As I type this I'm wearing the most comfortable pair of pink plaid pajama bottoms that I own. And by own I mean
I can, however, tell you what certainly did happen. I did go to The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida on one of the 17 days that I was gone. And I was blown away by it.
The actual story of the museum itself is super interesting (if you think slightly dorky historical stories are interesting...). Basically there was this couple, the Morse's, from Ohio, who went to a Dali exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1942. They fell in love with the artwork (and each other) and decided to buy their first Dali piece later that year as an anniversary present for themselves. So began a 40 year patronage and friendship of, and with, Salvador Dali. They amassed a huge collection of his work. After a change in the tax code they decided that they needed to start a museum. Ta-da the waterfront town of St. Petersburg, Florida won out. It houses the largest collection of Dali pieces outside of Spain.
A structure built specifically for the collection was opened in 2008. It was design by the international design firm HOK. Let me tell you. It is awesome. I know, not very eloquent, but it's true.
R and I rode our red cruiser bikes the mile and half from his mom's house to the museum. We rolled down cobblestone streets and next to gorgeous sailing yachts. We said hello to some pelicans along the way. It was grand.
I'll let the photos speak for themselves. (Of note, there was no photography allowed in the museum itself so I took screenshots of some of my favorites). (Also of note, I should have taken a whole lot more pictures).
R and I love bikes. Currently I have 5 bikes sitting inside of my tiny apartment. It seems excessive, but once you get into them, that's it (much like shoes...let me tell you I have a lot more than 5 pairs of shoes). These two bad boys currently live at his mom's house in St. Pete's courtesy of his lovely sister N and brother-in-law J. Thanks guys! We also love bike bells. Look for C 'n R in a club near you soon. Bike bells are totally the new cowbell.
Helloooooooo Pelicans.
The landscaping outside of the museum is said to be reminiscent of Dali's birthplace, Catalonia, Spain.
One of the two glass domes.
Reflections.
Interior staircase 1.
Interior staircase 2.
Interior staircase 3.
Clearly a painting of bicycles will make my favorites list.
Dali was hugely interested in both religion and science, and the relationship between the two. This painting represents the digital pixel in painting form. From regular viewing distance you see the painted square pixels while also clearly seeing the cross and a woman looking out through it. You'll notice on the bottom left a small pixelated painted image of Abraham Lincoln. When you step back from this painting it then appears to be a large version of that small tile. It all appears to be a pixelated version of President Lincoln. What I love about this is that is all hand painted. It's classical art, modern computer art, technology, and a comment on religion in society all at once.
Not too shabby of a view.
This is what they call the wishing tree. At the end of your visit (and before you explore the labyrinth...yep, a real labyrinth...which honestly is more of just a walk about not a real maze, but it's still cool...I got so wrapped up in it (get it...wrapped up. heh. heh) I don't have any good pictures of it) you take off your wristband and write a wish on it. Then you tie it on to strings hanging from the tree. The tree ends up having has tons of wish streamers hanging down from it. I've never seen anything quite like it.
R and I trying to look respectable.
R and I acting normal.
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