Here I am with Mary and Stacey
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Pleasant Pheasant
We went down to borough market last week, and bought some stuffed pheasant. Not too bad but the stuffing was a bit dry, and you every now and again bit down on some bird shot pellets.
Here I am with Mary and Stacey
Here I am with Mary and Stacey
Friday, 19 December 2008
Italy - Verona
I thought I would escape the UK winter by popping off to Italy for a week. Foolish me. I experienced more solid downpours in Italy than I have in a year in London! Although you wouldn't beleive it from the lovely blue sky in the photo below!
I flew in to Verona for 1 night, and was a bit worried I would miss the last bus to my hostel as the plane was the last flight, but just made it.
I spent just a few hours in Verona for some minor sightseeing, and no sightseeing is complete with some of our fine feathered friends hanging out in front of a picturesque bridge.
Verona is a charming little town, with the centre set in a very small u-bend in the river which makes it great to walk around.
It's true what they say - you must get up bright and early in Italy to enjoy the colours at their fullest, and the righ earthy tones of the buildings were indeed majestic in the morning sun. Most of the buildings were half in shadow though, which was not good for photos.
Twas in a restaurant they met, 
Juliet herself. What I did not know at the time, it is good luck to rub her breast, as you can see by its fine sheen. Oh well, guess I missed my chance to cop a feel! Darn!
Lovers leave love notes in the entrance to the courtyard on the wall, and 1000's of these notes cover the entire available space.
The central piazza in Verona borders on this Roman Colloseum. On the right you can see a giant metal arm coming out of it, which ends in a giant metal star on the ground. A strange combination of old and new.
Inside the colloseum. No fights today, but on my last night in Italy before flying out, there did seem to be some Opera on the go.
Gateway to the city centre. On my final night before leaving, There was a big festive market in the piazza. Strangely, with stall upon stall to visit, all you could get were sweets, and pancakes with Nutella. Not a single pizza, pasta, boerewors roll or any savoury food to feed my poor starving stomache :o(
I flew in to Verona for 1 night, and was a bit worried I would miss the last bus to my hostel as the plane was the last flight, but just made it.
I spent just a few hours in Verona for some minor sightseeing, and no sightseeing is complete with some of our fine feathered friends hanging out in front of a picturesque bridge.
Verona is a charming little town, with the centre set in a very small u-bend in the river which makes it great to walk around.
It's true what they say - you must get up bright and early in Italy to enjoy the colours at their fullest, and the righ earthy tones of the buildings were indeed majestic in the morning sun. Most of the buildings were half in shadow though, which was not good for photos.
Twas in a restaurant they met, Fair Romeo, sweet Juliet,
They had no money to pay the bill,
So Romie owed what Julie ate.
Here we see Juliet's famous official balcony. However, as she didn't officially exist, this can't officially be her balcony. Now I'm officially confused!
I always pictured it being over a lush garden, as compared to the tiny courtyard it is in.
Juliet herself. What I did not know at the time, it is good luck to rub her breast, as you can see by its fine sheen. Oh well, guess I missed my chance to cop a feel! Darn!
Lovers leave love notes in the entrance to the courtyard on the wall, and 1000's of these notes cover the entire available space.
The central piazza in Verona borders on this Roman Colloseum. On the right you can see a giant metal arm coming out of it, which ends in a giant metal star on the ground. A strange combination of old and new.
Inside the colloseum. No fights today, but on my last night in Italy before flying out, there did seem to be some Opera on the go.
Gateway to the city centre. On my final night before leaving, There was a big festive market in the piazza. Strangely, with stall upon stall to visit, all you could get were sweets, and pancakes with Nutella. Not a single pizza, pasta, boerewors roll or any savoury food to feed my poor starving stomache :o(Thursday, 18 December 2008
Barcelona miscellaneous
Well, here is the last of my Barcelona pics, with some random photos.
Last night dinner at a delightful vibey restaurant, with Sean and Marta. I was sure great to see them again after so many years! One thing you don't want to do is try and find parking in this area of Barcelona at night. What a mission!
Yum, the local speciality, rabbit with mega garlic and onions. Methinks I should go into food photography!
Funky sculpture
Down at the local varsity hangout, I thought I would try my hand at sports photography. My action shots didn't come out too well, so you'll have to make do with this one.
Another Gaudi building, but there is only so many you can look at, so I never went inside this one.
Good grief, what on earth is going on here!
Last night dinner at a delightful vibey restaurant, with Sean and Marta. I was sure great to see them again after so many years! One thing you don't want to do is try and find parking in this area of Barcelona at night. What a mission!
Yum, the local speciality, rabbit with mega garlic and onions. Methinks I should go into food photography!
Funky sculpture
Down at the local varsity hangout, I thought I would try my hand at sports photography. My action shots didn't come out too well, so you'll have to make do with this one.
Another Gaudi building, but there is only so many you can look at, so I never went inside this one.
Good grief, what on earth is going on here!Wednesday, 17 December 2008
Dali Museum
Salvador Dali is one of my favourite artists, so I was pleased to take a day trip to his home town in Figueres, and visit the famous Dali museum.
Dali's tomb somewhere under the car.
errr, what can one say about such a thing!
This painting of Dali's eponymous wife, Gala, was very impressive, due to its massive size!
An example of Dali's jewellery. I didn't know he did that! Of couse, his wife Gala has to be a part of it in the small photo up top.
My feeble attempt at abstract art, entitled "Self-portrait with the ghost of Monroe's liptick"
This is not much to look at in a photo, but is an example of Dali's stereoscopic works, or 3D paintings. It consists of 2 almost identical, but slightly different paintings, which would be positioned on either side of this photo, coming out at 45 degrees. Then there are 2 45 degree mirrors, meeting at the line you see in the centre of the photo. Putting your nose up to the mirror joint and squinting just right allows you to see the painting as one 3d image. What a genius that man was!
Nose and ear swap
The famous Mae West room. For the best view, one walks up a staircase and looks through a convex glass sphere to get the hair to fit nicely. A lot of fun!
The great man himself!
There was also some art by a few other artists. I really enjoyed this fellows work, which consists pretty much of either rocks looking like people, or people made of rocks, depending on your view of the world. He reminded me a fair bit of Beverly Doolittle, another of my favourite artists.
Dali's equivalent of the sistine chapel. Pretty impressive too!
Not sure what this is doing here, but I liked it.
This is highly interesting. I didn't think much of this painting of Gala looking over the meditteranean at first.
Ah, who could forget the old big egg on the roof decor!
The dome above the main hall and courtyard.
I had heard that Dali is buried below this car.
A peek inside the car.
Dali's tomb somewhere under the car.
errr, what can one say about such a thing!
This painting of Dali's eponymous wife, Gala, was very impressive, due to its massive size!
An example of Dali's jewellery. I didn't know he did that! Of couse, his wife Gala has to be a part of it in the small photo up top.Please have a look at this video:
It is the most amazing heart jewellery, with a realistic ruby heart that actually beats like a proper heart. Pretty freaky really!! There was also a nice angel with slowly flapping wings.
My feeble attempt at abstract art, entitled "Self-portrait with the ghost of Monroe's liptick"
This is not much to look at in a photo, but is an example of Dali's stereoscopic works, or 3D paintings. It consists of 2 almost identical, but slightly different paintings, which would be positioned on either side of this photo, coming out at 45 degrees. Then there are 2 45 degree mirrors, meeting at the line you see in the centre of the photo. Putting your nose up to the mirror joint and squinting just right allows you to see the painting as one 3d image. What a genius that man was!
Nose and ear swap
The famous Mae West room. For the best view, one walks up a staircase and looks through a convex glass sphere to get the hair to fit nicely. A lot of fun!
The great man himself!
There was also some art by a few other artists. I really enjoyed this fellows work, which consists pretty much of either rocks looking like people, or people made of rocks, depending on your view of the world. He reminded me a fair bit of Beverly Doolittle, another of my favourite artists.
Dali's equivalent of the sistine chapel. Pretty impressive too!
Not sure what this is doing here, but I liked it.
This is highly interesting. I didn't think much of this painting of Gala looking over the meditteranean at first.However, a few hours later, after having gone through the museum, I ended up on the other side of the room, and looking through a reverse telescope, the painting suddenly became Abraham Lincoln. One can't quite get the full effect in a photo as through the telescope, but you can get a rough idea below
Tuesday, 9 December 2008
Montserrat
Next I spent a day in Montserrat about 1.5 hours outside Barcelona.
Montserrat is known for its fantastic climbing, and its famous Jesuit monastery.
One can either take a cable car up, or the funicular. I opted for the cable car, as from the monastery, there are 2 more funiculars going further up.
It was nice to do some geocaching in mountainous terrain again for a change.
Some of the rock formations, which individually did not come out as great photos, but make a nice collage. As you can see, I have a new photo editing software, so you'll have to forgive me as I experiment with it.
Very interesting. I have never seen Jesus hanging on cords before, at a delightful little chapel on the edge of a cliff.
Some more experimenting with photo effects back home.
The monastery from above.
Ditto
Chapel of St Joan
Ditto
The Via del Cruces was a walk filled with various representation of Jesus on the cross, including some very interesting modern art style metal sheet reliefs
At the bottom, I was freezing in the mist, cursing myself for not bringing warmer clothes, but as the cable car went up, we got through the clouds and its was sunny up top, with great views over the clouds.
Some more interesting scenes in the clouds
Montserrat is known for its fantastic climbing, and its famous Jesuit monastery.
One can either take a cable car up, or the funicular. I opted for the cable car, as from the monastery, there are 2 more funiculars going further up.
It was nice to do some geocaching in mountainous terrain again for a change.
Some of the rock formations, which individually did not come out as great photos, but make a nice collage. As you can see, I have a new photo editing software, so you'll have to forgive me as I experiment with it.
Very interesting. I have never seen Jesus hanging on cords before, at a delightful little chapel on the edge of a cliff.
Some more experimenting with photo effects back home.
The monastery from above.
Ditto
Chapel of St Joan
Ditto
The Via del Cruces was a walk filled with various representation of Jesus on the cross, including some very interesting modern art style metal sheet reliefs
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