It must be some egg!

This is me in front of a giant timer in Budapest. It takes one year for the sand to fall through, and then they have to turn the whole thing. Imagine the yolk! Actually, it does tell time, but not for boiling eggs. The sculpture was commissioned for Hungary's entry into the EU. But it is fun to think about other uses.

Budapest is fun

I arrived knowing almost nothing, without a map and much of a clue. But it was easy, and such a nice city. Here is a shot of me on the other side (Buda) of the Danube, looking back at a very gothic parliament building.

Podgorica + Montenegro = boring

It is so dull in Podgorica, capital of Montenegro (which is just below Croatia, and was part of Yugoslavia years ago). At least it is warm, which is a welcome change. This is the most interesting photo I could find, showing the tallest building in Podgorica, and also my new 4 euro haircut. Getting your hair cut with no common language is a problem, I found, but somehow managed. Off to Budapest next, which should be a little more cosmopolitan, darhhhling.

Dead English people

Florence has been full of English people for a long time, as the film "Tea with Mussolini" proves. And of course some of them died and were buried here. I went to the English cemetery, on the edge of town, and enjoyed all that history. Some nice trees and, as this shot shows, pieces of sculpture too. Rather gloomy day too - so perfect for this type of thing.

Florence

Florence was fun too. This is me in front some big church (so sick of them).

I am also so sick of

1) Japanese tourists, and

2) teenagers (of all nationalities) whose parents and teachers think it is a good idea for them to see Florence, when all they want to do is take photos of themselves and giggle (not that I am against the latter),

3) dog poo (or doggo poopo in Italian) on the footpath.

My cup(s) of tea

I have been searching for the place where they hold the Venice Biennale, and stumbled on it yesterday. I saw the sign, and thought, "sounds like the place for me". Sadly, the Biennale does not start until June, but it was fun walking around looking at all the pavilions.

Back to cold

Just for a change, it is cold. As this shot shows, it is windy too. But at least there are not so many tourists.

Peggy Guggenheim Museum

I went to the Peggy Guggenheim collection, which is housed in her old home - a palazzo right across from St Mark's. It was a very modest palace, but full of great 20th century paintings and sculptures. I think Peggy was a little mad, but in a good way. She is buried in the sculpture garden. This is a shot from the front, showing a nice Calder piece. It was a very misty morning, as you can see.

Venice is a mass of ...

Tourists everywhere and pigeons in St Mark's square. Luckily it is cool weather, so only the pigeons smell. Lots of dog poo too.

First shots of Venice

This is my hotel room in a darling, darling little hotel near Saint Mark's. Two shots of the canal below. It is like someone made up this place for tourists - but in a good way.

Milan was fun

Milan was lovely - 3 nights there, lots of museums, shops, parks, food. The people seem to care what they look like before leaving the house, too.

Why can't we have nice little shops in parks?

Why do we have ugly public architecture when people in Europe have nice little things like this newspaper kiosk in the centre of Sophia?

A monastery in Bulgarian hills

Here are some shots of an interesting, old-ish monestary up in the hills. Nice designs.