Top of the Rock

On a cool and hazy morning.

The glass-topped elevator provides a light show on the way up.  The colors change constantly.

 The Empire State Building lies to the south.

 Zoomed to the Statue of Liberty in the harbor.

 From up here you can tell that you're on an island.

 Times Square lies below to the southwest.

The park glistens as the sun breaks through the morning clouds.

And a second light show completes the journey back to earth.

More Beauty at the Met

Statuary in a central courtyard and more.

And the most beautiful example of stained glass I have ever seen:

I thought these should have been beer or wine spigots, but alas they are just for washing your hands.

And one more medieval piece with a religious theme, at which point my camera ran out of batteries.

Egyptian Antiquities at the Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC has an amazing collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts.  Entire tombs appear to have been disassembled, moved half-way across the world and reconstructed.  Part of me will always feel that things are better left where first found.  The other part says that there is only a 0.00001795% chance that I will ever visit Egypt and I am grateful to be able to enjoy these items first hand.

It's like being in the middle of an Ann Rice novel.  The King and Queen move slowly.

Stories . . .

Sarcophagus

Detail of foot of the sarcophagus.

Birds were an important symbol.

I see dead people.  They're everywhere.

The bottom picture could have been modern.

A wig made of human hair.

Beaded jewelry.

Drop spindles.  Still recognizable today.

Gold jewelry and shoes. Even gold finger covers.