TRAVELOGUE:PARIS

TRAVELOGUE: PARIS

Actually after visiting Venice I was so fulfilled that I should have headed straight to London but I had already booked  flights to Paris and from Paris to London. I wanted to spend my Saturday in Paris, especially at Louvre. Accordingly I had already booked for a day's stay at 'Timhotel' near Louvre.

 So I landed in Paris on Saturday morning. 'Timhotel' has a number of hotels at various locations in Paris.I was luckey to have selected their hotel near 'Louvre'.It's a beautiful hotel with a spacious inner courtyard and just across the Louvre museum. Being centrally located,it is at a walking distance from some main Paris attractions.Moreover,it is easy on your purse!

 After breakfast I headed straight to Louvre.As usual there was a large crowd of tourists but the receptionist liked my smile and gave me the entry pass in a few seconds.
 Louvre is a great enchanter. You just don't know how hours fly quickly in its various gallerries.And then they allow you to take photos which adds to your madness.In any art museum I always feel like a child in a chocolate shop!
Here are some of the photos taken by me in and around Louvre:

Louvre

inside Louvre

                                                crowd inside Louvre

                                       In the courtyard of Louvre:view from the glass pyramid

                                             in the courtyard of Louvre

                                                   Crowd near the painting of Mona Lisa

                                                                    MONA LISA

Please don't have much expectations about Mona Lisa's painting.It is beautiful but small,not much larger than a regular family portrait one might have put on a living room wall. Then, it is behind a very thick glass and in the doorway of a huge steel vault.

the Pyramids in Louvre courtyard.

A Dying Slave-by Michelangelo, Louvre

                                                                    Apollo,Louvre

Venus de'Arles, Louvre

                                                                 Venus de Milo, Louvre

                                              Psyche revived by Cupid's kiss, Louvre

Psyche revived by Cupid's kiss-a close-up.

Victory of Samothrace,190 B. C. Louvre

                                                   Various sculptures, Louvre

A war-scene, Louvre

                                                               roof frescos, Louvre

                                              three muses on the gilded roof, Louvre

                                             The Coronation of Napolian , a painting, Louvre

Notre dame, Paris

                                                                       Notre dame

Notre Dame

                                                         Eiffel Tower, from its base

                                                                crowd at Eiffel Tower

                                             wheels of old elevators, Eiffel Tower

                                                           view from Eiffel tower-1

                                              a panoramic view of Paris from Eiffel Tower

                                                    another view from Eifel tower

                                            A great view from Eiffel Tower's 2nd floor.

This time I didn't go to the top of the tower.The view from the top is mind -blowing. The people seem like ants and that fills you up with a sense of worthlessness. Hence I avoid going to the top of Eiffel. Then, I am a little afraid of heights.

 The Arch of Triumph, Paris

                                                          Madaleine Church, Paris

                                                        Salle du Manege, Paris

Seine River

                                                a panoramic view of Seine River and its bridges

                                                              St. Michel's Fountain, Paris.

A street view, paris

                                                              Castello di Fontainbleau

Canal; Saint Martin, Paris

                                                          Basilique de Sacre, Paris

                                                                    

                                    Entrance to Metro(Entrata liberty della metro di guimard)Paris

Oh, I have taken so many photos since the day was exceptionally nice and bright! I will better post photos taken in Louvre of paintings and sculptures in another blogpost.

Till then ,Adieu!!

.........PORTIA

MY' 'ITALIAN JOB'- 3: VENICE

MY 'ITALIAN JOB"-3 : VENICE

We were greeted by a thin fog on arrival at Venice and that set the 'romantic Venetian mood' for me.I was instantly charmed by Venice's magical atmosphere and I am really hard at words to describe my experience of Venice.
 Venice is rightly the 'world heritage site'.

                                          Map of Venice.

           Venice has an area of some 7 square kilometres and consists of 50 or so islands. It is divided into six districts( sestieri): to the right of Canal Grande are San Polo, Dorsoduro, and Santa Croce; to the left, San Marco, cannaregio and Castello. Its 'Murano' island is famous for glass-blowing industry.
         apporoximately 175 canals flow through Venice. They are spanned by an estimated 444 bridges. The entire city is constructed on oak,larch and elm piles driven into the underlying ground to provide support for the wooden pontoons upon which rest the foundation walls of the buildings.
    The light seems to rise from the water to shine on Venice's facades, domes and bridges. The city still has delightful little squares with trees and old-fashioned cafes in which, by lunchtime, sunbrowned old men ensconce themselves with their 'Gazzettino' and 'prosecco'.
  The gondolas have their own charm but are ridiculously overpriced, though the experience shouldn't be missed, especially in the evening, when the light is perfect and the tranquility is only punctured by the monotonous splash of the gondolian's oar.
  Nighttime in metros like London is almost taxing with thousands of lights and signs glaring down upon you. Hence I found the Venetian night the most beautiful, almost dreamlike. Dark brings stillness to the 'calli' and the canals. All is quiet except for the gentle lap of the waves against the walls and the muffled laughter from the restaurants. At such moments, Venice eems as majestic, magical amd mysterious as a 'murano' glass chandelier in the candlelight.
  Life in Venice is calm and relaxed. Everybody moves on foot ,giving a very 'human' rhythm to daily life, free from stress and hectic activity.
Oh,Venice!!I promise you another visit!!
   Here are some of the photos taken by me:

 Canal Grande:

                                                 'ALL' ARCO BACARO': a cosy wine bar, where you can get the finest wines and delicious snacks.

                                               'CANAL GRANDE in morning fog,

Venice, Sunrise

Venice-view to Pizzaleta

                   Evening scene at the 'Fondamenta della Misericordia' in the Cannaregio district.

This is the best part of Venice (according to me,of course). This is a lively area, full of small shops, workshops and markets. Here students, pensioners, foreigners and locals intermingle. In the evening everyone sits with a glass of wine or spritzer outside one of the bars at the Fondamenta Ormesini. This area is fer away from the busy San Marco Square and is thus almost completely spared from the impact of mass tourism. It has maintained a villege-like, very Venetian charm.

                                                   Duomo, Venice

                                                   Hotel Principe, where I stayed

                                                                  LUCIA, Venice

                                                                Main Tower, Venice

                                   'Mondo in croce'- Giamaria Polenza, Biannale d'Arte di Venezia

                                                 a beauitiful old monument, Venice

                                              the Palazzo, Venice

                                              'Pier Paolo, Venice

                                               ' Prada' building, Venice

                                             another Venetian monuments

                                        the 'Street Musicians', Venice

                                                Beware! you have to pay 8 Euros  for a seat to listen to them!

         Well, it was but natural for me to fall in love with Venice since I have been named after the famous        heroine of Shakespeare's 'The Merchant Of Venice'!!

Have a nice day!!

                                                                                                         .........PORTIA