Shelburne Falls

Mr. Hunter has been concerned to read news of the floods caused by Hurricane Irene, including floods that affected a favorite spot of his: Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, home of the Bridge of Flowers and the glacial potholes.

Mr. Hunter admires the glacial potholes
in quieter times on the Deerfield River.

Video of the flooding where the glacial potholes are usually visible:

What the glacial potholes usually look like.

This next video shows the Ann Brauer quilt studio being swept down the Deerfield River.  Sheesh.

What the Bridge of Flowers looked like in 2005.

Another view of the Bridge of Flowers, from September 2008.

And this is what you could see of the Bridge of Flowers after Hurricane Irene came through:

Mr. Hunter loves the Bridge of Flowers.

New England--and other places affected by Hurricane Irene--

we are thinking of you!

Bridge of Flowers and the Glacial Potholes

Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts

September 2008

Totoro!

December 2006

Meet Eugenia

You've seen some of the journeys Eugenia has taken with Mr. Flat.

Here's Eugenia posing with the original Mr. Hunter, 

along with another notable character: Kermit the Frog.

This reminds me.  Have you ever checked out the Kermit on Tour blog?

It's a fine, fine scrapbook of the journeys of another travel buddy.  

Eugenia's not posing with that particular globe-circling Kermit the Frog, 

but still.

June 2008

Mr. Flat at l'Arc de Triomphe

Mere months after the original Mr. Hunter paid a quick visit to l'Arc de Triomphe, Eugenia took Mr. Flat to Paris.  Here's the proof:

Mr. Hunter can never have too many visits to Paris!

l'Arc de Triomphe

Paris, France

July 2010

Mr. Flat Takes a Break in Venice

Flat Hunter cools off with a Caffe Shakerato at the Correr Museum's cafe in Venice with Eugenia and family.

Museo Correr

Piazza San Marco

Venice, Italy

July 2010

Mr. Flat Told the Truth!

Mr. Hunter was pleased when one of his flat compatriots 

(Eugenia's "Mr. Flat") visited a favorite spot in Rome: 

La Bocca della Verita, aka the Mouth of Truth

Here's the original Mr. Hunter at the Mouth of Truth back in June 2008.

La Bocca della Verita (the Mouth of Truth)

at the Basilica di Santa Maria in Cosmedin

Rome, Italy

July 2010

Meet Montel

You've seen the photos of Flat Mr. Hunter's "travels with Montel."

The real Mr. Hunter has posed a number of times with that noted theatre director, Montel Williams (aka Dave).  In this picture he took a peek into Dave's cube.

"I am NOT Montel Williams!"

October 2008

Travels with Montel: A Bit of Paris

Before his trip, Dave had consulted with Mr. Hunter's caretaker about places to visit in Paris. Well, among all the other Paris standouts, the caretaker also had fond memories of shopping at Brentano's on the Avenue de l'Opera back in 2007.  But when she looked up the address for Dave, she found out that Brentano's had since closed! 

 Damn.  One more bookstore gone out of business.

Brentano's est fermé.

The Eiffel Tower was, of course, open for business.

Avenue de l'Opera

et

Tour Eiffel

Paris, France

October 2009

Travels with Montel: London Sightseeing

More highlights from Flat Mr. Hunter's wanderings in London with Dave.

Posing with the lions at Trafalgar Square.

Dave and his compatriots
stumbled upon some random
Yahoo!-sponsored karaoke event.

With the Thames and the Tower Bridge

London, England

United Kingdom

October 2009

Travels with Montel: Onstage at The Globe

You didn't realize that Flat Mr. Hunter was a noted performer, did you?

Here he is, onstage at Shakespeare's Globe, 

under the direction of noted theatre director, Montel.

Shakespeare's Globe

London, England

United Kingdom 

October 2009

Travels with Montel: Right at Home at Stonehenge

"In ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, an ancient race of people... the Druids. No one knows who they were or what they were doing..." - Nigel Tufnel

In what seems like a moment of destiny,
Flat Mr. Hunter contemplated the mysteries of Stonehenge with Dave.

Looking at these photos reminds Mr. Hunter of that episode of The Amazing Race when the ever-quotable Vicki allowed as how, "This is the first time I’ve ever heard of Stonehenge, and I found out it’s a bunch of rocks."

Excellent!

Stonehenge

Wiltshire, England

United Kingdom

October 2009

Travels with Montel: Shakespeare's Birthplace

Flat Mr. Hunter joined in the rainy-day fun 

when Dave and his wife toured Shakespeare's birthplace.

Shakespeare's Birthplace

Stratford-upon-Avon

Warwickshire, England

United Kingdom

October 2009

Meet Lynlea

Here's the original Mr. Hunter posing with the fashionable Lynlea.

Thanks again for taking Flat Mr. Hunter to Israel, Lynlea!!

November 2008

Shwarma Shop in Israel

Flat Mr. Hunter enjoyed some good food in Haifa.

Here he is joining Lynlea and family for some shwarma.

Haifa, Israel

August 2010

An Oasis of Sweets in Israel

Lynlea took Flat Mr. Hunter to a sweet shop in Wadi Nisnas.

Flat Mr. Hunter will have one of everything!

Wadi Nisnas

Haifa, Israel

August 2010

Flat Mr. Hunter's First Visit to Israel

Lynlea took Flat Mr. Hunter to Haifa. 

It was the first time any Mr. Hunter had visited Israel. 

Very exciting!

The Golden Dome on the Shrine of the Bab was covered in scaffolding.

Baha'i Gardens and Golden Dome

Haifa, Israel

August 2010

Flat Mr. Hunter on Lake Erie

That's the reactor at Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station.

It seems appropriate that the sky is glowing.

Traveling with Suzi

Lake Erie

Ohio

July 2011

Hawaiian Views

Suzi's Flat Mr. Hunter traveled with her to Oahu.

Here he enjoys the beautiful water at Hanauma Bay.

At Spitting Cave.

Oahu, Hawaii

January 2011

Comic-Con 2011: Indiana Jones Costume

Flat Mr. Hunter was on hand when Mike ran into a guy dressed as Indiana Jones, and then who should show up but the woman who designed the classic Indy look: costume designer Deborah Nadoolman.  She also designed costumes for Animal House, The Blues Brothers, and Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video.

"Indiana Jones" shows off a precious artifact he discovered...

Cool!

Comic-Con International

San Diego, California

July 2011

Comic-Con 2011: Back to the Future Costumes

Flat Mr. Hunter's caretaker has a special connection to the movie, Back to the Future.

In fact, seeing these shirts from Back to the Future II reminds yours truly of getting to hang out in the costume trailer of the original Back to the Future, where her aunt the costumer was prepping Doc Brown's shirt and "torn" pants for that day's shoot, which included some close-up shots of Doc as he "dangled" from the face of the Clock Tower.

Mr. Hunter's caretaker still regrets that she wasn't in the habit of taking photos with Mr. H at that time.  Oh, well!  Here's a little Back to the Future costume action to make up for it!

Comic-Con International

San Diego, California

July 2011

Comic-Con 2011: The Silver Surfer

Flat Mr. Hunter and his friends 

have a special connection to the real Silver Surfer.

Not the real Silver Surfer, but still...

Comic-Con International

San Diego, California

July 2011

Comic-Con 2011: Star Wars Costumes

I suppose no Comic-Con experience would be complete without photos of women dressed up in Slave Princess Leia costumes...

Flat Mr. Hunter is positively glowing to be surrounded by such company.
(And is it just me, or does the middle girl look a bit like Martha Quinn?)

Suited up for an X-Wing mission.

Flat Mr. Hunter has taken over the Empire, apparently.

Comic-Con International

San Diego, California

July 2011

Comic-Con Figurines

Flat Mr. Hunter enjoyed posing with some of his favorite movie characters, 

most especially Indiana Jones.

Flat Mr. Hunter in the Well of Souls!

Another Indy figurine, with bonus Jack Sparrow.

Comic-Con International

San Diego, California

July 2011

Flat Mr. Hunter at Comic-Con 2011

Mike went to Comic-Con International this year, 

and he let Flat Mr. Hunter tag along!

(Thanks, Mike!)

Flat Mr. H was pleased to see Obi-Wan Kenobi...
but was Obi-Wan pleased to see him?

More Comic-Con moments to come...

Comic-Con International

San Diego, California

July 2011

Witness: Cotopaxi

On the short road from Hosteria La Cienega back to the Pan-American Highway, we came upon a lovely, wide view of the Cotopaxi volcano.  Throughout the day, Cotopaxi's snow-capped peak had been hidden mostly behind clouds, with occasional quick glimpses of the snow line.  

But the mountain still had such a presence for us.  It reminded me of Denise Levertov's wonderful poem, "Witness," which she wrote about another volcano: Mount Rainier in Washington.

Witness

Sometimes the mountain

is hidden from me in veils

of cloud, sometimes

I am hidden from the mountain

in veils of inattention, apathy, fatigue,

when I forget or refuse to go

down to the shore or a few yards

up the road, on a clear day,

to reconfirm

that witnessing presence.

Denise Levertov

The "witnessing presence" of Cotopaxi.

 Cotopaxi Volcano

Ecuador

June 2011

People I Have Asked: Wilson

Wilson was our guide for the first two days of our Ecuador visit.  We had a great time with him, even if he did try to throw Mr. Hunter into the fire!

Thanks, Wilson!!

Wilson put Mr. Hunter on the dashboard of his car
as we drove away from Hosteria La Cienega.

Hosteria La Cienega

Cotopaxi Province

Ecuador

June 2011