BIBLIOMANIA

A couple weekends ago we were in Baltimore for the weekend. It had been years since I'd seen the Peabody Library in the beautiful Mt Vernon neighborhood. The George Peabody Library is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful library spaces but is also an essential space for teaching, reading and doing research. The Library of the Peabody Institute dates from the founding of the Peabody Institute in 1857. It was originally used as an institute for music, but then the Massachusetts born philanthropist George Peabody gave the city and it's citizens the library in appreciation of their "kindness and hospitality." The building in one of many of the Peabody Institute, and this building was opened as a library in 1878 and designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G Lind. The spectacular architecture, glass domed roof 61 feet above the floor, and five tiers of ornamental, cast iron reading rooms and balconies are very dramatic upon entering. If you don't expect it, when you enter, it's enough to take your breath away. A great way to kill a day looking at titles and finding a quiet corner to work or read. The place contains over 400.000 volumes mainly from the 19th century with strengths in religion, British Art, architecture, topography, American history, biography and literature, romance languages and literature, history of science, geography, exploration and travel, fiction and nonfiction, and a huge art section.

One of many card catalogs.

Talk about finding a place to read. And its all in distance of other things to see in the My Vernon neighborhood.

And of course, there is always time for a cock-a-tail. 

An offer I can't refuse!

And don't get me started on all the freindly guys walking in and around John Hopkins, the Peabody Institute and Mt Vernon..... No wonder Divine loved this city so much.

KINGSTON CHARM

I'm back on a two-day work week... and I must admit a nice little spring jaunt was just what I needed. Nothing wrong with an extended weekend, sometimes just as enjoyable as one of my longer vacations. The weekend was spent visiting with most of the clan in New York City and then I head for a two-hour drive on Monday to visit a man friend of mine I haven't seen since before covid times, who used to live in the Philly area. I am not sure what took me so long to visit Kingston, but I was pleasantly surprised by this jewel of a town, and I can see why know our dear Anne Marie always told me to go see the Hudson Valley. Kingston is indeed in the Hudson Valley and is charming, blending rich Revolutionary era history with a very quaint yet vibrant and hip feel, all along the Hudson River waterfront. The reason Hudson Valley has an idyllic reputation in the first place I'm thinking, is because of towns like Kingston. A great mixed creative arts district, much history, and the town is dotted with stone houses and Federal era brick building which house everything from private homes to museums, bookshops, art galleries and farm to table eateries, with not one chains, big box, equity backed coffee shops in sight. Yay for Kingston! Meanwhile the downtown area is nestled right on the banks of the Hudson River. I didn't have time to get in and see many places for a long period of time but did see and get the feel of the town pretty good. My friend even took me out on his sailboat as nippy as it was. I have to go back for the lighthouse tour one day. Some visual aids I took...

I swear the northeast is filled with more quaint towns around.

POSTCARDS

 What with the weather changing back to the cooler temperatures again, it had me reflecting on last late summers trip to Barbados and Martinque. A few more snaps from the trip. It's great how pictures can bring the memories back so quick like it was yesterday. Now we are in the midst of finalizing the next location.... but in the meantime,..

St Nicholas Abbey is located in Saint Peter, Barbados and today is a plantation house, museum and rum distillery...very good rum too I might add. Colonel Benjamin Berringer built the house in 1658, and this house is one of only three genuine Jacobean mansions left in the Western Hemisphere. St Nicholas Abbey has no church connection and has always been a sugarcane and rum plantation house. Love the style of the place .

The Hotel Ville in Bridgetown.

A window grate in Bridgetown

The St Louis Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral in Martinique. It was built in the late 19th century in the Romanesque Revival style and serves as the cathedral of the Roman catholic Archdiocese of Fort -de-France. The construction of the original cathedral began in the mid-17th century, and it opened in 1657. Due to several fires, and earthquakes and or natural disasters, that have hit Fort-de-France over the years, the current structure dates only to 1895.

Ain't traveling grand? 

Any big travel plans coming up for any of you?