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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Walking Around Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas

After visiting the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Eric and I walked around the Southern Methodist University Campus.









Laura Lee Blanton Hall

























Pillars support the dome atop
the Edwin L. Cox School
of Business Building



















Southern Methodist
University is celebrating
its centennial


























Each decorated horse
represents a different
SMU Class.























Meadows Museum







Rippling scuplture in front
of the Meadows Museum








This is a beautiful campus to
walk around.



George W. Bush Presidential Museum at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas







George W. Bush Presidential 
Library & Museum on
the Southern Methodist
University Campus in Dallas









Accomplishments of the
George W. Bush Administration









Crisis Management features
Hurricane Katrina










The problem, the crisis
& the solution are
available to review.












hosted sports teams
at the White House.










accomplishments are
represented at the library.






A scale model of the
Oval Office.

Get your picture taken
at the President's desk.










A copy of the Rembrandt Peale
portrait of George Washington
in the Oval Office.






I got our Presidential Library and Museum Passport stamped.  We will visit the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library in College Station and the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin as we continue our travels in Texas.

Visiting Dealey Plaza, the Site of President Kennedy's Assassination in Dallas, Texas

November 22, 1963, the day the United States was plunged into mourning following the assassination of  President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas.

I am grateful to be able to visit historic places across our country as we travel.  The place where a president was violently taken from us is a very sad place.  Even with the thrum of traffic, this is a quiet, solemn experience.

On the morning of November 22, President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird along with Texas Governor John Connally and his wife Nellie visited Fort Worth.  After the morning visit, the couples flew into Love Field.  The Kennedys and the Connallys were seated an open convertible.  Vice President Johnson and his wife were seated in another car.   The motorcade began the 10 mile motorcade to downtown Dallas.









The cars turned off Main Street
 at Dealey Plaza









The motorcade passed the 
Texas Book Depository
around 12:30 pm.





Shots rang out.  President Kennedy had been shot in the head and neck.  He slumped over onto Jacqueline.

Governor John Connally was also hit by a bullet.  The motorcade sped off to Parkland Memorial Hospital.  President Kennedy was pronounced dead at 1:00 pm.  Governor Connally survived his wounds.

Our country was plunged into mourning.  Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson took the oath of office with widowed Jacqueline Kennedy at his side.  




Many hours were devoted to
questioning witnesses, some of
whom reported gun shots
coming from the Grassy Knoll

Eric reading a plaque at
the Grassy Knoll.






While preparations were being made for President Kennedy's funeral, the search was on for the President's killer.  Several witnesses stated they saw Lee Harvey Oswald  near the sixth floor of the Texas Book Depository that morning.  A rifle with his palm print was found during a search of the  Depository.   Oswald was arrested and charged with the murder of President Kennedy and Dallas Police Officer J.D. Tippit, the officer who stopped and questioned him shortly after the shooting.

President Kennedy's body laid in state in the White House on November 23.

On November 24, Lee Harvey Oswald was being moved from Dallas Police Headquarters to a more secure county jail.  He and officers were in the basement of Police Headquarters with police and members of the press with live television cameras witnessing the move.  Jack Ruby stepped from the crowd, pulled a gun, shot
and killed Oswald.

President Kennedy's funeral was held on November 25.  Americans and the entire world watched as he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Conspiracy theories started to circulate following Grassy Knoll witness testimony and Ruby's murder of Lee Harvey Oswald.  The Warren Commission was impaneled and its results were delivered to President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 24, 1964.

Conspiracy theories were not put to rest.  Numerous books, documentaries and films have been written and produced on various theories surrounding President Kennedy's assassination.

On November 22, 2013, the fiftieth anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination will be solemnly commemorated in Dallas, all over the United States and around the world.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Walking Around Downtown Dallas, Texas








We got off the DART
Train near the
Plaza of the Americas.










Reflected building











A beautiful church







Dallas is a very walkable city.  Eric and I left the Arts District and walked into the West End Historic District.  Some of the streets get chopped up as we walked under highways.  Eric has an excellent sense of direction.











I like the curved aspect
of one of these buildings.










More reflected buildings










Window washers are
suspended on the side
of the blue glass building.















Prevost makes premium
tour buses.










Just part of the Dallas
skyline.








Perot Museum of
Science & Nature



















It's obvious that I have a
thing for reflected buildings.

The Dallas Museum of Art

The Dallas Museum of Art is generously supported by individuals, foundations and corporations.  All visitors have access to the museum at no charge.  Fees are charged for special exhibitions.

The collections are amazing!  Here are my favorites:










An Ancestor Effigy Post
from Peru
circa 1476-1534 AD











Mask with Seal or Otter Spirit
from the Yukon area of Alaska
19th Century







The Conversion of Saint Paul
by Benjamin Ward
circa 1786










Portrait of George Washington
by Rembrandt Peal
circa 1850










Mahogany, Mother-of Pearl,
Ivory & Tortoiseshell
from Goa, India
circa 1680-1700








This bowl with lid was made to
store ritual items.

It is from Nigeria.
circa 1880-1954







Carved panel of red sandstone
from India
18th Century








Conch Shell used in Hindu
& Buddhist rituals













Buddhist Jeweled Plaque
from Nepal made of copper,
coral & jewels
18th - 19th Century

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Our Train Ride into Downtown Dallas, Texas

Eric drove us to the Parker Road Station, north of Plano, to get the train into downtown Dallas.









The DART system includes
bus routes into Dallas.








Bikes are stored in individual
weather proof "pods."









Eric buys our tickets.

We can travel the trains all
day for $5.00 per person.













We pass a large field
behind a strip mall.













A car waits for the train 
to pass.








Eric has time to check
his smart phone.









We pass a trailer.








Skyscrapers come
into view.








We see an overpass
above Route 75.












And pass Lovers Lane










We got off the train at
Pearl Street, next to the