a sculptural case of Architecture-as-Art. Frank Gehry's masterpiece transcends style labels like deconstructivism while standing on its own sublime aesthetics. The building owes its design to maritime references characteristic of port cities like Bilbao. Ship-like, it floats on a moat as rising mist envelops it in a fantastic hourly show of engineering prowess.

Ode to Fish

Fundamentally, the building is an ode to fish, Bilbao's historical sustenance from the bay of Biscay. The Guggenheim's titanium panels evoking scales glimmer in the shifting light and shine like shimmering glimpses of gigantic fish in the surrounding water.

Tall Tree & The Eye

It's shape-shifting, mercurial nature makes this museum a good player when teamed up with installation art as, for example, the way Anish Kapoor's sculpture Tall Tree & The Eye is embraced by the building, each complementing the other.

Tulips

Another case of art partnering well with it's host building is the interplay between Koon's reflective and colorful Tulips with the atrium's glass and the surrounding metal panels.

Half-heart Silhouette

Walking around such a rich and intricate building take the opportunity to discover and enjoy infinite possible abstractions. Half-heart shaped negative spaces formed by limestone nooks appear overhead.

Abstract Odyssey

Space-like metal and glass abstract compositions reminiscent of science fiction movies like 2001 A Space Odyssey can be seen when the lighting is right. There's eye candy everywhere.

Massing

Architecturally, the massing is impressive. No wimpy building, this. Each cluster is massive, accentuated by light glass and shiny metal.

Entry Sequence

The entry sequence is clear and though large, respectful of the human scale. Walking toward the entrance is almost processional with a welcoming finale.

Atrium Tower

The interior circulation is organized around a central atrium tower, as anticipated: the large glass expanse previously visible from the exterior now opens up to views outward, making a relatively small and crowded central core appear spacious.

Undulating Atrium

Galleries radiating out and elevators climbing up and down add orderly dynamism and excitement to the undulating atrium that's been likened to a flower.

A Matter of Time

Adjacent the atrium is the largest gallery space currently housing the magnificent installation "The Matter of Time" by Richard Serra, the cast-iron labyrinth channels on-lookers into an interactive stroll: it's a "matter of time" getting through it, depending on personal viewing styles.

Gallery Cube

Other spaces reveal that representational, two-dimensional art is almost inconsequential to the Architecture. The best art pieces offer new ways of contemplating reality and are nurtured by the museum's modernity. Galleries flow in and out of circulation. One singular form of caramel-colored sandstone celebrates the unique piece crowning each exhibit; a masonry gallery cube, visible from the vestibule, high up the atrium, is tantalizing and intriguing to explore.  Discovering the treasure within is the reward, larger than the prize of the artwork itself and it is this process of exploration that Frank Gehry proves himself as the master of anticipation.

Approaching the Guggenheim, Bibao

Matterhorn - Monte Cervino

Materhorn - Monte Cervino

Spectacular Switzerland! This alpine country in central Europe is stunningly beautiful. Sheer cliffs and deep gorges define the landscape while meticulous attention to detail define the character of its people and Swiss society. It's a clean and orderly place, a pleasure to enjoy.

Matterhorn

Among the many mountains that make up the Alps, majestic Matterhorn is a national landmark and an international icon. It is also known as Monte Cervino and Mont Cervin. Kudos to the Swiss for keeping it pristine while accessible. The secret to the area's unspoiled appearance is that cars are off limit for miles around. The best way to experience the peak's stark glory is to drive to Taesch from which only rail is available to the next town. The train from Taesch to Zermatt is modern but from Zermatt to the last stop in Gornergrat the train is vintage open air cogwheel rail.  All trains are electric, clean, and quiet.

Breakfast At Gornergrat

Once in Gornergrat the view, if not clouded over, is spellbinding. This is the final destination for most everyone. The vast majority board the train back to Zermat after enjoying the restaurant at the top of the world, or simply taking in the fantastic view.

Matterhorn Zen Duckies

At this elevation glaciers flow at their geological speed undisturbed by rumors of global warming while man-made duckies are erected and torn down at the relative speed of lightning. Like in a giant Japanese garden with sculptures witnessing the passage of time these zen duckies partake in the ebb and flow of the ages.

Alpine Cross

Wandering further afield away from this small outpost of civilization reveals a rugged, untamed terrain. The occasional sign of man seems like a futile imposition on a cold, foreign world. A lonely alpine cross, for example, looks more like a forlorn attempt than a symbol of redemption, its incongruous setting a surreal expression of humanity.

It's not an entirely hostile environment and in spite of the thin air and cold rock life has a foothold here, however precarious.

Alpine Flower

Yellow alpine flowers bloom impossibly out of the crushed granite.

Blue Flowers of Matterhorn

Blue flower accents punctuate the alpine landscape against exhilarating backdrops while snow blankets distant mountains with pure white clouds floating around in a piercing blue sky.

Matterhorn Ruin

Traces of failed attempts at domesticating this otherwise pristine environment crop up along the trail down to the next train station. On a fine day some may meander station to station ever mindful that the weather may change in an instant. Hiking is moderately hard and an abandoned stone structure, now partially standing in ruins, attests to a difficult land with one rock wall still holding a window into the alps.

Window Into the Alps

Those brave and optimistic souls who know the area venture to fish the few glacial lakes that pool along the way, if not for catching fish, then for experiencing a quiet, peaceful afternoon.

Fishing Lake Matterhorn

It is these lakes gracing monumental mountains with their soft reflection and reassurance of life that make hiking the Alps an inclusive, hospitable experience. The next train stop, though far, is a welcome bittersweet gateway from wilderness back to civilization.

Lakeside Matterhorn

Sagrada Familia Cathedral

Cathedral Spires

La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain is Antoni Gaudi's masterpiece and it is still being built. It is unique among cathedrals. On the outside the style is hard to categorize, seemingly in disarray because of the continuous construction, but what is immediately apparent is that traditional cathedral expressions can't describe it properly. At first glance it might look ugly. Further scrutiny reveals a flow reminiscent of sand castles dreamed by a precocious child and poured from buckets of wet sand into fantastical shapes. 

New Testament scenes dot the facade like three dimensional dioramas: 

Angel Gabriel Appears to Mary

Angel Gabriel's annunciation to Mary, 

Killing Innocents

the Killing of Innocents, 

Jesus - The Last Day

Jesus bound, and 

Jesus is Crucified

the Crucifixion, to name a few.

Spiral Staircase Descending

One of the spires is accessible via an elevator and descending down the spiral stair case reveals

Gargoyle

Barcelona is heavily guarded by gargoyles.

The cathedral's organic nature is inviting and it's interior inspiring. A kaleidoscope of colors illuminates all and a hushed sense of awe permeates the space:

Blue Stained-glass Window

stained-glass windows cast filtered light onto new sandstone and the immensity of the space modulates 

Organ Pipes

quiet expressions of worship. 

Layered Balconies

Platonic shapes and simple geometries help to create an understandable, user-friendly place conducive to childlike wonder.

Nave and Apse

The Nave and Apse is a promenade of otherworldly columns evoking images of space, both alien and familiar. The colonnade leading to the altar seemingly expands and grows in magnitude halfway there with four columns taking up the bulk of the ornate ceiling. Yet each column is impossibly thin looking more like palm trees than stone. 

Gospel Supported Ceiling

The four columns representing each of the Gospels are discretely named Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, while the ceiling hints of a heavenly host and a multitude of chambers.

The Ascension

The Altar represents the Ascension. Gaudi re-imagined the iconography of the Crucifixion as a vehicle for Heavenly Ascension with Christ appearing to use the Cross while rising to the light above, focusing on a destination, real and divine; slender columns culminate in a brilliant apex on high: on Earth, as it is in Heaven. If a work of Art is to transcend the profane and usher in the sacred, this accomplishes it, however briefly.

Jesus Rising