Newport Beach Weekend

Today I want to share my rainy weekend spent in sunny southern California. After a long drought, the abrupt and violent storm was a hot topic of conversation in Newport Beach, second only to the developments in Ukraine.

Due to the rain, our visit to the beautiful Huntington Library and Garden was limited. In a way, we were lucky, because we were able to focus on the museums amazing collections undistracted. We saw one of several copies of the Gutenberg Bible; a copy of the Declaration of Independence, which was owned by George Washington himself; and the original manuscript of Jack London’s “the Sea Wolf”, charred and burned by the 1906 San Francisco fire and earthquake.

Huntington collected European and early American portraits, and the museum’s collection was formidable. Pinkie, and The Blue Boy were the pride of the European section. The American art featured George Washington in several majestic poses, as well as the painting entitled “Western Brothers”, but John Singleton, which I have included below.

On Sunday, the weather cleared up. We managed to take a bike ride and enjoy the up and coming Belmont Shore area of Long Beach.

On the way to the airport we stopped at South Coast Plaza, which is one of the largest shopping centers in the U.S.  In fact, I have not seen so many exclusive boutiques all in one place. I went to Chanel being perhaps more curious about the prices than the products themselves...

Maybe, dear readers, you know why Americans, do not open wet umbrellas indoors?...

       

Long Beach

Huntington Gardens

                                                                        

                                                                

                                                                     

H.

Polish version and more photos:

www.dziendobryusa.blogspot.com