Header photo – Zurich riverside/ Border photo – street cobblestones, Prague
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Category Archives: European art
Another eclectic trek around Europe – Part One
The older I get, the harder it is to put together a trip to Europe when there is no big-deal (to me) event which self-selects a range of dates as a starting point. A couple of years ago, I was … Continue reading
Falkirk, Scotland beyond the Kelpies
As I described in a (very) old post, I went to Falkirk specifically to see Andy Scott’s Kelpies sculptures and perhaps some of his other works which can be found in a variety of locations around the town. In the … Continue reading
Finding Santons in Metz
If you’re a fan of Peter Mayle and his wonderful stories about Provence life and culture then you may be familiar with santons. The word means “little saints” and refers to handmade clay figures dressed in old style traditional dress … Continue reading
Bolshoi Ballet – Spartacus 2016
This is not, strictly speaking, a travel post. I went to the movies near home recently to see a ballet but enjoyed the broadcast so much I decided to blog about it. See… my two favorite performance disciplines are live … Continue reading
Spinning on Milan’s bull
So… here’s the deal… In the center of Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, a gorgeous 19th (!) century high-ceilinged open-air covered shopping mall opposite the Duomo, there’s a mosaic of a prancing bull. According to popular myth, you should place your … Continue reading
Strahov Monastery libraries
Taking baby steps to get back into blogging… Fans of BBC Musketeers should recognize these places. In that series, these two rooms play parts of King Louis’s palace. In reality, both are libraries or ‘halls’ at Strahov Monastery in Prague, … Continue reading
Posted in All Suzanne's travel essays, All Suzanne's travels, Czech Republic, Eastern Europe, European art, European museums, Prague travel
Tagged Musketeers at Strahov, Musketeers in Prague, Philosophical Hall Strahov, Prague art, Prague churches, Prague travel, Strahov Monastery, Theological Hall Strahov
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Schlepping around Europe October 2015
Sorry, Folks! Once again, I was too cheap to replace my crummy tablet with something more useful so I’m having to rely on hotel wi-fi, which is sometimes excellent (last week in Zurich… gotta love that Swiss precision and efficiency!) … Continue reading
A labor of love in wartime – The Italian Chapel, Orkney
Orkney is known for its Neolithic monuments and settlements, but the islands also have their fair share of WWII history and associated sights. One of these is the Italian Chapel on the tiny island of Lambholm in the southeast corner of … Continue reading
A Robert Louis Stevenson tribute
Just about the only benefit of my staying in the Corstorphine area on Edinburgh’s outskirts was this statue across the street from the house and a few steps from the Western Corner bus stop. (The only other worthwhile attraction in … Continue reading
Three and a half nights of London theatre – Part 2
So now we come to the whole reason why I crossed the pond in the first place… I was more than ready for Wolf Hall when Monday night rolled around, probably one of the most anticipated nights of theatre I’ve … Continue reading
Three and a half nights of London theatre – Part 1
London is my favorite place on the planet, not least because it’s where I can OD on theater. This time, I had to book way in advance to be sure of tickets to the two plays the RSC has mounted adapting … Continue reading
A sea of poppies at the Tower of London
My most recent trip was filled with a wide variety of experiences and locales. It will take a while to sort through the photos, journal notes and other hasty scribbles to make sense and produce some decent posts, especially since … Continue reading
news from Prague – summer 2014
Here are a bunch of interesting tidbits with info on what’s going on in and around Prague – for those who don’t click on my Prague HOT LINK!! Some originally noted in Prague Post. Leave it to the Czechs to … Continue reading
Posted in Czech Republic, Eastern Europe, Europe food & wine, European art, European festivals, General magpie travel, News from Europe, Prague travel
Tagged Czech UNESCO, Letní Letna, Prague food tours, Prague hippos, Prague Signal festival, Prague Zoo, Terracotta Warriors Prague, Whisky Live Prague
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Travel and art news from France – summer 2014
From France 24. The Paris Pantheon has been wallpapered with some 4000 selfies by street artist JR, thru early October. On the topic of selfies – Parisian authorities are trying to effect a sea change away from those bridge-destroying “love … Continue reading
Random news from the Netherlands – summer 2014
A bunch of items from Dutch News. Though some of the articles came out several weeks ago, the news is still valid as far as I can find. Mopeds, helmets and bike lanes. A surprising find during restoration of a … Continue reading
Dutch tidbits – spring 2014
From Dutch news. Bike parking to be expanded in Amsterdam. A canal house is being created using a 3D printer and is open to visitors. Problems with high-speed rail service continues, but slow trains are still in service between A’dam … Continue reading
Posted in Amsterdam travel, Archaeology in Europe, Europe's gardens, European art, European museums, General magpie travel, Netherlands travel, News from Europe
Tagged 3D printing, Dutch bike parking, Dutch canal house, Dutch flower bulbs, Dutch rail, Han van Meegeren, Han van Meegeren death mask, Rijksmuseum, Vermeer forger
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tidbits of UK travel news
From the London Independent. A (very) modest hotel in Wales scores for customer service. Even thrifty old me could afford to stay here! I wonder how far in advance one needs to book? And here are a few ideas for … Continue reading
Posted in Archaeology in Europe, Edinburgh, England, Europe food & wine, European art, European festivals, European museums, General magpie travel, News from Britain, UK news
Tagged Leicester Cathedral, Oxford Islamic Centre, oxford travel, Richard III, scotch whisky, top Wales hotel, Wales travel, world whisky month
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Miscellaneous art news around Europe 2014
From London Independent – Matisse at the Tate Modern thru early September 2014. More Matisse at the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris and a Matisse trail in Collioure in French Languedoc (aka French Catalunya). This last one sounds intriguing – see info at … Continue reading
Posted in Amsterdam travel, Archaeology in Europe, BeNeLux, England, Europe's gardens, European art, European museums, France, General magpie travel
Tagged early Dutch telescope, looted Nazi art, Matisse, Matisse trail, medieval coins in Utrecht, Picasso museum, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh
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A hunt for giant Easter eggs in New York
NYC is currently running a city-wide Easter egg hunt. I stumbled on part of it recently when in Manhattan for the Tartan Day parade (still working on this blog post). After the parade, I went to Rockefeller Plaza to people-watch. The … Continue reading
Posted in All Suzanne's travels, European art, NYC travel, US travel
Tagged Easter eggs in NY, NYC Easter egg hunt 2014
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Major art exhibit planned for Prague Castle in 2015
From Prague Post. A major art exhibition of Titian’s works is being planned for Prague Castle. It’s more than a year away, but if Prague is on your list, keep this event in mind, maybe even do as I do … Continue reading
Keflavik’s Rainbow and an egg
There are two large outdoor sculptures at Keflavik airport in Iceland. They stand next to the terminal building, so are unmissable whether coming to the airport or heading out towards Reykjavik. The Rainbow is the work of Rúrí, an Icelandic artist and was … Continue reading
Art awaits in Paris for spring 2014
From France 24 – a photo exhibit of images of everyday Paris is on through late May 2014 at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (aka MEP). Received in a Eurostar email – La Nuit Aux Invalides, a nighttime video spectacle … Continue reading
The Kelpies are coming to NYC
From the website I found when searching for info on this year’s Tartan Day parade in NYC. The parade will be held on Saturday, 5 April, 2014 along Sixth Ave, beginning at 2 pm. When I was in Edinburgh this … Continue reading
Tidbits from Dutch news – Feb 2014
Here are a couple of stories from Dutch news from last month… The Hermitage’s Amsterdam location is now home to thirty Golden Age paintings by Rembrandt et al., similar to his masterpiece The Night Watch, which lives at the Rijksmuseum … Continue reading
Posted in Amsterdam travel, BeNeLux, European art, European museums, European music, Netherlands travel, News from Europe
Tagged Amsterdam museums, Dutch movies, Dutch paintings, Hermitage Amsterdam, Hermitage museum, Imagine Nation, Night Watch, Rembrandt, Rutger Hauer, Soldier of Orange, Soldier of Orange musical
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Fourth plinth artwork comes home to roost
The latest in a continuing series of artworks, each of which resides for about a year on the previously unoccupied fourth plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square. It’s a giant blue rooster entitled Hahn/Cock. I especially like the pigeons sitting below … Continue reading
Posted in All Suzanne's travels, European art, London travel, News from Britain, UK
Tagged fourth plinth, Hahn/Cock, London arts, London sculpture, Trafalgar Square
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A Scottish stone is going walkabout!
From London Independent and Univ of Glasgow. The Hogback Stone, one of the thousand-plus year old Govan stones which live in a Glasgow church, is going on exhibition at the British Museum in London. Here’s more info and a photo, … Continue reading
More Shakespeare for Trevor Nunn
From London Independent. Trevor Nunn has staged 30 of Shakespeare’s 37 plays and wants to do the rest before retiring. Something to look forward to!!
Higgins Armory Museum closes and an old memory reawakens
The Higgins Armory Museum, in Worcester, Massachusetts, has been in existence for more than eighty years. It is basically one man’s collection of armor, weapons, clothing, stained glass and banners in a reproduction Gothic setting spread across several floors in … Continue reading
Roman road found in Utrecht, Netherlands
From Dutch News. A road dating from Roman times has been dug up in central Utrecht while building work was being carried out. Ancient Roman ruins don’t immediately come to mind as elements of Dutch history, which makes the news … Continue reading