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As someone who lives and walks this city daily…my blog is all about delving a little deeper, seeing what it has to offer, and capturing the true essence of New York City. Whether you live in Gotham, or just visiting…feel free to look around my blog. Bet you might find something new to do!
P.S. As of the end of April 2013 my more personal postings will now be at The Next Few Years.
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Category Archives: Travel
a touch of blue…with a touch of red…
Today was to be a travel day…from the farm to my NYC…but mother nature had other plans…like a morning walk in the woods with a blanket of white everywhere! Totally worth the delay. I love walking the path down the driveway…on my way to listen to the silence of the woods.
Upon arrival…taking the time to look up to catch the sway of the trees…
…and a touch of blue appearing out of nowhere…
…and stopping to listen to the occasional cardinal singing with so much purpose…
There’s not enough money in the world that will pay for this kind of therapy!
~~~~~
So let’s try this again…
!!Heading home tomorrow to my city, NYC!!
Always bittersweet…
a week in las cruces, new mexico
“Established over half a century ago, Relais & Châteaux is an association of the world’s finest hoteliers, chefs and restaurateurs that has set the standard for excellence in hospitality.” Direct quote from the R&C website…have you ever heard of it or ever stayed in one? If so…then you know…
Well this place has not yet joined the R&C family (nor will it ever)…but let me tell you…the home, the service, the chefs, the sommelier - all world-class and certainly capable of a R&C designation! What an incredible week staying at the Brozek hacienda in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
During our visit we encountered dust storms…rain…fog…rainbows…and beautiful sunsets…all seen from their expansive patio overlooking the Organ Mountain range. I could sit and just watch these mountains all day long…oh, the lighting…always in constant change.
And how wonderful to have such special friends to share a week of conversation, laughter, beautiful surroundings and wine. Lots and lots of wine! Recall I mentioned the sommelier? Well their wine room is currently filled with about 4,000 bottles (give or take 40 or so – I wonder why?) and guess who got to partake? Let me just list the wines that were “tasted”…and if any of these make it to your shopping list, let me just tell you… you’ll be plenty pleased. No, lets make that extremely pleased!
Bubbly…
Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne
Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs
Gramona Gran Cuvee
Albert Bichot Brut Rosé Champagne
Berlucchi Cuvee Prosecco Rose
Gerard Bertrand Champagne
Segura Viudas from Spain
Gruet from New Mexico
Nicolas Clermont Champagne
Chandon
White…
Sofia Riesling
Treana Marsanne Viognier
Butter Chard
Talbot Kali Hart Chardonnay
Alsace Pierre Sparr Pino Blanc
Pieropan Soave
Red…
2009 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon
2001 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Domaine de Cristia Châteauneuf-du-Pape Renaissance
2008 Darioush Merlot
2008 Jordan Cabernet
2005 Conn Creek Anthology
2007 Ca de Rocchi Amarone
2005 Eureka Super Tuscan
2009 Wild Rock Pinot
2010 LWC Garys’ Vineyard
2000 Windsor Sonoma Dry Creek Zinfandel
2003 Mission Hill Oculus
2000 Joseph Phelps Insignia
2005 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Long Shadows Wineries Saggi
2005 Legacy Alexander Valley
2008 Dry Creek Meritage
2010 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon
Besides the White Sands National Park visit, an outing to the little historical village of Mesilla was also in order. You see in early times the Indians and the Conquistadors used it as a camping place, later as an overnight stop in the days of the stagecoach, and in the late 1800′s Billy the Kid made it his local hangout. After wandering the streets, we dropped in for margaritas at the Imperial Bar and late dinner in the Carlotta Salon…at the Double Eagle restaurant in the heart of the old town. Now the Carlotta Salon is haunted you know…ghosts they say…which of course is the room chosen for our evening dinner.
The story goes that an affluent Mexican family who lived in the home back in the 1850′s had a son who fell in love with one of their maids. Of course, the mother became distraught when she learned of this…as she had much better plans for him. Well their love continued to grow and one time the mother returned home to find them in bed together. (ruh-roh.) Enraged, she took scissors and stabbed the maid to death, as well as her son who was trying to save his lover. Thus the ghosts of the lovers continue to inhabit the Carlotta Salon to this day. Besides other interesting ghost developments documented over the years…I must admit, without any intervention on our part or anyone else, the temperature in the room fluctuated wildly throughout the meal. Ghosts? Who knows? But a fun, lovely dining experience was had by all.
Well good things must come to an end, right? So here I am…back in Arizona trying to detox (unsuccessfully) while spending time simplifying by tossing out memorabilia from my corporate and entrepreneur days, as well as other stuff that has filled up my “DASH” over the years. So stay tuned for that update!
like no place else on earth…
So there’s been this calling to visit White Sands National Park in New Mexico…
Perhaps it’s because of my love of the Sonoran desert these past 25 years…or my overnight stay in the Sahara Desert in Morocco…
Sharing some captures from my recent visit. So quiet, so beautiful, so special…
Starting with a couple b&w favorites…
A few color favorites…
And a couple of captures using my Polaroid One Step Land Camera with SX-70 Impossible film during sunset…
And yes, I so want to return! But then that’s what I say about almost every place I visit. But there is this desire to check out Black Rock Desert of Nevada and experience Burning Man! One day!
people watching in mexico city…
The area of Alameda Central in Mexico City has received a multimillion dollar facelift providing families an area to congregate and visit. What was once a seedy metro hub…it now rivals Times Square and Central Park and provides a perfect place for amor!
…an oasis where families frolic and children (of all ages!) run through spurts of water…
…an area to celebrate…
…an opportunity to enhance your entrepreneurial skills…well maybe…
…an area that provides a photographer a never ending chance of some fun captures!
~~~~~
I hope you’ve enjoyed these as much as I enjoyed taking them!
Also posted in People
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soumaya museum in mexico city
In the upscale neighborhood of Polanco in Mexico city (which by the way is where I got to spend the weekend with my nomadic soul sister’s daughter and son-in-law – thank you!) is the museum Soumaya. A private museum built by Carlos Slim and named after his deceased wife, Soumaya. If you think his name sounds familiar…well he is one of the richest men in the world…a Mexican business magnate, investor and philanthropist. Everyone needs a museum with six floors to showcase their collection of art, religious artifacts and numerous sculptures, right?
The glistening outside design is just a primer for the bathed in white inside, complete with spiral ramps between floors. Walking to the second floor, my mind immediately went to the look and feel of the Guggenheim in New York City. The museum hasn’t had the best art reviews for various reasons, but I was so in awe with the structure that for me personally the content wasn’t that important. Plus, how can you go wrong with FREE admission?
Interesting…I’ve read that even though Slim’s collection is reportedly 70,000 pieces and valued at $750 million, the six floors and 183,000 square feet of exhibition space showcases only a fraction of it at any one time. Wow!
My next post will bring this travel episode to an end, so what better way to close it out than with captures of the PEOPLE of Mexico! Hasta mañana!
Tagged Carlos Slim, Mexico City, Polanco, Soumaya Museum
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posadas de las minas
Continuing from my last posting…Posada de las Minas…a boutique hotel located in the small town of Mineral de las Pozos in Mexico. After a nice long trek from visiting and photographing the ruins, the Posada welcomed us with its beautiful night lighting and fabulous dinner in the Cantina Mina complete with really cool sombrero light fixtures. Warm, inviting and tasty margaritas accompanied the authentic chile rellenos and fresh homemade salsas.
The next morning at breakfast we were greeted by the owner, David Winslow. We so enjoyed listening to how he and his wife Julie (the designer extraordinaire) purchased the abandoned property and turned it into the architectural showcase it is today! He shared the photographs they took when they made the purchase. Isn’t it beyond amazing?
The attention to detail was also beyond belief. Just to give you a hint of an idea…the capture below…the reddish colored succulent in the small pot in the clay statue is only about the size of your thumb nail. Now that is detail and it is everywhere!
We stayed in the room, Los Vaqueros, with rustic cowboy charm and beautiful morning light…
After breakfast we were so fortunate to get our own private tour with David out to the Santa Brigida Mines, a totally different area than we one we visited the evening before. As we made our way through the barren land, three pyramidal chimneys came out of nowhere as well as other old stone structures complete with wind tunnels used in the mining process back in the day.
What a wonderful experience and a big thank you to my nomadic soul sister for introducing me to her part of the world of San Miguel and Mineral de lasPozos. What fun we had…but it isn’t over quite yet. A weekend in Mexico City before heading back to Arizona. To be continued!
mineral de pozos, mexico
A place where the light is beyond amazing…the air crystalline…and oh…so, so peaceful. What used to be a little ghost town (now slowly coming alive) from the mining days back in the late part of the 19th century…Mineral de Pozos…about an hour outside of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. High in the Sierra Madre Mountains (7,000 feet in elevation) the town is now bustling during the day with local activity, a resurgence of sorts…perhaps building in hopes they will come? Not sure. But what I do know…this is an area that gives you that old world Mexican feeling…lots of decay with a touch of renewal thrown in.
Most visit Pozos to check out the hundreds of mines that still exist and to explore the ruins. Unfortunately most of the ruins have now been taken over by squatters, using the crumbling stone structures as their homes and constructing barbwire fences to keep the likes of you and me out. Oh, but we have our ways. Just keep walking around until you find a break in the fence. Now keep in mind that doesn’t mean you won’t be tracked down by a squatter, but a few pesos will give you all the time in the world to explore. Accompany the pesos with smiles and you’re part of the family with plenty of time to play with the kids!
Pure photographic ecstasy while exploring the ruins in the late afternoon into the golden hour, then walking back to town as the sun set…
…eagerly looking forward to dinner and a margarita or two to finish off the evening…in the gorgeous Posada de las Minas. Can’t wait to show you this fabulous boutique hotel!
way too fast…
captured in san miguel de allende
She said she usually cried at least once each day…
not because she was sad,
but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short…
~~~~~
Brian Andreas – writer, painter, sculptor, and publisher
I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Andreas! Life passes way too fast and how often do we pause and appreciate each and every day?
Closing in on my posts from San Miguel de Allende…more to share on Mineral de Pozos…because I must tell you more about this quiet little town AND the adorable hotel – Posada de las Minas…owned by Julie and David Winslow.
pork rinds in mexico…
san miguel de allende, mexico
Who knew?
Mexico is one of the world’s largest producers and consumers of pork rinds!
Tagged Mexico, pork rinds, San Miguel de Allende
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magic happens at the luna rooftop bar
As the full moon* rises tonight, my mind drifts back to the Luna Rooftop Bar at the elegant Rosewood San Miguel…
For those that may think that San Miguel de Allende is just another little dusty mexican town…think again. Not only is the Rosewood full of luxury and elegance, but how many hotels do you know that have their very own Art Concierge to personalize your stay and provide one-of-a-kind art experiences with customized art workshops and private excursions to antique dealers and art galleries.
Hmmm…I’m still thinking about those two for one delicious margaritas offered on ladies night! STUNNING views!
*And speaking of full moons…since the heaviest snow usually falls during the month of February, Native American tribes often called this month’s full moon the Full Snow Moon. Salud to more awareness by following the natural cycles and the progression of the seasons!
