no light at the end of the tunnel
February 28, 2009 at 1:59 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: end, light, photos, tunnel
Paris Ciné l’Eté
February 26, 2009 at 1:59 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: ciné, leté, paris
The annual summer cinema promotion organised by the Mairie de Paris lets anyone under 25 into any film at over 150 Paris cinemas for just 25F. To pick up the free card needed to qualify, take ID along to any Mairie, to the reception at the Hôtel de Ville or to RATP offices in Métro stations at Montparnasse, Gare du Nord, Les Halles, République and Chaussée d’Antin.
A warm welcome
February 23, 2009 at 2:01 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: flights, fun, holiday, warm
The monastery of Deir Anba Bishoi is the oldest and largest. The chapel has Gothic arches ? which were actually invented in the Middle East and later brought back to Europe by the Crusaders. The monastery was fortified against roaming nomads, and the monks will show you the drawbridge that connects the outer tower to the main hall. Deir es-Suryan monastery started as an offshoot, but today it boasts the finest art of any of the monasteries at Wadi Natrun, including two frescoes of the Annunciation. The massive carved Door of Symbols depicts the seven epochs of the Christian era using geometric symbols and repeating patterns that symbolize the spirit of the ages of history. The Coptic love of symbolism isn’t restricted to art ? the distinctive hood the monks where is called the “helmet of salvation”, and its 13 embroidered crosses symbolize Christ and his apostles.
Visting Coptic monuments offer another slice of the fascinating history Egypt is famous for ? but there’s another side to Coptic Egypt that you won’t find at the Pyramids: the warmth and affection of the people towards visitors. Little known to the vast majority of tourists in Egypt, the Coptic community has remained largely untouched by the vices of tourism, and its members genuinely appreciate the interest foreign visitors take to explore their heritage. Make time to visit them and you’ll find not only history, art, and architecture to match that on offer elsewhere in Egypt, but a welcoming smile that will warm your heart.
Japanese Art from the Langen Collection
February 18, 2009 at 2:00 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: art, collection, japanese, langen
A visiting exhibition of Japanese art taken from a German collection may have something of a ‘coals to Newcastle’ feel about it, but the quality of some of the works of art on display here is rarely matched, even in this country’s many galleries and museums. The collection was amassed immediately after the war by a German industrialist who fell in love with oriental techniques. More than 70 pieces from the collection are on display, including Buddhist paintings and sculptures and examples of the fine craftsmanship of the Edo period.
The Worlds of Nam June Paik
February 11, 2009 at 2:02 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: june, nam, paik, worlds
Korean-born Nam June Paik was working with video and inviting his audiences to consider the fate of the image in the world of real-time long before it was fashionable, and the Guggenheim’s retrospective reflects an artist ahead of his time. Back in 1963, the former music student who’d collaborated with John Cage blipped into the international art scene in Germany with his first solo show ‘Exposition of Music – Electronic Television’. It featured TV sets scattered about a room, broadcasting altered programming and, many argue, it opened the way for the video art so ubiquitous today. But this is no simple retrospective: Paik has created dramatic laser installations – and a complete waterfall – that engage Frank Lloyd Wright’s landmark building in a lively conversation.
L’Entracte
February 10, 2009 at 2:01 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: foreign, lentracte
As you’d expect from the location steps away from the grands magasins, this café draws a mix of visiting nationalities during the day, replaced after hours by a more Gallic crowd of couples deep in conversation. Make for the first floor, and if you’re lucky, you’ll arrive as one of the tables by the huge front window becomes vacant – an unbeatable viewpoint across to the Palais Garnier, especially romantic despite its grime, as the blue Paris evening darkens. Inside, four fans connected to a pulley wheel rotate idly above a plush décor of wood panelling, velveteen seats and wine memorabilia – wine posters, maps of wine-producing regions and polished table-tops made from wine casks. Prices are par for the course; you can also eat snacks at all hours.
Woolworth Building
February 9, 2009 at 2:01 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: building, flights, photos, woolworth
Louise Attaque
February 6, 2009 at 2:00 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: attaque, domestic, louise, travel, trip
In just two years, these four men (none of whom are called Louise) have grown into France’s biggest rock act, selling over two million albums. Largely acoustic, they combine the standard guitar/bass/drums format with the virtuoso violin playing of Arnaud Samuel. Although their lyrics are in French, their quirky pop vision has been compared with that of The Violent Femmes, whose singer, Gordon Gano, produced the Frenchmen’s first album. Their second album, ‘Comme on a dit’ (‘As we said’), was recently released to an enthusiastic response from their expanding fanbase.
City Walking Tours
February 5, 2009 at 1:59 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: city, tours, walking
Barcelona’s secrets are revealed through a series of excellent walking tours, conducted both in Spanish and English, and led by the knowledgeable staff of Barcelona’s Contemporary Culture Centre (CCCB). On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the dramatic architectural and social transformations of the old city are explored. On Thursdays and Sundays, ramblers can examine the wonders of Gaudï and Cerdà’s master planning. Finally, on Tuesdays and Fridays, walkers can venture into the ultra-modern Olympic Village by the sea. Qantas flies weekly to Barcelona from cities in Australia.
