Travels in the Big City

I've been on the road (I'm spending a lot of time traveling this summer) and having a fabulous time. Dallas a couple of weeks ago, New York and Philadelphia last week (still in PA as I type) and Australia and New Zealand next week.
This trip was research and bonding. I flew down on Wednesday to spend three days with Jenny Crusie and Lani Diane Rich hashing out some of the details of DOGS AND GODDESSES, meeting with my agents, researching at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, eating fabulous (and horrifying) food and basically Living the Dream life of a writer. We stayed in an apartment in the West Village, drank blackberry mojitos, talked late into the night (unless I fell asleep early) and just loved it.

First night I accidentally got tentacles (Aiyeee!!!!). But the next night it was pizza with gorgonzola (bliss), which made up for the trauma. We spent all of Thursday at the Met, checking out the Mesopotamian exhibit, sneaking into the Japan visit (but of course) and shopping. What can I say? At least I became a long distance member. Because the MMA is one of my favorite places in the world -- it gave me one of my best books (the Venetian room inspired THE DEMON COUNT) and I could wander around there forever.
Then off to Philadelphia to visit my daughter, where we ate baked ziti and went to see Harry Potter (wonderful) and the young whippersnappers helped me with my new Mac.

So life, as always, is glorious. Reno (the hero of the new book) continues to kick my butt, but I'm fighting back, and sooner or later I'll be on top.

But in the meantime, what's your favorite museum? The MMA will always be my most beloved, though the Victoria and Albert comes a close second. The Philadelphia Museum of Art traumatized me as a child: imagine coming up on this when you're in a school group and you're only six years old. (And that's just a small gross detail of the bird plucking out Prometheus's liver -- that painting is freaking huge).

Then again, another favorite museum is the Ben Franklin Institute, except I was terrified of walking through the giant heart because I was afraid blood was going to come rushing through and drown me (I was a neurotic child).

So, what museum do you love? And if you've never been to one, or haven't since you were herded through as a school group, get thee hence. It's a treat and a half.