A museum with royal roots: Waldemarsudde

One of Stockholm's most loved museum is the former residence of Prince Eugen. After his death in 1947 it became - unchanged - a state owned museum in accordance with his testament.

Not only the art he collected and created but the interior design with the original furnitures is impressive. An important part are the seasonal decorations with fresh flowers and plants that makes this residence coming alive. Could it be that the Prince is still painting in his studio on the top floor?

Part of the museum is a large flower garden with many bronze sculptures and then a splendid view over the water. There we walked around, sat on a bench and forgot time..... ZEN!

Off the Motorway

It is always good to go off the motorway! If you would drive between Bordeaux and Paris on the A 10, take your time to go off at exit 34 to Poitiers on the D 950. In this way you will be able to see some beautiful romanesque churches which are on the Unesco World Heritage site.

We found the St. Peter's church in Aulnay where we had the good fortune to come on Sunday morning during the service. It was moving to see the gathering of the congregation in this 800 year old church.

Not to disturbe the Mass, we walked outside around the church and took our time to admire the richly carved capitals and facades.

No summer weather

Does that look like a cheery summer day at the Seine? It is the day before Bastille Day and one expects warm sunny weather for the festivities with dances and fireworks. This year will be more on the grey and rainy side.

The golden top of the obelisk on the Place de la Concorde should make a connection to the sun for the parade tomorrow on the Champs Elysee. On this photo one can see the build up podium with the roof colored red-white-blue under which the political elite will be seated with many foreign dignities. The TV cameras are installed ready to bring this event to thousands of French people who will watch from their homes.

When the sun is shining, the brass buttons on the uniforms and the brass instruments from the bands will shine and the severity of the military power will be less prominent.

"Rain, rain go away and come back another day!"

Munich pics (2)

One of the world's largest urban public parks is the English Garden in Munich. There are many opportunities to relax or to exercise while running, biking, swimming.....

The Chinese Tower - 25 meter high - is in the center of a Biergarten which seats 7.000.

There are stands to buy some of the rustic food and drinks (mostly beer), pay and then find a place on one of the benches. A convivial togetherness is assured and conversations in all languages start easily.

For the surfers the ideal spot is at the entrance where the artificial Eisbach is pumped into the English garden. The stream forms a constant wave on which the surfers glide for a short while one after the other and over and over again. A daily free spectacle for the audience on the bridge.

And at the Eisbach further down, a quiet place found by a couple to rest and have a picnic alone.

No wonder that the Englische Garten is loved by the Munich people in all seasons during the year. In the summer, the large grass areas can be used for sunbathing. Warning: if you feel embarrassed by nudity then do not look around. It is allowed to feel like Adam and Eve in paradise before biting the apple.

Munich pics (1)

Appropriately in view of the 50 years German-French friendship, which is being celebrated these days, we spent a week in Munich and had some thoughts about these two cities similarities and differences.

While H was in meetings at the Max Planck Institute, I spend the time sightseeing and visiting museums and parks. The museums I visited alone but for the sightseeing and walk in the parks I had the company of Munich friends.

For the museums (http://www.pinakothek.de/en/home, http://www.bayerisches-nationalmuseum.de/) I took two days to visit and to discover. Just enough time to get an overview and to want to return.

From the "Great (608,5 x 463,5 cm!) Last Judgement" painted by Peter Paul Rubens in 1617 to the many well preserved wooden sculptures by Tilman Riemenschneider (1460-1531)

to a large collection of modern art in the Pinakothek der Moderne: a wealth of art which can be compared with the Louvre's richness.

The entrance hall of the Pinakothek der Moderne has a glass opening to the sky similar to the entrance hall of the Louvre

and the interest in the art exhibitions seems to be just as intense.