GARDEN GNOME on THE BUS BLOG - - a former car owner goes green and realizes the answers to all life's problems can be found while riding the city bus.

For me, life has always been about the journey. Perhaps that's why I always take so long to get anywhere. The sights, sounds and scents along the daily commute contribute toward the day's total experience, just as much as the events ensuing upon arrival at one's destination.

A day lived is not a laundry list of main events, but a culmination of all the tiny happenings in between. What would the world be like if it was made of only pants and shirts? Thank goodness for socks and undies and an occasional pair of capri pants!

There is beauty to be found in contrast. The more obvious the contrast, the more interesting, and often ridiculous, life seems.

On my way to the bus today, I decided to venture down an unfamiliar street. Charming, suburban, nothing unusual...until I came upon a normal home with a most abnormal yard.

The entire front yard was brick-covered and featured two star shaped 'pools', carefully placed in symmetrical positions. Each pool space had been filled with mint-green cement, upon which ceramic frogs and stone turtles happily sunned themselves. A weather-worn lawn gnome looked on, wondering, perhaps, where the lawn had gone...or more likely, grumbling about all the work he had yet to do. Beside him was placed, at a perfect acute angle to the house, a soil-tilling cart. And, with no cart horses in sight, what's a gnome to do?

The more I looked at this yard, the more I understood how much care and planning had gone into the execution of this extraordinary space. It was well-maintained and just as the sprawling gardens of the most beautiful manor house, it was proudly displayed and surely intended to impress guests. With a smile I thought that beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder (or in this case, the owner.) But, as I walked away I realized that this homeowner had found his or her bliss. With a few bags of cement and a visit to the sculpture aisle at the garden store, someone had found happiness and tried to share it with the neighborhood.

As I left that street I realized that I was walking away with a smile on my face and, perhaps, a few less cares on my mind. I'm glad that today's bus route included a stop on the gnome-lined road to happiness. Thank you, gnome house. I owe ya one.

(For all the gnome fans out there, this gnome house is located in the Magnolia Park neighborhood of Burbank, California.)

Chicago

When my sister and I first emerged from the underground, we were greeted by the cold chill of a spring evening. Hauling my suitcase up the last few subway steps, I suddenly found myself surrounded by a sea of turn-of-the-last-century sky-scrapers stacked all around. I gasped in happy familiarity, "It's just like San Francisco!" My words hung in the cold air in smoky wisps. The warm tones of aged brick and opulent Victorian, Art Deco and Revival-era stone embellishments juxtaposed with the cool, slick, reflective surfaces of more modern in-fills, felt at the same time familiar and slightly foreign. For a moment, I fondly recalled the three years I had called the city by the bay home. No, this wasn't San Francisco. But it did share a similar heritage. It was a powerful, noteworthy city of old. A prominent star in American history. City of marvelous sky-scrapers, notorious mobsters, deep dish pizza and some of baseball's finest. Chicago.

The smooth sounds of a jazz sax wafted through the streets. As I made my way down the block, I peeked into each alleyway in search of the musician. The city provided it's own accompaniment: the scattered cell phone chatter of bankers dressed in crisp suits, the clicking of heels on the sidewalk as couples scurried to make their dinner reservations and the excited hum of the bustling, expectant crowd assembled on the sidewalk in front of a theater. The famous Chicago Theatre; bright red marquee lit with a million tiny white lights. My heart fluttered. How I love the grand architecture of old theaters and the dedicated theater-goers who help to keep their magic alive. A string of sweet notes drew my attention sideways. And there, leaning against the building just to the right of the theater, was the saxophone player. His tune wafted skyward, leading my eyes past several floors of shops, to a ballet studio occupying an entire level above. Floor to ceiling windows provided a showcase of tiny ballerinas cheerfully running through exercises, adjacent to a group of their older, more graceful counterparts. The sax seemed to provide their accompaniment. Demi-plie, grand-plie, pause. And again. Yards of tulle brightly bobbed up and down in a row of pink and white tutus. A sign on the far side of the building caught my attention. Joffrey.

"Let's go." My sister had walked ahead of me and only just realized that she'd lost her travel companion. I looked once more at the saxophonist. Almost obligingly, he began a new tune. "Coming." Dashing to catch up, I smiled, ready for whatever wonders Chicago had in store.

Christmas Sausages - yum!

Just LOOK at these sausage ropes at the Advent Market. Nothing says Vienna like yummy, yummy sausage. This charming cabin o' meat was at Karlsplatz.

Holiday Greetings from Vienna (in June?)

I never did post any of my Vienna travel journal pages online, so here is a clip circa December '05.

Guten Tag! Wie geht es Ihnen?

Vienna is lovely in winter, although its incredibly cold here!! Thank goodness for insulated socks! Lifesavers, I tell you! I love seeing people walking around in coats, scarves and funky hats. Everyone´s attire seems more formal when there is a long coat involved in the look. I like it a lot. In fact, I´m liking Vienna so much that I´ve been putting some thought into how I could possibly make a living here in the future. Hmm...there are lots of gallery spots open for 17th century painters and sculptors. Well, I don´t fit that bill... :)

My German classes have been going well and I´ve been enjoying the multicultural environment. Today, in keeping with holiday tradition, St. Nicholas came to give us all holiday treats (the 6th is St. Nicholas day in Austria). The not-so-portly man, who looked like Santa Claus with a bishop´s hat perched jauntily on his head, tossed apples to the good kids and candy to the naughty ones. I got a tangerine, so I´m not sure which list I made this year. :)

Although I haven´t hit any jazz clubs yet, I´ve been sight-seeing with my uncle several times already. He has taken me to three Advent Markets, which are like street fairs in various neighborhood squares. They are so lovely! One might think that the locals would stay inside to avoid the bitter chill of winter. But, miss an opportunity to socialize and warm up with Christmas cheer? Quite the contrary. Although Austrians can seem a bit austere at first, they're really a friendly lot and will warmly welcome you to share in their town's holiday traditions if you give them the chance. So, mingle, grab a mug of punch and stay a while! The Market is filled with all sorts of decorated Christmas trees, choirs singing and lots of people taking time to enjoy Christmas punch (like mulled wine...but with A LOT of alcohol! I´ve gotten incredibly tipsy off of just one mug!!). The central attraction is the many booths (which look like mini log cabins, all decorated with wreaths) where craftspeople sell their festive goods, from winter caps to gingerbread houses. I´ve eaten my fill of tasty treats like German pretzels and lots of wurst with sauce and a semmel roll. Yum! There are horse-drawn carriage rides and petting zoos for the kids. And, there is often a lovely, traditional nativity set of some sort. The whole scene looks like a little clip from a Victorian-era holiday card and inspires one to hum old-time favorites like Bing Crosby's "White Christmas". Wonderfully charming.

-K

Where in the World?

Where in the world am I? Can you guess?

a little reorganizing magic

Drum roll please. At the suggestion of a friend, I will now preform a death-defying act: dividing my blog life in two!

Ta-da! This blog will now focus entirely on travel tales and handy travel tips, while blog #2 will proudly display my artwork.

Please let me know if this new formatting works better. If so, my friend shall be rewarded with a cupcake. :) If not, he will be sad and cupcake-free. The decision is yours!

* Don't forget to check out blog #2 at

www.kristinpaints.blogspot.com

Heading to Tulum-

Amazing beach-front views, snorkeling, swimming, shady palms, cool iguanas and the occasional sly snake -all in the setting of an ancient Mayan village! Sound good? Then, read on.

Tulum is situated on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, along the famed Riviera Maya. The two hour drive south from Cancun takes you through jungle-like palm fields, ridiculously huge private resorts, detours for cenote swimming and some slightly dingy but incredibly fun beach towns. If you're staying in Cancun, you must get out and see the real Mexico.

That said, the entrance to Tulum looks a bit like a tiny amusement park. There is an expansive paved parking lot and a throng of souvenir and snack stops. Be thankful for these, as they come equipped with restrooms!! When you finally get to the ticket booth, you can hire a guide, or just rely on your guidebook or the plethera of informational plaques on the site, which I recommend. (Admission is 35-40 pesos, 8am-5pm (check current hours before you go.) You've got a little hike to get to the archaeological site, but it is charming, as it eventually takes you through a winding path filled with palms and tons of statuesque iguanas, sunning themselves on the warm rocks!

Tulum (the Mayan word for wall - thanks Wikipedia!) is still surrounded by rambling ramparts and castle-like look out towers. Small doorways through the city's fortifications open up onto a marvelous sight! The Tulum ruins range from towering temples and stately government buildings to simple platforms where the wooden homes of the townspeople once stood. The earliest inscribed date reads 564. But, Tulum's most significant point of interest is its frescoes. You can glimpse the well preserved interior frescoes and sculptures, depicting offerings of fruit and vegetables, along with images of the local people and gods of the ancient Mayan world. Traces of paint remain on some of the sculptural exteriors, which give an indication of how brilliant this city must have once appeared. Keep your eyes peeled for snakes, as they slither and wind their way up the rugged ruin walls. Yikes!

During my September/October trip, the sun seemed its strongest in Tulum. Water bottles were a necessity and a wide brimmed hat probably would have been a good idea! Thank goodness for the cool, crashing waves below the cliffs of this sea-side port town. A winding, wooden stairway takes brave visitors to the small beach below. So, wear your swim gear, as there's no place to change on site, and you won't want to miss this chance to cool off!

When you've had your fill of sun, sand and ruins, head back north to one of the little seaside resort towns near-by. (Playa del Carmen has a lot to offer!) They're not fancy, but you'll find some fantastic dining, nifty shops and a gazillion open-air bars (some with features such as swings suspended from the ceiling -instead of bar stools- or casual seating clusters with rocking chairs and comfy couches, on which you and your pals can relax and unwind.) You'll be glad to have spent a day away from the glitzy, glam resorts of Cancun. It's amazing to connect with an ancient culture and to enjoy the warm hospitality of the Yucatan's smaller coastal towns.

**Want to see more Mayan ruins? Consider visiting near-by Xel-Ha, known for the beautiful murals in the Palace of the Birds and its ecological water fun park; or take a longer drive inland to Coba, which features incredibly tall pyramids with panoramic views of the surrounding jungle. Neat-o!

http://www.visitmexico.com

Un Poquito Mas -Mexico!

Here, the beach at Tulum, lagoon sunset, dancing the night away in Cancun and a close encounter with Pedrito the alligator!

Viva los Pyramids!

Phew! Hiking around the ruins was quite a workout (especially in the SIZZLING heat!), but the view was well worth it. Best buddy Michelle and I soaked up some sun and Mayan history as we celebrated our 30th birthdays with our boys in Mexico. Here: a few shots from impressive Chichen Itza and tiny Tulum, with it's amazing beach-front view. (Can you spot the iguana?)

PLAY BALL!

Playing Mayan ball is great fun! Unless you're the captain of the losing team...yikes. This is one of my paintings inspired by my trip to Mexico (I'll post photos soon) and exhibited at THE VIRGIN SHOW at Lost Souls Gallery. It was a fabulous group showing of nifty art by animation professionals, who were art show first-timers. (see photo) And speaking of shows, check out the next one at Meltdown Comics: LA Mythillogical. Mark your calendars. It's sure to be a blast.

You're A Star!

"You're a star, you're a star, yeah-yeah, you're a star. Wow, wow, you're super special just the way you are!" It's hard not to fall in love with those little Wubbzy music videos. They're too cute. And, look- there's a Wubbzy song blog. Huh...who knew? http://wubbzysongs.blogspot.com/

All Wow! Wow! Wubbzy images and related material copyright Bolder Media

A little more Wubbzy

Okay, so this post doesn't have anything to do with my travel theme...but that last Wubbzy post got me onto a Wubbzy kick. So, here's a thumbnail lay-out for a Wow! Wow! Wubbzy song sequence I colored, called 'You're A Star'. What fun!

Mona Lisa?

No, it's Mona Walden! In the theme of all things French, here's a painting I created for the personal collection of Walden, himself. Featured in the 'Gotta Have Art' episode of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy, this piece d'art was painted in Photoshop and imported into Flash. You can check out Wubbzy and his friends daily on Nickelodeon and at http://wubby.typepad.com.

Tree-hugger

Bliss!! My absolute favorite grove of trees. Versailles '06.