J. Paul Getty Museum
(1) 310 – 440-7330
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, California 90049-1687

www.getty.edu

Open Hours:
10:00 am –  5:30 pm   Tuesday – Friday
10:00 am –  9:00 pm    Saturday
10:00 am –  5:30 pm    Sunday

At the J. Paul Getty Museum lives a fine collection of European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts, European and American photographs aside rotating special exhibits.  However, they all take a bit of a backseat to the wonderful Platinum LEED certified, modernist complex that highlights both nature and culture.  Designed by Natural light architect Richard Meier, the “Getty” is a as much a park as it is museum.  A haven in the sprawling expanse that is Los Angeles.

Admission to the Getty Center and to all exhibitions is FREE.  This is such a wonderful  opportunity for people young and old to connect to art, architecture and nature.  The building and grounds are such a stunning park, we enjoyed our time outside as much as inside.

The adventure begins as you descend into the underground bond-like parking structure- spiraling down level after level. Then you ascend via tram to the high overlook, floating your gaze over the city- breathing air fresh blown from the sea.  Meandering the inviting pathways, there are scattered bins with sun-umbrellas to protect against the strong sun.

One wanders in and out of the relaxed buildings; never feeling hurried or watched.  The staff is helpful and polite.  Photo taking is encouraged (no flash please) and the experience is one of wholeness. The collection is not about volume, but about experience.  The complimentary colored galleries fill with natural light to create a bond between viewer and art; a bond that I didn’t know I was missing until I found it at the Getty Museum.

Lawrence Alma Tadema: Spring

Venus Reclining on a Sea Monster with Cupid and a Putto by John Deare

For more images of the Getty Center, please see our Flickr page.

(above photo © Jaime Silva)

Iparművészeti Múzeum
(Museum of Applied Arts)
(36) 1 – 456 5100
1092 Budapest, Hőgyes Endre utca,
Budapest, Hungary

www.imm.hu.
MAP

Open Hours:
2:00 pm – 6:00pm    Tuesday
10:00am – 6:00pm    Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday
10:00am – 10:00pm  Thursday

In 1872 the Hungarian Parliament decided to purchase “industrial Vienna’s” 1873 World Exhibition and in 1890 a contest was held to design a suitable building to house the collection and be home to the School of Applied Arts on Hõgyes Endre street.

First prize was won by a series of plans, put forth by architects  Ödön Lechner and Gyula Pártos, inspired in oriental forms.  Construction began in 1893 and the building was opened by emperor Franz Joseph on October 25th 1896 as part of the Hungarian State’s millenium celebration.

Today, the Building itself is the main attraction. It is another fine example of Hungarian secession splendor; a fairytale palace full of angles, stairwells, columns and details that enchant the eye at every turn.

The Museum itself has 5 departments: Metalwork, Furnuture, Textiles, Ceramics and Glassware. In each department you can enjoy equisit examplels of Art Nouveau crafts.  Here we glimpse the joy that defined the movement- the bringing of love, light, fancy and flare to many a mundane necessity.  I wish today’s designers would indulge in a a bit more fantasy and get over this post-modernist utilitarianism

An interesting fact, according to the literature,  is that this was the third museum to be built in Europe after the British Museum and and another in France (we’re trying to find a chronology, but having difficulty)

colored roof tiles from the Zsolnay porcelain factory, hand painted with plant motifs

(above photo © Lorenzo Raffio)

Szépmûvészeti Múzeum
(Museum of Fine Arts)
(36) 1 – 469 7100
Dózsa György út 41, 1146
Budapest, Hungary

www.szepmuveszeti.hu
MAP

Open Hours:
10:00am – 5:30pm  Tuesday – Sunday

The Szépmûvészeti Fine arts museum is in a neoclassical building located on Heroes’ Square -across from Műcsarnok (Palace of Arts) and next to Varosliget (the largest city park in Budapest).  It is also close to the zoo and the Széchenyi Baths.   Designed by by Albert Schickedanz and Fülöp Herzog, groundbreaking was in 1896 to commemorate the  millennium of the Hungarian State and it was completed in 1903.

The art collection is home to works from Pablo Picasso, Oskar Kokoschka, Manet, Pierre Puvis de Chavanes, Paul Gauguin, Mark Chagall, Paul Cezanne, Henri de Touluse Lautrec, Delacroix, Corot, Rodin….

Check the website or local listings for information on special exhibits; they are normally quite fantastic, definitely worth the trip.  On our last visit there was  a Mucha exhibition, ‘In Praise of Women” that was so touching; I am still hoping for it to come to NY so I can see it again!

The museum is very easy to get to by Metro, just take it to the Heroes’ Square Station.

(above photo Attic Marble Sarcophagus © Smita )

(above photo Ancient Frieze © Grytsje Klijnstra )

Hampstead Heath
(44)  0208 – 45 8 9102
(44)  0207  – 332 3322

www.heath-hands.org.uk.
www.hampsteadheath.net

Tube:  Kentish Town,  Hampstead, Golders Green

“The Heath” sprawls across 320 hectares (791 acres) of Camden and Barnet.  Encompassing ancient woodlands, wildflower meadows, towering trees, running streams and over 30 lakes and ponds.  Full of over 300 species of fungi, the best place in London to see various species of kingfishers, red warblers, British woodpeckers, dragonflies and bats!  There are at  least 55  artifacts, monuments and archaeological sites including The Saxon ditch (AD986),

Hampstead Heath is also a consistent winner of  a Green Flag Award which sets the “the national standard for parks and green spaces in the United Kingdom.”  Its miles of walking paths, cycling lanes, forest tracks and rambling meadows Hampstead Heath exudes pastoral bliss. An inspiration to many a great artist: John Constable (romantic painter),  John Keats (poet), CS Lewis (novelist, academic, theologian…), John Atkinson Grimshaw (painter), Percy Bysshe Shelley (romantic poet), Lord Byron (poet), Leigh Hunt (writer),

On the personal side, we spent one stunning spring Sunday lost in the Heath. In a city park experience like no other I’ve ever had.   We picked up a picnic lunch in Highgate and wandered into the green.  We soon lost ourselves among the trees around t 1pm on a warm may Sunday – a time when any park in our hometown of New York City is packed to the hilt with people.  We soon found a secluded spot in a forested glen and we lunched.  We DID NOT SEE ANOTHER PERSON for over 30 minutes!!! Our solitude was gently eased when a lovely woman wandered through- searching for elderflower, for her elderflower wine …

Hampstead heath is a piece of the old world left untouched, where fairies play and people can once again be a part of nature.  So swim in its ponds and walk in every direction to find beauty in its overabundant flora and flora; delight in its wonder and realize what a park can truly be.

(above photo ©  Barbara Rich)

(above photo ©  Barbara Rich)

(above photo ©  Barbara Rich)

EAST
“The Highgate Ponds” total eight original water reservoirs from the 17th and 18th centuries. Here are the mens and ladies bathing ponds, the model boating pond, and a fishing lake.

(above photo © Tony Hall) Early Morning, Highgate Men’s Bathing Pond

(above photo © Tony Hall) Early Morning, Highgate Men’s Bathing Pond

SOUTH WEST
Here we find the “Hampstead Ponds”, which  began life as a string of reservoirs of the Hampstead Water Co.; established to supply London in 1692 by damming Hampstead brook. Here you can find the mixed gender swim pond (note: for all the swiming ponds you can buy a day, season or anual ticket).

(above photo © Tony Hall) Path  between Cohen’s Fields and Stock Pond

SOUTH
On the southern slopes of Parliament Hill sit various sporting facilities including an athletics track, tennis courts, an open air swimming pool, running track and various fitness areas.  The hill is 321 feet (98 m) high home to kite flyers and great views of the London skyline.  Keep a lookout for ‘The Stone of Free Speech‘ which dates from the late 17th century

(above photo © Sophie Atkinson)

WEST
Closed by night, Golders Hill Park contains a small zoo, tennis courts, lovely floral displays, a duck pond, water garden, and a separated area for deer.

(above photo © Carlos Baez) The pergola at Hill House Garden

NORTH
The northern border of the Heath abuts Kenwood House (Iveagh Bequest); a 17th century stately home.  Residing here still is the original art collection of Lord Iveagh; including a Rembrandt self-portrait, Van Dyck , Vermeer, William Turner…. Hopefully you are at a time to enjoy a  Lakeside Concert on the property’s grounds.

(above photo © Sophie Atkinson) Kenwood House

(above photo © Sophie Atkinson) Kenwood House

(above photo © Tony Hall) Wood Pond at Kenwood

(above photo © Laura Nolte)

(above photo © Laura Nolte)