This May has seen me away more than home. At the beginning of the month it was across the pond to Paris for just over a week to absorb culture, history, and culinary delights. While I had been to Paris before it was over 10 years ago and barely enough time to become familiar with the city. This time I felt comfortable navigating, but there is never enough time to do everything you want, let alone hope to do.

The primary art focus was of course the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay. Certainly there was plenty of art and architecture throughout the city and on the outskirts at Versailles. The latter was just a bit over the top on the ornate side for my personal taste; but a good review of French history nevertheless. Speaking of history, The Hôtel des Invalides – with Napoleon’s tomb and the Musée du l’Armée among other highlights provided an intriguing overview of military history as well as fascinating uniforms, armor, and weapons from the 12^th c. through WWII.

Paris is more than museums, monuments, and cathedrals of course; there are culinary delights, divine wines, and captivating people to watch. Before I wanted it to be so, it was time to say “au revoir” and return home, temporarily.

While I did unpack, not everything was put away because five days later I was back on a plane this time up the east coast to NYC. Another appraisal class adventure enveloping my days and studying in the evenings. I did manage one play evening however; I enjoyed a delightful time hanging out with my friends Hal and Don. I met them at their place - the Hal Bromm Gallery in Tribeca - and enjoyed the current exhibit “Anti-Anti / Non-Non.” Then we headed to the east side to attend the Historic Districts Council’s 2010 Grassroots Preservation Awards and Preservation Party. Pretty humbling to see all the hard work to save monuments, buildings, and even neighborhoods! Dinner and further fellowship followed.

Upon the completion of the four day class; I headed to the MET for the special exhibition “Picasso In the Metropolitan Museum of Art,” which continues through August 1^st, 2010. An undeniably extensive collection of the MET’s holdings of Picasso’s paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, and ceramics; almost 400 objects! The accompanying catalogue is an art library essential. There was a wonderful continuum from my experiences in Paris, reading Hemmingway’s “A Movable Feast,” and this show and the thread of Gertrude Stein’s connection through all of them.

Following my return from NYC, I was back on a plane again four days later, unfortunately for a funeral. Even worse, after Mother Nature’s five hour storm delay, I did not even make it for the family gathering. Now I have a two week break to complete the current projects, follow up on loose ends, and tackle the planning and implementation of the next travel adventure. For its back into the field for the summer’s excavation season at Mt. Lykaion in the SW Peloponnesus of Greece; see you again in August!