TravelswithCharie

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Highlights from the Stedelijk Museum

Marc Chagall, Self Portrait with 7 Fingers, 1912-1913. Oil on canvas. The Stedelijk Museum is one of the leading modern and contemporary art museums in the world. Since its inception in 1874, the Stedelijk’s collection has steadily grown and evolved. A new wing completed in 2012 added another 10,000 square meters of space which the museum needed to display its vast and distinguished collection.
The museum also has an impressive number of forty Marc Chagall paintings, six of which it owns and three are on extended loan from the State. These nine paintings span a period of 35 years and provides a comprehensive look at Chagall’s works over three and a half decades. The Marc Chagall Research Project was undertaken by the museum to study the technique and materials used by the artist and the state of conservation of the paintings. The research found, among other things, that Chagall painted with tiny brushes at a fast pace, used pigments like cadmium yellow and cobalt blue which we…

Seoul Traditions

The Gyeongbokgung Palace complex covers a staggering 4.4 million square feet. There are over 330 hundred structures in the compound and to see everything properly will require at least a couple of visits. The National Folk Museum of Korea is also within the palace grounds and its displays of historical domestic and agricultural artifacts are worth a visit.
Heungnyemun Gate is one of three entrances to Gyeongbok Palace. Gyeongbok was the main residence of the Joseon Dynasty from the 14th century until it was razed by fire in the 16th century and left abandoned for more than two and a half centuries. It was reconstructed in 1867 only to be demolished during the Japanese occupation and the Korean War. A 40-year restoration project of the palace was initiated in 1989 by the government.
Geunjeongjeon is the Imperial Throne Room and one of a handful structures that survived from the 19th century. Geunjeongjeon means “diligence helps governance”. Behind the throne is a screen painted with th…

Nice la Belle

Promenade des Anglais Though I had been to Nice several times in the past, I saw a different Nice in 2019. Gone were the familiar scenes with the exception of the Promenade des Anglais and the pebbly beach. How these people in the photo embrace the sea! For there lies the key to relaxation and a “happier, healthier, more connected” * mind. *Blue Mind, Wallace J. Nichols.
Basilica Notre Dame de Nice It was a sad day when the Notre Dame de Paris burned down in April 2019. I remember attending a special prayer at the Notre Dame de Nice on Avenue Jean Médecin when all of France was mourning after the devastating fire that consumed the spire and roof of the 800-year old Gothic icon of Paris.
House of Adam and Eve Bas-reliefs of Adam and Eve in the old town of Nice was a surprising find. This former private residence dates back to the late 16th century and the reliefs are said to be of Adam and Eve. But there’s another story about these reliefs that attributes the figures to a quarrelsome coupl…

Budget Friendly Lodging Options

A Room with a View When I was in my 20s, I had the opportunity to stay at one of the dorms in the University of Paris for $15/day. That was quite an experience deserving a full narrative! I also stayed at a student dorm in Switzerland where I had my own room overlooking a garden courtyard and a refrigerator space in the kitchen. Until one morning when I went to take a shower and found a man in his briefs showing off his diminutive frame to all the guests who happened to pass by the shower rooms. So much for exhibitionists!

Over the years, I’ve found and stayed at more refined lodgings without emptying my travel wallet all too quickly. Many of these places are in Europe and run by religious orders like the Brigidine sisters. The room rates at some of these guest houses start around €35,00 depending on the period of stay and the location. The rooms are simple but have comfortable beds and usually have their own private bathroom. They are always kept clean. The only drawback for some trav…

Where to go in 2020

The Little Mermaid, Denmark Afar Magazine - Best Places to travel in 2020
Afar has compiled a list of exciting destinations and divided it under the four seasons. How about winter in Bariloche, Argentina, Istanbul in the spring, Greenland in the summer and autumn in Dubai for starters?
https://www.afar.com/magazine/best-places-to-travel-in-2020

Condé Nast Traveler - Best Places to go in 2020
”We aim to compile a list that is geographically diverse but also has points of interest for every traveler, whether you’ll fly for unparalleled stargazing, gorilla spotting in the wild, or shopping in Tangier.” - Condé Nast Traveler https://www.cntraveler.com/gallery/best-places-to-go-in-2020

Fodor’s Go list for 2020
Fodor’s go list consists of 52 places including a few that have had their “share of hardships in the recent past.”
https://www.fodors.com/go-list/2020

Frommer’sBest Places to go in 2020
Frommer’s list visits the “less trampled and overlooked” places in the world.
https://www.frommers.com/slid…

Berardo Collection Museum - One Man’s Personal Art Collection

“Sculpture is an art of the open air. Daylight, sunlight is necessary to it and for me, its best setting and complement is nature.” - Henry Moore

One of the most impressive museums in Portugal is the Berardo Collection Museum in Belém, a short train or tram ride from the center of Lisbon. The permanent exhibition at the museum is the private collection of one man, José Manuel Rodrigues Berardo. It includes works by the likes of Picasso, Mondrian, Magritte, Warhol among others. An afternoon at this museum is merely an introduction to the Berardo Collection. You’ll want to return and appreciate the works on display at a leisurely pace. Entrance is free on Saturdays.
This is a late post. These few images of the artworks presented here were taken during my visit to Portugal in April 2016. I’ve arranged them in chronological order except for the Henry Moore outdoor sculpture because this image gives a perspective of the museum building (facing away from the main avenue) and the garden. Some …

Discovering Würzburg

One of the most intriguing suggestions I received on my recent visit to Würzburg was to see the Alte Mainbrücke (Old Main Bridge) and stroll across this pedestrian stone bridge with a glass of wine. I learned soon enough that this was sound advice. The bridge is a gathering place for friends and drinking wine from grapes grown in the surrounding hills is a fitting introduction to the capital of the Franconian wine region.

The Alte Mainbrücke was rebuilt between 1473-1543. It has commanding views of Marienberg Fortress and the vineyards that surround the city. On the bridge are twelve statues of saints and emperors which were added in the 18th century.

The Alte Mainbrücke connects the old town with the fishing quarter across the Main River. The tower of the Rathskeller and the steeples of Würzburger Dom figure prominently in the Alstadt (Old Town).

Sunset reflections on the Main River with Marienberg Fortress on the hill above the vineyards.

It’s fascinating to watch how the lock work…