Tuesday, December 31, 2013

House On The Rock

     On an overcast October day we ventured forth to a destination I had been wanting to return to for years - the House On The Rock In Spring Green, Wisconsin. My memory of it was quite faulty and I knew it had been rehabbed and renovated past my recognition. Part historical architecture - but mostly Jules Verne / P.T. Barnum fantasy taken to the ninth. It was quite an experience.
     My trusty companion agreed to give it a whirl. After breezing through the introduction and the historical significance of the architect, owner and creator of this marvel, we launched ourselves into the serene Japanese garden.
     Very lovely and very still on this rather quiet grey day. Matthew introduced himself to the guardian dragons while I meandered over delicate toy bridges under which koi swam in colorful disorder.
 

  
     For a breather -  and in between sections - we entered an outside passageway through what might be termed a Halloween hallway.
     The gargoyles entertained us no end. One respondent suggested that one looked like a giant Pez dispenser.
     Reentering the building by an old water mill enhanced by cobalt blue vases we started through the large musical machine hall. Feeling the need for a break we broke to our respective washrooms. This is what greeted me in the women's washroom.
     Old iron toys were allegedly lining the walls of the men's washroom. Unfortunately I could not enter to obtain physical evidence. Again as we journeyed onwards we encountered music machines of all descriptions as well as stained glass lamps which were a feast for the eyes.
     The halls now became serpentine ramps - interspersed with amazing displays of fantastical, magical, moving figures, and calliopes and train engines and carriages.
     It now took on a Jules Verne / Kafkaesque dream scenario. Ships of all descriptions and sizes lined the nautical hall in which a giant whale and a giant octopus were dueling it out to the strains of an octopus band. Music machines configured and thrown together with all sorts of creatures (imaginary and not so imaginary) played surreal and haunting classical music.
     Wending down another corridor we entered a huge room in which we encountered the world's largest carousal. The lights were riotous, the animal figures were gorgeous. There were no horses - all mythical or wild animals gyrated on this monstrous merry go round.
     Felt like this fellow when we were finished observing this phenomenon.
     After this we segued right into the dolls double carousal (eerie to say the least - as all the dolls were riding and apparently enjoying the endless excursion). Down we went into the hall of dolls and doll houses ( not my partner's favorite section as our time spent here was rather brief). We encountered a scary clown which unexpectedly moved when I took a picture of it.
      We immediately encountered another personality predicting clown (Matt's personality? Enthusiastic. Not a particularly accurate characterization at this point).
     To change the pace a little we went outside to view the infinity bridge. You can barely see the point of it over the trees.
     We strolled down the path until we were obstructed by a huge boulder (and I mean huge - maybe a story high). With a little nature and fresh air under our belts, we were able to return and complete our tour.
     We  now entered the circus section with its myriad dioramas of its little circuses and its life size circus.
     Alongside all these were the gargoyle carousal horses
     and clown posters (those fearing clowns would have dreaded this room). At this point my travelling pal and I were pretty well saturated and ready for the trip home. We sauntered out to the parking lot - admiring and bidding farewell to the gigantic urns emblazoned with flowers and salamanders. We need to come back for another fix of this heated and over exuberant trip down fantasy  lane. Maybe in a year.
    

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