Well…maybe not a voyage, just a car trip. But since it took us more than $60 to fill our tank for the first time, it felt more like the cost of an ocean crossing!
We stayed overnight with two of our friends, Wes and Kristine, who live just a stone’s throw from one of my favorite stores, Trader Joe’s. They took us to a fabulous cupcake bakery for dessert simply called “Dozen.” I only had my iPhone with me:
They had the most delectable cupcakes there that I think I’ve ever eaten. If you’re ever close, you must go…it’s totally worth a detour!
The next morning, we went to an authentic French bakery that at least ten different people have mentioned to me on multiple occasions. We may have been a little skeptical at first, but one bite of the croissant and it was like food nirvana. It distracted me so much I didn’t even get a photo. But visit his website and you’ll see plenty. Amazing food. Just amazing.
Next, of course, we went by my dad and stepmom’s house, where we brought my little sister some clothes for an early birthday present. She was totally obsessed with taking them out of the bag, and then stuffing them back in. She finally posed…doesn’t she look like she’s a Baby Gap ad?
And then down to Shadyside to visit my favorite fruit store:
Followed by lunch at a little Peruvian café, after which Emily decided to model on the staircase:
Afterward, I went down to Pitt’s campus to take a few shots while Heather and Louise took Emily to a knitting store. I did some experimenting with vertical 180-degree shots…I’m calling them “vertiscapes.” Here’s one of the Heinz Chapel and Cathedral of Learning:
And another of the inside of the chapel (it’s really quite beautiful):
The rather imposing Cathedral of Learning (I swear it could look like something out of Gotham City from this angle):
And this curiosity outside the Carnegie Museum, hand-painted with all the letters of the alphabet:
I’m really only now beginning to fully understand the photographic possibilities of almost any place at all, and I’m now fully appreciating the ability to experiment and come up with something that I haven’t seen anyone else do before, particularly with an oft-photographed landmark!
A great and relaxing, though short, trip. More soon from Arts Fest 2008!
