Thursday 31 July 2008

Bell Towers

A partial view (with some photoshop retouching) from the kitchen balcony of my son's new appartment. Yesterday we finished what we had to do and from now on the professionals will do the rest starting at the end of August.

I will be absent for the forthcoming two weeks travelling with my lovely wife through the Italian part of the Alps. She just retired as a high-school teacher and therefore deserves a relaxing holiday. We will post some photos upon our return. Arrivederci!!

Tuesday 29 July 2008

Loneliness

Loneliness can take away the colour from even the most beautiful surroundings

Sunday 27 July 2008

Bits and pieces...

... of a private home where we passed some relaxing days in wine-paradise.

Thursday 24 July 2008

Escape

Although still working on my son's appartment (we nearly finished the basic demolishing works) my wife and I decided to escaped to "wine-paradise" again for a few days, where we did little else than baking in the sun on a sun-bed in a swimming pool with a glass of cool white wine in our hands. I only took a few photos there of which this one. It is such a relaxing area!

Sunday 13 July 2008

Waiting for the sun...

Thunder, rain, wind...as if hell has broken loose above Arona at this very moment (5.41 in the morning). Let's hope that these two boats will get a chance to go out.

This will be my last post for some time, as from tomorrow onwards I will be working hard on my son's appartment to get it ready before he gets married to his wonderful girlfriend at the end of this year. Scraping old wallpaper from the walls, taking out the old bathroom, renewing the kitchen and other works I will be doing together with them. We have never done that before but what we have done sofar turned out well.
I will be visiting your blogs looking at your photos and will return with mine as soon as possible...
Be good!

Saturday 12 July 2008

Last post about The Hague

I could not say goodbye to The Hague without visiting "Het Vredes Paleis" (The "Peace Palace").
Although this building, completed in 1913 in neo-renaissance style, is architectually speaking not of my liking, it is home to important international judicial institutions, such as The International Court of Justice (which is the principal body of the United Nations), The Permanent Court of Arbitration, as well as the The Hague Academy of International Law which attracts law students from all over the world during the summer.
The building and the grounds on which it stands are property of the Carnegie Foundation.

Many countries have contributed to the treasures which can be visited inside the palace, among which the 3.200 kg vase donated by Russia, the doors by Belgium, the marble by Italy, a fountain by Denmark, wall carpets by Japan, Persian rugs by Iran, wood by Indonesia and the clock inside the clock tower by Switzerland. This clock is regulated directly from Switzerland by radio.

Friday 11 July 2008

Canal

These are the more simple houses on one of the canals right near the city centre of The Hague.
Today these "simple" houses cost a fortunate and are in high demand. They often have a small secluded garden on the back. Those who will visit Holland will notice that many houses do not have drawn curtains so that one could look inside. "This", the owners would respond, "because we have nothing to hide".

Thursday 10 July 2008

New skylines

The Hague has also newly built parts not far from the centre. This luxurious office/appartments area was designed by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill. Your thoughts?

Wednesday 9 July 2008

Art Nouveau

The Hague has many streets where Art Nouveau is magnificently expressed in architecture.

Tuesday 8 July 2008

Doorbell...

I took the photo of this 18th Century building in The Hague because of its special doorbell.

Monday 7 July 2008

Although...

many of us have already made similar photos, I could not resist making one too.
This is a part of the Gallery ("Passage") in The Hague.

Sunday 6 July 2008

30° Celsius

This solitary backstreet boy found a solution against the heat in the slurry waters of a pond, whilst the other more sophisticated dogs on the leach of their owners watched him surely with envy.

Saturday 5 July 2008

Windy...

The beach near The Hague has been renewed and the weather is generally improving.
If only the wind would calm down a little...

Friday 4 July 2008

The Hague

I will post some pictures of my favourate Dutch city where I was born and where I have just been keeping an eye on my wonderful but stubburn 87 year-old mother who prefers to excercise her new hip on an exciting trekking-bike rather than a on a quiet hometrainer.
As she was recently hit by another cyclist who had made her fall, I only hope that the bruises, the streched leg muscles and my severe warnings have been sufficiently convincing to make her stick to hometraining, but I was not so sure of that twinkle in her eye when I said goodbye ...