Posts Tagged With: architecture

Netherlands Post Visit – Architecture

Posted on July 13, 2013 by melvisx

Initially walking around Utrecht and Amsterdam I felt like I was in some sort of amusement park. The architecture just kind of had the look of being a little too storybook, if you know what I mean. Then I was told why they appeared that way. One reason is that the windows on many Dutch buildings are designed to get smaller as the building gets higher giving the illusion that the structures are taller than they actually are. Another reason is that Dutch staircases tend to be rater steep and narrow making it difficult to heft furniture up to the top floors. So the buildings lean outward slightly and many homes have a beam hanging from the top over the street with a pulley at the end to hoist heavy things into the house. Clever, but it messes with your head a little if you’re not used to it.

: Front of Rijks Museum

: Back of Rijks Museum

: One for wind direction one for time.

: Apparently I like to shoot up.

: Crazy.

: Old meets new at the

: Urban Museum.

Categories: Amsterdam, netherlands, Original post, photography, Travel, Utrecht | Tags: Amsterdam, architecture, Netherlands, photography, travel, Utrecht | Leave a comment

Palacio Real

Posted on August 18, 2012 by melvisx

While the exterior of the Palacio Real was impressive, I enjoyed the interior more but photos inside were not permitted. What amazed me was the amount of decorative detail in each room, I could have spent hours staring at the tapestries woven with gold and silver threads, or the inlaid wood floors, the floor mosaics, and statuary; I could definitely do without the porcelain room, I mean I appreciate the artistry but, um, it seemed like a big bathroom. I suppose lots of money allows one to do silly things with porcelain.

: Approaching palace

: Random shot of the square outside the palace #1

: Random shot of the square outside the palace #2 with some dude I don’t know posing for his own photo

: Random shot of the square outside the palace #3, I chose this angle to avoid posers.

: Random shot of the square outside the palace #4, trying to be clever with my camera

: Random shot of the square outside the palace #5, more cleverness

: Random shot of the square outside the palace #6, statutes in the trees with the legs of the young couple making out that almost ruined my shot.

: Sunset behind the palace

: Interior square, palace entrance

: Cathedral directly opposite palace

: Palace entrance, askew

: Forgot to ask why only one flag was flying. I’m guessing because nothing official was going on.

: Shot of cathedral outside of palace

: View of the city from the palace #1

: View of the city from the palace #2, make your own panorama 🙂

Categories: Geography, photography, Spain, Travel | Tags: architecture, geography, Madrid, Palacio Ral, photography, Spain, travel | 8 Comments

Sagrada Familia

Posted on August 14, 2012 by melvisx

Guadi was simply amazing. To translate his visions into such awesome structures. Yet another place I could’ve spent at least one full day admiring; I’m almost certain I would have gotten lost in the details and been able to ignore the throngs of people. Truly amazing, gorgeous structure.

: Sagrada Familia

: Sagrada Familia

: I was amazed at the very organic appearance of this and all of the details as I looked closer

: SO glad our group did wear matching clothes.

: Our guide said these figures inspired the Storm Troopers in Star Wars…

: …yeah, now that you mention it, they kinda look like ’em.

: What a way to spend an afteroon

Categories: photography, Spain, Travel | Tags: architecture, barcelona, Guadi, photography, Spain | 5 Comments

Florence and fini…for now

Posted on August 12, 2012 by melvisx

Being that I have to return to work tomorrow I thought I’d revisit the pictures from my favorite stop on our journey; Florence. I could’ve easily spent several more days there on my own, but alas, I couldn’t really abandon the students for whom I was partially responsible. The architecture, art, and history of Florence was palpable and pervasive. As with most places we visited there were a lot of people there, but for me at least the energy enshrined in the buildings and statues of Florence masked the throngs of people. I couldn’t believe how many important and noteworthy people in world history had at one time or another lived and/or worked there. It was exciting, as a geography teacher, for me to see the statues of Amerigo Vespucci and Galileo Galilei and moving to see in real life Michelangelo’s work throughout our visit. Many of the statues appeared as if they could step down of their pedestals at any moment. Every opportunity I had to ditch our group, yet keep them in sight, I’d dart off to snap a few pictures. The gallery below includes some of those, I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

: Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

: Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

: Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore bell tower

: Climbing up to the top of the bell tower I was grateful for the occasional places to rest; there were only 400+ steps.

: Skinny window on the way to the top

: Still climbing.

: Almost there.

: Still climbing

: From the top.

: From the top

: From the top

: From the bottom, or maybe the middle, I forget; I do know I’m looking up 🙂

: Piazza della Signoria

: How could this be marble? Simply amazing.

: Amazed that this was made from one piece of bronze; or I guess one casting.

: Galileo Galilei

: Amerigo Vespucci

: The guide told me that around 2:00 p.m. the sun shines through the glass ball at the top and marks the month and day on the ground.

: Sunlight passes through the glass globe at the top of the pillar and shines on the month and day here on the ground.

: Ponte Vecchio

: Ponte Vecchio is to the right

: Looking downstream away from Ponte Vecchio

: View downstream from Ponte Vecchio

: View upstream from Ponte Vecchio

: Martini Time

Categories: Italy, photography, Travel | Tags: architecture, Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, duomo, florence, Galleria dell'Accademia, Italy, Michelangelo, piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio | Leave a comment

Carcassone

Posted on August 9, 2012 by melvisx

This was one of the many places I wanted to stay and explore longer. I was stunned an amazed by the architecture and craftsmanship especially in the cathedral. The gargoyles on the outside were a little creepy, but they were balanced by the beautiful stained glass windows. It was really difficult to get photos without people, or the random car, but I managed to take a few. I think the place is normally a little crowded, but apparently Marilyn Manson was going to be putting on a show there that evening so there were a few extra peeps walking around. Anyway, enjoy 🙂

Categories: France, photography, Travel | Tags: architecture, carcassone, France, gargoyle, medieval, photography, stained glass, travel | Leave a comment

Assisi

Posted on August 4, 2012 by melvisx

On the day we visited Assisi I was feeling a little under the weather so I only took a few shots. Assisi is a beautiful walled city with lots of narrow streets and passageways to explore and is surrounded by a gorgeous landscape which people associate with this region of Italy.

One of the interior courtyards reminded me of others I had seen like the cathedral in Toldeo. I really enjoy the arches and stonework.

As with many of the centuries old treasures we visited reminders of how far we have progressed (insert sarcasm here) were not hard to find.

This is my favorite shot from that day:

Categories: Geography, Italy, photography, Travel | Tags: architecture, Assisi, Basilica of San Francesco, Italy, photography, Toledo Spain, travel | 7 Comments