ARTEMIS

My Dog is Dead.

Artemis, my elegant, black-and-white Dalmatian, is dead. At age fifteen.

She was the most free-spirited, acrobatic, energetic, sunny, enthusiastic, delightful, downright funny dog . Never met a person or fellow canine she did not like.
She was my best companion: always game for an adventure, a walk, a drive. She used to sit on the back seat , almost like a person would, with her feet on the seat, thrusting her long, bony nose into the  wind.

I'll be missing her so much....

PICTURE PERFECT - INDUSTRY

INDUSTRY

      Most air pollution is caused by the things that humans do. When we operate industries with smoke stacks, burn wood, or when we drive cars and other vehicles, pollution is released into the air. And such emissions we have in my country... . .  

 (Canon IXUS 500, Bratislava, April 2007)

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PICTURE PERFECT - EXTRAVAGANCE

EXTRAVAGANCE

The beauty and detail

and sheer extravagance

of its carved stonework

has to be seen to be believed

 (Canon IXUS 500, NYC February 2008)
The sculpture "Group of Four Trees" by Jean Dubuffet (France) on 1 Chase Manhattan Plaza, Wall street,  NYC, height 813 ft (248 m), 60 floors, completed in 1969-72
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PRAGUE

My dear friends I’ll give you a break for a 3 days. Tomorrow is starting my business trip to Prague

Almost in the centre of the Czech Land Prague Castle, looking more like a fortified settlement than a medieval castle was founded by the Přemyslids in the 9th. century. One by one, under its protection, each of the Prague towns were established and grew. Prague flourished during the reign of Charles IV, and the Jagellon reign of the Gothic period enriched it further. Prague gained fame for its Baroque period architecture, changing the character of a town which until then had been predominantly Gothic

    "The Lesser Town of Prague"

(Malá Strana)

Charles' bridge

- As early as 1170 the both sides of the Vltava river were connected by so called bridge of Judith which lasted till 1342 when it was destroyed by high water. The new bridge was established by the emperor Charles IV in 1357, the work of 16 arcs was built by smelting house of St. Wenceslaus under the direction of Peter Parléř and it was completed during the life of the founder. During 1683 - 1720 the major sculptors of Czech Baroque decorated the bridge by thirty statues

 

National Museum

The main Prague square, St. Wenceslaus square, is dominated by a monumental Neo-Renaissance building of the National Museum built during 1885 - 1890. The building has a closed oblong shape with two internal yards separated from each other by a transversal wing with a stairway hall. The theme of the inner decoration is connected with the national program

 

 

Statue of Saint Wenceslaus

        at Wenceslaus square in Prague

PICTURE PERFECT - CURVES

The city of Bath

Bath is one of the world's great cities - its status as a World Heritage Site with places like Florence and Salzburg confirms that it's amongst the very best. To echo the words of the travel guides, it's a 'must see' destination, an essential place to visit, and as you'll soon discover it more than lives up to expectations

Pulteney Bridge

is a rarity bridge that crosses the River Avon, in Bath, England, and completed in 1773. It was designed by Robert Adam and is one of only four bridges in the world with shops across the full span on both sides. Shops on the bridge include a flower shop, antique map shop, and juice bar

(Canon IXUS 500, August 2007)



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THE BEAUTY OF BARCELONA

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BARCELONA

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as the capital and cultural hub of the autonomous region of Catalonia,

the city has a long and glorious history of its own.

Catalonia was a leading trading power in the Mediterranean during the 14th and 15th centuries, with enterprising merchants and bankers, and no feudal remnants whatsoever. United with the Kingdom of Aragon in the 12th century, the region became part of Spain in 1469 with the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella

. The Barcelona Cathedral, whose original was destroyed in 925 by Al-Mansur. It was then started to be rebuilt in 1046 by Bishop Guislabert and construction has finally been completed at the end of the 19th century

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Barcelona now is a beautiful city with beautiful cathedrals and a beautiful boardwalk.

The most memorable places in Barcelona was La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell and La Ramblas...

Sagrada La Familia

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The new Cathedral originally designed by Antoni Gaudi (1852 – 1926), who worked on the project for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to the endeavor, the project is scheduled to be completed in 2026. On the subject of the extremely long construction period, Gaudí is said to have remarked, "My client is not in a hurry." After Gaudí's death in 1926 work continued

The heart of the city is La Rambla, the wide, main pedestrian-only boulevard stretching from La Placa Catalunya to the harbour.

Street performers, sales people, musicians, foodvendors attract visitors to the city

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At the port end of La Rambla is the Monument a Colom, a tribute to Christopher Columbus, an Italian actually, who distinguished himself in the service of Spain discovering the New World
      The Magic Fountain, made by Carles Buigas in 1929 on the Universal Exhibition grounds, is a spectacular water ballet with a great play of color , light and music