Category: Architecture

Accommodations, Architecture, ART, Attractions, Cruising, Decorative Arts, DESTINATIONS, Gardens, International, Memory Keeping, Restaurants & Bars, Shore Excursions, TRAVEL

Winter Tourists Traipsing Through a Sleepy Rhodes Town

Jane Sadek

MAKING MEMORIES: STROLLING UP & DOWN LANES OF HISTORY

Welcome to our mid-winter cruise in the Aegean Sea. The weather kept us from lolling around on sun swept beaches, but it also gave us the opportunity to enjoy a very relaxed day in Rhodes Town. I can only imagine what it’s like when the harbor is full of cruise boats. Tourists would be spilling out in every direction, clogging the streets and trudging in all directions. Instead, our group of perhaps 30 passengers leisurely strolled the empty streets enjoying an idyllic day in an iconic port. Come join us. You’ll love it!

A Perfect Beginning for a Perfect Cruise Day

Since our tour didn’t start until 11:30, Bill and I dressed for the gym and headed to The Restaurant for a sit down breakfast. From there we spent some time in the gym and then rewarded ourselves with a visit to the spa.

I have to tell you the free spa access on Viking ocean-going cruises has to be one of the best things about the experience. Earlier in the year we’d been on Royal Caribbean, where you had to pay for the privilege of hanging out in the spa and the facilities weren’t all that inviting. The Viking spa was spacious, pristine and well-appointed, yet it was free. Of course, you had to pay for specific services like facials, massages and such, but all passengers are invited to relax in Viking’s hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas. For the brave there are cold plunges and I’ve already mentioned the heated chaise lounges which were my favorites.

There were three hot tubs in the main room of the spa. Two were small round spas, much like you’re used to seeing at a hotel or perhaps in someone’s backyard, but the third was the size of a swimming pool. Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia had something similar, but it didn’t have the seating bars we loved there on Viking. At the end of the spa pool, near the large fireplace, the spa was equipped with a generous set of bars designed to be a sort of couch to sit on in the water. I’m probably not making it sound as wonderful as it was, but we loved it!

Rhodes Town Walk

It was glorious weather! My pullover sweater and jeans were perfect for a day of walking through a beautiful town. We met our guide steps away from the ship and she led us into town through a small gate. One of the first things we saw were the ruins of a splendid church. Then we reached the town center which was quaint and uncrowded. The most predominant population on the streets were cats!

Many shops don’t even bother opening for winter tourists. There were two ships in the harbor, but I think most people had opted for a bus tour to the other side of the island which had Roman ruins. With few exceptions, we were the only ones visiting on this sunny Tuesday.

Our guide was perfect – maybe not on par with Maria in Athens. She set the bar very high. But this lady was pleasant and informative, without wearing us out with the sound of her voice – a situation we would face the next two days. We didn’t realize how good we had it in Rhodes!

Wandering through the nearly empty streets our guide summarized the history of the town, from the days it was a mighty port guarded by one of the Eight Wonders of the Ancient World. As the great Greek and Roman Empires faded away, the Crusades became the primary activity of the Mediterranean and a great Crusader Castle was built on its heights.

We went to what was now called the Crusader Castle, but it wasn’t a relic of the Knights Templar or any other Crusader Army. It had been built in modern times to look like what Mussolini and his gang thought a Crusader Castle should look like. That was a little disappointing, but I can tell you they did a much better job than the Soviets in Bratislava, Slovakia. We went to that “castle” and it was laughable – a concrete shell on a hill for long distant filming. While not authentic, Rhodes Crusader Castle did have the look and feel of an ancient castle. They’d even incorporated relics from those days in the castle’s rooms, so it was probably worth the visit. And what else were we going to do on a lovely day in a lovely town. I’m so glad we strolling through this little town, rather than hustling across the island in tour buses.

Back to the Boat

Once we’d toured the castle, our guide bid us farewell and suggested what streets to visit on our way back to the boat. We were enchanted by the whole thing, but most especially those cats. So far the cruise had not offered many shopping opportunities and even though many of the merchants chose not to open on this particular day, there were a few who did.

I adored this huge sunhat and had I been on my own, it would have probably come home with me, but Bill was appalled at both its size and its price. Further down the street, I was pulled to aside by the look of some very unique necklaces. Chatting with the proprietor of the jewelry store I discovered the necklaces were the work of a designer they’d been working with for 40 years, but she thought it was his best designs, yet.

The price seemed very fair to me, compared to what I’d pay for comparable merchandise in Dallas, so I saw no need to haggle, but the the proprietor haggled for me. As soon as I began to pick up the necklaces and compare them, each one was unique, she named a different price than was on the tag. I told her I was shopping for three of my very good friends and the price went down again. If I’d paid with cash, I could have gotten even more off, but I hadn’t gotten any Greek money and I’d left my dollars on the boat, so she gave me another discount, somewhere between the 3 necklace price and the cash price. I wonder if she ever figured out I would have gladly paid what was on the tag!

This reminded me of a shopping trip in the Caribbean. My bestie and I made a morning of claiming those free trinkets they offer up in port cities to lure you in to jewelry shops. When they asked what I wanted, I would say aquamarine earrings set in yellow gold, because no one ever has those – and then someone did. The original price was very fair, but above the amount I will pay without Bill’s blessing. The salesperson bargained themselves down to almost a third of the original price and Deb insisted I was getting them. She’d pay half and I’d pay half to stay below Bill’s limit. Had I actually been prepared to get the earrings that day, instead of just tossing off a combination I thought they wouldn’t have, I would have paid full price – gladly!

Shopping done, we headed through the gate above to stroll along the shore as we made our way back to the ship. It was time for the Port Talk, so we went to see what Ephesus would be like. I stayed for a future cruise talk and after dressing for dinner, we took in the history lecture. The same guy who made the Greeks boring, also managed to make the Ottoman Empire boring.

For dinner, we went to Manifredi’s the ships Italian specialty restaurant. It was delicious, but too much wine put me right to sleep. Come back tomorrow and let’s go to Ephesus.

Architecture, ART, Attractions, Cruising, Decorative Arts, DESTINATIONS, International, Memory Keeping, Museums, Shore Excursions, TRAVEL

A Crazy Day in Crete

Jane Sadek

MAKING MEMORIES: WHEN YOUR GUIDE IS LESS THAN THE BEST

Our visit to Athens had been perfect and the fun continued into the evening, though our kitty cat did give a little long distance scare. Our day in Crete was designed to be a little more laid back, because our tour was not until that afternoon. Unfortunately, our guide did not meet the high standards Maria had set in Athens. Come find out why!

A Lazy Morning Aboard the Vela

At home in Heath, I wake up around 5 AM. That practice has been with me for decades, long before our cat, Rascal decided he was my alarm clock and perhaps if he wakes me up before 5, I’ll go ahead and feed him – NOT! On the Vela, I woke up at 8. I knew I should probably go to the gym, but instead I picked up my book and read until Bill woke up hungry.

I wasn’t really in a breakfast mood, so I went with Bill to the World Cafe and ate one of the breakfast bars I had brought along, while he browsed the buffet. From there we went to the spa area and Bill did a quick workout, while I enjoyed one of the amazing heated chaise lounges in the spa.

We got ready for the tour and I was hungry for lunch, but Bill wasn’t after his big breakfast, so I went on my own and had some delicious beef bourguignon. There was even a delicious gf dessert with chocolate and cherries.

Tour Time

Bill has an uncanny ability to read people from just a glance. I was excited about our tour to the Heraklion Archeological Museum, but Bill sensed immediately trouble was ahead. We soon discovered he was right. Along with the museum, this shore excursion included a walking tour of the city, so we were a little concerned when a wheel-chairbound passenger was brought aboard. So was our guide.

In the most polite terms possible, our guide explained the ancient city of Heraklion was not handicap accessible. The husband and son asked a few questions and then announced they’d handle it. The guide tried again to explain the difficulties, but they were having none of it.

So, our guide started the tour and did a short spiel about his island, which he proceeded to repeat over and over again in various iterations throughout the rest of the tour. The whole wheelchair thing was not really his doing, but before the day was over we were totally done with him!

The Heraklion Archeological Museum

I loved this museum. Before we got out of the lobby of it, I figured out we had already heard everything the guide had to say about his island. So, while I stayed within earshot of him to avoid getting lost, I took in the displays at my own pace and depended on my own knowledge of the Mycenean civilization, which was apparently more comprehensive than his. I didn’t find it necessary to display my total disdain for him.

Bill on the other hand found this an impossible endeavor. For one thing he was incredibly irritated by everything about this guy, from the timbre of his voice to his monotonous dialog to his attitude towards the participants of the shore excursion. For another he knew absolutely nothing about the Mycenean civilization. In protest, Bill turned off his headset and sat in the chairs provided against the wall in whatever gallery I was enjoying.

My favorite moment in the museum was when I saw the two statuettes in the center of the left page above. I have been looking at these ladies in photos for over five decades now. I am fascinate by the place and the time they lived in. Seeing them was a best among bests experience on this cruise.

When our time in the museum was over the trouble began. Our guide abandoned the rest of us on the patio of the museum to take the lady in the wheelchair and her family to a restaurant many blocks away, where a bus would pick them up and take them back to the boat. Now we knew this guy was more than a disappointment. He was an idiot.

When he finally got back, one woman was frantic, because her husband had disappeared some time while she was in the museum. Several other people had wandered off to do some exploring on their own while the guide escorted the family to the bus stop.

He should never have abandoned all of us for a group he’d warned not to come. He should have called either the boat or his tour company, gotten some help with the family and taken the rest of us on our walking tour. I know he could have made that call, because later he had to, because he lost another one of his charges later on.

He abandoned us again, to go look for the missing husband and thankfully found him. About the time the husband showed up, the other people who had wandered off reappeared and we headed off on our walking tour.

The Walking Tour

Gathering up his charges, our guide took us to one of those “You-Are-Here” signs on the edge of a shopping area. He explained several times where we were in relation to the bus (parked catty corner to the museum), and the sign we were looking at. Then he trotted off, telling us to hurry up, because we didn’t have much time.

At the end of a passageway, he came to a famous fountain on a square. This is where he should have stopped and released us to have some free time. He also should have stayed RIGHT THERE to lead us back to the bus.

Instead, after giving us a few moments at the fountain, he headed off to the right and started giving options about beaches, walking back to the boat, sites to visit and the shopping area. He walked us back to the fountain and headed back to the bus, telling us when we had to show up there, which was only about 15 minutes from that moment.

One lady in particular was totally freaked out about finding her way to the bus. Instead of saying, then come with me now, he spent another five minutes giving her direction before he disappeared.

I was ready to follow him back to the bus, but Mr. Bill wanted to do a little exploring. We actually did see a great little shop and bought a gift for our traumatized pet sitter, but then we had to head back. I have a pretty good sense of direction, but even I got a little lost on the way back to the bus. I only missed the parking lot by about a block and when I got back to the street with the museum, knew exactly where to go. We were on time.

Remember the frantic lady? Well, she never showed up. He went out searching for her and returned alone. He finally called his tour agency and let them know he’d lost a patron. He rode the bus back with us to the ship, but few, if any, were stopping to give him a tip. Most of us were livid. I marked it up to the adventures of traveling. Bill was among the livid.

Thankfully, as we walked away, another bus showed up and the missing lady was on it. I guess all’s well that ends well, but with a different guide, it might have been one of the most awesome tours on the cruise. With him it wasn’t.

The next day the ship pulled into Rhodes and we had a much more pleasant day. I hope you’ll come back next week and enjoy it with me.

Accommodations, Architecture, ART, Attractions, Cruising, DESTINATIONS, International, Memory Keeping, Museums, Photography, Restaurants & Bars, Shore Excursions, TRAVEL

Athens and the Acropolis

Jane Sadek

MAKING MEMORIES: A MARVELOUS DAY OF TOURING

Let the fun begin! We’d arrived in our first Port of Call and it was almost a perfect day. Come along and enjoy it with us.

Getting with the Routine

We needed to board our tour bus at 8:15, so I was up at six. I woke Bill an hour later. Then we navigated to the World Cafe Buffet for breakfast. The room was quite crowded, but we got our food and found a place to sit. The scenery as you can see above was out of this world. Left to his own devices, Bill would have spent the morning making the most of the buffet and taking photos. I encouraged him not to linger over breakfast and allowed him to take one photo, but then it was time to go to the bus.

The buses were close to the gangway and we knew right away we were going to love our guide, Maria. We were on our way, right on time through Piraeus Harbor, you see above. The streets of Athens were empty, but it was a Sunday morning, so we sat back and enjoyed what Maria had to say.

Up, Up and UP!

Before you could say Aristotle Onassis, we were being ushered out of the bus. We began our climb up the Acropolis. I’d been warned it was a treacherous climb, but I actually found it quite easy.

We climbed up one set of stairs to a big plaza. Maria talked a little bit about potty breaks and what to expect next. Then we headed up a series of terraced steps to another plaza. This was the last toilet facility for a while, so Maria gave us time to use the facilities, which I did not need. Bill was busy taking photos and I was enchanted by all the cats.

Soon Maria was gathering us all up again and we headed up another set of stairs and headed off to the ruins where a more ancient series of steps waited for us. This was the real beginning of the tour and where the Athenians themselves once entered the Acropolis to worship their Gods.

These steps were a little more treacherous than the others were, but there were hand rails and it was no trouble. At the top, was the Parthenon and Maria gave us the info we needed to appreciate what we were seeing. Then she sort of set us loose to enjoy the Acropolis at our leisure and told us to meet her back at Older Temple of Athena at a certain time.

I’m saying all this very matter-of-fact, but for me it was a bit surreal. Just the day before I had been battling the vagaries of modern air travel and here I was walking where the greats of history walked. And not just people from the early days of Athens, but all the luminaries of history, including the Romans, Turks and others who had visited this spot. It was a little unreal.

We enjoyed the photo opportunities and eventually Maria gathered all of us to walk us around the Older Temple of Athena. She told us about the Carytid Statues which held up the roof of the porch and walked around to the spot where Athena planted the first olive tree for Athens, winning the city over to herself, rather than the mighty Neptune. It was a giddy experience.

Escaping Through a Back Entrance

Maria led us to an exit which was much more humble than the Grand Propylaea which had led us to the Parthenon. As we headed down, she pointed out sites which I actually found more interesting than those atop the Acropolis, because they were unknown to me. I began to understand even more clearly why the Acropolis had been so important to the ancient Greeks.

On to the Acropolis Museum

Our next stop was spectacular. We were standing in front of the Acropolis Museum. As they dug down to build the foundation of the museum, they discovered fantastic archeological sites. Instead of destroying the ruins or abandoning the museum, they came up with a wonderful compromise which allowed both to co-exist. Archeologists still explore the ruins, while busload after busload of tourists enjoy the museum. At the entrance of the museum, you can see down into the ruins and at several spots within the museum, plexiglass floors allow you to peer into the past.

That is if you look down and it is hard to take the time to do so, because everything around you is so amazing. These are the real treasures of the Acropolis. What you see up the hill are wonderful replicas, which keep the actual treasures safe from the elements. I could use up all my superlatives and still not describe the excitement I felt to see these wonderful artifacts.

We wandered with wonder through gallery after gallery and eventually ended up in the gallery for the Elgin Marbles. There Maria told us the trick Lord Elgin had played on the Sultan in Istanbul, which landed these glorious statues in the British Museum. As a reverse of the other exhibits, these were the fakes and Britain is holding the real artifacts hostage. The nations disagree over the details, but the Greeks hope that someday the real Elgin Marbles will make their way back to Athens. I sort of agree with the Greeks. This is the home of the Elgin Marbles.

Back to the Ship

We’d done a lot of touring in a very short time. For five hours we’d enjoyed the best of Ancient Athens. Now it was time to enjoy the very best of cruising with Viking.

Come back next week and peek into our afternoon aboard the Viking Vela.

Accommodations, Architecture, ART, Attractions, Cruising, DESTINATIONS, International, TRAVEL

On Our Way to Greece & Turkey Part Duex

Jane Sadek

MAKING MEMORIES: THE FRUSTRATIONS OF GETTING THERE!

Welcome to our cruise vacation. Unfortunately, we had three planes to catch before we could get to our port of Embarkation. A member of the United Airlines Ground Crew made our time at DFW a little difficult, but soon we were winging our way to Newark’s Liberty Airport. Come along with us!

Modern Inconveniences

So, we land at Newark, I turn on my phone and start getting notifications. The friendly skies were sending us love notes about our upcoming flights. I was happy to use my data to read all my notifications, instead of trusting the airport wi-fi, but I wanted to juice up my phone, so there’d still be power when I got to Frankfurt. We found a charging station and I filtered through my love notes. Primarily, Lufthansa wanted me to know that I’d be flying with them out of Frankfurt, even though the flight had been booked through United and United was letting me know I should check the departure boards in Newark, because sometimes there were gate changes. Those messages resolved, I checked up on the rest of my digital life and then sat there, very near our gate and let the phone charge.

When they called us to board, we got to participate in the new airport game – Gate Bus Plane. We filed through the turnstile to have our boarding passes read and then marched down the stairs to the tarmac. There we boarded a bus which played chicken with all the jumbo jets to take us to our pond jumper. I’m thinking this new game is a way for airlines to save money. It must be cheaper to drive your customers across the airport and have them climb stairs rather than just walk down a jetway or we wouldn’t have been doing so much of it on this trip. Whoever dreamed up this game should be punished severely.

Friendly Seatmate

For this leg of the journey, we’d opted for the last row of the plane. It gave Bill a window seat, we could sit together and it was close to the bathroom. Worked for us.

Then a guy sat next to me. Very friendly and helpful. Confessed to being military and knew a lot about the plane. We chatted a bit and I felt as if he were a little evasive about some innocent questions concerning his assignment and location. I was a little surprised by how often he seemed to travel, but it wasn’t my business.

Then I as the flight proceeded, it seems he was rarely in his seat and often could be found chatting up the flight crew. Later I decided he was some kind of air marshall, but I didn’t put it all together until long after the flight was over.

Honestly, I wasn’t very impressed with the Friendly Skies of United. The entertainment center was almost useless and the food was awful, but I slept through most of the flight, so it wasn’t a big loss – just disappointing.

And Then There Was Frankfurt!

I had fond memories of the Frankfurt Airport! I’d been through German airports a few times before Mr. Bill, but it seems as if those trips had been through Munich. The first time I remember going through Frankfurt had been in 1994 and I had been impressed with it. The shopping area was out of this world and I recalled a great little English pub.

We were back in 2016 for a layover, but it had been a rough Transatlantic flight and I spent most of the layover asleep in Bill’s lap. None of my fond memories played out in 2025.

The first frustration I will lay at the feet of Viking. They had a guy there to point us towards our next flight, but he pointed us in the wrong direction. We must have spent at least an hour wandering helplessly through the airport.

We finally found the right gate and chatted with an older couple who was supposed to be on our cruise. Some one showed up to take them in wheelchairs to another gate and I asked if we should move, too, but we were told they were being moved to better accommodate their wheelchair status and assured we could stay where we were.

Bill made a bed for himself across several chairs and I read the one of the books I’d brought along. The time of the flight was getting closer, but I wasn’t seeing much activity that looked as if that were true. I had been expecting to see more Viking passengers and that wasn’t happening either.

I’d turned off the wireless network to save money, but something told me I should get on wi-fi and see what was up. Good thing!! Everything had changed. Our flight number had been changed and our flight was delayed AND now the flight was leaving from a completely different terminal

I woke up a sleepy Mr. Bill to catch him up on things, none of which he was very happy about. We gathered up our belongings and began the trek to the next terminal. That was interesting and it was a trek. By now I was hungry and there hadn’t been any cute English Pub. The beautiful displays of German pastries, which were all over the airport didn’t do much for my gluten-free state. When we finally found the gate, I did a little exploration and there was nowhere decent to eat. I found a sandwich store for Bill, but I had to make do with a meat and cheese snack from a convenience store, which I topped off with potato chips. Gluten free is not necessarily healthy.

This gate was a lot more promising. There was more activity that resembled a flight and yes, there were other people with Viking paraphernalia. This looked good. I kept my phone on and watched for more activity, but none occurred.

Finally, they started boarding the plane, but like Newark, we went down the stairs to a bus first and that bus wandered around forever. I thought they were driving to Athens! Then they parked and herded us off the bus. It was cold and rainy outside as we waited to climb the stairs to the plane. I lamented the days when Lufthansa was the gold standard for international travel. Now it was the armpit!

On to Athens

Once we were on the flight it was unremarkable. In a few hours we landed in Athens and Viking personnel were all over the place. At baggage claim we were happy to discover our bags had made it, but before I realized it, they’d already been whisked away by Viking. We kept getting pointed in another direction and finding Viking personnel who wanted to know our name, which they would then check off a list. I don’t even recall how many times we went through this ritual, before and after baggage claim. Eventually, we were pointed in the direction of a bus, which after a while, had a chirpy Viking employee welcoming us to Athens and letting us know why we would be on the bus for at least another 45 minutes.

I was beyond tired, so I leaned back and tried to relax. It had been a very long travel day – two travel days, in fact. The calendar had turned a page since I left DFW, but after awhile I noticed a familiar glow in the distance. There, rising above the dark city of Athens was the Acropolis, with floodlights causing the Parthenon to glow in the night.

I felt like I did at Butchart Gardens and on the porch at The Grand Hotel. Mom was with me. She never made it to Athens herself, but she was thrilled I had. I couldn’t hold back the tears. And to think, the very next day I would be walking up there, where Aristotle, Pluto and other Athenian luminaries strolled.

Embarking on the Viking Vela

The bus pulled into the port and we were ushered off. The check-in process was ridiculously easy. We barely had time to set everything down before they were pointing us towards the gangway! As soon as we stepped on the boat, we were offered champagne and sent to life boat drill, which was actually just a quick lesson on wearing the life vest. We found our cabin and made our way to the buffet for some real food. Something we hadn’t seen in a while.

When we returned to the room, our bags had been delivered. I unpacked and put everything away in the generous storage of our cabin. Afterwards we went to what they called The Living Room and listened to some great music – a pair of string musicians playing popular music in a classical style. We had an early shore excursion the next morning, so we went to bed fairly early.

We’d made it. The journey had been frustrating and exhausting, but I was in Athens, Greece! Exciting, but hard to believe. Join me next week to visit the Acropolis. It was a great shore excursion!

Architecture, ART, Attractions, DESTINATIONS, TRAVEL, United States

Tulsa Art Deco Tour

Jane Sadek

MAKING MEMORIES: A WET WALKING TOUR OF WONDER

Come along for the final treat on our visit to Tulsa. We love Art Deco and this walking tour was certainly the way to see it. Be sure to put it on your to do list. Come with me now for some fun.

BEFORE WE LEFT DALLAS

As I was planning our trip to Tulsa, I found a DIY walking tour online, but I’d tried that sort of thing before. You’re in a strange place, trying to follow a map that’s not true to where you are and figure out if the building you are looking at is the one the page says you need to see. I’ve also taken architectural tours with guides and appreciated their presence and knowledge. So, knowing Mr. Bill, I dreaded trying to convince him to put down good money for a guide when I already had what he would consider a perfectly good map of what we needed to see.

Then I asked myself why I had a business in the first place, if I wouldn’t spend the money to do what I want. Well, the short answer is my scrapbooking hobby eats up most of my profit, but not all of it. I could afford this tour for us. So the Tulsa Art Deco Walking Tour was sponsored by Jane Sadek Memory Keeper and I was very interested to getting my money’s worth out of the tour.

The week of the trip I started watching the weather and I could tell we were in for a wet weekend, but I started praying. It’s not like I expect God to change the world so I can go to a walking tour, but I always let him know what I want, even though I know He already knows.

THE MORNING OF THE TOUR

When I woke up the morning of the tour, the rain was pouring down, not heavily, but steadily. Bill said he wasn’t going on any walking tour in that kind of rain. I told him I would, so if worst came to worst he could take me down there and drop me off while he did something else. He did some severe muttering in response to that, but the frugal part of him did hate to see both tickets go to waste.

We both went to the gym and had some breakfast. Bill took a nap and I did crossword puzzles. The rain did not abate. Bill wanted to just stay in the hotel and relax, but I had prayed so hard I had to believe something would give. The weather report on my phone suggested the time of the tour would be the least rainy part of the day – even suggested a breakthrough in the clouds. I somehow convinced Bill to drive downtown, even though it was still raining. I usually just go with the flow, but this I wanted to do. And the rain kept coming down.

The rain kept coming down, albeit a little lighter than it had been earlier, but still a little messy for a walking tour. Then two blocks from the tour’s meeting spot, the rain let up and the sky brightened. God did arrange a little miracle just for me.

ENJOYING MY PERSONALIZED MIRACLE

Needless to say, we went on the tour and it was great. The guide was the entrepreneur who dreamed up the tour and he had other Tulsa tours he and his employees led. He’d cut his teeth as a tour guide in New York City and decided to bring his skill set to the South. It’s been a winner and now he’s expanding to other cities in Oklahoma. Tulsa Tours is who you want to book your tour with. Accept no substitutes!

He was so knowledgeable and entertaining that the tour was wonderful. Because it sprinkled on and off during the tour, the guide walked us through buildings whenever he could. We only got a little damp, instead of soaked by the steady rain of the morning.

Put this on your list for Tulsa. You’ll have a great time and you’ll know a whole lot more about Tulsa AND Art Deco architecture when you’re through.

UTICA SQUARE

Much of what we saw in Tulsa was very close together, near Downtown, which is why I’d first looked at hotels in that area. The short drive from Broken Arrow was no burden and we ended up with more money to spend on our next trip – a cruise to Greece and Turkey – but if you’re willing to spend the extra money, I recommend the Downtown area for your accommodations.

Each day on our way to whatever was on our list, we passed Utica Square. I’d read it was a great hub for shopping and dining. Driving by each day confirmed it was a busy area. So, after our walking tour, we decided it would be the right spot for dinner.

It was busy on a Saturday in the early evening. After lucking into a parking spot, we strolled around seeing what would take our fancy. Had it been a girls’ trip we would have definitely visited some of the lovely boutiques. We ended up trying our luck at Stonehorse and they squeezed us in, but if you go, which you should, I’d recommend reservations.

We got there right before the rush and it was obvious they had to do some shuffling to squeeze us in. I’d also have dressed a little nicer than the layers over jeans I’d worn on for the tour. The other patrons were obviously dressed up for a nice evening out. I felt underdressed.

I ordered a pork chop with butternut squash soup and baked apples. I’m not a big fan of butternut soup and I will not eat baked apples, but I adore pork chops and it was the most gluten free thing I could find on the menu. Surprisingly, it was all delicious and I ate so much I was stuffed.

HEADING HOME

I’ve already told you how we spent our last morning in Tulsa, taking in the Gardens at Philbrook Art Museum. We didn’t rush, but we were time conscious. In the end, we arrived at the airport a bit early and then to our dismay they started delaying our flight. The last entry in my journal lamented that it was already 4:09 and we were still waiting for them to announce boarding instructions. What a waste of time! There were other wishes on my Tulsa list and I could have squeezed a few more in.

Please come back next week and join me on another of my trips of a lifetime. This one a cruise on the Aegean Sea on Viking Vela.

Architecture, ART, Attractions, Decorative Arts, DESTINATIONS, Gardens, Memory Keeping, Museums, TRAVEL, United States

Philbrook Art Museum & Gardens

Jane Sadek

MAKING MEMORIES: A SPOOKY NIGHTTIME TOUR AT THE PHILBROOK

Welcome along on our long weekend visit to Tulsa. During the early hours of Friday we visited the sights of Woodward Park and had lunch at the Wildflower Cafe. After Bill’s nap (what would a vacation be without naps) we took off for the Philbrook. It was a little rainy and dark to enjoy the gardens, but we enjoyed the time in the museum. Come along!

PHILBOO!

We did not wake up one morning and say, “Let’s go to Tulsa for Halloween!” Halloween is not a big deal at our house and that just happened to be the weekend we didn’t have other commitments. In fact, Philboo, the museum’s Halloween event, was a bit of an inconvenience, because a museum or garden filled with screeching, running kids in costumes sounds like a bit of a nightmare to us.

My plan had been to go from the Sneedon Mansion to the Philbrook, see the garden that afternoon and enjoy the museum that evening, because the museum was supposed to belong to the kids Saturday. I didn’t realize we’d spend such a significant and wonderful time at Woodward Park attractions and then have naptime, but that’s how it played out.

I have no complaints about our visit to the Museum, but the bad weather made seeing the gardens a bit of a challenge. Friday night was Philboo for adults. Lots of costumed patrons, but no screeching and running, so it was no problem. Not your normal night at the museum, but nothing disruptive. We had a leisurely time enjoying the galleries of the museum and checking out the gift store.

THE MANSION & MUSEUM

The Phillips Mansion is gorgeous – yes, Phillips like the gasoline, but not the Phillips 66 brothers. Waite was an oilman, but he went a different direction than Frank and L.E., his older brothers. Doesn’t sound to me as if there were any losers. All the brothers did well, but Waite was a quieter, more behinds the scenes entrepreneur and perhaps the more successful. Certainly the more philanthropic. He built his mansion, lived there filling it with treasures for a while and then gave it and the art to the city of Tulsa.

Though there’s lots of nice pieces in the Philbrook, for me there were no showstoppers – pieces or artists I went specifically to see, or pieces that moved me spectacularly once I was there. For me, it was the mansion itself which was the real draw. Above is a sampling of the walls’ offerings, thanks to photos made by Bill.

THE GARDENS

During our Friday night visit, it was cold, wet and dark in the gardens. You could step out on the terrace, but there was not sufficient lighting to be able to see what the gardens held. I despaired of ever getting to see them, but I didn’t know exactly what to do about it.

Saturday was given over to the Art Deco Tour of Downtown, which I’ll tell you about next week. It was also the height of Philboo, so as much as I wanted to see it, I didn’t even suggest it.

Our flight back to Dallas was not until 2 on Sunday, but that meant we needed to get to the airport by noon. Bill’s not much for getting up early on vacation without a specific reason and didn’t know whether or not he’d think the Gardens were specific enough of a reason, but he got in gear on Sunday morning and off we went.

As a patron of the Dallas Arboretum I’m used to a garden that takes hours to see. I knew the Philbrook Gardens were less extensive. I think we arrived with about 45 minutes to spare and that turned out to be more than enough, because the gardens are much more compact. Unfortunately, the price was steep, at least compared to the $5 per person admittance we’d had on Friday night. We paid twenty each for our Sunday visit, because that’s the price. There’s no, I-just-want-the-gardens price or even a senior discount.

But it was worth it. You start just outside the mansion on a balcony and stroll down immaculate terraced gardens to a fountain. After the fountain is a pond surrounded by more haphazard gardening.

Then there’s the park like setting with the folly. Very Thomas Kincaid-ish.

The terraces, the pond and the folly are the main attractions and going back up to the balcony is as delightful as walking down the terraces to the folly.

There’s a kind of side garden with a pool and bathroom facilities, where I think they have concerts and events. As you can see, the weather was not great, but at least it was not pouring rain. We saw the gardens and I was happy.

So, that covers the Philmont Art Museum and the Gardens. I was not blown away by the art, but I think you should plan on seeing this place. It’s wonderful. Come back next week and we’ll go on a great tour of Downtown architecture.

Architecture, ART, Attractions, Decorative Arts, DESTINATIONS, Gardens, Museums, TRAVEL, United States

Tulsa’s Wonderful Woodward Park

Jane Sadek

MAKING MEMORIES: SURPRISES AT SNEEDEN MANSION

Welcome to our long weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We got settled in Thursday evening after a difficult flight and lucked into all kinds of pleasantries on Friday. Come along and discover Tulsa’s Sneeden Mansion, their Garden Club Center and a great event space.

Taking Some Tulsa Time on Friday Morning

Being the early riser, I hit the very adequate gym at the Broken Arrow Towneplace Suites. No stretching chair and no rowing machine, but I made the most of the treadmill. I stopped at the free breakfast buffet to see if they realized there were gluten free people in the world and was pleasantly surprised to find a pretty decent breakfast. It wasn’t the freshly made waffles others were enjoying, but there was plenty and it was good.

Upstairs, Bill decided to make some coffee in the room, before he went down for breakfast. We’d already had maintenance up to the room for something the night before and with coffee flowing all over the counter and floor, we had to invite them in again. We saw them quite often over this weekend. They were always very nice, very quick and very accommodating, but who wants to spend their vacation with the maintenance personnel! Eventually, we got Bill some breakfast and got on the road.

Historic Mansion Turned Garden Club with a side of Rain

Going to Tulsa was not a spur of the moment kind of thing. I’d been lobbying for it for years. I heard about Philmont Art Museum & Gardens and knew immediately it would be the cornerstone for a great weekend. Then came the pandemic and other distractions. Finally, I was there.

During my research, I discovered while I could get into the Philbrook almost anytime, the access to what is now Tulsa’s Garden Center was limited. What had been the Sneeden Estate was now Woodward Park and the Sneeden Mansion was now the Garden Club inside said park. The Mansion was open to the public during certain hours each week, but they didn’t have tours and I don’t think very many people took them up on visiting, because they weren’t quite sure what to do with us.

An employee took us on a tour that was more like a sales appointment for an event, because apparently hosting catered events, like weddings and fundraisers, are the primary activity these days at the Garden Club. In fact, the Tulsa Garden Club was having a rummage sale there the very weekend we were there and members were feverishly setting up for the fundraiser.

All that aside, the mansion is a beautiful place. I’m sure the festivities hosted there are spectacular. I imagined splendid evenings with elegant ladies being swirled around the black and while tiled floor under the glorious chandeliers.

One of my favorite things was the his & hers powder rooms at either end of the elegant entry way. This reminded me of a similar arrangement in the entry way to the DeGolyer Mansion at the Dallas Arboretum. The library would have done Hogwarts proud. Downstairs there was an area custom designed for events with more testosterone.

While our designated tour guide was a little awkward at first, our fascination with the place won her over completely and we were fast friends by the time we left. She urged us to see the Conservatory just across the parking lot and warned us to be sure and see the Tulsa History Museum, which was just steps away and had been built by the Sweedens for a family member. Oh yes – and we shouldn’t miss the Teaching Barn either.

THE CONSERVATORY

There was no way we could miss the Conservatory with our new friend standing in the doorway of the mansion, to make sure we found it OK. Not that it would have been easy to miss the glass building with white frames. The central area had a pool and fountain. Various arms of the building created spokes around it. While impossible to miss, it was not particularly large in comparison to the spacious mansion it had been built to adorn.

We snapped a few pictures, while discussing whether or not to take in the History Museum. Now I’m usually all about history museums and I knew it was in Woodward Park, but nothing I’d read about it made me believe it was really worth a visit. Often history museums in smaller towns are just a place for people to drop off unwanted old stuff,

Bill said we were there, so we might as well see it. Most of the things I had on my list otherwise were gardens and this damp day was not exactly designed for garden visits. Bill was right. I had no idea what we would be missing if we’d blown it off. Come back next week and see what I meen.

Architecture, ART, Cruising, DESTINATIONS, International, Shore Excursions, TRAVEL

Shore Excursion Hell

Jane Sadek

MAKING MEMORIES: MAKING THE BEST OF BAD SITUATIONS

On this cruise we took four shore excursions and two of them featured the worst tour guides we ever had, one was pleasant and the fourth was merely disappointing. But look at those happy faces we have. We truly made the best of it wherever we were.

I Don’t CARE About Modern Day Mayans, What is this Building?

Our first shore excursion was to Tulum, a place I’d longed to see for a long, long time. The day started on a ferry ride so rough, I got seasick for one of the few times in my life. I didn’t need the barf bag, but almost.

We meet up with a chubby, jovial fellow who took us on a quick trot through Playa del Carmen. I usually enjoy walking, but the day was miserably hot and I was still a little woozy from the churning sea.

We climbed onto a bus for the hour long drive to Tulum. The tour guide almost immediately jumped into a lecture about Modern Day Mayans, of which he was one, and that remained his subject for the rest of the day. I was having deja vu all over again. I thought I was on St. Martin with Josay.

At Tulum, he guided us through a marketplace, warning us only to shop at his recommended shops and then drug us at top speed through the Archeological Park. If you hesitated to take a photo, good luck catching up to him. His commentary still focused on Modern Day Mayas and if you dared to ask him a question about the ruins, then he’d just be quiet while you asked and then go on talking about Modern Day Mayans. Then he abandoned us to find our way back to the bus at the given hour.

Tulum is beautiful. Bill and I strolled around taking photos, but without a guide, we were a little lost, especially since there were no signs bearing any explanation in any language. We had no idea what we were looking at and we gave up guessing. We strolled back to the bar our guide had recommended for cheap margaritas.

Eventually the guide showed up and allowed us back on the bus. He was blissfully silent for the return trip. In Playa del Carmen he dumped us in shopping district and disappeared again. We fought off aggressive vendors and found the beach, but mostly we just hung around until we could catch the ferry back to the boat. That’s how sad the tour was. We preferred being on the boat. This guide got to hold the title of worst guide ever for two whole days and then we had a worse one.

Un-Belize-Able

I’ll skip right to the worst guide EVER!! I’d heard from many people that Belize is heaven on earth. For us it was hell. The whole day was so bad, I didn’t take a single photo. You tell me! Doesn’t Jaguar Paw Cave Tubing & Jungle Trek with Lunch sound amazing? NOT!! It was like Eternal Ride on a Bad Bus with the Worst Guide EVER!

The tour began in a jewelry store and we were there forever. At least it was air conditioned. I think they kept us there until someone finally broke down and bought something. As we climbed on the bus, we realized it wasn’t exactly state of the art. If we’d realized how far away Jaguar Paw Cave was, I might have balked.

Trying to warm up his patrons, within the first mile the guide made a joke. He pointed out some site and said, “Can you Belize it? Un-Belize-Able! You better Belize it!” That was just the first time he made the quip, which was repeated over and over and over and over and over and over and…well I think you get the picture.

The road to the interior was a yawn. Nothing to see on the dusty backroads than what I see on the dusty backroads of Texas. I was so done with buses by the time we arrived at Jaguar Paw. Once we pulled into their entrance we were given our orders: pay for a locker, put your stuff there, wait to be called, go into the jungle.

I get they need to make money, but $12 for a tiny locker which you only need during the very brief cave tour. Now that was Un-Belize-Able, but we were a captive audience with no other options.

When our number was called we were excited to be going on a jungle trek. NOT! The “trek” was about as long as half a city block with a well worn trail. Entering the cave and climbing aboard the innertube was the most excitement we experienced that day. The water was chilly but not miserable.

As I climbed aboard I looked around and wondered where this float was going to go. I could see the end of the cave just ahead. We floated pleasantly for a few minutes and then were instructed to get out and walk about on the shore. Not sure why. Nothing to see.

Back in the tube and back to the entrance. There was a deeper section near the entrance and we were invited to swim, but it was such a short distance you could have almost hopped from your tube to the exit area, so everyone just enjoyed the last few moments of the float.

Then we were sent back on the “jungle trek” and our free meal. I’ll say this. It was better than what they were feeding us on the cruise, but not by much. We killed time until everyone had their float and feed, then climbed back on the awful bus. Thankfully the guide didn’t have much to say, which was good, one more UN-Belize-Able and I would have been contemplating murder.

As we neared the port, the guide did hit us with a few more repetitions of his signature line, but I was numb by then, so his life was never actually in danger. We filed off the bus and through the shopping opportunity, anxious for some reason to get back on the boat.

One thing that made this cruise tolerable was marvelous dinner companions. We were lucky enough to be a part of the cool kids table and they made our evenings very pleasant. From there we’d always head to the auditorium for whatever was being offered for entertainment that evening – always a disappointment. Used to be cruise ship entertainers were among the best of the best, but something has happened since used to be. They’re tired, the costumes are cheap and the scenery is minimal. Yawn.

This was the worst of it. Our other two shore excursions weren’t bad. In fact one of them was downright pleasant. Come back next week for a better time!

Architecture, ART, Attractions, Decorative Arts, DESTINATIONS, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

The Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix

Jane Sadek

Making Memories: Double Your Pleasure with Wrigley’s Mansion & a Meal

A Marketing Headache

We enjoyed seeing Wrigley Mansion, but felt sorry for it. It doesn’t know what it is, so you’re not going to stumble across it without a little intention. I found it by googling “Phoenix Historic Homes,” but I’m not sure many other people do that sort of search. Then I tried to figure out if they had tours and how to get on one if they did.

That was harder, because they can’t decide if they want to be a restaurant, a wine bar, a special events venue or a museum. Things like that didn’t used to be so important. You could get away with being everything to everyone, but in this search heavy society, you better know who you’re reaching out to before you choose your url.

On this side of things, I now wish someone had told me I should go for the tour, stay for happy hour and perhaps dinner. But I didn’t know that, so I booked the tour and wondered exactly what was going to happen. Bill likes to claim that he’s fond of playing it by ear, but in truth, he wants to be fully briefed on his options and if he’s going to go to a tour that turns into happy hour and perhaps dinner, I better have my ducks in a row before I ever book that tour. With other travelers I might have had a different experience, but I didn’t. Still, I’m encouraging you to have it.

The Tour

At 3 PM the happy hour and dining patrons weren’t there yet and only a few other cars were there for the Saturday tour. We made our way up all the stairs (there are a few handicapped parking spots higher on the hill) and arrived in the food service portion of the mansion. We were invited to have a seat and offered wine, but there wouldn’t have been time to enjoy it, so we didn’t take any.

The very millennial tour guide arrived not long after and gathered up her few patrons. We were taken to a music room that continued the home’s current multi-personality issue. It contained a piano which belonged to the Wrigleys, but the delightful room with its fantastic views was also furnished as a dining room for the restaurants.

Our guide walked us to what was the original entry to the house and it was spectacular. A magnificent chandelier with an accenting ceiling fixture highlighting a circular stairway. I can imagine a lot of Phoenix brides hoping to have their bridal portraits taken there, but it also contained a cabinet to sell souvenirs and a tall desk for a receptionist. I’d been in the house for a while, but I didn’t get a sense of how the Wrigley’s lived.

We climbed the stairs and discovered bedrooms fitted out as modern dressing rooms for those brides and their grooms. We were told the names of some of the more famous people who had stayed in the rooms and of the plans they had to turn some of the rooms into short term rentals, but I wondered who would stay in this confused place. And we still didn’t know much about the Wrigley’s.

Back downstairs, the obliteration of the Wrigley’s continued as they showed us various special occasion venues you could rent, but they’d all been redecorated and filled with modern furniture. I had come to hear about chewing gum and baseball, but all I did was tour a special event venue with multiple restaurants.

Outward & Onward

The tour dumped us in the wine bar and we were invited to enjoy happy hour. Some took them up on it, but Bill and I left. I was disappointed. For $5 less per person, we could have gone back to the Musical Instrument Museum and continued to play there. I do not recommend this tour, unless you’re just bored in Phoenix and need some place to go.

We returned to the hotel for a while and later Bill was ready for some dinner, which we got at a neighborhood Middle Eastern cafe. I wasn’t hungry.

The next morning we met his family for a farewell brunch at a place which wasn’t really laid out for a family brunch. Apparently the kids liked to hang out there, but it was a two story coffee shop with tiny tables for two. The guys are great, but I wouldn’t put them in charge of planning social events. The coffee shop didn’t even have a high chair for our youngest one.

We returned to the hotel to take advantage of their water park included in the price of your stay. We grabbed innertubes and floated around the lazy river a few times. There really wasn’t much more to it and everything looked as if it were waiting for a renovation. We finished the day as lazy bums. Me playing with my FOREVER account and Bill taking a nap.

The next day was our final day in Phoenix and we were headed to the desert. Oh boy! Come back next week and join us!

Architecture, ART, Attractions, Decorative Arts, DESTINATIONS, Fashion, Gardens, Museums, Road Trips, TRAVEL, United States

Sightseeing in OKC

Jane Sadek

MEMORY MAKING: FROM DEATH TO LIFE IN OKC

We’re taking a short trip to Oklahoma City. Yesterday we hit the Cowboy Museum and our primary goal today is the Edith Head Exhibit is OKCMOA, but we started the day at the OKC National Memorial. Come along!

OKC National Memorial

I don’t do it. I sat on the bus when a tour I was on went to Auschwitz. I didn’t go anywhere near the Twin Towers Memorial when I went to NYC. I try to avoid all JFK-related sites in Dallas. To me, sites like this memorialize horror and visiting them is not a tribute to the dead, but to those who caused the trauma. I realize others don’t feel that way and so they should go, but I don’t. I also know that saving these sites is a message to the future, but I’m not the future.

 I base my actions on Philippians 4:8, which admonishes us in this way, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

On this particular morning in OKC, Vicki & Deborah wanted to go to the OKC Memorial. I didn’t want to, but I also didn’t want to make a big thing of my thing, one not unique to me, but certainly not common. We walked the few blocks to the Memorial. I took a few pictures. but mostly I just waited for my friends. When they were done, they compared various sites with similar purpose, but I had nothing to contribute, because I choose not to.

Edith Head at OKC

“Whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Certainly, these words describe the work of Edith Head. She was a costume designer in the heyday of Hollywood, designing costumes for Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Bob Hope, Barbara Stanwyck and so many others who graced the silver screen.

We all know I adore clothes, shoes and accessories. I inherited the passion from my mom and my Aunt Edie. In these days when comfort trumps style for our younger generation, there’s a creeping reverse snobbery against those of us who appreciate the days when our handbags matched our shoes. That’s fine for them, but I refuse to succumb.

The Edith Head exhibit was gorgeous, nostalgic and wildly entertaining. Each carefully crafted costume had a story and told a story. I could stand at each display and see layer upon layer upon layer. First, I thought about the in-depth research Edith Head would do, so that she actually understood the clothing of the era she was trying to depict. Then she had to consider the materials available to her, what would look good made enormous for theaters around the world by a camera’s lens. Then she had to deal with the whims and demands of the stars, each one comparing the work she’d done for them and trying to decide if she was doing her best and making them look their best.

Then there was the impact her work had on people. The glamour she created, the stories she helped to tell and the stars she made shine more brightly. I was one of those people. The list of movies I watched with Edith Head costumes is long and I loved seeing outfits I’d first admired on screen, right in front of me. Then there was the workmanship. It was impeccable.

I didn’t take a picture of every dress in the exhibit, but as you can see, I took many. I think I could have stayed all day, sometimes just strolling leisurely through the exhibit to enjoy the overall impact and then next time going at a snail’s pace to read every word about every display. Then again to pick out my favorites.

I think I would love to travel on my own. My husband and my bestie think I am insane. It’s not that I don’t love them and want to be with them, it’s just that my interest in some things go beyond the rational. I would go to New York and day after day, show up at the Met to soak in the masterpieces. I would sit alone on the deck of a ship and stare into the distance. I would sit at a Parisian curbside coffeeshop all day long and watch people. But pursuing those dreams would alienate the people I love most. So, I travel with them and have a wonderful time, but sometimes, I want less of them and more of what I’m seeing. That’s how I felt that day.

Chihuly Was Calling

On this particular day, it wasn’t just the attention spans of my friends I was concerned about. Edith Head wasn’t the only artist we had come to admire. OKCMOA has some of the most amazing Chihuly pieces I’ve ever seen. I’d only recently returned from Washington State, where Chihuly is one of the main attractions, but I was eager to see more. On top of that, we needed to get back home that day and Vicki had a bit of a crisis to manage when she got there.

So, we went to the floor with Chihuly and soaked it in. What can I say about Chihuly? His work says it all. Here’s a sample:

Alive at Crystal Bridge Conservatory

I promised a day which went from death to life and Crystal Bridge Conservatory is a very alive place. My two companions thought it was too hot out in the conservatory to enjoy the plants growing there, but I needed it for a bookend to the sad beginning of my day. Vicki stepped out for a short visit, but Deb, who had seen it, opted to stay in the a/c. I soaked up what I could as quickly as I could. Enjoy these few shots.

Then it was time to head home. Traffic was not nice to us and we spent entirely too much time trying to get some gas for the ride home. Tardy, but elated with our day we went back to Rockwall & Heath.

Next week we’re headed to another of my favorite places: ARIZONA. Come back and enjoy several days in the desert!