A to Z Blogfest Challenge, Around the World in 30 Days - Milwaukee

The Passenger to Paradise visited Milwaukee last summer, so she decided the city was a good destination for the A to Z Blogfest Challenge and her Around the World in 30 Days - "M".

"Milwaukee Diners" MMSikes

Mixed media art Milwaukee Art Museum MMSikes

Pfister Hotel MMSikes

She was distressed to discover that the awnings on the Pfister Hotel are now red instead of the green  color she used when painting the hotel for her Hotels to Remember book. She couldn't change her painting, and now the outside of the hotel had a different appearance. Thankfully, she had already decided her book and all the paintings, photos, and stories in it were just a "snapshot in time".

The city had a pleasant feel to it, and the Milwaukee Museum was only a short walk down the street where it sits on the edge of Lake Michigan. Although she is not a big fan of Chinese art, the Passenger toured the special exhibit that was heading back to China the following week.

Since her last visit, the museum had completely changed, and the Pfister had a different exterior appearance. Nothing is certain except change, she decided.

What cities do you like to visit?

What I Did On My Summer Vacation Blogfest

Usually my vacation trips are all about writing. This summer was no exception.

With camera in hand and a notebook at the ready, we explored Lake Tahoe in early June. How strange to see the snow-covered mountain tops soon after leaving the heat and humidity of Virginia. The lovely crystal clear lake forms an unforgettable scene. I learned from several people that it's not always so lovely. The lake can have high winds and waves that once fooled early explorers into thinking they had reached the ocean.

Our next summer trip was to Las Vegas. No, this was not a journey to visit the casinos or the shows, although I spent a lot of time parading among the slot machines to get to meeting rooms in the sprawling hotel. Instead, it was a trip to the Public Safety Writers conference where I appeared on several panels. I loved meeting with my publisher, Billie Johnson of Oak Tree Press, and other writers I knew or had wanted to see in person.

Between those two trips, I set up an artist show of my "Monti Just for Fun" loose little acrylic paintings of various glasses, bottles, and more in the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center in Richmond, VA. These paintings feature the joyfulness of pattern and color and created a happy Slantwall display at the Center for the month of July.

In August we headed to Wisconsin where our daughter drove us over much of the eastern section of the state along Lake Michigan into the Upper Peninsula. There, at the tip of the land projection into Lake Superior, we learned a lot about the old copper mines that once brought great wealth into the area. We had dinner with Mary Ann Beckwith, one of my favorite artists, during a stay in Hancock. Later, we headed to Milwaukee for three days at the Pfister Hotel, visits to the art museum on the waterfront, and much more. Along the way, we discovered the Fonz statue by the river side, and I was happy to have my camera.

This sounds like the summer of the lakes! I'll be posting more about these trips as I find time.

Please visit Michael Di Gesu's blog and find the names of others participating in this blogfest.

On Saturday,  September 24, I'll be in Williamsburg as one of the En Plein Air artists. This sounds like a fun event if only the rain will stay away.