Day 4

Wednesday’s schedule was the judgment day for all the finalists. Starting at 8:30 to 12:00, then lunch break and back to judging at 1:30 t0 3:30, another short break then special awards judging until 6PM. Needless to say, it was going to be a full day for both Dylan and Priya. On top of all that, Priya was to take a test afterwards from 6:30 till 9 PM!

Intel setup a Universal Studio Park night for finalist and attendees from 7:00 till ` to celebrate the efforts of all over the past few days and all the work before that. Free rides, food, and a ton of fun for all on Intel’s tab.  A very generous gift for everyone and a great way to show the finalists from other countries the hospitality of the host country.

Tami and I determined that this way a great time to take one of the available tours to the Getty Museum. We got Dylan and his equipment to the convention center and shortly thereafter boarded the bus and headed to the Getty. Once at the complex, we boarded a cable operated tram to ascend to the top of the hill where the Getty Museum is located. Along this approach you start to see the beauty of the landscape and outline of the Richard Meier designed Getty. Leaving the tram station, we walked across the sun lit plaza to the visitors’ center where we watched a short film about the Getty. (It took 13 years to design and build at a cost of 1.3 bil)

We decided that a quick lunch on the plaza would be a great way to start our visit. Afterwards we began our visit by strolling the grounds and enjoying the great views of the city and valley below. Meier did a fantastic design as every view draws you to it and then sends you on a quest of discovery.

School children played in fountains, drew pictures, and skipped in the plaza while adults relaxed and soaked in the views under a cloudless sky.  You could not have ordered a more perfect California day.

Upon entry into any of the 5 buildings that house the exhibits, the beauty of the various artworks is staggering. From oil paintings, sculpture, and decorative art (i.e. furnishings.) to the illustrated books from the 14^th century, the Getty collection is fantastic. The current featured exhibit was the Paris Fine Arts that was an entire building focused on the aristocratic class of France during the Baroque period.

The displays were vignettes of French life during that era in history with elaborate furnishings, paintings, clothing, and jewelry. Many rooms in the museum were completed ordained from top to bottom with finery, from the painted paneled casework to the inlaid and patterned oak flooring.  It was truly amazing.

An uneventful bus ride and we were back at the Convention Center again to relax and do a little connecting via the e-lounge available to the attendees.  Soon, Dylan and the other finalists completed the special judging period and were released to prepare for a long night of celebrating at Universal Studios. Intel provided shuttle busses from each of the affiliated hotels to Universal. Chaperones, teachers, attendees and 1600 high school geniuses descended on to the park to have fun and food all courtesy of Intel. A good end to a good day.