It’s one year since I went on the previous People’s Vote march. Like last year, it was a civilised day. It demonstrated the best of British across generations: open, inclusive, eccentric, good-natured, humorous, and general friendliness. After the march, we decided to walk across the river for tea and snacks at the Royal Festival Hall. … Continue reading / view photos People’s Vote march (again)
Category: Culture
Chicago Art Institute
The Art Institute of Chicago is the second largest art museum in the US, after the humongous Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. The Art Institute has everything from African art to Textiles. You could spend days there. I spent so long in the many galleries that, with about 90 minutes to closing time, I … Continue reading / view photos Chicago Art Institute
Pilsen
My second walking tour with the hostel was to see the street art in Pilsen. It was a trial run for our volunteer guide. She had never taken a group before but she wanted to share with others the art in the area. On the tour, a couple told me that they had gone to … Continue reading / view photos Pilsen
Truth is life
Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain. Frank Lloyd Wright It’s strange that someone born in the 19th century, who lived some of his adult life without electricity, went on to … Continue reading / view photos Truth is life
First impressions of the Windy City
I was less ignorant of Chicago than I might have been. A friend had advised me to read Michelle Obama’s autobiography before I got to Chicago. I did. The book, especially the first third, describes Michelle Obama’s childhood in Chicago. When you arrive at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, you’re greeted by flags from all over … Continue reading / view photos First impressions of the Windy City
Bill Gates could have been Mexican
I learnt at the Bullock Texas State History Museum that Texas was once part of Mexico, then its own country, and eventually joined the United States in 1845. It’s also difficult to imagine the US without Silicon Valley. California was also part of Mexico. And whilst I knew that the US had purchased Alaska from … Continue reading / view photos Bill Gates could have been Mexican
Austin Central Library
Despite being the home of capitalism, the US has some of the finest free libraries in the world. One of them is Austin Central Library. Spacious, welcoming, and thoughtfully designed, the library was opened in 2017. It’s at the heart of the community and a sanctuary for anyone who wants to escape the outside heat … Continue reading / view photos Austin Central Library
4 July
Whilst planning other places to visit in San Francisco, I wondered where to spend 4 July. In the end, I opted for Austin even though I’d heard the celebrations in Chicago were something special. As it turned out, given what happened in Chicago, I was glad I was in Austin on the 4 July. One … Continue reading / view photos 4 July
Austin murals
Austin is famous for its street art – or murals, as Austinites call them. The murals are colourful and everywhere. Also famous are the many food trucks. I’d not heard of the term until I went to Austin. They’re just motorized vehicles, such as vans, equipped to make and sell food. I suppose the British … Continue reading / view photos Austin murals
Keep it weird
Even before I went to Austin, I was regularly listening over the internet to KUTX 98.9, an Austin-based radio station. I found it about a year ago when I couldn’t find any British radio station that I liked. I wanted to listen to random, eclectic, indie/alternative/rock music. A search on the internet suggested KUTX and … Continue reading / view photos Keep it weird