Fountain Friday

Trevi Fountain

Rome, Italy 

Legend has it that if you throw a coin into Rome's Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome again. It has been almost 7 years since I did that, I haven't been back yet, but I'm sure I will one day.

Fountain Friday

Crown Fountain

Millennium Park

Chicago, Illinois

One of the things I most enjoyed about Chicago was the plethora of public art installations. I knew the city's architecture would be amazing, which it was, but I wasn't expected all the art, too. These fountains were fun because they're art that the public can really enjoy and interact with.

When they're off they're just kind of an ugly brick column, but when on, they show the faces and expressions of different people. (Chicago-ans? Not sure.) Every few minutes, a few of the bricks "open" and a gush of water runs out.

It was pretty chilly when B and I were there, so we just sat and watched the kids run up and wait for the water to fall, and then scream and run away. I think more cities should do things like this. It just makes people happy.

Fountain Friday

Outside Parliament

London, England

After an unintentional 8-month hiatus, Fountain Friday is back. (Or at least for today until I can organize my fountain pictures again.) When I studied in London in 2005, part of our assignment was to get a visitor's pass to the House of Commons in Parliament and watch some of the floor debate. On our way out we got to pass through Westminster Hall, which is the oldest part of Parliament built in the late 11th century. Upon exiting the Hall we were greeted by this little fountain made up of a few regal (and wet) horses.

Fountain Friday

Palazzo, Bellagio, Venetian, and Caesar’s Palace Casinos
Las Vegas, NV

Since it has been more than a month since my last Fountain Friday, today is a bit of a fountain bonanza featuring various fountains from around Las Vegas.

Fountain Friday

Rose Garden Fountain

Hershey Gardens

Hershey, Pennsylvania

While in Hershey last weekend, Brandie and I visited Hershey Gardens, located on a hill by the Hotel Hershey. The gardens were a nice size with a great variety of trees and flowers, especially roses. This fountain was located in the rose garden. I love when there are random water features in ponds; every pond should have one. This one was just lovely, no other words needed. (Though, given the size of the gardens, there really should have been more than one fountain. But I'll let it slide as the focus was on the flowers and trees, as it should be I suppose.)

Fountain Friday

Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

These two fountains were tucked away in a courtyard beside the Art Institute. The courtyard was heavily shaded by lush trees and, combined with the fountains, made for a nice little respite from the busy city just a few yards away.

Fountain Friday

National Cathedral

Washington, D.C.

The National Cathedral is one of my favorite D.C. sights. Probably because I completely forget I'm in D.C. when on the grounds or in the area. Sadly, it was damaged a bit during the earthquake. But I thought it was a perfect time to feature a fountain on the Cathedral grounds. This fountain is bit oddly modern given its ornate surroundings, but when you consider that included in the Cathedral's gargoyles is a Darth Vader, it sort of works.

Fountain Friday

Outside Urban Country

Bethesda, Maryland

After getting turned around while walking in downtown Bethesda last month, I came across a store called "Urban Country" and this fountain in front of it. There was a bench across from it perfect for me to chill for a few seconds, check my iPhone GPS, and stare at this unique fountain. My favorite part of being a Fountain Aficionado are the variety of fountains I come across and the constant surprise at the materials incorporated. This was my first encounter with the use of pottery in a fountain and it was a great mix of rustic and modern. (Or, perhaps, great mix of urban and country?)

Fountain Friday

Vaillancourt Fountain

San Francisco, California

This modern and unique fountain was located near the Embarcadero. As much as I loved SF, there were not many fountains, at least in the areas we visited. But this one was large, loud, and perfect for its location in a big open-air area. This is a good example of what I call an "inviting fountain," meaning it's possible to get closer to it than you can most other fountains. It had paths both above and behind so you could be "in" the fountain without getting wet. (Though more than likely you'd still get wet.) It was cold and just at the start of our day so I didn't get too close, but I appreciated the option.

*Have to upload all my SF pictures to Flickr and then I'll start blogging about the trip. This week has been crazy.

Fountain Friday

The River Walk

San Antonio, Texas

The subtitle of this edition of Fountain Friday is "Texas Forever," in honor of the series finale of "Friday Night Lights" last week. Texas forever holds a piece of my heart as my paternal grandfather, Poppy, grew up in West Texas and also made his home with my Mamaw in San Antonio for many years.

The River Walk was a favorite area of his and our family and all these photos come from my last trip in 2007. A nice description from the official River Walk website:
"The San Antonio River Walk is a public park open 365 days a year, lined with individual businesses composed of restaurants, hotels, attractions, and more."

The "and more" clearly refers to the fountains and water features that appear on practically every street. Which is refreshing when you're out in the unrepentant Texas sun. And with a 113 degree heat index expected in D.C. today, I'd kill for just one of these Texas forever fountains right now.

Fountain Friday

Natural Geyser

Timanfaya National Park

Lanzarote, Canary Islands

I'm including this here because, in my opinion, geysers are nature's fountains. And this one was a beauty. The geyser is amongst the Montañas del Fuego in Timanfaya National Park. The Park is both beautiful and desolate and so completely foreign that it feels like another planet. This was my first time watching a geyser erupt and it was stunning to see.

Fountain Friday

Bellagio Casino

Las Vegas, Nevada

As I'm currently figuring out logistics for a return trip to Las Vegas with some friends, it seemed fitting to feature such an iconic sight today.

When making a to see/do list for my trip in 2009, this was at the top, bolded with a star, an absolute can't miss. It did not dissapoint. And I may have shed a tear. Maybe it was the jetlag, or the desert heat, or the alcohol. Or maybe it was just the simple beauty of jets of water coordinated to music. But there may have been a tear. I'm not confirming or denying anything.

And the best part was when my friends indulged me and we stayed an additional half hour so I could see it again. I have damn good friends.

Fountain Friday

Bynum Circle Fountain

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

As we rapidly approach the five year anniversary of my college graduation, I can't not feature this fountain. The only fountain, at least while I was a student, on campus.

On the Friday before graduation my three best friends and I set off on a quest to have a perfect day. We climbed the Bell Tower, got lunch from Franklin Street and ate it on McCorkle Place, signed our initials on a bench, posed for photos at the Old Well, sat on the Davie Poplar bench -- gasp -- alone, and danced in Bynum Fountain. Or, rather, we each stepped in just over the ledge, took a photo, and then got back out. And then Brandie and I decided to run through it, in white tank tops. We got chlorine up our noses and in our eyes and I slammed my knee on the brick, leaving me with a massive bruise for graduation.

And tt's still one of the most perfect days of my life.

Fountain Friday

Summer 2005



Fall 2006

Italian Garden Fountains

Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, London

My first trip to London I spent only a few hours in Hyde Park, racing around to see the Diana memorial and the Peter Pan statue. But even in my racing I was of course able to find some fountains. Covered in green moss on a gray day, the Italian Fountains seemed like something out of another time. And they sort of are. When I moved back in 2006, I lived just a few blocks from the Park and spent a lot of September and October days there. And on a November day, with my mom and aunt in tow, we hit the fountains right as the sun was setting, casting a glow on everything. My only regret is I didn't see them covered in snow.

Fountain Friday

National Gallery of Art

Washington, D.C.

I discovered this fountain my first summer on the Hill. It's not really tucked away or anything, I'd just never previously visited. A bench in the shade was perfectly situated nearby and I sat for awhile and read. While I prefer fancier fountains, with thinner streams of water, this one was still nice and the near-avalanches of water managed to make a soothing whooshing sound.

Fountain Friday

I only meant to take a short break from Fountain Friday since I was getting so lazy about writing about them. But then I forgot about them entirely. Oops. Now, as I need a break from serious writing, Fountain Friday is back.

 Triton und Nymph*

Volksgarten

Vienna, Austria

This was from our first evening in Vienna. We walked around Volksgarten admiring the beautiful landscaping and flowers. The thing I remember most about this fountain and the whole area was the sun. It was just starting to set and seemed to be right on top of us, with light emanating from every surface. There were lots of roses and with the help of the sun this fairly simple fountain suddenly had a beautiful glow to it.

Shortly after this photo my friend and I had someone take ours. I was wearing a UNC shirt and our photographer mumbled "Go Duke" under his breath. This came a day after a tour in Munich where our Irish tour guide was a Duke grad. Those Blue Devils, sadly, really get around.

*I'm 99% positive this is the name and location of this fountain. Even though in all the pictures that come up in a Google search it looks far less pretty than here. So I guess I hit it at a good time.

Fountain Friday

July 2005

September 2009

World War II Memorial

Washington, D.C.

"Here in the presence of Washington and Lincoln, one the eighteenth century father and the other the nineteenth century preserver of our nation, we honor those twentieth century Americans who took up the struggle during the second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: a nation conceived in liberty and justice."

Fountain Friday

Trafalgar Square

London, England

"When the square was first built in 1845, the fountains' primary purpose was not aesthetics, but rather to reduce the open space available and the risk of riotous assembly." (Wikipedia)


Fountains: 1
Riotous activity: 0*
Pigeons: 44 bajillion


*Not really 0 as there are still frequent demonstrations and protests in the area. But fountains still get the advantage, in my opinion.

Fountain Friday

Lustgarten Fountain near Berliner Dom

Berlin, Germany

Fountain Friday

Bayshore Mall

Grand Cayman