Rhine River cruise #3

New Art: 

Remember, you should be able to enlarge the photos by clicking on.

Untitled. This is the first time I painted a piece specifically for a show. It is juried so I won't know if I am accepted until September 25. It will be at the Alliance For The Arts in Fort Myers. The theme is Die de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). 16" x 20" oil on canvas board. The categories will include sculpture, painting, photography, prints, and drawings. I had to research what is celebrated in Mexico, South America and parts of the US. The use of symbols, family ties, etc.  I decided to try a collage approach rather than one view. We shall see.

Art Purchased:

 This is an oil by Doug Michalski, a fellow member of Punta Gorda's Visual Arts Center, unique style. Former art school teacher.

Lemon Bay Garden Club

Humor:

























Listening To:
While painting this week, listening to Chris Botti - Regroovable and the album Italia; Phoebe Snow - enjoyed the words to Poetry Man and the whole package of McCartney's Every Night. I like it more than his version. Tonight I just want to stay in...and be with you.

Cruise - Xanten, Duisburg, Dusseldorf:

The path we took is below. Next up will be Cologne, Engers, Koblenz, and the Rhine Gorge where we cruised past about 18 castles. As I will mention later, we did not dock in Wiesbaden, but closer to  Frankfurt in Mainz

Xanten is a small town founded by Romans in 15 BC. This was the first time I noticed that they have to clarify BC or AD, in the US we don't have to worry about that, do we? Primary site is an archeological park. It was somewhat disappointing in that only the foundations are the real thing - all structures are recreated guesses. And, it was the hottest day - an elderly couple from Bristol had to bail as his pacemaker was set off from the heat. Some enjoyed a bike tour along the river. In the evening we returned to the town for a Lantern Tour with a Night Watchman...some duplication from the afternoon but a heck of a lot cooler. 

Some have asked about the ship. This is the info we received when we boarded. While it will accommodate 138 passengers, we only had 98, which made for enjoyable spacing, whether at dinner, in the lounge or boarding the ship after a land excursion. Low water levels are a problem in the summer months. We had to take an abnormal route from Amsterdam's harbor to the Rhine river, using a lock system. At one point we had approximately 14" clearance. I was told that a cruise on the Danube had to dock and convert to motor coach. The crew was mostly from Romania and Slovakia; The cruise director from Italy.

Avalon Felicity

Residence near the cathedral

Restaurant at the dock as you head in to town

Across the drive from the other residence.

This is their cathedral, restored from WWII

Duisburg:

Here I joined a group for a several mile hike around recovered lands from coal mines. The photo is at the top of a viewing tower. The Zollverein coal mine is the last coal mine in Germany. They are closing this fall as the mine is too deep to work, they will start importing coal from...Australia. Yykes. Much of Europe's steel is produced here. After the hike we were treated to a 45 minute motor coach view of the city. Linda took a separate culinary walk in the heart of the city.

Dusseldorf:

 Only a short distance up river, this is a more vibrant city. The waterfront is active and accessible. We took a hour, hour and half walk around, along the waterfront, into the high-end shopping district, through the city park and back to the ship. We were graced by a visit from our Au Pair, Claudia. She watched the boys when we lived in Maryland outside of DC. She now lives in Munster and has three children of her own. Great visit on board. Best part of the trip. 

Waterfront walking away from the ship

Across the Rhine from the dock and downtown

Behind these buildings is the shopping district

Several buildings had cut-outs with greenery

Photo by Linda; bubble man drew quite a crowd.

Amsterdam Into Germany on the Rhine River

Amsterdam Into Germany on the Rhine:
Remember, you can click on the photos to enlarge.

Amsterdam waterfront from our hotel at dusk

This photo did not capture the magic of its lighting

Iconic "Night Watch" by Mr R. in the Rijks

We took a ride through the countryside, about 30 minutes, to see the windmills. Some still work grinding paint colors for artists and grain. They also make cheese there. I purchased a type of cheddar with a slight, gentle orange after-taste. Very good. It was important to understand the canal system (Miami take note as the sea level rises) and the culture that still inhabits this area. A minor hi light - low lite was the taxi attempting to shortcut the turn into the parking lot as the motor coach made its necessary wide right turn. Approximately 100 cell phones came out to take photos of the damage to the vehicles and the ensuing discussion between the drivers. The motor coach won this battle by the way. 

Museums Visited:

The Sted (Impressionists to today) was my favorite; The Van Gogh was magical, The Rijks was a little disappointing only that it had limited 20th century art; however, it had more than paintings, including some intricate veneered tables and chests, a wonderful library, porceline, and the just sheer volume of works. Nice garden also. 

It's garden

The Rijks

I call this statue "The Naughty Jesus"

We enjoyed a canal tour and walking tour in Amsterdam:

These parked house boats cost in excess of $500,000 and they pay a high rent to dock. 

Typical canal shot

Notice the wavy windows? A sinking feeling.

Not so enjoyable but necessary: 

The Stumbling Stones project is relatively new; it marks the last residence of known Jews who were rounded up to transport to their death at a concentration camp. They are approximately 1/4" thick above the paving stones. Most are in the Jewish quarter/market area. It is an on-going project as information becomes available.

Stumbling Stones Project

Anna Frank house on the left

In closing, some photos of my illegal garden between the condo grounds and the nature preserve - can't help myself. Next blog will cover the overall trip agenda, info on the boat, and stops in Xanten, Duisburg and Dusseldorf. Cologne and Koblenz will probably have their own page before finishing up with the castles on the Rhine, smaller towns, a castle tour, and then finishing up with our day in Frankfurt from where we flew back to The States. 

Backyard summer flowers:

Back In The States

Art Updates:

You can click on the photos and they will enlarge for you, or you can pinch them open if viewing on your phone.

If you remember from a past post, I purchased what turned out to be 9 paintings from the guy who claims to paint 100 per day. For $70, including S & H, he chose the selections. I decided to hang them outside facing the pool since they are on plywood. I varnished them and here they are. 

This month I submitted the Chatahootchie River II oil in the August Members show at The Alliance For The Arts in Fort Myers, and Sunrise Poolside in the August show at Bonita Springs Center For The Arts. You can see those in the last post or two.

Working on one piece for an Alliance show in October. I have never created a piece for a specific show. Working under pressure is supposed to make me grow - we'll see. And, now that I have many, many photos and thoughts from the trip, I need to start putting ideas to paper. 

Weather Report:

You might have heard about the baseball size hail that fell in Colorado Springs while we were on the trip. This is a picture of some damage at Fort Carson:

And Now The Trip:

If you remember, we flew to Amsterdam, purchased several extra nights, and then boarded the Avalon Felicity to cruise up (south) the Rhine River to Mainz, which is a bedroom community for Frankfurt. The Big Money cruisers kept going to Basel or Budapest; some flew or drove to Munich, Berlin, or back to Amsterdam. It was a relaxing pace and nice to not have to change hotel rooms. We took advantage of many side excursions, saw a special person in Germany, and met some interesting cruisers. Linda's brother and his wife joined us. Food was too good and plentiful - I gained 8 pounds in 11 days. So far I have lost 5 of those. I thought I would feature a portion of the trip this week and add more in my next blog. 

Fresh off the plane, a local coffee shop with Dutch Pancakes

View from the shop

Train station at the harbor

Above photo taken from the tower on left side of this photo

Van Gogh, last work on my exit

Along the Amstal River

Along the river

Avalon Felicity

Coming and Going, a little new art

Humor: Starting off with some fun stuff...

Apparently grading has gotten easier

She said, only five more years Abe

Poor Al

New art:  Completed today. Oil on canvas board, 20 x 16, Chatahootchie River II is a slightly different view of the river that I showed in my last blog, which was done in gouache. 

Old Art: Showed this to you in the June blog, won People's Choice First Place in the July show at Art League of Fort Myers. The PEOPLE love me!!!! All three of them.

Blog Update: Before I go into my travels and visits...

Many of you had difficulty viewing or pulling my last blog sent in June. European Union internet rules caused Google to change the sending protocol, it asked if you want to receive my mailing. IF you said you wanted to subscribe, there was a paragraph which included a blue link which should have taken you to this blog. If you missed the June blog, go look at it, as it had some good art and updates on family life, etc. Since it may not work again, I will email this to most of you. If you are in the blog you can click on the photos and they will expand for you. You can always go directly for the superior view and layout:

claudelylesartworks.blogspot.com

Recently, I sold my first two art pieces for 2018. If you have an interest in something, contact me and we can discuss price, shipping, framing, etc. Selection is on my web page: claudelylesartworks.com. If you view on your phone, the "hamburger" box in the upper left corner will open the viewing options for you. Some of the pieces you will view have been sold.

Travels: Future - Thursday we are heading to Amsterdam and a Rhine River cruise. Two highlights: a stop in Koblenz Germany from where my father's mother's family - Heidger - came to Illinois in the 1850's. I wonder what they thought when the War Between the States broke out shortly afterwards?

And, at another stop, we will meet up with the boys' Au Pair, Claudia, from Germany; about 26 years ago.  She now lives in Munster and has children of her own. Really looking to that. 

Travels: Past - So, last October my Western Road Trip was cancelled when Irma hit Florida and my flight was cancelled. Greg was moving his stuff from Armor School at Fort Benning, GA to his new post in Colorado Springs, Fort Carson, so I flew to San Antonio and met him. Saw a couple who Linda and I met on our last (only second) cruise. We had breakfast in a local diner in New Braunfels, TX. We then drove Greg's new Ram pickup and pulled a 20' trailer north. Visited a friend of his in OK City; then through the tumbleweed via Clayton, NM across Raton Pass into The Springs where we have relatives and the Meyer family cabin on Cheyenne Mountain. Greg will enjoy the next couple of years there when he isn't "working" around the globe. Unloaded his stuff, set up house and we drove north, again, to my brother's place in Estes Park.

The Alamo

Greg dropped me off in Denver where I stayed with good friends, Jim and Tina, and entered into a horrible customer service episode with Hertz. I intended to drive across Kansas to STL stopping in KC, but that wasn't going to happen (even though I had a reservation - 4 people asked me if I saw the Seinfeld episode, and no I did not). At Greg's suggestion I flew to KC using Southwest Airlines, rented a car there, flew to STL and rented a car there, and saved almost $500 since there was no car rental drop charge. Several days in STL let me catch up with Dominic, eat some good pasta, and visit (follow me here) with former neighbors, Don and Vicky who moved to Austin, but were helping their daughter in Decatur, IL so Don and I met in Litchfield, IL for a luncheon; and now they are heading back to Austin - I must have driven right by their house a week earlier.

Thompson River in Estes

from City Park, Denver

Photo proof that I really made the trip. It was fun to catch up with my friends and family (had a great photo taken at Pasta House of my sisters but they won't let me post it). Sorry, no photo of Don's 34 acres north of Blue Springs, MO, 8 goats, three horses, tractors, boxes of Romance Novels, and three coolers around the pool. 2 Hours quickly turned into 4. Grabbed a latte with Chandler at Art St Louis where I served on their Board. Stopped in at the Cardinal's office to see someone. Lunch with Scot at Sportsman's Park. Breakfast with Al; dinner with a former banking client at Bristols; my first Uber ride after dinner with Bill and Marj Soldan; dinner at the new Savoy Hotel with recently retired Joan; and lots of catching up with former UMB buddy and great Mizzou Fan, Bob; and beverages with another banking buddy, Jim, at Schneithorst's. I am sounding like Jerry Burger, yikes. Glad to be back in Florida and looking forward to showing more art and reporting on our upcoming trip.  Still need to re-plan my Eastern Road trip. 

Wonderful guest suite at Joan's condo

   

 Is this Seville Spain or Kansas City? Hint is below, my favorite BBQ establishment. Yes, that is a Strawberry soda, or as they call it in New Orleans - a Red soda. Seville has a Kansas City Blvd by the way.

Cardinal office display case

Current exhibit at ASL