Stairways

This post is about stairways. I've told readers of this blog in the past that stairways appeal to me. Maybe that sounds strange. What kind of goof likes stairways after all?  Geez. They go up. They go down. They take you from one place to another.  Big deal. Get a life, pal.  

Well, I'd respond by saying that it is because I've had a very interesting life that I like stairways. I've seen a bunch of them over the years that took me to really interesting places. And some of them were pretty cool just because of their history. Some of them I was able to follow, and some I could only glimpse their progess. Here are a few of my favorites.

• The stairway down to the boiler room at Wakefield High School. My dad took us down there just once, but we got to see the tunnels under the school where provisions were stored in case of a nuclear attack. We also saw the tunnel that connected to the orchestra pit door at the Wakefield Community Building, about a quarter mile away.

• The stairway down into a copper mine near Calumet, Michigan. We went only to the first level underground. I think there were 17 levels farther down that became flooded after the mine closed down and its deep pumps turned off. 

• The stairway down to the Apostle Paul's prison cell in Rome. Stone steps worn down toward the center from centuries of foot traffic. This is one where the stairway itself was amazing. 

• The stairway down to Rome's catacombs. The coolness and mustiness that rose up and surrounded us as we descended are what I remember most. They went deep.   

• The ramp (almost like a stairway) that led down to tunnels under the University of Madrid in Spain. The opening was large and left unguarded. I wanted so badly to wander down and see what was down there, but I never did. Franco's Guardia Civil ruled the city and intimidated me from attempting such a foolhardy act. 

• (the best one of all) A narrow steep staircase that started behind the altar at the Cathedral in Sevilla, Spain. I was looking from one side toward the altar when a trap door opened and a monk climbed up and out. Can you even imagine the history and wonders that were down there?

• The spiral staircase that Jeanne and I literally ran up, because we had only 15 minutes before La Sagrada Familia, the Gaudi-designed Church in Barcelona, Spain closed for the day, and we had to return to Madrid in a few hours on the night train. 

• The staircase with curving walls that forced us to lean to the right as we climbed up along the underside of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.  

• The longest, deepest escalator I have ever seen. It started at the lowest level of the underground Metro (subway system) in Madrid, and went down from there. It looked to be twice or three times the length of a normal metro escalator and took me down to the very deepest tunnel, whose train ran to to the Casa de Campo Park outside Madrid. (I almost got arrested down there.) 

There are many more I could mention. 
I think too that the artist M. C. Escher might have had something to do with my appreciation of stairways.  

(this picture is only Escher-like, not the original 

For my post today, I have taken a few pictures of stairways I've come across here in Auckland. Are they as exciting as those I desribed to you above? No, of course not. But once you've realized that the unknown is at the top or bottom of a stairway, and the urge to experience that unknown comes upon you, you'll appreciate stairways like you might not have before. 

These stairways represent the unknown to me. I know a little bit of Auckland already, but most of it is still a mystery.  I watch, every day that I explore here, for the opportunity to climb or descend and discover its hidden places.   

When I saw this, I was reminded about walking up similar stairs, heading for, believe it or not, Dr. Gorilla's dental office in Wakefield when I was a kid. I still shudder. Not all my stairway experiences ended pleasantly. 

And this one is only slightly better. I looks very much like the staircase up to Dr. Frank's office where we got our flu shots. Since I was the oldest kid in the family, the doctor would start with me and work his way down the line. 

This one is much better. It feels a little like a Dr. Suess-ish like place to me.  It's the arch that does it. 

This set of stairs gets smaller as it goes up, adding to the illusion of stairs disappearing into the distance.  

Lots of light and a feeling of openess at the top of these. Like reaching the summit of a hill and breaking free of the surrounding forest.  

Looks classy, doesn't it? Those steps give me the impression of flowing...very slowly.  I wish that they looked worn in the centers to add to the illusion of movement.

Same stairs, closer up. Look at that door at the top. What do you suppose is up there, that needs locking up?
And the gate makes the Safety Director part of me question the wisdom of that kind of closure.   

This takes you from an alley off Queen Street up to Mills Lane. 

This is on a wall on K' Road. I think that it was origianlly a pattern of Escher's. I think it qualifies as a stairway photo. I wish someone would paint figures on it climbing or descending in all three dimensions.  I once had a dream in which I saw a single axel, enclosed trailer with this pattern all over it. 

Well, I don't know if I convinced you with this post that stairways can be cool. Do you have any that come to mind that you've climbed?                                   -djf

"Much Ado About Nothing"

This is the Pop Up Globe's farewell season in Auckland and we are back to it this evening to see Much Ado About Nothing.  The producers of this presentation have adapted Shakespeare's play just a little by placing it in a South Pacific setting.  

The evening is a beautiful one. Clear skies and a temperature of about 21 (70 degrees F) make it ideal. It won't be too hot inside.  

We're going to be sorry to see the P. U. Globe go. It's has become familiar and very comfortable to us. We will be attending one more performance here in a few weeks, Romeo and Juliet. 

A entertaining night out is always fun, so sit back and let your finger click your way through the bright lights and excitement of this action-packed comedy.   

 We always arrive early so that we can enjoy a beverage or other treats and wander around the grounds for a while.  

 Jeanne and I have seats. This is the view across the Groundling area where you can see Allie and the boys discussing matters. Notice the steps just behind them. 

A great deal of action takes place when characters either enter or leave the stage through the Groundling area so the boys are often within touching distance of the performing characters. In fact, during this performance, Arram was high-fived by Don John (the villain) 

 That's Benedick on the swing.

 You might describe Beatrice as 'lively.' 

It's intermission and I'm outside to buy Jeanne a glass of wine. 

 The boys also used the break to find some ice cream.

 Benedick and Beatrice finally get down to business and discuss their true feelings for one another. 

Shakespeare wrote these two as clowns in his original play. In this adaptation, they took the form of two bumbling, hyper-active constables. (I think one of them thought he was Jim Carrey) They appeared and disappeard just as quickly, throughout the performance, and sometimes in surprising ways.  

 At the end of the play, when everyting turns out happily, bubbles were released.  

 The crowd loved it. (That's Arram's hand extended) 

 The cast

Traffic looks heavy, but there were no delays and we made it home easily. 

I know that the boys will always remember these, their first tastes of Shakespeare's plays as they go through life. At some point they'll undoubtedly study Shakespeare's works in some class and I hope they smile as they remember our adventures.    -djf

Mt. Victoria

It has been a while since I dragged you up the side of a volcano. (This one is dormant)  What do you say? Will you follow me as I travel to this cone that lies just a stone's throw away from North Head?  It's just across the harbor from downtown Auckland. Devonport sits at it's feet. I have lots of nice pictures.

Good. It'll be easy. All you have to do is click and pay a minimum of attention. I had to climb the thing on a hot day. You'll see that it's quite a bit higher than North Head, and if you asked Dianne, she would tell you that it's no picnic climbing that one. She knows. 

So lets go...

I have already walked from home to the Sturges Road Train Station and taken the Western Line to Britomart. I then took the ferry you see tied up there and am now in Devonport. 

I turn around and see my goal. That's Mt. Victoria. 

 I'm heading up the main street and will start my climb in just a couple of blocks.

From this point on it's all uphill.

Ah, I like this. I won't have to share the road I've been following anymore. 

I'm getting close to the top now and look what I see. This has got to be some cool place I can explore. I even have my head lamp with me. I can't wait.  

Think again. It turned out to be a World War Two bunker all right, but it was closed. The Folk Music Club of Auckland uses it to practice in. Good acoustics no doubt. 

How do you like that? Why do they put a sign along the road that gets my hopes up, and then lead me to a locked door. Hmmph.

I'm hot and sweaty and out of breath, and now I'm mad besides, as only a 68 year old kid who didn't get his way can be. 

(And no, I'm not joining the Folk Music Club.) 

I'm almost at the top and you can already see how much higher I am than North Head. 

At least there is a 'Disappearing Gun' to look at. 

 Don't need my head lamp here. 

 What must it have been like to fire such a monster?  The men must have gone deaf and I'll bet the concussion was terrific.  

I'm on my way back down and overlooking Devonport. At the top is the ferry terminal.  

 The trip down is shaded and lots easier than going up. 

 These remind me a little of sweet william flowers. 

 I saw this on the way up, but didn't want to stop then. This is a home that is rented out to visiting New Zealand writers.

 Very Cool.

I've shown you this fig tree before but I can't pass it without taking another picture. 

 I have about 15 minutes before my ferry arrives and it's low tide, so I've come down to the beach below the terminal building to look around. 

 Gentle waves...

 ...but raucous gulls. (Is there any other kind?)

On our way back, I spotted this jet-boat returning with a load of scrambled tourists.  Not my kind of ride. I've watched it do lots of 360's. 

 We are approaching the Ferry Building.  I've had a good hike, but I'm tired. I hope you enjoyed coming along.           -djf