Travels in the 2nd half

  My recent trip to Lisbon happened to take place at a time when most of the city’s major museums were simultaneously closed for renovations. While I missed the chance to see them, I took full advantage of the opportunity to visit some of Lisbon’s smaller, lesser known, but fascinating offerings. Today, I will take you on a tour of three homes, representing the lives of some of Lisbon’s prominent citizens. 
Museu Casa Dr. Anastasio Gonçalves   In 1905, Portuguese artist José Malhoa (1855-1933) moved into his newly built home and studio, an art nouveau house in the Avenidas Novas neighborhood. Malhoa was a leading painter in the naturalist style, and his success allowed to commission a very nice house. Portrait of Dr. Gonçalves by José Molhoa Malhoa sold the home in 1919, after the death of his wife. It passed through several owners until it was bought by Dr. Anastasio Gonçalves (1888-1965) in 1932. Gonçalves was an ophthalmologist, and a collector of artwork. Given the histor...

    Long before the era of the mega-amusement park with its large crowds and high prices, there were smaller, local parks.If you lived in Brooklyn, Coney Island was where you would go. In Queens, it was Rockaway Playland. But if you grew up in the northern part of New York City, or in Westchester County, Rye Playland still is the place to find the thrills a bumper car or a roller coaster can provide.   Opened in 1928 by the Westchester County Parks Department, its buildings were designed in the Art Deco style of that time. The park covers 280 acres, including a beach and pool for swimming on hot summer days, an 80 acre lake for boating, a large parking lot, and of course an amusement park for children of all ages. The park’s distinct style should be recognizable to anyone who saw the roller coaster scene in Fatal Attraction, or cried as Tom Hanks looked for the Zoltan game, and a return back to childhood, in Big.   Playland is a relatively small amusement park, with ...