FlickrViewr Updated for Beta2
Just a note to say I’ve updated my FlickrViewr for Silverlight Beta2. (All of the controls now use VisualStateManager, too!) Enjoy! (See the original post for more info & source code.)
Cave Art
I just read a fascinating article in the New Yorker: “First Impressions: What does the world’s oldest art say about us?” by Judith Thurman. Here’s an excerpt from the first paragraph: …After a visit to Lascaux [a cave in the South of France] …, which was discovered in 1940, Picasso reportedly said to his guide, “They’ve invented everything.” What those first artists invented was a language of signs for which there will never be a Rosetta stone; perspective, a technique that was not rediscovered until the Athenian Golden Age; and a bestiary of such vitality and finesse that, by …
Back From Spain
And I’m back. And totally jetlagged. Spain was great – a fabulous country. I will definitely go back again. Also, it turns out that "vacation" vacations do have some nice perks over "adventure" vacations: Being able to brush your teeth without worrying about getting sick. Being able to eat fruit from street vendors without worrying about getting sick. Knowing that you’re not totally screwed if you lose your passport. Not stressing about safety when calling a cab. Western toilets. Oh, and amazing wine and cheese. Though, the exchange rate is rather killer. Next trip? I’m thinking back to south america …
The Guggeheim in Bilbao
The last stop in my trip to Spain was Bilbao. The city in recent years has become an international destination with the building of the Guggenheim. The building, designed by Frank Gehry, is shaped like a “ship” with fish-like titanium scales. I loved how it caught the colors of the city at different times of day. The collection housed inside of the Guggenheim was much smaller than I expected. The temporary Munoz exhibit was very good, and my appreciation for Richard Serra grew after seeing his permanent pieces. But overall, the building itself much overshadowed the art inside. the …
San Sebastian
San Sebastian is an absolutely gorgeous beach town. Unfortunately, it got hit with a case of “seattle weather” while I was there…. so there wasn’t a lot of frolicking on the sand. Fortunately, Spain summer sales started that Monday – so I ended up being pretty productive anyways. 🙂 looking down at san sebastian relaxing with sangria & new yorker window dressings seaside soccer on the beach merry-go-rounds beach can you hear me now? twilight near the beach
La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia is Gaudi‘s “masterpiece.” Construction on the temple began in 1882, and has been ongoing ever since. Gaudi died in 1926, and so several different architects have been tapped to flesh out the master’s design. It was especially interesting seeing the interior of the temple, which had progressed significantly since I was there 4 years ago. the famous shape of the la sagrada familia the soldiers were modeled after the shapes on the la pedrera’s roof parts of the passion facade sculpture of jesus ceiling of the temple an unfinished stairwell …
Random Barcelona
A few random street shots… while walking through the Barri Gotti (Gothic Quarter), we came upon this wedding reception. these for-rent red bicycles were everywhere the building fronts were so, well, european (for lack of a better word) a clothes rack in the apartments across from us peering down from the apartment bicycles in high places
Spain Wins Euro Cup 2008!
It was the first time that Spain won the Euro Cup 2008 in 22 years. (And the first time in about the same number of years that I watched a soccer match.) The game was in Austria, so the viewing location was a bar in the Barri Gotti. The celebration in the street afterwards was particularly memorable… and also where I learned the life skill of operating an SLR with one hand, while have a beer in the other. folks were lined up on the street to see in… …and the celebration starts friendly …
Casa Batllo
Unfortunately, I was only able to see Casa Batllo from the outside this trip (it was closed when I tried to go). It’s one of my Gaudi favorites.