Tudor Place - Reliving America's Story

 

Tudor Place is worth the visit if you're around the D.C. area, and love to learn about part of America's history.

It is also a house full of various impressive collections of various artifacts, antiques and many more and a garden - all rolled into one!

The visitor entrance is located at 1644 31st Street NW, Washington DC, between Q & R Streets. It's 2 blocks east of Wisconsin Ave. and a 20-minute walk from Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom or Rosslyn MetroRail stations.

Tudor Place is full of history, - from the estate house, to the family, the collections, the helpers and the garden. This home estate was owned by a couple, - Thomas Peter and Martha Custis, - the granddaughter of Martha Washington.

THE HOUSE:

It is considered as a house of architectural distinction owned by a single family for six generations. They hosted several famous figures who shaped American history like Pres. Andrew Jackson, John Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Robert E. Lee, and Marquis de Lafayette.

The house was designed by architect Dr. William Thornton, overlooking the Potomac River and port of Georgetown. Today, as a National Historic Landmark, it is considered as a premier example of American neoclassicism, - reflecting its full-round portico as a unique American residential architecture. 

Since it was completed in 1816, Tudor Place was owned by the Peter family until 1983.

THE COLLECTION:

Tudor Place contains an impressive collection of American, European and Asian items dating from the 18th-20th centuries. Currently, it holds more than 15,000 objects from fine decorative arts like 19th-20th century silver jewelries to daily household collections as well as architectural and archaeological collections.

This house turned museum also displays moret han 200 items belonging to Martha and George Washington.

THE GARDEN:

It includes an expansive historic gardens covering an area of 5.5 acres, preserved by the Peter family for over 2 centuries. The present garden used to be an agrarian estate, but now reflects a beautiful ornamental garden with centuries-old trees, beautiful plantings, fountains and sculptures.

The impressive landscape include green lawns, formal garden rooms, natural woodland, intricate Box Knot, English Boxwood Circle and antique roses.

DOMESTIC HELPERS:
The Peter family owned and inherited a lot of enslaved men, women and children, who served the family, tended the household, farmed and cultivated the garden.

Free African-Americans and European immigrants performed the same task between 19th-20th centuries.

The Monumental Zone - Park Guell

 One interesting place to visit while in Barcelona, Spain is Park Guell. This place has a lot of captivating work of arts, - mostly inspired by a collaborative work of the architect Antonio Gaudi, and Eusebi Guell, the lot owner.

Eusebi Guell originally bought this large property for the purpose of building an estate for well-off families. He acquired the property in a zone known as "Muntanya Pelada" (bare mountain), - which has an unbeatable view both of the sea and the plain of Barcelona. He planned and wanted to create British residential estates, the reason why he used the English form "Park" in the name, Park Guell.

Guell and Gaudi didn't only had a good business relationship but also genuine friendship. Guell entrusted Gaudi the plan of putting his artistic architectural creation as well as he undertook a profound urban=planning reflection for the park.

Park Guell construction began in 1900 and had a good progress in the first few years of the century. In 1914, Guell stopped the work due to some difficulties in plot acquisitions and lack of good transport.

After Guell's death, his heirs offered it to Barcelona City Council and was acquired in 1922, then opened it as a public park 4 years later.

Since then, it became a pole of attraction for visitors from all over the world, and the UNESCO declared it a Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 1984.

One of the attractive interiors and (exteriors) of the park is the Hypostyle Room. Its layout are dense colonnades lined in 3 columns of open spaces, - one larger at the center and 2 smaller ones, like the naves of the church.

Its ceilings are made of small domes using the Catalan vault technique, clad with tile shards and with soffits laid out like a keystone.

Just above the exterior of Hypostyle Room is the ceramic bench of the upper square. 

Just looking the entire Hypostyle room from the outside reflects a lot of classic architectural styles with impressive contrasts of shapes and colors on the upper square.

Marseille, France - Old & New

 There is a charm in visiting the oldest neighborhood of Marseille as you experience walking on a picturesque little streets and squares to craft workshops, shops and museums.

Marseille is considered to be the oldest city of France which dates back in 600 BC. In the old days, it used to be the gateway to the Mediterranean. Nowadays, it's the gateway to the scenic region of Provence.

Provence are rich with villages infused with aromas of lavender, outdoor cafes and freshly baked bread it is considered to be truly magical and inspirational. Olive groves, vineyards and flower fields fill the countryside which makes one becomes dreamy just like as described on a canvas.

La Canebiere

Hotel Dieu

Cathedral La Major

Mucem Museum

The Museum of the Bible (Washington D.C.)

 

The museum opened its doors to the public on November 17, 2017, expanding to a 430,000 sq. ft. museum of the Bible. Its vast area provides guests with an immersive and a well-personalized experience as they explore the narrative history and impact of the Bible.

The museum is also considered to give its guests unparalleled experiences by using cutting-edge technology to bring the Bible to life. It will span time, space and cultures, inviting everyone to engage with the Bible. It is a world-class museum that shows amazing features such as;

The 40-feet tall bronze doors at the entrance.

A rooftop Biblical garden.

A 150-feet long LED ceiling displays of biblical art and scenes; - and everything in between.

Visitors can enjoy their lunch at the Milk & Honey Cafe, featuring a grab-and-go type of food like salads and sandwiches. The Manna Restaurant also offers Mediterranean, fast-casual style food.

Visiting Highlights:

1. The History Floor -  exhibits of greatest discoveries associated with Biblical text, which includes some of the earliest known writings which date to the time traditionally associated with Abraham. Other artifacts can be seen such as dead Sea scroll fragments, some-early known New testament writings, numerous historical manuscripts and first-edition Bibles.

2. The Narrative Floor - encompasses 50,000 sq. ft., telling the stories of the Bible. It will connect 21st century audiences to the Bible by taking them on a journey, inviting them to be a part of its stories.

3. The Impact Floor - the Bible's immense influence is fully expressed in this area,-not only on cultures and aspects of civilization, but on the lives of individuals as well. Topics covered are the Bible's influence on the arts, science, government, education, family, pop culture and American history.

There are other attractions available as well such as walk-throughs, theater shows (with tickets, but some are free). 

Please note that shows and exhibits are being updated and different at times.

A Longwood Christmas a' la Francaise!

 

It has been few years ago when Longwood Gardens celebrated Christmas with a French-inspired holiday display...every time we see the photos we took, we feel so nostalgic. (This was our visit in 2017).

The gardens were decorated with a French royalty-inspired floral symbols such as fanciful topiaries, ornate mirrors, imaginative wreaths and sparkling crystal ornaments on more than 50 trimmed trees.

My favorite was the intricate mosaic in the grand tradition of a French parterre garden at the Fern Floor Exhibition Hall inside the Conservatory!

The green apples and gold walnuts go perfectly together and arranged in a pathway design that lead towards the fountain at the center, while apples and cranberries arranged in symmetrical flanking spaces create an abstracted fleur-de-lis patterns on the floor. The sunken floor where the fruits was arranged helps people to appreciate the design best seeing it from above angle.

A Christmas tree near the green wall shimmers in reds and golds. Hanging close to the tree on a wall is a Eucalyptus wreath with yellow sugared fruit.

The Music Room is decoratively inspired with "The Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, France. 

At the outdoor patio extends the grand and festive view of the Music Room, with arc-dried branches.

Eucalyptus garlands which also hang on the wall leading to the Potting Shed is a living fleur-de-lis wreathe decorated with yellow kalanchoe, bird's nest fern and red ribbon.

At night, outdoor light displays become a wonderland of a half million lights making the gardens so magnificent!

Organ sing-alongs are fun way to enjoy Christmas at the Conservatory Music Room. It's also a good resting place to sit and enjoy the Christmas carols with all the others singing with the pianist! Songs are family-friendly holiday sing alongs (the traditional way) as the Longwood organ music fills the air! 

Here is the sample: :)

Longwood Organ and Me: 

This is the Longwood Organ at the Music Room in the Conservatory composed of  10,010 pipes divided into 146 ranks. It is considered to be the largest Aeolian organ ever constructed in a residential setting. In 1930, this became as a replacement from the original organ with a much larger, custom-designed Aeolian model that remains in the Conservatory up to this day. It took 7 years to restore this organ back t its 1930 original state beginning in 2004; - completely rewired, repainted, releathered and refurbished!

"A Christmas Carol" at the Majestic Theater

 

It was such a great experience and opportunity to watch this adaptation called "A Christmas Carol" at Totem Pole Playhouse which simply tells the redemption of the human soul as well as preserves the beautiful language, charm and humor of Charles Dickens' classic tale.

The setting was in Victorian England and was about the story of the miserly old Ebenezer Scrooge visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, who informs him that he will be visited by 3 spirits! The ghosts of Christmas past, present and Christmas yet to come. As Scrooge meets these specters, he learned a great deal from his past and present glimpses on what the future is to be.

There were more than 40 actors, singers and dancers who brought Dickens' story into life accompanied by music with good humor, as the giant pop-up book of a backdrop opens so that all who see this play will discover the true magic of the holiday season!

with one of the characters...

Me and husband about to watch the show

Shriver House Museum Tour

 

This tour is full of history as you travel back in time during the 18th century while you learn the civilian life of the Shrivers family during the Battle of Gettysburg and its effects. 

You will get the chance to visit and witness this meticulously restored 1860 home.

Our tour was in December, so we also were able to see christmas decors in the 18th century and heard about the family's life during Christmas.

It's also a tour where you will learn how the family was affected during the Battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War. 

The house is located in Baltimore St., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Some of the photos inside the house: