Panoramas, White Horse Beach, Massachusetts, and, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

I have always been partial to panoramas - and today's cameras usually have the feature built-in instead of having to buy an expensive lens. Above, White Horse and Priscilla Beaches at low tide with my trusty Sony point-and-shoot.



And by twisting the camera on its axis as I arc it through the panoramic range, I can get this fish-eye effect. Granted, the quality is not as good as an expensive wide-angle lens but, it suits me okay. Above, the State Capitol building in Providence, Rhode Island.

Sign Art, Newport, Rhode Island, USA

I understand both the text and the image on this sign - as would any idiot who walks along the cliff edge.  What I don't understand is why and who decided that the unfortunate example of falling would be a bow-legged stick figure.  It looks more like he got bucked off a horse. Maybe he came from a rodeo sign and they just had an extra lying about.  Just wondering............

A Summer Cottage: The Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island, USA

Calling the Breakers a "summer cottage" is comparable to saying that Bill Gates has some extra cash - a colossal understatement.  The Vanderbilt family's extreme wealth created this opulent and decadent "summer cottage" on the waterfront in Newport, Rhode Island. The 70- room summer house was built at the turn of the 20th century, complete with hot and cold running fresh and salt water taps.  Today it is a designated National Historic Landmark, administered by the Preservation Society of Newport County, and open to the public for tours. (Note: no photos are permitted inside the house).

This is a view of the cottage on the narrow side of the building - the front was too big for my little camera to fit it all in the picture frame.  (Not really, I'm just being snarky. This side was in better light).

I got a crick in my neck looking up at the top of their wrought iron main gate it was so tall.

And this is the main driveway view of the house after passing through the gargantuan gate. Looks more like an Ivy League university admissions building than a summer house.

A big cottage needs a big yard for the children to play - or should I say with a feigned air of snootiness, an expansive lawn for the children to frolic about with their nannies after tea and finger sandwiches have been served on fine china and linen. (Click on the photo to expand panorama view.)

 Needless to say, none of their porches, decks, railings, nor balusters were made of pressure treated wood.

Build with stone, build forever.

And speaking of porches, or, as the Vanderbilts would say, the loggia - beautiful marble columns support the roof covering.

 And what self-respecting loggia would be seen without young studs draped over the archway.

This sculptured light post figure on the driveway has felt the fingers of countless visitors - none of whom seemed able to resist rubbing her nose as they walked past.

As F. Scott Fitzgerald said, yes, the rich are different from you and me.  I don't know what Bill Gates' house looks like but, it is reportedly 66,000 square feet inside compared to this Vanderbilt summer home "cottage" which is 65,000 square feet.  I just read that San Francisco, California, is considering allowing legal apartment size to decrease from 290 to 220 square feet, smaller than a Vanderbilt closet I would guess. Yep, the rich are different - they have a lot more money.