In a not-so-far-distant land...

On the edge of a very big city called San Francisco, is a misty magical forest.

And in the middle of the misty magical forest is a beautiful palace.

The palace is guarded by a lion.

The lion lies at the palace gates every day

and gazes out beyond the misty forest to the sea and the hills beyond the sea.

Through the mist, the hills on the other side of the sea

appear to be giant's toes dabbling in the waters.

The old lion thinks he is guarding the palace from the giant...

and no one tells the lion otherwise.

Just inside the palace gates,

one of the world's greatest thinkers sits and thinks very sage thoughts.

Inside the palace live many important people.

Courtiers converse with grand dames of elegance and refinement.

Queens grace the halls wearing their royal jewels and finery.

And despite the lion guarding the palace from giants that will never invade,

The world's greatest thinker pondering the universe,

And all the royalty walking and conversing with utmost refinement...

The palace cat must still endure all manner of indignities

at the sticky fur-grabbing hands of the palace tot.

All photos taken

at the Palace of the Legion of Honor museum of art

in San Francisco, California