Aronaeveryday

Longing for Spring...

2012-01-30T10:36:00.000+01:00

...and for its special light.

Venice

Geometric shapes

2012-01-29T11:22:00.000+01:00

The Hague, my original hometown,

Holland

A new dawn...

2012-01-26T08:43:00.000+01:00

...brings a new start

Arona

When you loose a brother...

2012-01-25T12:33:00.003+01:00

...sit down under a tree,

in the silence of a remote past.

Sit down and contemplate,

but keep still,

for not to break

the thin thread

that binds him

to you.

(to my youngest brother Frans Wouter who passed away last week)

The muscle tree

2012-01-09T16:51:00.000+01:00

Plane tree ready for Spring.

Arona

The cold strong wind of the last few days has gone.

2012-01-08T10:44:00.000+01:00

Arona

The essential parts composing Dawn

2012-01-07T10:46:00.000+01:00

Arona

Being close also means...

2012-01-06T11:44:00.000+01:00

...keeping warm in winter and keeping fresh in summer.

Arizzano

Verbania

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you and to your families...

2011-12-19T16:05:00.000+01:00

...and may the new year be less severe than is predicted!

Arona

Was that all, folks...?

2011-12-06T18:06:00.001+01:00

My lovely always hungry grandson Liam now 4 months

(Photo made by my son)

...and then I saw a beautiful Christmas tree in my square...

2011-12-03T12:02:00.000+01:00

...when I woke up this morning.

Arona

Brige over quiet waters

2011-11-25T12:32:00.002+01:00

Arona

Happiness is...

2011-11-08T09:01:00.001+01:00

...my 3 months old grandson Liam

(photo made by my son)

Only...the lonely...

2011-11-02T10:40:00.000+01:00

Arona

Halloween

2011-10-31T12:51:00.000+01:00

Although an old photo...

Arona

Autumn dawn

2011-10-30T16:00:00.000+01:00

Arona

The day started very well this early morning.

2011-10-27T18:54:00.002+02:00

Arona

See you next time, Basilicata!

2011-10-23T09:28:00.000+02:00

Rionero in Vulture,

Basilicata

Winemaking is not always that easy...

2011-10-22T11:25:00.000+02:00

Pian dell'Altare, Ripacandida

Basilicata

By the light...

2011-10-20T13:01:00.000+02:00

Pian dell'Altare, Ripacandida

Basilicata

Then suddenly...

2011-10-19T09:32:00.000+02:00

...autumn arrived also in Basilicata last week, while we were grape-harvesting.

Winery "Eleano"

Pian dell'Altare

Ripacandida

How green was my valley

2011-10-17T09:01:00.000+02:00

View from the winery's terrace

Pian dell'Altare, Ripacandida

Basilicata

Ready for the grape harvest

2011-10-16T09:05:00.000+02:00

Pian dell'Altare,

Ripacandida,

Basilicata

The scent of sunlight

2011-10-15T11:26:00.000+02:00

It was 27° Celsius the other day when I assisted in the late harvest of the unique autochthonous "Aglianico del Vulture" grapes in the magnificent vulcanic "Vulture" area of the southern Italian region of Basilicata. The warm autumn sun accentuated the mixture of natural scents of earth, olive-and chestnut tree bark, vine leaves and grapes, while the air was filled with laughter and soft singing of the youngsters who picked the grapes.

A perfect atmosphere which I had wished could last forever.

Pian dell'Altare, Ripacandida

When autumn leaves...

2011-10-05T12:01:00.000+02:00

Val Vigezzo

Eyes

2011-09-20T11:53:00.001+02:00

My grandson Liam is now 6 weeks old

No, you can't!

2011-09-14T12:29:00.000+02:00

We still have perfect summer temperatures over here!

Codevilla

Street art

2011-09-11T15:37:00.000+02:00

Venice

Pagoda Tree

2011-09-04T19:45:00.000+02:00

Garden of Grand Hotel Des Isles Boromées

Stresa

Eye contact

2011-08-23T12:00:00.000+02:00

My first grandson, Liam, two weeks old.

Busto Arsizio

Enjoy your summer!

2011-07-20T13:12:00.001+02:00

Fruit and vegetable market in Arona

Stones and solitude

2011-07-09T16:37:00.000+02:00

Macugnaga

In the black and white morning light

2011-06-30T08:53:00.000+02:00

Arona

Something different

2011-06-15T17:20:00.000+02:00

I decided to do something different this time.
Two weeks ago I recorded Cry Me A River which I will sing on stage here in Arona during a big musical event on the 2nd of July.
If you wish to listen to the song, connect yourself to the hereunder indicated link.
Wish me luck!
Diederick
http://www.box.net/shared/j47i5lp2g0

The Fair is in town again

2011-06-01T12:05:00.000+02:00

Photo taken from a friend's 7th floor roof balcony.

Arona

Risotto land

2011-05-19T12:09:00.000+02:00

Rice fields near the river Po.

Pavia

I met a single mom the other day

2011-05-14T09:09:00.000+02:00

Lake front,

Arona

Finally...!

2011-05-08T16:43:00.001+02:00

The square where I live is finally open to the public again after 6 months of works, trucks, sand, bricks, stones and dust everywhere. I had previously published a photo (tic...tic...tic...) where the workmen worked on the pavement laying stone by stone. I had given them wine in the freezing cold winter so that they could warm themselves. The final result is stunning. I can overlook the newly made fountain from where I live (from the old balcony of the white building on the right) and enjoy sheer silence (no cars and motorcycles are allowed anymore!) and the magic lights of the fountain itself. The noise of water falling? Soft and pleasant in comparison with the noise of roaring motors of cars at all hours of the day and night. It was all worth it!

Historical centre of Arona

Elephants and lions in Arona

2011-04-17T10:27:00.000+02:00

Arona

When the ladies loose their heads over street-market sales

2011-04-15T12:55:00.000+02:00

Tuesday 's street market

Arona

When sky and lake...

2011-03-21T09:50:00.000+01:00

...play together with the early morning light.

Arona

Saturday morning: time to go to school

2011-03-19T08:20:00.000+01:00

Arona

Happy birthday, Italia!

2011-03-17T09:17:00.001+01:00

Today is your 150th birthday. We know, your life hasn't always been easy and you have often been treated without the respect that you deserve, but you have been patient and forgiving. Trying to keep the family together, has not always been an easy task, especially with family members who have such different characters between them. You know that they have not yet given the best of themselves, but they will make it, together and united as a family should be. You'll see! Happy birthday, Italia, and...many happy returns.

Arona

Silent tears in the dark

2011-03-15T10:07:00.004+01:00

The character of a nation comes always out in moments of need. The complex system of showing respect, which has been imposed on every single individual in Japan throughout centuries of discipline, is showing its fruits these days, with the strikingly silent composure of who is waiting for hours in endless lines to receive first-need assistance or only information. No scenes of understandable despair for the loss of loved ones, belongings or identity in this immense tragedy. Just terrified faces of adults and youngsters who would not know where to go, of smaller children who are waiting to hear a whisper of comfort . “We were all aware that “the big-one” would be coming”, says a lady with a sad smile. “And we cannot do anything else but bow to what Nature has decided for us” . She makes a small bow to whom has interviewed her briefly and steps back in line, to wait for the answers she hopes to receive. Centuries of self-discipline do not allow to shed tears onto this collectivity, therefore every individual sheds them in silence, in the darkness of an uncertain future, while making a small bow of encouragement to whom steps in line of the same queue. And I make a deep bow to them…with profound respect.

Arona

Meet Ray

2011-03-12T10:40:00.001+01:00

I met Ray Heffernan only recently when a mutual friend invited me to go and listen to this Irish singer, who writes and sings “what he feels and sees around him”. He lives on one of our beautiful lakes here in northern Italy and I now often attend the trial sessions with his newly created band composed of high-level musicians. His music is excellent, just like the texts he writes: vibrant, intense and elegant. He really deserves to find his place high up in the international musical firmament.

At a friend's house

Arona

"Pièce unique"...

2011-03-11T10:53:00.000+01:00

...is his name...and he is!

At a friend's house

Arona

The wedding car

2011-02-28T07:13:00.000+01:00

This authentic 1935 Fiat Balilla was used by friends as their wedding car last saturday and stood in front of the 12th century church San Siro di Struppa in the City of Genova where the beautiful wedding ceremony took place.

Genova

Against the early morning light

2011-02-25T11:08:00.000+01:00

Lake front

Arona

Early in the morning...

2011-02-07T17:28:00.000+01:00

...notwithstanding the cold, I sit there to watch the colours change for a new day to start.

Lake front

Arona

Spring is in the air...

2011-02-03T15:14:00.002+01:00

Lake front this morning,

Arona

The tree man

2011-02-02T07:59:00.001+01:00

Lake front

Arona

A new start

2011-02-01T08:55:00.000+01:00

A delegation of approximately 150 present and former heads of state, ambassadors as well as academics from the Arabic and Muslim world, guided by the President of Senegal and backed by Unesco and the Municipality of Paris, and accompanied by another 100 representatives of various international Jewish, Christian and Muslim communities, will visit the former concentration camp of Auschwitz in southern Poland today. I’d like to see this important event as a new start of better understanding and more respect between populations with different cultures and different religions. As long as all parts will act in good faith and with trust towards each other.

The Grand Friday Mosque in Malé (Maldives)

When colours are...

2011-01-31T09:03:00.000+01:00

Malé fishing harbour,

Maldives

The boat service

2011-01-28T09:05:00.001+01:00

Olhuveli Island (Maldives)

Bewitching colours of the sea

2011-01-27T09:39:00.000+01:00

The sandbags are there to protect the beach against the difference in water level between high and low tide. Many groups of islands of the Maldives have been badly affected by the enormous tidal wave of the 26th December 2004. With an average ground level of 1,5 meters above sea-level, this unique archipelago, featuring 1.192 islets of which only 200 are inhabited, is vulnerably exposed to all possible extreme natural hazards and is slowly disappearing, due to a constant sea-level rise which has been calculated to be of 59 cm by the year 2100. This, if the leaders of our planet do not take drastic action against the negative effects of global warming. Actions aiming at saving many areas of the world from going under water and consequently saving the growing world population from loosing precious sources of food and sweet water. Otherwise, nobody can stop the repeat of the historical migrations in search of survival with its devastating consequences.

Olhuveli (Maldives)

Olhuveli Island

2011-01-26T11:05:00.000+01:00

I just stood there watching the sun rise from behind the ocean, while I let the soft talcum-powder sand of the beach glide through my fingers. An athletic young man ran along the shoreline. He looked perfectly fit and I felt a hint of envy rising in me. I looked down on the curve of my stomach and knew that I should be doing the same and should have started a long time ago, but as he disappeared from my sight, the feeling of envy ran away with him leaving me alone with the sun breaking through the thin sheep-clouds which slowly moved away from the horizon. The grey colour of the sea gradually changed into silver-green with red glints generated by the first sun-beams, while the soft pink colour of the sand turned into white. I waited for Nature “to do better than this” and was immediately rewarded: the shadows of the clouds gliding over the surface of the water made the silver-green turn into deep-turquoise with glints of dark blue and yellow-gold. At the other side of the sea, tall palm trees on a long sand bank softly waved their leaves in the breeze with a constant rustling sound. As I walked back to the apartment under a tangle of tree branches and flowers, to accompany my wife to the restaurant for our first breakfast in Paradise , I suddenly knew that Nature would surprise us more during the days to come… and without limits.

Olhuveli Island (Maldives)

Paradise is...

2011-01-25T12:04:00.000+01:00

I have no other words to describe this miracle of Nature.

Olhuveli Island

Maldives

Trimming and pruning

2011-01-15T09:17:00.000+01:00

All our lime trees and plane trees along the lake are being prepared for Spring.

I will be absent for 10 days, off to the Maldives. An 11 hours long flight from Milan, followed by a 40 minutes transfer by boat from capital city Malé to the Olhuveli atoll over the cristal clear waters. I can't wait to arrive there and make the photos I will post on my return. Take care of yourselves in the meantime!

Arona

Waiting for Spring

2011-01-12T11:35:00.000+01:00

Arona.

Strong and gentle

2011-01-03T11:52:00.003+01:00

One day she entered the large garden which generously surrounds my brother and sister -in-law’s house. She was slim but not underfed, and probably found most of her daily need for food by catching small lizards and field-mice in the vineyards beyond the garden. The taste of tuna-fish and other similar fine food which she had surely never tasted before, generated the immediate beginning of a continuous cohabitative relationship, with all those advantages a cat can receive from a generous human heart. Very soon the catch of lizards and other small animals became only leisure-time practice. She is in full strength now, showing a beautiful mix of colours and sparkling green eyes in a harlequin mask. The only obstacle to total serenity remains the presence of good-natured Jan, the splendid five year old tall German shorthaired pointer, who puts precise limits to entries into his territory, welcoming only close family members and friends with sincere manifestations of affection . Another cat has in the meantime decided to share this paradise of food and warm shelter in winter, in specifically prepared baskets containing “old” soft-woolen pullovers of my protesting brother-in-law. Jan has in the meantime been trained to limit his aggressive and punitive actions against these “trespassing enemies” to a warning growl which comes deep from his throat, when they face each other nose-to-nose through the lower part of the window of the kitchen door, but when both cats are absent , he jumps onto the wall, empties their food-bowls, takes away the “old” woolen pullovers and destroys the baskets. He then lays flat on the floor with the usual innocent look in his eyes, satisfied with his actions and clearly convinced they will never come back again, now that they have no food and no shelter anymore….

Tic...tic...tic...

2010-12-30T09:56:00.002+01:00

...the continuous soft sound of handcrafted pavement-making of the square which I overlook from my windows. Every single piece is put into place by hand by these workers who receive warm coffee from an elderly lady and bottles of wine from me, to keep their blood smoothly flowing in this freezing cold winter. Notwithstanding this bomb-mixture of alcohol and caffeine, their design develops perfectly well!
Once the pavement is ready, a large rectangular shaped low-to-the-ground fountain of essential design will be placed in the middle of the square which will then remain permanently closed for traffic (ain't I lucky!). The surrounding 14t to 17th century buildings will then be lit up by beams of light coming out of the new pavement and/or will be lit up by the old latern-lamps, typical of the historical centre of Arona. I only hope that the new fountain will not become a noisy throughout-the-night-shower in the heat of summer, but I know that I can't have it all...!

Arona

Towards the new year...

2010-12-28T12:02:00.003+01:00

... wishing that the few who have taken the reins of the world inappropriately in hand will step back, to make way for those who have clear and sincere intentions to share their own destiny with ours, making Utopia in this respect become a real world.
View from Arona on the castle of Angera

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

2010-12-25T13:17:00.001+01:00

...and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to all of you and your loved ones!!

May the new year bring you good health and serenity!!

Diederick and Marina

Arona

Italy

The territory battle continues...

2010-12-15T12:00:00.000+01:00

...like in our Parliament

Arona

Italy

The first approach

2010-12-12T12:54:00.000+01:00

Ice rink on the lake front,

Arona

A wonderful event...

2010-12-08T18:31:00.002+01:00

...organized by the Mayor of Arona: the projection of sacred images on the front part of the church in the Square of "San Graziano" in Arona. Notwithstanding the rain, many people came to see this.

Piazza San Graziano,

Arona

When we woke up this morning...

2010-11-28T19:51:00.000+01:00

...it had snowed in the sweet muscat-grape vineyards of the village of Rasei, in wine paradise.

Codevilla

The jewel

2010-11-23T11:30:00.001+01:00

First I had noticed the tree, then the windmills on the edge of the horizon, only then little town of Ripacandida (Basilicata), between the tree and the horizon, set like a jewel in this magnificent landscape.

Autumn leaves...

2010-11-18T11:56:00.001+01:00

...was one of the many songs I sang during last saturday night's Jazz concert organized by Winery "Eleano" in the municipality of Ripcandida (Basilicata - southern Italy) accompanied by the professional Jazz Quintet, Mr. Grant's Band, and what a thrill to receive such a great response from the public!

Before the weather turned bad

2010-11-09T12:15:00.000+01:00

Madonna of the Lake,

Arona

Addicted to Dawn

2010-10-30T09:40:00.001+02:00

While you were all still asleep this morning

Arona

The Scream

2010-10-25T11:46:00.001+02:00

Only twice was I thoroughly impressed by “a scream”: the first time when, at the age of ten, I saw Norwegian Edvar Munch’s painting “The Scream”, and the second time a few weeks ago, when I saw these remains of a tree trunk, which also seems to express sheer terror! Too much uncontrolled deforestation for speculating purposes is taking place, and those who allow this, will not receive any benefit from it either…in the end!

Arona

When the lights were still on...

2010-10-24T07:00:00.000+02:00

...this morning

Arona

The old courtyard...

2010-10-19T11:12:00.000+02:00

...at dawn

Arona

Dawn

2010-10-12T11:37:00.000+02:00

Fishing harbour

Arona

Arona is...

2010-10-05T16:31:00.001+02:00

On the left: 16th century based church "Saint Anna", on the very right: 14th century "Broletto", what used to be the House of Judgement. Throughout the centuries Arona grew from a simple fisherman's village on the lake, into today's well known "Pearl of Lake Maggiore".

Arona

The great conductor

2010-10-03T10:47:00.001+02:00

This is how Italian painter, Nicola Pankoff, of Russian-Italian origin, living and working in Arona, sees the world. Yesterday I was present, together with many other Aronians, at the opening of this magnificent exhibition, in the Castle of Galliate: a world of poetry and tales.

Galliate

Welcome Autumn...

2010-09-24T12:51:00.001+02:00

Arona

A splash of colour...

2010-09-19T12:41:00.002+02:00

...which I invented myself by taking a photo of a "Murano" glass sculpture distorting its immage in photoshop. It has been chosen to become a decorative panel for a large white wall of a modern apartment.

Fish

2010-09-11T11:01:00.002+02:00

Let's avoid emptying seas, lakes, rivers and ponds on an industrial scale, to feed mostly those who can afford them. It would turn against us all in the end.

Arona

My thoughts go out to all of those who lost their lives in the nine-eleven event and to those who lost their loved ones. May such horrible actions never ever happen again, and may reciprocal respect and understanding be the start of a true democracy in the years to come.

Nature is warning us

2010-09-09T09:33:00.000+02:00

What remains of an important glacier at 2.200 meters height

Macugnaga

The mountain hut

2010-08-19T11:30:00.001+02:00

Mountain hut "Zamboni Zappa" is located at a height of 2070m above the community of Macugnaga (Province of Verbania) at the feet of the magnificent 4635 m high mountain "Monte Rosa". After one and a half hour's drive from Arona, two ski-lifts take you all the way up to "Belvedere", where on a clear day (which unfortunately was not the case the other day), "Her Majesty Monte Rosa" shows herself in all her glory with spectacular glaciers. From "Belvedere" it takes an hour to reach the mountain hut. After a short lunch we descended by feet all the way down to Macugnaga with a height difference of 760 meters, which took us 3 hours. A wonderful day of natural beauty and fresh air.

Macugnaga

The swimming pool

2010-08-17T08:00:00.000+02:00

Codevilla

Summer light...

2010-08-12T08:20:00.000+02:00

...in black and white

Arona

Evening light...

2010-08-08T12:43:00.000+02:00

...with a touch of photoshop

outside Arona

Patience...

2010-08-04T09:29:00.000+02:00

Arona

What seems evening light...

2010-08-01T15:20:00.000+02:00

...is early morning light

Arona

The heatwave

2010-07-24T10:28:00.000+02:00

The cool water of a swimming pool, the shadow of overhanging trees and a glass of sparkling white wine, give that luxurious twist to life which I wish to everybody who is going through this already longlasting heatwave.

Waiting for the tourists

2010-07-13T16:13:00.001+02:00

The houses on the isle of Hydra seem to lay back lazily against the mountains while baking in the sun. The island is just a 20 minute taxi-boat trip away from the east coast of the peninsula of Peloponesus and 1 hour and a half by ferry from the harbour of Piraeus. After a walk through the lacework of small streets and squares with white-and-blue houses, often covered with lush bougainville flowers, and after a visit to the beautiful church with the magnificent marble bell-tower, go and sit on one of the terraces overlooking the horseshoe-shaped harbour watching the multi-colour fishing boats coming in and going out, while sipping a big glass of freshly squeezed lemon in slightly fizzy icewater. The freshness of the drink and the colours of the island under a dark blue sky are all you need from life in that moment.

A quiet late afternoon...

2010-07-09T18:41:00.001+02:00

...on the Isle of Hydra

Greece

Begging eyes

2010-07-08T17:11:00.001+02:00

Clearance sales have started

Arona

Husband and wife...

2010-06-22T19:12:00.001+02:00

...since the 3rd century BC

Castle of Melfi

Basilicata

Medieval times

2010-06-19T11:00:00.001+02:00

The 11th century castle of Melfi in Basilicata has the most wonderful collection of objects which date back to the 3rd, 4th and 5th century BC. Worthwhile a visit!

Melfi

Basilicata

Often loneliness is...

2010-06-17T13:04:00.000+02:00

Altamura,

Apulia

Stones and satellites

2010-06-16T12:47:00.002+02:00

My 400th photo

This beautiful and incredible site - under Unesco protection - is called the "Sassi di Matera" (the "Stones of Matera") and is located in the Province of Matera in the southern-Italian Region of Basilicata. Some of these dwellings, dug into the rocks, date back to about 9.000 years ago and are still lived in today...with TV satellites and all!

Matera, Basilicata

Nature is...

2010-06-12T10:12:00.001+02:00

Countryside of Altamura,

Apulia

Dear politicians of the Italian Region of Basilicata

2010-06-08T19:19:00.006+02:00

You really should spend more time travelling through your own region, like you did when you toured around in cities and villages during your election campaigns, to gain the trust and votes of your people.
Weren't you glad to meet all those people, seeing their smiles when you shook their hands, promising that things would be alright and become better for everybody? I can only immagine what sort of satisfaction it should give to make people so happy.
I am more than certain that you would enjoy that endless and magnificent countryside again, with those softly flowing hills of green pastures and yellow cornfields, those large valleys with olivetrees and vineyards, those magnificent mountains which have nothing to envy to the Italian Dolomites in the north. Please do not forget to visit the two silent lakes of Monticchio again, where you should listen to what they will tell you about Brahmea, the rare nocturnal butterfly which in the world only lives there. And then...remember the "Sassi of Matera"...? No words are sufficient to describe its beauty!
Yes, you would meet all those people again durng your travelling. People who gave you their support. You would have the opportunity to listen more carefully to their cry for support. No, we are not talking about money here, they just want to feel your support again, to understand that your promises are coinciding with their expectations.
They have suffered! You know that! They have been hit hard in their hearts and in their belongings by earthquales, landslides and other natural disasters, but they always managed to build their own daily life up again, without the support they had expected, these silent, stubborn but oh so friendly and hospitable people of the hills, mountains and valleys, who in a most dignified manner often live in self-repaired houses painted in a range of colours which probably do not even exist in the rainbow, when it throws its arch beyond the horizons, after the strong wind has blown away those rainy dark clouds.
They sit isolated in their ivory towers of power, is their answer when I ask them where you are. They do not care about our wines, our chestnuts, our olive oil, They only care about the oil underground...!
You know, dear Politicians, these people know all about the oil drillings which take place in the National Park of the Agri Valley. They heard the Greens talk about the tremendously negative impact on the territory itself, where intensive oil extraction is contributing to a clear degradation of local fauna and flora, where the extraction methods are causing a lowering of the groundwater table, which has triggered hydrological changes. The seem to know that such effects are not always easy to predict but may have far-reaching consequences for the region's future. They fear that Basilicata's renowned agricultural products are at risk because of the concentration of industrial chemicals brought to the region. They see this as a huge barrier to the development of agriculture and tourism in the region. Then they started really getting worried when WWF-Italy stated that the impact of the oil extraction in the region is negative in all its aspects: research, processes, transport and refining, with serious risks to air pollution (emissions of nitrogen, hydrocarbons, sulphur dioxide), pollution of groundwater, the hydrological disruption, the seismic risk, not to mention the problems related to waste disposal and impacts on biodiversity.
Today they heard rumors that further drilling research operations will take place on a larger scale and also towards the "Vulture area", where this generous vulcano has given fertile ground with rich and lush minerals to the cultivation of Basilicata's world-famous Aglianico del Vulture grape which produces top-level exquisite wines and of which the organoleptic qualtities are and have been extolled by world-wide well known prestigeous experts.
They are worried, dear politicians, very worried and they request from you that you do not let all his happen, that oil is not the answer for the future and that you should concentrate on alternative energy with the sun and the wind which are abundant in your area. They have indeed the right to ask this from you, because they have chosen you to make their voices louder, so that they can be heard beyond the bounderies of their magnificent territory.

Yours truly,
One-who-fell-in-love-with-Basilicata.

Serenity is...

2010-06-01T18:51:00.000+02:00

Arona

In total silence

2010-05-23T07:55:00.002+02:00

The Japanese garden

Clingendael Estate

The Hague

Perfection in the Japanese garden

2010-05-21T09:55:00.001+02:00

One cannot immagine that vandals had destroyed this garden last year...just for fun.

Clingendael Estate

The Hague

Holland