Venice Dreaming

Just a little last minute dreaming before the weekend disappears 

And reality bites once again!!

Have A Wonderful Week

IMAGE SOURCE & CREDITS:

 Artwork  [copyright beingRuby©]

Created from original photography:  [beingRuby©]

Location: Venice, Italy, August 2011

BIG MOON: BigWeek

BIG MOON: Big Week

Tonight's Full Moon is the annual Super Moon. When the moon is perigee and closest to the earth than it will be all year.. Expect The Unexpected.

It's a big week for me also. Starting a new contract tomorrow and hitting the half century on Friday. I will be celebrating by taking off on a little trip later in the week. Wish it were Venice!! But Noosa will do just fine!! Meanwhile. I don't have much to say.. but;

Hope your week is full of good surprises

Piazza Navona: The Beautiful & Bizarre

My favourite place in Rome.. Where the bizarre is beautiful and the beautiful is bizarre!! And the first place I visited when arriving.. After 16 years I was hoping I had not romanticized the memory, but sure enough Piazza Navona was still as beautiful and crazy as I remembered it.. One had to look past the annoying hawkers who seem to have multiplied exponentially since last time I was there, but underneath the layer of tourists and hawkers.. there she still was with all her beauty... My favourite statues still frozen in some awkward stance as if caught in the act of running amok.. 

I tried to get back each day when possible.. usually my last stop before dinner and returning to my hotel.. On this particular day it had been 39c.. and everyone was melting and exhausted .. Even the statues seemed to have had enough of the relentless heat and were inviting all to join them in their cool aqua waters. It was tempting!! I nearly jumped in!

Thanks For Indulging The Wacky

In The last Post

IMAGE SOURCE & CREDITS:

ALL Text, Original Photography & Artwork [copyright beingRuby©]

Shots taken at Piazza Navona, Rome, August 2011

Rome: Vatican City

Serenity

Further to my last post.. Here are a few shots of the walk up to the Vatican City showing the beautiful hazy glow from the fading sun... The lamp lights in the first image are 'lit by sunlight' Thank you Mother Nature for your contribution!!! .. It really was a spectacular moment.  A moment filled with  awe and admiration for the grandeur and sheer scale of St Peter's and the surrounding architecture... A grandeur that achieves serenity,  rather than bedazzle and opulence..

Although I have seen this sight before, there was still a feeling of anticipation and expectation.. The lateness of the day and absence of crowds gave the square an almost abandoned quality... yet  something else had taken up residence.. The empty spaces were filled instead with an effervescent glow..  and I swear I could see nature come out to play with the statues atop the colonnades .. The tourists had gone and it was finally their time of day. Their time for play ..  to stretch their legs after hours of rigid duty.... My expectations were delighted!

'Angel With The Tassles'

Well.. I wanted to include another angel from Ponte Sant'Angelo.. and this guy looked so serene in his profile shot, sunlight tickling his feathers..  I thought he fit the bill.. Until I researched his name.. 'Angel With The Whips'... righty oh!!! and there I was thinking he was the 'Angel With The Tassles'... Too late to pick another angel from the pack.. This one was already suited up.

Have A Wonderful Week Everyone

And work up some anticipation for the weekend

your expectations just might be delighted!! 

IMAGE SOURCE & CREDITS:

ALL Text, Original Photography & Artwork [copyright beingRuby©]

Shots taken on the Ponte Sant'Angelo and St Peter's Square, Rome, August 2011

Rome: Just Call Me Angel

... Welcome To Rome ...

.. A City of Contrasts..

A carousel ride of crazy sharing house with the crazy beautiful.

.. Today I'll ease you into it by starting softly with the crazy beautiful ..

Angels of Ponte Sant'Angelo

For over four hundred years these celestial sentinels have stood silently in wait.  Ten angels armed with the 'instruments of the passion', they guide and protect pilgrims on their way to the Vatican City. However, for this pilgrim, the angels themselves were the focus of my journey.  After sixteen years of wondering why I didn't photograph the other nine angels, I know now that  'The Angel With Cross' is my favourite, and yes I now also have his nine relatives ready to trot out over and over again.. Lucky YOU.. haha..

All ten angles were sculptured under the guidance of my favourite roman sculptor,  Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Today's post showcases two:  First, 'The Angel With Cross' whose face and demeanour are the embodiment of compassion. My eye wants to linger on the exquisite symmetry of gown and wings. The luck of the neighbouring church turret, with it's golden pink glow doesn't hurt either.  And the other..  'The Angel With Superscription',  he's a bit more flamboyant.. Not your run of the mill angel.. No this one's more into the coifed do's, designer gowns and skirts flapping in the breeze.. A less typical angelic image.

Speaking of beauty.. When I finally finished capturing the ten angels for posperity, it was too late to visit the Vatican.  However a quick walk there was more than worth the effort. Seeing St Peter's Square in the late afternoon glow was something to behold... The throngs of tourists had left for the day and the square was almost empty.  Such incredible beauty draped in the stillness of the afternoon and the fading sunlight dancing on the fountains.  Gorgeous!!!  It's never too late to find beauty!! 

Well that's it for today... There'll be plenty more Rome to come.. The crazy and the crazy beautiful.. and I still have to trot out those other eight angels.. They're backstage now putting their faces on!!

Wishing You All A Wonderful New Week

And Remember

It's Never Too Late To Find Beauty!

IMAGE SOURCE & CREDITS:

ALL Text, Original Photography & Artwork [copyright beingRuby©]

Shots taken on the Ponte Sant'Angelo and St Peter's Square, Rome, August 2011