Open Space (Friday My Town)

Just behind where I live, there is a wide open space in the form of a football ground.

The view from my kitchen window across one end of that same field is one of the reasons why I live where I live just now. (That view was one of the things I immediately loved about this flat when I first came to have a look at it; which will be six years ago in April.)

On rare occasions in the summer, I’ve been able to see a full rainbow (or even a double one!) stretching from one end of that field to the other.  There a few things, I think, that give as much impression of “open space” as a full rainbow… (For the camera to do it justice is another matter!)

Water and sky meeting is another of those “openings”  that make your mind stretch the usual boundaries. This is from the lake outside town near ‘the House’ (where my parents lived in their retirement years, and my grandparents before them, back in my childhood).

I have to confess though, that while I love looking at water and skies… I really prefer to have my feet on the ground, and civilisation just round the corner.

Friday My Town: Open Space

SkyWatch Friday

Weekend Reflections

Postcards: Castles of Eastern Europe

Two recently received postcrossing cards:

Bran Castle, Romania

Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle", this castle is marketed as the home of the titular character in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897). The author never actually visited Romania, but is thought to have based Dracula’s castle on a description of Bran Castle that was available in turn-of-the-century Britain.

I was fascinated to receive this card and to look up and read a bit more about Bran castle, as I read the original novel by Bram Stoker only a few years ago, and found it a much better read than I had expected. (Not really being a big fan of vampire stories or movies otherwise.)

The original Bran castle was built ~ 1377-1388. The Castle was damaged and restored a number of times through the following centuries. Between 1888-1918, it was allowed to fall into decay, and was just used to house the region’s forestry staff.

After 1918, Transylvania became part of Greater Romania. The castle was restored by Queen Maria of Romania, and used as a residence of the royal family.

After WWII, the royal family was forced to leave the country by the communist regime, and the castle was turned into a museum.

In 2006, after several years of legal proceedings, the castle was returned to the heirs of Princess Ileana of Romania and Archduke Anton of Austria. In 2009, they opened the refurbished castle to the public as the first private museum of the country.

You can read more about its history here:
http://www.bran-castle.com/history.html

 

The Vorontsov Palace, Alupka, Ukraine

The Vorontsov Palace, or Alupka Palace, is situated at the foot of the Crimean Mountains in southern Ukraine, near the town of Alupka. It is one of the oldest and largest residential palaces in Crimea, and a popular tourist attraction. The palace was built 1828-1848 for Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov for use as his personal summer residence.

The palace was designed in a loose interpretation of the English Renaissance revival style by English architect Edward Blore and his assistant William Hunt. Blore is particularly well known in the UK for completing the design of the Buckingham Palace in London.

Rustic Details (FMTSO + MosaicMonday)

Ooops. I forgot to post for FMTSO back on Friday, in spite of having thought ahead for once. I took these shots last weekend, with the theme for this one in mind!

It’s one of the footbridges over the river in my town, and the sign on the railing says it was built in 1900 by a local engineering workshop.

I’ve usually been posting for Friday My Town from my DawnTreader’s Picture Book blog; but as this winter season so far has been uninspiring from photographic point of view, I’ve decided to let the Picture Book go into hibernation for a while. I might wake it up again when spring starts bringing a bit more colour back into the world. (I’ll let you know when I do!) For now, I think it’s enough for me to keep up this one!

Linking (“at the last minute”) to FMTSO: Rustic Details

- and also to Mosaic Monday

Postcard from Hungary

I must share this wonderful postcard that arrived today. It’s my first Postcrossing card from Hungary (and as far as I can recall, the first card I ever received from that country).

The image on the front is matched on the back with stamps by the same artist:

Károly Reich (1922-1988) was a Hungarian artist best known for his children’s books illustrations. The sender of the card informes me that he is still one of the most famous and favourite illustrators in her country.

I wrote his name into Google Image Search, and many more wonderful, happy, colourful pictures came up... I think I’ve found a new favourite!

Changing Skies

Sunday

We’ve had a weather change in the last few days, from mild, grey and wet to colder temperaures.

Monday morning

Wednesday, 11:00 a.m., looking east

Wednesday, 11:15 a.m., looking south

We’ve even had a little snow – but so far only a sprinkle, around here. We’re likely to get a bit more in the next few days. Perhaps. We seem to be in an area caught between weather fronts, so not easy to tell!

Looking down: Who’s been here before me?