Travels at The Met Museum

In January 2009 James and I spent a week visiting New York. We both love museums, so one of the must visit places is the famed Metropolitan Museum of Art. The museum is huge! James was like a kid in a candy store counting how many Picassos, Manets, Monets, Van Goghs, Rembrandts etc there are (and there are lots!). I particularly liked their collection of western musical instruments. Not long after these photos were taken the music gallery was closed for renovation. It has now been re-opened (2 March 2010).


Built in 1720. This piano is the oldest of the three extant pianos by Cristofori.


Built by F. Hofmann circa 1790. Photo taken from below to illustrate the knee lever. Knee levers were common to pianos of that era and were used to raise and lower the dampers. Mozart would have composed on a piano similar to this.


Built by C. Graf circa 1838. Graf pianos are very study despite the fact that they were constructed entirely of wood. This particular Graf piano features four pedals.


A Broadwood and Sons piano built in 1827.


Built by Erard et Cie circa 1840.


Clavichord, circa late 18th century. This example incorporates a drawer with compartments for pen, ink and paper.


Rembrandt. Portrait of a woman (1633). Oil on wood.


Rembrandt. Portrait of a Man Holding Gloves (1648). Oil on wood.


Rembrandt. Self-portrait (1660). Oil on wood.


Caravaggio. The Lute Player (ca. 1597). Oil on canvas.


Van Gogh. Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat (1887). Oil on canvas.


Van Gogh. Irises (1890). Oil on canvas.


Van Gogh. Cypresses (1889). Oil on canvas.


Van Gogh. Sunflowers (1887). Oil on canvas.


Cezanne. Still Life with Apples and a Pot of Primroses (ca. 1890). Oil on canvas.


Monet. Bouquet of Sunflowers (1881). Oil on canvas.


Monet. Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies (1899). Oil on canvas.


Monet. Rouen Cathedral: The Portal (Sunlight) (1894). Oil on canvas.


Monet. Camille Monet (1847–1879) on a Garden Bench (1873). Oil on canvas.


Renoir. In the Meadow (1888-1892). Oil on canvas.

Travels at Star Ferry Pier

On 11 November 2006, which also happens to be James's birthday, the last ferry departed from the iconic Star Ferry Pier in Central, Hong Kong. To show our support against the demolition of the pier, James and I, along with hundreds and thousands of Hong Kongers, showed up at the pier and rode the ferry across this particular cross-harbour route on that night one last time.




































Last ferry gone. Lights out at the Star Ferry Pier.

P.S. Soon after this historic day, the Star Ferry Pier was demolished. Redevelopment of the site is currently underway: a six-lane road and a low-rise shopping centre are among the plans for the site.