Sacramento's Jewel in the Crown.....

Try to block out political considerations, namely the fact that it may be considered a symbol of debt in California to the tune of billions of dollars, and appreciate it purely on aesthetic and artistic grounds, then the State Capitol truly is Sacramento's jewel in the crown. The stately white building commands the surrounding vistas and contains a wealth of architectural details.....

The beautiful grounds contain flowers and trees from all over the world, and some very striking monuments to the fallen in war, Vietnam, firefighters and many, many more... The Peace garden full of the most gorgeous of roses is perhaps the most stunning place to wander....

The vibrantly-hued camelias were just coming into full bloom when I visited in April.... a strong contrast to the terrible air of depression hanging over the rest of the city which is clearly experiencing very tough times indeed....let's hope it gets onto the road to recovery very soon and such hardship becomes a thing of the past...

For more global glimpses this week, check out My World Tuesday postings by clicking here. Enjoy!

Shadow Shot Sunday 105 - Durango

Here are some bold stripes in a secluded courtyard in the town of Durango, way up North in the desert and best known for its film set location where so many Westerns have been filmed in the sharp desert light and landscapes. The town of Durango itself, however, is far from being a frontier Wild West town.... There is a beautiful zocalo with an impressive cathedral, many churches, colonial buildings and a grand railway station....

Inside some of these colonial buildings such as the Government Palace, striking murals adorn the courtyard walls....

In addition to the cultural and architectural attractions, check out what attracted all the filmakers, that wonderful blue, blue sky, and sharp, crystal-clear desert light....

After drinking in all this blue, I will leave you with a few more shadow shots from around the town...

And a final few more of those opening bold stripes....


















For more shadow shots from around the world, check out Shadow Shot Sunday by clicking here. Enjoy!!

Seattle Art Museum - a global world of culture.....

Art galleries and museums are irresistable as far as I am concerned when visiting new cities, and the Seattle Art Museum affectionately known as SAM certainly does not disappoint. It opens up a whole world of many different cultures from around the world. Centrestage of course is the immediatley distintive native indigenous art - totem poles, carved wooden boxes and panels, textiles....

and beautiful, striking masks of course....

But after taking in the homegrown pieces, be prepared to travel around the world from Africa to Papua New Guinea, Japan to Australia, Canada to Korea. Here is a selection of some of the vibrant Aboriginal dot paintings on display.....

The piece of art commanding most attention and close scrutiny was this magnificent, ceremonial robe created by a young Korean artist out of over 40, 000 dog tags - a grand anti-war statement..

Take a trip to other parts of the world this week by visiting the My World Tuesday Posts by clicking here. Enjoy........

Shadow Shot Sunday 104 - Seattle

The sun did indeed only come out once the whole time I was in Seattle over Easter, but I did manage to dash downtown from Ballard and catch this patio overlooking the water whilst the shadows were still in play....

The terrace is just around the corner from the stunning Seattle Art Museum which has this striking sentinel figure guarding the entrance, and casting its own fine shadow....

Silhouetted against the Seattle skyline it makes for a striking shot - the hammer does indeed move up and down against the backdrop of the skyscrapers....

More about the wonderful exhibits inside in a later post - in the meantime enjoy other shadow shots from around the world by clicking here....

Food Cart Culture : From Veracruz to Portland....

Food carts and street stalls are a common sight in Mexico, and a vibrant part of the food scene in the towns and cities as shown by the rather delightful example in Veracruz City above. There are always International Food Fairs on Calle Reforma just round the corner where I live here in Mexico City, and indeed at the school where I work, where regularly I eat my way round the world from Argentina to Zambia. So it was with pleasureable recognition that I recently discovered the parking lot pods of food carts in Portland, Oregon.....

Clustered together in pods, you can choose from tasty dishes in just one parking lot from Bosnia to Ethiopia, Poland to Thailand, Hawaii to El Salvador, Germany to Japan, Greece to Korea - and even the UK is also represented in the form of The Frying Scotsman...

The main difference in such standup outdoor eating in Portland and Mexico is the sheer range and diversity in the Portland parking lots, plus of course the weather. Portland residents are tough, outdoor, hardy types and quite happily settled to eat outside in the pouring rain (and it certainly poured with rain - 72 hours non-stop) even sitting down at table and chairs....

Everyone has their favourite street stall to eat from here in Mexico City, and a common sight during the day pictures Professionals in smart suits crowding round the stalls to order their favourite tacos. These food carts below are typical examples of those wheeled around the streets of Mexico City...

Put them into sepia and you could be turning back the clock to a different century, a different era...one of the most charming aspects of time-warp Mexico City...

Check out other windows on the world by clicking here for My World Tuesday. Enjoy!

Shadow Shot Sunday 103 - Seattle

The sun came out only once whilst I was in Seattle over Easter, and fortunately I was out walking in the Ballard neighbourhood, and had reached Chittendon Locks - a popular spot to stroll along the canal, through the lovely gardens, and watch all the boats going through the lock. This sculpture was right near the fish ladder where it is possible to view the salmon on their amazing journeys, and I am guessing that the silver curlicues are designed to evoke the flashing flick of the fishtails as they move upstream.....

Anyway, I liked the patterns this sculpture created, and of course I am sure you will also like the other photographs displayed as part of Shadow Shot Sunday....Enjoy!

Azteca Soup!!

As departure date draws ever closer, (only 10 weeks away now ), I am beginning, inevitably to think more and more about what I will miss most about Mexico - oh so many, many things!! (which will come as no surprise to regular readers of this blog!!)

On the food front, the main contender is Azteca Soup ( or Tortilla Soup ) first sampled in Patzcuaro, and pictured here at a more recent tasting in the zocalo, Oaxaca. It is a pre-hispanic recipe as far as I am aware, and the ultimate comfort food - full of tasty ingredients such as a rich tomato broth with avocado, tortilla strips, chipotle chile, chicharon, and panela cheese. I must learn how to make it before I leave, Does anyone have a really good recipe??

I am rather partial to guacamole and limonadas too!!