The Getty Villa, Malibu

Hi everyone, I took the weekend off from blogging but now you are in for it! I have a ton of pictures to show you from our Saturday. I'm telling you this post is huge, I had to practically neglect my child all morning to set it up for you. He was wandering the halls in his PJ's begging for food. Don't worry he's fine, he's around here some where, I think.

This Saturday we went to the Getty Villa in Malibu.


Malibu is on the CA coast north of Santa Monica just off the Pacific Coast Hwy. The beaches here are amazing, so are the multi-million dollar homes perched on the hillsides.


The Getty Villa is an amazing piece of architecture, much like the Getty Museum in L.A.


Also like the Getty in L.A., the Getty Villa is free to visit (parking is $8).


The Villa is a museum dedicated to the study of the arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.


I really do have a lot of pictures today, I hope your scrolling finger can handle it.


If you stick with me all the way to the end there will be a surprise for you!


Ok, not really, but keep reading anyway, my child went hungry for this post! (Ok, now you all know I am lying. When has a Brouwer boy ever gone hungry!!)


Yes, you are right, we are crazy taking a toddler to a museum. He actually did rather well, maybe he likes ancient Greek history. It must be all the Greek and Roman history flash cards I have been going over with him. Yes, yes, kidding again, but he does love Baby Einstein videos.


The Villa is beautiful inside and out, it is meticulously maintained, really quite an experience. I was able to take pictures inside as long as I didn't use a flash, so some of the pictures may be a bit blurry





This is a marble statue of Zeus, it dates back to around 100 B.C. It was submerged in the sea for a "considerable" amount of time which is why his hand and foot are missing. You can still see the effects of the sea life that were living on him.


A marble statue of Venus, the goddess of love.


To the left of the god of love (wink, wink) is a statue of Apollo, the god of prophecy, music and poetry, dated 100-200 A.D.


The next two pictures are of ancient Roman Muses, the goddesses of the arts and sciences. They of course are responsible for inspiration. There are nine Muses surrounding Apollo.




The museum is square shaped with a beautiful courtyard in the middle.



There are fountains every where and most of the museum is made of marble, so it reflects the sound of water and is very relaxing.




These black statues are all over the garden areas, they have creepy eyes.




Outside of the main museum is a very large, beautiful courtyard. I could have relaxed here all day!




But instead of relaxing and enjoying the flowers and statues, we had to catch that little runaway, and keep him out of the fountain, and gardens, and off the statues, keep him from digging in the dirt and picking the fruit off the trees...... etc....


I have never seen a pomagranit tree! Very beautiful, especially in this setting.





Seriously he loves fountains! It is hard to keep him out of them.








Boy's!


Since I am "great with child", Jason gets to do most of the chasing, especially on the weekends. Plus Jason is much faster! (than me, not Sean)






Like I said earlier, most of the museum is made of marble. While this makes a beautiful museum, it also makes a gnarly echo chamber when your toddler does throw his giant fit. (notice I said when, not if)(very embarrassing!!!)


A ancient sarcophagus (tomb), Roman 210 A.D.


Ok, I had to add this picture.

Yes, it is a head and some naughty bits, that's it!
This is called a "Herm of Dionysos", it is a Greek pillar made of bronze and ivory from around 50 B.C. According to the plaque, this pillar was used as an emblem of fertility. I'm thinking it was more an emblum of PMS, or Meopause.


This is a statue of Herakles, it is Roman, about 125 A.D. This was one of J. Paul Getty's most prized possessions and the inspiration for this museum.




This is Odysseus of Ithaca and his two sisters.


Mother and child....hmmm that looks like a child is serving his mother a box of chocolates while she lounges on a throne. Maybe I should read Greek and Roman flash cards with Sean.


Jason, the god of down hill mountain biking and super gnarly gap jumps, North America, 2007.


Sarah, the goddess of fertility, North America 2007.


Sean, the god of destruction, North America 2007. History states that this little guy could tear apart a two bedroom apartment in under five min (especially when his mother is neglecting him to write a blog).


The "hands on history" room.




This is the Herb garden. Fragrant herbs filled the air with the sound of a trickling fountain, ahhhh.




Action shot!


Yea, I'm wearing a coat! The weather has been amazing! (please note that I am the only person in L.A. who thinks that cool weather is amazing weather) It actually rained on Saturday morning which is why there were not very many other tourist around.


Yea, there he goes in the fountain again! Were is this dear child's mother?

After this I got a few words from Jason, "Sarah! (furrowed brow) put down the camera! What's more important, Sean going in the fountain or a picture!" Hmmm


Can you blame Sean, the fountain was filled with Lotus flowers and fish.



After the Getty Villa we stopped for dinner at a resteraunt right on the Malibu coast.





This was our view!


*the fish and chips were $23.00, here! Jason is now reffering to his wallet as the hemoraging cash cow. moooo


Does anyone elses kido like to lick lemons?



The sun set at the end of our dinner....



a beautiful end to the day!




Whoa! You made it through my largest blog yet! Congratualtions! Now go do some finger stretches and make sure you don't have carpal tunnel, I don't want to be to blame for such injuries.



Ok, now back to raising my child, where is he anyway....

Take Care!

Sarah