Crazy Horse Memorial, 1990 and Now

The first time I visited the Crazy Horse Memorial was in August 1990. Back then, the mountain on which it was being carved wasn't much to look at.

Last week, I paid another visit to the Memorial and the mountain has greatly changed in 35 years. Construction began in 1949.

Here's what the Memorial looked like in 1990 and today:

Above, the Crazy Horse Memorial in August 1990. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 

Above, the Crazy Horse Memorial today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along with the progress of the Memorial, there is now an elaborate visitor center, gift shop and restaurant for visitors.

Above, a zoom view of the Memorial. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's some photos of the inside of the visitor center:

Merry Christmas!

Above, one of the more elaborate Christmas resident displays. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Merry Christmas from Lake Havasu, Arizona!

Last night, we had a Christmas Eve party at Mitch and Holly Geriminsky's with three different stews/soups instead of the usual (and boring) turkey dinner. Each were quite good and everyone was filled up.

Above, another resident's yard display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

We also had a Christmas gift exchange game which was fun. I received a set of jumper cables that will go into the Jeep when I get home.

As Christmas Eve was also Egg Nog Day, Mitch and I celebrated with egg nogs and brandy.

Above, celebrating Egg Nog Day with Daisy and Mandy. Photo by Holly Geriminsky.

After dinner, to took a ride in Mitch's golf cart around the neighborhood near the Lake Havasu Golf Club. 

Below is my Christmas gift to Mitch and Holly, a yard gnome with a LED lantern:

One resident has a nice T-rex metal sculpture in their yard. I'm guessing it is about 10' tall:

Above, yesterday started with breakfast at Sam's Place.

Thanksgiving and Lake Havasu

 A little bit ago, I uploaded the Thanksgiving Day pictures I took with my Canon Rebel camera.

Here's some of them:

Above, Mitch and Mandy.

Above, choppy wind-blown waters of Lake Havasu.

Above, a home a block away from Mitch's. I want one of these dinos for Barking Spider Acre.

Above, carving the turkey.

Above, Mitch and his grandkids.

Above, is Holly napping while Mitch carves the turkey?

Above, the casino shuttle on the now-calm waters.

Above, a pleasure craft on Lake Havasu. 

Above, Lake Havasu City from Crazy Horse Campgrounds. 

Above, The Beast at Lake Havasu Campgrounds.

Above, the shoreline row looking west. 

Above, the shoreline row looking east.

New Sculpture Planned For Lincoln Library and Museum

Above, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of the highlights of my 2016 trip into the midwest U.S. was a visit to Springfield, Illinois. I was in Springfield on Election Day and watched the election night coverage in a RV park there.

Springfield was the home of President Abraham Lincoln and where he is now buried. It is also home to the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum.

Above, the Lincoln family greets visitors in the museum's main lobby. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A new sculpture is planned, titled "Beacon of Endurance".

According to the Journal Star:

Abraham Lincoln was a master at using words to motivate and inspire. 

Now his words will be part of a new sculpture honoring the 16th president at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum announced Wednesday, Lincoln’s 211th birthday. 

An advisory panel will help the presidential library and the sculptor decide which words the sculpture will include. The public also will have a chance to share ideas through social media, according to ALPLM officials. 

“Beacon of Endurance” was designed by B.J. Krivanek of the Chicago firm Krivanek+Breaux/Art+Design. When completed, the obelisk will stand at the museum’s southeast corner, at the intersection of Jefferson and Seventh streets. The sculpture is 24 feet, 10 inches tall and slightly tilted “to suggest human and constitutional traumas and vulnerabilities,” Krivanek said, in a press release. 

The bottom, where Lincoln quotes will be inscribed, will weather and rust over time. 

Above that, in impervious stainless steel, will be individual words about Lincoln’s character and principles.

To read more, go here. 

Tokyo's Best Public Art Sculptures

Above, "Maman" in Roppongi Hills. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Everyone loves art, right? Well, maybe almost everyone.

Some, while traveling, make it a point to visit as many art galleries as they can. But some art works are free to the public and Tokyo has several to enjoy.

Time Out Tokyo has a list of the best pubic art sculptures in the city.

They begin with:

For art lovers, Tokyo is one of the top destinations in Asia with countless museums, alternative art galleries and exhibitions. But that doesn’t mean you need to pay a premium to see some of the best art in the city – heck, to see these masterpieces, you don’t even have to go indoors. Here’s our list of some of the best outdoor art around town.

Our favorite King of the Monsters, Godzilla, is listed.

Here's what they have to say about the Big G:

Those less fussed about fine art and more in the mood for tracking down the king of monsters should first make their way to Kabukicho, where a significantly tall Godzilla head towers over the Toho Cinemas movie complex. For more Godzilla goodness, head to Hibiya Chanter Square, where a 1.2m-tall Godzilla has been protecting the area since 1994. 

Above, Godzilla peers over a building in Shinjuku. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.