If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the city of Milan in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. Milan whose population exceeds 1.3 million (the urban area is well over 5 million) is hardly undiscovered by tourists. But as Italy’s media and finance capital it is definitely less tourist infested than many, many other Italian cites. Milan is often considered to be Italy’s most European city. Is that a reason not to go visit? On the other hand, Milan is Italy’s fashion capital and one of the great fashion capitals of Europe, which is an excellent reason for stopping by. (We’ll let you decide which is more chic, Milan or Paris.) You really should consider visiting Milan, as well as other Lombardy destinations, described in companion articles in this series.

Over the millennia Lombardy has been in the hands of numerous invaders including the Etruscans and the Gauls, then the Romans, Franks, and Goths, and finally the French, Spaniards, and Austrians. Did we forget the Lombards? All of these invaders left their mark, some more and some less. Keep the region’s history in mind as you tour this impressive city.

We start our Milan tour with the Gothic Duomo (Cathedral) whose ground was broken in 1386 under the first duke of Milan and yet was only finished in time for Napoleon’s coronation as King of Italy in 1809. With an estimated capacity of forty thousand it is Italy’s second largest church; only St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome is larger. To get an idea of its immensity, the Milan cathedral boasts 135 marble spires and contains well over two thousand marble statues. Yet in spite of its size and central location those who seek refuge from the outside world (believe me, central Milan hustles and bustles) can usually step inside and find a solitary corner. Believe it or not there has been a church at this prime Milan location since at least the beginning of the Fifth Century.

The Duomo’s architecture and art are certainly worthy of an extended visit. Let’s quote Mark Twain in his famous travelogue Innocents Abroad: “The central one of its five great doors is bordered with a bas-relief of birds and fruits and beasts and insects, which have been so ingeniously carved out of the marble that they seem like living creatures — and the figures are so numerous and the design so complex, that one might study it a week without exhausting its interest…everywhere that a niche or a perch can be found about the enormous building, from summit to base, there is a marble statue, and every statue is a study in itself… [and to sum up] They say that the Cathedral of Milan is second only to St. Peter’s at Rome. I cannot understand how it can be second to anything made by human hands.”

Right next door to the cathedral is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, a Nineteenth Century upscale shopping mall named for the first king of united Italy. Shortly prior to its completion in 1877 the designer fell from scaffolding to his death. Talk about grandiose; the gallery stretches some 640 feet (about 200 meters) from the Cathedral to the Opera House. Its arcade is 96 feet (about 30 meters) high and the octagonal glass dome is considerably higher. The Galleria is one great place for shopping and people watching, but bargains are to be found elsewhere. Should you so desire the Park Hyatt Hotel is right nearby and presumably you could “do” Milan with a four-point landing; the Cathedral, the Galleria, the Hotel, and the Opera House (described next). Don’t; there is a lot more to see and do.

In the mind of many the Teatro alla Scala (La Scala Opera House) is another cathedral. The season runs for some six months, and because there are fewer than three thousand seats you have to scramble for a ticket. La Scala’s beauty is matched only by its magnificent acoustics. Needless to say the performances are top of the line. And make sure to visit the Museo Teatrale alla Scala.

Other Milan museums include the Nineteenth Century Museo Poldi-Pezzoli devoted to paintings including Botticelli and Bellini, porcelain, and textiles, the Pinacoteca di Brera (Brera Gallery) whose collection spans the centuries (Fifteenth to Twentieth), and Villa Belgioioso Bonaparte – Museo dell’Ottocento previously known as the Galleria di Arte Moderna. The Fifteenth Century Santa Maria delle Grazie Church (Saint Mary of the Graces) is worth seeing on its own. Its refectory houses a recently restored da Vinci masterpiece, Il Cenacolo, perhaps better known by its English-language name, The Last Supper. Please note that you must reserve well in advance to get a fifteen-minute look at this masterpiece.

Still other Milan museums include the Museo Civico Archeologico (Municipal Archeological Museum, the Museo Nazionale della Scienzo e Technica (National Museum of Science and Technology) with paintings and technical drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, and the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana art gallery with the adjoining Biblioteca Ambrosiana. Make sure to visit the Museo Civico de Storia Naturale (Municipal Natural History Museum) along with its adjoining planetarium and Giardini Pubblici (Public Gardens). The latter is extra fun for the little ones with its pony rides, merry-go-round, and miniature train.

What about food? Of Italy’s twenty regions Lombardy trails only Emilia-Romagna in food production. Much of the food has a foreign origin, hardly a surprise when you think how often Lombardy fell under outside domination. For example, the Spanish brought saffron and rice, two major components of Milan’s saffron risotto. Lombardy may be home to the only buckwheat pasta in all Italy.

Let’s suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start with Risotto alla Milanese (Risotto with Saffron). Then try Costoletta alla Milanese (Veal Chop Milanese Style). For dessert indulge yourself with Panettone (Milanese Christmas Cake). Be sure to increase your dining pleasure by including local wines with your meal.

We conclude with a quick look at Lombardy wine. Lombardy ranks 11th among the 20 Italian regions for both the acreage devoted to wine grapes and for its total annual wine production. This region produces about 62% red and rose and 38% white wine, but there is little rose. There are 15 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. The G in DOCG stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no guarantee that such wines are truly superior. Over 47% of Lombardy wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. There are three DOCG wines: the sparkling Franciacorta, said to compete with French Champagne and priced accordingly, the red Sforzato di Valtellina, and the red Valtellina Superiore.

No DOC or DOCG wine is produced in the vicinity of Milan. Given its place in the business world one may assume that a lot of Franciacorta is consumed in Milanese restaurants and bars. I recently shared a bottle of rose Franciacorta with my wine tasting group ‘ and was quite disappointed. I recall that the general consensus was fair to middling, which in no way justified this bubbly’s price nor its reputation.

{thanks to vi khi nao for the inspiration on this sort of thing.
eternal thanks to YOU for THIS.}

Paris, acknowledged as the ‘City of Lights,’ is the largest as well as the capital city of France, located on the Seine River, in the heart of the Ile-de-France region. Also the capital of the France’s Ile-de-France region, Paris is regarded as the political and cultural center of the country. Paris is perhaps the greatest of all the cities that receive maximum number of tourists in Europe.

Some consider Paris as an artistic city while some consider it as a romantic destination. Since it attracts fashion firms from across the world to open fashion stores, Paris is also sometimes fondly referred to as the ‘Fashion House’ of the world. With great number of museums, nature parks, beautiful gardens, and squares, sightseeing options in Paris are truly endless. Hence, it is not a wonder why more than 30 million foreigners visit here per year.

Some of the must-see destinations in Paris are:

Eiffel Tower : Built on the Champ de Mars near the Seine River, this iron tower is unquestionably the greatest of all attractions in Paris, and in deed, stands as the city’s icon. Inaugurated on March 31, 1889, it is the tallest of its kind in Paris, and was once the tallest in the world until the erection of Chrysler Building in 1930. Rising up to a height of about 985 feet, Eiffel Tower’s top can be seen anywhere from Paris. As per the records of the Paris Office of Tourism, Eiffel Tower alone drew about six million tourists to Paris in 2002.

Louvre : Situated in the heart of Paris, Louvre is the one of the world’s largest museums, sprawling over an area of about 60,000 square foot expansive building. On display are more than 350000 pieces of art, covering Egyptian sculptures, 18th century furniture and books, engravings, paintings, and drawings.

Most popular among the collections in the museum are the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci, such as Monolisa. Apart from its amazing collections, Louvre, once served as a royal residence, is also much famed for its mind blowing architectural style. The entry to the museum was earlier restricted to the royal visitors. But, after the French Revolution, the museum was opened to the public.

Notre Dame Cathedral : This gothic cathedral would be the most famous of all cathedrals in the world. Located in the heart of the city on a small island, namely, Ile de la Cite, Notre Dame Cathedral serves as the seat of the Archbishop of Paris. The cathedral is regarded as a fine example of French Gothic architecture. Built during the 14th century, its interiors, sculptures, and gargoyles were destroyed during the revolution. Later, the cathedral was renovated by Eugene Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, a Persian architect.

Arc de Triomphe: One of the most visited attractions in the country, Arc de Triomphe is credited to the largest traffic roundabout in the world. Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 in order to commemorate his military successes as well as the bravery of his armies, Arc de Triomphe was however completed in 1836, many years after the passing away of the emperor. The sides, front and back of the Arc De Triomphe are graced with beautiful sculptures as well as intricate designs. A specialty of this roundabout is that it is the meeting point of about 12 avenues.

Concorde Place : The largest public square in Paris, Concorde Place is situated between Champs Elysees and the Tuileries garden. Earlier known as Place Louis XV, the square’s focal point is a huge Egyptian obelisk beautified with hieroglyphics. The obelisk has been brought from the temple at Luxor, and was French king Charles X in 1829 by Mohammed Ali, the then Viceroy of Egypt.

Highlights in Paris also cover Avenue Champs-Elysees, a vibrant area packed with a plenty of shops and restaurants; Latin Quarter, boasting of some of the finest Roman as well as medieval monuments in the city; Rodin Museum, which exhibits the works of the renowned French sculptor, Auguste Rodin; D’Orsay Museum; and St.Chapelle and Conciergerie.

With these scores of attractions, Paris is a wonderful vacation whose memories last for a lifetime. Hence, the city has an array of accommodation choices to cater to every type of visitors. Mostly, they come with most sophisticated facilities and amenities.

I decided to head out on the Dahon on Thursday night with my tripod strapped to the back.  I wanted to test out my camera’s night capability and the Dahon was the best method of transport for the job.

I had the bike kitted out with all my lights including the NiteRider MiNewt and I headed off into the darkness.  I managed to cycle 5 miles during the few hours I was out and got home just as the weather turned.  The last mile of cycling was in the rain but I was happy that I had a good ride and should have captured some good images.

Saturday afternoon I headed out again, this time without the bike but the camera attached in its pouch on my belt.  I was heading to Rochester Castle again, but this time I was going to go inside!  I’ve lived in the area for around twelve years and have spent a lot of time relaxing in the castle’s grounds but I’ve never done the ‘tourist thing’ and gone inside.

There’s nothing much inside, it’s basically a shell but it was worth paying the £5 entrance fee for the view from the top.

It was a very windy day and standing on top of the ancient building was breathtaking in more ways than one.  The sun stayed out long enough for me to take a few photographs and to look down on where I usually sit.

There’s been a castle here since 1066 so it’s got a significant history.  The first stone castle was built around 1087 by the same person that was responsible for the cathedral next door and also the Tower Of London.  For more info, click here.

More photos from my Night and Day trips can be found here, on Flickr.

Sooooo, Cologne. Or Köln. To clear this out from the very beginnig – it’s the same town. And officially it’s both – the French and the German names.

Actually, for those of you who know French it should have been obvious, because of this:

Perfume, scented toilet water, Eau de Cologne (made me feel one of those “Ah-so-thaaaaaaaat’s-where-it’s-from” as well as “now-it-makes-sence”).

Once you get off the train (and here I assume you go by train, though there’s a huge airport, bus station, cars after all), you get out of the train station and you see the main sight.

It’s right there. The Cologne cathedral. And yes, it’s breathtaking, overwhelmingly big and all. Looking at it all way up makes you feel a little dizzy.

Right?

It’s beautiful. Get inside and enjoy the grandness (is there such a word?) and the atmosphere. And if you’re attentive to detail, you will probably spot Gerhard Richter’s practical joke of traditional stained-glass window:

I must confess, at first I thought it’s my not-so-perfect eyesight. But then I downloaded the pictures and thought my laptop broke. Then I posted it in my other blog and people confirmed – it’s real.

Well, I beleive there’s much more in Cologne than the cathedral, but unfortunately we didn’t have a lot of time, so just wandered around.

Enjoy!

This is Glasgow Cathedral, with the Museum of Religious Life on the left hand side. The lamps with what look like white crescents are actually showing the Glasgow coat of arms (the white crescents are the fish).

I’m avoiding watching the Parade. I think it is more boring and worse each and every Thanksgiving. So instead I am looking at different churches around the country. Stumbled across Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Fairbanks, Alaska. It has a pretty interesting history, was the first Catholic church in Fairbanks (1904), was pulled by horses across a frozen river, and became the Cathedral for the Fairbanks diocese when it was created in 1962, until the present Cathedral was completed in 1966. The website has an extensive history as well as a large number of photos, both new and old of the church. I thought it was interesting and it would be pretty cool to visit the frozen tundra of Alaska to see this church.

If you are hankering for a tour of Europe, why not consider the island of Sicily, a region of southern Italy? Depending on your own particular interests, this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. And many parts of Sicily haven’t yet been discovered by tourists. This short article presents eastern Sicily. A companion article presents western Sicily; another presents the capital Palermo.

Messina is Sicily’s third largest city. Founded by the Ancient Greeks it changed hands quite often over the centuries. The University of Messina started out as the world’s first Jesuit College, founded by St. Ignatius himself. In 1908 the city was virtually destroyed by an earthquake and the ensuing tsunami. Make sure to see the cathedral, the Calapaj Palace, and the Sixteenth Century lighthouse.

The walled village of Castelmola with its ancient streets and spectacular view is only a few miles from the coast. Don’t miss it. Go to the ruins of the Thirteenth Century Castello Normanno (Norman Castle). It’s more than a kilometer above sea level and you’ll have to climb the path from the parking lot below. Actually there are two paths with two different views. If you are able you should explore both, one up and one down the mountain. What’s to see when you get to the top – the city of Taormina and the Ionian Sea are to the east, the Tyrrhenian Sea is to the north, and Mount Etna is to the west. Castelmola also boasts a Cathedral and several old churches that are worth visiting.

Taormina has been discovered by tourists. What a beautiful view, especially from the funivia (gondola). The Greek theater runs in the summer and Taormina boasts two top-of-the-line hotels.

Mount Etna is Europe’s largest and highest volcano. It is still active. Depending on the weather report you may climb part of it or take the train that runs around the mountain base. The Hotel Villa Paradiso Dell’Etna started as a bohemian hangout and is now quite pricey.

Catania at the foot of Mount Etna is Sicily’s second largest city. Its volcanic soil is great for agriculture, particularly wine. Catania was buried in lava seven times; many of its buildings are constructed from lava. Visit its cathedral.

Siracusa (Syracuse) was founded by Greek colonists. Its theater was built for 15,000 spectators. It hosts Greek tragedies every May and June. Make sure not to miss the Papyrus Museum, the Archeological Museum, historic churches and palaces, and the neighboring Ortygia Island, known as Citta Vecchia (Old City) with its own cathedral.

Sicilian ices are famous even if they no longer contain snow from Mount Etna. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy – Eastern Sicily for a sample menu and more information on local wines as well as an in-depth examination of its tourist attractions. Sicily is Italy’s largest wine producer. An independent Sicily would be the world’s seventh largest wine producer.

There is an old Mexican tradition called Posada in which the young people of the community would dress up as Mary and Joseph and go from house to house in the village. They asked for a room for the night and announced to the people that Jesus was soon to be born. A full scale nativity play was then acted out on Christmas Eve at their church and the stable scene was completed with Mary and Joseph.

This tradition is celebrated nowadays with figures of Mary and Joseph being hosted in different places each night of Advent. When they stay in a place it offers a chance for a party for friends and family of the host. The form this takes varies but may include worship and carols and a telling of the message of Christmas and perhaps food and drink. It’s more important that it’s a time of gathering together than that it is something elaborate.

The Anglican Cathedral of Second Life is engaging with Posada this year and would like to invite you to offer a place to Mary and Joseph for a night. If you would like to help, please let Cady Enoch or Helene Milena know as soon as possible. The figures will be passed from host to host, starting at the Cathedral on Sunday 29th November (Advent Sunday) and finally arriving back at the Cathedral on Christmas Eve when they will be placed in our own stable scene.

If you host Mary and Joseph we can advertise any event you may be having via group notices and you will be able to use the group IM to remind members of the community of the event if you wish. It would be wonderful if you could take a photo of Mary and Joseph in your home, church or other venue and send it to Cady plus a brief diary entry of what happened that day.

Great image decorating the hoardings surrounding the demolition of the Corn Exchange

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of shooting a wedding alongside Jessica Lemmons. Brian and Courtney are from Southern California but Courtney’s family is from the Longview and Vancouver area. Although we all only had just met eachother, I felt like I knew them forever! Cool as cucumbers these kids were!! And the church was probably the most gorgeous building I’ve ever been in. They were married at the historic St. James Catholic Church in Vancouver. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t mind shooting there again!!!

Anyway, it was a super fun day and thank you Jessica for letting me shoot it with you!!

The boys were waiting patiently while we were setting the girls up– this was just too funny

Thanks for visiting and please visit my website www.poweredbythesonphotography.com

I spent the weekend visiting Salisbury with a friend. The trip wasn’t supposed to be quite so Salisbury-centric, but the weather and the tail end of a cold put paid to our original plans to go walking each day; and in the end all we managed was a five mile excursion round the barrows near Stonehenge.

Stonehenge i’ll come back to: i’d like to start at the beginning with Salisbury Cathedral. I have never thought of myself as the kind of person who enjoys visiting churches – or great buildings of any kind. Architecture is something i prefer to enjoy without analysis and formal gardens generally leave me cold. If i’m honest it was mainly the thought that the Cathedral would be drier – and maybe a bit warmer – than the streets and the hope that it’d have a bookshop that made me suggest to D that we visit it.

On arrival though it was love at first sight. Truly. It was a response that startled me and began even before we entered inside. The Cathedral has… an atmosphere… an ambience… that special something you can’t put into words without gushing or sounding like a ‘psychic’. Was it the proportions? The impression of simplicity? The setting? I don’t know but it had me hooked.

Inside my mood faltered momentarily in the face of a coachload of rude French tourists but was soon restored by the beautiful stained glass windows: blue and red; the light coming through the dark grilles; and the old wooden carvings. I lit three candles to departed loved ones in a side chapel – how rarely i have the chance to do this these days; i watched the workings of the mediaeval clock and i felt strangely touched by the sight of the crumbling 13^th and 14^th Century tombs. These were the kind decorated with a figure of a knight, apparently asleep. Some of them had been severely damaged: one was missing his nose, another his sword. We wondered if this had occurred during the Dissolution or if it had been inflicted by puritans during the Civil War.

What i loved more than anything was that you could touch as well as look. The lack of (refusal to grant) this is what frustrates me about art museums. What is the point of sculpture you can’t touch? I remember going to the Tate Britain just because they had a sculpture by Henry Moore which i was crazy about. I was frustrated beyond words by the fact that, though i could walk round it and look at it from nearly every possible angle, i could never run my hands over the statue’s stone curves.

What a contrast with Salisbury Cathedral. There was a sculpture on display called the Thornflower*, the work of an artist called Charlotte Mayer. Viewed, this wasn’t anything particularly special to tell the truth, but touched it was a miracle: the abrasion of the thorns contrasting the smoothness of the leaves. Pain and Suffering, pleasure and comfort, beneath your fingers. Even D, who’s a much more practical type of person than me, was affected by it and we both agreed it was the standout experience of the visit.

On to Stonehenge, which we visited on the Saturday morning – the only time it stopped raining all weekend for more than a few minutes or so! With Stonehenge you’re back to an art museum type of experience – albeit in the open air. You can walk around the Stones, following a path that’s been laid out; but you can’t approach them and definitely can’t touch them. I can understand this: the henge is 5,000 years old and even the most recently arrived stones are 3,000 years old. Nobody’s going to build another one. Yet out of reach Stonehenge feels like an image of itself rather than the thing itself. Awestruck and disappointed all at the same time i took photo after photo, trying to make contact with it via the camera; then i went inside and bought books, postcards, even a fridge magnet. Still, i came away feeling that i hadn’t quite been there.

*”A bronze and steel sculpture which grew out of the artist’s reflections on the death of her grandmother in Treblinka and ‘man’s inhumanity to man at other times’” according to an article in Inspire magazine.

Closed for eight months in 2001 for a $4.7 million restoration, the 100-year-old cathedral, the principal church in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Covington and one of only 35 minor basilicas in the United States, attracts 70,000 visitors and worshippers per year. This example of French-Gothic architecture resembles the exterior of Notre Dame, and the interior of the Church Abbey of St. Denis, both in Paris. There are more than 80 stained glass windows, including the second largest stained glass church window in the world. For more information, please visit the Northern Kentucky Destination Guide.

This morning was celebrated in the Episcopal tradition as Christ the King, and of course as usual the Introit would be Zadok the Priest, by G.F.Handel, which is a traditional Coronation anthem.

We fully expected the Choir to process in the normal manner, to their  seats, have the introduction, and then sing…..but no…..with the courage born from experience, the organist went straight from his prelude into the long repetitive introduction of the Handelian piece as the choir processed silently up the aisle from the West Door, with no music folders, took their places, and with microsecond timing, the choral part burst into life without the slightest break. 

I venture to think there was a little bravado mixed in there, and I may even have seen a slight smirk on Provost Kelvin’s face along with the Musical Director and a few of the choir as to how well it had worked-out!

By 667 BC, a Greek ruler by name of Byzas, from Megara, established his kingdom here, on the advice of an oracle of Delphi, and named it Byzantium. But it was besieged by the Romans in AD 196, and became part of the Roman Empire. The ravaged city was rebuilt by the Roman Emperor, Septimus Severus, and temporarily given the name of ‘Augusta Antonina’. But in 306 AD, Emperor Constantine the Great made Byzantium the capital of the entire Roman Empire, and from then on, the city was called Constantinople. The Byzantium Empire was more or less influenced by Greek culture, and was also a hub of Greek Orthodox Christianity, which resulted in the construction of several magnificent Christian architectural wonders, the prominent among them being the Hagia Sophia, which remained the world’s largest cathedral till 1850.

The Roman Empire passed through much turmoil due to attack from various sources, especially the Barbarians, not to mention their internal problems, and finally, in 532 AD, during the reign of Justinian I, the city was totally destroyed due to anti government riots. Though much favored for its ideal location, that made trade and transport between continents an easy affair, this very factor also proved to be the doom of Constantinople. For several hundred years hence, it had to face a lot of assault from the Arabs, Nomadic, Persians, as well as the Fourth crusaders, who periodically occupied it.

At last, in 1453, Constantinople was attacked and conquered by the courageous Ottoman Turks led by Sultan Mehmet II, who renamed it Istanbul. It continued to function not just as an important cultural, political and commercial hub, but also as their main centre for military operations too, till World War I, after which it was occupied by the Allies.

Sultan Mehmet II was supposed to have given the city a cosmopolitan social outlook. After deporting the remaining Byzantine population, a great many changes were made to the existing architecture in general. The old world Christian city was gradually transformed into a Muslim conurbation as the Emperor started rebuilding all churches so as to convert them to mosques. The great mosque and the Fatih College were built on the old burial grounds of the erstwhile Byzantine Emperors at the Church of the Holy Apostles. The Hagia Sophia too was converted to a mosque. But to his credit, the Sultan held a cosmopolitan outlook and for the greater part, allowed people of all faiths to settle in the vast city, and made effective use of their varied skills. Tolerance was a great virtue that was practiced by Sultan Mehmet II, and it was reflected all over the empire.Istanbul acquired a status of great importance in the eyes of all Muslims, after the conquest of Egypt, and its glory increased from leaps and bounds in the hands of its various rulers, many of whom were great patrons of art and architecture.

Although the capital of Turkey was changed from Istanbul to Ankara by Kemal Ataturk, in 1923, Istanbul still retained its attractions and continued to expand majestically. But gradually, due to the mass exodus of the various nationalities, especially after the war between Greece and Turkey, it became a prominent Muslim nation.

The many historic monuments of yesteryears, that are to be found there, like the various museums, castles, palaces, mosques, churches, etc contribute greatly to the increase in the tourism industry today. In fact, many of its historic architectures have been added to the UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. Though no more a capital city, Istanbul, which is considered to be Turkey’s cultural and financial center, still retains its old world attraction and continues to generate its own individual history through out the ages.

sumber: http://www.hagia-sophia.net/history.htm

http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia

One qualifying campaign just finished, another one early picked its seeded teams the very next morning. Just a few days ago… 

History was written on wednesday evening, when Salpigidis’ goal for Greece, in Ukraine, left the hosts at home during next summer’s World Cup, which means that for the first time both home nations for an European Championship final tournament won’t have any official games to play for more than two and a half years. That’s a lot of waiting…

Inside Oporowska ground, in the city of Wroclaw, which started building its new stadium for EURO 2012, the local club Slask displays the symbolic ball of next European Championship tournament

Poland and Ukraine are co-hosting UEFA 2012 EURO yet both of them missed on representing Europe in South Africa. While Shevchenko and company were denied by Samaras’ through pass and Salpigidis cool finish, after an encouraging 0-0 in Athens, Poland experienced a shocking autumn, ended in tears and with Leo Beenhakker sent packing.

None of them have the opportunity to play in South Africa, where many other Europeans will know by then who will they face in the group stage preliminaries to get to Poland and Ukraine. The draw will take place on the 7th of February, in Warszawa, and then we can only make predictions, who will reach the 8 cities hosting the 2012 event. Where will Capello’s men play? In Ukraine’s Lvov, Kharkow, Kiew or Donetk, or across the border, in EU’s Poland?

Poland is an amazingly rich country in history and magnificent buildings, as famous Rynek square, in central Wroclaw, compared by locals with the cream of central piazzas of Europe. And truly so!

When Belgium and Holland co-hosted the European Championship in 2000, a premiere in terms of joint bids, both came after a World Cup presence in ‘98, in France, where they draw blank in the group stage. In 2008, when a second joint organising was accepted by UEFA, although Austria lined up after a free summer during the 2006 World Cup, Switzerland at least marched without defeat and goal conceded through its group in Germany.

So Poland and Ukraine can be perceived as lucky wild-card opportunists which otherwise would have find it very difficult to qualify for EURO. They can pick up the phone and ask England how it coped in the long wait for staging EURO 1996, after a US World Cup ‘94 campaign on the sidelines.

If Wroclaw was capable of hosting at roughly the same time both the volleyball and basketball EURO Championships, as depicted on this advertising board, than surely it can put a jolly good show for 2012...

The pressure of picking at the right time, in those crucial summer weeks, after more than 30 months of friendlies, just adds to the bigger expectations building up on the shoulders of the hosts nations. And with tradition against the organisers, Poland and Ukraine can’t think of a better outcome than to replenish their coffers after years of investing in infrastructure. It’s a long time since France managed to win the European Championship on home soil, in 1984, the only happy host after Spain’s and Italy’s triumphs in the 60es.

England and Holland found it harder in ‘96 and 2000, going out on penalty shootouts in the semifinal, Portugal lost to Greece not only in the group stage but also in the final, in 2004, and Switzerland finished last in its group while Austria with only one point, last time round. What more to expect then from two countries who comiserate each other for missing the chance to have at least 3 official games until 2012?

I found Poland shellshocked after a 3-0 defeat in Maribor, in early September, which indicated that its presence both at the World Cup, in 2006, and last year, in Austria, won’t be followed by one on African soil. That humiliation in Slovenia was taken very hard, the sixth biggest nation in European Union feeling that it should have fared much better against a 2 million alpine state renowned especially for its skiers.

Slask - Legia was the name of the game at a time when Poland was shocked by Beenhakker's men humiliation in Slovenia: 3-0.

Beenhakker was castigated and 90 minutes of pain in Maribor wiped out in many Polish eyes his excellent track record both in club football and international football, including the fine qualifying campaign taking the red and whites to another alpine nation, Austria. It was the very first presence for The White Eagles at EURO finals, campaign which helped the Poles climbing on its highest position in FIFA ranking, a lofty 16th. 

The defeat in Maribor came after another dissapointing result, a 1-1 home draw, in Chorzow, against Northern Ireland, at the beggining of autumn. But october was even worse, Poland losing 2-0 in Prague, with their eternal rivals, Czech Republic, and then again in Chorzow, 0-1 with Slovakia, which progressed to Africa due to that result. A second minute own goal on the shoulders of Gancarczyk. Could have been worse than that?

Another rivalry is among the south-western counties of Lesser Poland, boosting champion Wisla Krakow, and Lower Silesia, with WSK Slask Wroclaw

Scrutinizing the table, some might say that Poland scored more goals even then Slovenia, which ended at the World Cup. Prolific indeed but let’s not been fooled by the 12 punches administred to San Marino. The other only seven might tell the real story. More shockingly, the Poles ended with only 11 points from 10 games, a bitter pill after a previous campaign in which Beenhakker’s men outmuscled Ronaldo’s Portugal on top of group one, by one point: 28 in total out of 14 games.

So what went wrong in the space of just two years? Has the complacency of reaching Austria caught up with the squad? Nowadays, Poland is back on 56th position, almost as bad as its worst ever, some eleven years ago.

The second stand, displaying the huge tram, symbol of the city and Slask, saved the spectacle. Some fans, some lungs and a platable beer Piast!

And a glimpse of reality I encountered while watching from the stands a first division game in Polish league. At that time, three days after being poleaxed in Slovenia, Poland was still debating on to be or not to be with Dutchman Beenhakker at the helm. Oppinions were split but one thing was certain. Polish football was going in the wrong direction, exactly at a time of regeneration and build-up for a probably once in a lifetime event. The European caravan coming to town, precisely to Gdansk, the Baltic port, Warszawa, the capital city, Poznan, the multicultural location boosting the renowned local club Lech, with a record 14 national titles to its name, as Gornik Zabrze, and Wroclaw, the Lower Silesian regional capital.

Sorry to say though that the teams seemed confused by the wednesday result in WC qualifiers...

It was there, on Oporowska stadium, in the south west of Wroclaw, where hosts WKS Slask played Legia, the vicechampions from Warszawa, in the sixth round of Zdobywca Pucharu Ekstraklasy 2009-2010. Floodlights, very tight security measures, rock music blearing loud in anticipation of the saturday evening game, an empty improvised terrace stand behind a goal, due to an absolute absence of visiting fans and a whole second stand dancing to one tune. For Slask. Due to the nicely priced tickets, no more than 20 zloty for the aficionados, some 30 more for the better places. Still, as much as around 10 euros.

Functional, reliable, clean, cheap and not at all crowded, Tram 4 out of the some dozens crossing Wroclaw, takes you fast to Oporowska, while sightseeing imposing buildings on large boulevards

The atmosphere was promising, the media was in full batallion, including the 3 games per weekend broadcaster Canal Cyfra+, local dignitaries were taking there seats either in the covered first stand or in a concrete and glass building serving as dressing rooms as well, placed in one corner of the ground, and everything was gearing up to an evening of redemption. Of better football.

Hope seemed in the air. A huge electronic screen was projecting a multimedia production including a virtual tour of the to be build 40,000 arena on the outskirts of town, a bit further west, close to the airport. A sign of the times to come. Project Wroclaw 2012. The place looked sleek, the typical modern stadium with a certain design and distinguishing green chairs, the defining colour for Slask. A world away from this local stadium, a 8,300 seater with not so perfect transport links, anchored in a suburbia suffocated with block of flats but saved by a green and pleasant community local garden.

Advertising is the heartbeat of trading. For all the glitz of the huge board on the stadium's building facade, Seb Mila couldn't turn things around when coming on as a sub

Some years to build and hope, to pray and wait. Some years then to get to the next level. But what about the football? Will poleaxed Poland move forward, keeping pace with the construction of a whole infrastructure project? One answer was offered in the next 90 minutes.

It was a dreadful affair, a sedated game, without rythm, spark and fluency. Not even Sebastian Mila, coming on late into the game after an injury kept him on the sidelines, could help the state of affairs. Mila was, after all, a Polish international from the same squad lowering its standards while losing in the group stage.

Oporowska is a charming enough little ground but Wroclaw and Slask will clearly grow in stature when moving in the new EURO ground. The green will be preserved...

0-0 was at least a fair result. A perfect description of a top half of the table sour affair in the Polish league. You couldn’t ask for more from a forward player for host Slask, who decided very late in the game to roll and play dead in the penalty area, just after realised that he might get booked for clumsily bursting second in a challenge to the outcoming Legia goalie. The seconds weren’t apparently that precious for the forward. It was 0-0, in a true reflection of the game. Slask didn’t look at ease with its display, showing why has just one national title to its name, in the 70es, while Legia, managed by another former international, Jan Urban, looked a lesser team than the two times champion in this decade.

The soul of the evening party was that second stand sea of green, red and white, a big army of followers, dancing and chanting in one voice, a great chorus and coreography, displaying a huge banner with a bigger than natural size tram, Wroclaw’s symbol among many other fine ones. The tram was in the club’s and city’s colours but took Slask nowhere.

The locals are warm, lovely hosts, but just remember to pronounce its name Wroclaw and not Breslau, as German tourists identify the former Prussian and Habsburg fortress town

The banner run on top of the stand, from one end to another, in a fine procession, a ritual to cherish. Slask fans saved the evening, Slask fans promised that at least in terms of game excitement EURO 2012 is on good hands, now firmly building a fine arena which will be populated by enthusiasts like them.

It’s an absolutely new ball game, from the not so far ago dark days of bloody hooliganism and knife edged battles. Many were banned for years or even life from attending games and nobody else gets inside the grounds without ID identification and anything harmful in the pockets. That’s the new stance, that’s the policy, that’s the step forward. An Project 2012 can’t wait for its visitors. It will be a summer of football party but will Poland oblige?

Trouble is that Beenhakker was unceremoniously dispatched in october and former international Smuda was brought in, but will he revive the days when Poland was playing World Cup semifinals? The answer will be supplied with an ironic smile and with a reminder that his campaign got to a stuttering start, in Warszawa, against another sufferer finishing fifth in its group, Romania: 0-1. The friendly of the bulldozed ones. Poland 3-0 in Slovenia, Romania 5-0 in Serbia. Four days later was better, 1-0 against Canada but then, who’s Canada, will ask the pessimists.

Satisfaction guaranteed... The carnival atmosphere, with quality time, food and local drinks, was emphasised during the EURO Voleyball, when the games were screened live in the main square, from various Polish locations

May be Polish football needs indeed these free of official games years, to find again its feet, after a decade of terrible struggles against corruption, seeing the national football federation, PZPN, up to its throat in unsavoury cases involving many arrests. The tempest seems to have passed, the stands were cleaned of so called supporters, some simply knife carriers, and by Christmas time PZPN can only hope for better, at its 90th anniversary.  

Smuda will be challenged to find quality recruits in Ekstraklasy, by the look of Slask and Legia scratching football in a 0-0 bore, especially now, when the league is flooded with more or less cheap imports from countries as far as Brazil. Smuda might rely on the foreign legion, with ramifications in England and generally in Anglo-Saxon leagues.   

With three rounds to go before winter break, the six times winner in this decade, Wisla Krakow, current back to back title holder, is once again up there, planning may be already for a better UEFA Champions League second qualifying round, after the nightmare of losing straightaway to lowly Levadia Tallin in late summer. But this is a problem in itself, the vacuum of quality in the present, just praying for better in the future. Be it 2010 or 12.

The Polish eagle has its place on Slask's crest. A proud history.

Wisla has 31 points with a game in hand and one win worth in front of aforementioned visitors Legia and multiple champions Ruch Chorzow, after 14 rounds, the “silver” and “bronze” places being tickets in earnest for UEFA Europa League. Not that there can be expected lenghtier campaigns.

There are 16 teams in the league, playing two of the second stage of the season rounds later this december. Slask is languishing in seventh, two places behind Lech Poznan, representing another host city in 2012 and boosting in Robert Lewandowski the top goalscorer in the league, with 9 to his credit, but one place in front of Gdynia Gdansk, the port city club awaiting its regeneration in the build up to a summer tournament.   

Next in line, Bulgaria to visit Poland, on the 3rd of March. It’s a new beggining for Smuda and his men, on the road to 2012. We are talking here of a national side with a wonderful pedigree some 30 years ago, when the red and whites were finishing third at World Cup, with the bronze medals shining proud, both in Federal Germany ”74 and Spain ‘82, achievements never grabbed for example by England since its ‘66 win. It’s the side graced by formidable Lato, with his record of 100 caps, and record goalscorer Lubanski, with 48 into his acount. But is the national side of actual capitan, Michal Zewlakow, with 93 caps, which has the difficult task of emulating somehow those glory days…

Wroclaw Catholic Cathedral, another symbol of the city with 112 bridges connecting the 12 islands formed by river Odra

Finally, as a notice, here are the call-ups for the latest squad, which played in november a 0-1 against Romania and 1-0 versus Canada… Kuszczak (Man Utd), Szczesny (Brentford) – GK; Brozek (Wisla), Gancarzyk (Lech), Glik (Piast), Kokoszka (Empoli – IT), Kowalkzyk (Dinamo Moscow – RUS), Rzezniczak (Legia), Sadlok (Ruch), Zewlakow (Olimpiacos – GRE; cpt) – DF; Blaszczykowski (Dortmund - GER), Dudka (Auxerre – FR), Gancarczyk (Slask), Guerreiro (AEK – GR), Kosowski (Apoel – CPR), Majewski (Nott’m Forest), Obraniak (Lille – FR), Peszko (Lech) , Rybus (Legia) – MF; Jelen (Auxerre – FR), Lewandowski (Lech), Malecki (Wisla). Among other seasoned internationals on stand by are goalie Boruc (Celtic), defenders Glowacki and Wasilewski (Anderlecht), midfielders Mariusz Lewandowski (Shakhtar) and Smolarek, plus forward Brozek.

Who will bring back the smiles to a rejuvenated Polish football stand?

EURO 2012 seems so unbearably far for Poland and Wroclaw. But may be it's a blessing in disguise, a chance to regroup and reemerge. The country will be 100% hospitable. What about its national squad?

Just realised I didn’t tell you about our plans for the weekend.  So sorry to leave you hanging on like that.  Today we have been shopping, collected Mark from his stint on the CND stall, failed to buy any dinner-plates, succeeded in buying Daniel’s Xmas present, plus some t-shirts for me and slippers for Daniel.

I am hankering for the Saturdays I used to have – meeting my mates in the pub, hanging out, being social.  Nowadays everyone has a Life (with a capital Li*).  Tomorrow I am going to the Martyrs and Mark is going to the cathedral for something relating to his Lay Reader’s course.

Saw Joan (Mark’s mum) on Thurs.  She is waiting for an operation on her knee.

That’s all the news.  Oh!  I am recently getting into Daphne du Maurier, whom I avoided for decades for no better reason than because my mother liked her – and finding her much better than her reputation suggests.  I think I would almost class her than a great writer.

Also reading Proust in French (!)  reading the English first, then the French.  Awesome!

Enjoy your weekend.

*   By which I mean, they have families and houses and gardens and shopping and cars and mortgages and, above all, Work.  Oh, the work!  We have friends who used to be a big part of our lives whom we never see now, because of Work.  I could do a whole Proustian thing on the nature of work and how, pac-man-like, it gobbles up your cookies of time and energy, but I’ll save it for another post.  You know what I mean, anyway

by Isaure Cointreau

When I said I was going to Oslo for a couple of days the reactions I got were very uncanny. Normally everybody feels excitement upon the topic of travel but here utter surprise was in order.

-         Oslo, really? What are you going to do in Finland?

-         Try Norway. Finland is bit further east.

Looking for new sights to explore and a breath of fresh air, what could be a better idea than to check out a Scandinavian country? The whole prospect does have an edgy look to it though depends  what you are into. I for my part was not deceived. Arriving at Oslo with a Ryan Air 15£ return ticket, I was an hour bus ride away from the centre of the capital. Checking in at the Anker Hostel, this cheap way to put a roof above my head accommodated me with six Swedish roommates. Only a few blocks away from the interesting spots of the city, one only has to choose where he wants to start.

There are tons of sights to get acquainted to and although Oslo is a really nice and easy walk it is not as small as it feels. Public transportation is really accessible and well organized. You can then go from one point of the city to another in no time. However, if you ever get lost don’t be afraid to ask, I’ve never met so warm hearted people and they’ll gladly help you out. Plus, everyone speaks perfect English as if they were natives.  French and Italians can blush!

A good place to start your visit would be to follow Karl Johans gate. The Cathedral, the Parliament, the Oslo University, the National Theatre and the Palace set the background of this high end street. I must admit the architecture is mostly impressive although I was very much deceived by the royal residency. Too plain or too simple, the least would be to say that I was more impressed by its incredible view of the city and its gardens than the building itself. In terms of museum there are several not to miss. The National Gallery is one of them and has a wide varied collection of artists from Norway and afar. There, I was introduced to Kittelsen’s trolls and breathtaking landscapes,  Krohg’s exceptional portraits and “mise en scene”.

On the account of renowned Norwegian artists Munch, Ibsen and Vigeland are the pride and joy of the country. Therefore they all have a private space where their work is exposed. For one the Munch museum is a must see. Offering a true understanding of the artist’s perspective on live and art, this place is a cave of wonders. Ibsen, best known for Peer Gynt, Hedda Gabbler and The doll’s house had his own apartment turned into the museum of his life, plays and success. Let it be an introduction for those who don’t know Oslo’s favourite playwright. Other than that the Vigeland sculpture park is the most amazing experience I have ever had in a city garden. With as many as 212 statues the sculptor has shaped in clay lively and profound scenes of humanism. From children to the elderly, love to hate, peace to war, this park offers a parallel between life and death.

As far as food and drinks are concerned Oslo is a minefield of cute and trendy, rocky, jazzy and classic sites. Karl Johans Gate, the city centre’s main road offers a wide range of choices. I would recommend Samson for breakfast for its yummy traditional pastries. Although Norwegian’s are really big on sandwiches  with their coffee in the morning, try a selection of their desserts. If you like almonds you are in for a treat! For lunch I loved Lorry with it eccentric/attic look. You’ll find yourself eating with a bunch of antiquities such as a stuffed giraffe and zebra, army caps and wild art. Being the place to be for intellectuals and people within the arts, the quirky look of this place and your salmon will be quite the experience. Looking forward to a break? Stop by the local jazz bar held by Norwegian icon Bodil Anbefaler. It’s great music and fun people in a cosy (almost New York style) atmosphere.  The Bare Jazz AS on Grensen Street is one of my favourite spots in the city. Other than that I really enjoyed dinner at Cathedral. In a weird solemn candlelight ambiance, the heavy wood of the furniture recall a medieval look. The food is amazing, and the photos shot in this small pub-like restaurant are incredible ( as if Georges de La tour had guided the light effects of our snapshots.

It was so nice up North, I guess I have a little crush on Oslo. Inspiring me the desire to know more about Scandinavian countries, let’s consider this  the beginning of my exploration of the Baltic. It’ll take time but I can only dream about it.

The Anglican Cathedral of Second Life is a wonderful piece of work, one which draws many people to admire it, many of whom are not Christians. It’s probably one of the jewels of Second Life. I am very aware of just how fortunate we are to have such a place as a focus for our ministry.

On Thursday at the 2pm SLT service I was musing about the possibility of having a patron saint for the Cathedral. It was the day we remember St Hilda (or Hild to give her the Old English name). She shone like a jewel in a time of change in the church in Britain, a time when Celtic and Roman traditions of Christianity existed side by side, causing difficulties. Maybe Hild would be a good patron saint, should we ever decide to have one for the Cathedral. See what you think when you read her story.

The readings were Psalm 112:1-9, Isaiah 26:1-11, Matthew 5:17-26.

It occurred to me today, as it has on occasion, that our Cathedral here in SL doesn’t have any patron. My nearest RL cathedral in Wakefield, though usually referred to simply as Wakefield Cathedral, is really ‘The Cathedral Church of All Saints, Wakefield’. As such it is able to celebrate its patronal festival on All Saints Day, November 1st. We simply refer to this Cathedral on Epiphany Island as ‘the Cathedral’ or ‘the Anglican Cathedral’. It seems rather a shame that we have no dedication to a particular saint.

I’m not aware that anyone else has given the matter much thought, so perhaps it really isn’t an issue for anyone else. It’s certainly not something that causes me great concern. However, if we were to think of a saint to name the Cathedral after, I think St Hild (or Hilda), whom we remember today, would be a good candidate. I’ll leave you to decide for yourself when I have told you a little about her.

What we know of Hild is given to us by the Venerable Bede in his book ‘The Ecclesiastical History of the English’. In his writing he followed the change from Anglo-Saxon pagan religion to Christianity in Britain.

Hild was born in 614 to Hereric and Breguswith. She was of royal blood as her father was the nephew of Edwin of Northumbria. Hereric was poisoned while Hild was still very young, during a time of exile at the court of the British king of Elmet which is in West Yorkshire. It’s likely that Hild moved and grew up in the court of Edwin in Northumbria. On April 12th 627, Easter Day, Paulinus baptised King Edwin and his whole court including the 12 year old Hild. Edwin built a small church at the site of his baptism; York Minster now stands close by. Paulinus was a monk who had come to England with Augustine, sent by Pope Gregory. He went to King Edwin’s court with Ethelburga, a Christian princess from Kent in the south of England, who was to be Edwin’s second wife.

Nothing further is known of Hild until 647, though she may have fled to Kent with Ethelburga when Edwin was killed in battle. She was persuaded by St Aidan to stay in Northumbria instead of going to join her sister in a convent in Gaul as she had planned. By this time the Christianity of Northumbria had become Celtic in character rather than Roman.

Hild first joined a monastery on the bank of the River Wear and there learnt about Celtic monasticism such as that practised by St Aidan on Lindisfarne and which had come initially from Iona. She was appointed by Aidan a year later to be the Abbess of Hartlepool Abbey. In 657 she moved to Whitby where she founded, or revived, a monastery. Both Hartlepool and Whitby were Celtic style monasteries where both men and women lived in small houses of two or three people and came together for prayer.

Hild had many responsibilities at Whitby. She was the spiritual leader of a large community of men and women. She was also a landowner and in that capacity she employed many people to work on the land, caring for animals, cutting wood, tilling the soil. She was also Lady of the village. Caedmon was one of her workers and she encouraged him when she heard of his visions of God. In these visions God taught him songs about the stories in Scripture. Caedmon was the first to sing such songs in the tradition of the Celtic bards, in the language that was becoming English.

Hild is particularly remembered for her involvement with the Synod of Whitby in 664. Differences between Celtic and Roman Christianity were causing problems, particularly over the date of Easter. King Oswy wanted the difficulties resolved. The outcome was in favour of the Roman custom. Many of those who preferred to worship in the Celtic way, left England and returned to Ireland as a result of the Synod. Despite being more Celtic than Roman in her tradition, Hild encouraged others to accept the decision of the Synod. Her influence was crucial in bringing about harmony between the two sides. Unity in Christ was more important to her than her particular tradition. Her last recorded words to the monks and nuns before she died in 680 were, ‘Have evangelical peace among yourselves’.

It is this commitment to peace among people of differing traditions that makes me think Hild would be a good patron saint for our Cathedral. Here people of many denominations and none gather for worship together, stressing what we have in common over what divides us.

Hild is often referred to as a jewel. This comes from a dream which Hild’s mother had on the night before Hild’s birth. Breguswith dreamt that she was wandering in a wood looking for her husband and feeling very sad. Unthinkingly she put her hand inside her dress and brought out a wonderful jewel. Lying in the palm of her hand, it emitted a soft glowing light which grew stronger and stronger until it lit not just the wood where she was, but the whole of England. In her life, Hild’s wisdom and faith shone like that jewel and drew kings and princes to her for her advice. She was revered by ordinary people too as they knew she cared about them. As Bede writes, “All who knew her called her mother because of her outstanding devotion and grace”.

It’s my prayer that this ministry on Epiphany Island will shine like a jewel in SL, lighting the dark places and bringing wisdom to those who need it. I pray that we can work together to fulfil this dream, working to achieve harmony and unity between Christians.

Hochiminh City, 20th Nov 2009 – Vietnam Travel Depot has released excursions to bring nostagia travellers back in time to see Saigon of the old time.

Experience Old Saigon on vintage Citroen Traction Avant with Viet Nam Travel Depot

Contrast to the current bustling, noisy and crowded city, the Old Saigon was charm and full flairs of Paris blended with Far East atmosphere as they once appeared in many movies such The Lovers or Indochine.

Inspired by the postcards of Old Saigon, the excursion will cover some major places such as Cathedral (1918), Post and Telegraph, Saigon Town Hall (1924), Ville Rex Hotel (1924), Municipal Theatre (1898 – 1900), Catinat Street, Ben Thanh Market (1925), Saigon Zoo, etc.

The excursions of Old Saigon can be traveled on a half day or full day basis. Passengers can also choose to experience Saigon on modern air-conditioned vehicles or the vintage Citroen Traction Avant of 1935 (limited seats). The company also presents a set of Old Saigon postcard when the tour concludes.

About Vietnam Travel Depot
Online travel portal specialized in travel to Vietnam focusing on individuals and small groups travel. More information the company, its offers and rates please visit www.vietnamtraveldepot.com or tel:  ( 848 ) 5404 3116.

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Transported by Citroen

Old Saigon on half day, price from US$90/pax (group of 2 persons)

Old Saigon on full day, price from US$145/pax (group of 2 persons)

And lately that’s what I do. I feel like a tourist a lot of the times, you know. I’m just staring up at the sky. So, I notice buildings. I notice people. The quiet. The noise. It’s all here. Different times. Different places. That’s what I love.

Photos taken by: Joanna Etshokin

Text written by:  Maggie Nescuir on New York City (New York Times)  Walks up to 90 miles each week (sometimes, 43 miles a day)

I woke up this morning, and Rivaz still insists on sparkling under dark and foreboding clouds.  But nothing could keep us from our plans to visit Lausanne, one of the most famously beautiful cities in western Switzerland.  And sure, the beauty is important.  But what was our first stop in this Swiss city?  Why, a chocolate shop, of course!  Durig Chocolatier, to be precise.

My obsession with chocolate has known no limits, and this past November, I even paid the $50 admission charge to attend New York City’s Annual Chocolate Show in one of the enormous pavilions on the Hudson.  (Trembling from all the caffeinated truffle samples, I made the incalculable mistake of grabbing a sushi dinner with a stomach full of chocolate!)  But I had it on good authority that Durig was Switzerland’s most amazing chocolate shop, so I took hearty advantage of this opportunity to sample, savor, and devour.  The kind chocolatier, whom I affectionately called Willie Wonka, even allowed us to have a glimpse into the world of his chocolate-making factory, demonstrating how the truffles are made and packaged.  Had I not been married already, I might have proposed…

We walked through the wind and rain, hiking our way toward the stunning cathedral on the hill.  By now, I’ve seen so many cathedrals that it can be difficult to arouse much awe.  But what this particular church has going for it, in my opinion, is the incredible view that worshippers can enjoy on their way in and out of the church.  It is as though there is a continuation of the presence of holiness, from the internal space to the external creation.  It says a lot about a city when it can be perfectly cold and wet outside, and yet, the city still resonates with one’s idea of what constitutes beauty.  While I may not have seen the city sparkling under the sun, I certainly agree that Lausanne deserves its reputation.  It is one of those places that I’d be intrigued to visit again.  And again.