Journey through the Hermitage Love it! You made a trip to the museum feel like gliding through a magical realm. And the phrase, "the now of the looking and the then of the painting" is such a great sentiment and one that will stick with me the next time I am in front a painting.
Journey through the Hermitage You got it Tommy...'cept 'twas more like surfing than gliding! But the memories endure and Russia's beauty including incredible artworks were everywhere to see. More serendipity to share...more to come.
On Faberge eggs Several of the original Faberge eggs are missing and it is not known what has happened to them. I think I read a story that one of those was rediscovered only a few years ago. It was sold more or sell as junk. I have tried to find that story now but failed. So I might be wrong after all. /Ake
Is this the face of Russia? One of my first portraits in Russia, Tommy. One of so many with a smile on his face. Russia was a revelation in so many ways as my blogs attest. Enjoy!
Morning cruising We were going in the opposite direction. Got an early morning (= pre-dawn departure) ship from Finland to Sweden. Thought it would be a quiet trip. What we didn't know was that shoppers head from Finland to Sweden on the boat to buy up cheap goods and resell them back home. We didn't get a cabin as it was a daylight trip getting to Stockholm about 6pm. In the breakfast room, there was an oompah band which started playing as soon as the boat left the quay - and the bar opened. The "shoppers" treated the occasion as though it were late evening and danced and sang along to the band and drank copious amounts of alcohol. It wasn't until about midday that they all crashed and went to their respective cabins to sleep off their roistering. Sylvia and I were ourselves exhausted by then as there was nowhere else on the boat to escape the partying. Don't mind a good party but not starting at 5:30 in the morning - at least not since I was a lot younger. Glad your morning experience was a lot more tranquil. We had two fires deliberately lit in the bush behind our house while we were away but, fortunately, the neighbours were keeping watch and the fires were extinguished with no significant damage. Take care for the rest of the fire season.
Morning cruising Great cruise story John. I'll have to remember the Finland to Sweden shop-a-thon...it seems in those parts a bit of excess of alcohol, a band and the passengers dancing along may be a customary way to spend a morning! I hope it was vodka for authenticity. On the fire front, we have been thinking of you from past experiences...hope they caught, drawn & quartered the arsonists. I once represented a minor that started the Marsfield fires some years back as a Duty solicitor. He didn't like me 'cos I wanted him strung up!!!
the morning glow Your Russia travel blogs continue to make for an interesting read!
This pic has eerie similarity with the apocalyptic South Eastern Australian sky that the media has been showing in the last few days. Just unbelievable destruction of forests and wildlife. Hope it abates soon.
The morning glow the morning glow
I also noticed the similarity to the hues in my backyard pics, Hem. Pretty scary and they are predicting bushfires in Oz until about April, so no end yet in sight. I presume in USA you would only get snatches of how deadly our Aussie fires have been. About 2 days ago the house loss was 1,912. We get images of Californian wildfires, so if you can compare you know well how destructive they can get. In my photo I also love the way the light captures the ripples in the wake created by us cruising by. Thanks for commenting.
The Hunter's Punishment I am pleased you have also been drawn to this painting, Ren. The hunter in the painting bears a likeness to John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen (1604-1679) whose image is clearer in the Rabbit Hunt picture. It was John Maurice that was proposed to lead the Dutch Republic during the minority of William III, but I understand it did not eventuate.
Eerie That pic was from our place when the fires were 10 to 20 kms away. Often immersed in smoke with falling grit or ash but we have been lucky so far that flames have not been licking our back.
My wife Denise & I like to travel "on paths less travelled" that capture our imagination, inspire my photography & where we mix with locals & remain safe.
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Ake Och Emma
Ake Dahllof and Emma Holmbro
Nice fairy tale
I've never heard that fairy tale before. It was nice. /Ake