TRAVEL: BRAZIL 2015

 RIO DE JANIERO

Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro

https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/brazil/articles/jardim-botanico-a-guide-to-rios-most-beautiful-garden/

http://visit.rio/en/que_fazer/botanicalgarden/

SAGUI MONKEY ON SURAGLOAF MOUNTAIN

we climbed halfway up then took the cable car to the other part to get to the redeemer statue

free Walking tour 

https://www.tourbyfoot.com/riodejaneiro/en?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk5OftuTc9gIViY1oCR3SxwyLEAAYASAAEgLJq_D_BwE

https://art-facts.com/rio-de-janeiro-cathedral-facts/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/rio-de-janeiro-cathedral

(Rio de Janeiro Cathedral) 

Catedral Metropolitana de São Sebastião do Rio de Janeiro

Carioca Aqueduct

 built in the middle of the 18th century to bring fresh water from the Carioca River to the population of the city

https://internationalgreeter.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk5OftuTc9gIViY1oCR3SxwyLEAAYAiAAEgLDVvD_BwE

Escadaria Selarón

125m in height with 215 steps by chilean artist Jorge Selarón

https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/brazil/articles/jorge-selar-n-creating-the-world-s-most-amazing-staircase-in-rio-de-janeiro/

https://rioandlearn.com/selaron-steps/

https://www.discoverwalks.com/blog/rio-de-janeiro/top-10-facts-about-escadaria-selaron-in-rio-de-janeiro/

https://freewalkertours.com

https://www.guruwalk.com/rio-de-janeiro

CHRIST THE REDEEMER 

The statue of Christ the Redeemer has become a symbolic protector of people. Like Jesus Christ, the statue protects the urban environment, like a roof over your head. Cristo Redentor is as important as any shelter. Christ the Redeemer provides protection for the soul.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-56710354

Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, created by French sculptor Paul Landowski and built by Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, in collaboration with French engineer Albert Caquot. Romanian sculptor Gheorghe Leonida fashioned the face . 90 m tall

Parque Nacional da Tijuca - Alto da Boa Vista, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil

https://strawberrytours.com/rio-de-janeiro/blog/the-story-behind-rio-s-christ-the-redeemer-statue

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christ-the-Redeemer

SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN 

https://www.civitatis.com/en/rio-de-janeiro/corcovado-sugarloaf-mountain/

 

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/two-rio-biggies-christ-redeemer-and_9/

COPACOBANNA

  

SALVADOR

Salvador, the capital of Brazil’s northeastern state of Bahia, is known for its Portuguese colonial architecture, Afro-Brazilian culture and a tropical coastline. The Pelourinho neighborhood is its historic heart, with cobblestone alleys opening onto large squares, colorful buildings and baroque churches such as São Francisco, featuring gilt woodwork. with a population of nearly 4 million. 

 https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Tourism-g303272-Salvador_State_of_Bahia-Vacations.html

 Pelourinho - UNESCO world heritage sight

 

Salvador's Cidade Alta (Upper Town)

Bahia culture 

The birthplace of samba and capoeira, Bahia is the country's pulsing epicenter of Afro-Brazilian culture. So while everyone is flocking to Rio and its famed Copacabana Beach to soak up the sun, head north to Bahia to soak up a warm, vibrant culture.

https://en.unesco.org/creativity/story/salvador-da-bahia-brazil

São Francisco

https://www.iheartbrazil.com/things-to-do-in-salvador-brazil/

Praça da Sé

 Cathedral Basilica of Salvador

Salvadoran culture is influenced by Native American culture (Lenca people, Cacaopera people, Maya peoples, Pipil people) as well as Latin American culture (Latin America, Hispanic America, Ibero-America). Mestizo culture and the Catholic Church dominates the country. 

El Salvador Celebrations include significant events such as Holy Week, the day of the cross, the July festivities, the August festival, the Nejapa balls of fire, independence day, all souls day, the national pupusa day, the San Miguel carnival, and Christmas.

https://en.unesco.org/creativity/story/salvador-da-bahia-brazil

https://oureverydaylife.com/what-kind-of-clothes-do-el-salvadorans-wear-12079541.html

Michael Jackson residense 

Foundation Casa de Jorge Amado

FAROL DE BARRA

The Lacerda Elevator

MORRO DE SAO PAULO 

Morro de São Paulo is a car-free village on the northeastern tip of Brazil’s Tinharé Island, in the Atlantic Ocean. It’s home to palm-fringed beaches such as First Beach, known for its strong surf, and Second Beach, lined with restaurants. The Fortress of Tapirandu, now in ruins, was built in the 17th century and has views of the sea. In town, the whitewashed Church of Our Lady of Light has an ornate wooden altar.

http://www.morrodesaopaulobahiabrasil.com/en/about-morro/

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/brazil/the-northeast/morro-de-sao-paulo

Chapada Diamantina National Park

Paí Inácio Hill has panoramic views. Waterfalls include Fumaça, which evaporates in mist before reaching the ground, and Devil’s Pool, with black water, both in the north. The vast sandstone-and-quartz Lapão Cave is nearby. Lençois and Mucugê, old diamond-mining towns within the park, have colonial architecture. The name “Chapada Diamantina” translates to”Diamond Plateau” because of the large number of diamond deposits in the region.   The best way to get from Salvador to Chapada Diamantina National Park without a car is to bus which takes 5h 41m and costs R$ 93.

 

https://theculturetrip.com/south-america/brazil/articles/10-things-to-know-before-visiting-chapada-diamantina/

 

 

https://www.tripsavvy.com/chapada-diamantina-national-park-1636710

Before it became a park, the region encompassing Chapada Diamantina National Park was considered off-limits, in an effort to prevent diamond smuggling.

 

 

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g1480286-Activities-Chapada_Diamantina_National_Park_State_of_Bahia.html

https://destinationlesstravel.com/chapada-diamantina-national-park-brazil/

 

one of the highlights of my life, witnessing these minuscule humingbirds that I at first mistook for bees high up on this mountain with sunrise setting it

AMAZING

 

 

local produce, mini coconuts!!!  and fruit 

we also potted so random monkeys near were we had our tour buffet lunch, being a vegetarian I had  vegetable dishes , trying cactus, delicious ! lots of fresh fruit juice too.YUM

SAGUI monkey

JERICOACOARA 

https://www.livemoretravelmore.com/jericoacoara-brazil/

easiest way is to go first to Fortelza 

either organise through your hotel/hostel or from the airport which is what we did, we stayed the night as we had a late flight and went early in the morning. airport sleeping isn't the most fun 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g303297-i11115-k11397090-How_to_get_to_Jericoacoara_from_Fortaleza_Airport-Jericoacoara_Jijoca_de_Jericoacoara_Sta.html

. jeri is all sand in a desert area with no cars that go to it, there's jeeps you can take for tours and getting to indifferent areas, you can rent a horse to explore areas. the town itself is all pedestrianised. we spotted a random cow one night??

en route our jeep transfer bus broke down, we had to wait to get rescued. bad luck eh>?

 

 

 

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g303297-Activities-Jericoacoara_Jijoca_de_Jericoacoara_State_of_Ceara.html

Lagoa do Paraíso

to get here we took the local jeep with a big group. theres a beach bar but we brought our own snacks and drinks. 

 

 

Pedra Furada 

 

To get here before the sunset we headed late afternoon getting a lift on a buggy through the dunes. 

 

mangue seco beach 

boat tour, pink sand beach and crabs!

horse riding 

 

disaster for me, first time on a horse, they gave us a branch to hit it, I refused off, got on, horse bolted. the owner of the place had to run and catch us. so we swapped my horse....this one. just didn't want to move... we were on a mountain cliff. the others went on as mine wouldn't budge, instead wanting to eat grass,,,,had to wait for the others to return....then he went down. 

maybe he was scared of heights? haha 

random animals strolling the town at night...as you do

 SUNSET AT DUNO DO POR DO SOL

   

On the way back from Jericoacoara to Fortaleza: We took Fretcar back. $83BRL. It was just a lot spacious, cheaper and also meant that we could sleep on the bus and not have to worry. The bus leaves at 6.15am from the town center. Stops at a salad bar at 11.00am for 35 min. Get to Fortaleza airport at 2.15pm (8 hrs). Please note that there is a Fretcar office in the town center so you buy your return trip from the office.

FASHION: "FILA x VR46 Rider Academy"

 

The “FILA x VR46 Rider Academy” collaboration breaks boundaries and conventions in the innovation of fashion sportswear and motorwear designs. A fusion of lifestyle sports, FILA’s roots intwine with the riders lifestyle of perseverance, determination and passion in a collection of colourful styles and prints, that channel the willpower strength and determination of the riders in overcoming any challenges they face in order to succeed. Riding to the top in style

To celebrate its legacy in motor sports, FILA Europe joins with VR46 Riders Academy to support riders progress in succeeding to the top of MotoGP. The "FILA x VR46 Rider Academy" collaboration breaks boundaries and conventions in the innovation of fashion sportswear and motorwear designs. A fusion of lifestyle sports, FILA's roots intwine with the riders lifestyle of perseverance, determination and passion in a collection of colourful styles and prints. Such connection channels the willpower of the riders in overcoming any challenges they face. Riding to the top in style!
#FILAxVR46RA

FASHION: FILA 2022 BNP Paribas Open

 https://www.10sballs.com/2019/02/05/fila-extends-sponsorship-of-the-bnp-paribas-open/

INDIAN WELLS, Calif., February 5, 2019 – FILA has extended its Premier Sponsorship agreement with the BNP Paribas Open, the largest ATP Tour and WTA combined two-week event in the world, to be held March 4-17, 2019 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

 

With the multi-year agreement FILA will remain the Official Apparel and Footwear Supplier of the event, providing custom uniforms for event staff, volunteers, ball kids and officials. For the 2019 tournament, all ball kids will wear FILA’s new Axilus 2 Energized performance tennis shoes as part of their on-court uniform.

 In addition, FILA will continue to have a large retail presence on-site at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, offering fans a wide array of tennis and heritage apparel, footwear, and accessories. Fans will have the opportunity to purchase the latest Axilus 2 Energized performance tennis shoes as well as special limited edition collaboration shoes specifically created for the BNP Paribas Open, and clothing collections that will be seen on-court on FILA sponsored players.

“FILA’s long running partnership with the BNP Paribas Open has been an exceptional showcase for our brand,” said Gene Yoon, Global Chairman at FILA. “This event is the crown jewel in our global tennis portfolio, and it fits perfectly with our commitment to innovation, performance and style. We are thrilled to extend our sponsorship and look forward to bringing our beautifully designed and versatile apparel and footwear to fans in Indian Wells for years to come.”

“FILA has been a magnificent partner of the BNP Paribas Open, and we are excited to extend our relationship,” said Marketing Director Philippe Dore. “Over the past few years FILA expanded their retail footprint during the event, worked with us to create unique offers for fans, and continued to play a critical role by outfitting everyone involved with the event. We love working with partners that are always looking for opportunities to activate and enrich the experience each year at the tournament.”

As part of the agreement, FILA will expand its involvement in the Oracle Challenger Series by providing ball kids, volunteers and officials uniforms for each event. The Series is a four tournament circuit, features women (WTA 125) and men (ATP Tour Challenger) at each event, and aims to support up-and-coming American tennis players by giving the top two American men and women who earn the most points over the course of the Series main draw wild cards into the BNP Paribas Open.

FILA will also continue its role at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden (IWTG) throughout the year by outfitting teaching professionals and tennis club staff, and supporting the IWTG junior academy and local National Junior Tennis & Learning events. FILA and the tournament will also explore hosting a juniors’ event on-site during the BNP Paribas Open in the future.

http://filatime.com/newsmarketdetail.php?newspage=20190101

FILA’S long history in the tennis world continues. Since our sponsorship of Bjöberg in the 70s, FILA has been committed to promoting the elegant sport of tennis worldwide. At the event FILA outfits all event staff, volunteers, ball kids and officials with custom uniforms and offers fans a wide range of tennis and heritage apparel to purchase along with limited edition collection such as the newly launched jersey designed in a partnership with designer Christopher Bevans.

FILA has a long and distinguished history in the world of tennis that includes endorsements of ATP Tour and WTA athletes, tennis tournaments and organizations. It continues with the sponsorship of the 2022 BNP Paribas Open, the largest ATP Tour and WTA combined two-week event in the world. FILA has been committed to promoting the elegant sport of tennis worldwide. FILA has achieved world-class recognition in tennis by marketing high-end design and style products that are endorsed by professional athletes all around the world.
#FILAtennis #fila_global

Fashion: textiles in Ghana

KENTE

Kente (Akan: kente or nwetoma; Ewe: kete; Dagbani: Chinchini) refers to a Ghanaian textile, made of handwoven cloth, strips of silk and cotton. Historically the fabric was worn in a toga-like fashion by royalty among ethnic groups such as the Ashanti and Ewe. It is also worn by queens, princesses and women of Dagbon.

 in the Ashanti region of Ghana, Kente cloth is a great status symbol, marking your wealth and, in the past, your office. Something to be worn on important occasions and by important people.

A typical Kente fabric is woven in narrow strips. Each strip contains a series of bands, designed in intricate, multicoloured, geometrical patterns, alternated by other bands of simple, linear designs in contrasting, co- ordinating colours for harmonious effect. 

Each pattern is named after a historical event or a person, or is connected with a proverb.

the weaving process:

the design determines the colours of the yarns that he has to put on the bobbin and, subsequently, on the wool.The process, is to put the warp thread into the heddles and  beater and work according to the design pattern.After putting the warp thread into the various heddles and beater, the whole thing is brought into a loom for the weaver to start to weave it.There are two sets of heddles. The first set is used in making patterns and the second set is used in being regular weaving, where no patterns are required. to make one strip is takes arounds  eight hours of hard work. 

the original Kente designs were black and white. The cotton used grown locally. The black and indigo colours were locally made using local available dyed colours. The weaver had no contact with the rest of the world, so he had no access to the variety of colours that we have today hence the colour choice, up until the development of the "Gold Coast" which also introduced not only colours but also silks.

With modernisation, there have been many changes In the past only black, red and golds were used, but nowadays more colours are available. colours may not always be exact but they are used in producing traditional designs in modern fashionable colour patterns, in order to make people attracted including metallic thread for a "party" look.

https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/cultural-traditions/kente-cloth.htm

Adinkra

Adinkra is a printed fabric - hand-made and worn mainly for funerals, an important celebration in Ghana. Adinkra fabric is carefully printed in graphic symbols of geometric motifs, on a background of white, rust-brown, or black vegetable-dye fabric. Any one of the motifs, or any combination of them, could be arranged in narrative patterns to convey specific messages.

These messages may be expressed as a reflection on issues pertaining to beauty, morality or other higher values. 

The black dye for the cloth is produced from kuntun kruni - the roots from the kuntu plant. To make it ,twelve buckets of water are used to make one barrel with twenty-five strips of the roots put into it and stew for 2days. when you put in the white cloth first it looks like brown, but by two weeks’ time it will change into black, leaving it to seep and be dyed for two weeks, leaving it in the sun. When it dries you bring it back, and wet it again, and dry it again, repeating this process six times.  ‘Badie’, the hard bark of the tree found only in the Savannah areas is broken into pieces and soaked with water for twenty-four hours. The softened bark is pounded in a mortar and is used to produce the dye for stamping the symbols.Repeated boiling and filtering produces a concentrated solution.Out of forty-eight gallons only one gallon of the solution is produced.

The Adinkra stamps are carved from the wood CU stamps being of a gourd or calabash, by a professional carved designer and carver, such as, Joseph Kofi S/I Nsiah.

https://www.motivation.africa/10-adinkra-symbols-and-their-meanings.html

Kente is associated with important occasions, but it is linked especially with high social office and is more of a wealthy person’s status symbol, whereas Adinkra is associated with funerals and thus important but solemn occasions in the lives of everyone.

Kente is designed to be felt (‘beautiful’, like silk) as well as for appearance, it uses imported rayons. Adinkra is designed to be looked at and requires local supplies for the dyes.

Ways of making kente and adinkra have shifted and continue to shift.  kente weavers first used cotton and vegetable dyes, then bought silks from European traders, before beginning to use rayon. The most recent introduction is the use of lurex to achieve ‘glitter’. Vegetable dyes are used for adinkra, black and white or coloured, some cloths thave black-stamped designs on red and blue grounds

Kente is very time consuming to produce, with one strip of the best cloth taking at least a day to make with grades of skill (only 10% of workmen are able and willing to make some difficult designs due to time and skill needed. under the control of 1 man, taking even longer before as thread used to be homespun) 

Adinkra takes several weeks to make and involves the input of dyer, stamp carver, and printer in a collaborative process.

With kente the decisions and exact calculations take place right at the start, before the weaving begins. The design and colour choices must be thought out before warping up the loom, and the plan must then be steadily and accurately followed through with no changes.

Adinkra depends on a lengthy dyeing process (of six dippings) to obtain the depth and evenness of hue. It requires precision, speed, and decisiveness at the printing stage. Design activity is concentrated towards the end of the making process.

no matter which design buyer is acquiring skilful design and execution.

FASHION: FILA & Jeremy Ville

FILAKIDS and legendary New York illustrator JeremyVille

Taking the opportunity of the joint series "BEST LIFE"

Jointly advocate the idea of ​​a better life for the new generation

This season, FILAKIDS will collaborate with "the recorder of the good life" 

Based on the concept of "Pick-in Best Life"

Integrating the new middle-class family / trendy young parent-child family lifestyle - Create your own beautiful life together

New York ghost illustrator Jeremyville (Jeremy Weir), named one of the 100 best illustrators in the world by The New York Times. He has held solo exhibitions in major art museums around the world. This season, we have launched a joint product with FILA KIDS. Through cute and unique pattern design and humorous slogans , we will jointly describe a "BEST LIFE" full of love and hope to children.

Children's fun, vibrant illustrations, interesting and thought-provoking slogan Everyday wear / street shot

Energetic sports, strong artistic sense

KOL full of fashion trend and creativity

Loving art and paying attention to aesthetic education

First choice for high-quality elite families

FILA and illustrator Jeremy Ville for “FILA x jeremyville” Filakids campaign. FILA, together with JV’s humorous graphic designs and thought-provoking slogans, jointly advocate better life for the new generation, conveying love and hope - a “Best Life” partnering to create energetic sportswear with a strong creative artistic fashion sense, creating trendy designs for kids with thought-provoking slogans and whimsical illustrations that encourage happy healthy growth. Children feel more artistic and full of energy with a love of life - a “Best Life” growing together with Spring. 

 FILA KIDS joins together with New York illustrator Jeremy Ville for "FILA KIDS x Jeremyville". Jeremyville's humorous graphic designs and thought-provoking slogans, together with FILA KIDS, creates trendy energetic sportswear with a strong creative artistic fashion sense. "FILA KIDS x Jeremyville" promotes a better life of love and hope - a "Best Life." through camping and art immersion, meeting the uprising lifestyle needs of high-end Chinese families this Spring. Children feel more artistic and full of energy with a love of life.

FASHION: FILA x Van Gogh

About the Van Gogh Museum The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam houses the world’s largest collection of Van Gogh’s art with over 200 paintings, close to 500 drawings and more than 700 letters. Vincent van Gogh’s work takes visitors on a journey through his life and shows the ideas and ambition behind his art. The museum has over 2.1 million visitors from all over the world each year and reaches millions more through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WeChat, YouTube, LinkedIn and its website. The Van Gogh Museum develops various products and services under the brand name ‘Van Gogh Museum Enterprises’ (VGME), inspired by the life and work of Vincent van Gogh. It is their mission to inspire diverse audiences by the life and work of Vincent van Gogh. Which is why products in the web shop and collaborations with different partners tell Vincent van Gogh’s story. All products and services are being developed with Vincent van Gogh’s heritage in mind and all profits contribute to maintaining the Van Gogh Museum’s activities.

                                                      

Vincent van Gogh Vincent van Gogh One of the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art, and one of the most iconic global artists of all time.

As a 19th-century artist, Van Gogh is regarded as an "Idol Artist" by future generations, and his life experiences and works have resonated generation after generation.

To this day, Van Gogh's work still influences our culture and inspires human appreciation

Beauty, personality and the natural world. His name and life story will forever evoke

The sense of idealism captures the romantic core of the spiritual world of each generation of young people.

Because of this, Van Gogh's works of art are often sought after by major brands, in fashion,

There are cooperation projects in high-end design fields such as home decoration and beauty, attracting every year & age group.

Van Gogh Museum The Van Gogh Museum is located in Amsterdam and was founded in 1973 by the Van Gogh family.

The Van Gogh Museum has the largest collection of Van Gogh works in the world, including oil paintings, drawings, letters, and statues. It has been visited by more than 2 million people and is one of the 25 most visited art museums in the world.

The key collections of the Van Gogh Museum include "Self-Portrait with a Grey Hat", "Almond Blossoms in Bloom", "In Arles"

Bedroom", and the famous "Sunflower".

Inspiration:

Impressionist master Vincent van Gogh is one of the most iconic artists in the world. Van Gogh's paintings are full of natural flavor and strong emotional tone: the warm and positive yellow of "Sunflower", the poetic and gentle green of "Wheat Field"; He is good at expressing his artistic world with strong colors and dramatic scenes, leaving a series of works that are alive and well.

FILA x Van Gogh Museum presents a special collaborative art series inspired by masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh. The bright colors of Van Gogh's paintings give new vitality to sports items, and the ingenious tailoring techniques lead the style of Impressionism.

Fashion is often unwilling to be ordinary. Just as "impression" needs to be constantly updated, the original meaning of fashion needs to constantly break through the boundary

FILA x Van Gogh Museum uses Van Gogh's avant-garde inspiration to wear Van Gogh's extraordinary art to always maintain a bold and fearless soul and shape the impression of Feifan

• Impressionist master Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most iconic artists in the world.

• Van Gogh is very good at expressing his art world with strong colors and dramatic scenes. His paintings are full of natural flavor and strong emotional tone: the warm and positive yellow of sunflower, the poetic and gentle green of wheat field Leave a series of handed down works with vitality.

• this time, FILA and Van Gogh Museum cooperated across the border to launch a unique art series, integrating FILA's sports gene into Van Gogh's famous paintings, and Impressionist oil painting patterns gave new colors to sports pieces, leading the trend of art fashion.

FILA is pleased to announced our second collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum “FILA x jeremyville” this Spring, using iconic Van Gogh's avant-garde art as inspiration to make sportswear designs full of Spring vitality - an art and fashion movement, created using a high end luxury good production process similar to that of the original painting. The “Tree roots” and “wild roses” designs depict growth and new life, overcoming life’s obstacles, reborn,  just like the roots of yesterday, we will grow and flourish, a reflection of life and spring. 

Be reborn -  Art transcends life, just like the roots of yesterday. In later generations, in the art world, it will always flourish and obtain eternal life

During his convalescence, even though he was suffering from spiritual crisis, he still used a calm stroke to describe the turbulent vitality of wild roses. He goes beyond personal pain and returns to the eternal beauty of the world

 FILA is pleased to announced our second collaboration with the Van Gogh Museum “FILA x jeremyville” using iconic Van Gogh's avant-garde art as inspiration to make sportswear designs full of Spring vitality -  integrating FILA's sports gene into Van Gogh's famous paintings, the Impressionist oil painting patterns give new colors to the sports pieces, leading the trend of art fashion. Created using a high end luxury good production process similar to that of the original painting. The “Tree roots” and “wild roses” designs depict growth and new life, overcoming life’s obstacles, reborn,  just like the roots of yesterday, we will grow and flourish, a reflection of life and spring. 

Art and sportswear fashion collides! 
"FILA x Van Gogh Museum" combines Van Gogh's iconic avant-garde art with FILA's sports gene, producing high-end luxury sportswear pieces. This cooperation leads the innovative trend of art fashion and expands the sportswear fashion scene. Creating fashionable designs that are wearable for any occasion - whether it's a springtime stroll or art tour.