Saturday, 19 May 2012

From Torino to Milano

One last conference took me to Turin, in the North of Italy. It is a regal city, with spacious squares, pompous palaces and endless porticos.

Piazza San Carlo
Palazzo Madama
Medieval Turin
Tacky neon lights, but an excellent restaurant
Mole Antonelliana
Piazza San Carlo at nightfall

After the two day conference in Turin, Kobe and I spent a day in Belaggio at the Lago di Como, a beautiful lake in the pre-Alpes, not far from the Swiss border. Outside of the tiny tourist center, peaceful cobble stone streets open to beautiful views of the mountains and the lake.




















Finally, we also spent a rainy day strolling around Milan


Note the street sign: Piazza Belgioioso - we think it sounds like a contraction of 'Belgian' and 'joyful'!





Thursday, 1 December 2011

Breakfast in Antwerp

A great tip for breakfast or afternoon tea in Antwerp is Salon de thé Claude. Last Saturday we celebrated Ine's PhD there with a delicious breakfast to power up for a day of shopping! The interior is quircky but cozy, and the owner, who used to be a television actor (Wittekerke, anyone?) is most charming.






Monday, 14 November 2011

48 hours in Vienna

In reverse, because apparently in the new blogger interface you are no longer supposed to upload your photos in reverse chronological order.

Wading through the leaves
Schönbrunn palace - Empress Sissi's summer house

Schönbrunn gardens


In good company
Breakfast at Freiraum in Mariahilferstrasse - recommended!

Projections at the Museumquartier
Rathaus, festively illuminated
Ghosty Boy & Girl at Hofburg palace
Sachertorte in a Kaffeehaus
A selection of fine vinegars at Naschmarkt

Naschmarkt
Enjoying some roasted chestnuts
The making of
Recreating Gustav Klimt's Kiss in front of the Belvedere museum
Impressive interiors at Belvedere

The Belvedere gardens
Setting up the Christmas market
Karlskirche
Autumn gold
Breakfast at Café Sperl


Breakfast on the way


Pa pa pa pa
The Secession building
The back alley of Museumquartier
Coffee at Cafe Central (Trotski's former coffee joint, before he hurried off to Russia to lead the revolution - and left his bills unpaid)