lulu
By the time we got to Jodphur during my fall trip to India, I wasn’t feeling too well, and the only thing I wanted to do was go to bed. That meant I missed most of what the Blue City had to offer. Little did I know that I would get a second chance to experience its wonders at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.
Peacock in the Desert is an exhibit representing centuries of royal treasures never seen before outside palace walls. What they represent is the history of the Rathores who are still Jodphur’s royal family. This incredible exhibit reminded me of so many things I learned and loved during my travels in Rajasthan.
The lavish life of the maharajas made such an impression. Whether they were transported by elaborately adorned elephants,
born in splendid palanquins
or driven in a Rolls Royce theirs appeared to be a pampered lifestyle.
Royal wealth and power were often depicted in art. A maharaja was regarded in so many ways: a warrior and diplomat, a connoisseur of the arts and material pleasures.
The material pleasures were many be they weapons or beautifully cast pieces of gold and silver.
On the trip, I was very curious about the role of women so it was interesting to study the exhibit in this context. In the royal environment, women appeared to have a good life. They often maintained personal shrines, such as this one dedicated to Krishna, where daily worship rituals were conducted.
Royal women had baradaris, a pavilion that could be taken apart and transported from place to place for festivals, game playing or formal state occasions. It struck me as fun to have a traveling entertainment center!
Then as now, women seem to be drawn to sparkle and adorned themselves with bangles and colorful and bejeweled clothing.
What they received for their dowries wasn’t bad either!
Throughout the exhibit were wonderful paintings that brought back memories of the intricate and detailed pieces that were observed throughout Rajasthan.
So small are some of the images that one has to look closely in order not to miss them as in this hunting scene.
I loved this piece not only for its detail and color but for the peacock in the clouds which seemed an early reference to flight.
For the boys in the family, I bought turbans so I was quite drawn to this colorful wall of turbans which taught something new. A turban represents pride and valor. Though made from similar materials, each unique style identifies community.
There was so much to see in Peacock in the Desert, perhaps more than I would have had opportunity to view in Jodphur so spending several hours roaming the space at the museum was a wonderful experience. When I saw the model of the palace where the royal family lives today, I was somewhat blown away wondering how if would be possible to care for so many rooms.
i so appreciate your visit and the comments you leave behind
When there is as much hype surrounding an event as has happened with the block buster show Hamilton, one can only wonder if it is as good as advertised. The answer is an enthusiastic YES! I held off going during its Houston run because the tickets are pricey, but at the last minute there were some single seats available for a somewhat reasonable price, and I bit ending up with a great seat close to the stage.
As the story goes, the creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, was inspired by Ron Chernow’s book Hamilton. Now, I read the book and while I learned much about Alexander Hamilton and his contemporaries, I got so bogged down in detail that I couldn’t imagine being creatively inspired. Thankfully, Miranda did not have the same response. As a result, he presents American history with a lesser known founding father, Hamilton, as the central character surrounded by the more familiar Washington, Jefferson, Madison and others.
While some clever person actually published a wonderful book of garage sale photos, I’m probably not that ambitious, so I focus on the presentation as if I were doing a shop.
Clothes are carefully organized by style, size and gender. A simple rack the hubby made for me back in the days when I did shows displaying my woven pieces has been invaluable for garage sales.
The same is true for another of his clever creations which works perfectly for arranging accessories.
Household and kitchen goods are arranged just so making it easy for shoppers to see without having to move things around.
Books are always a challenge, and no matter how orderly I arrange them it doesn’t take long for them to be all askew.
At the end of the day most of the stuff is gone, and I feel good about having gotten rid of some of what the girls don’t want to have to deal with. My only disappointment is that this top didn’t sell. Maybe all the stories that go with it mean that it should stay with me for at least one more Christmas dinner!
If you’ve heard of only one place else in Czechoslovakia it is likely to be Prague, a city of amazing contrasts.
Unlike many of the cities visited on our river cruise, Prague was not damaged during World War II meaning that the Old Town is intact. Away from it, everything is newer, more modern indicating that Prague is a thriving 21st century city.
Though Prague is full of attractions, what I liked best was wandering the streets paying attention to all that was going on whether it was men restoring an aging facade,
meticulously relaying a cobbled street
or working to attract a crowd and hoping to be rewarded with a few coins.
Markets were a great place to people watch,
sample a few local goodies. 
It was surprising to see a canal in Prague. My first thought was how that resembled Venice. The only thing missing was gondolas being managed by striped shirt gondoliers!
Walking miles every day means there had to be time for some refreshment, and I liked stopping in at some random place
and having Czech food and a Pilsner Urquell. Talk about a pause that refreshes!
Yes, Prague has much to offer. Architecturally, it is a jewel with its buildings representing many centuries.
Oh, and have I mentioned gingerbread and that Czechoslovakia is famous for it? It comes in many forms, but when I tell you that foie gras served on thin slices of gingerbread is over the top, believe it! I’d go back to Prague just to have it again.
Seven days on the Danube River from Budapest to Nuremberg on the Scenic Amber was all we hoped it would be.
The ship was a most comfortable way to travel with good food and friendly service.
Without getting off the boat there was much to see that gave glimpses of the life existing along the Danube.
I would never have guessed there were so many vineyards in Austria, some planted so high and steep as to appear unreachable.
It was entertaining to watch the activity on the water
and along the river’s edge where many people had little get away cottages.
As tranquil and beautiful as cruising was, there were lovely places off the boat.
The Benedictine monastery in Melk was not only beautiful but fascinating. Thanks to the money earned from its thousands of visitors, the monks are able to keep the monastery and its grounds in pristine condition. 
Though a little larger than some of the others, Regensburg had a special charm with its varied architecture and color. 
It was hard to get enough of this place.
All the stops on the Danube had their own story, none more so than Nuremberg where Hitler held his biggest rallies on this site. It is a grim reminder of a period that will never be forgotten.
That dark spot in its history does not mar the positives of this thriving city known especially for its Christmas Market.
This post is only a glimpse into what a river cruise has to offer. There’s a lot to take in, but if that gets to be too much, one can choose to stay on the ship and enjoy the river scenes. That’s equally as special.
It’s always a little sad for a Foodie Adventure to end as it is a wonderful week with great people and the best ever hosts, Michael and Mary Jo, who work so hard to make it a perfect experience. End it must though, and everyone moves on.
With its lovely coastal views, it is a lovely place.
It’s hard to believe that just over 20 years ago much of Dubrovnik was in ruins thanks to intensive bombing by the Serbs.
Today most of the city has been restored and is a major tourist destination.
With its charming Old Town, filled with interesting sights and shops, it is easy to see why.
Nowhere have I ever seen so many eateries as there are in such a compact space.
Because of its proximity to the sea, seafood is on every menu.
From Dubrovnik we ventured on to Budapest, a vibrant city filled with beautiful architecture.
While there is much to do there, what we like best about Budapest is spending time with one of our former exchange students and her family. What made this meeting very special was meeting Lulu, the newest family member named in my honor. Talk about turning to mush, this little one completely stole my heart!
Part of spending time with Lulu’s parents means we get to experience their life which includes weekends on Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe where so much of the activity centers around the water.
After an all too short visit, it was time for us to say good by and board our ship to begin a Danube River cruise that would take us from Budapest to Prague. Wow, this is a lot of stimulation in a short period, but each part of the adventure holds something new.
Joining