As much as I love our famous “day-trips” they are not as frequent during the winter months as I find it more difficult to deal with the colder temps. My poor hands and feet get chilled so fast the older I get LOL!
Today was a blustery cold and windy day here in the lower Hudson Valley as we ventured out headed toward the Mid-Hudson Valley Region. Traveling west on Bear Mt. Road was the most amazing views including massive ice draped along the mountain as if it were a blanket keeping the earth covered over until springs’ thaw.
Continuing on our venture we headed toward Hudson, NY to “Olana“, the Persian style home of the famous Hudson River School artist Frederick Church. This beautiful home sits high on a hill surrounded by the beauty and “wonder” of the Hudson Valley. “Olana” is a derivative from Arabic, meaning “Our place on high” is located in some 260 acres of valley, woodland and meadows.
Artist Frederic Edwin Church was hugely popular during the mid nineteenth century. He was very well know for his canvases of American and foreign landscapes. Mr. Church and his wife traveled all over the world, all the time collecting furniture, mementos and architectural ideas. When the Churches decided to build a house overlooking the Hudson River they initially hired society architect Richard Morris Hunt, who designed them a French chateau. Mr. Church nixed these plans with his own ideas to create the exotic Persian-style structure. Inside and out Olana, was designed to capture the breathtaking views surrounded by windows that were tinted and/or framed to showcase the beauty of the views.
The most beautiful Arabic symbol meaning “Thou Art Welcome” adores the vestibule and welcomes guests.
So whether you like the Morris style or the Persian flare, there is no disputing the magnificent architectural design of Olana. While we were not permitted to take pictures inside Olana, trust me that the inside reflected the same majesty yet with a more welcoming and home feeling welcomed you in each room.
As always, I wish you days filled with happiness and “wonder” – take the time to “wonder” what it is that made you smile today! 🙂
