Looking and seeing

In one of my many museum visits I came to this painting which was neatly covered by a curtain.

Of course, the curiosity was heightened and a small cord could be drawn.

It was a light sensitive watercolor.

One had to hold the cord to keep the curtains open and they closed themselves as soon as the cord was released.

This made me think about the times when large important paintings had this curtain arrangement.  In this way the painting becomes a theatrical performance.  Sitting on a chair and looking at it for several hours as professor Roberts suggests came to my mind.

http://harvardmagazine.com/2013/11/the-power-of-patience

What a great approach to look and therefore see paintings in a new way. 

Schlaraffenland

Just a few days in Munich and I fill the days with revisiting the museums.  The Dutch collection in the Alte Pinakothek is famous and so is Pieter Bruegel the Elder's "Land of Cockaigne" (1567)

for Germans well known by the brother Grimms fairytale called "Schlaraffenland".

The food display in the butchershops and then the open restaurants at every corner is similar to the situation of a fairytale. Have to keep to our New Years resolves!

Transatlantic voyage

In the Keflavik airport  the 1/8 model of the 'Islendingur' is always on display.  Often I passed by this  ship model but this time I looked at it more closly and learned about its significance. With this kind of Viking longship Leif Eriksson made the voyage to 'Vinland' in Newfoundland. That was 500 years before Christofer Columbus.  In the year 2000 Gunnar Marel Eggertsson built the 'Islendingur' and sailed with a crew to North America.   He is both a ship builder and captain from an Icelandic family with a long history of ship builders.

http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/norse_ships.htm

Thinking about the courage of the original Vikings and the hardship they took in stride, I felt somewhat ashamed about complaining not to be able to stretch my legs in the seat of Icelandair's Boeing 757-200.

Mantra

Just reading these words has a calming effect.  With the temperatures fluctuating between -15C and +15C we can only adjust with the correct clothes and shoes and take it in stride.

 Mumminmamma is a good example.

https://www.moomin.com/en

As long as she has her handbag with woolen socks and stomach medicine she stays calm and keeps the stripes in her apron straight. Even the most distressing circumstances she takes calmly in stride.

Buddha's hand ?

This standing golden Buddha (in the Metropolitan Museum in New York) expresses with his prominent hands 'Welcome' and 'Fear not'. So comforting when starting a New Year with twelve month open for all kinds of plans.

This exotic fruit called BUDDHA'S HAND looks scary in the fruit section of Russo's despite the origin of its name. However, after learning what to do with it: 

http://www.thekitchn.com/5-things-to-do-with-a-buddhas-hand-196888 

we now know that we have nothing to fear.