Category:Travel

Statue of Liberty, New York, NY

New York State of Mind

September 2023, after a long hiatus, I’m going to New York City again. I hitched a ride across the Atlantic on a Delta Airlines bird. This Yankees fan fitted right in. Even though I hadn’t been to NYC for quite a few years, I still remembered how to move around the city and most subway stops.

Flown by Delta Airlines
I am forever a Yankees fan

I took in the sights and sounds of the city. Many miles of hiking in Manhattan. The architecture, classic movie locations, a walk down the Highline, … And with major stops at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, One World Trade Center and Ellis Island.

Jenga Tower at 56 Leonard Street, New York, NY
The Vessel, New York, NY
The Edge, New York, NY
Hook & Ladder 8 (aka Ghostbusters HQ), New York, NY
Friends apartment building, New York, NY
MetLife Building (aka Pan Am Building) and Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY
One World Trade Center & Oculus Center, New York, NY
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
New York, NY
The High Line, New York, NY
Ellis Island, New York, NY
Ellis Island, New York, NY
Statue of Liberty, New York, NY

After all these years, I am still deeply moved by the events of September 11, 2001. Especially when I visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. I can’t help but think back on my 1st visit to NYC when I take the elevator up to the 102th floor of One World Tade Center. Back when the Twin Towers still stood tall as a beacon that defined the New York skyline.

9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY
9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY
9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY
9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY
9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY
9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY
9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY
9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY
9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY
9/11 Memorial and Museum, New York, NY

I did a little shopping at that famous photography store on 9th ave. The new gear came in handy to shoot this panorama of Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan.

Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan at dusk

On Sunday, I had a meeting across the river: I took a train to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey… I went to see Springsteen! It was a beautiful night for a 3 hour rock concert. And as it turned out, it would be the last show Springsteen would play in a while due to health problems.

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in MetLife Stadium on September 3, 2023
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in MetLife Stadium on September 3, 2023

Dublin as a Tourist

I went to see Bruce Springsteen in Dublin. After 7 years, it was great to see him perform live again. My best friend and I took the time to visit some places around the city. It had been 10 years since we were in Dublin. And in that time we found a couple of things to see: whiskey tasting at Teeling, Trinity College, … Stuff like that.

Trinity College’s dining hall on the right is dubbed Heaven. The exam hall on the left is dubbed Hell. This sure brings a whole new meaning to the line from Springsteen’s Better Days:
“Tonight this fool’s half way to heaven and just a mile outta hell.”

Trinity College in Dublin

Some more random images of landmarks around town:

Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany

Mercedes-Benz Museum

I came up with the crazy idea to visit the Axalp Fliegerschiessen Airahow in the Swiss Alps this year. Plans were made, hotels were booked, cameras were prepped and my best friend and I went on our way.

We made 2 stops on the way to Axalp. 1st at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart and secondly at Legoland.

Let’s start with an impression of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in a couple of photos.

Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany
Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany
Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany
Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany
Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany
Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Germany

btw: I shot all these photos on my Canon Powershot G7X mkIII. I am quite impressed with the results!

Antwerp MAS Lit Up Like a Rainbow in Support of LGBT Rights

The city of Antwerp lit up the beautiful MAS in rainbow colors in support of LGBT rights over the weekend. They also lit up a few other public buildings and painted several pedestrian crossings throughout the city in rainbow colors. But, oh boy, the museum at sunset, all lit up like a rainbow, was a stunning site to see. And it was absolutely worth getting my camera out and shoot some pics.

Rainbow Colors on Antwerp MAS
Rainbow Colors on Antwerp MAS

I’m Going to Graceland

Or rather: I’ve been to Graceland. This is the last of the posts about my holidays in Tennessee this spring.

After having a blast in Nashville, my buddy Luc and I traveled to Memphis. The soundtrack to that leg of the trip started with Paul Simon’s Graceland, but that was just a prelude to lots and lots of music of Elvis. Elvis lived in his mansion in Memphis–named after the original owner’s daughter–from 1957 until his death in 1977. It is now a museum and a US National Historic Landmark.

Did you know it is the 2nd most-visited house in the USA? 2nd only to the White House in Washington D.C.

Elvis Presley's Graceland

Currently owned by Elvis’ daughter Lisa Marie Presley, the grounds and the mansion are quite crowded with over 650000 visitors per year. It’s so crowded, you hardly have time to get a good look at the rooms inside the house. Fortunately, you are allowed more time to visit his gravestone.

The media room at Elvis Presley's Graceland
The living room at Elvis Presley's Graceland
Elvis Presley's Last Resting Place

The museum across the street from the mansion offers many artifacts of Elvis Presley’s career and personal life. You can wonder around there for hours. Lots and lots of stuff to see: private airplanes, stage costumes, awards, golden records and so many cool cars.

Selfie at the Graceland Museum
Elvis Presley's Private Airplanes
Elvis Presley's Pink Jeep
Elvis Presley's Stage Costumes
Elvis Presley's Military Uniform

Legendary Recording Studios in Tennessee 

There’s quite a number of recording studios in the Nashville area. Hey, they don’t call it the Music City for nothing! Most of them are not open to the public. Like the Bradley Studios, aka the Quonset Hut Studio, later owned by Columbia Records on Music Row which today serves as a recording classroom for Belmont University. Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Tammy Wynette have recorded at those studios over the years.

Columbia Records Studio A and the Quonset Hut in Nashville, TN

The RCA Victor Studio B is no longer and active studio but hold a legendary status. Elvis recorded many of his greatest hits in this studio designed by the legendary Chet Atkins. Open to the public, it can only be visited in conjunction with a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame.

RCA Victor Studio B in Nashville, TN
RCA Victor Studio B in Nashville, TN
RCA Victor Studio B in Nashville, TN
RCA Victor Studio B in Nashville, TN
RCA Victor Studio B in Nashville, TN

In Memphis you should obviously visit the legendary Sun Studio where Elvis Presley recorded his 1st songs. But did you know that legends like Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded there too? And did you know that the studio that was opened by rock-and-roll pioneer Sam Phillips at 706 Union Aven on January 3, 1950 is still being used today?

Sun Studio in Memphis, TN
Sun Studio in Memphis, TN
Sun Studio in Memphis, TN
Sun Studio in Memphis, TN

A little less known maybe but just as awesome to visit is the studio at Stax Records at 926 E. McLemore Ave in Memphis. The site is currently a Museum about the history of Stax Records but when you think of the artists that have recorded there—Otis Redding, Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Isaac Hayes and Carla Thomas amongst others—you just have to visit it.

Stax Records in Memphis, TN
Stax Records in Memphis, TN
Stax Records in Memphis, TN

London Is Always a Good Idea

I spent a few in days in London the other day. I wanted to go see Little Big Town at the Royal Albert Hall. But I also had plans to take a couple of nice photos around town so I packed my camera gear too. On my list were The London Eye and the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

The London Eye
Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London

Even if you only have an iPhone on you–you don’t always need a big expensive camera–it is possible to make cool photos in London. I made these at Neal’s Yard, Canary Wharf Tube Station and the Natural History Museum. And I made them all with my iPhone.

Neal's Yard near Covent Garden, London
Canary Wharf Tube Station, London
Natural History Museum, London

Power To The People

One of the challenges as photographer when you’re traveling is power. Something my best friend Luc and I’ve been developing over the years, is this little puppy: a universal power strip for traveling. I will never leave home without it. It will be most definitely be in my bag tomorrow as I leave for London.

 Universal Power Strip by victorie.com

Most hardware stores will sell cordless DIY power strips. Get yourself a small version with 3 or 4 outlets. Remember: it has to take up as little as possible space in your luggage. I obviously got myself a power strip with European outlets as all my devices have a European plug. You should get one that fits your needs.

Next, get a power cord with a C14 connector. You can get those at most computer stores. Attach it to the power strip and you have yourself a universal power strip. All you need now is standard computer power cords with a C13 connector at one end and local power plug at the other end. Again, you can get those at most computer stores. Buy it in the country of your travels if you can not find one in your country. And any decent hotel will have a spare one you can borough if you forget yours.

There’s a little caveat: check the voltage settings of your devices. Even though most devices have auto-ranging power supplies that can handle anything between 110V and 230V be sure to check it. Especially when you travel across the Atlantic. I wouldn’t want you to blow up your expensive camera or your laptop’s power supply because it is no fit for one or the other voltage.

Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum

The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum front, bordering the Music City Walk of Fame Park, resembles the keys on a piano keyboard combined with the tailfin of a 1959 Cadillac Sedan. And the tower is a replica of the WSM radio tower.

The Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville

Inside the building’s rotunda, all Country Music Hall of Fame inductees are commemorated with their own commemorative plaque below the Carter Family’s–yes, that would be the relatives of June Carter Cash–classic country song tittle Will The Circle Ge Unbroken.

The Honor Gallery at the County Music Hall of Fame & Museum

The museum showcases anything country related: from Elvis Presley’s “Solid Gold” Cadillac to instruments and wardrobe by famous country artists like Hank Williams, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, the Dixie Chicks, Minnie Pearl and Emmylou Harris, as well as the recording studio once used by Owen Bradley.

Elvis Presley's Solid Gold Cadillac at CMHOF
Gibson Guitar Belonging to Hank Williams at CMHOF
Dixie Chicks Wardrobe at CMHOF
Guitar and Wardrobe of Taylor Swift at CMHOF
Memerobilia of The Grand Ole Opry's Minnie Pearl at CMHOF
Wardrobe of American Idol 2005 WinnerCarrie Underwood at CMHOF
Guitar Owned by Emmylou Harris at CMHOF
Owen Bradley's Recording Studio at CMHOF

And when I saw Taylor Swift’s tou bus parked in the museum, I waited for hours for Ms. Swift to come out. When I realized she wasn’t there, I finally gave up. But not before snapping a selfie in front of her tour bus.

Selfie in Front of Taylor Swift's Tour Bus at CMHOF

The Legendary Opry

The Grand Ole Opry truly a legend in the Music City. It started as a 1 hour long radio show on WSM on November 25, 1925. Back in 1925, it ran as a weekly show, Today, it runs several times a week, either from the Rynam Auditorium in downtown Nashville or from the Grand Ole Opry House on the banks of the Cumberland River.

Artists become member of the Orpy by invitation. Over the years, artists like Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, Tammy Wynette, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris and The Gatlin Brothers have been invited to the Opry. And more recently, amazing young country artists like Carrie Underwood and Little Big Town had the honor of joining. Membership in the Opry remains one of country music’s crowning achievements.

You can listen to the shows at the Opry live online via 650 AM WSM.

The Ryman Auditorium is a 2300 seat theater in the heart of Nashville. It is considered the birthplace of Bluegrass music. Over the years it hosted many famous country artists and even Bruce Springsteen has played there on his Devils & Dust solo acoustic tour.

The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville
The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville
The Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium

The Grand Ole Opry moved from the Ryman Auditorium to the Grand Ole Opry House in 1974. The grand Ole Opry House has 4400 seats and a circle at center stage is actually a part of the original Ryman Auditorium stage.

Seeing a show at the Opry was a dream come true and their backstage tour after the show was the icing on the cake.

Selfie in Front of the Grand Ole Opry House
Artists Taking the Stage at the Grand Ole Opry House
Behind the Scenes at the Grand Ole Opry House
Behind the Scenes at the Grand Ole Opry House