#whereiwander

EL ATENEO GRAND SPLENDID, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (December 24, 2023) One Big Fight! How could I resist passing by and taking snaps in this famed bookstore that carries the same name as my alma mater? The day prior, Paul Pasco took me brought me to the wrong branch; and so today, while he was in Uruguay, I took the subway and relied on my instincts to find in another part of the city this picturesque store. In 2019, the National Geographic named it “the world’s most beautiful bookstore.” Originally the Teatro Gran Splendid of Buenos Aires, it was an auditorium designed in 1919 to pay homage to the Paris Opera with its ceiling mural, marble columns, and elaborately decorated balconies. Today, the stage is a cafe, the orchestra and first balcony are brimming with bookshelves, and the upper floors have been converted into reading rooms for this bookstore, which is just one in a chain of others called El Ateneo.

We are EXHAUSTED after traveling the world in a day yesterday, and today we’re off to SeaWorld! I loved traveling with you ☺️😘 • Ps: Actual Germany-I’m coming for ya! 🇩🇪 🇩🇪🇩🇪 • • #epcot #disney #disneyworld #japan #germany #morocco #italy #uk #simba #fireworks #cheesy #whereiwander (at Epcot - Walt Disney World)

SAN FRANCISCO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, CALIFORNIA, USA (August 26, 2016) While it was founded in 1935 as the first West Coast museum devoted to modern and contemporary art, the thoroughly transformed SFMOMA with triple the gallery space opened to the public on May 14, 2016. And so with both dad and me in San Francisco at the same time that year, it was perfect that Monique planned a visit to SFMOMA with the two of us.  The expanded building includes access to nearly 45,000 square feet of free art-filled public space, as well as a permanent commitment to free admission for all visitors 18 and younger. And while we were much beyond the age of 18, we were happy to pay our way to view an impressive collection of art pieces. Some of my faves are from my usual go-to’s for inspiration: Degas, Van Gogh, Seurat, Kiefer, Jimenez, to name just a few. I wish I had more time to try my hand at painting.

FLORENCE CATHEDRAL, ITALY (April 1, 2018) For some reason, our itinerary as we had designed it could not accommodate a daytime visit to the famed Cathedral of Florence. Thankfully though, on our last night in the city and during our walk home from dinner, we had a quick glimpse of the third largest church in the world. The nearby streets were filled with late evening revellers and even a band of musicians whom we followed until we found ourselves close to the cathedral. Glowing under the nighttime sky, the massive structure seemed to exude an altered aura. Maybe the blazing spotlights and resulting deeper shadows had made the cathedral’s intricate detail more pronounced. Maybe the contrast of its white walls against the utter blackness had created some disquiet. Maybe I had too much red wine with my bistecca alla fiorentina. Anyhow, the sight from all angles was nothing less than awesome.

IGLESIA DEL SALVADOR, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (December 24, 2023) After visiting El Ateneo on Christmas Eve and while heading toward the subway station to get back to my hotel, I chanced upon the Iglesia del Salvador, Buenos Aires’s second Jesuit church, which began construction in 1872. Within were statues of familiar Jesuit saints (I recognized the names from our beloved classrooms at the Ateneo Grade School), including of course Ignatius de Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. I'm glad I stopped by. Though I was running a tad late for Christmas Eve dinner.

An odd place to start my first day in South America. But why not? Once the garden of the Recollect monks in Buenos Aires, the cemetery is the final resting place of Argentina’s who’s who, including several presidents, a Nobel Prize laureate, prominent artists and writers, and of course Eva Peron, whose family vault is the most visited there. But the Recoleta Cemetery is a veritable open air museum too, with its 5.5 hectares of elaborate mausoleums and sculptures in Art Noveau, Neo-Gothic, and every style in between. And then there are the stories of those who lie within its tombs. My favorite is of the young lady whose mother was in a hurry to bury her, not realizing that she was still alive. As I write this, the theme music of HBO's Six Feet under is playing in my head.

BELEM TOWER, LISBON, PORTUGAL (October 26, 2017) While the monument of the discoveries nearby was built in retrospect, the Belem Tower was created at that time when Portuguese exploration of the world was beginning in the 16th century, opening up Lisbon to the world. As such, King Manuel I ordered for the Belem Tower to be built as part of a strategic defense plan for the Tagus River. It served as a watch tower that discouraged enemy ships from entering the city, asserted the king’s power by its very presence, and was utilized even as a state prison. Classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the Belem Tower continues to stand stolid, resilient, and unfazed.

It was an extremely foggy day at Montserrat, and we were patiently awaiting the announcement that cable cars were ready to shuttle tourists up the slopes to enjoy the spectacular view of the mountain range and the city below. Apparently, the trams had ceased operating until the skies became clear, for the safety of all visitors. So in the meantime, Eileen and I slid through the doorways of the Museum of Montserrat to view the fabulous artworks there. Mostly donated by private citizens to the monastery, the pieces are divided into six permanent collections. My favorites were the paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries, the Catalan artworks from the 19th and 20th centuries--including pieces by Picasso, Dali, and Miro, and the Iconography of Our Lady of Montserrat. Unfortunately, the skies didn’t clear up that day. Thankfully, there was the museum.