Lili on the Loose - Lili on the Loose: On Life and Getting Lost

3 04, 2017

Museum Monday: Queen Amidala at the Denver Art Museum

By Lili|April 3rd, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, costume, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, North America, Padmé, Padmé Amidala, Queen Amidala, Star Wars, Star Wars and the Power of Costume, USA|0 Comments

The original costumes from Star Wars are iconic. And while the prequals have (many) faults, the costumes aren't one of those. Queen Amidala played by Natalie Portman had numerous detailed costumes, here are just a few displayed at the Denver Art Museum as part of Star Wars: The Power of Costume. One of the first costume's you'll see is the red Queen Amidala costume. The bottom bulbs used to light up and the entire platform moved. It's hard to tell, but Natalie Portman must be pretty small. This is another famous costume, with a very large and heavy headdress. Also on display are the

1 04, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Suckered into Buying Papyrus

By Lili|April 1st, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, bargaining, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, hustle, Middle East, papyrus, papyrus museum, shopping, souvenir|1 Comment

One thing I didn't think I'd get in Egypt was Papyrus. I didn't think I'd find anything I'd want to display, and I had always seen cast-off papyrus at second-hand stores like Goodwill. But, when you are there in the moment you get caught up...and guilted. You see, our group stopped at a "Papyrus Museum" (aka showroom) on our way to Alexandria. They showed us how Papyrus is made, and then each one of us were allowed to look around. Except in Egypt, "looking around" means you get adopted by one of the many employees eager for a sell. An

31 03, 2017

Cathedral at the Rock of Cashel

By Lili|March 31st, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Travel|Tags: 2009, at the heart of it Ireland 2009, Cashel, Cathedral, CIE, County Tipperary, Europe, Ireland, Moor, Photo Friday, Rock of Cashel, ruins|0 Comments

Inside the ruins of the cathedral area at the Rock of Cashel. According to Wikipedia: In 1749 the main cathedral roof was removed by Arthur Price, the Anglican Archbishop of Cashel. Price's decision to remove the roof on what had been the jewel among Irish church buildings was criticized before and since. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

27 03, 2017

Travel Missteps: The Runaway Snowboard

By Lili|March 27th, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: Colorado, Loveland, North America, Ski, Snowboard, USA|0 Comments

Source What I'm going to say is going to shock you. I don't like to ski or snowboard. I know, I live in Colorado know for its amazing ski resorts in the winter, and great hiking/camping in the summer. But I'm not really an outdoorsy type person. I'll push myself when traveling, but at home...I'd rather do art or curl up with a book. Now part of the reason I don't do outdoorsy stuff is because I have really bad ankles, of which I have collective sprained hundreds of times. I'm just too injury prone. Take for example

24 03, 2017

Irish Thistle

By Lili|March 24th, 2017|Categories: Nature & Outdoors, Photography, Travel|Tags: 2009, at the heart of it Ireland 2009, CIE, Europe, Ireland, Photo Friday, purple, Thistle|0 Comments

I love this photo, as its one of my best unintentional depth of field style photo, where some parts are in focus and others are not. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

23 03, 2017

How to Prepare your Home for Travel

By Lili|March 23rd, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Tips|Tags: home, Prep, Travel Thursday|0 Comments

Getting your Home Vacation Ready To give yourself peace of mind while you are away, there are a few things to attend to before you leave. Secure Entrances Lock all windows and doors, and for sliding doors and windows consider a stick or long piece of wood to help secure them in place. Remove any spare or hidden keys and move keys out of reach if someone makes it inside. You may also consider disabling the garage door opener, and make sure to lock the inner garage door. Protect Valuables Keep valuables out of site or even move them to

20 03, 2017

Museum Monday: Star Wars at the Denver Art Museum

By Lili|March 20th, 2017|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: Colorado, costume, DAM, Denver, Denver Art Museum, North America, Star Wars, Star Wars and the Power of Costume, USA|0 Comments

At first it might seem strange, an art museum hosting a Star Wars exhibit. But Denver Art Museum curated the exhibit to focus on the creative process, art, and detail of more than 70 costumes and other props from this iconic franchise. DAM wants to embrace pop culture and show that it too can be fine art. Here are just a handful of my favorites! Duel of Fates! They did a good job of showing the costume evolution and details of various Jedi/Sith characters, including details of their lightsabers (and the ability to turn them on and off!) Luke lurks

18 03, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Starlight

By Lili|March 18th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: 2015, Africa, Cairo, Call to Prayer, Dream of Egypt, Egypt, Egypt Explorer, G Adventures, Gadventures, GAP, Islamic Cairo, Khan el Khalili, Lamp, market, Middle East, Muslim, prayer, Souq, Star Lamp, UNESCO, UNESCO World Heritage Site|0 Comments

I've told the story of trying to buy a lamp right as the call to prayer started, this is that lamp. I really wanted a star shaped lamp, and I loved that this one had stars and moons imprinted on it to spread the light. Although the purchasing of it was comically awkward... Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

17 03, 2017

Sphere

By Lili|March 17th, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Travel|Tags: 2009, Arnaldo Pomodoro, at the heart of it Ireland 2009, Dublin, Europe, Ireland, Photo Friday, Sphere, statue, Trinity College|0 Comments

Sphere Within Sphere is a statue by Arnaldo Pomodoro. There are actually multiple versions of this statue of various sizes around the world. This one is outside the Trinity College Dublin. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

13 03, 2017

Travel Missteps: On the Wrong Foot

By Lili|March 13th, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: 2009, Abbey Tavern, at the heart of it Ireland 2009, dancing, Dublin, Europe, Ireland, jig, music|0 Comments

On our last night in Ireland we went to a tavern for "traditional" Irish music and dance. It was a long banquet hall, with tables facing the stage area. While we ate we listened to ballads and music. Then it came time to watch the dancing. They whirled and jigged about. After a few songs they then went out into the crowd and grabbed volunteers. Of course my family pushed me up. Me: klutzy and injury prone and not graceful. Everyone laughed as I struggled to keep up with the dancers. Although I felt like a fool, I played along.