Art

Streets of London – Love and Love Not

/ Leya / 31 kommentarer

Big cities demand a lot of walking – London is no exception. The Underground might be the fastest, but the Overground for certain is the nicest. Let’s go for a walk and a ride…and look upon the city with fresh eyes…Today – What do I still love about it and what do I not love that much?

 

…the old Michelin building turned into a restaurant
I love the taxis…
…and I love the bridges too.
But…this new landmark…on Trafagar Square, among lions and old heroes….nooooooo

London is a city I will always come back to. Not in the way I used to as a young girl and woman, I know that. Today it is more of the atmosphere…the walks and the talks. The friendly people. No need for many musicals or concerts or exhibitions…How do You feel about London? Do you go often? Why/why not?

Thursday Thoughts – In the Hive

/ Leya / 18 kommentarer

My number one goal with the London trip was Kew Gardens. I think the year was 1977 last time, or maybe 1979. As you who read this blog will know, I love gardens and flowers. Maybe especially English gardens, because of their soft and soothing architecture and lines. But this time, I also found the most mindful spot – The Hive.

A well thought through installation, and a high quality space for mindfulness.

The Hive stands 17 metres high, set in a meadow of wild flowers. The installation is  connected to a real beehive, from where you, through several canals, are able to follow the sounds and vibrations of the bees.

We all know the importance of bees, and as scientists have proved – without bees we will not survive on this planet.

In  this structure, you cannot shut out the light – you cannot stop it from seeping in. Looking straight up from the ground beneath, there are also… feet to be seen…

…and inside the construction, the blue sky is visible from every corner. Slow down and listen to the bees working, humming soothingly. Add some distant music… and this will be your reaction…

Meditative moments…Mindfulness…

 

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Welcome to Little Venice!

/ Leya / 17 kommentarer

When in London, I try to visit a new part every time – and this time I walked along Regent’s Canal to Little Venice. They say Lord Byron coined the name, true or not, anyway it is a charming area with its moored boats and little ”gardens”.

How about joining me for a little walk?

 

Along Regent’s Canal
Under the bridges
Grand Houses along the canal
Some boats were more homes to flowers than to people…
Inviting you to sit down and read a good book!
Minimalistic
Coot in Green
Two for you
Loveliness

CFFC: Letters Ap

/ Leya / 8 kommentarer

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Letter A – Needs to start with the Letters Ap

For Cee this week – one real and one fake (handmade) ”apa”…in English ”monkey”!

The World Illustration Awards 2017

/ Leya / 10 kommentarer

 

A short visit to London with my whole family – I cannot say how much I appreciated this opportunity! That we all could go, and have some relaxing fun together – almost impossible now as we are all living in different ends of Sweden.

WIA at Somerset House was our first spot of interest. All of us love working with some kind of art – but none of us do it professionaly. So.. who does not want to get inspired?

The view from Waterloo Bridge – I don’t think I have seen it since the Shard was built. You can see it between the two high constructions on the right side of the Thames.

Walking to the entrance of Somerset House, I caught a glimpse of ”The Lion King”. I remember it being very well staged and performed when we visited with our children a long time ago. Sweet memories.

All excited of course – but as I am not allowed to show the photos officially,  Here is a link instead.

My son and daughter photographing away…at the entrance. There were, among others, a great many interesting takes on the US president and environmental issues.

London med familjen 2017 120_copy

At exhibitions, leaving a comment is never optional…always give feedback! So much talent and fantasy, brainwork and time gone in to these artworks. Brilliant!

Walking back – enjoying the other side of Waterloo Bridge. Always impressive…

Good Old London.

CFFC: Tombstones or Cemeteries

/ Leya / 14 kommentarer

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Tombstones or Cemeteries

From two of the most beautiful cemeteries I have walked. Here Warsaw, the Jewish Cemetery and in the header, Père Lachaise, Paris.

Giant’s Causeway – The Loveliest Day

/ Leya / 30 kommentarer

Soaking wet after the dog walk tonight, I desperately long for a lost summer. When in Ireland (a rainy country they say…) this May,  we had sunshine, 20 degrees C and no wind on the north coast. I just have to go back for the photos…think I will show you just How…lucky we were, and what a glorious day we had at Giant’s Causeway. Our landlord told us the weather had not been this beautiful any day this year, 2017.

The walking distance makes this trip a half day tour, but in full sun, everything is just amazing and you can walk any distance… There was even the possibility, for elderly or disabled people, of using a van.

The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. (Although legend has it built by the Irish Giant Fionn…)It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland.

The area was declared a World heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. According to Wikipedia, there was a poll in 2005, where Radio Times’ readers voted the Giant’s Causeway as the fourth greatest natural wonder in UK.

 

 

 

Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides.
…and flowers grow between the terraced pillars
The little pools make the area more alive…
Excellent playground – if you are careful…
…and bring granddad!

The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site is today one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland. Read about the legend of the two fighting giants from Ireland and Scotland, and the building of the Causeway, here.