Horses charging through the sky in Madrid

quadriga horses sculpture by Higinio de Basterra in Madrid

My first night in Madrid, despite a full day of exploring, I was still energized to keep walking the streets and taking in as many sights as I could. At one point, I was in the Cortes neighborhood, which is just south of the famous Calle Gran Via, and walking along Calle de Alcala. This … Read more

Room 25 and the Door to Nowhere

Door 25 at a home in Wurtsboro, NY

My girlfriend and I drove up to Wurtsboro, NY yesterday to see an open house that seemed too good to be true: the listing describes “Nestled on over eleven acres of serene, wooded land in a peaceful Sullivan County community, this classic six bedroom, one bath Victorian stands as a testament to timeless architecture.” A … Read more

This Old House

ornate details in old country house

I’m considering the purchase of an old house, and the phrase “this old house” came to mind, which I see is a television show on PBS that perhaps I should start watching. You can see my back-and-forth debates with myself as to whether this is a a good idea or not here. I’m still in … Read more

Coming out of the frame in Spain

Painting by Pere Borrell del Caso and unknown sculpture

I was strolling down Calle Gran Via in Madrid last October, checking out what is known as “Spanish Broadway,” in the sense of it being the Madrid counterpart to New York City’s Broadway. This stretch of street is a prime shopping areas, with a large number of hotels, high end stores, and various other shops. … Read more