The cherry blossoms have opened at Himeji Castle, Japan, prompting an update to our LEGO model today. When I visited exactly a year ago, the blossoms were late, allowing me to experience the castle without the usual crowds.
Category: Place
Well, that impressed me
On my cycle ride, I had to stop and admire the ingenuity. My youngest nephew could’ve climbed up there, not that I’m saying he would.
Lazy Sunday afternoon awaiting desert sun’s retreat
At the peak of the heat, the sun will dip behind the mountains, bringing a marked and comfortable temperature drop. A long, pleasant dusk follows, perfect for sitting outside. Until then, I’ll stretch out on the couch and read a novel.
Smoke signals in the desert
Contrails painted the sky as we hiked a trail in Joshua Tree National Park.
Palm Springs arrival
It was 65° warmer at Palm Springs PSP than when we left Minneapolis/St. Paul MSP this morning. This is cool for Palm Springs but it heats up next week. Here, we’re walking from the arrival gate to baggage claim.
Palm Springs 2025
More journeys ≫
First encounter with an 88-foot loon
Rode the LRT to St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood, then walked to get a haircut. Along the way, encountered a loon (our state bird) with an 88-foot wingspan in front of the Minnesota United soccer stadium. This was unexpected. I learned it was designed by an artist from Scotland, a country devoid of loons.
Testing the limits of campus security
A friend and I wandered around the University of Minnesota’s East Bank campus, testing doors. Most required a card swipe, but we occasionally found unlocked doors, allowing us to explore further. Two students offered to swipe us through a locked door, but we decided against it, not wanting to contribute to the delinquency of youth. We did discover this lovely seating area in Burton Hall without breaking rules.
Owamni by the Sioux Chef: pre-colonial flavors, modern plates
Walked over to Owamni by the Sioux Chef restaurant for dinner. Enjoyed a meal of indigenous, pre-colonial ingredients in modern recipes. This is a popular restaurant, especially since it won a national James Beard award for the best new restaurant in America. We’ll be back to try out another season’s ingredients.
Campus Art Hunt
A friend and I embarked on a quest to check out public art on the University of Minnesota’s east bank campus. At the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, we peered through windows, eventually finding doors to a fancy lobby housing a sculpture called Humanaissance. Noticing us testing doors, a receptionist kindly buzzed us in. I suppose our age made us look harmless enough.