STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" The Monument to the Discoveries is a magnificent tribute to Portugal's power on the seas. It juts upward to depict the country's explorers, rulers and sailors who made history in their explorations of the world. With Lisboa Card the official tourist card in our carry-on, we sail into Lisbon on the majestic Tagus River. Two imposing architectural wonders catch our eye. We see the stunning limestone Monument to the Discoveries. Intricately carved, it pays homage to the country's explorers, royals and navigators who set out to explore the new world. Nearby the imposing Belem Tower stands guard on the river's bank as it has done since built as a fort in the 16th Century when Portugal was king of the seas. The Tower and Monument reveal the layers of Portugal's long seafaring history. We admire Prince Henry the Navigator, Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan, men who did the near impossible in the day: found the sea route to India, discovered the Azores and Madeira, and circumnavigated the globe. Somewhere over the rainbow is the delightful city of Lisbon, Lisboa in Portuguese, awaiting your discovery. The Lisboa Card includes free admission to many of the buildings reflecting the city's rich history -- the Jerónimos Monastery, Saint Jorge Castle, and many more. The Lisboa Card the official tourist card also includes transport to and from Lisbon Airport via metro THE TAGUS River meanders through the Alfama, or old quarter, urging walkers to follow it, and soak up the sights, sounds and smells of centuries of progress and some remarkable disasters. A horrible earthquake is etched into the city's memory, and Portugal has sent off more explorers per capita than any other small country. We always enjoy a tuk-tuk ride with our friend Tomas, who knows and loves the city of his birth. Highly recommended, a leisurely way to meander and learn where to catch a concert, shop for tiles or book a side trip to Sintra and its hillside palaces., Old and sturdy, with exciting new buildings going up, Portugal is proud of its maritime tradition and its knowledge of the sea. Exploring Lisbon by tuk tuk is a fun way to get around. Here Tomas, center, takes Keller, Jane, Cookie and Rick around the city's winding streets. The museums of Lisbon celebrate the rich history and culture of this Portuguese capital city. Many are free with the Lisbon card the official tourist card. Appreciate Lisbon's dramatic stone architecture, take a guided walking tour. Use Lisboa Card the official tourist card to visit the fascinating Maritime Museum, one of the most important in Europe, evoking Portugal's domination of the seas. It's perfect for families or anyone who adores all things nautical. The city's many other museums focus on everything from Lisbon's rich maritime past to decorative Portuguese tiles, and everything in between. Fado is a national art in Portugal, where singers and musicians convey the emotion of stories. A FADO MUSEUM pays tribute to the national musical form, with concerts and tips on where to hear fado, highly recommended. Fado is deeply imbedded in the culture soulful, melancholic, and expressive. The word fado means fate or destiny. Other museums offer gems ranging from colorfully rendered miniatures of Portugal's famous doors to well preserved artifacts from the vast Portuguese empire. The city is also mecca of lively restaurants and inviting squares to relax and chat. Lisbon is a mix: stately, new, ancient and contemporary, fun and full of fascinating surprises. It is an enduring city, glistening and inviting through the centuries as a prime seaport and welcoming and economical tourist destination. Lisbon's gothic and Romanesque cathedral features many tombs, including Vasco da Gama's. One of Europe's most unsung and least visited cultural capitals, Lisbon is often overlooked in favor of Paris, Rome and the Scandinavian capitals. We have found it to be welcoming, a bit cheaper than other European capitals. Can't beat the food, music and charming people. And the Lisboa Card savings and discounts on monuments, museums, shops and services saves time and money to get the most of this fascinating, ancient and varied city. To order a Lisboa Card the official tourist card: Visitlisboa.com More information, click here Park Guell's Dragon Stairway invites visitors to climb into the magical world created by Lisbon's famed architect Antoni Gaudi, whose name is synonymous with the captivating city of Barcelona. UP NEXT: We return to another favorite southern Europe city, Barcelona. With fascinating masterpieces created by genius designer Antoni Gaudi, it is replete with eye-catching architecture. Buildings reflect the Catalan modernist movement, giving Catalan architecture worldwide recognition. Barcelona blends art nouveau, neo-gothic, and oriental styles in a unique architectural potpourri not seen anywhere else. Come along won't you? If this destination sparked your wanderlust, there’s plenty more waiting for you—explore more travel stories and inspiration over at WhereIsCookie.com

Christene "Cookie" Meyers at the dedication of the Bruce Meyers Poets Garden, May, 1993, on the campus of Montana State University-Billings, then Eastern Montana College. Three of the professor's poems etched on marble were written on the memorial site. The garden is listed in the Smithsonian's list of public art (see link below.)  STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Architect Ted Wirth and EMC president Bruce Carpenter discuss the project at the groundbreaking in fall of 1992. EACH SPRING,   Bruce Kemp Meyers and his writing students left the indoor classroom for an inviting outdoors venue.  They gathered on the lawn near the Liberal Arts Building on the campus of then Eastern Montana College. It proved a tradition which Meyers continued for 25 years. He joined the class in writing poems, short stories and essays. They talked about their goals, shared ideas. It was a special place for my talented, nature loving husband, a way to greet spring and celebrate his gifts in a comfortable place. The late poet Allen Ginsberg made a spectacular guest appearance at the dedication of the "Bruce Garden."  BRUCE'S STUDENTS  loved these outdoor writing workshops; so did he. So when he passed away suddenly in February of 1992, I knew precisely where I'd like his memorial to be: On the lawn outside the L.A. Building, where he'd logged happy hours each spring since his first year on campus in 1967 until his death, in February, 1992. The memorial includes poems written on the site. That idea grew to include a garden and poet's corner to honor the creativity that unfolded there. I wanted it to be a place for visitors to remember him, and a haven to welcome other artists. I CALLED my friend, architect Ted Wirth, who had followed our theater career. We'd also served on boards and committees and I'd interviewed him for the newspaper. He loved the idea and wanted to make my dream come true.  The two of us approached then EMC president Bruce Carpenter, also a good friend, an original thinker who played poker with Bruce and a group of other professors.  Corby Skinner, left, and Christene Meyers discuss the program on tap. Poet Allen Ginsberg was waiting in the wings.  HE, TOO , liked the idea.  So the process began. Over coffee, Ted and I created a space designed to relax and inspire. The front has a formal look, enhanced by granite and marble.  At its center is a bronze of Bruce sculpted by our longtime friend, fellow actor and Emmy-winning Hollywood special effects artist Andy Schoneberg.  A metal sculpture of our Airedale dog was created by artist Lyndon Pomeroy to illustrate one of the poems, "Gandalf." On the garden's sides are benches. A welcoming archway was inspired by our trips to Japan. Perennials and lilacs flank a brick wall, accented by a Jay Montague sculpture.  Aspen and river rock create a woodsy look. An overview of the Bruce Meyers Garden and Poets Corner. THROUGH the years, the garden has become a favorite spot of faculty, staff and students. Some take their lunch break there. Nearby residents walk, run and bike by daily.  Several professors carry on the tradition of convening  classes there -- to study art, language, philosophy and of course, writing. Bruce Kemp Meyers is remembered with a bronze, poems and a garden. A 10-year event, the annual "Bruce Bash," brought together writers, musicians, actors and artists to celebrate the arts and honor Bruce. But the first arts festival celebration in May of 1993 was hard to top. Headliner was poet Allen Ginsberg, who was in Billings for a Writer's Voice appearance. When he heard of the dedication through Corby Skinner, he extended his Billings visit to participate. Also on tap were Marcia Spalding's bellissimo! bell choir, Alice Lyon's Community Youth Chorale, actors from Billings Studio Theatre, Starfire, and students and faculty from both MSU-B and Rocky Mountain College. The Nell, Roberty, Edwards Trio played jazz to wild applause and Ginsberg's 45-minute performance brought down the house. Sculptor Andy Schoneberg and a windblown Christene Meyers at the dedication of the garden. YELLOWSTONE Public Radio's Marvin Granger and his staff broadcast the event live on Yellowstone Public Radio. Director Skip Lundby  kept the program running smoothly.     A book of Meyers' poems, "Ventriloquist in the Rain," debuted.  It is still available -- in its fourth printing. Funds from the first edition helped establish the Bruce Meyers Scholarship Endowment at MSU-Billings.  Contributions are welcome at the college's Foundation (see link below.) One of the recipients shared the stage with Bruce.  She played an orphan in our dinner theater production of "Annie" and said she was inspired to pursue a teaching and English career by Bruce, who played Daddy Warbucks. "He wished us to 'break a leg' before each performance. I couldn't understand why he would say that when we had so much dancing to do," she wrote in her thank-you note.) Alice Lyon in blue conducts her Community Youth Chorale at the first annual Bruce Kemp Meyers Arts Festival (the Bruce Bash) in May of 1993. MEANWHILE, the garden - like all growing things -- evolves and changes.  The spirit of its creation remains:  a calming, inclusive place on campus where people come -- alone or in groups -- to contemplate the contributions of a talented man who influenced many. "Bruce Meyers: poet, actor, teacher," reads the inscription.  May his memory live on.   Here is the Smithsonian Institution's link to the garden: https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM847Y_Bruce_Meyers_Billings_Montana Here is the university foundation's link to the English scholarship in Bruce's memory:   https://msubfoundation.com/make-a-gift/donate-today/ (A field asks the donor where he'd like to direct a gift; type in Bruce Meyers Scholarship. Contributions are tax deductible and help fund annual gifts to English majors. The awards began in 1993. The Foundation also maintains the garden, as per a 1993 agreement.) Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett "Cheek to Cheek" tour, in a spectacular Bruce Keller photo from our orchestra seats.   UP NEXT:  While we're remembering and saluting a life in the arts, another performer comes to mind.  Singer Tony Bennett will turn 95 this August, and we honor his life in the arts, noting his struggle with Alzheimer's.  The writer of this column has been a Tony Bennett fan since childhood, listening to her parents' albums.  Bruce Keller and I have seen him in concert five times, three times with Lady Gaga. His art has kept him lively and engaged. Meanwhile, remember to explore, learn and live and catch us each week for a refreshing look at travel, entertainment, nature and family: whereiscookie.com

NOVEL TELLS STORY OF EARLY AMERICAN FILM, STAGE STRUCK PERFORMERS, LOVE, REVENGE, WITH WORLD TRAVEL AND MORE -- Montana outlaws, California connections, Paris, London, actors, painters, bank robbers Lively characters from France, England, Hawaii, Australia and the U.S. are featured in "Lilian's Last Dance," on its way to eBooks Wednesday! Editor's Note, 2025: The novel is available by contacting the author directly at: whereiscookienow@gmail.com STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "Lilian's Last Dance'' is coming your way via Amazon! It's a story of a traveling rep company enroute to Hollywood! WE ARE awaiting the publication of the novel, "Lilian's Last Dance." The cyber elves are apparently working overtime in the print shop. We have our copyright, ISBN number, publishing ducks in a row, final edit approved by Amazon. It should be "out there" for all of you later today. The eBook will soon be in Kindle format at Amazon. But you need not have a Kindle to enjoy it. Keller uses an LG tablet to read e-books. It's not a Kindle but works fine. When the book is "up" at last, search Amazon for the application appropriate for your device, download it, install it, and you'll have a new icon with which you can read Kindle e-books and "Lilian's Last Dance." Stay tuned, and e-mail us if you need additional advice or coaching: highlowchap@gmail.com Eiffel Tower -- Paris plays an important role in the novel. MEANWHILE, HERE'S the novel's skinny: War threatens to rearrange the world’s boundaries as an unlikely trio discovers love crossing all lines. A dashing bi-sexual American bank robber, beautiful French sharpshooter and pioneering British film maker star in a tale of passion, vengeance and honor. “Lilian’s Last Dance,” spans eleven action-packed years, beginning in 1907, unfolding with a radical art movement, developing film industry and the Great War. Gertrude Stein, Alice B. Toklas have cameos in the new novel. Here they're on an Atlantic crossing. --archival art Outlaws, reporters, ranchers, actors, artists and ex-patriots converge, do battle, and occasionally break the law in settings ranging from New York, France and England to Texas, rural Montana and Hollywood. Real-life cameos include Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, D.W. Griffith, Conrad Hilton, Ty Cobb, Pablo Picasso, Charlie Chaplin, Edith Wharton, “Buffalo Bill” Cody, Gertrude Stein and many others celebrities of the day. AUTHORS BILL Jones and Cookie crossed the Atlantic, tramped around London, Paris and Provence, and visited many U.S. states and five countries for inspiration on their characters' lives and haunts. Bruce Keller and Cookie returned to those places in editing and refining the original writing. Please check back here for updates.....at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, PST the novel was in cyber limbo, enroute to the "page" on eBooks. As we wait impatiently for the Amazon book to "appear"..... please be patience with us. Last word is "Friday at latest...." We share your frustration and thank you for more than 100 e-mails and texts asking "when, when, when???" Soon as we know, we'll follow up to you with a link to meet and read "Lilian..." Future blogs will tell the circuitous, lively, sometimes bittersweet tale of the novel's beginnings, sidetracks and completion. Remember, carpe diem. Explore, learn, live and visit us Wednesdays, weekends and as the spirit moves at: www.whereiscookie.com

'LILIAN'S LAST DANCE' OUT ON AMAZON! The cover of "Lilian's Last Dance" is a collaboration: Cookie collected photos by Keller and Bill's cowboy watercolor. Celeste Barnett did the design. Racy historical novel now available to readers "...a marvelous romp through the history of film and performance, with a pure love for the stage, in whatever form it presents itself.....You'll love Lilian!" Acclaimed writer Ruth Rudner on “Lilian’s Last Dance.” STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER Click here==>> to Dance with Lilian LIGHTS, ACTION, drum roll! The book is out at last, a labor of love, a memorial, a tribute to time, technology, tenacity. And the human spirit! The project I developed many years ago with my late husband, William Jones, is a reality. Research took our writers to Durango, Mexico, birth place of bandit Pancho Villa, a minor player in the novel.--archival photo Billy and I began writing it during his healthy years (1997-2002). After his illness and death from cancer in 2005, I boxed up our book drafts, computer discs, travel journals and photos. A few years ago, I dug out the boxes and began the rewrite, mindful of the old show biz and cowboy admonition: "talk's cheap." NOW THAT IT'S published, after a protracted "pregnancy," a bit of reflection seems right. "Lilian's Last Dance" was conceived on a lovely sunny drive in Arizona, heading home from a screening of "Good Will Hunting" in December of 1997 and a romantic night on the town. BILLY AND I PLOTTED the story on that drive, along with settings and characters, determining to visit every locale and research each plot point. We did: Montana's wilderness, the fields and ranches of Hawaii (one of the characters is a Hawaiian paniolo with a Pancho Villa fetish), Australia's center, where one of the villains grew up, and many locales in Europe, South America and a dozen U.S. states. Our characters got around, and so did we~! The intricate story line spans an eleven-year period from 1907 to 1917. Vaudeville is alive and well, not yet fading. The silent movies, the beloved "flickers" are paving the way for full-fledged "talkies." Bill Jones and Cookie traveled several times to Hawaii, researching for background of one of the novel's characters. A LOVE triangle develops between an understated British filmmaker, alluring French born sharpshooter, and dashing Montana outlaw. Bill and I spent time in both France and England, and made many U.S. driving trips from our summer home in Montana. Like the rep company, we explored Oklahoma, New Mexico, Nebraska and Texas. We spent many weekends in Hollywood, visiting the studio archives. Our years as film reviewers and my time on both sides of the footlights as performer and critic provided background and helpful contacts. WE PAID attention to accents, landscape and weather, developing our characters' speech, dress and refining the plot. We had so much fun with our artists, actors, movie moguls, ranchers, cowboys, lawmakers and law breakers. Each new place -- from Tulsa to Ten Sleep -- gave detail for the carnival of color we'd write the next few years. On the trail of detail for our female villain (a Hawaiian born bandit and Pancho Villa wannabe) we went to Pancho's birthplace, a barren parcel in San Juan del Rio, Durango. We found the farm where he grew up, but since he was born in 1878 and killed in 1923, there was no one left who could remember him. It was fun to have an excuse to return to a favorite city. Paris and its Eiffel Tower play a part in the action, as does Provence in the south. So we turned to books and museums, but through that visit got a feel for his home land, the scrubby hills he and his bandits galloped through. We tried our darndest to develop authentic people with believable traits. We visited San Francisco's Columbarium, around for more than a century, setting for a cremation in "Lilian..." THE TITLE character's French bakground gave us an excuse to visit Provence a couple times. Bill, a talented watercolor painter, took and taught watercolor classes during our times on the Continent. One of his paintings graces the cover of "Lilian's Last Dance." JUST AS our characters enact their theatrical drama, we felt as if we were players in the novel, too. We talked to working paniolos on the gorgeous Parker Ranch on the Big Island near Waimea. We interviewed historians about turn-of-century bank robberies to determine what guns and disguises our outlaws might have. We visited railroad scholars for train trivia. We boned up on World War I, since parts of the novel take place on the Front. We were thrilled to find Gertrude Stein's house in Paris, where she and Alice Toklas entertained literary and artistic luminaries. Paris and the Moulin Rouge attracted a return visit to Paris. The novel's action takes unfolds in France and the old West. We -- like the characters -- moved from the streets and bistros of Paris to London theaters that were around 100 years ago, to rural Montana, where we invented a secluded hide-out in the Beartooths. We splurged for a night at the famous Palmer House in Chicago, where our characters stayed, and we spent a day in San Francisco's Columbarium where one of the characters cremains are placed after the quake. REAL LIFE cameos include Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, D. W. Griffith, Conrad Hilton, Edith Wharton, Ty Cobb, Pablo Picasso, “Buffalo Bill” Cody, Gertrude Stein and others. We read biographies of all of those, to enhance our feeling for them and our knowledge of their time. COMING SOON: Cookie and Keller forged a new trail for "Lilian's Last Dance," revisiting places she'd researched with the book's co-author, her late husband William Jones. Here, Cookie and Keller enjoy a cabaret at the famed Moulin Rouge in Paris. With Billy departed since 2005, the dream of a novel rested in the garage in dusty boxes of computer discs, notebooks and travel photos. Cookie's partner of eight-plus years, Bruce Keller, urged her to "go for it." He suggested they recapture the momentum she'd lost for the project, spawned with Bill in the late 1990s. That meant revisiting settings for the action of "Lilian's Last Dance" -- London, Paris, the Texas panhandle, New York, rural Oklahoma, wilderness Montana, the Peruvian rain forest... The French born title character gave an excuse to return to Paris and Provence. Remember: "carpe diem" as you explore, learn and live. Check out "Lilian...." and www.whereiscookie.com We publish Wednesdays and weekends.

European travels took us to Paris to Gertrude Stein's home Click here ==> Lilian's Last Dance The legendary Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas made many Atlantic crossings, and are cameos in "Lilian's Last Dance." STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS Crossing the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth II was part of the fun research for "Lilian's Last Dance." Here William Jones and Christene Meyers enjoy! CREATION of "Lilian's Last Dance" took many years and trips to England, France, Australia, Peru and 11 North American states. The idea survived the deaths of my two husbands, Bruce Meyers in 1992, and William Jones, in 2005. Bruce and I had dreams of a Broadway musical about a sharpshooter from France. Billy and I collaborated on the concept that would become "Lilian's Last Dance." HE AND I determined to visit each place featured in the book. In the "good years," before chemotherapy and radiation, we made exciting pilgrimages to Europe and South America's rain forests. We took a dozen happy U.S. road trips. We plotted research weekends, working vacations and photo shoots. We read three dozen hefty books and studied articles on the post 1907-era. We visited 20 museums and arranged interviews. We crossed the Atlantic three times, in the fashion of our invented characters and "real life" people who have cameos in our novel, including Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. OUR U.S. TRAVELS took us through Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Montana, San Francisco and Los Angeles, places our characters inhabited before the novel's 1917 ending. The iconic Eiffel Tower plays a part in "Lilian....". Our characters came alive as we retraced their fictional footsteps. We felt that we, too, were players in the novel. We talked to working paniolos on the beautiful Parker Ranch on the Big Island of Hawaii. A trip to the lush Peruvian rain forest was part of our research for the birthplace of the character Elfego who becomes a famous painter in "Lilian...." We interviewed historians about turn-of-century bank robberies. We talked to fashion and art experts, to determine what kinds of guns and disguises our outlaws might have used, what fashions and paintings people were buying. WE READ a dozen books about World War I, since part of the action unfolds on the Front. We located Gertrude Stein's salon in Paris, where she and Alice entertained at their famed salon. We saw in the fabulous Musee d'orsay some of the paintings which hung in the jam-packed treasure trove collected by Stein, Toklas the Gertrude's brother Leo. Picasso's famous portrait of Stein. She hung it in her Paris salon, where our characters are invited. We booked shows in the much photographed Moulin Rouge. Famous Parisian gardens, avenues and night clubs all play a part in the drama of "Lilian's Last Dance." Famous Parisian gardens, avenues and night clubs all play a part in the drama of "Lilian's Last Dance." WE TRAMPED all over Paris -- from the Left Bank to Montmartre to the Jardin du Luxembourg, to the Moulin Rouge and the Tuileries Garden, all of which were frequented by Stein and her lover cum secretary, Toklas. We found the home where Stein entertained, at 27 rue de Fleurus. There, our character, Elfego Fuentes, comes calling, along with "real life" writers Ernest Hemingway and Ezra Pound. By chance, we met an elderly woman whose aspiring painter grandmother was taken under Stein's generous wing. She provided marvelous detail. PAINTER ELFEGO is one of the novel's major characters, a South American born artist whom Stein befriends. So we booked an Amazon cruise to find a village where Elfego might have grown up. We flew to Quito, Peru, then cruised through the rain forests to Brazil. Curiosity about the Hawaiian paniolo provided an excuse for a return trip to Hawaii's Big Island and the Parker Ranch. We were smudged by witch doctors. Deep in the Peruvian jungle, we found a village settled in the early 1900s. This would be Elfego's birth place! More later... ********* WE'RE EXCITED about early reviews for "Lilian's Last Dance." Here's one from Elle Pieffe, of Rome, who liked the title character and her relationship with painter Elfego Fuentes: "Lilian's daring, beautiful soul shines in the brush strokes of her Peruvian soul mate artist, in the sizzling shots of a western gunfire duel, in the silvery rain blessing Paris in winter.... a colorful portrait of a person we'd love to have met.....and won't forget! You'll love this book, absolutely. (Find "Lilian's Last Dance" on Amazon eBooks.) Bill Jones painted this cowboy watercolor on a research trip to Hawaii. Terrific trio: Cortez Johnson, Jacque Wilke, DeLeon Dallas are terrific in San Diego Rep's "Honky," up next at: www.whereiscookie COMING SOON: Having fun revisiting the locales we researched for "Lilian's Last Dance." Soon, we hit Hawaii to bone up on the Hawaiian paniolo, or cowboy, who figures in the plot of "Lilian..." in the form of a wahine paniolo, yes, a female, a cowgirl in love with Pancho Villa. But first, we critique the raucous "Honky," just opened at San Diego Repertory Theatre. It's a deftly written, well acted play about racism, consumerism, marketing hype and a drug that could cure bigotry! Remember: carpe diem, so explore, learn and live and visit us Wednesdays and weekends at: www.whereiscookie.com

Two new fires erupted as crews remove tons of debris from Eaton and Pacific Palisades fire areas, fearing mudslides and more damage as thousands of tons of debris are swept away in forecast rains. Red Flag warnings increased even into northern and central California. --FIRE PHOTOS COURTESY AP, Getty Images, MSN NEW FIRES, INCREASING WINDS, MORE EVACUATIONS: FIRE CONTAINMENT INCHES ALONG, TONS OF DEBRIS CLEARED, CALIFORNIA BRACES FOR RAIN, MUDSLIDES   The American Red Cross and Project HOPE are helping thousands of evacuees, first responders and fire crews. To help with food, hygiene, shelter, counseling: www.redcross.org ; www.projecthope.org Sunset Boulevard and the Pantages Theatre, built in 1930 as a Vaudeville house, film and performance venue.  For many years it hosted the Academy Awards. It holds a special place in the hearts of writer Christene Meyers, and her photographer husband, Bruce Keller, whose mother Jean, an art major, left University of Minnesota in 1944 to rent a flat at Hollywood and Vine & design window displays.  Meyers and Keller visit Los Angeles often for theater, movies &"Jeopardy" tapings.    HISTORY AS FIRES SWEEP OVER  AN OLD FRIEND WHO WILL RISE FROM ASHES As a movie reviewer at The Billings Gazette, the writer spent   weekends in Los Angeles, where she interviewed hundreds of film stars, directors, producers, screen writers and designers and covered the Oscars.  The eerie sight of burned trees with downtown L.A. in the background  greets homeowners and emergency crews in Altadena, Pacific Palisades and other areas. L.A. now meets the threat of mudslides and more damage with rains forecast. As of Wednesday, more than 12,000 structures are destroyed, 27 are dead, more missing, and 60 square miles are burned.                                                               --Photo Courtesy Getty Images Aftermath of the Pacific Palisades fire. "The "destruction is unbelievable," a friend said today. Jan 23 fire update: Two new fires erupted north of Los Angeles. Over 100,000 people now have received evacuation orders with another 15,000 receiving evacuation warnings. Volunteers and fire crew are following an emergency order issued yesterday to clear debris ahead of forecast rains. Although rain is badly needed, it creates another risk: Mudslides, erosion  and floods, caused by rubble left by the fires. Hughes fire is at 14 percent containment. Sepulveda fire is nearly extinguished. Containment of the older fires is at 80 -90 per cent for Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires. The Palisades fire invaded Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Topanga and Mandeville canyons. Firefighters inched further as the Eaton fire caused destruction in Altadena, Pasadena and Sierra Madre — and is at 89% containment, according to Cal Fire. Damage is expected to surpass $250 billion, which would make these fires the costliest in U.S. history. We grieve devastating loss with dear friends whose childhood homes have been leveled, animals lost, personal memorabilia gone. Getty Center above Brentwood will reopen Jan. 28. But the priceless Getty Villa --while saved -- is closed indefinitely because of hazardous roads and leveled surroundings in the ghost town of Pacific Palisades.  Prolonged drought and renewed Santa Ana winds created possibly the worst wildfires in the country's history. Please keep imperiled Los Angeles in your thoughts and prayers and continue to check here and on Facebook daily. We offer ways people can help: www.redcross.org ; www.projecthope.org STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER                                                                                                       and newspaper archives  I DIDN'T REALIZE  how much Los Angeles means to me until the fires. Now I understand.   Debbie Reynolds and daughter Carrie Fisher, interviewed at a Hollywood awards ceremony. A new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at   Hollywood and Vine, awaits its a new gold name.   IN YEARS of globe trotting, I've spent more time visiting Los Angeles than any other place in the world, with New York, London and Barcelona the runners up. Makeup wizard and special effcts artist Andy Schoneberg and his partner and fellow artist Nicole Michaud, with Cookie and Keller and Schoneberg's Humphrey Bogart creation. He has lived in Los Angeles for the past 40 years.     ALL TOGETHER  I've logged about 7 years in the city -- in visits ranging from 3 days to 2 and 3 weeks. Trips to Disneyland as a young person, a honeymoon trip with late husband Bruce Meyers, five weeks with late husband Bill Jones researching our historical novel partly set in Los Angeles, and at least 10 visits a year during my 25-plus years as a movie critic. I covered the Oscars in the day when newspapers were king and the studios invited select film reviewers for world premiers and interviews. I've strolled the Walk of Keller's parents were married in Los Angeles in post-WWII. Meet William and Jean Keller. Fame many times, playing tourist, often catching sight of a star. Sometimes they remembered me -- Christopher Reeve and Bill Murray did. I've weaseled my way into Hollywood piano bars to play when the paid pianists took a break. I've sunbathed by the rooftop pool at the historic Hoxton Hotel, which opened in 1924 with star studded fun.  Looking like a mirage, Echo Mountain House was a favorite escape for sunshine and fruit groves. The Pasadena area was called "America's Italy."    MOST PEOPLE don't realize that there was a Los Angeles long before the metropolis we know today sprang from the desert.  L.A. was founded in 1781 by Spanish colonists and Pasadena has long been a popular winter destination for wealthy folks. The gorgeous chaparral and wildflower terrain that has been scorched in at least 8 wildfires reminded J. Paul Getty of his beloved First week's fire coverage, click here Italy. So much so that he built a lavish museum, Getty Villa, a replica of a luxurious compound destroyed by Vesuvius. There, in a building now closed but safe, his $10 billion collection awaits reopening probably months down the road.  Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers at the Ahmanson Theatre, L.A. We photographed Getty Villa just before it closed indefinitely. It is J. Paul Getty's multi-billion- dollar museum, a showcase for his collection.  The landscape that attracted the rich for a century is now a charred graveyard. As it burns, its ashes cover the past of a city of remarkable incarnations. ON ONE  sunny afternoon 35 years ago, Bill Jones and I found the remains of Echo Mountain House, built in 1894.  The elegant Swiss inspired chalet was an astronomical observatory and hide-away for Gilded Age partiers.  They dressed to the nines for elegant dinner-dance parties and arrived by cable railway.  When the regular pianist takes a break, Cookie often charms herself into a piano bar to play a few sets, here at the Omni Lounge in L.A. IN NEARBY HOLLYWOOD,   I interviewed Debbie Reynolds and her daughter, Carrie Fisher, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Sally Field, Christopher Reeve, Robert DeNiro, Meryl Streep, Dolly Parton, Liza Minnelli, Fred Astaire and many others. We stayed in posh hotels:  Chateau Marmont, The Beverly Hills and Beverly Wilshire, the stately Roosevelt, where Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks hung out.   Walt Disney Concert Hall hosts world class  musicians and conductors and is a regular player  in Cookie's world of theater and lively arts. Bruce Keller and his mom, Jean  Keller, sailed the harbors of Long Beach, Oceanside, etc. WITH BRUCE  Keller (aka "Bruce the Second,") I spend weekends 90 miles north of our San Diego home in L.A.  It is beloved by Keller because his mother came to the city as a young college arts student on spring break from University of Minnesota.  She never left.  For the past 18 years, we've watched fabulous opera and thrilled to Gustavo Dudamel's baton conducting the L.A. philharmonic at beautiful Walt Disney Concert Hall. We see plays at the Ahmanson, Mark Taper and Kirk Douglas theaters. We've been to a half-dozen "Jeopardy" tapings and spent time with the late Alex Trebek. We visit many friends, including Wyoming born Andy Schoenberg, a well known makeup artist and old pal, and Keller's oldest friend, Bob Hulbert. He and his wife Sue host us for musical gatherings where we sing show tunes and celebrate a long friendship. I'm the only "non-native" as Bruce, Bob and Sue are all southern Californians with long ties to Los Angeles. Keller took this night photo of the Pantages on our most recent visit. READING OF the fires is like hearing an old friend has a terminal illness. I pray to my agnostic gods that this city beloved by me, Keller and millions of others will rebound quickly, rising from the ashes to reinvent itself once again. As it does -- and as soon as possible -- we'll be back. For the show must go on. ************************************************************************************************************   Marielle Young as Luna and Jin Park as Jane forge a friendship in their mutual loneliness. BEST BET : If you love serious theater, with welcome comic relief, head for North Coast Repertory Theatre for "The Heart Sellers." It's a play for play goers, with a perfect theatrical triumvirate. New Yorker Kat Yen's deft direction thoughtfully develops Lloyd Suh's clever script, delivered by two splendid actors with delightful chemistry. The theme is integration-- two wives uprooted from their cultures to support their husbands' education and careers in an unnamed U.S. city. Playwright Suh created two endearing characters in this subtle and sometimes raucous  production. They have just met and are learning to trust one another. Marielle Young plays Luna, a gregarious Filipina woman, endowing her character with brashness and tender enthusiasm. Playing her reluctant Korean new friend Jane is Jin Park who gives her character just the right balance of reserve and delight.  Through two capable actors, a touching friendship develops. When Luna sings "Top of the World," that sweet Carpenters' song, we take  an emotional ride with her. It's a play of satisfying depth and subtlety with welcome moments of slapstick and lightness. It takes great talent to pull off a two- person show which never fails to engage and sustain us.  The collaboration of writer, director and actors opens the year at the Rep with a five-star show on an eye-catching set. northcoastrep.org  or call for tickets, call 858-481-1055 ***********************************************************************************  Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" Meyers on the trail of dolphins and whales, keeping safe distance from the fires.  Find some fire relief next week in southern California. ON TAP: Concerned about the tragic fires, worried about the safety of our many friends in Los Angeles and the havoc and loss of the terrible fires, we are thankful for progress on containment, and for our safety in San Diego. Now, we travel north of the city to romp with the whales. They're migrating from the north to the warm waters of the Baja and we're on their trail.  Meanwhile, keep the people and critters of Los Angeles in your hearts and minds, remembering to explore, learn, live and be kind, generous and helpful. Catch us weekly for stories on performance, nature, travel and -- sometimes -- breaking news, good or bad: www.whereiscookie.com

Dreams inspire trip, tattoos; roadies set off with a poem POEM by CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS by BRUCE KELLER This week, twin dreams came down to us with travel forecasts bold. Our vision puts us on the road (We're doing what we're told.) Midlife crisis? Call us nuts. For sticks and stones don't phase us. We're grabbing gusto, bucket listing, singing, playing, praise us! We've bought twin Harleys, new tattoos so on the road we're speeding. Cookie's hair is nice and big (We don't plan too much reading.) By trains, boats, planes we'll navigate We'll waken when it pleases. We'll order well from room service, take Cs to stave off sneezes. From San Diego, up the coast, Montana, 'round the planet we'll feast on mangoes, lambchops, jam perhaps a pomegranate. Kel's fishing pole and Cookie's sax will add to our diversions. We're doing all the things we want, please spare us vexed aspersions. We've said so-long to work-aday with all its cares and worry. We're going where the sun is bright and do not plan to hurry. Our Yorkie kids are all packed up. With kibbles, toys and sweaters. We've tossed their leashes in a bag so they, too, have no fetters. Our gigs are multiple and fun, some big fish in our calling. Some bands, some dancing, gambling, too. Some wagons off we're falling. We'll grab some shows: jazz, classics, blues, St.-Martin-in-the-Fields? Predictable? That's just not us. We're kicking up our heels! Sexy Marlon Brando looked so handsome in his shirts. But so does Keller -- check it out -- And he can sleep in yurts. Paris beckons, London woos. We've booked two top Ritz Carltons In case you're wondering "what the hell?" Beware of springtime charlatans. So Carpe diem, have some fun. Get out there. Shake that bed. Come travel armchair or for real. For soon we'll all be dead. Next blog up: Europe through the eyes of our spirited travelers. Next Wednesday, our roadies take us to Portugal, Italy, France and the Canary Islands, with a nod to fountains, harbors and house wine! Then Saturday next, a treasure trove of orchids in La Jolla Shores hotel basement. Meet the magicians behind the blooms. We post on Wednesdays and Saturdays at: whereiscookie.com

A pumpkin carving contest on Queen Mary 2, offered a mix of spooky and amusing results, some irreverent, some ghoulish. Travelers find Halloween displays along with Day of the Dead and All Saints Day decor in hotels in Europe, Mexico, and other countries around the world as autumn holidays and celebrations merge and overlap. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER "The Carpe Diem Kids" ALL THE WORLD seems to enjoy a celebration, be it pagan inspired or religious based. This time of year epitomizes that. Although Halloween and autumn's religious holidays are not technically related, they occur around the same time. Besides Halloween, All Saints Day and the Day of the Dead are famously celebrated in many countries around the world. Mexico City's Reforma stages an elaborate parade on Day of the Dead with food and feasting and the deceased honored by their loved ones. THESE AUTUMNAL holidays combine traditions and customs, sometimes religious, often pagan inspired, mostly for fun and a chance to enjoy the company of friends and family. Halloween is celebrated differently worldwide, with its roots in ancient Celtic traditions. In North America, it's known for costumes, trick-or-treating, and haunted attractions. Mexico, Puerto Rico and other places blend Halloween with All Saints Day Nov. 1 and All Souls Day, Nov. 2. These days honor saints and remember the deceased. In Mexican culture, Dia de los Muertos is a joyful, sacred observance of the deceased with food, music, photos, costumes, and memories. Mexico City has a huge, popular Day of the Dead parade Nov. 2. All Saints Day in a Barcelona cathedral involves candles and prayer for the dead. Halloween traditions, All Saints Day All Saints Day is celebrated in historically Catholic countries, especially in Europe and Latin America, and is a public holiday in many, including Spain, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Mexico, and the Philippines. Customs vary, but often involve visiting graves, lighting candles, and offering flowers to honor saints and deceased loved ones, with variations seen in the celebrations in Mexico, the Philippines and elsewhere. A typical Halloween for Cookie with great niece and nephew, Peny and James, and their treat haul. WE WERE pleasantly surprised to find Halloween celebrated in Rome, Lisbon, Barcelona and San Juan recently -- with plenty of spooky charm. Halloween has become increasingly popular in Portugal over the years. We don't think of it as a traditional Portuguese holiday, yet we were greeted in our hotel with a display of carved pumpkins. Back in the states, neighbors and relatives carve them too, and collect treats door to door as we did as kids. A Halloween quartet of revelers in Europe, from left: Bruce, Christene, Maarten and Maarten, friends from Belgium (yes, both are Maarten.) The influence of global pop culture, advertising and locals of festivities have made Halloween a growing trend around the globe. Throughout southern Europe, we found eerie decorations, haunted events, trick or treaters on the streets and other lively activities. In some rural areas in southern Europe, children participate in a tradition called Bread for God. On the morning of All Saints' Day, kids go door-to-door asking for cakes, sweets, or small gifts, much like our trick-or-treating tradition, but with a more spiritual undertone and treats supposedly shared. As Halloween becomes more popular, it blends with these traditions, creating a unique fusion of religious based culture and modern Halloween festivities. ********************* Bruce Keller lights a bonfire topped with an effigy of Guy Fawkes, whose failed attempt to overthrow British government centuries ago is celebrated. UP NEXT: While we're celebrating, come with us to a Yorkshire fete, Guy Fawkes Day. We join friends who celebrate the failure of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Fawkes was one of a disgruntled group of English Catholics involved in an elaborate scheme to overthrow government. He was born and educated in York before deciding to off the King and blow up Parliament. It's really a chance to have a party, invite friends for supper and fireworks, burn a large bonfire and burn Fawkes in effigy. Bruce Keller lit the flame.

The bridge climbing group wends its way carefully above the waters of Sydney, Australia's, world famous harbor. RECOVERING COWARD TICKS A BIG ONE OFF HER LARGE BUCKET LIST WITH TWO BRIDGE CLIMBS At the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Keller and Cookie celebrate with a wave and a victory cheer. STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER I MUST HAVE been dream walking the morning I went on line to book two tickets to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I sent a text to tell Keller I'd done it. He knew I'd been to Australia four times before, and declined the daring climb every time. Now, with our trip days away, I'd committed to the adventure. No more avoidance. Like Bert Lahr in "The Wizard of Oz," I was dancing down the Yellow Brick Road, determined to find courage. "Wow" was the total of Keller's text back. He knew it was a daunting undertaking for me, a lifelong vertigo victim with a paralyzing fear of heights. The Great Wall made me dizzy. The views from the Eiffel Tower leave me short of breath. A tenth story hotel room window makes my head spin. So what was I thinking? IT WAS ALMOST year's end. I was tired of being a sissy, of sitting on the sports sideline. Climbing the Auckland Bridge was a dream, much gentler than Sydney's climb, with gorgeous views of the pretty harbor. Growing up in a family of dare devils -- skiers, swimmers, divers, high-jumpers -- I was the actor, musician, bookworm. I took my novel into the warming hut while a clan of expert skiers zipped by. I learned play lines by the pool when everyone else went surfing. But the year was ending. I would conquer old fears, defy demons. I FELT SAFE once underway. Climb leaders are highly trained and your belt is fastened to the bridge as you move. On both climbs, I admitted my fear and was cheered on by the leaders and an international mix of friends. We spent a day recently at the Sydney Opera House, touring the many theaters, dining on salmon and caviar, and savoring the building's history. THERE ARE three major bridge climbs in Australia. We've reveled in the Sydney and Auckland climbs. Both left us thrilled with the views. We have the Brisbane bridge yet to climb, so that's up next when we return to the land Down Under. Meanwhile, I'm living proof that you can teach an old reporter new tricks. With the new year upon us, why not do something you've never done, or challenge a cliche about yourself -- and change it! (www.bridgeclimb.com and www.bungy.co.nz/auckland-bridge.) You can even bungy off Auckland's bridge.... next trip??? NEXT UP: The building of the gorgeous Sydney Opera House is a story as unlikely as the building itself. We've got the scoop about the Danish architect who won the design contest and the Aussie lottery that funded it. Read us Wednesdays and weekends at: www.whereiscookie.com. Please tell your friends!

North Coast Repertory Theatre ends its 35th season with a bang. "At This Evening's Performance" is a thoroughly likeable tale about a troupe of actors in a Soviet bloc-like police state, struggling to make magic on stage. Cygnet Theatre's acclaimed production of "Animal Crackers" offers unadulterated fun. DELICIOUSLY FUNNY, FAST-PACED TREATS KEEP US ON OUR TOES AND ENJOYING A LAVISH GLUT OF THEATER  CONFECTIONS STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER and theater marketing departments NOTHING LIKE  a couple hours in an air-conditioned theater, with plenty of laughs and revelry to beat the heat and tickle the funny bone. We've seen a satisfying medley of prize-winners this week, so we sing the praises of tasty theatrical confections here in southern California. For me, theater is not just an idle pastime.  It is my life blood.  Since I harmonized with my late sister, Peny, in "Count Your Blessings" as a three-year-old in a small Montana town, I was hooked. When I was a teen-ager, our family re-enacted the Covent Garden scene in "My Fair Lady," -- the scene in which Professor Higgins first lays ears on Eliza. ("Buy a fl'aar off a poor gil.") Never mind that my mother cast me as Col. Pickering. My sister Peny, tall and willowy and a lyric soprano, made a lovely Eliza and brother Rick was the eccentric Henry Higgins. "At This Evening's Performance" is held over at NorthCoast Repertory Theatre in Solano Beach, north of  San Diego. As the hilarious Captain Spaulding, Josh Odsess-Rubin brings down the house in Cygnet Theatre's rollicking performance of "Animal Crackers." THIS WEEK'S  theatrical outings took us to a refreshing North Coast Rep production of "At this Evening's Performance," by Nagle Jackson. A crackerjack cast play the denizens of a touring theater troupe in a corrupt 1970s Soviet-era police state. We've never seen a less than stellar performance at this North County gem, and the tradition continues with this delightful, fast-paced production, set in "Strevia," in two dressing rooms. The acting is top drawer, the set delightfully detailed (as always in this charming, small venue). It's a play for theater goers, who know the language and can recognize and appreciate the spoofing yet reverential nature allusions to the stage. The play is held over through Aug. 13. Terrific acting and deft direction keep the laughs coming in North Coast Repertory's "At This Evening's Performance." IN SAN DIEGO'S  Old Town, Cygnet Theatre, get ready for wickedly witty, magnificently costumed Marx Bros humor with "Animal Crackers," loosely based on the laugh-a-minute Broadway musical and film with the Marx Bros and Margaret Dumont. Sean Murray's talented stable of actors delivers brilliantly.  Not a weak link in this stellar cast, with cameo numbers for each actor, from the fabulous "straight woman" Dumont character, to a wonderfully rendered Harpo, a sterling pair of scheming social climbers and several multiple-role scene stealers. YOU'LL BE  amused at Mrs. Rittenhouse's posturing, and Captain Spaulding is superb -- all in fabulous costumes.  Harpo's delightful miming and Zeppo's stooge exhibit the troupe's tremendous energy. This tap dancing kid was thrilled at the impeccable specialty numbers and there are sight gags, generous ad libs and athletically rendered physical bits. Top it off with Groucho's insured ad libs and you'll be engagingly entertained. The production is light on its feet -- and the ensemble work cohesive and admirable. As veterans of many performances -- on both sides of the footlights -- we salute the Sunday matinee production, the first of two that same day. The play runs through Aug. 13. AT THE OLD  Globe, "Guys and Dolls" is selling out its smashing production of this mid-century American classic. The can't-miss score of Frank Loesser songs includes “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” “Sue Me” and more. A top-drawer ensemble tells the sassy Runyon stories. in a whiz-bang production. The Old Globe's "Guys and Dolls" is delightfully rendered with snappy choreography and lavish costumes. "Evita" comes soon to San Diego Repertory Theatre. Sam Woodhouse, Rep founder, directs a much heralded production. COMING NEXT: Summertime and the living is easy. These lines from another famous musical, are perfectly tuned for our photo essay of an easy-going summer idyll in the Beartooth Mountains of Montana.  Join us for a serene look at life along the West Fork of the Stillwater River in Big Sky Country. AND DON'T NEGLECT San Diego Musical Theatre, for lively productions of mostly vintage works. SDMT's "Damn Yankees" in May was a stellar production   and you'll enjoy sitting in the historic Spreckels Theatre, or the inviting house at Horton Grand. Always a treat to visit the best of Broadway in top-notch SDMT shows. THERE'S MORE:  If you have yet to see "Buddy:  The Buddy Holly Story"....at New Village Arts in Carlsbad, it is as high energy treat. And coming soon to downtown San Diego, a much heralded production of "Evita." Plus don't overlook the brilliant and caring works at Intrepid and Diversionary theaters.

The Bluewater Boathouse, near Hotel del Coronado stands stately on a recent rainy evening. The restaurant mimics the beautiful Hotel Del architecture, lovely by day or night. Hornblower Cruises offers a lovely dinner cruise, passing under the majestic Coronado Bridge with a view of The Del and the Boathouse. Consider Hornblower for its popular Sights and Sips. 'THE ISLAND' HAS CHARM, EXCITING DINING, GREAT THEATER, A CLASSIC CALIFORNIA HOTEL STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER The Coronado Bridge, opened in 1969, is becoming a symbol of San Diego, much like the Golden Gate to San Francisco. A Hornblower Cruise goes under it. Coronado has the feel of a small town, with fine food, plays, fun shopping, a relaxed environment, bicyclers and the beach. Lamb's Players Theatre offers delightful, professional plays, including the current hit production of the farce "Noises Off!" WE'D SAILED UNDER the impressive Coronado Bridge many times with our favorite Hornblower Cruises. Finally, I drove across it, viewing Coronado from land rather than sea. The occasion was a play at the famous Lamb's Players Theatre on Orange Street. My husband, a San Diego native son, had long raved about the theater and its prime location on Orange Street, the main artery. He loves theater and the bridge and said the Hotel del Coronado was a must. As theater junkies, bridge climbers and vintage hotel fans, a visit was a fine way to satisfy those interests. "Coronado has the feeling of a village," Keller said as we parked. He was right. SITUATED JUST across the bay from downtown San Diego, Coronado has maintained its "small town" feel with a lovely beach, charming shops and attractive restaurants. It's a walkable town, where locals and tourists mingle -- a pleasant blend of stollers, bicyclers, dog walkers and vacationers enjoying cocktails or a leisurely meal. We joined other play-goers on Orange Avenue for a drink and supper after an excellent matinee at Lamb's Players Theatre. ITS PERFECT BEACH is often voted "best in the U.S." My surfer husband says its waves are gentle and appealing. The stately Hotel del Coronado is an easy walk from the beach, Lamb's Players Theatre, a choice of fun restaurants and colorful galleries and shops. We're fans of fine old hotels and Hotel del Coronado is that and more. Built in 1888 it is beloved by Hollywood stars, dating back to Charlie Chaplin, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. "The Del" has 25 films and TV shows to its credit. At least a dozen presidents have visited and "The Wizard of Oz" author L. Frank Baum stayed at the hotel for years, writing his Oz series there from 1904 to 1910. Marilyn Monroe's "Some Like It Hot" was filmed at The Del. FOUNDERS ELISHA Babcock Sailboats dot the bay on a recent sunny day, viewed from the Coronado bridge. and Hampton L. Story would be pleased. They dreamed their seaside resort would be “the talk of the Western world.” They designed the slope of the charming main street and laid out the village for family homes, shops, and romantic inns and cafes to appeal to vacationers. CORONADO WAS a baby when "The Del" was built -- just a few families. Now it is home to over 25,000 people. Coronado isn't exactly an island, connected to the mainland as it is. The architecture and easy-going feeling are part of the allure. Its lively appeal includes Mexican influence, old-world military personnel, beach culture, Hollywood glamour and its unique local history. For my money, the best way to enjoy a view of the spectacular Coronado Bridge and Coronado is to take a Hornblower cruise -- dinner cruise is ideal -- and watch Coronado light up. lambsplayers.org; hornblower.com; hoteldel.com BEST BET: "South Pacific" opens at Horton Grand Theater in San Diego. As a youngster, I saw Mary Martin "Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair" and love this grand old musical. It's not only a stirring love story, but a lesson on tolerance. San Diego Musical Theater opens the beloved musical this weekend, through May 27. The famed Cannes Film Festival opens soon, and we'll take you there. ****************************NEXT UP: Cannes. Long the most famous of festivals, it's time for the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. We take you to the Cote d'Azur, one of the first modern resort areas of Europe, to look at the stately architecture, sail boats, casinos and restaurants. Remember to explore, learn and live and catch us each week when we post a fresh take on travel, the arts, nature, family and more.

RIGHT ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP, LEGENDARY HOTEL HOSTS PARADISE FOR FEATHERED FRIENDS STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER A flightless pelican -- wounded by fishing line and unable to fly -- is among pampered guests at the Flamingo's wildlife habitat. These unusual Asian white-faced ducks whistle not quack. You'll see flamingos in the art at the legendary hotel -- and in the bird habitat. THE BEST KEPT secret on the Las Vegas strip is not the view from a fancy hotel. It's not a fabulous meal in a little known bistro. It's not a two-for-one show ticket or a $3 blackjack table. It's a fantastic wildlife habitat in the Flamingo Hotel. The famed Las Vegas strip is just steps away from the Flamingo's wildlife habitat -- and the fabled, much newer High Roller wheel. The charming hotel -- our favorite through many years of staying in Sin City, a town we love -- is the one with the familiar flamingo motif. It was founded by the legendary Bugsy Siegel -- gambler, ladies man and improviser. He's known as the man who invented Las Vegas, and he loved flamingos. "WE DIDN'T build on the strip," a veteran bartender told us. "The strip was created around the Flamingo." It's true. Siegel, the visionary entrepreneur who lit up the desert with his casino concept, is memorialized on a bronze plaque near the hotel's charming little chapel. The remembrance is surrounded by flamingos, rare Asian and South American waterfowl and even a pelican who can no longer fly and is fed and pampered by the habitat's staff. Both a morning and afternoon feeding and talk are offered free to the public. We chose an afternoon session and thoroughly enjoyed it. AFTERWARDS, WE caught up to congenial and devoted naturalist Lori Miller while she continued feeding the birds. She and two other bird tenders talks to guests, answers questions and explain feeding and care of the exotic and beautiful creatures in their care. Naturalist Lori Miller is one of three trained professionals caring for the birds and fish at the Flamingo Hotel's unique and lovely Habitat. One of the city's most unique and beloved attractions, the Flamingo's Wildlife Habitat even has a wing in the hotel named after it: We always ask for the Habitat wing, and that's where we stay. WE ENJOY IT because we can view the lush habitat from our 15th or 20th story room. We also love the hotel's dog friendly atmosphere. Well behaved pets are welcome and fellow guests are also animal lovers. They clean up after their pets and use the pet run area, which like all of the hotel is nicely landscaped. ON THE HIGH Roller wheel, we loved gazing down at the habitat -- an oasis of calm among the skyscrapers and busy streets. Parents bring their children to enjoy the waterfowl, and to stroll around lushly landscaped gardens, pools and ponds. In a city where price tags can get exorbitant, the habitat is free. No admission charge. People come from other nearby hotels to enjoy it, as it is open to the public and draws from the nearby Linq, Mirage, Harrah's, Caesar's, Planet Hollywood, Bally's and other top Vegas hotels. WE MET guests from Germany, Italy and Australia during our recent four days, and from a dozen U.S. states. Nestled on the Flamingo's lush 15-acre grounds, the habitat is stocked with exotic birds, fish and sunbathing turtles. Flamingos gave the Flamingo Hotel its name and live on a lush island in the habitat. A highlight of the habitat is "Flamingo Island," home to an impressive flock of Chilean flamingos. The long-necked coral colored bird is the hotel's signature bird and inspiration for the name of the 1947 property. The flamingos' supporting cast is a colorful collection of other feathered friends from around the world, including ring-tealed ducks and sacred ibis. Guests of all ages stand and sit in fascination, watching the birds. Seeing people and birds peacefully co-existing is a singular pleasure to staying in perhaps the most tranquil spot in Las Vegas. WHILE THE FLAMINGOS preen on a single leg during the changing sunlight, across the way, you'll enjoy black-necked swans, many kinds of ducks, koi and carp. For theater, movies, and a fun new book: click on lilianslastdance.com Miller told us that some of the carp weigh in at 50 and 60 pounds. They're huge. The Flamingo at night is a blaze of glorious color. Migrating birds are also frequent visitors at the habitat, as well as four kinds of hummingbirds, attracted by the feeders kept in pristine condition by the naturalists. A beautiful brown pelican -- unable to fly because of injuries -- joined the hotel's habitat three years ago, rescued in 2012 from a tangle of fishing line and hooks on a nearby bay. We savored the hummingbirds zipping to their feeders, took photos of the signature flamingos and watched the water animals at feeding time. The habitat is an idyllic stop among the buzzing city boulevard and Linq district steps away. The habitat's black-necked swan has a distinctive red growth on his bill. MILLER SAID that all animals are carefully maintained. A group of lively, squawking parrots is kept in another area, not far from the habitat. Guests are welcome to enjoy them, pose for photos with them and contribute to the habitat by purchasing the photos. What charmed us most about the place is the artful integration of landscaping and critters -- birds fly in and out and putz around in the water, enjoying elegant little islands, streams and waterfalls. The birds seem to know they live in hallowed ground, just yards from the asphalt, neon and high rise hotels of Vegas fame. IT'S A MUCH loved place to slow down after a session of gambling, drinking, dining or otherwise carousing and over-indulging in one of our favorite towns. For theater, movies, and a fun new book: click on lilianslastdance.com Melbourne's alleys, streets are artfully adorned by residents. COMING UP: We find hidden secrets, stunning artwork and surprising talent in the alleys and secret corners of Melbourne, Australia. In a unique tradition encouraged by city officials, artists are welcome to paint, improvise, create in this delightful city Down Under. Remember to explore, learn and live, and check us out here Wednesdays for travel tips, hotels, restaurants, cruising and nature pieces: www.whereiscookie.com