Fontana di Trevi, Rome, Italy

Since I recently watched Angels & Demons, I've been thinking of my time in Rome - probably my favorite city in Italy. This Trevi Fountain has been my favorite fountain in the world (I really enjoy fountains). Both day and night, the fountain is beautiful and crowded by people fascinated by its intricacies. Located at the junction of three roads, the name Trevi comes from the world Trivium, which means the meeting point of three streets. Completed in 1762, the fountain features a representation of the forces of the sea. In the middle is Neptune, known as God of the Sea with Tritons riding horses and statues surrounding, finished with the water appropriately representing the sea. Built in a Baroque style, it is the largest fountain of its kind in the city. Baroque is known as the time period that began in the beginning of the 17th century that involved dramatic and extravagant symbolism in music, art, literature and theater. Legend says that if you throw a coin into the water, you will one day return to Rome. Looks like I'll be returning one day...

Great Court, British Museum, London, England

The Great Court surrounds the original Reading Room of the British Museum. Once closed to the public, the reading room was only open for serious researchers and among them, well known figures (Mark Twain, Mahatma Ghandi, Karl Marx, George Orwell). It has now been transformed to an area with a collection of books on travel, art, history and anything else relevant to the collections housed in the museum. The upper ceilings surrounding the room are made from steel and glass and created reflections onto the cylindrical building in the middle. This area was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000 and is officially called the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court. It is the largest covered square in Europe.

San Gabriel Mission, San Gabriel, California, USA

Two photos today because I didn't get the chance to post one yesterday! Have a great week!





















Founded in 1771, this mission was California's fourth one and has strong ties to the origin of the city of Los Angeles. With clear views from the street, the front area had bright blue benches for seating in front of the fountain with colorful, vibrant flowers surrounding it. The day we went, an art gallery was open to the public and we were able to walk throughout the grounds in order to explore the area. It was a sunny, clear day - great day to visit the mission!

Kyoto Garden, Los Angeles, California, USA

Behind the Kyoto Grand Hotel in Little Tokyo is a hidden, secluded gem of a garden. We walked up the steps to the upper garden and were greeted by a Japanese garden with a small river, luscious trees, seating areas, and lanterns hanging from the trees. Reading more about it, I found out that the garden is a miniature version of the 10-acre garden in the Hotel Otani in Tokyo. This is a photo of a candle holder mimicking green leaves on a small, white wooden table in the garden. So peaceful. :)

Lifeguard Tower, Redondo Beach, California, USA

Today was a cool, overcast day, but we still were able to enjoy our time at the beach. The Redondo Beach pier has a lot of shops, restaurants and activities to entertain visitors, defined by an unusual shaped pier where parts of the wooden structure are interconnected unlike the typical long, straight pier. After our seafood meal, we went to the beach to lie out and play beach volleyball. This is a photo of one of the lifeguard towers we passed by as we were leaving the beach. Despite the hiding sun and the chilly temperature, I still had a nice time. :)

Lake Nahuel Huapi, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

A scenic twenty hour bus ride south from the city of Mendoza, we arrived in the city of San Carlos de Bariloche in the Patagonia region of Argentina with just a short amount of time before darkness would come. As we walked to the Nahuel Huapi Lake, we came upon a couple walking to the water's edge. It was a peaceful walk and even though we were freezing (it was winter in Argentina), we enjoyed seeing one of the beautiful lakes of the Lake District. We debated whether we should make the long trek to Bariloche since the days were winding down for our time in Argentina, but this trip was well worth it. The city was charming - streets of wooden buildings, factories full of the famous Bariloche chocolate, and huge St. Bernard dogs walking around taking photos with people. We were even greeted with snow the next morning!

Palacio de Cristal, Parque del Buen Retiro, Madrid, Spain

Translated as "Park of Pleasant Retreat", this vast and peaceful park in Madrid really did love up to its name. This photo is of the Palacio del Crystal (Crystal Palace) designed as a greenhouse to feature different exhibits through the years. It was an architectural feat of creating this house from glass and steel and the result is a treat for the eyes. It was built in 1887 for an exhibit of the Philippines - including exotic plants and flowers, animals and even a representation of a native village. Surrounding the building is a lake, tall, green trees, and paved walkways. It was a clear, sunny day and we were able to take a leisurely walk by the walk and take in different views of the palace. What a nice day! :)

US Presidential Inauguration, Washington, D.C.

It was just a normal day in December when I got a mysterious phone call from a 202 number, so I was hesitant to pick it up. Well, I'm glad I did! Right after the presidential election in November, I had contacted my local congressman to request tickets to the presidential inauguration taking place on January 20, 2009. After I asked for them, it slipped my mind for the next month until I got this phone call. They called me to say that I had gotten tickets to the inauguration and I was one of the few people that was chosen from the lottery they did within their office. So, I booked my tickets and by January 20th, here I was in Washington, D.C., in front of the Capitol Building, watching as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States! It was an empowering and exciting time and I was glad to be there! It was a shivering cold day in January, but I knew this was a once in a lifetime experience and this thought overshadowed all else. We were able to stand in the area right behind the assigned seating for the government officials and other influential people. YES, WE CAN.

Disney's California Adventure, Anaheim, California

Nestled within the Disney Resort, right next to Disneyland, is Disney's California Adventure! I went here, not expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. It's California themed, so there are rides and shows relating to everything from Hollywood to the Golden Gate Bridge to the Paradise Pier (modeled after beach boardwalks such as Santa Monica and Santa Cruz). As the sun set, the rollercoasters and ferris wheel cast wonderful reflections into the water along the beach boardwalk. I felt like a kid again as I rode the Toy Story Midway Mania (my favorite ride there!). Fun times!

Globe, Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California

Ok, so I know this photo isn't really representative of the Griffith Observatory, but I just LOVE globes and maps. I found this globe at the gift store at the Griffith Observatory, located in the appropriately named Griffith Park. This year is the International Year of Astronomy, celebrating the 400th year since Galileo used a telescope to make observations of the sky, and the Observatory is a participant in the festivities. The Observatory is full of space and science related exhibits, and offers views of all of Los Angeles (on a clear day).

Good night/morning! :)