Land of wine and cheese and sausage.....

Yes, this is the most photographed chapel in Tuscany. Believe me, it was real difficult to find the right parking spot to take this picture. But there is no discussion about it, it is stunning. Like the Tuscan landscape in general, the many impressive old cities with their churches, palaces, sculpture, paintings.....

But now it is time for lunch. Luckily Tuscany is also known for its wine (Chianti), sausages, cheeses, vegetables and all kind of other tasty products. 

The markets are selling a score of fresh products. Greens and reds....

Golden honey and creamy colored honey and in between shades of honey.....

Or marmalade, olives, olive oil, sauces for the pasta .....

What to think of these fantastic looking cheeses.

Shops are full of wines, cheese and sausages. 

All this food looks so beautiful, so inviting.....

Just find a little restaurant in the countryside and enjoy while the weather is nice, 

Sunset over Florence

Somewhat by chance we discovered the sunsets of Florence. One day we were near the Ponte Vecchio watching a demonstration. Then we saw the heavens turn  red slowly. It was fantastic.

Looking down the river Arno was the sky, bright and colorful, and everything else sticking out like silhouettes.   

Turning around the Ponte Vecchio was shining almost orange. In the daytime it was a bit of a disappointment to me. These rundown "boutiques" that sell jewelry. The bridge appeared neglected. Seeing it, in this beautiful light, brought back it's fair tale image.

Up river from the Ponte Vecchio and on the other bank is the Piazzale Michelangelo. It is a high place that is perfect to see the sunset. Just a bit of climbing.... and it can be very busy.

From there the river flows like a stream of gold to the sea. Passing many bridges.

Yes the Ponte Vecchio is great from here. 

A walk along the river.....

The large port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is situated on the "Nieuwe Maas" (New Maas) The city has some impressive bridges.

This is the (new) Willemsbrug a bridge for normal traffic. In the back is the famous "De Hef". You can see it is open. De Hef was a bridge for trains. Now there is a tunnel for the trains and the bridge has become a monument. The new Willemsbrug was completed in 1982. Before there was the old Willemsbrug, a bridge that was built in 1878 for trains. Going south in a train you first would pass the Willemsburg and then De Hef.

This was what the old Willemsbrug looked like.

And this is the new one.....

When you are under this bridge you start to think "what is hanging there...?"

 



















But when you get further down the quay you discover it is an artwork. The "Maasbeeld" (Maassculpture) is made by Auke de Vries. It is 182 meters long......  The people of Rotterdam, always in for a joke,  call it "The Clothesline"....

It is so nice to spend some time along the banks of the river....

Especially when there is a such a beautiful bridge to look at.

More blogs about bridges.....

An elegant bridge

Amazing bridges

Siena Cathedral

The grandeur of the Cathedral of Siena is extreme. One of the most beautiful Cathedrals in the world. The outside is huge and majestic. There is so much to see on the inside. The floor, the pillars and the arches, the Piccolomini library... and several individual art objects. For the technical information about this Cathedral I advise you to read the Wikipedia page about this Doumo.

This blog gives an impression about the pillars and arches.

The light is coming in....

A bit north of Copenhagen in Lyngby is the Frilands Museet. An open air museum with a collection of  historic buildings from the countryside. Walking in and out of these houses and farms, the overall impression is: These houses were dark inside. In the daytime the small windows let in just enough light to eat or write or work near the windows. The summers were OK, but the winters must have been very dark times.

The past staring you in the face....

Walking in Copenhagen along the harbor you are bound to pass theSkuespil Huset (across the Opera). Like the Black Diamond the facade that faces the water is mainly glass. This time there were people staring at passers by from the inside..... More or less strange figures, emerging like ghosts out of their Dickensian surroundings. 

An alienating experience. Like by looking into a window we can see not only what is behind us, but also into the past.

 

Pasta....

 

Where would you find find such nicely colored pasta other than in Italy.....  

In Tuscany we would pass a lot of shops and stalls selling pasta in the most fantastic colors and forms. 

 

 

Together with these colorful tomatoes....

And some olive oil....













And fragrant herbs....

And while you are selecting recipes or start the cooking... have some prosciutto with a small glass of  prosecco.  (You see it is definitely a pro-thing.)  Although the hairy legs.... 

And don't forget the bottle of Chianty.