Daydream Tourist

Aug 19

St. Anthony’s Festival in Boston’s North End

St. Anthony processing through the decorated festival streets of the North End, Boston.

The funny thing about traditions is that sometimes a community starts their own. One of the things I miss about Boston in the late summer are the neighborhood street festivals including the Portuguese and Italian celebrations in Cambridge and Boston. While these events have the flavor of old Europe, they are decidedly American celebrations. The biggest of all of these, the St. Anthony’s Fest in the North End, is coming up (Aug 23-25, 2013) and a fun chance to celebrate Italian-American culture. (My photos below are from last year.)

Aug 5

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The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we are discussing great architecture! You can find links below for the rest of the group’s posts this month. Today I’m bringing you one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World and the greatest Greek temple ever built: The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus!

Concept drawing of the Temple of Artemis (Photo: dkiel)

Oh wait – that doesn’t look very impressive….

Temple of Artemis of Ephesus today in modern Selcuk

Temple of Artemis today in modern Selcuk, Turkey.

Jul 31

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Belgian Chocolate Overload

Most countries are known for a culinary specialty. If I mention Italy, Japan or Argentina, you probably imagine pasta, sushi and fantastic steaks. If we think about Belgium, then I definitely picture amazing chocolate! I was in Bruges the week before Easter so all the shops had out their best holiday treats. Not only is Bruges beautiful in March and has its own sculpture by Michelangelo, but it has incredible sweets!

Lovely packaged, truffe-filled Belgian chocolate eggs ready for Easter at Depla Chocolaterie, Bruges

Jul 25

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Ancient Jewelry I’d Like to Own

It always amazes me to see historic jewelry in museums. I’ve just assumed items so valuable and fragile would not have survived the centuries, but then there they are, neatly lined up in the display cases. Once again proving that everything old is new again, there’s a lot of ancient jewelry that I’d wear today. Here are some of personal favorites!

Gorgeous Egyptian necklace from the Oriental Institute in Chicago. (Photo: Daydream Tourist)

Jul 23

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Travel, Timing, and Reconstruction: Why You Can’t See What You Came to See

Washington DC had a very unusual earthquake in 2011. It destroyed some of the statuary at the National Cathedral and cracked the Washington Monument, an iconic obelisk-shaped landmark in the center of the city. This summer a massive scaffold has gone up over the tower to continue the repairs. Reconstruction and restoration are common sights for travelers where long-term improvement projects often leave facades covered and historic interiors obstructed. You can still enjoy these sites with in most cases with minimal impact on your visit!