RIVERSIDE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP GARDENS - WHERE SISTERLY LOVE PREVAILS

The Riverside International Friendship Gardens sit at the north end of Riverside Park along the La Crosse River just as it merges with the Mississippi and Black Rivers. It's beautiful, but most importantly, it brings you around the world to visit seven unique gardens, each designed to honor one of the sister cities of LaCrosse, Wisconsin:

Luoyang, China                           Dubna, Russia                   Forde, Norway

Friedberg, Germany                    Bantry, Ireland

Epinal, France                            Kumbo, Cameroon

As you journey through you will find a Moon Gate in the Chinese garden, an Alpine Hill in the German garden, a Le Pinau statue in the French garden, hidden trolls in the Norwegian garden, a Besedka in the Russian garden, a water wheel in the Ireland garden, and a fascinating Mami Wata (Mermaid) Fountain in the Cameroon garden and much more. And, more than likely, you'll leave with a desire to visit one of these special places someday.

A good source for learning more about the design and plantings in each of the gardens is an audio tour that's available on their website. Each one was uniquely planned to resemble the gardens and to honor cities that are located thousands of miles away.

For each of these sister cities, there is a story of bonding and friendship between ordinary people. They include numerous cultural exchanges between teachers, students, technicians, musicians, athletes, health care professionals, businesses, and more. People sharing their talents to make this a better world.

The Riverside International Friendship Gardens were made possible by the joint efforts of the City of La Crosse Parks Department, the Bluff Country Master Gardeners, and the International Friendship Garden Board of Directors. It started about 17 years ago by just a few master gardeners who had a vision. Volunteers continue to meticulously maintain the gardens.

The Friendship Gardens are quiet and peaceful for all to enjoy. And if you care to linger, you can always find an available seat on one of the little stone benches. I know, because I walk through this special place every day.

The gardens are free and open daily from 6 am to 11 pm. 

WHERE THREE RIVERS MEET- LA CROSSE, WI

 

We finally arrived at our new home in La Crosse, WI. We're glad to be settling in rather than dealing with the stress of moving and packing everything we thought we needed into boxes. Moving is not pleasant, but change is good, and we're looking forward to another new adventure.

     Our stuff was delivered to the new apartment by Allied/Atlas moving company. Fortunately, we were lucky and had great people to work with. There are a lot of internet moving scams out there and it's important to stick with one of the top five companies – which is still no guarantee of things going smoothly.

We drove 2,000 miles from San Diego to La Crosse in three days, just in time to arrive before our furniture. We had to move fast because our movers decided to arrive on the first day of the 18-day window that we were given for the delivery.

LaCrosse (pop. 51,000) is a place where three Rivers meet—the Mississippi, the Black, and the La Crosse. It's located in the Driftless Area, a region in the Midwest that escaped the flattening effects of glaciation during the Ice Age, leaving behind steep forested ridges and deep narrow valleys. It is considered one of the most beautiful areas along the Mississippi River.

The city was named for the game of lacrosse that was popular with the Winnebago Indians who were here when the white settlers arrived in 1842. The area was considered neutral grounds and a place where the white settlers and Indians competed in athletic contests.

The La Crosse Metropolitan area has a population of over 135,000 and is an important regional technology, medical, education, manufacturing, and transportation hub. Companies based here include Organic Valley, Logistics Health, Kwik Trip, City Brewing, and Trane. In addition, the area is home to the Gunderson and the Mayo Health systems. Today over 20,000 students attend the three major schools located here: the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University, and Western Technical College.

A favorite place is Riverside Park and the International Friendship Garden located at the north end of the park. We've been enjoying morning walks along the river and biking on the nearby trails through the marshlands. There are bluffs in the distance to enjoy and lush green trees everywhere you look. And the birds never stop singing.

Life in this small river city is considerably different than Southern California which, of course, we'll miss in many ways. One of the biggest changes is that life is “easier” here. We didn't make the move for that reason and didn't think about it beforehand, however, now that we're here, this “quieter and more gentle lifestyle” suits us just fine.

"ART NOUVEAU CAPITAL OF THE WORLD" RIGA, LATVIA

   

   A visit to Riga (pop. 630,000) a few years ago sparked my interest in Art Nouveau. This Latvian city, founded in 1200, has over 800 Art Nouveau buildings, more than any other place in the world. Art Nouveau flourished here from 1904 to 1914 when this old seaport was one of the Russian Empire's largest industrial cities, and the population grew rapidly from 171,000 in 1881 to nearly 600,000 in 1913.

The natural style and free-flowing movement of Art Nouveau originated in England and rapidly spread throughout Europe and the Americas. It was in its prime for a relatively short period from 1890 to 1910, however, it made a lasting impression in the art world.  Considered modern at the time, it originated in opposition to the straight lines and right angles that were attributed to the mass production of the 19^th century. In addition to the curving lines similar to those found in flowers, stems, leaves, and waves, the buildings are frequently adorned with delicately designed iron balconies, statues, fountains, and colorful stained-glass windows.

 

Alberta Street is considered the epicenter of Art Nouveau in Riga and is also home to the Riga Art Nouveau Museum (Alberta Street 12). It was built in 1903 as the private home of Latvian, architect Konstantins Peksens who co-designed it with Eizens Laube. The most striking part of the building is a world-famous staircase located at the entryway. The museum offers a splendid collection of Art Nouveau furniture, paintings, jewelry, clothing, and glassware objects manufactured in Riga during the early 20^thcentury.

For a little “couch travel,” and a chance to learn more about this famous architectural style found throughout Europe, I recommend the 55-minute U-Tube documentary “Art Nouveau without Borders.”

There is one more thing that I remember even more fondly than our walk along Alberta Street enjoying the architecture that day. It was the Japanese couple that we ran into. This was the third time and the third city that we randomly saw them while walking along the street. However, this time they hurriedly came up and invited us for dinner. They had decided, beforehand, that if they happened to run into us one more time it would be a sign that they should have us for dinner and that's exactly what happened. Fortunately, they spoke some English so we were able to communicate somewhat. All in all, it was a very special evening and I was impressed that they were willing to make a meal for guests in this small Airbnb kitchen. I forget what we ate and it doesn't really matter because it was their kindness that I remember the most.

GREETINGS FROM SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA!

 

Greetings to All!

We'll be home in San Diego this year and I've searched out some special local holiday displays to share.

The Hotel del Coronado is missing the ice skating, however, they've placed a spectacular Christmas tree and other decorations by the sea where the rink typically sits.

Little Italy in downtown San Diego is displaying trees made from poinsettia plants again this year with a new color scheme: yellow and white.

Balboa Park is unusually quiet, however, it still offers a pleasant walk. The children's Dr. Seuss Christmas tree is once again standing in front of the Old Globe Theater for everyone to enjoy. Santa Claus and the reindeer are still heading toward the Spreckels Organ Pavilion just like every other December.

And finally, a picture of the Christmas tree in our home that will soon be surrounded by gifts for our two grandchildren that will make Christmas special for us.

We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.  And remember Santa's advice: "Never stop believing."

VINTAGE BRIDGES OF EUROPE

Throughout the years bridges have provided travelers with intriguing views, pleasant walks, and special memories. Most were built with the purpose of connecting places and to make life easier for everyone. They have also been a source of inspiration for artists including The Bridge in Monet's Garden (1895) by Claude Monet that was painted in Giverney, France.

My vintage bridge photos often bring back special memories of travels to Europe. Here are some favorites:

We discovered the picturesque Janez's Bridge (pictured above) when hiking around Lake Bohinj in the Julian Alps, Slovenia. The Church of St. Janez Krstnik sits at the end of the bridge. The popular Lake Bled is 17 miles away by bus.

The Castelvecchio Bridge, also called the Scaliger Bridge, connects Verona's medieval castle to the River Adige's left bank. Originally built in the 14^th century, it was totally destroyed during WW II and reconstructed in the 1950s. It is described by historian and author Valerio Manfredi as the most beautiful, most medieval, and most arched bridge of all time.

They often come with a story like the Bridge of Sighs (1600 AD.) in Venice, Italy, that connects a prison with the sentencing hall of Doge's Palace. Because of the prisoners' sadness, it was known as the Bridge of Sighs.

The Untere Schleuse Bridge (1788) is a covered wooden bridge in Thun, Switzerland. It also regulates water flow for the River Aare. The medieval city, situated on alpine Lake Thun is 19 miles southeast of Bern.

The Dom Luis I Bridge (1886) spans the River Duoro and connects the city of Porto, Portugal with the popular Port houses of Vila Nova de Gaia. The double-decker metal bridge was built to accommodate vehicles, pedestrians and the metro, offering spectacular views from all directions.

The Quiet Man Bridge from the classic 1952 movie starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara is located near Oughterard in Galway County, Ireland.

The bridge above was found among the ruins of the Roman Forum (7 BC) in Rome, Italy.

This bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia is loaded with “love locks.” For those who left the locks and tossed the keys, they probably won't be around when you return. Unfortunately, their weight has caused structural damage to the bridges and they are being removed.

Someday in the future, when the world is healthy again, I'm going to return to walk those old bridges of Europe again. It will be with a new appreciation for a connection to the world like never before.      

                                             * * *

--In addition to man-made bridges there are thousands of natural ones that are still being discovered. The Natural Arch & Bridge Society website is a great source of information.

--If interested, check out the Free Dictionary to discover how many meanings there are for the word “bridge.”

--What city in Europe has the most bridges? Hamburg, Germany.       I'm intrigued by the idea of another trip to Hamburg with the goal of walking across many of its 2,300 bridges—enjoying the canals, rivers, and streams along the way.  

Related Posts:  Bridges of Rome & the Tiber River 6/29/19                                                                             Bridges of Ljubljana (1/27/15)                                                                                                   Inspirational Walking Bridge (3/6/13)

AUTUMN IN THE MOUNTAINS - PAGOSA SPRINGS, COLORADO

 

      The closest I've come to travel in the last ten months is canceling reservations and then following through to make sure the refund shows up. However, this changed in October when we decided to drive to southwestern Colorado at the peak of fall colors. It was a wonderful trip and I'm sure that we appreciated it more because we hadn't been traveling due to COVID-19 concerns.  It was also my first visit to this corner of Colorado, a place that I've always wanted to see.

We spent our first week in Pagosa Springs, Colorado (pop. 12,854, elev. 7,000 feet) in a home that we rented through Airbnb. It was located in the lakes district which is about three miles from the center of the old town. Best of all, we were joined by our daughter and her family. The house was stocked with teddy bears, puzzles, books, and a rocking chair— our grandchildren were delighted.

I loved the view from our deck and the colorful fall foliage. We were off the beaten track and enjoyed the nearby walkways and parks without crowds—just a friendly hello from an occasional passer-by. The children were delighted to be able to play in public parks for the first time in almost eight months (parks had been closed in San Diego until recently). The rental was also convenient to a grocery store and restaurants.

Pagosa Springs, located 60 miles east of Durango, is surrounded by millions of acres of public land including the majestic San Juan National Forest. It offers wildlife, scenic hikes, biking, drives, and a popular walk along the San Juan River. The town is also famous for the “Great Pagosah”—the deepest hot spring in the world and magical mineral baths. The nearby Wolf Creek Ski Resort receives over 480 inches of snow per year—more than any other resort in Colorado.

One of our favorite side trips was a visit to the Chimney Rock National Monument. An area occupied by the ancestral Puebloans more than a thousand years ago with many well-preserved sites and features. There are two relatively short trails to hike—one is easy and paved; a second one to the Great House was quite steep with loose rock and no guardrails. Probably not the safest hike for young children, but my grandchildren prevailed.

After Pagosa Springs, Ron and I continued a road trip through southwestern Colorado along the San Juan Skyway. The scenery was spectacular and we continued to be blessed with sunshine and high temps in the 60s and 70s (much colder at night).

Avoiding crowds and social distancing is not exactly the ideal way to travel, however, it's the reality of traveling safely during these unusual times. It helped to choose places that were a little more out of way and offseason. We wore masks, social distanced and scrubbed our hands. When we needed to eat at a restaurant we were almost always able to find outdoor seating. I always spent a little time cleaning the rental rooms with Clorox before we moved in. The thousands of golden aspens trees and majestic mountains made it well worth the extra effort.

I did learn from this trip that I've missed seeing the beautiful fall foliage that I was accustomed to seeing every year when I lived in Minnesota. So for now, I'm going to make an effort to get out on the road every fall to enjoy those colorful trees at their peak, someplace in the world.

'50's MUSIC FOR VINTAGE JOURNEYS

I recently started shuffling through my brother Freds' collection of over 200 pieces of sheet music from the 1950s. He was an avid piano player and played the popular songs over and over again, and many are a bit tattered as a result.

It's a special collection for me because I spent a lot of time listening to him play the piano as were growing up. And it continued as we got older because he often entertained at the parties with his piano playing for sing-a-longs.

In the 1950s, sheet music was typically priced at 50 cents which is the equivalent of $5.38 in today's dollar. A stamp on the cover indicates that he purchased them at Dayton's in downtown Minneapolis. This was a well-known department store at the time that sold just about everything, including sheet music. They were published in New York City, which was home to the biggest music houses at that time.

The sheet music covers are interesting and often depict the artists who performed the original version of the song. However, I find the lyrics even more interesting and humorous at times. They tell a story of a time when things moved slower and life was perhaps a little gentler and kinder.

I searched through the collection to find some that related to travel, and I came up with quite a few. These were the days of the “golden age of travel” Scheduled commercial air travel was in its early days and still just a dream to most. Road trips were more common.

Here is what those vintage songwriters were saying about travel in the 1950s:

“When I'm Out With The Belle of New York” “..... It's a beautiful sight after dark, When we're strolling through Gramercy Park: The stars in her eyes, and stars up above just fill me with oceans and oceans of love; And my heart bobs around like a cork. When I'm out with the Belle of New York.”

“Meet Me In St. Louis, Louis” ….“Meet me in St Louis, Louis, Meet me at the Fair, Don't tell me the lights are shining any place by there, We will dance the Hooch-ee Kooch-ee, I will be your tootsie wootsie, Meet me in St. Louis, Lois, Meet me at the fair.”

“There's A Pawn Shop On a Corner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania” “...By the pawn shop on a corner in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but I ain't got a thing left to hock. She was peaches, she was honey and she cost me all my money Cause a whirl round town was her dream....”

“Manhattan” “...We'll have Manhattan The Bronx and Staten Island too; It's lovely going through the Zoo; It's very fancy on old Delancey Street, you know; The subway warms us so, When balmy breezes blow To and Fro And tell me what street compares with Mott Street in July...”

“Shanghai” “...Why did I tell you I was going to Shanghai I wanna be with you tonight, ...It was just a little misunderstanding, that a kiss on the cheek could patch,...”

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” “...High on a hill, it calls to me. To be where little cable cars climb half-way to the starts! The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care...”

“Carolina in the Morning” “...Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the morning, No one could be sweeter than my sweetie when I meet her in the morning....”

“Tennessee Waltz” “...I was waltzing with my darlin' to the Tennessee Waltz when an old friend I happened to see. Introduced him to my loved one and while they were waltzing My friend stole my sweet-heart from me...”

“Shenandoah Waltz” In the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia lives a girl who is waiting just for me. Oh how many times we've waltzed in the moonlight...”

“Oklahoma” “...O----k-la-hom-a, where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain. And the wavin' wheat can sure smell sweet When the wind comes right behind the rain...”

“On the Riviera” “...If you look you see the people from Paree playing on the Riviera When there's ice and snow it's nice to go to Nice where the moon Claire de Lune is clairer. All the girls are gay and they parlais Francais any time, any place, any way...”

“Bermuda” “...Down in Bermuda, paradise for two, I lost my lover there on the blue. We went sailing on a coral sea, Starlit waters, my darling and me. Time was endless, Love sang its song,...”

“My Sunny Tennesee” “...I wanna be in Tennessee, In my Dixie paradise, An angel's voice I hear, I mean my mammy dear, I'd give my soul if I could stroll down among those hills again,..”

“Christmas in Killarney” “...The holly green, the ivy green, The prettiest picture you've ever seen is Christmas in Killarney, With all of the folks at home...”

“Belle, Belle, My Liberty Belle” “...There's pretty girls in Singapore and the Phillippines, all along Kilarney's shore, Oh, the fair colleens! There's sweet Fifi from gay Paree and Wilhelmina, too but, Belle, Belle, My Liberty Belle, I'm still in love with you....”

“Don't Ever Be Afraid to Go Home” “...Don't ever be afraid to go home, When you've hitched your wagon to a fast falling star And the last string is broken on your love-sick guitar, Whatever you're doing and wherever you are, Don't ever be afraid to go home...”