Welcome to a Room with a View

Mr. Hunter would like to share with you a bit of the bliss

that comes from waking up in in Florence, Italy.

How you pad across the darkened room, 

how you reach up to unlatch the heavy white interior shutters,

and there, just outside your window,

the glory of your particular view.

The sun is rising over the bell towers, over the red rooftops of Florence.

You are on holiday here. You have the chance to ask yourself:

How shall I spend this delicious day?

Buongiorno!

                        

Here's a longer look at the morning view,

this time featuring a hint of the Duomo and the Palazzo Vecchio

and, ah, the chiming church bells!

Florence, Italy

October 2016

The Everlasting Why

Flat Mr. Hunter was flat-out tickled to find this cucumber in the shape of a question mark at the farmer's market the other day.  Fans of the film A Room with a View might understand his excitement.

"Make my boy realize that, at the side of the everlasting "why," 

there is a "yes." And a "yes" and a "yes!"

(one of Mr. Emerson's immortal lines from the delicious 1985 film A Room with a View,

screenplay adaptation by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala)

July 2013

Honeymooning in Croatia

Mr. Hunter got a taste of paradise on the Adriatic Sea 

when he tagged along on Becky and Brian's honeymoon.

Here he is apres swim, wrapped up cozily in a towel at the hotel pool in Split.

Here he is in Split again, waiting for the ferry to Hvar.

Thanks for taking Mr. Hunter on his first trip to the Balkans, Becky!

Split, Croatia

May 2013

On a Shark Diving Cruise

So, Flat Mr. Hunter and his friend Gail flew to Ensenada, Mexico last fall, boarded a small boat, and headed far out into the Pacific Ocean.  Their purpose?  To go on a great white shark dive!  

Gail's the one who actually did the diving.  Flat Mr. Hunter is certainly intrepid and waterproof enough to go diving with great white sharks, but he didn't want his laminated self to end up causing any trouble for divers or sharks, so he stayed on the boat.  He did pose for a few pictures with the shark cage and the home port of Ensenada, just so the rest of us could get a taste of their adventures.

Swimming with sharks is not advised!

One of the great white sharks Gail saw while diving.

Flat Mr. Hunter tried to sneak onto the shark diving cage.

Great white shark swim-by.

Heading out to sea from the port of Ensenada.

Thanks to Gail for letting Flat Mr. Hunter tag along on an adventure unlike any other!

M/V Islander

Pacific Ocean

near Guadalupe Island, Baja California

Mexico

September 2013

Official site for Islander Charters's Great White Shark Diving Excursions -

http://www.islander-charters.com/shark-diving/shark-diving-home.shtml

Senor Hunter and La Sagrada Familia

Flat Mr. Hunter admires the gothic side of La Sagrada Familia, which has a nativity scene

Mr. Hunter's keeper has longed to visit Gaudi's famed Barcelona cathedral ever since she saw Irving Penn's marvelous photo of a funeral procession passing in front of La Sagrada Familia.

Funeral Cortège in front of La Sagrada Familía
Irving Penn
Thanks to the Pebbles From Paradise blog.

Flat Mr. Hunter and the austere Passion facade

Beautiful!  Mr. Hunter can't wait to see this cathedral with his own wooden eyes.  A big "Gracias!" to Liz for taking Flat Mr. Hunter to Barcelona in the meantime.

La Sagrada Familia

Barcelona, Spain

June 2011

Self-Driving Cars and Trucks and Things That Go

Flat Mr. Hunter and I spotted one of Google's self-driving cars the other day.  Every other time I've seen one, I haven't had a chance to see if there was someone in the driver's seat.  (I think I was hoping there wouldn't be!)  

But this time I saw the self-driving car close-up, and there was indeed a driver at the helm.  He was getting ready to parallel park, and I felt a little disappointed somehow when I saw this driver turning the steering wheel.  Oh well!  Flat Mr. Hunter and I were still glad to have a closer look at the, um, newfangled contraption.  

And Mr. Hunter was especially intrigued to hear about this sighting, considering that it's the kind of car that he could theoretically drive around in on his own.  

Each time I've seen these self-driving cars, I've noticed a spinning, bucket-shaped thing on top.  With the car parked, I got to study what this gray object (part of the car's laser radar system) looks like when it's still.  

A closer look at the laser range finder system. 

A peek inside the car.  What does the red button do?

The friendly yellow car in the logo reminds me the Richard Scarry character, Goldbug.
Which is appropriate, since Goldbug plays a pivotal role in Scarry's classic book
Cars and Trucks and Things That Go.

Certainly the driverless car is the sort of vehicle that Mr. Hunter could actually, you know, drive.  He says, "Sign me up!" 

Mountain View, California

July 2013

_______________________

Wikipedia page on the Google driverless car -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_driverless_car

Hail Mr. Hunter!

Mr. Hunter loves the rain, so his representative, Flat Mr. Hunter, was excited one afternoon last May when it unexpectedly started hailing.  

Since he's laminated, Flat Mr. H had no problem lying down and enjoying a lovely spring shower.

Here he is, showering...

May 2011

Queen Flat Mr. Hunter Amidala

Mr. Hunter plays dress up with an elaborate Queen Amidala costume.

October 2009

Angry Bird, Happy Mr. Hunter

Flat Mr. Hunter was impressed 

when he spotted this gigantic Angry Birds plush in a store.

The big red bird may have been angry, 

but Flat Mr. Hunter kept a smile on his face and a happy gleam in his eyes.

May 2011

Mr. Hunter and Mr. Lombardi

Steve took Flat Mr. Hunter along on a road trip to Lambeau Field in the "frozen tundra" of Wisconsin to see the Oakland Raiders play the Green Bay Packers, who were still on their extended winning streak.

Flat Mr. Hunter pays his respects to the coach.

Steve and Co. had seats on the 50.

Lambeau Field

Green Bay, Wisconsin

December 2011

Vacances à Ixtapa

Flat Mr. Hunter (aka Monsieur Hunter) vacationed in Mexico this spring.  A Mr. Hunter first!  

The lovely Helene gave him a taste of resort life in Ixtapa.

Ixtapa, Mexico

May 2011

Où est Monsieur Hunter? - La réponse

Where was Flat Mr. Hunter when he sat in the palm of this blissed-out statue?

Taking it easy in Ixtapa, Mexico and vacationing with Helene.

Ixtapa, Mexico

May 2011

Où est Monsieur Hunter?

Flat Mr. Hunter was vacationing with Helene--one of his favorite traveling companions--when he encountered this happy-looking sculpture.  

Where do you suppose this meeting took place?

(Hint: it was someplace warm.  

And not someplace where they speak French!)

Here's the post with the answer.

Somewhere

May 2011

Travels with Steve: Singapore's Merlion

2008 was a good year for flat friends of Mr. Hunter and Merlions in Singapore.  First, Ghetto Mr. Hunter posed with Merlions big and small when he visited Singapore with Teresa.  A few months later, Steve brought his Flat Mr. Hunter to see the original Merlion.

Merlion Park

Singapore

November 2008

Travels with Steve: Figures on the Wall

One of these figures is a relatively new--and temporary--addition 

to this lovely wall near the edge of Fort Canning in Singapore.

Fort Canning

Singapore

November 2008

Travels with Steve: Jurong Bird Park

Feeding time!

Flat Mr. Hunter got up close and personal with a colorful Lory

when he and Steve toured Jurong Bird Park in Singapore.

Mr. Hunter looks like he's enjoying the encounter!

Jurong Bird Park

Singapore

November 2008

Travels with Steve: Sri Mariamman Temple

Flat Mr. Hunter had a chance to see the Sri Mariamman Temple 

when he explored Singapore with Steve.

Sri Mariamman Temple

Singapore

November 2008

Three Faces in Singapore

I'm a big fan of this photo that Steve took when he brought 

his Flat Mr. Hunter to the National Orchid Garden in Singapore.

The Mist House

National Orchid Garden

Singapore

November 2008

Mr. Hunter Would Just as Soon Pose with a Wookiee

Flat Mr. Hunter encountered a big walking carpet when he went to see Star Wars in Concert.

It was the official Chewbacca costume!

Chewie!

Star Wars in Concert

October 2009

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