Amsterdam
Europe
Paris Photo Shoot
Morning Paris Photo Shoot – judge away our cheesy photos only Americans would take
In Bruges
Villa Savoye
Villa Savoye and when Harper learned to crawl. She just needed the Corbusier inspiration.
Paris : Art Museums
| City: | Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 95°, sunny |
| Site: | 1st Arrondissement |
| Activity: | walking, Palais Garnier, Musee D’Orsay |
After landing from our overnight flight from NYC we rushed into that relentless Paris sunlight otherwise we may have slept the day away. Even with our baby missing half a nights sleep we saw a lot of Central Paris:
Galeries Lafayette Haussman
Palais Garnier
Amazing Sandwiches from Le Petit Vendôme
Eating in the Tuileries Garden
Monet Water Lillies at Musee L’Orangerie
Impressionism of Musee D’Orsay
Walk by the Louvre, Palais Royal
Paris: Pantheon, Pompidou, Etc
Around Madrid
| City: | Madrid, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 65°, sunny |
| Site: | Caixa Forum |
| Activity: | lots of cab rides |
Granada Churches
The Alhambra
| City: | Granada, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 63°, sunny |
| Site: | Alhambra, Generalife, and Nasrid Palace |
| Activity: | 4 hour tour |
We learned about the Alhambra in Architectural History and we’ve been really looking forward to getting over there since then. Problem was, I didn’t realize how many other people felt the same way. It was probably the most crowded architectural site I’ve ever been to. (more than the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum, Statue of Liberty…) So actually touring the site wasn’t as enjoyable as I hoped, but it was beautiful. And HUGE. It’s a walled city on a hill with multiple palaces and gardens.
Around Barcelona
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | beach, Barcelona Pavillon, Contemporary Art Museum |
| Activity: | lots of cab rides |
We did so much in our short 36 hours in Barcelona, mostly by hopping in and out of cabs which were really easy and cheap. Probably the best part of the day was Paella on the beach. I don’t take photos of food but I’m kind of regretting that decision this time. Our big plate of rice, muscles, scallops, shrimp, rabbit, and sausage… perfectly yellow with saffron. And a glass of white wine to wash it down with.
Hospital de la Santa Creu
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Hospital de la Santa Creu |
| Activity: | colors |
This hospital was not designed by Gaudi, but it shares its whimsy and time period with many of Gaudi’s work. Also, Gaudi died here after getting hit by a tram. The Hospital de la Santa Creu is another example of Catalan civil-Gothic architecture
Casa Battlo
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Casa Batllo |
| Activity: | Dodging high school tour groups |
So many amazing details to comment on. See below. Every tiny bit of this home is thought out.
Sagrada Familia
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Sagrada Familia |
| Activity: | Looking Up |
More of a collage, hodge podge, Disney castle than I expected but still had some really beautiful moments. Like those colors inside! Expected completion… 2028. Almost 150 years after it was started.
Casa Mila
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Casa Mila |
| Activity: | Roof climbing |
Casa Mila was designed by Gaudi in 1906 and was full of textures, colors, curves. Loved it. Just wish we could live in an apartment where someone cared to design everything down to the window hardware.
Park Guell
| City: | Barcelona, Spain |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 68°, sunny |
| Site: | Park Guell |
| Activity: | climbing stairs, sitting on park benches |
When you go to Barcelona, even if you’re not looking for him, you will find Antonio Gaudi. Alex and I were very much in search of Gaudi’s famous works so we started the day early with his Park Guell.
Walking Around Istanbul
| City: | Istanbul, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 85°, sunny |
| Site: | Galata, Taksim Square |
| Activity: | walking in the crowds |
I could gush about Istanbul for hours. It’s possibly my favorite city I’ve ever been to… truly vibrant and layered. And of course the old cliche “where east meets west” could not be more correct. My one regret was shortening our trip because of the fear of terrorism and political unrest. We felt safe and comfortable on our short whirlwind tour of the city. Take notice of the number and size of Turkish flags. I’m curious the appearance of the city before the coup attempt.
Galata felt similar to Williamsburg, complete with a Shake Shack. I couldn’t believe it. Specialty boutiques and sidewalk cafes lined windy cobblestone streets. Women in full burkas next to hipsters in tiny cut-off shorts.
Not pictured: going to a traditional Turkish Hammam (Cagaloglu Hammam) and awkwardly bathing ourselves alone in a massive stone hall with natural light streaming in from the dome above.
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Topkapi Palace
| City: | Istanbul, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 85°, sunny |
| Site: | Topkapi Palace and Harem |
| Activity: | enjoying the elaborate decor |
Next site seeing stop was Topkapi Palace, located with a view of the Bosphorus and the skyline of Istanbul. The ornament was varied but always vibrant and elaborate. Hand painted tiles and gold everywhere. We especially loved wandering the Harem where the royals immediate family and servants lived.
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Hagia Sophia
| City: | Istanbul, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 85°, sunny |
| Site: | Hagia Sophia |
| Activity: | looking in awe |
Hagia Sophia, the building I most looked forward to seeing on this entire trip. It did not disappoint in its incomprehensible scale. Unfortunately there is quite a bit of scaffolding inside and out that skews your perception. It also felt very collage-y. A mish-mash of colors and stone. Christian and Islamic iconography. Old and new.
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The Blue Mosque
| City: | Istanbul, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 85°, sunny |
| Site: | Blue Mosque |
| Activity: | looking in awe |
Day 8: The Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmed Mosque, was our first stop on our whirlwind tour of Istanbul. It was modeled closely to the older, more famous, Hagia Sophia that it sits directly across from but began and continues to be a functioning Mosque where as Hagia Sophia began as a Greek Orthodox Church, morphed to a mosque, and is now a museum.
Those columns are hugeeeee. They are called “elephants feet”.
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Ancient Agora and Psyrri
| City: | Athens, Greece |
|---|---|
| Weather: | 95°, sunny |
| Site: | Ancient Agora, Psyrri Neighborhood |
| Activity: | sketching, antique shopping |
Day 7: Started fresh with even more ruins, this time the Ancient Agora. The large Middle Stoa has been re-built with a roof. I actually like this because I could finally experience a space similar to how it would have been.
We spent the last bit of time before our flight walking around the Psyrri neighborhood. It’s known for graffiti, large murals, and antiques.
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