The Barcelona Pavilion

Less is More.

The Barcelona Pavilion, a reconstruction of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's 1929 German Pavilion for the Barcelona International Exposition (also referred to as the World's Fair) is a the phrase "less is more" in a building. The Barcelona Pavilion is notable because it represents some of the most dominant philosophies of the self-educated architect. Mies was a modernist who was thoughtful about hoe nature and built structures interact. The minimalist structure employs expensive stones, referring back to the architect's childhood working in his father's stone carving shop. The space features 2 shallow pools and a lush back garden. And the views from the different rooms are all so different and beautiful. 

I fell in love with the pavilion. The space was quiet and meditative. I honestly didn't want to leave. And despite the building being completely exposed to a public square in a very touristy area it felt tucked away from the city. I felt like a like a house sitter to someone with very excellent taste.

After admiring the genius of Mies van der Rohe I had fallen in love with minimalism all over again. Event the travertines and marble I first thought a bit tacky had grown on me. I left feeling light and inspired. And each time I look back on these photos I get those feelings again.

I (obviously!) highly recommend a visit to the Barcelona Pavilion. You will be surprised how interesting such a bare bones place can be.

Crash Course: Gaudí's Barcelona

Barcelona is by far the most eclectic city I have ever been to. It is magical city where beach chill meets urban metropolis, Catalan and Spanish culture mingle, and entertainment is abundant day and night. I attribute part of the city's whimsy to Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and his imaginative and almost surreal buildings. There are more than ten organically shaped and mosaic-laden Gaudí creations in the city and these are just beauties five I visited.

Casa Batlló + La Pedrera

Casa Batlló and La Pedrera (also known as Casa Milà) are located on Passeig de Gràcia and have very distinct facades. Casa Batlló was a 1904 remodel of a private home with skeletal terraces and a dragon-esque rooftop. Shortly after Casa Batlló Gaudí took on his last private commission, La Pedrera. This home was constructed on a large corner lot and its design was based on the idea of an uninterrupted curve inside and out. Gaudí looked closely at nature for inspiration in his design and steered away from lines and angles since he felt they were not often observed in nature. The curvature of many of his buildings is what makes them stand out and surprise you when you encounter them.

Parc Güell

Parc Güell is situated atop Carmel Hill and was a failed endeavor of entrepreneur Eusebio Güell. Güell envisioned a high-end, gated community inspired by English garden city movement. Gaudí designed the community master plan which included gardens, a covered marketplace and footpaths, and a communal square with outlook point. What was meant to be an exclusive community far away from the industrializing city (in the year 1900) is now a public park open for anyone (who is willing to pay a modest entrance fee) to enjoy. Only two of the intended sixty homes were ever built on the estate (one of which Gaudí lived in until his death) but there are various examples of innovative infrastructure that mimics the nature that surrounds it.

La Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Família is undoubtedly Gaudí's greatest work. It is an incredibly detailed and massive in size basilica that has been under construction since 1882. 134 years! Inspired after a trip to the vatican bookseller and founder of the Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph, Josep Maria Rocabella commissioned the church.Gaudí was not the original intended designer but in a serendipitous series of events took on the design a year into construction. After the original architect, Francisco del Villar dropped the project due to creative disagreements with the client's advising architect Joan Martorell the project was offered to Martorell. Martorell declined the offer but recommended Anotoni Gaudí for the job who accepted in 1883 and completely redesigned what was going to be a gothic style church into his masterpiece. 

When Gaudí died in 1926 the basilica was less that a quarter complete and later experienced further construction delays during the Spanish Civil War. The project was resumed in the 1950s but without many of the original models, which were destroyed and damaged during the war. 

On the grounds is the Sagrada Família Schools, and personally my favorite Gaudí structure. The wavy brick building is simple yet completely unique. And as the most "conventional" of all the Gaudí buildings I saw it was the only one I felt I could full take in, but that may just be due to the smaller scale! I also love this building because it was created for the children of construction workers to study while their fathers worked on the church.

Antoni Gaudí immediately conjures the image of Barcelona, and Barcelona wouldn't be the same without the ornate and quirky works of Gaudí. Every single one of his works are worth a long look to get to know the city that houses them.

Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art

Last year, during a whirlwind Euro-tour, my partner and I spent a few days in the beautiful Barcelona. Him the architect, and me the architecture adorer made the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA) our first stop. This modern museum is located at Plaça dels Ángels in El Raval, one of two historic districts adjoining the popular La Rambla neighborhood. Famed architect Richard Meier's largely glass and concrete building was erected in 1995 amongst the old gothic architecture of the neighborhood. The windows allow light to flood the spaces in streams. All in all the art was fine but the building was magnificent...

Ahhh, just so lovely. I mean look at us happy campers!!!

A Perfect Birthday

I turned 29 on Friday, and instead of going to work and celebrating later that night and throughout the weekend I decided to have a me day. It is my last birthday as a twenty-something after all! 

Over the past several years I have been getting to know myself. I have learned that I don't need or want a lot to be happy. I have learned to value experiences over things. I have learned the only irreplaceable things in life are people and the relationships they bring. This year I didn't want any gifts, anything I want or need I can get for myself and I don't need a special day to do so. I wanted a day where I could just be myself with no obligations or expectations and just reflect on what I want this next year of my life to mean. And that is just what I had.

My day started with a 7am wake-up call from my cousin that I grew up beside as if we were sisters. After a lot of laughs, some seriousness, and a little heckling the rest of the birthday wishes began to come in. By 10 I had finally eaten, showered, taken another birthday call and arranged to spend the morning by the pool with a friend, Rhoda.

By the time Rhoda arrived I had already settled in poolside with 10 minutes of guided meditation and jotting down some things that had been swirling in my mind about this day. We spent the late morning and early afternoon talking about our lives and what we want. We tend to have the types of honest conversations people are afraid to have out loud and I really love it. 

After grabbing lunch (and a cocktail) we headed to Brooklyn for yoga, naturally. Attending this class in the middle of the day in such a beautiful space made me appreciate all the things this city has to offer, and consider how I overlook those things when I am focused on my routine. And although I only made it through half of the routine (I blame the gin and 90F/100% humidity!), I was proud of myself for trying something new but also caring for myself and knowing when to stop.

I quickly returned home after class to scrub the sweat and city off of me before a very special and romantic dinner with my love when my shower was delayed by a call from my Grandmother. My Grandma has always been the strongest guiding force for me and often a confidante. I was mildly relieved when she told me 29 isn't "that old" (ha.ha... very funny Grams), but in all seriousness her call was the perfect last birthday call of the day. She always encourages me and this time around she reminded me the importance of looking outside of myself and giving where I can.  

I suppose all of this to say that this birthday was so special to me because it highlighted all of the things I plan to work on this year:

1. Continue creating more experiences and developing beautiful friendships
2. Take better care of myself, love myself, and be gentle with myself
3. Give more of me. Expand my capacity by sharing my time and anything else I have to give

Do you make birthday resolutions or goals? If so I would love to hear some of yours! 

xo

On Introverts and Travel

The terms introvert and extrovert have been coming up in conversation here and there recently and it has had me thinking... I am an introvert but I love exploring new places. For a while it didn't make sense to me that the only two things I want to be doing at any moment are in complete contrast to each other: being at home and being in a new and foreign place.

As a typical introvert, I have no problem socializing with people but I enjoy smaller groups far more than large ones and prefer one-on-one interaction even more. I generally have 1-2 outside the routine social interactions a week because when I have more I am left feeling pretty drained and off balance. On top of being an introvert I am a homebody, two characteristics that are often mistaken as being mutually exclusive. I love being home and if I can invite people over instead of being in a loud bar the invitation is already in the (e)mail! All that said I still love to travel (hence the blog devoted to it!). 

After a little thought I see there are a few reasons introverts are actually the best travelers. Introverted people are often in their own head a lot. When traveling we naturally take time to absorb and reflect on our surroundings and experiences. I am a firm believer that travel is enhanced when you take time between the exploration and adventure to relax and take time with yourself to acknowledge what you have learned. I also think this allows me to appreciate the experience all the more.

On the flip side, traveling is a great way to get an introvert out of their out of their head and their shell. I find myself living more in the moment when I am in a new place. While at home I am a creature of routine, abroad I am forced to be spontaneous and flexible, adventurous and risky. I will adapt my plans on the fly and find ways to communicate in unfamiliar languages to total strangers. I try new foods and new things. And I ask myself "will I regret not doing this" when face with a new challenge. 

I suppose travel and exploration is joyful for me (and other like-minded introverts) because of the balance it brings. The challenges and reflective periods both serve as opportunities for growth and reflection. And after all, if nothing else introverts are explorers of the self.

A Day at Dia: Beacon

Dia: Beacon has been on the list of places to visit for many months. This weekend my boo and I finally made it, and let me just say it was inspiring and a little magical.

Robert Irwin's landscaping, vestibule and forecourt

We took Metro North from NYC up to Beacon, NY to the former Nabisco box-printing factory turned museum. Master planner and featured artist Robert Irwin intended the experience of Dia: Beacon to begin at Grand Central and continue on the train as the city dissolves away to suburbs. The museum is located just off the banks of the Hudson River and is only a 10-minute, sign-guided walk from the train station.

John Chamberlain

Michael Heizer's North, East, South, West

I quickly fell for the massive windows that perfectly daylit the brick walls, concrete floors and art (of course). Irwin's partly frosted windows allowed for only peaks of his beautifully landscaped grounds.

The babe's favorite exhibit was Richard Serra's and although I was only mildly impressed at first the more I looked and and explored his work the more I appreciated it's thoughtfulness.

Lawrence Weiner, 5 Figures of Structure

Robert Smithson, Map of Broken Glass (Atlantis)

I think exhibits I enjoyed most were Michael Heizer's permanent exhibit North, East, South, West which is very reminiscent of the World Trade Center Memorial reflection pools, and Dan Flavin's neon sculpture installations.

We spent five hours wandering, lunching, enjoying the 1pm tour  (hich is available on weekends and I highly recommend), and lounging in the grass. It was such a lovely day in a beautiful place filled with interesting ideas.

Overcoming My Fears in Paradise

I have a fear of heights and this acrophobia comes up pretty often while I am travelling and this trip was no exception. While in Mexico my partner and I visited some of the beautiful Mayan ruins and Yucatan cenotes which challenged my fear and proved to me once again that I am more courageous and capable than I realize.

I had my first minor scare when visiting the ruins in Tulum. This beautiful place is the only coastal ruins site in the Yucatan and sit atop cliffs overlooking the sparkling Caribbean Ocean. Hiking the ruins were not a big deal until we came to climbing down the steep wooden steps to reach the beach below. I held the rail and scaled the steps slowly, fortunately escaping the scalding sun outweighed my slight hesitation and before I knew it I was in the water.

A couple of days after our visit to the ruins we boarded a bus to Coba, a small town south of Tulum with ruins we heard we could climb. The Coba ruins were very different from Tulum's; they were shaded by forest canopy with structures intact enough to easily identify (like recreational ball courts!). It was here that we climbed the Ixmoja pyramid. I didn't expect these ruins to be as high or steep as they were but I really wanted to see the view from the top. The climb up and down were far more difficult than the steps in Tulum (that I had since forgotten), and as soon as I made it to the top I found a safe place to tuck myself away. But I have to say, standing above the all the trees was an incredible sight.

Looking back now I see each adventure in Tulum was a ramp up our to our afternoon at the Coba cenotes. My honey and I decided hire a cab driver to take us to two: Choo-Ha and Tamcach-Ha. Choo-Ha is a relatively shallow underground swimming pool-like cenote while Tamcach-Ha is 30 feet below grade with an additional 40 foot water depth.

After a quiet swim in Choo-Ha we headed over to the far more "exciting" Tamcach-Ha. I began down the long, wooden spiral staircase but halfway down I panicked. The drop seemed far too high and a very shaky and frantic version of myself rushed back topside with my partner not far behind. After many minutes, the two of us in our bathing suits negotiated my way back down the stairs in an embarrassingly slow fashion.

A tour group was already diving from the 10 and 20 foot high diving boards. While I composed myself on the large platform at the water's surface my boyfriend went for a swim. I watched the old, the young and everyone in between jump from the 10 foot board, I even watched many (including my brave man) jump from the 20 footer. After nearly a half hour of just watching I began feeling some serious FOMO. Maybe it was the scared 10-year old that took the plunge or watching my boyfriend go up and down several times, but I realized that I wanted to be the type of person who could make that jump. I didn't want to go homing knowing I didn't do something I had the chance to try. And I didn't want to be ruled by an irrational fear. I wanted to make that jump, or at least try to. So I climbed up those scary stairs, stood 10 feet above the water (it seemed higher by the way!) and after a few minutes looking down at the water, deliberating my sanity, I jumped!

I JUMPED!

And it was terrifying, and a little painful, but I did it and it was INCREDIBLE. 

This little experience was big for me. I learned more about the woman and partner I want to be. I want to make memories a push myself outside of my comfort zone. It's that little step that did just that for me.

Governors Island in Pictures

Last Tuesday I spent a beautiful NYC Summer day on Governors Island with couple hundred colleagues. While there is so much I could say about this work event, or mandatory fun days in general, I would rather share a few of my most favorite pictures of the day. 

Jersey City peaking out from behind Castle Williams

The island has a long history of serving as a military base, strategically located just off the tip of Manhattan, during the colonial period and American Revolution. During the Civil War it housed prisoners of war in two primary fortifications, Castle WIlliams (above) and Fort Jay (below). Now it primarily serves as a public historical and recreation space.

The pretty flower boxes of Fort Jay

Colonels Row

Governor's House

View of Manhattan from the Hills

Nolan Park and Officer's Quarters

Missing from this post (and my visit) are the hammocks and adult slides, two very alluring attractions that ensure another visit soon!

Tulum's Best Beach Clubs

Tulum has some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen, and while the beaches alone are enough for a dream vacation the abundance beach clubs only make Tulum better! My sweetie and I bounced around a few clubs on our vacay and these are a few of our favorite places to lounge around cocktail in hand.

Zazil Kin

Zazil Kin beach club was our favorite spot in all of Tulum. Not only were the beaches the most pristine (I'm talking about you Playa Pescadores) but the club was the least pretentious and the people watching the most interesting! After accidentally stumbled on it our first morning in Mexico we came back 2 more times and chose to spend our last day there as well! 

The club, like most beach clubs in Tulum, is an extension of the hotel. But unlike a lot of places most of the club business comes as "walk-ins" and they maintain a large section of beach beds specifically for those not staying at the hotel. Beds are rented for the day (around $5 USD) which includes one cocktail and lots of lovely palm tree shade. And I highly recommend making sure you are around for their 2 for 1 happy hour! I particularly loved the beach bar including the very Tulum-esque bar swings. The bar serves snacks and daily specials depending on what the local fisherman bring off their boats.

Om Tulum

Om was exactly what I imagined Tulum to be, hippy at heart with a little bit of polish. The restaurant/bar has a fantastic terrace that overlooks the beach and while we were there they had the best caribbean tunes playing that we came back with an entirely new shazamed playlist!

Coco Tulum

Ahhhh Coco Tulum... what can I say that the pictures don't already!? Coco ranked the chicest of all the places we visited in Tulum. The all white everything somehow popped against the white sand and all the details made me go camera crazy.

Tulum has so many incredible spots packed with personality, these are just a few clubs I know for a fact I will return to again and again!

Where to Eat in Tulum

Tulum House Tour

My partner and I have had many excellent airbnb experiences and a few so-so ones over the past few years. Our most recent place in Tulum shot right to the top of the excellent list, and since it was so great I just have to share!

Front entrance located on a no-outlet drive

The entire property is perfectly landscaped

Without being very familiar with Tulum we booked the Greenhouse, one of six condo style apartments in a residential area of the pueblo. It was the modern aesthetic, great reviews and infinity pool that really won us over. 

We arrived late at night via shuttle from the Cancun airport. After a long immigration line and a one and a half hour drive we arrived to no running water! Uh oh! But actually our host was super responsive and quick to fix the issue and by the time we had unpacked and connected to wifi. 

Bike parking and more common space

Private back terrace & a peak of the shower

The next morning we were able to see the Greenhouse in all its glory. The airbnb included 2 bikes per unit, an awesome "indoor-outdoor" shower, and a private patio area where I wish I could take coffee every morning! But the best part of the whole experience was the pool [insert emoji heart eyes]which I wish I could have spent even more time in!

Logistically the Greenhouse was a about a 5 minute (or 40 peso) taxi ride to the town center and 10+ minutes to the beaches (100-120 peso taxi ride). The overall experience the airbnb was overwhelmingly positive. Despite minor bumps such as the water and electricity briefly going out here and there, and more bugs than we are used to (it is the jungle after all!) the hospitality and value were excellent. There was a day time maid service who stayed at the house during the day and we felt safe staying there. All in all such a great stay and so happy we took the chance and booked!

Travel Photography - How I Edit

Last week I shared how I like to shoot travel photography. This week I want to expand on that and show how I edit my photos. My aesthetic is clean and I prefer true to life images so here are my general tips on achieving that look. 

1. Tools

I used to use Adobe's Lightroom to process my imagery but I found that it can be time consuming even when using the awesome mobile app version. Currently I am loving the vsco (visual supply company) app, which is far less expensive and good enough for my style of editing. Vsco has all the editing tools I need in one place, I can use it on the go, and it has lots of fantastic filters. 

2. Lighting & Exposure

I think every good photo starts with considering lighting. I prefer natural sunlight and diffused light in my pics to give good clarity and color. That means enough light to ensure your camera can capture your subject without producing much grain or losing detail. I also avoid harsh and dark shadows generally. Lighting is something you definitely want to consider when you are shooting, but it will also play a role when editing. If an image is a bit dim I like to bump up the exposure (aka brightness) to brighten it up. I often look for something that should be white in my picture and make sure it is white and not grey or yellowish. I do this just enough as to not overexpose the image (remove all the blacks and shadows) but just enough so the photo feels light and happy.

3. PERSPECTIVES & LINES

I have a thing for symmetry and spatial balance in photos. I try to find lines whether they actually appear or just give the illusion of one and then rotate my photo to make that line straight. For this I use the vsco straighten, horizontal perspective and vertical perspective tools. The latter 2 tools are great if you picture is a bit askew because you shot it from an awkward angle and the straighten tool can do full rotations or very minute straightening. 

4. CROPPING & FRAMING

I don't often crop my photos because automatically it reduces the number of pixels and thus resolution so if I go to print or display in large format the pictures could become blurry. But in some circumstances a photo could do with a bit of strategic cropping. Often I will remove unwanted objects. I also like to crop in order to better frame the subject of a photo. In the photo of the ruins below I both removed the tourist rope in the bottom right corner, an artifact in the blue sky, and framed the ruins with the natural plant life in the shot.

5. FILTERS

Filters help create a mood and bring cohesion to a series of images. I try to find ones with minimal color shifts and decrease its intensity a bit. There are many free filters on vsco but my favorite right now is A6 which I bought (for a dollar) in a set of 3 as part of vsco's "Aesthetic Series." I also love the "Legacy" collection that gives a very analog and serious vibe to photos. Now check out the previously edited photos with the A6 filter. The changes are subtle but give the images that extra polish.

This ends it for part two of my travel photography series! I hope this was helpful, and if you haven't yet check out part one with my shooting tips!

The New York Public Library

This weekend I desperately needed some museum inspiration but was having such a hard time deciding on one to visit (I know tough life, right?)... The Met? The Whitney? MoMA? The New Museum? So many places were crossed off of the list because either I had been recently or the current exhibitions weren't quite doing it for me. I had near scrapped my museum plan when I saw an obscure photo of marble walls on instagram geotagged at the New York Public Library. Although not a museum exactly, it had all of the museum like qualities I was looking for and believe it or not despite being a native new yorker I had never been inside the flagship site at Bryant Park! 

Often I have had a coffee or lunch just outside the building at the dark green cafe tables found throughout Bryant Park, but on this visit I noticed the pristine landscaping and appreciated the beauty of the public space. 

The entrance to the library was simply magnificent. The intricate details carved into marble and grandiose columns somehow welcomed me and prepared me for an experience greater than my expectations. The museum offers a 30 minute video discussing its history and collections which I highly recommend sitting through. It was there that I learned more about the site's construction (1902-1911) which was atop the former site of the Croton water reservoir among many other things.

The library had an interesting start. It was 25th Governor of New York, Samuel J. Tilden (for which Fort Tilden in the Rockaways is named for), who left much of his fortune after his death to create "a free library and reading room in the city of New York." It was his gift and an agreement with the Astor and Lenox libraries of the time that created NYPL. I realized what a huge gesture this truly was at the time and still today to offer everyone a place to learn and develop. And for this to be such a magnificent space it truly speaks to the mission of the library.

Now that I have discovered the main library I plan to go and take advantage of the space and collections in addition to my local branch. On this trip the Rose Reading room, an even more grandiose space the size of a football field, was closed for renovation but will be opening again early next year. I am looking forward to discovering that as soon as it does!

Click here learn more about the libraries history. Also fun fact, did you know that the Bryant Park Lawn sits a top underground stacks for the library!? In the 1980s when the Park was in disrepair the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation renovated the park to include this subterrane for the library!

Travel Photography - How I Shoot

I love photography and ever since I started embracing a more minimal lifestyle I depend on my travel photos as souvenirs. Both my partner and I aren't big fans of bringing things back for ourselves or friends and family from trips (for a few reasons that I will get into in another post sometime soon!). Since photos will pretty much be the only tangible memory of my travels I take a lot of them and I put quite a bit of care into editing and storing them. Today I want to focus on my shooting "technique" if you can even call it that 😅! These are a few things I noticed about how I take my travel photos.

1. Look with the eyes first

Although I am all about getting a great picture and documenting every moment of a trip I try to make sure I am actually experiencing each moment. If the camera has been to my eye for too long or I get sucked into reviewing pictures while still on vacation that means I am not being present and I need to step back for the camera for a while. And if I don't catch myself, my partner has gotten really good at doing it for me. I'm all about creating real memories first, pictures second.

2. Content

Now that I am enjoying my vacation there are a few things I like to have pictures of:

Landscapes

Part of the thrill of visiting new lands is a change of scenery. That's why I end of taking soo many pictures like the one below documenting all of the foreign beauty I see.

Architecture

I love architecture and design. Part of what gives a destination charm are the buildings it has. Thats why I inevitable come home with a gigabyte of pictures like these...

Food & Objects

I may be basic but I love taking pictures of my food. Food evokes some of the strongest memories because it takes you back to place using almost all of your senses. I love having pictures of delicious meals like these amazing traditional tacos I had in Coba below. Similarly I take picture of interesting objects I wouldn't find at home.

Candid Portraits

Some of my favorite portraits are those taken when your subject is caught off guard. Candids have the power of recreating a moment and taking you back in time.

3. Style

Most photographers have a definitive style that makes their work recognizable. Although I certainly haven't developed a real style (yet at least!) I do have a few specific ways I really enjoy shooting right now. 

Flat, straight on

The flat shot is one of my favorite photos to take. I usually have a specific subject in mind  (below my subjects are those gorgeous cacti) and shoot in such a way so that my camera lens is parallel to a wall (or floor) behind what I am shooting.

Up close & minimal detailS

Sometimes you just need to get a little closer. Photos like those below highlight one item in detail with very little context. I take photos like this when shooting food, little objects or when I have taken a few wide photos of a place and want to capture more of its unique details.

Wide & contextUAL

Other times it helps to take a step back. An wide photo has the potential to capture and entire setting including tons of information (and beauty!).

4. EQUIPMENT

I honestly don't think equipment really matters that much. I have taken pictures with the front facing camera on an iPad before (I implore you not to do this) and although not the best quality I have photos form my trip to Paris I still hold dear! When traveling I alternate between my iPhone and my Sony mirrorless camera - on my last trip I had the 5s with which I took all of my instagram photos. Both of these devices are easy to operate, lightweight and produce very high quality images.

I hope this little how to helps you take more photos you can cherish forever. Look out for part 2 on how I edit my pics coming soon!

See Part 2 on how I edit photos here

Tulum in Pictures

My honey and I just returned from a wonderful week-long trip to Mexico. Neither of us had ever been before so we thought we would make our first trip to the beautiful city of Tulum located on the caribbean side of the Yucatán Peninsula. Here is a first look at and some of my favorite snapshots of this gorgeous locale!

Hasta luego from me and my photogenic cat friend!

For more photos from the trip check out my instagram and #seesoomuchMexico

A Simple Guide to London

So as I have mentioned before I LOVE London. I was recently asked for a few London recommendations and decided to put together a post about it! Here are some of my favorite activities from my last few visits to this lovely city.

Museums

Museums are some of my favorite sights to see in a new city. Not only are they filled with beautiful and interesting things, they usually are housed in some of the most beautiful architecture.

I think a visit to London would be remiss without a trip to the British Museum and Tate Modern. The British Museum has a permanent collection much like The Met in NYC and stunning classical architecture with surprising modern twists like this beautiful atrium.

Tate Modern is a retrofitted power station reimagined by renowned architects Herzog & de Meuron. Here exhibits are frequently revolving, each more innovative than the next. And there are several places to take in views of the Thames.

Outdoors

London has lots of lovely parks, two of the loveliest are Hyde Park and St. James Park. But one of the most surprising places to take in the great outdoors in the middle of the city is Regents Canal. I started at Camden Lock Market with a delicious lunch and walked the Regents Canal towpath.

Sights

Besides the must see sights (read: Big Ben, London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Globe Theatre, Tower of London, etc etc..), I highly recommend seeing The Shard. The Shard is the tallest tower in London designed by famed architect Renzo Piano and houses some of the best views of the city. As I mention in my 2 days in London post, I think skipping the tour and indulging in a meal or drink in one of the restaurants located in the top floors is a great way to take in this magnificent building.

Food

I think there are two meals that cannot be missed when you visit London: 1. a classic English breakfast and 2. fish and chips (or my fave saveloy and chips if you can find it!) London isn't praised for it's cuisine generally, but these two dishes are something I can't get enough of (not pictured below, the baked beans which are perfect with buttered toast!).

Markets

Finally, my number one favorite way to spend time in London is exploring it's many markets. Below are just a few I recommend, but no matter where you go in the city I am sure you will find one or two!

• Camden Market in Camden Town
• Borough Market  in Sothwark
• Portobello Market in Notting Hill
• Columbia Road Flower Market  in East London
• Brick Lane Market in East London (and be sure to visit 106 Commercial Street while in the area for a tea in the Sitting Room!)

For more ideas on what to do in London, check out my previous post where I outline how I spent 2 days in London!

Pin this guide and save it for later!

Machu Picchu a Photo Story

The famous twelve-angled stone. Each stone is hand shaped to lock perfectly with one another and make this wall

As a continuation of last month's found photos, I thought I would share some of my favorite Machu Picchu pics. The fact that I got to visit this world heritage sight was a great fortune. When I arrived in Peru in January 2010, the mountain regions were experiencing significant precipitation and thus flooding and landslides. So much so that Machu Picchu was closed to tourists... that is until early April just a week or so before I was set to return to the States. Immediately I booked a tour and made my way to the city of Cusco.

Ancient ruins

Climbing the verdant mountains

And finally atop Machu Picchu making friends

SeeSooMuch_MachuPicchu

The Sun Temple form above

And from below

The ruins were stunning

And an aerial view of Machu Picchu from taller Wayna Picchu after a long hike

Peru's Colca Canyon

I was rummaging through my Flickr account this weekend while sick in bed and rediscovered a few photos from my 2010 trip to Peru. I visited Peru for over three months, living in the southern city of Arequipa and visiting many places such as the beaches of Camana, Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu from there. But one of the very first trips I made was outside of Arequipa the city and deeper into Arequipa the region. This post is dedicated to reminiscing on my tour from the city into the mountains and out to Rio Colca. Because I didn't have that many photos I found myself googling to remember all the different places I visited and decided to include a few links so you can "visit" them too!

Admiring the geology of Patahuasi

Admire the landscape for yourself!

Chucura Volcano

First look up close look of the Andes

Atop Cruz del Condor with an actual condor!

Experience Condor Point for yourself

Quechua girl in traditional dress

Chilling with a hawk in Yanque

The Church of the Immaculate Conception of Yanque and the dancing ladies

Check out the the entire square

Best dressed llama in Yanque

Grazing llamas and alpacas

Colca River and a view of the valley

See this amazing view

The River Building at Grace Farms

Last Fall a few of my city-folk friends and I went up to New Canaan, Connecticut for the unveiling of one of my partner's projects, Grace Farms. The River building, designed by renowned Tokyo-based architecture firm SANAA, is an fluid indoor-outdoor building that hugs the natural landscape that complements this church/community center created for the public. My friends and I fell for the tranquility and beauty of the site and each of the five unique spaces.

The Court

Our first stop was the court, a massive gym that is partially below grade.

The Commons

The Commons is a cafeteria and social space with cafe where we had a simple and tasty lunch.

The Library

The Library was a cozy area with a small but well curated selection of literature that is both available for reading there or for purchase.

The Pavilion

The Pavilion was probably my favorite space. Nestled between the Court and the Commons it is a welcome center where we learned about the mission of Grace Farms and participated in a tea ceremony.

The Sanctuary

Finally the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is located at the top of the hill over looking most of the grounds. It is here where Sunday services and other larger events are held.

I am looking forward to returning this Spring to see how this beautiful place looks in another season and escape the hustle of the city for some hours.