Thursday, October 31, 2013

Roots on the Rails - Chihuly Gardens, Seattle Washington


As if we had not all had enough sensory overload with the views, the music, the train and the meals, we arrived in Seattle only to experience Chihuly Gardens on Wednesday.

However, before I got to those photos, I just had to share some more of the magnificent unpopulated areas that we saw on our way up the coast.

As we turned inland, we entered farmland.  Crops of every description as we traveled through the garlic capital of the world, the artichoke capital of the world and who knows what else!

A TOTAL unexpected wonder was that the trees were still turning.  We were treated to trees in a rainbow of colors.  The colors in Seattle were stunning.  Who knew?  I certainly was entranced to
experience this natural wonder.

I never knew what river we were crossing.  Heck, I hardly knew what small town we were going through unless, perhaps they had a sign and a train terminal.  It didn't really matter.  It was ALL
beautiful.

Tuesday night we arrived in Seattle.  Eating dinner and resting up for the next day's adventures was the order of the night.

Pike's Market, Chihuly Gardens (www.chihulygardenandglass.com) was at the top of my list.
I was NOT disappointed.  I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Even though the fog was as thick as pea soup, it didn't deter from the mastery of glass. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

As if all of this wasn't enough, we had a concert Wednesday night at the Tractor Tavern!
A perfect day and night.
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Wednesday, October 30, 2013

The people who MADE IT HAPPEN - Roots on the Rails


Roots on the Rails didn't just HAPPEN!  It was the brainchild of a true Renaissance Man named Charlie Hunter.
Charlie is an accomplished artist, a writer, a former Music Manager.  One of the performers that he worked closely with was Fred Eaglesmith.  You can "google" Charlie to read all of his background and accomplishments.  It is staggering at how diverse and productive his life has been.

With Fred and other musicians, he decided to put together a music festival in 2000 called Roots on the River in Bellis Falls, Vermont.  It was highly successful.

The conversation shifted to using the Canadian railroad to travel with Fred and others although at that point Charlie had no idea how to charter a train.  He persisted and through the advice of his friend, Gary, was able to connect with the right people to make that happen.

The first Roots on the Rails took place in 2003 traveling from Toronto to Vancouver.  It too was successful.  There have been 33 successful trips by rail, by boat and by bus, I believe.  One of the trips was to the Polar bears.  It would have been a joy to have experienced that!

Charlie besides being so talented is also exceedingly capable of putting together a fantastic team of people who behind the scenes make these trips work.  Sarah Overdon is "El Capitanese", Elsabe Kloppers is the Naturalist who gives darn good programs along with playing a fine violin!  Add to that Gary, Dan and Joe Ray  - you've got the people who "grease the grooves" for both the passengers and the musicians.  I watched them perform magic over a seven day period! 

Then, of course the other "people" who made this a supremely fun event are the singers/songwriters/musicians/artists.  I really don't know which name to use as they are all of this and more.  Each is so unique in his own way.  Peter Case  is the Hippie of the group.  He said one of the funniest lines of the whole trip.  Well, I thought so!  He throws out one-liners while he is ostensibly tuning his guitar.  The first night at McCabe's he said, "How many songs have I sung? Five or six?  Remember its about quality not quantity.  However I've been looking for a quantity motel all my life".  Honestly, I nearly fell off the chair at his dry wit and humor.  THAT was just one of a jillion of things he said that were either funny or thought provoking. 

I've never heard a finer harmonica player.  I've always loved harmonica music and grew up listening to Jimmy Reed in south Louisiana among others.  Peter just blew the roof off each time with his guitar playing, singing and harmonica playing.

The fun of having private concerts on the train was a delight!  If lines were flubbed, or a comment needed to be made or someone wanted to hear a song, it was relaxed, laid back and a joy to behold.

Above is Peter Case, Rick Shea, Dave Alvin playing on "his train" along with hard to see Chris Smither.

A better shot.  A funny story.  I totally embarrassed myself the morning after this performance.  I had only seen Dave in sunglasses, a baseball cap and a light denim shirt.  As I came into breakfast, there was a man standing there dressed that way who appeared to be the same height as Dave.  I touched his arm, I said, "I so enjoyed your performance last night.  It was just wonderful"  He to his credit just said, "Thank you very much".  Then I looked down at his lanyard that had his name and it was not Dave Alvin.  Inwardly I chuckled wondering what in the world that man was thinking..........

Later in the trip, I had a chance to sit and talk with Dave Alvin.  It was a revelation to know the depth and breadth of his career along with his music.  (By the way, Dave, if you happen to read this, thanks for the thoughtful comment on the last day.  It meant a lot to me)

Rick Shea was a wonderful surprise with his own songs, his way of delivering them along with his calm demeanor at all times.  He accompanies Dave but also has his own cd's and performs solo.  Pure enjoyment.

Then there were Open Mic times.  I didn't go to any but I did happen to walk in when Elsabe and Gary were playing hauntingly beautiful music of violin and guitar.  How sweet!

These are some of the people.  Those travelers that I met from Norway, England, Alaska, Canada, and of course the USA made me feel so welcome.  Their enthusiasm and openness was a welcome way to share the experience.

I hope I've made some new friends!
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Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Heading Outta Town from the LA Terminal - Roots on the Rails


An architectural Arte Deco wonder would describe the LA Train Station.  Beautiful floors, arches, a painted wooden ceiling and many more details.  Out of one side entrance we saw a beautiful garden.
Not like any Train Terminal I've ever seen.  It was a great way to start the trip.

Even the doorways were wrapped in beautiful stone design.

The use of talavera tile and the conch shell denoted a nod also to the Spanish influence.

The wooden chairs that were stationary looked to me like something Frank Lloyd Wright would have designed.  There were many sleeping people draped over and in them.

The ceiling was quite a study in workmanship and artistry.
I wished I had a better camera as these photos don't do it justice.

Ahh, but finally our train, attached behind the Amtrak finally backed in and
it was "All aboard" time!  Woo hoo.

Once we got out of LA we quickly had views of the Pacific Ocean.  Unfortunately some of my photos have a reflection in the glass, but you get the idea.  It was breathtakingly beautiful.
Here we were riding along and seeing mile after mile after mile of pristine, unoccupied coast land.
It was staggering to observe how much land in California, Oregon and Washington is unoccupied.

As we rode along, we also listened to the performances of the singer/songwriter/entertainers.
Chris Smither was first.  He was the person that I had the secret message to pass onto.

When I wrote the first post, I mentioned the entertainers.  Imagine my surprise when I got an email from my dearest friend, Amanda (those of you who read the blog remember several years ago when Amanda was in a near fatal car accident in Houston).  I had totally forgotten that Amanda had been born in Quito Ecuador.  It seems that Chris Smither lived there as well as a very small baby boy.  His parents and Amanda's parents were friends for at least 50 years.  Chris and Amanda were toddlers together.  They had not seen each other since Chris was about 17 years old. 

You can imagine his surprise when I walked up to him in the LA Train Terminal and told him I had a message for him from someone who knew him as a child in Quito.  He hardly hesitated a few seconds before he smiled and said, "Amanda".  I was surprised too.  We had several conversations during the trip and he shared stories of their lives as children.  I, in turn, shared stories of my friendship with Amanda for the last 34 years!  It added a lovely poignancy to the trip.

The views continued to be breathtaking.  At one point while looking out the window at the view while listening to the music, I felt my heart swell with happiness and joy at such a completely joyful experience.

It seems that trains stop, as needed, while traversing from point A to point B.  Not always when you expected it.  I presumed that most of the time it was to let another train go by.  I'm not really sure.
The photo above and below was taken of the grasses that were a multitude of colors.

A feast for the eyes of textures, shapes and colors.

We traveled all night Monday night.  More music, good food and attempting to sleep as the train raced along or lurched at times.  Sleeping the first night was an adventure all by itself.

We awakened the next morning to the sight of Mt. Shasta.  Sadly, I didn't get a photo of that.  Why, I have no idea.  We were in the Cascades heading for Portland with our final destination on Tuesday being Seattle, Washington.

Each mile seemed to me like a revelation of something else unexpected.

The journey became the destination.
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Monday, October 28, 2013

Rockin' and Rollin' with Roots on the Rails - Kings of California


Let me just say, right from the start, that this trip surpassed all expectations of what my imagination had conjured.

With that said, there are so many experiences from scenery to music, from the people traveling to the musicians/artists, from the train to surviving in a teeny tiny sleeper compartment that it will take me
several posts to cover it all.

Sit back, read and travel along.

The above photo was taken as I departed Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico at 7:30AM flying DIRECTLY to Los Angeles.  US Customs was a breeze except for one smart aleck Customs guy who chastised me for not speaking better Spanish!  Really?  I could have told him a FEW things in English, I guarantee...just kidding.

In any event, it was much, much smoother and faster then Houston's operation which is where I'm usually entering, thankfully. 

Out I went, just three hours after leaving Mexico into the air of LA.  I was looking for the Super Shuttle pickup point.  I found a person, a stool and a portable chair!  After giving the woman my information and being instructed to sit on the bench, I started laughing inside at the "setup" for a shuttle company with offices all over the USA.  I just had to take the photo above of the setup as it looked like something that one would see in Mexico!  Ready to move at any point.

Ahhhh, but the room was pure LA.  The Double Tree Hotel in downtown formerly known as the Kyoto Grand.  Large room, nice bed and lovely linens.  The group I was meeting wasn't in LA yet so I decided to eat something since I had not eaten in about 24 hours.  I went to the Azalea Room in the hotel and for the next 1 1/2 hours had a delightful lunch while talking to the waiters and manager of the restaurant.  Since it was an "off time", there were only about eight people in the restaurant.

It turns out that all the waitstaff and the manager were from Mexico.  The waiter was from Aguascalientes and was thrilled when I told him I had been there several years ago.  He must have told the other waiters when he went to turn in my order because it became a real homecoming conversation for them to ask about this and that.

The manager confided he had managed the restaurant for twenty years but still has hopes of some day returning "home".  I hear that often and understand.

Then the group arrived.  My friend Bob, his two sons Patrick and Paul along with Jamie who is engaged to Patrick and Deidre who is soon to be engaged to Paul, I believe.  A lovely, beyond words, family.

Since the group loves, loves, loves sushi, I knew we were heading that way.  Yup, we ended up in the Japanese sector right near out hotel where we were able to find an outdoor cafe.  Sushi was had by all with the exception of me since I had just finished my brunch.

The photo above was a woman with an adorable dog.  Just had to throw this photo in.  Too cute to pass up.

The plan was to stay in the hotel on Sunday night, head for the train early on Monday and head out of LA.  But first we headed to a concert at a Guitar Shop named Mc Cabe's.  Of course I had no idea what to expect.  As we arrived an hour early, there were people lined up down the block waiting in line for the concert to start.  Luckily we had reserved seating and were able to enter prior to that line.  I was astounded at the number of people - especially after we got inside and I saw how small the place was. It is obviously one of those places sorta under the radar where the great musicians like to perform.

I mean small with fold up chairs and guitars hanging on the walls everywhere.  This photo is blurry but it gives you an idea of the size!  On the small stage were three or four chairs.  That was it along with the sound system.

Remember, I knew very little about the four musicians who were going to be traveling with us for the week.

Oh my.  A couple hours later, after dancing in my seat, sorta, I was awed by their collective talents.

It was a looooooooooong day.  Mine had started at 2:30AM and returning to the hotel was around midnight. A bed never looked so good.

PLUS I had a BIG  SURPRISE  to share with one of the musicians that I could hardly wait to tell!

I'll tell you all about it tomorrow
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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Oh Ye of Little Faith!


Since the 1980's it has been common practice for me to show up at a factory (which sometimes was one person making more then you can imagine) in Mexico to have something made for a design project - a hotel, a restaurant or whatever. 

I'm not doing design of projects anymore but I did want to have someone make a casual jacket for me with some fabric that I bought while in Houston at My Flaming Heart.

I asked around and someone told me of a lady who did mending and repairs but that no one was sure if she could make something from scratch.  I went and banged on the big metal gate, as I was told to do as the woman lived in the back.  A lady named Delores came to the gate and said in Spanish that she indeed could make something for me. 

In I went with fabric and sample of what I wanted.  It was a weak sample in that all I had done was pin a sample of what fabric I wanted where and also where I wanted one fabric on one side of the hood and the other on the other side.

This entire conversation was conducted totally in Spanish!  When we finished, unbeknownst to her, I was so happy that we had communicated so well that I wanted to hug her.  I restrained myself.

We agreed that I would return one week later at 11AM to pick up the finished garment.
I arrived on the appointed day at the appointed time.  Delores was at the gate and said it wasn't ready.  I asked to see the work done to date.

I was dismayed when only one piece, the back of the garment had been cut out.  Oh my, I wanted to take it on my trip.  I doubted seriously it could be ready in three more days.  Delores surprised me by telling me to return the following day at 3PM.  I left wondering if it would be a wasted trip.

Now mind you, I have flown into Guadalajara in the past to have 500 crepe paper flowers made with the need to fly out the very next day.  At that time there was only one vendor in the mercado who could make them or who at least I could find.  Every time I flew in, I also flew out the next day with a completed order.

In addition, I flew in to visit factories six weeks before the Hacienda del Sol in Tucson was to be installed.  Almost all of the factories were on time.  One was nowhere near on time and I couldn't believe that anything would be ready in six months much less six weeks.  It all was and was exquisite!

I reminded myself of these two instances.  I told myself that it would be ready the next day.  I arrived about 3:15.  A friend answered the gate and escorted me back to Delores' sewing room.  There in all its glory, hanging on a hanger already pressed and ready was the jacket.   It reminded me of a scene in Cinderella where Cinderella walked in and this beautiful dress was there just for her.

I examined the jacket (I have been an avid sewer since I was a teenager - that's another story) and it was made to my satisfaction.  Delores had even used some of the fabric for the jacket to make the seam binding.  She had finished off all the seams.  I was and am thrilled.

She was so pleased at my happiness.  She wanted me to share it with our mutual acquaintances, Donnis, Gayle and Jose Luis.  I haven't gotten to do that, but I did want to share this with all of you.

As I drove home, I chastised myself for not having faith in this new acquaintance, Delores.  I've never been disappointed before in over 30 years, and I certainly was disappointed this time.

The craftsmanship and unique ability of the Mexican artisans to create something from a photo or a sample is mind boggling to me.

In addition, the cost including three yards of fabric and the labor of Delores was a total of a little over $50USD! 

Now, everytime I wear this jacket in all its Day of the Dead bright colors, I'll think of this little lesson I had this week.  Of course I'll never forget Delores.  In fact, I hope to see her often!
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