Saturday, December 17, 2016

Wayback Machine: 2009.05.18 Barcelona, Spain

Elsewhere:  2009.05.18 Casa Mila in Barcelona

So, today a friend asked me about a beautiful glass dish, which got me talking about Gaudi, which led me to discover that I'd never posted these photos to flickr.  I think I had some kind of idea that there were too many, and I was going to edit them down.  Never did.

finally posted to flickr

2009.05.18 Barcelona

https://www.lapedrera.com/en/what-is-casa-mila

Casa Milà, popularly known as ‘La Pedrera’ (the stone quarry), an ironic allusion to the resemblance of its façade to an open quarry, was constructed between 1906 and 1912 by Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926). For its uniqueness, artistic and heritage value have received major recognition and in 1984 was inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List, for its exceptional universal value.



Monday, October 17, 2016

Elsewhere: 2016.06.20 day trip from Locarno

Elsewhere:  2016.06.20 day trip from Locarno

We rented a car and drove up into the Centovalli (Hundred Valleys) area.     http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/centovalli.html

Some of the tightest hairpin turns (and the steepest) I've ever been on. Also, really narrow streets in some of the tiny villages.


DOUBLE Click here to see 24 photos from our day.


Here's one sample.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

2016.06.18 - 19 Two days in Locarno

Clicking here will take you to 52 photos of Locarno, Switzerland


We  took a taxi, then a ferry, then a train to get from Varenna, Italy to Locarno, Switzerland.  Once there, we took a funicular, a cable car & a chairlift up to fantastic views.  This photo shows our route.  Click the photo to enlarge it.





Click here to visit the website for Madonna del Sasso, in Orselina.



























Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Elsewhere: 2016.06.17 Varenna - the Fiumelatte (waterfall)

On our last day in Varenna (Italy), Michael and I walked up to “the shortest river in the world” ...

Click here to see 16 photos and one video of the Fiumelatte

The river is mentioned by the name Fiumelaccio in Leonardo da Vinci's Atlantic Codex:
It's the Fiumelaccio, which falls high from more than 100 ells from the vein where it is born, straight down on the lake, with inestimable uproar and noise.  -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiumelatte_(river)


Saturday, August 27, 2016

2016.06.15 Villa Carlotta: interiors



"The last kiss of Romeo and Juliet"
If you click on any of these photos, you can see a full size version,
with the option to look at the rest as a slide show.


The tour guide told us that the colors in this painting represent the hopes for the unification of Italy; the owner was fully in support.




Click on the photo to enlarge










The little black dots have to do with enlarging a sculpture using reference points.
So this is a chalk model.





Ummm... Alexander the Great,
I think.
Probably should not 
wait so long 
to label photos!




Friday, July 15, 2016

Something easy, and peaceful.

Click here to see 30 photos of Neighborhood Walks

PS--This little photo quilt isn't linked to anything.
Click link above if you have time for more photos.  
If not, just enjoy these.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

2016.06.13 Hike to the Castello di Vezio






It was a very steep climb, but the weather was cool and sunny.  I only saw two other people on the same trail.  The path got very narrow, and it seemed like I was miles away from anything.  I felt like such an explorer, when I could see the tiptop of the castle's tower over the treetops.  Only a little farther to go...

Then -  what to my wondering eyes should appear:  a clay tennis court, with lights and a chain link fence.  Not quite as adventuresome as I thought I was.

Turns out there is a very small town just below the castle (see map below)... you can see the tennis court, too.  I met up with the husband of one of Michael's math colleagues as I was leaving, and he suggested the other path back down to Varenna.  It was wide and cobblestoned. Didn't feel so much like Dora the Explorer, but that other path had me spooked at times:  pretty narrow with a steep drop-off.


Anyway, my time at the top was lovely, with incredible views and very peaceful.  I especially loved hearing all the church bells from below -- got a nice video of that which I hope you'll enjoy.

Click here to see notes on the map