Lisbon's Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Museu Colecao Berardo)

During our week in Lisbon, we spent a day at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.  It was time well spent.  We take the tram from downtown and are there in about 30-minutes.  The Lisbon public transportation system is a modern marvel that combines Trains, Subways, Trams, and Buses to create a seamless modern way to get to any part of the city.  Do not rent a car while here; it's a waste of money.   

The museum was full of world-renowned modern works.  We lucked out the museums are free on Saturday in Lisbon.  The large modern building is a marvel yet seems out of place across the street from the Gothic Buildings of the Jerónimos Monastery and National Archeological Museum.   It is a  huge contrast to the other buildings in the area.  

The building is a multi-floor event comprising exhibits on 3 floors and in the basement.  Walking into the museum, you can start on the 3rd floor and work your way down.  The first three floors are full of painting and sculpture exhibits, and in the basement are the art installations.  

The highlight of the visit was the exhibit dedicated to the study of Cubism that Pablo Picasso started, along with the other artists he inspired.  On the first floor, Cubism is an avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture.  Several artists' works are exhibited here.

"The movement was pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque and joined by Jean Metzinger, Albert Gleizes, Robert Delaunay, Henri Le Fauconnier, Juan Gris, and FernanCubismr. One primary influence that led to Cubism was the representation of three-dimensional form in the late works of Paul Cézanne."

The second floor had an Andy Warhol display with his "Judy Garland" painting and his " Ten-foot Flowers" painting.   Then there was his stack of "Brillo Boxes," along with other Warhol masterworks.

There were temporary exhibits on the third and fourth floors displaying minimalist installations.  Seeing works by Jackson Pollack was a bonus.  These large works consumed space that was thought-provoking to take in.

Lisbon's Museu Coleção Berardo, Portugal's main Modern and Contemporary Art Museum, is a must-see.  After visiting the museum, we take the tram back downtown to our AirB&B.  Our hearts are now full of this art and this culture.  It was a good day to be in Lisbon.  

The Mythical Greek Island of Delos

 

One of the most unique places I've traveled to is the Island of Delos.  It was once a large city and the spiritual capital of the Greek Islands.  It is also one of the world's largest and oldest archaeological digs, started in 1870 by the French.  The Delos island near Mykonos is one of Greece's most important mythological and historical sites.  4000 years ago, this was their spiritual center, which can be compared to the Vatican for Catholics.  

"Delos had a position as a holy sanctuary for a millennium before Olympian Greek mythology made it the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.  In 1990, UNESCO inscribed Delos on the World Heritage List, citing it as the "exceptionally extensive and rich" archaeological site that "conveys the image of a great cosmopolitan Mediterranean port."

Our cruise ship stopped in Mykonos, where we were tendered to shore to catch a tour boat to Delos.  The tour boat was over 50' long and was comfortable with a snack bar.  We ride outside, sitting on seats on the gangway on the ship's side.  It's a short sail from Mykonos to Delos, about 30 minutes.   

We land right at the Park entrance.  Once at Delos, we are divided into groups and were assigned a tour guide.  The tour guide was indispensable in viewing the Island ruins and relics.  He explained everything in great detail.  We first walk through the sacred precinct to the Terrace of the Lions.  The Sacred Precinct is a large area filled with temples and alters from thousands of years of worship.  The Terrace of the Lions, also called the Avenue of the Lions, overlooks the Sacred Lake. 

After this, we walked through the shopping and residential district.  Including the House of the Dolphins, a mosaic depicting the Phoenician goddess Tanit indicates that Delos also functioned as a meeting place of cultures and beliefs.  We then walked through the House of Cleopatra.  Many houses had incredible floor mosaics which were in the process of being unearthed. 

The theater was an important part of the cultural life of the island.  The ancient theater could hold up to 5,000 people.  We got to sit in the seats and imagine what it was like to be there during that time.   They were the privileged few who, at that time, considered themselves living with the Gods of Greek Mythology. 

Sitting in the theater, we could see the abandoned ancient city with the Ocean in the background.   It was strange, but you could feel the history.  We were definitely caught up in the moment.  Our time on the tour had come to an end. So we headed back through the city to board our tour boat for the 30-minute trip back to Mykonos.  

God Bless the Queen, God Save the King

During my Army and Government Contractor Career, I have spent some time with British Soldiers and contractors. Their love for the Queen was always there, worn on their shoulders for all the world to see. I remember a few fights breaking out over perceived insults of the Queen.

One time early in my career, at an international leapfest for paratroopers, I made a light-hearted joke about the Queen and the American revolution. It didn’t go over very well, creating scowls and faces of disgust. Taken aside by a contemporary, it was explained to me the etiquette I had broken. We don’t joke about the Queen.

It was like talking bad about someone’s mother but much worse. Their love was always evident, especially during the queen’s birthday, celebrated around the world, which I’ve had the honor to participate in a couple times.

Since then, I developed a fascination with the Queen and the British Monarchy. A few years ago we visited England. I had made a mistake on our Airbnb reservation in Chelsea. Our flight arrived a day before we could get into our flat. So I made a reservation at a small hotel across the street from Windsor Castle to kill time. It was one of those situations where we were glad that it happened, getting to tour the castle the next day.

This morning I was watching the news with the queen's grandsons, William and Harry, with their wives greeting the crowd outside of Windsor Castle. For a second, I caught a glimpse of the window of the room that we stayed in. Thinking to myself about how ordinary the Royal family really is.

Even with all the scandals laid bare in the newspapers and petty family bickering, now grieving for a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. This is really what makes the monarchy special. The people of Great Britain and the Commonwealth nations see themself in the Royal Family. This intertwinement is what makes them British.