Tag: solo
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At the FolkeMuseum Bygdoy
This was a great day out and the weather was beautiful today; a ferry trip to the museum and a wander around this enlightening space. Founded in the 1890s it’s sim is to display Norwegian culture and heritage through buildings and objects. It is a little like our Weald Museum in Sussex and it contains…
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At the Munch Museum
I was blown away by this museum. A comprehensive view of Munch his life, his art and his themes and their interconnection. Of course like the Mona Lisa the Scream was almost impossible to see. However the vast array of prints, paintings and drawings more than made up for it. The themes that coloured Munich’s…
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First impressions of Oslo
Well the hostel is fine if large like all these northern hostels. I miss the smaller type of hostel I found in Italy. The city is modern and I was told it was boring but so far I’ve walked the city centre, past the Cathedral and ended up by the fjord and the Akerhus fortress…
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At the Vasamuseet
I spent a fascinating morning at the Vasa museum. Like our own Mary Rose this Swedish warship was salvaged from the Baltic having also sunk on her maiden voyage in 1628. Supposedly state of the art the ship is in a great state of preservation as a result of the brackish Baltic waters and is…
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Wandering in Stockholm Old Town.
I’m now wandering in Stockholm Old City getting my bearings. It’s very attractive with its cobbled streets and painted buildings. It is very touristy but that’s to be expected. Tomorrow I’ll go in search of something less so. I’ve been recommended Sodermalm as hipster Stockholm so I’ll give it a try. One thing intrigues me;…
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Another day, another trip … Turku
Today was drizzling in Helsinki but I caught the train to Turku where the sun was shining and it was beautifully warm. Shirt sleeve weather. This is the ancient capital of Finland and major city when it was ruled by Sweden. It is the oldest city in Finland but little if the ancient city survived…
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Catching the bus to Lammassaari for a country walk
I decided to get out of the city for a little and enjoy some country air. Lammassaari is an island nature reserve a twenty minute bus ride from Helsinki city centre. So I put on my boots and my new Estonian socks and headed out. It was easy to get to in the 71 bus…
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Telliskivi graffiti and more
I visited this wonderful boho and bougie area this afternoon. It’s really great … cool and upbeat. It was a former industrial complex and now is home to art galleries, restaurants, a world beating photographic museum, a container hotel and many independent shops and bars. A great place to wander and have a coffee and…
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A museum for everything … some x-rated … be warned
KGB headquarters… very chilling stories Prostitution display at Tallin City Museum
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A morning in Tallinn
The tourists have arrived in force as the cruise ships are docking this morning. Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, German and many Americans. Question asked in Tourist Information; “ what can I see in the city in two hours? I have to be back on the ship.” Hansa trading city Tallinn has a fascinating history. The…
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A night out
Last night “the girls” took me out for an evening at Helsinki’s evening festival. I had first met them on my language course in Florence. They were so welcoming to a random stranger and during the past couple of days had kept me posted with interesting things to see in Helsinki. I didn’t feel such…
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A trip to Suomenlinna on the ferry
Suomenlinna is a fortress on a group of islands just off Helsinki built when Finland was ruled by Sweden. Building started in 1748 and it served as a navel base during the Swedish War with Russia. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site it’s a beautiful place to wander and take in the Baltic Sea and…
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In Helsinki
I e arrived in Helsinki. Bustling and interesting. I’m loving some of the Victorian and thirties architecture. It’s hot and sunny … 24 degrees. I e booked into the hostel and found my bunk … it seems fine. It’s A very boho neighbourhood near the city centre surrounded by cool bars. I’ll go out exploring…
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Leaving for home! But before I leave a visit to Musee Carnavalet
Well I start my last day in Europe before I leave for London this afternoon. before I go I’m going to visit an exhibition of Philippe Starck the designer at the Carnavalet Museum nearby.. the whole experience has been wonderful. The first couple of days in Paris was lovely and I enjoyed renewing my acquaintance…
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Saint Germain des Pres and l’Odeon
This afternoon Cedric and I had ananother wandering tour of Paris around the 6eme … Saint Germain des Pres and L’Odeon. A bougie area very different from the boho vibe of the 4eme. We did a little shopping at Courreges where we both bought something a little extravagant … then to Hermes and to La…
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I’ve arrived in Paris
After a long and arduous, not to say tedious but exciting, journey I finally arrived in Paris at 2.30am, four hours late because a demonstration on the railway line. Apparently something to do with building a railway line through the mountains. Never mind I’m here and of course when I got to my hotel there…
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Not ready to leave
I have packed and am ready to leave. I really loved it here and will miss Cristina and her family. It’s been one of the best experiences I have ever had. Breakfast on the terrace with the smell of flower and the sound of the swallows in the sunshine I shall always remember and the…
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The afternoon tour
This afternoon our tour with the lovely Maurizio took us to the 13th century church of Santa Maria Novella. Not necessarily beautiful architecturally though it was interesting. A large church it’s principal interest lay in the wonderful frescoes in the Tornabuoni chapel by Ghirlandaio from the late 15th century and those earlier frescoes in another…
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An Italian evening
Yesterday evening I had a nice surprise. Cristina had invited two of her friends to meet me. We had dinner together and I tried to drag my Italian together and have a conversation. Luckily they spoke good English too. They corrected me when I was wrong which was very helpful. They were very welcoming and…
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Pomeriggio a L’ospidale degli Innocenti
This afternoon we had a wonderful afternoon at the Ospidale. A very beautiful renaissance building by Brunelleschi. It was a fascinating place founded by the guild of silk makers in the fifteenth century as a place where women who were poor, prositutes and abandoned children could be left to be cared for by the church.…
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A room with a view
I’m sitting at the table having my colazione of cereal, yoghurt, fruit and croissant looking at the view of the terrace in Cristina’s apartment… it’s sunny today after yesterday’s rain and the swallows are flying high squealing … they zoom everywhere. The bells of Firenze are ringing out from the churches. It’s one of those…
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At Pere Lachaise
This is such a beautiful cemetery. Burial place of the rich and famous. There are so many graves and monuments and it’s so peaceful. Birds and trees and the sunshine today is wonderful … the place is full of strolling tourists. I think there are over a million burials … it’s still in use ……
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Arriving in Paris … it’s swingtime!
Paris is warm and sunny this evening and in the Place de la Republique an impromptu swing session is underway. There are skateboarders and kids kicking a football about; it lifts the spirts. Art Galleries in the Rue Turenne have private views spilling people with their wine onto the pavements. The cafes are full as…
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A La recherche de temps perdue
Well I’m lying in my top bunk ready to board my train to Paris later this morning and leave a chilly and dank Geneva. This hostel is terrible. It’s clean and the room is good but it’s so anonymous… like a big hotel with absolutely no atmosphere. 5 floors of anodyne corridors, an empty games…
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Ravenna III
Baptistery of Neoniano Another beautiful little brick building hiding wonders. Sixth century. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves
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Ravenna II
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia This tiny fifth century brick building is a jewel inside. It looks nothing from the outside but the interior is full of wonders. The mosaics show early Christian iconography and imagery in Byzantine style; very different from our later ways of depicting Christ. It is utterly moving and so beautiful. The…
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The Mosaics of Ravenna I
San Vitale I’ll publish each church separately Begun in 525 this remarkable building was built and later decorated under the aegis of the Emperor Justinian and his wife, the powerful Empress Theodora. Both appear in these fantastic mosaics. They are truly inspirational in scale and workmanship. The photos don’t do them justice … the golden…
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Il Torre Asinelli
I did it … 97.2m and 498 steps … I as terrified but it was exhilarating… and fantastic views of the city … when I dared get close enough to the edge. There used to be over 100 towers in Bologna but only 24 remain. Asinelli is the tallest. The neighbouring tower, Garisanda leans at…
Escape to myself 