Bart's home

Just on the bus now leaving Springfield, Massachusetts behind and heading onto Newport, Rhode Island.

My host was lovely and it was most excellent to again have cats (and a dog) to pat.

I'm quite sure this isn't the Springfield from the Simpsons, but it is the home of Dr Suess. There are some large sculptures to commemorate him in the museum grounds and I have been told that the sculptor is his step daughter. Talent must oooze through the family.

A number of museums and galleries are conveniently located in the one place with the one entry fee. The public can enjoy the gardens and sculptures free of charge, but a fee is charged to enter the actual buildings.

It actually is located right behind the host and it was the view from my fourth floor bedroom window.

One of the galleries houses a collection that a couple accrued during their life and travels. The guy actually retired at 35 years of age after making a bucket of money in business and then just travelled and bought artifacts for the next 40 years or so. Quite a lot of it is Asian, along with bits and pieces from all over the world. They bequeathed the collection to the city providing a suitable building was established to house it.

In another of the galleries, there is a wonderful print exhib. Some Kandinsky and Klee works are on display along with a few other notables.

But my favourite exhib is one organised by the National Parks where artists paint images from National Parks across the USA. Each artist has two to three paintings on display and there is information about the relevant park displayed along with artist info. I think it is a great concept and an innovative way for the government to utilise (and pay) artists.

Also, on the way to the bus stop we went out for a quick tour of the tornado affected areas and it was amazing to see one building damaged, yet nothing touched buildings on either side. It must have been a very specific tornado.

Lots of tree were lost in it, much like NQ's cyclone in Feb, and she told me how the visual landscape of Springfield has changed as a consequence. It is a lot more open now.

Also had a drive and a walk through a major park in the town. Much larger than Queens Gardens or Anderson Park and it has pockets of deep/old growth in it. I like the combination of cultivated and wild areas.