Paraparaumu, New Zealand – January 16,2017
For the entire year, we have been in New Zealand; I wanted to visit the Southward Car Museum. Today is finally the day.
The entrance to the museum.
Leslie, Lorraine, and I left home at about 08:30 for the roughly one-hour drive to Paraparaumu. The facility is on the northern edge of the city.
When we arrived, our car was one of only three others in the parking lot. My idea of visiting a New Zealand attraction on an American holiday, Martin Luther King Day, was a great idea.
Sir Leonard Southward began collecting cars in 1956. He bought a Model T Ford in Britain for £40. That led to another 399-plus vehicle collected over the years, the most extensive private car collection in the southern hemisphere. Sir Southward passed away in 2004, at 98 years of age.
Just inside the door, one looks head-on to a beautiful red Ferrari. I remember years ago in Scottsdale, Arizona; I sat in a red Ferrari. I did not fit! The problem was the headroom. To drive that car, I would have to either remove the top or drastically recline the seat. The angle of recline in the seat meant my arms barely reached the steering wheel. However, I showed them…I did not buy the Ferrari!
The iconic Ferrari badge.
Just beyond the Ferrari was a 1915 Stutz Indy Racer. It is so much larger than the Indy car they race today. In mid-February 2017, Al Unser, Jr. is driving the vehicle at an event in New Zealand.
A 1915 Stutz Indy racer.
One of the more unique vehicles on display had to be the 1920 Dodge “Copper Car.” I must admit I do not fully understand why it had a copper body, but it was interesting.
A 1920 Dodge Copper Car.
There were many hood ornaments; some were very intricate. That is a lost art. I used many as the main focal point of my photographs.
Before this visit, I had not seen a Stanley Steamer. A 1920 model sat on display with the bonnet propped open. It is odd to see a steam boiler under the hood rather than a gasoline engine.
A 1920 Stanley Steamer Model 735.
The badge on the hood of the 1951 Ford Custom V8 reminded me of the Ford pin my grandfather used to wear. He was a car sales representative when I was younger.
A 1951 Ford Custom V8.
The main floor of the museum must have had at least 100 vehicles on display. Much to our amazement, there was a basement too. In the basement, there were about 40 vehicles, several of which were old fire engines. By far, my favorite vehicle in the basement was the car used in the Woody Allen movie, Sleeper.
The car from the Woody Allen movie, Sleeper.
It was lunchtime when we left the museum. We drove to Paraparaumu Beach. Directly across from the beach, we found the Ambiance Café. Our lunch was delicious.
On the way back home, I opted to drive over the Paekakariki Pass. It is not a road for the faint of heart. It is quite narrow, about 1.5 lanes even though the painted markings try to coax one into believing it is genuinely a two-lane road. Near the summit, there is the Kapiti Island Lookout. The view from there is unbeatable. The lookout is at the crest of an incredibly steep slope. One can easily see the town of Paekakariki, Kapiti Island, and the beautiful Tasman Sea.
The view of Kapiti Island and the Tasman Sea.
About 20 minutes after leaving the lookout, we were back home.
The main display floor.The row of three-wheeled vehicles and a jet.The home-built special.Paraparaumu Beach and Kapiti Island.Paraparaumu Beach.State Highway 1.A 1966 Jaguar E-Type Series 1.A 1929 Mercedes Benz 38/250 SS.A 1920 Rover Town Limousine.A 1963 Rolls Royce Phantom V.A 1936 Hispano Suiza K6 Sedan.A Porsche Spider 356.The “Big Daddy” Ed Roth Rat Car.1938 Bugatti Type 57c.A 1930 Bentley 4.5 Litre Tourer.A 1997 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster.A collection of license plates, including Colorado, of all things.A collage of old cars.A 1913 Maudslay Phaeton.A 1957 Ferrari 750 Monza.A full view of the 1957 Ferrari 750 Monza.
Earlier this morning, we left Rota, Spain. At about 10:00, we pulled off the road to take a photograph of the Mediterranean Sea. After taking some pictures, I noticed directly below us a small cafe on the beach. I walked down to the restaurant, Chiringuito Tubalitas, and found an older man inside. I would guess he was in his late 70s. I asked if he was open. He said he was open for coffee. I went back outside and motioned for Leslie, Hillary, and Tyler to come inside.
The man’s name, the owner, was Juan Mateo Ordonez. His wife appeared to have had an accident recently. She had a dressing on her forehead and two black eyes.
We had four coffees and a snack each. It had a “small town” price of 6.80€ (US$8.30). The cafe was right on the beach. It was sunny, but it was very windy.
In addition to the older couple, there was an older German Shepherd dog. He seemed to know he could not come into the bar. He stood at the open door and looked inside.
Anyone familiar with beach life will recognize the trouble with beach sand — it gets everywhere on your body! Now, imagine petting the dog. It was like stroking a part of the beach! The dog loved it nonetheless. I guess not too many strangers would bother. Or, if they did, they would quickly stop.
The Spanish flag above the Chiringuito Tubalitas restaurant in Manilva, Spain.
An unusual looking plant at the restaurant.The Mediterranean Sea was a little rough.
We arrived at our hotel, the Marriott Playa Andaluza, at about 12:30. After checking in, we went to our room — wow! It was not a room, but rather an apartment. I might add that I would be proud to own such an apartment. The terrace of our apartment overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. It is by far, one of the best properties at which I have ever stayed.
A bedroom at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.The entry at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.The kitchen at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.The front door and laundry area at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.The dining and living areas at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.The living room at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.The master bedroom at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.The master bath at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.Our view of the Mediterranean Sea at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.One of the swimming pools at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.A water fountain at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.
Shortly after getting all our stuff into our apartment, we had the front desk call a taxi. When the cab arrived, we took it to Puerto Banús, Marbella, Spain. The first store we went into was Versace. Yes, Puerto Banús is that high-tone. Hillary saw a jacket for 1,800€ (US$2,197) and a dress for 6,199€ (US$7,565). The sizes were not quite right, so we did not buy either.
The Versace store at Puerto Banus.Merry Christmas at Puerto Banus.The outside seating area of Salduba Pub.The rather pricey daiquiris and the drinkers of said daiquiris.
From Versace, we crossed the street to a bar, Salduba Pub. Boy did they see us coming! Two vino tintos and two daiquiris came to 32.80€…yes, 32.80€ (US$40)! I felt taken compared to our coffee earlier in the day! I am sure the reason it was so expensive is that we were at Puerto Banús, sitting about 20 meters (65 feet) from several mega-yachts. When we finished with our “golden” drinks, we walked along the dock and looked at the yachts. We saw:
Serenity from London (I could not find details for this yacht)
Lady Haya from Georgetown (64.6 meters/212 feet)
Shaf from London (52.8 meters/173 feet)
Xargo from Marbella (26 meters/85 feet)
I found the Xargo is for rent at a measly 39,000€ (US$47,600) per week.
The Lady Haya is the property of the King of Saudi Arabia. The approximate price is 35,000,000€ (US$42,714,000). The Shaf also showed its ownership as Saudi Arabian. These yachts were huge!
A lineup of some of the “smaller” yachts.The yacht Xargo at the marina.An Aston Martin parked near the yachts.The yacht Lady Haya.The yacht Shaf at the marina.Tyler taking in all of the sights.This yacht placed small banzai-type trees at the gangplank area.View from the marina to some of the buildings on the hill.A memorial to Alberto at the marina at Puerto Banus.Coins on the floor of the memorial.
As we walked back along the dock, we decided to try the restaurant Amore and Fantasia. The décor in the restaurant was not what one might typically see at an Italian restaurant. It was so eclectic it was fun. The television looped through a slide show of motor yachts and expensive cars.
Our lunch was fantastic! Leslie and Hillary had a Greek salad to start. Tyler had croquetas, and I had a cream of vegetable soup. For the main course, Leslie had the hake (fish), and Hillary had the grilled chicken. Tyler and I shared a wood-fired pizza. We all thought the lunch was a steal at 15€ (US$18) each; just a little more than the price of one daiquiri!
Leslie and Hillary waiting for lunch at Amore and Fantasia.
Tyler and me at Amore and Fantasia.We definitely were at the early lunch time. The restaurant did fill up later.The TV screen had a slide show of very, very expensive toys…A Greek salad.The plate of croquetas.The presentation of the hake.The presentation of the chicken dish.Our pizza!And bread pudding for dessert.
Departing the restaurant, we continued walking along the street beside the marina. We saw some fantastic cars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Bugatti, and Porsche, to name a few.
As we strolled along, Hillary and I spotted a Louis Vuitton store. We went inside, found a key chain for 295€ (US$360). We came back outside — without a key chain. We flagged down a taxi and returned to the hotel. That is when we went to the beach to relax. Overall, a beautiful day — except for the first round of cocktails!
An expensive store and an expensive Audi.
A Range Rover at the marina.A Lamborghini parked near a yacht with a Harley Davidson.The front of the Lamborghini.A Ferrari with the steering wheel on the right side.The front of the Ferrari.The very large yacht in the distance is the Lady Haya.The Dolce & Gabbana store across from the marina.A full marina. The yacht in the foreground is for sale.Christmas decorations on a palm tree.A Bentley parked across from the marina.A white Porsche parked near the shopping.A statue in Puerto Banus.The rocky shore at the Marriott Playa Andaluza.The rocks and the seafoam.Detail of the rocks and the seafoam.Leslie and Hillary watching the Mediterranean.Tyler and Leslie standing at the shore.A Mediterranean Sea sunset.A Mediterranean Sea sunset II.A Mediterranean Sea sunset III.A crescent moon and evening star over the Mediterranean Sea just after sunset.
WOW! My first time in Paris. What a beautiful city! I did NOT find any of the people I encountered to be rude, even though I heard that warning from so many people before I traveled.
My boss at the embassy agreed to send me to Paris for a greening and environmental workshop. Part of the workshop was to be at the American ambassador’s residence. When asked if I wished to attend, it took me about 0.002 nanoseconds to answer yes!
The flight to Paris from Madrid, Spain was uneventful. While descending to the Paris airport, one could easily spot the Eiffel Tower from the plane.
After landing, it took about an hour to get to the hotel by taxi. That was due in part to traffic and in part to distance. When I got to the Hotel Regina Louvre (it is directly across the street from the Louvre Museum) and checked-in, the desk clerk asked if I was alone. That seemed to be a rather odd question, but I responded that I was alone. She said I was lucky because my room had been upgraded.
When I entered the room I discovered what she was talking about. The room was actually a suite! Walking into the room, one is in an entryway. In that entryway were three armoires, side-by-side, one of which contained a minibar. Leaving the entryway, one comes into a large sitting room or parlor. Off of the sitting room is a large bathroom complete with his and her bathrobes. Off of the other side of the sitting room is the bedroom. It is very large, with a king-size bed. off of the bedroom is another full bathroom, even larger than the other one.
The sitting room and guest bathroom in the Hotel Regina.The guest bathroom.Detail of the stained-glass skylight.The bathroom off the bedroom.
After I got myself settled, I went out to walk around. Little did I know my walk would end up being 11.6 kilometers (7.23 miles). Note for anyone considering a similar march; wear something other than deck shoes! By the time I returned to the hotel, my feet were killing me! Tennis or walking shoes would have been a much better choice.
The march began as I crossed between the Louvre Museum and the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Gardens), walking south toward the Seine River. I crossed over the river to the left bank via the Pont du Carrousel (Carrousel Bridge). There I found many street vendors selling copies of famous art, postcards, etc. I ended up buying a map of Spain and Portugal dating from the 1890s. It is printed in French. The price of 10€ (US$12.40) made me very skeptical of the authenticity, but that did not deter my purchase.
The memorial to Joan of Arc just outside the Hotel Regina.The view across the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) toward the Eiffel Tower.Throngs of people at the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, approaching the glass pyramid at the Louvre Museum.The north wing of the Louvre Museum.The view across the Seine River toward the Musée d’Orsay (Orsay Museum) with Eiffel Tower in background.The south façade of the south wing of the Louvre Museum seems to go on forever.People on the Pont Royal (Royal Bridge) near the Louvre.A sightseeing boat on the Seine River passing the Musée d’Orsay.A barge on the Seine River.The view under the Pont Royal toward the Grand Palais (Grand Palace).A tree near the Pont Royal.Many vendors on the left bank of the Seine River.The view from the left bank near, the Pont du Carrousel, toward the Louvre.People at the south end of the Pont du Carrousel. The Louvre is in the background.Boats moored on the left bank of the Seine River and the Pont Neuf (New Bridge).The Max Chaoul Couture Paris store along Quai de Conti (Conti Quay).
I continued along the left bank to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris Cathedral). From Notre Dame, I crossed the island, Île de la Cité (City Island) and stopped at a sidewalk café on the other side of the Seine. I sat there, had a glass of white wine while I caught my breath, and watched the people. After some time, I decided to get something to eat. I ordered a bowl of French onion soup and an assortment of cheeses. The cheeses included bleu and brie, neither of which I really like. Regardless, I did eat quite a bit of each. I ended up having another glass of wine to wash everything down.
A tourist boat on the Seine River approaches the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris Cathedral).The iconic Notre Dame.Throngs of people at Notre Dame.Another view of the cathedral.The statue of Charlemagne et ses Leudes (Charlemagne and his Guards) is near the cathedral.The view from Rue de la Cité toward the Palais de Justice de Paris (Palace of Justice in Paris).The statue at La Fontaine du Palmier (The Palm Fountain) in the Place du Châtelet (Châtelet Plaza) at the north end of the Pont au Change.While sitting at a sidewalk café on the Quai de la Mégisserie, a man walked by my table.
When I finished my “meal,” I began my walk to the Eiffel Tower. There are many sights to see on the left bank. One of the odder sights I happened across was a boat wedged against one of the piers of the Pont d’Léna (Léna Bridge). I can only assume the boat lost power and ended up stuck at the bridge. There were several first-responders on the scene. Since they did not seem frantic, I hoped there were no significant injuries in the mishap.
Detail of the Louvre Museum above the Place Du Carrousel (Carrousel Plaza) entrance.Boats “double-parked” on the Seine River.A houseboat.A sightseeing boat passes under Pont Alexandre III near the Grand Palais.Pont Alexandre III.Pont Alexandre III.A boat wedged against the Pont des Invalides by the current of the Seine River.
I continued on to the Eiffel Tower. I was quite tired by the time I got there. That may have influenced my decision to merely look at the tower from the ground and not to go up onto the tower. The other part of that decision was the length of the queue of people waiting. I wanted no part of that.
Looking up at the Eiffel Tower. The top is some 324 meters (1,063 feet) above the ground.The Eiffel Tower as viewed from the Pont d’Iéna.The Eiffel Tower above the Seine River.
Crossing the Seine again, I began my march back to my hotel. It seemed I might never make it back! Regardless, I kept putting one foot in front of the other and was finally able to collapse in my hotel room.
A small Statue of Liberty on a boat just across from the Eiffel Tower.A parting view of the Eiffel Tower.Two characters on a docked boat.Walking back toward my hotel, I saw the boat rescued from the Pont des Invalides. However, some police were still in attendance.Decorations at the north end of the Pont Alexandre III.The L’Harmonie Triomphant de la Discorde (The Triumphant Harmony of Discord) statue at the Grand Palais.At the north end of the Pont Alexandre III hides a red Ferrari.Detail of the Pont Alexandre III.It looks like cars and mopeds are at the starting line at the Place de la Concorde.Some late afternoon traffic at the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.Joan of Arc in front of the Hotel Regina Louvre.Pedestrians at the Joan of Arc statue.The backside of Paris. The view from my hotel window.A portion of the lobby in the Hotel Regina Louver.
Tomorrow I plan to go to the Louvre Museum. Note to self; wear more comfortable shoes.
The Monument à Cézanne by Aristide Maillol.The east side of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel.The statue of King Louis XIV dates from about 1677.The iconic glass pyramid at the Louvre by architect I. M. Pei.A water fountain coming to life outside the Louvre Museum.
After buying my entrance ticket, I made a beeline to the Mona Lisa. I wanted to try to get to that very popular painting before it was mobbed by other tourists. It was quite spectacular to see the Mona Lisa in person; although, one can get no closer than about 25 feet to the painting.
The Louvre is by far the largest I have ever been in, ever! In fact, the Louvre is the largest museum in the world. I may break my record of 11.6 kilometers yesterday just in the museum!
The hall in the Louvre leading to the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Many of the sculptures have outstretched arms; almost as if to say, “Don’t rush to the Mona Lisa. Take a moment to stop and look at us.”The Winged Victory of Samothrace.A gallery near the Mona Lisa.The relatively small Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.People in front of the much larger The Wedding Feast at Cana by Paolo Caliari.Another of the multitude of galleries.The glass pyramid as seen from one of the galleries.Brutus Condemns His Sons to Death.Napoleon on the Battlefield of Eylau by Baron Antoine-Jean Gros.A gallery with a skylight.Bonaparte Crossing the Alps by Paul Delaroche.An ornate ceiling in the Louvre.Christ Giving the Keys to St. Peter by Guido Reni.The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel as seen from one of the galleries.A bust in one of the galleries.Juana La Loca by Raphael And Giulio Romano.Artemas with a Deer.The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne by Leonardo da Vinci.Crucifixion by Giovanni Bellini.A painted ceiling.The Winged Victory of Samothrace.The Galerie d’Apollon (Apollo Gallery) is where the French Crown Jewels are on display.An ornate pitcher.King Louis XIV in the Galerie d’Apollon.King Henri IV in the Galerie d’Apollon.A covered jade bowl.The crown of Empress Eugénie is on the right.Detail of the ceiling in the Galerie d’Apollon.The Galerie d’Apollon.Another portion of the ceiling in the Galerie d’Apollon.The view from one of the galleries showing the Pont des Arts and the domed Institut de France.An Egyptian stele.A very small statue.The god Amun protecting Tutankhamun.A portion of the Sully wing of the Louvre as seen from one of the galleries.Small Egyptian statuary.A small bust.Aphrodite, known as the “Venus de Milo.”Athena, is known as the Pallas of Velletri.The Great Sphinx of Tanis.The main entry area under the glass pyramid.A cylindrical elevator under the glass pyramid.A bust of Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the architect of Versailles and Les Invalides, dates from 1703. The artist is Jean-Louis Lemoyne.Marble bas-relief, Farewell, by Jean-Joseph Perraud.A hall in the Napolean apartment.Detail of the Grand Salon in the Napolean apartment.The fireplace in the Grand Salon.The Seine in the Chapel by Antoine Coysevox.A circular staircase in the Napolean apartment.The bed of Charles X.Cupid and Psyche Bathing in the Napolean bedroom.The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and Eiffel Tower as seen from one of the galleries.A decorated screen in the bedroom.Detail of one of the blue tapestries in the bedroom. It is a wall hanging from the bedchamber of Louis XVIII in the Palais des Tuileries.A bust of Napolean.A crystal make-up table and mirror.A pair of ornately painted vases.A pair of ornately painted vases.A wood door.A highly decorated cabinet.A writing desk that “disappears” into an oval table.The bed of Charles X.Shepherds and Shepherdesses Dancing.A bust surrounded by circular images.Napolean’s throne.A crystal and gold chess set.Detail of Le Roi à la Chasse (Charles I at the Hunt) by Anthony van Dyck.Detail of Equestrian Portrait of Don Francisco de Moncada by Anthony van Dyck.The view toward the Sully wing from the glass pyramid.
After walking through many of the wings of the museum, I had to sit down near the main entry. I was absolutely out of gas. I decided to take a quick look at the bookstore and then head back to the hotel for a well-deserved nap.
The next morning, breakfast was a little strange compared to what one might expect in the U.S. Instead of sitting at a table of my own, the server directed me to a table with six chairs. Another couple was just leaving that table. So for a short time sat by myself. Then the server sat another gentleman beside me. He happened to be from Washington, D.C. He is in the energy business with Lockheed Martin, here for the same event I am attending. We had a nice conversation, but it was just a little strange to be seated with a stranger.
That evening, after the workshop, I met up with four of the other attendees to go out to dinner. We went to a small restaurant about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. The name of the restaurant is Chez Flottes. It was tremendous. I had a wonderful, delicious steak. We all shared a bottle of wine.
It was interesting to discuss issues of common concern with some more seasoned facility managers. In situations such as that, I always try to take in all I can for future use and reference.
The following day, when I returned to my room from the workshop, I discovered the hotel staff delivered a bottle of wine and some various candies. I am not sure that I could have gotten much luckier.
In the evening the workshop attendees met for a mixer at the 1357ish Paris City Hall. What a striking municipal building that was!
The Hôtel de Ville holds the city offices of Paris and has done so since 1357.
On the final day of the workshop, we met in the ambassador’s residence. Another striking Parisian site. One bit of history of the residence that was shared with the attendees is that the home was used as a Nazi SS officers’ club during World War II. The home looked to me like something directly out of the movie The Dirty Dozen. It is also huge, about 6,689 square meters (72,000 square feet). Certainly not as nice as the Louvre or City Hall, but it was not bad.
