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Bad Ragartz 2024 in Liechtenstein

Gaia, Martin Wiese, 2021 In the tiny principality of Liechtenstein with a population of slightly under 40,000, there’s an amazing outdoor sculpture exhibition for everyone to enjoy. Many sculptural pieces are part of the Bad Ragartz 2024, an extension of the Swiss Sculpture Triennial held in the spa town of Bad Ragaz across the border in Switzerland. I was lucky to catch the exhibition this October, its final month. But weep not if you don’t see it before October 30 because Vaduz, the capital of Liechtenstein, has quite a collection of outdoor sculptures on display year round. I’ve included these outdoor art pieces here. Gaia, König, Dame by Martin Wiese All Encompassing, Peter Nutt, steel Seitan, Kan Yasuda, front view Seitan, Ken Yasuda, back view Tribute to Groupside, Stefano Bombardieri Das Gebet , Heinz Mack, 1994, black granite Quo Vadis, David Černý Stalagmite 4, Carlo Borer, 2023 Raumableiter, Max Grüter, 2023 Watchtower, Samuel Salcedo, 2015-2022 Main Bronze (Bronze Hand),...
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The Three Wise Men at Cologne Cathedral

I have visited Cologne Cathedral at least three times and yet, I haven’t seen all it has to offer. As I write this post, I have come to realize that there is so much more to learn about this Gothic shrine that took more than six centuries to complete. But it isn’t really complete in every sense of the word. Scores of workers are hard at work every day maintaining, restoring and conserving this medieval structure. There’s always a section of the Cathedral with a scaffolding. (Note ongoing work next to Gerhard Richter’s window discussed in this post.) According to a local saying, “when the Cathedral is finished, it will be the end of the world”. Door knocker Main Portal Trivia: the Cathedral has 456 doors. View from the main portal of the central nave leading to the high altar. Notice the vaulted ceiling and the arched columns.  Main Altar and the choir stalls A closer look at the massive granite columns that line the nave. Floor mosaic of St. Kunibert holding a model of the old cath...

The Last Days of Nicolae and Elena Ceauşescu

In the peaceful town of Targovişte, 50 miles north of Bucharest, we visited the Museum of Communism, formerly a military garrison. This is where Nicolae Ceausescu  and his wife, Elena, spent their last days. Ceausescu was president of Romania from 1974 until his execution in 1989 and leader of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965. The monument in front of the Museum (first image) is that of Dan Al II cel Viteaz, a five-time Voivode (governor) of Wallachia. His reign ended in 1432 after he was defeated by the Ottomans. He was succeeded by the son of Mircea cel Bătrin, grandfather of Vlad Tepes the Impaler (also Vlad Dracul III) whose life may have been an inspiration for the stories about the blood thirsty Dracula. The Voivodes of Wallachia took up residence in the princely court of Targovişte, the reason I was in the vicinity. Please read my post about the life and times of Vlad Tepes here:  https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2023/12/the-curious-life-and-times-of-vlad.html On...

Where to go in 2025

Brasov, Romania (on National Geographic 2025 list) With the opening of the new airport in Nuuk this November, new flight services will connect Greenland with Canada and the United States. In the past, one would have to go to Denmark  or Iceland in order to go to Greenland on either Air Greenland or Icelandair. The flights to Nuuk from North America will make Greenland more accessible to travelers eager to experience new adventures in the biggest island in the world that is not a continent. Greenland is the choice of three travel publications and ezines linked below. With these endorsements, it  is poised to be the hottest destination in 2025. Afar Magazine Where to go in 2025 This list has picked less visited destinations for crowd-free travel. Think Belgrade, Benin, Guyana and Jordan, to name a few. https://www.afar.com/magazine/where-to-go-in-2025 American Express Travel 2025 Trending Destinations These trending destinations are based on travel bookings made by AMEX card mem...

Juan Luna and Hymen Oh Hymenée

Hymen Oh Hymenée (or Boda Romana), 1886-1887 No one knew where this painting was after it was sold around the 1930s. Before then it was part of Luna’s private collection. For Jaime Ponce de Leon, owner of Leon Gallery in Metro Manila, it had become an obsession to find this missing masterpiece which had won the bronze medal at the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris where it was last seen in public. More than a century later, in 2014, Ponce de Leon got a call to appear at a certain address  in Europe which he heeded. And there it was, the “Grail of Philippine Art”, for his eyes to behold. Ponce de Leon bought the painting, had it shipped to the Philippines and kept it stored it in a crate for a few more years until it was revealed to the public at the Ayala Museum in 2023. What a journey this painting has taken! Finally Juan Luna’s depiction of his wedding to Paz Pardo de Tavera was brought to light. The Bride Juan Luna is nowhere to be seen in this painting. But his marks are every...

Shopping in Istanbul

I arrived in Istanbul with the smallest carry on suitcase in tow. This meant I couldn’t go wild shopping in the grand bazaars as much as I would love to. What’s more, Istanbul was my first stop in a four-country tour. There was simply no room for stuff in my Lipault. Fortunately, I only had three items on my list of things to absolutely buy in Türkiye; a nazar, a refrigerator magnet and baklava pistachio pastry.  Grand Bazaar The Grand Bazaar is a maze of shops selling everything you can think of. Shop windows with jewelry, pottery, Turkish Delights, spices, clothes, souvenirs, colorful lamps, household goods, candy, designer knock-offs and the list seems endless. That may be an exaggeration but as I was walking along the main corridor, I found many side corridors which branched out to many more aisles which then led me to the outdoor stalls surrounding the Grand Bazaar.   Grand Bazaar (side corridor) Beautiful pottery I wish I could have brought home the tulip shaped tea glas...