Nott What You'd Expected...

Chattsworth: The Rich and the Pour (rain pun....)

Today's trip to Chattsworth was wet, cold, and what I acutely described in the carride home as 'aloof'. Simply put, the property is amazing, expansive, elaborate, rich beyond measure, and because of its history and riches- downright pretentious and unlivable.
-A view of Chattsworth from across the widened river.....

The grounds are amazing- designed by landscape designer Capability Brown (sidenote: i'm naming my first born child Capability).... every tree is planted with an intent, the river was moved and widened to show the reflection of the house, every path meticulously planned, and even lakes and ponds planted with reason. We were given 2 hrs to wander around the grounds before lunch in the small town adjacent to the property, and we made good use of our time...

The duke was jealous that the Czar of Russia had an aquaduct, so he had one built....Staring Contest- you win, you always do....
Lunch was, as is custom with the Muggli clan, somewhat fancier than necessary. Cold chicken with plums and dates, cous cous with mint, cucumber mousse, followed by tea and an apple casserole dessert.... good, but rich....

Fancy a Hunt? About 30 horses and 20 hounds were out for a hunt when we walked back to the house....

Our tour of the house was quick, and filled with priceless art and artifacts.... ancient egyptian sculptures, Turkish gondolas, giant lifelike statues, and enough gold plating, candles and molded plaster to make a person with any kind of moderate taste want to puke.

The giftshop itself was full of greek statues, scattered around as if there was no better place to put them...

LOST Season 2 Finale, anyone?
The gardens afterwards provided no solice from the driving rain, and i was soaked and cold in seconds. Awesome temporary sculptures from Keith Haring, Joan Muiro, Salvador Dali and other contemporary sculptors made up for the rain, but tea and cheesecake with Mary and Emily was a good break..
Robert Indiana's LOVE
Giant Metallic Miles Davis (backside here) Keith Haring, with some British foliage in the background, changing colors for once....My favorite, Salvador Dali....amazing sculpture, with balances.....
All in all, it really reminded me of Alnwick Castle- full of unnecessary but elaborate and fancy decoration, completely unlivable and unpractical. It's easy to understand why a place like it exists- to protect the style of life that existed in the past- but the sheer decadence and expense is almost laughable... i think that the presence of a giftshop where the old servant's chambers says it all....
Little kids hate rain.....

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Otherwise, tomorow i have a field trip with Brandon to the Peaks District for our Physical Landscapes class- it should be interesting to say the least- we don't know anyone in the class, and so far the class has been pretty random and over our heads.... hopefully it provides a little more substance and context for what we need to be learning over the next few weeks, because right now it feels like the class is moving a little quickly and very erratically....

Tuesday our journals are due for Luther classes here, and aside from the fact that this blog is chock full of info, it's not really appropriate.. last time i recieved comments like 'remember your audience' after making the statement 'hey eda, you'll think this is cool'....wish me luck, it's bound to take all day....

posted by Kevin @ 8:54 PM