VENICE, ITALY <3

Grand Canal of Venice is the city’s main river. By Boat you will see historic buildings with beautiful architecture. It is a very ROMANTIC city.Yes ..I could definitely live here!!

The PEGGY GUGGENHEIM Collection is one of Europe’s premier museums devoted to modern art, located in her former home, which has a GORGEOUS view located on the GRAND CANAL. The permanent collection is composed of masterworks of Cubism, Futurism, European Abstractionism, Metaphysical Painting, Surrealism, and American Abstract Expressionism.

“LOVE is the greatest REFRESHMENT in LIFE.” Pablo Picasso <3

“The WORLD TODAY doesn’t make SENSE, so WHY should I PAINTpictures that do?” Pablo Picasso 

“To DRAW you must close your EYES & SING.” Pablo Picasso <3

“What I am seeking is NOT the real and NOT the unreal but rather the UNCONCIOUS, the MYSTERY of the INSTINCTIVE in the human race.”
Modigliani <3

Mare = Ballerina…Sea = Dancer by Gino Serverini

My very own Gondola Stud! ;-))

 VENICE, ITALY <3

The GONDOLA ride at night, so beautiful, peaceful, romantic…

My Professors were determined to find a perfect concert to suit ME, So Sweet! A wonderful choice out of so many Vivaldi themed concerts that night! A TRIBUTE TO VIVALDI…Vivaldi & Friends Concert!

Yummy! .. Bellini = Venetian Gold 

The City on the Grand Canal, walking through Venice with an empty bottle with your professors, talking, laughing, enjoying the MAGNIFICENT Beautyin front of us ..Priceless!! <3

VENICE, ITALY <3

Off to MURANO ISLAND!!  Very 007 like! ;-))

Many Famous Glass Blowing Factories on this island!

Ca’ del Sol , a FABULOUS shop, so quaint, so much history, where masterpiece masks are sold. His workshop located across the canal, creative place,.. a MASTER of MASKS .. the evolution along with his 18 Century costumes .. Enchanting!!

VENICE, ITALY <3

DOGE’S PALACE & PRISON!!

BRIDGE of SIGHS (Madonna Like a Virgin video on Bridge) It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the DOGE’S PALACE. The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that CONVICTS saw before their IMPRISONMENT. The bridge name, given by LORD BYRON in the 19th century, comes from the prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells. 

A lOCAL LEGEND says that LOVERS will be GRANTED ETERNAL LOVE and Bliss if they kiss on a GONDOLA at sunset under the Bridge Of Sighs. <3

 VENICE, ITALY <3

DOGE’S PALACE & PRISON!!

BRIDGE of SIGHS (Madonna Like a Virgin video on Bridge) It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the New Prison to the interrogation rooms in the DOGE’S PALACE. The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that CONVICTS saw before their IMPRISONMENT. The bridge name, given by LORD BYRON in the 19th century, comes from the prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells. 

A lOCAL LEGEND says that LOVERS will be GRANTED ETERNAL LOVE and Bliss if they kiss on a GONDOLA at sunset under the Bridge Of Sighs. <3

 VENICE, ITALY <3

It is a city in NORTHEAST ITALY sited on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by bridges. It stretches along the shorelinebetween the mouths of the PO and the PIAVE RIVERS. Venice is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. Wikipedia

WATER TAXI, an INCREDIBLE way to arrive like a James Bond movie weraced across the ADRIATIC SEA to the GRAND CANAL to theEXTRAORDINARY city of VENICE!! It is the ONLY way to travel from the airport ..NO cars in Venice!! ;-))

Our 1st stop .. LUNCH with freshly made Italian pizza, a 1st of mine, wine, & a SPECTACULAR view!! Oh yes I could definitely live in VENICE!!

RIALTO BRIDGE :-))It is the most famous of the bridges that cross the GRAND CANAL. A real wooden bridge, made from two inclined ramps with a mobile section in the middle, in order to allow the passage of ships, with shops on each side, covered by a portico. Wikipedia

“I will NEVER forget expericing Venice for the 1st time. It feels like you are TRANSPORTED to another time- the ART, MUSIC, FOOD & Pure ROMANCE in the air is like no other place” E. Berkley 

Maestro Paavo Jarvi & ZzZzz HOT blondes back stage after Concert!

Paavo Jarvi conductor & Menahem Pressler pianist picture during a rehearsal with the OdP

Maestro PAAVO JARVI & zzZzz “HOT blondes” back stage ;-)) after theMENAHEM PRESSLER & Orchestre de Paris concert at the Salle PleyelOctober 2012 

Bottom photo: PAAVO JARVI conductor & MENAHEM PRESSLER pianist rehearsing with the OdP. Photo Credit: Paavo Järvi Facebook Page 

Pianist MENAHEM PRESSLER performed Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23..a STUNNING performance, such an AMAZING piece played by aLEGEND!!

I first met Mr. Pressler at IU Jacob School of Music Summer Academy. I was blown away by the concert and today such a REMARKABLE talent!!!   Mr. Pressler is So SWEET, full of so much SPIRIT & INSPIRATION!!!

The FINALE was Sibelius Symphony No.1!!! Such ENERGY, DYNAMIC Contrast & GORGEOUS Sound!!! Maestro Paavo Jarvi & the Orchestre de Paris filled the Salle Pleyel with POWER & PASSION .. the audience smiling , clapping, & shouting Bravo!! .. a standing ovation!!!A PHENOMENAL Performance, .. I am so VERY glad to have seen it LIVE!! ..one I will never forget!!! :-))

“MUSIC is the MEDIATOR between the SPIRITUAL & the SENSUAL life” Ludwig van Beethoven

GENEVA <3 SWITZERLAND 

The UNITED NATIONS was IMPRESSIVE, everything relating to politics!! The tour was given by an associate of President Obama’s, she was so smart tellingFASCINATING stories of INTERNATIONAL intrigue; Obama, Putin, Stalin, etc., so many important political people, places & critical world decissions.

Miquel Barcelo (Spanish) abstract artist created the ceiling painting featuring hundreds of dangling icicle shapes on an elliptical dome full of bright colors and torn aluminum took over a year to produce. He worked with architects, engineers and even particle physics laboratories to develop the extra-strength aluminum for the dome using more than 100 tons of paint with pigments from all over the world!!

“On a day of immense heat in the middle of the Sahel desert, I recall with vivacity the mirage of an image of the world dripping toward the sky,” Barcelo says. “Trees, dunes, donkeys, multicolored beings flowing drop by drop.” Associated Press 11/18/2008

It is a POWERFUL feeling .. the WHOLE world as if you are at the bottom of the SAME ocean .. looking up TOGETHER at the reflections of the dangling spikes so vibrant in color!!! I LOVED it…& the story behind it! <3