So, on April 18, Sean and I went to see Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, just 90 minutes south of Pittsburgh. It is wayyyyy back in the boonies, ya'll. The drive was nearly identical to the drive to Pound.
But anyways, for those who don't know, a short history:
Fallingwater was the home of Edgar Kauffman, the proprietor of Kauffman's (Pittsburgh's equivalent to Macy's). It was built in the 1930's for about $160,000, which would be comparably to $2 million today. It was extremely over budget (the Kauffman's planned to spend $30 to $40,000).
It is built above a waterfall and is arguably the home that most fully realized Wright's vision of organic architecture. The rocks in the living room (which we weren't allowed to photograph) are river rocks, waxed to always look wet. Even the foundation was built into the side of the ridge. It is really amazing and inspiring, and for $16, I think everyone should see it.
The best part of the tour was our fellow tour members: a group of about 7 non-English speakers from Uruguay. It was pretty classic. They blatantly ignored the no cameras rule and when one of them was forced by the tour guide to translate, she couldn't find ways to explain canopies, cantilevered roofs or how the owners could be short, but not fat, even though their beds were so wide.
At the end of the tour, our tour guide said, "Many celebrities came to Fallingwater!" and the group translator said, in awe, "More famous than Frida Kahlo???"
"Yes! Albert Einstein stayed here," he said.
The Uruguayans (???) ooohed and aaahed and then our tour guide says, "But a couple years ago, two REALLY famous people came — BRAD PITT AND ANGELINA JOLIE!!!!!!1"
And I'm not kidding, the Uruguayans could not have cared less. The translator gave him a Look that said, "More famous than Frida Kahlo????"
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