WINDOWS IN THE GRAND PLACE

It's amazing we can board a train in Paris' Gard du Nord and be in Brussels in about an hour and a half. (It sometimes takes longer than that to go from the far suburbs to downtown Chicago.) We won't see much in Brussels on a quick day trip, but our main destination will be the Grand Place. Along with the Gothic Hôtel de Ville and Maison du Roi the square is surrounded by the opulent guild houses. 

During my previous visit to Brussels I took this photo of the exquisite architectural detailing, statuary and balconies with their red-flower boxes that decorate the guild houses.

original photo:

If you are interested in purchasing either a print or notecard, click on the appropriate button under either image. Fotomoto will do the rest.

Thank you for visiting,

A Great Europe Trip Planner 

Photo taken by me during my visit to Brussels.
Waterlogue images created by me. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

QUEUING AT THE LOUVRE

In 1981, when I. M. Pei was chosen as the architect to redesign Musée du Louvre, his plan included not only renovating the Cour Napoléon but also the interior of the museum. He proposed a central underground entrance which would link all three buildings. In the center of the large courtyard would be a glass and steel pyramid which would be placed above the entrance and serve as a skylight. Another inverted pyramid underneath the entrance would allow sunlight to enter the underground shopping mall. Initially the design and concept were despised. How could a Chinese architect from America know anything about French architecture? A modern-designed pyramid in front of the classical French architecture of the Louvre?  Once the courtyard was reopened in 1988 and the new clear-glass pyramid entrance in the following Spring, public opinion had changed, with over half of those polled in favor of the design. Now, as it was initially with the Eiffel Tower, Parisians have not only accepted their pyramid, but are actually quite fond of it. In this photo you see the large pyramid entrance set amid triangular-shaped fountains and three other small pyramids. The pyramid really does blend in quite beautifully with the classical architecture.

original photo:

If you are interested in purchasing either a print or notecard, click on the appropriate button under either image. Fotomoto will do the rest.

Thank you for visiting,

A Great Europe Trip Planner 

Photo taken by me during my visit to Paris.
Waterlogue images created by me. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

BRUGGE CANAL REFLECTIONS

If you love the oldness of Europe (that's my word), then you have to visit Bruges, or Brugge as I like to call it. Brugge is the Flemish form of Bruges. Needless to say, Brugge is everything that the guidebooks tell you it is: beer, chocolate, unique architecture and postcard-pretty canals. This is one of my favorite photos from my visit: a picturesque canal, the water so still it reflected like a mirror, the houses with their burnt-orange tiled roofs reflecting on the water.

original photo.

If you are interested in purchasing either a print or notecard, click on the appropriate button under either image. Fotomoto will do the rest.

Thank you for visiting,

A Great Europe Trip Planner 

Photo taken by me during my visit to Brugge in May, 2010.
Waterlogue images created by me.