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.