I have to admit I have never been a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. I guess it is too organic and modern. However, I do like how Taliesin West blends in with the environment. Personally, I prefer more traditional, classic architecture but our guide at Taliesin West, Lola, did a better job of explaining the concept of Wright’s architecture than any of the guides we had at other Wright’s houses we have toured. We have visited the Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo, Graycliff south of Buffalo (with a beautiful location on the lake), and Falling Water in Pennsylvania.
When I realized that Scottsdale and Phoenix were about equal distance from the Phoenix airport John and I decided to stay in Scottsdale. It was a good choice. The Hotel Valley Ho is one of the Historic Hotels of America but vintage 1950s. It was a bit depressing learning that a hotel built in the 1950s met the qualifications as an historic hotel. The Hotel Valley Ho is considered by architects to be “one of the best examples of a mid-century hotel.”
The recent hurricane season has been extremely disastrous on the islands of the Caribbean. But there were some that did not suffer any damage. Undamaged Islands still suffer from association with potential travelers thinking the entire Caribbean was destroyed. Keep in mind that the best deals are in the off season or at the beginning and end of high season. Often the best deal is a package that includes airfare.
FX Matt Brewing Company in Utica is one of the oldest family owned breweries in the United States. On a recent trip to Utica, John and I enjoyed the tour of the brewery. We were lucky because we were the only people on the tour. However, tours are offered Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. A great winter daytrip. Beer knows no season!
The last days of 2016 John and I had a 24-hour stopover in Narita, Japan, so I booked a stay at the Crowne Plaza Narita, which offers free airport transfers. A flyer in our room stated that the hotel offered several New Year’s events, one of which was an “osechi” breakfast. When I asked what it was, Ayaka Ohara, the public relations director, explained that according to tradition nothing should be cooked on New Year’s Day. Osechi is a variety of colorful dishes in a bento box that is part of a traditional New Year’s morning meal that also includes ozoni.
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