Theory Cat on the Prowl

An oak covered with Spanish moss

At Fort Caroline National Monument

Theory Cat discovers a Timucuan village!

At Fort Caroline

A cannon in a French fort in Florida

Established in 1564

Looking over some Florida swampland

Near the first Spanish settlement in 1565

Inside a Redwood log house

Brought here from California

Michelangelo's David

An exact replica from the same marble quarry in Italy

An Old Spanish Trail marker

This marks mile zero on the trail

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

A real Spanish fort!

A cannon at the Spanish fort

Overlooking St. Augustine Bay

So many alligators!

At St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Theory Cat is offered as a sacrifice

To the Gator God

Look out, Theory Cat!

In the mouth of a fake gator

At the Fountain of Youth

St. Augustine, Florida

With a nice Macaw

In the Alligator Farm

Posing with Goofy Gator

By the stadium in Jacksonville

A statue of Ponce de Leon

Who came to Florida seeking the Fountain of Youth

Theory Cat is in Austria for a film music conference

in the city of Graz

The Graz Opera House in Austria

(currently featuring "Tom Sawyer")

At the mausoleum of Kaiser Wilhelm II

The magnificent organ in the Graz cathedral

(the organ is new but the Cathedral is 14th century)

This pecan marks the very center of Graz

Theory Cat finds the Doppelwendeltreppe

(The Double Spiral Staircase) in Graz Castle

Theory Cat encounters a bust of Mozart in the local park

A WW2 memorial

... reminds me of King Kong, thinks Theory Cat

Theory Cat finds a tunnel

Through the heart of the Schlossberg (the local hill)

Hiking the Schlossberg

Lots of stairs

A beautiful view of Graz

From the top of the Schlossberg

Save the clock tower!

The Uhrturm has been around since the 13th century

"Film music between the movies and the concert hall"

Bringing together scholars from Austria, England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, and the US

Theory Cat at the University of Graz

The Landhaus in Graz

Its first Renaissance building, dating from 1527 - find Theory Cat!

The Glockenspiel

Theory Cat waits for the little people to come out and dance

Theory Cat enjoying a reception at City Hall

(currently controlled by communists!)

Downtown square from a balcony in City Hall

or as they say in Austria, the Rat-haus (not that kind of rats, TC!)

Sound stage A of the Sychron Stage in Vienna

One of the finest recording facilities in the world!

Here is the soundboard in the control room

Recently used by LucasFilm, Marvel, Disney, and Hans Zimmer

Theory Cat at the Beethoven monument

Theory Cat at the Johannes Brahms monument

Theory Cat at the Johann Strauss, Jr. monument

Theory Cat at the Franz Schubert monument

Theory Cat at the Musikverein

Home of the Vienna Philharmonic

Theory Cat at the Haydn house

(no one was home)

Theory Cat at the Schubert house

(no one here, either)

At the snowy grave of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

(first snow of the year in Vienna!)

Theory Cat at Beethoven's grave

Theory Cat at Schubert's grave

Theory Cat at Brahms's grave

(which is conveniently right next to Strauss's grave!)

Theory Cat ends his day at the Vienna Opera House

At the massive St. Charles Cathedral

Mahler was married here, around the corner from Brahms's apt.

Gazing up at the majestic St. Stephen's Cathedral

Where Haydn sang as a choir boy and Mozart was married

Theory Cat visits the spherical Republic of Kugelmugel

(Google it)

Admiring the Beautiful Blue Danube

Not so blue today ...

The St. Stephen's Cathedral was all lit up for Christmas

A view of the incredible Imperial Palace

Just feet away from some ancient Roman ruins

Christmas lights at the Rathausplatz

Merry Christmas from Theory Cat in Vienna!

Ending the day with a tasty Kasekrainer

The Ronacher Theatre

Max Steiner managed this theater before he left Vienna

The music school where Steiner received his professional training

Now the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna

Theater an der Wien (where Mozart's Magic Flute was premiered)

Max Steiner's family ran this theater for many years, going back to the operettas of Johann Strauss, Jr.

The Riesenrad (ferris wheel)

Steiner's father Gabor built this in 1897 for his celebrated amusement park "Venice in Vienna"

Gabor Steiner Way (Max's dad)

At the entrance to the Prater amusement park

Theory cat points to the sign of the Hotel Wien

Max Steiner was born here on May 10, 1888

Inside the "Max Steiner Bar" in the Hotel Wien

"Just looking," says Theory Cat

Theory Cat arrives in Denver

And meets an Apollo 13 astronaut

The colorful Casa Bonita

Currently under renovation, so no high diving shows

Theory Cat at Mile High Stadium

Now called Empower Field

At Lookout Mountain Park

Near where Buffalo Bill is buried

At the snowy grave of Buffalo Bill

Some say his body was stolen and buried in Cody, Wyoming

Theory Cat at the Center of the World

(Apparently this is in Golden, Colorado)

A statue of John Denver and an eagle

Next to the Museum of Colorado Music History

The golden bust of John Denver

Rocky Mountain High was sung here

Theory Cat at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

A really cool outdoor auditorium

The state capitol building in Denver

Built in the 1890s

One mile above sea level

One of three mile-high markers on the capitol steps

At the Union Station

Travel by train!

Cleaning up at the Denver Art Museum

This sculpture is called "Big Sweep"

With Big Blue

A giant bear in downtown Denver

The birthplace of the cheeseburger

I can haz?

Some giant cows at the Denver Art Museum

"Scottish Angus Cow and Calf"

A hot-dog shaped diner

The South Park Coney Island Boardwalk

The Sasquatch Outpost

A museum for Bigfoot sightings

Theory Cat in Tiny Town

With a miniature hot dog diner

Tiny Town opened in 1921

But is closed for the winter

Exploring Tiny Town

Train tracks run through the town

Visiting the Denver Temple

Opened in 1986

A fountain by the temple

The 40th operating temple

A park full of xylophones

In Parker, Colorado?

Some giant jacks

Public art can be fun

Theory Cat arrives in Amsterdam

Central Station in the background

One of the beautiful canals in Amsterdam

The "Old Church" in the background was consecrated in 1306

The Royal Palace of Amsterdam

Napoleon's brother lived here when he was made King of Holland

Another canal scene

Lots of boats zipping around the canals

The West Church next to the Anne Frank house

The bells were tolling while we visited

Theory Cat visits the Anne Frank House

(you need tickets two months in advance)

A very nice statue of Anne Frank

In the West Church courtyard

The English Reformed Church in Beginjnhof

The Pilgrims prayed here before boarding the Mayflower

The Begijnhof courtyard

A Catholic chapel is hidden across from the Protestant chapel

Theory Cat visits the Royal Concertgebouw

Currently hosting a piano festival with some great performers

Dutch Masters in the Rijksmuseum

This painting is very Rembrandt-like

Theory Cat poses with Vermeer's "Milk Maid"

All focus is on Theory Cat

An original Van Gogh self-portrait

One of the few not in the adjacent Van Gogh museum

The exterior of the Rijksmuseum

This is a world-class art museum

From the eighth floor of the Conservatorium

Where the Beethoven 2020 conference was held

At jazz trumpeter Chet Baker's death site

Did he jump from the window or was he pushed?

Theory Cat finds the de Gooyer windmill

The tallest windmill in the Netherlands

Riding a bike is the best way to get around town

There are bike lanes everywhere in Amsterdam!

The hotel where Theory Cat stayed

Visiting the Temple of Literature (after hours)

At the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh

About town in Hanoi (lots of motorbikes)

At the Citadel tower (a world heritage site)

Lounging around between classes

Welcome to New York City, Theory Cat!

In Times Square

Theory Cat visits Wall Street

It's a slow day at the New York Stock Exchange

A somber moment for Theory Cat

At the 9/11 Memorial

It's the Ghostbusters headquarters!

Firehouse Hook & Ladder Company 8 in Tribeca

At the New York Public Library

(but without a library card)

Theory Cat meets the original Winnie the Pooh

And Tigger too! (plus Eeyore, Kanga, and a tiny piglet)

Theory Cat on Broadway

They say the neon lights are bright ...

King Kong vs. Theory Cat

At the Broadway Theatre

The Empire State Building towers above

Kong is nowhere in sight

Theory Cat catches the Late Show

Too bad there's no show today!

Theory Cat gathers some news

At the New York Times office building

Theory Cat lets his "fantasies unwind!"

At the Majestic Theatre

At Radio City Music Hall

Home of the Rockettes

The arch at Washington Square at night

Nice place for a film music conference

Enjoying the NYC skyline

A view from Central Park

Hooray! It's the Guggenheim

Theory Cat likes modern art

Theory Cat briefly attends Juilliard

In beautiful Lincoln Center

In the Metropolitan Opera House

Are they doing "The Meowrriage of Figaro" this week?

Theory Cat figures out how to get to Carnegie Hall

Practice! (and lots of walking)

Two very large slices of New York pizza

(Theory Cat shown at actual size to establish perspective)

Grant is buried at Grant's tomb

(also Mrs. Grant)

Theory cat steals the focus from Lady Liberty

Riding the Staten Island Ferry

At Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village

Where Bob Dylan had his first NYC gig

Theory Cat makes a quick stop at Coney Island

And bids farewell to the Big Apple

Welcome to San Antonio, Theory Cat!

World's Largest Cowboy Boots

Theory Cat visits the Spanish missions

Mission Espada (1690)

Mission San Juan Capistrano (1731)

Mission San Jose (1782)

Mission Concepcion (1716)

World's Largest Virgin Mary Mosaic

Theory Cat visits Market Square

(on Halloween)

An Easter Island head

Great place for a picnic

Theory Cat encounters Stonehenge

In Ingram, TX

Exploring the inner rings of Stonehenge

Great way to celebrate Halloween!

World's Largest Pecan

Nearby: World's Second Largest Pecan

Buc-ee's: World's Largest Convenience Store

There were 280 fuel pump stations!

Theory Cat on the Riverwalk

(night time)

Theory Cat on the Riverwalk

(day time)

Tower of the Americas

(kind of looks like a scene from Close Encounters, doesn't it?)

San Fernando Cathedral

Fun fact: The ashes of Davy Crockett are in the front lobby

Theory Cat remembers the Alamo

(and the Alamo cats)

At the famous Buckhorn Saloon

Dead animals everywhere

Visiting La Villita (on the Day of the Dead)

A parade for Dia de los Muertos

Theory Cat visits Tucson, Arizona

Ouch! Watch where you sit, Theory Cat.

Saguaro National Park

Millions of giant cacti here!

Theory Cat does his best cactus impersonation

On the trail to Spirit Hill

At the San Xavier mission

(built in 1797)

Windy Point on the Island in the Sky drive

(8000 feet up)

The Tucson, Arizona Temple

(beautiful landscaping here)

Theory Cat meets a giant tiki head!

(with green glowing eyes)

Theory Cat goes to Hollywood

At the Watts towers

At Warner Brothers Studios

Visiting Max Steiner's star in Hollywood

... and Godzilla ...

... and Stravinsky ...

... and the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock!

Here's the Los Angeles Temple

... and inside the Visitors Center

Outside of George Gershwin's house in Beverly Hills

(trying not to wake him up)

Theory Cat goes to Washington

On Capitol Hill

Arlington National Cemetery

A thought-provoking place

At the grave of JFK

Eternal flame is still burning ...

At the Jefferson Memorial

Truly inspiring stuff

The FDR Memorial

With a memorial pet

Theory Cat approves this message

Equal rights for cats!

Outside the Lincoln Memorial

You're still messing up the auto-focus, Theory Cat!

Inside the Lincoln Memorial

Theory Cat tries to keep wandering tourists out of the frame

Is this the conference hotel?

Watergate National Historic Site

Albert Einstein Memorial

E = D#²

The Washington Monument

Still leaning a bit ... since that Spider-Man incident

The Smithsonian Institute

And gift shop

Theory Cat learns about cat mummification

In the Sackler Gallery

Photo-bombing the Supreme Court

what's going on inside today?

The National Archives

Theory Cat saw the actual Declaration of Independence!

The best way to get around DC

(find Theory Cat)

The FBI building

No need to hide, Theory Cat--you're not under investigation!

And the White House

Probably not a good idea to hop the fence ...

Pedagogy into Practice Conference

Cleveland, TN

Inquizitive for Aural Skills demonstration

(find theory cat)

Meeting solfege-songwriter David Newman

author of the classic Sol-Ti-Re-Fa song and the equally heartfelt Intervals in Inversion song

enjoying the Ken Bain video conference

author of "What the Best College Teachers Do

melodic dictation workshop with Gary Karpinski

(theory cat is sitting this one out)

Road trip

at the "blood-stained crypt of Nina Cragmiles"

(unfortunate victim of an 1871 buggy accident)

at the Ocoee Dam

Tennessee

World's Largest Ten Commandments

near Turtletown, Tennessee (just north of Ducktown)

replica of the Garden Tomb

(its empty inside)

pit stop at the Piggly Wiggly

they had plenty of Moon Pies

at the site of the historic Scopes "monkey trial"

(google it)

at Cane Creek Falls

(stop messing up the auto-focus, theory cat!)

above Fall Creek Falls

tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains

at the base of Fall Creek Falls

after a "strenuous, but rewarding" hike

The Great Stone Door

(actually more like a staircase)

the UFO House near Chattanooga

on Signal Mountain

Theory Cat likes Bessie Smith!

(the trees are all painted blue here)

is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?

yes it is, in downtown Chattanooga

Chickamauga National Battlefield

(we climbed to the top of that tower)

at the end of the Ruby Falls cave tour

(seems fake, thinks Theory Cat)

Russell Cave National Monument

("Meow there's a real cave!" thinks Theory Cat)

camping at Davy Crockett State Park

(now he goes by David, I see)

Shiloh National Battlefield

the Shiloh Chapel

an ancient moundbuilder civilization!

Shiloh NB

the Statue of Liberty

seems different, somehow...

outside of the Crystal Grotto Shrine

inside of the Crystal Grotto Shrine

Making the Pilgrimage to Graceland

The Home of Elvis Presley©

The abandoned birthplace of Aretha Franklin

(Theory Cat didn't want to get out of the car in this neighborhood)

The Lorraine Motel, site of the MLK Jr. assassination

Now the National Museum of Civil Rights (super awesome)

Home of W.C. Handy

Father of the Blues

B.B. King's Blues Club on Beale Street

Lots of great music here

Elvis Presley's high school

Cypress Grove Nature Trail

boardwalk trails through a nice swamp

The Eiffel Tower

in Paris, TN

A big iron furnace

Land Between the Lakes NRA

Fort Donelson NMP

more Civil War stuff? ...

It's the General Lee!

Cooter's Place, Nashville

The geographic center of Tennessee

this is a real monument

Stones River National Battlefield

(last Civil War thing)

North American Conference of 19th-Century Music

Vanderbilt University

The Parthenon

normally found in Ancient Greece

State Capitol of Tennessee

Theory Cat out on the town

"The District" in downtown Nashville

Tennessee

North Carolina

Georgia

Alabama

Mississippi

Kentucky