A SPRING WALK IN WISCONSIN

After spending the winter in Florida, Ron and I recently returned to La Crosse, Wisconsin. We returned just in time to experience March winds, balmy 70-degree days, and a snowstorm that left four inches of snow behind.

Living in La Crosse allows us to return to daily walks along the Mississippi River that usually end with a stroll through the International Friendship Gardens. I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed for the first time little dolls standing under some of the benches and a snowman by the pond in the China section of the garden. They made me smile and lifted my spirits, so I'm sharing the photos. Thanks to whoever decided to add these whimsical touches for others to enjoy.

Also, a big thank you to the kind soul who tied my lost and much-loved old beige scarf to a post along the trail. They thought that perhaps the owner would eventually walk by and notice it. That's exactly what happened. I'm once again reminded of the warmth and kindness that connects us all. 

BRIDGES OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESEE

 

Four beautiful bridges span the Tennessee River in the center of Chattanooga, Tennessee (pop. 184,000). Walking below these bridges, along the Riverfront trail, is a great way to view them closely and from different and unique perspectives.

  

Built-in 1890, Walnut Street Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges. Converted to a pedestrian bridge in 1991, it offers a delightful one-half-mile walk across the river with views of distant mountains, rocky cliffs, forests, and vibrant autumn leaves. Coolidge Park, on the other side, features a 100-year-old carousel and walking paths.

   In the early years, it was called the “county bridge.” At that time it connected the predominately white city on the south side of the river with the large black workforce on the north side. As you enter the walkway bridge from downtown there is an impressive Memorial that tells the story of Ed Johnson who was tragically lynched on this bridge in 1906.

   

Another bridge in view along the Riverfront walkway is the Olgiati Bridge or “Ol' Johnny.” The steel girder bridge was completed in 1959 and is the newest of the four downtown bridges. The Southern Bell Riverboat floats below the bridge and offers popular sightseeing cruises.

   

A little further along the walk is the Market Street Bridge, officially called the John Ross Bridge. It stands out with a bright blue lifting bridge in the center. Completed in 1917, it was the longest rolling-lift bascule span in the world. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

 

 The Veterans Memorial Bridge is a steel girder bridge built in 1984. I enjoyed viewing it from the Walnut Street Pedestrian Bridge where you can also see the the Audubon Island directly below. The island is home to the McClellan Animal Sanctuary. The bridge was built to honor American veterans for their time and commitment to the country and continues to honor them with numerous events throughout the year.

Related Posts:  The Bridges of Strasbourg  - September 17, 2022

                          Vintage Bridges of Europe - December 13, 2020

                          Bridges of Ljubljana - January 27, 2015

                                              ********

Ron and I stopped for a few nights in Chattanooga on our drive south from La Crosse, Wisconsin to Tampa, Florida. We are now settled in Florida for the winter which is a first for us. We are excited about getting to know a new area and, of course, delighted to be staying near our daughter Anna and her family.

MARKET STREET BRIDGE - CHATTANOOGA 

                         

MY VINTAGE JOURNEY COFFEE SCENES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

   

MALAGA,  SPAIN

A little bit of Java makes the journey better. Here are some favorite coffee scenes that bring back memories, far beyond the sweet taste of the perfect cappuccino. 

Happy International Coffee Day!

STRASBOURG, FRANCE

PARIS, FRANCE

SEISER ALM, DOLOMITES

SENGLEA, MALTA

LISBON, PORTUGAL

"Don't forget to stop and smell the coffee."    -MVJ

THE WINDING PASSAGEWAYS OF FRIGILIANA, SPAIN

   

 Occasionally, you get a chance to revisit a distant place that you once loved; my recent visit to the charming white village of Frigiliana was one of those places. While visiting my family in La Herradura I decided to take a 45-minute bus ride that brought me back to this ancient Moorish village in the hills of southern Spain.

I allowed myself a full day to enjoy taking photos and peering down the many winding passageways. There were old fountains, flower pots, cats hidden away on the window sills, and beautiful green hills in the distance. I stopped at the small art galleries and shops along the way. I also enjoyed an early lunch at the El Casino Restaurant where I had the balcony to myself and a panoramic view.

Frigiliana sits 320 meters above sea level on the edge of the Almijara-Tejeda mountain range with a view of the larger town of Nerja (pop. 19,000) below. It is considered one of the best preserved of the many “pueblo blancos” (white villages) that are interspersed throughout the Spanish countryside and was voted the most beautiful village in Spain in 1982. The deep Muslim roots of this area date back almost 3,000 years and the village offers some of the most authentic Arab architecture in Spain.

   Frigiliana (pop.3,000) is a place where three diverse cultures: Islamic, Christian, and Hebrew, live together peacefully. In celebration, the popular Festival of Three Cultures takes place every year in August. The event is filled with lively dancing, music, local artisans, and traditional food—a good reason to return someday.

   

Sometimes after departing a place, I think about something that I wish I had taken more time to enjoy. In Frigiliana, that would have been the “Mosaics of the Twelve Panels.” These detailed mosaics were done by local artists in the 1960s and are now placed on walls throughout the village. Each mosaic depicts an important event that led up to the Battle of Peňon in 1567 and the end of Moorish rule. Maps and stories about the mosaics are available online.

MADRID BOOK FESTIVAL - FERIA DEL LIBRO DE MADRID

     

Once in a while, a layover between flights can prove to be a good thing and that's how I feel about my recent one-night stop in Madrid. It was June and one of the largest book fairs in the world was taking place in Madrid's El Retiro Park. I had just the right amount of time and energy to walk over to see what the book lovers of Spain were experiencing on this beautiful summer evening.

For over 90 years the Feria del Libro de Madrid has been attracting thousands of book lovers from all over Spain and beyond. This year's Book Fair (May 31-June 16, 2024) was situated along the historic old carriageway, Paseo Ferman Nunez, in the 350-acre El Ritero Park. There were numerous speakers, press events, and over 600 book signings for all to enjoy at this free event.

I walked from one end of the long promenade to the other, observing the more than 360 booths and thousands of books that lined both sides. There were authors and visitors, young and old, congregating at the booths. I examined the book covers and thought about their important role in making a book stand out, especially in a crowded marketplace such as this one. With the popularity of digital books today, it's reassuring to know that there are still many book lovers in this world who prefer their books in print.

Some of the love for literature that I experienced at this event stayed with me. For the first time, I completed an entire book on the nine-hour flight back to the US.

The book I read and recommend, The Librarians of Rue de Picardie, by Janet Skesilien Charles, (with a great book cover) was purchased at an old bookstore in Nerja, Spain that I visited with my grandchildren a few days before.

SIENNA & MILA
OLD NERJA BOOK CENTER

THE OLD BOOKSTORES OF RUSSAFA

Valencia, Spain, with its population of 800,000, has an abundance of booksellers. However, it's the unassuming little old bookstores of Russafa that I find the most intriguing. The books are stacked floor to ceiling in bookcases and free-standing book towers are scattered precariously throughout the store. These businesses would never make the list of “most beautiful bookstores in the world,” but there is still something about the small, musty, narrow places, stuffed with old books, that I enjoy the most.

   

Libreria Miranfu (Calle Los Centelles 23) is one of those special places with thousands of books stacked in the bookcases and book towers that are placed in the narrow aisles throughout. It requires a bit of patience and courage to pull a book out from the towers, however, I expect you acquire that talent the more you frequent these places. The owner spoke English and was always pleasant and helpful. 

Libreria de Vell Russafa (Calle Sevilla 19) sells used and out-of-print books in an aged corner store that is reminiscent of a Harry Potter movie. This well-known neighborhood bookshop, with books piled high to the sky, is one of the oldest in Valencia. Pete, the owner, often engages in conversation with fellow book lovers—and sometimes they share a sip of wine together.

Brunch in an old bookstore.

                                                           

Ruzafa, also known as Russafa, is a neighborhood located in southeastern Valencia (pop. 800,000). It was originally a rural farming area, that later became a working class-immigrant neighborhood and today it is referred to as the edgy hipster part of town or the “cool place to live.” It is also home to a variety of small independent shops, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, antique stores, vintage clothing, and bookstores. On a pleasant day, the customers at the many bars and cafes overflow into the streets. It's also a place where children play in parks that are surrounded by apartment buildings.

Related Post:   Verbatim Books - A Vintage Bookstore in North Park, San Diego, March 3, 2020

A VISIT TO EDINBURGH CASTLE BY MILA

MILA

Today's blog post features a special guest writer – Mila, my granddaughter, a curious and talented nine-year-old. She's currently in Edinburgh Scotland with her family. They spent Easter Sunday exploring Edinburgh Castle and this is Mila's story: 

2:24PM: WALKING AROUND IN A LARGE GRAVEL AREA WHILE WAITING TO GO INTO THE CASTLE.

             

2:26PM: WE GET ICE CREAM.

AROUND 2:30PM: WE GET INTO THE CASTLE AND GRAB A MAP.

2:52PM: I GO WITH MY MOM TO MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, 
ST. MARGARET'S CHAPEL

ABOUT 3:00: WE SEE TWO OF MY FAVORITES, THE DOG CEMETERY AND THE
FORE WELL, IN WHICH I DROPPED TREE PEBBLES FOR MY SISTER, WITH A VERY SATISFACTORY RESULT.

3:49PM: WE GO TO A PLACE CALLED THE GREAT HALL

4:45PM: WE LEAVE AND GO TO A CAFE

5:00PM: I GO BACK WITH MY DAD AND WE SEE THE CROWN JEWELS.

ABOUT 5:20PM: WE GO TO THE GIFT SHOP AND I GET A MOOD RING AND A PENCIL.

QUEEN MARGARET (ABOVE)
[ST MARGARET'S CHAPEL IS THE OLDEST BUILDING IN EDINBURGH CASTLE. 
BUILT IN ABOUT 1130, THIS CHAPEL WAS PROBABLY PART OF A GREAT STONE TOWER. IT IS DEDICATED TO THE SAINTLY QUEEN MARGARET, WHO LIVED IN THE CASTLE IN THE LATE 1000'S]