Time Stood Still at Gadsden

Quite a while back I stumbled into a hotel that time forgot in Douglas, Arizona. The town itself was very sleepy in that desert sense with tumbleweeds meeting you as you enter the town, (cue in a duel of quick draw between two cowboys). But I digress, turns out, this hotel named Gadsden which was built in 1907 has stood witness to quite a few historical events and historical people.

During my visit, the hotel was run by laid back staff which is understandable as Douglas itself does not have a lot of tourists anymore. Back in the 1900's, Gadsden was built for cattle ranchers to lodge in  whilst in Douglas when they were away from home. In 1929, it suffered a catastrophic fire but was restored. The style of architecture of the hotel is Renaissance Revival and I deem it as part of the Gilded Age as it was built during that era in America. Check out the rich-colored marble columns and grand staircase.

Lobby

  view from the 2nd floor

It is apparent that when Gadsden was built, no expense was spared for its quality materials, above is an authentic Tiffany stained glass situated on top of the staircase that depicts the Sonora Desert complete with a Saguaro cactus and other desert-scapes.

Just below the Tiffany-stained glass window is this preserved regal lioness in her full size and stateliness.  (Wanted to touch her just to see if she would bite).

Rooms...

It is often the case with hotels and Inns that with age comes the ghost stories. Legends have been spread all over that Gadsden has it's paranormal inhabitants and during Halloween season, this is a popular destination to test those theories. Hmm.

couldn't resist...

more Tiffany glass on the ceiling

Press:
Per research it is noted that Gadsden was used in a Paul Newman, Nastassja Kinski and a Tom Selleck movie. It was also visited by FL Eleanor Roosevelt and Arizona impressionist painter Effie Anderson Smith who resided and completed several paintings in this hotel in the 1940s. Lastly, Gadsden was featured in Travel Channel's Hotel Impossible in 2013 wherein more renovations were conducted.

Elephants and the Carthaginian:

...The Numidians were followed on the way back to the Carthaginian camp which was almost empty at this point minus the elephants who Hannibal was to dedicate to sometime getting across. The scouts, seeing that Hannibal had not crossed with the whole of his force, raced back to the coast to alert the Consul. 

The Consul, upon learning this information marched his army up the river with boats, but it was too late. Upon arriving, Hannibal had long left the camp and crossed the elephants across the river...

*excerpt from Wikipedia on Hannibal's Crossing of the Alps.

Solution to the Hiatus

Greetings! 

I have been remiss here and it's reprehensible since this site is supposed to represent the things that interest me which I wish to share with you but the absence has been rather lengthy.

Indeed there is something else that has caught my fancy and it's the social networking site named Google Plus! I have been spending much of my internet time there particularly around the photography circles. I have participated in the daily themed-photography groups and it has sort of filled the void in my socialization.

But because I also don't want to neglect this my own personal platform here in Blogspot, I came up with this solution: I will post at least (here I go again with commitments), 3 pictures per week here in Et. al which was deemed as "well-liked" in G+!

I believe this way, until I get my bearings back into being diligent outside of photography, I will post various themed photos which I earnestly hope you will come to like!

Allow me to begin in chronological order going back to the week of March 4, 2012:

AND HERE GOES:

A photograph of St. Margarete's chapel nestled on top of the Edinburgh Castle.  This photo was posted for the theme: Sacred Sunday and I was pleased that some photographers who I consider "great" liked this picture and the techniques I used to achieve this kind of tonality!

Postcard: London

I was really happy to have visited the UK this year; 1 item off the Bucket List. This collage of pictures I took there reminded me a lot about that visit - about the people, structures, culture and very rich history. 

I consider it to be a blessing to have been able to go and I will be looking forward to where God would have me to visit this coming year!

I Wanna Edinburgh

The sad thing about this is that I don't live there. The good thing? I carried pictures with me from the place.

Just the stats Ma'am: Population: 471,650 (best guess); founded: prior to the 7th century; average life expectancy - male: 76.5; female: 81.4; tourists per year: 3.38 million and in my eyes, the no.1 tourist destination - of note...

And yes, and average of the people do speak like the bloke from the movie: "300."

Edinburgh...

I wanted to highlight the busy sections and the bustle of the city because it reveals that the old and the new co-exists with good balance here; that's what makes a great place to live and visit.

The Ruins of Uruqhart Castle

Uruqhart (pronouced Urk-urt) Castle is a structure of ruins which belonged to the Lord and Lady Uruqhart (of the Clan Uruqhart) in medieval Inverness, Scotland and it can be viewed when one cruises along the legendary Loch Ness.

This ruins gave me a good idea of how life was lived during that time as I further discovered that these castles had a well built walls all around the perimeters for a fort to protect the premises. 

I became informed that inside this area lay the township which included all the local businesses, different enterprises, artillery, all in the view where the nobles resided.

Among other things, defense was foremost if communities such as these were to survive. Well engineered and powerful weapons such as the Trebuchet were paramount to keep the peace.

I am sure that it was very much a site to behold if I had existed then, for even if all I have to see today are remnants of a mysterious past, Uruqhart was romantic and made me marvel!

And here's an Uruqhart nostalgia with the last glance:

Dia leibh Uruqhart!

Take a Bath!

 When the Romans invaded Britain they lodged in Bath, a little town in the Somerset County of England where hot springs were discovered and made into stuff of legend.

It was during the reign of Claudius when the Romans set up these baths which was believed to have medicinal qualities and personages who later benefited from this enchanting place ranged from royalty like Queen Anne to literary giants like Dickens, Jane Austen and the female Shelley.

Ehmm... I would be remiss if I didn't mention Pop Stars like Tears for Fears, Naked Eyes and Peter Gabriel either hail from or live here, (just to make it more apt for today *wink).

 I loved seeing the whole town and being in the premises which has been in existence in epoch proportions and has played host to people I only read about.

Ain't God good?

London

Finally went to that place with the, with the . . . oh the clock! and the people with the accent!

It's not cliche to me because I have always dreamed of coming here, working here and living here. That was of course until I saw her current state, to which I was saddened by. 

Nevertheless, despite the dirt from Heathrow to Warwick to Bromley-by-Bow and the absence of the old chaps with the Chapeau and umbrella, London is still a destination worth visiting because depending on your perspective, every one I saw there, whether indigenous or transplanted - were trying. 

Whilst there I got to:

Eat fish and chips the traditional way at "The Anchor"
(built in the 1600's)

Mess around with the red phone booths:
(I needed a quid...) 

Hear London Calling:

(it said "Vrooomm!")

See a Shakespeare Play:
(w/ the English Patient as Prospero)

Photograph Monet:
(well, figuratively speaking.)

 

Sample Punk Sweetness:

(ah, life's ironies...)

Meet the Invisible Man:

(w/ visible neck)

and,

Soak up the Thames at night.

- Among others anyway...