Chrystal Bridges Museum of American Art

We traveled to northwest Arkansas today with Dennis and Karen, friends from WI who are visiting in Hot Springs Village, to visit this Art Museum which opened on 11/11/11. Alice Walton, Wal-Mart multimillionaire, donated a very large amount of money to build this Museum. We saw it being built last spring and wanted to come back to see the completed project. For those of you who see me wearing my Wal-Mart Sweat Shirt, and comment on it, will hear me tell you about this beautiful place. It is built in a valley in the Ozark Mountains in Bentonville, AR. There is a stream that runs through it, underneath actually. I wonder what happens if the water gets too high, but I am sure there have been measures taken to be sure there won't be damage. Anyway, I will post a few pictures and urge you to visit this place if you are ever near, or to make plans to come to see it. It is simply amazing!

One last note for this trip

We arrived home a few days ago after flying all night from Rio to Miami. Then it took us until 5 p.m. to actually get home. We are still tired! But very grateful for our safe adventurous wonderful educational trip. We saw so much, learned so much and met so many nice folks from all around the country. I am sure we will stay in touch for awhile! After the Favelas in Rio, we spent the afternoon at the Botanical Gardens and I would like to close this part of my blog with some beautiful photos from the gardens. We are thankful to Grand Circle Travel for offering such diverse experiences within the destination of these tours. Amazing is the best word to describe what a great trip it was. Luis was a terrific Guide Director and we are also so thankful to him for his humor, sensitivity, organization and expertise as he conducted this trip flawlessly. Thank you.

About the photos in this post, the large yellowish fruit is call Jack Fruit and it smells like hell, but tastes like heaven we are told. The Gardens were beautiful with many lovely flowers including lots of orchids. The traffic in Rio, and all the big cities is incredible and very dangerous for motor cycle riders as you maybe can tell since they ride on the white lines between the lanes of cars.

Favelas

The pictures will show you. Reflect on your blessings and be thankful. Streets/walk ways very narrow. Note the satellite dishes. Life is safer since the police have taken over and put the drug dealers out of business pretty much. But the area is still very poor and very crowded. People are making money because they have art, crafts and open market for food. They have a hospital, and some schools to keep the children off the streets and out of trouble.