Thursday, February 23, 2012

Weekend Reflections 5 - Nice



Sunset over the Acropolis, ( Nice not Athens)  is the location for this week's reflection as the whole area is bathed in pink, purple and lilac hues. The fountains and palm trees are clearly reflected as is "La Tete Caree" (The Square Head), one of Nice's well known contemporary architectural landmarks. It is fact an office building - administration for the library. For other reflections this week, check out Weekend Reflections by clicking here. Enjoy!!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

The Russian Church, Nice


One of the most beautiful buildings in Nice is the Russian Church with its soaring tiled onion domes in malachite and jade.....Isn't it gorgeous?


The exterior architectural details are quite stunning and exquisite.....


But what about the interior??  Good question !! An inscrutably enigmatic security guard who was obviously auditioning for the next Beckett or Pinter play in town had this to say (in heavily Russian accented English...)
"So can I look inside?"
"No is closed"
"How long for?"
"Minimum one year"
"Why is that?"
"is long story"
"is there a short version?"
"best you forget everything you know"
"but I don't know anything about it"
"is good..best you forget everything you told"
"but nobody has told me anything..."
"is good...."
"So you're not going to tell me?"
"is long story................"


So for the time being, be content with these exterior shots of a lovely building....If anyone in the blogosphere can enlighten me about this intriguing story of closure, please do so!! The Russian Church is in North Nice ten minutes walk from the central railway station Nice-Ville Gare. Enjoy!!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Shadow Shot Sunday 141 - Place Garibaldi


Low winter sun on a bitingly cold afternoon casts long, deep shadows across the Place Garibaldi amidst the weekend flea market. I especially like the length of shadow created by that little chest of drawers sitting all by itself in the square......don't you??


For more shadow shots this week, click here for Shadow Shot Sunday...Enjoy!!


Friday, February 17, 2012

Weekend Reflections 4 - Place Garibaldi, Nice


An antique mirror lying on the ground in the middle of Place Garibaldi's weekend flea market provides this week's shot for Weekend Reflections....


For more reflective treasure click here for Weekend Reflections...Enjoy!


Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Final Resting Place........



They all came for the light and many ended up here forever - I am of course referring to all the great artists who lived, worked and died here on the French Riviera - Matisse, Renoir, Cocteau, Picasso, Bonnard, Chagall, Cezanne, Leger, Dufy....


I have visited all their galleries....and recently many of their graves, where the intense Mediterranean  light continues to enhance their final resting places...


Apparently someone who likes to wander through cemeteries is called a taphophile - check out more by clicking here for Taphophile Tuesday....Enjoy!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Shadow Shot Sunday 140 - Nice



Here's another architectural shadow shot from Nice this time - I am thinking of moving into Nice as of the summer, and so went to look at this apartment on the top floor of a typical building with my favourite colour combination here - lemon and aquamarine. Of course the vibrant blue sky helps set it all off too - don't you think??


For more shadow shots this week click here for Shadow Shot Sunday.... Enjoy!! ps this week sees my THIRD year of contributing to this very engaging meme.....it is addictive!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Weekend Reflections 3 - Cap D'Ail


It is freezing here on the Riviera right now with zero temperatures and lots of snow in the mountains, so here are a couple of serene summer sunset shots from the harbour of Cap D'Ail with the hope that they will summon up more summer-like temperatures very soon!!


For more reflections this week click here for Weekend Reflections. Enjoy!

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Escher Museum - The Hague


One of the most delightful galleries I have visited recently is the Escher Museum in The Hague where I was accompanying students to a Model United Nations Conference. The Museum is located in the charming Het Paleis used as a royal residence until 1990 and preserved in its original state. The building is more than two hundred years old, and was primarily used by Queen Mother Emma, the great-grandmother of the present Queen Beatrix.....


Now in the Het Paleis, almost all of the works of Dutch artist MC Escher are on display. Below is a self-portrait, some of his famous graphic designs where landscapes or fish morph into birds in flight, and if you look closely into the eye, you should be able to see the shadow of a skull....




Escher's work creates a magical world of the impossible that continues to delight young and old alike, as it plays with the fascinating ideas of perspective, infinity, tessellation, reflection, and of course optical illusions.....




His work creates architectural structures and tessellations of nature that still dazzle the eye and trick the brain. On the second floor there is a wonderful interactive exhibition entitled "What is an Optical Illusion" which has lots of fun ideas to try out in practice. Don't forget to look up as you move through the exhibition rooms to see the sparkling surreal chandeliers in the shape of skulls, violins, umbrellas and sharks all created by the contemporary Rotterdam-based artist Hans Van Bentem...


The Escher museum is located in the historic heart of The Hague - Don't miss it if you are in town!!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Shadow Shot Sunday 139 - Le Cannet


At the golden hour in Le Cannet, pollarded trees cast spooky, sinister shadows on the glowing walls of a beautiful Belle Epoque villa. Such trees and their shadows are a strong feature around town....



For more shadow shots from around the world click here for Shadow Shot Sunday...Enjoy!

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Weekend Reflections 2 - Nice


The fountains in front of the Acropolis Centre in Nice look like the spaceships have landed as they send out an eerie glow at sunset....


Perhaps a touch of Dali's famous Mae West lips in the form of a sofa in white instead of red also spring to mind...

What springs to your mind?? Anyway, this is my contribution to Weekend Reflections this week - check out the rest of the shots submitted by clicking here........Enjoy!!