Farewell 2024, Its been Grand!

Cutting it to the wire for my annual photo collage highlighting big moments in my year. All in all 2024 was a decent year. A few things could have worked out better. President Harris??? But when I look back I spent lots of time with friends, got to continue to do good fulfilling work in NoHo and continued to keep my mind open and try new things.

Happy New Year! May good things lie ahead for us all!

Happy New Year’s from Biggar, Scotland

Happy New Year’s from Biggar, Scotland.

In many countries, December 31 is known as New Year’s Eve; in Scotland, it’s Hogmanay. The celebration involves torchlight processions, bonfires, bagpipes, fireworks, lively street parties, several.

Historians believe that many fascinating Hogmanay customs and traditions have their roots in pagan festivals such as the Norse Winter Solstice, the Viking Yule, and the Gaelic Samhain.

Also!!! Scotland’s influence on New Year's Eve extends across the world as the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns, wrote (in 1788) the famous 'Auld Lang Syne' which is sung with such gusto when the clock strikes midnight, wherever you may be.

"Auld Lang Syne," an old Scottish folk song, was written by Robert Burns in 1788, which made Scotland seem like the perfect place to ring in the New Year!

Visiting the Kelpies in Scotland

Visiting the Kelpies - the largest equine sculptures in the world in Falkirk, Scotland. Standing at 100ft tall and weighing more than 300 tonnes each, the magical Kelpies are quite a site. The works of art, created by artist Andy Scott, have become iconic on the landscape after being modelled on real-life icons of times gone by — Clydesdale horses Duke and Baron. The Kelpies represent the lineage of the heavy horse of Scottish industry and economy, pulling the wagons, ploughs, barges and coalships that shaped the geographical layout of Falkirk.

The Kelpies’ name reflects the mythological transforming beasts that possess the strength and endurance of 100 horses; a quality that’s analogous with the transformational change of the area’s landscapes, endurance of its inland waterways and the strength of its communities.

The Cotswolds

 

Next stop: a drive through the Cotswolds. This area north west of London has beautiful rolling hills of farm land and sweet little towns with quintessential English stone homes. I’ve been a few times over my life and each time I feel the charm afresh.

Hello Birmingham

 

Time to explore more of the United Kingdom. Hello Birmingham, Britain’s second largest city.

Christmas in London

 

I've been to London many times, but its always fun to have a fresh thing to explore.  This year I went at Christmas time and really enjoyed the very WOW! decorations.

Finally visiting Madrid, Spain - Check out my pictures

I can’t believe it took me this long in life to get to Madrid. I’d always heard that it was like New York and was curious about what that meant. Well, it really is, but I can’t find the right words. So many of the similarities were familiar urban struggles and exclaiming them feels likes I’m calling out only the bad parts, but maybe it’s that the vibrant energy NY has is palpable in Madrid too and that dynamism outshines the rough edges. Yeah, I just don’t have the words, but three days of walking helped me uncover lots of little moments of magic.

European cities always have beautiful architecture, which of course I admired, but it was the people, the fun stores, the high fashion, the variety of dining options buzzing till the wee morning hours. The Christmas season was a great time to visit because the city was all dressed up. With all the time I’ve spent in Central and South America, each new visit to Spain, the colonial power uncovers more layers and deeper perspectives. Ahh travel, you really do stretch me in the most marvelous ways.

                        Click HERE to see my full set of pictures from Madrid