Europe 2012 (Cambridge, London, Brussels, Cologne)

[innie_darling]

Hi, everybody!

So, where did we leave off last time? I think I was just about to run off to Europe for a week, so let's start there.

Comments

[aelfgyfu_mead]

It all sounds wonderful! Well, most of it, at least.
she cannot fathom how spending time with me would not be the highlight of someone's day, or even life
Isn't that what moms are for?

The people on the fish-that must be a Bosch painting! Do you know offhand which one? I have a Bosch book, but I think it's on campus rather than at home. Love Bosch.

Brilliant Husband and I visited Cologne some years ago (before Small Child appeared on the scene) for just a day. I remember the cathedral, and a museum very nearby that seemed quite good, but I was perpetually frustrated. I'm that person who reads nearly every card in the museum, but my German is poor and very slow, and I only had a little phrase book and not even a proper dictionary. . . .

[innie_darling]

When we're not fighting, my mom is my biggest fan. It's very nice.

It is a Bosch painting, though I hadn't realized it, as it was smack in the middle of a Bruegel collection, but it is, as you say, very Bosch-y. I looked it up and it appears to be from the St. Anthony triptych, though that appears to be housed somewhere other than Brussels. So I'm totally confused.

There are two museums very close to the cathedral - one is the design museum and the other is the Roman museum. The one we went to is this one.

[aelfgyfu_mead]

Interesting-Wikipedia says, "The painting currently hangs in the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, in Lisbon. A copy by a follower of Bosch can be found in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa, and another version in the Prado Museum in Madrid. A third copy of what once was believed to be the original, now labeled by University of Pennsylvania art historian, Larry Silver, as a 16th century copy, is owned by the Barnes Foundation, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]" Perhaps one of those copies was on loan to the museum where you saw it?

We went to the Roman museum rather than the design museum.

[destina]

Oh, I love your travelogues! And I love, love the gorgeous design of that stained glass window, OMG. I love stained glass in general, but I've never seen anything quite like that.

[innie_darling]

Isn't that window lovely? I just wanted to stand where the light flowing through it would fall on me.

[ruby_jelly]

Oh how I loved this! Thanks for sharing your events, activities and photographs; I enjoyed every moment of the trip.

signed: tv/ computer / flist traveler these days,
(lol!)

[innie_darling]

I'm so glad you did! It's always nice to see you around!

[thesmallhobbit]

Wow, what a brilliant week.

I'm not at all surprised at the immigration officer. They make us feel like we're not welcome to come into the country and my passport states that the Queen expects me to pass without let or hindrance.

You managed to visit some of my favourite places in London. I've been to a number of concerts in St Martins in the Fields, which are always of a high standard, and quite often we eat in the Café in the Crypt, the food is so good.

I'm not a great fan of the Globe, but can imagine how much fun it was seeing Henry V there. We saw Henry IV parts 1 and 2 there a couple of years ago, when Jamie Parker played Prince Hal - he was totally convincing then, changing from layabout prince to powerful king at the end. Then we saw Henry V in Cardiff when the production was on tour before it reached the Globe. After which I was encouraging all my friends to go and see it! As you say, an actor I will go to see again.

[innie_darling]

Ah, it was partly my fault with the immigration officer, but yes, she was ridiculous.

I was thinking of you when watching Henry V, because I remembered that you'd said you saw the production and thought JP did a fantastic job. I had never been to the Globe before, and it was totally the right show to see there, as well as to be standing for. As achy as my feet were, I think I would have missed out if I'd had a seat.

When I was in London last year, I did one or two concerts at St. Martin and ate at Cafe in the Crypt - a great place for interesting veggie sandwiches and a lovely atmosphere besides. London in general is one of my favorite cities to visit.

[ariadnes_string]

Sounds like a wonderful trip! I love London so much! The last couple of times I was there, I stayed at a hotel right across the street from the "Shard"--which was under construction. Is it finished now?

[innie_darling]

The Shard looks to be finished now, but I can't say for sure. (If you can be here in November, you can meet kate_lear in person and ask her yourself!)

London is a phenomenal city, really suited to my tastes in entertainment. I love being there.