Life is a patchwork of experiences
In Flanders fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row…
The first two lines of a poem by John McCrae remember the many lives lost in WWI. Since then, the poppy has become a symbol of veteran remembrance, especially in the UK. Continue reading “PhotoPOSTcard: Remembering With Poppies”
Built in the late 1800’s, London’s iconic Tower Bridge is busy at all hours of the day and night. In advance of the 2012 London Olympics, the bridge received a new face lift as all the old paint was removed and the bridge was repainted in shades of blue and white. The Tower Bridge is near the Tower of London and both can be visited together.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
London is well known for its theater scene. At any one time there can be over 40 productions to choose from. And, just like in New York, you can get good, last minute, inexpensive seats at a range of popular shows. There are a number of outlets that provide cheap tickets. I went through Encore Tickets and scored a third row seat for the musical Kinky Boots for about $35. As expected, the quality of the production was fantastic. And the best part was that I was able to take the Underground and was back at my hotel in about 20 minutes. No parking or driving hassles – just a lovely and relaxing evening out. An experience I highly recommend.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
This row of five red phone boxes in Broad Court in Covent Garden, London are an Instagram staple. But what you don’t often see in the photos is the lovely bronze ballerina statue that sits right in front of them. The statue is by Italian artist Enzo Plazzota and celebrates the nearby Opera House and School of Ballet. Personally, I think the statue adds to the photo.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
The stairway of the beautifully restored St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London looks like something out of a Harry Potter movie. That is actually somewhat fitting since the hotel is across the street from Kings Cross Station and the fabled platform 9 3/4. More important, for the muggle traveler, the hotel is also next door to the St. Pancras train station which makes it a convenient luxury resting spot for those taking the Eurostar train to the continent. Regardless of whether you stay there or not, this historic hotel and its grand Gothic interior is a beautiful visit.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
I happened upon this art installation at Gloucester Underground Station just by chance. My hotel was just across the street so this was the station that I was coming to and going from for a few days in London. A little bit of Google research told me that this bit of egg-centric art is called “my name is lettie eggsyrub” by British artist Heather Phillipson, and was only recently installed in June, 2018. This work is one of a number of decorative installations that are part of the Art on the Underground projects which are designed to “enrich the journeys of millions on the Tube every day”. Apparently “for this commission she [Ms. Phillipson] focused on the egg as an object of reproduction, subject to human interference.” And here I though it was a reference to good breakfast restaurants in the area – shows you what I know. Now I am on a mission to find more London Underground art.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
I had the opportunity to indulge in my Chihuly obsession again – this time at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. This large chandelier hangs in the entrance of the Museum’s rotunda and is the first major piece in the collection that all visitors see when they walk in.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Prague’s Old Town Hall is best known for its elaborate astronomical clock. Most people don’t go beyond standing in front of the clock at the top of the hour to watch the various pieces go through their motions. But you can also take a guided tour of the inside of the Old Town Hall and learn about its history and architecture dating back to the 16th century. My favorite experience was climbing to the top of the tower and getting this beautiful sunset view of the Prague skyline and the castle.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Please note that my Old Town Hall tour was sponsored by the Prague City Tourism office, but all content is my own.
Surrounded by wooded hills and sitting in the shadow of a castle tower, picturesque Stramberk in the Czech Republic is best known for the gingerbread snack called Stramberk Ears. This thin, cookie-like treat is made exclusively in this town by bakers who need to have a special permit and who carefully guard the recipe.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
Please note that the visit to Stramberk was hosted by Moravian-Silesian Tourism but all content is my own.
The Sobotin Castle was completed in the late 19th century by the Klein brothers who also owned the nearby ironworks factory. Today, the castle is called Hotel Klein and is the romantic and luxurious component of the Sobotin Resort complex that consists of three hotel buildings catering to varying budgets. The resort also has a wellness spa and indoor pool, a restaurant and its own brewery. The resort is a perfect home base to explore the surrounding outdoor and historic activities in this less touristy Jeseniky Mountain region of the Czech Republic.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
