Michele

The Alte Pinakothek is located on Barer Str. 27, in München, Germany.

Boys Playing Dice, ca. 1675/80
Oils on Canvas, 145 x 108 cm  
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Two boys are sitting outside on the ground, absorbed in their game of dice. The boy on the right of the picture is perhaps hiding another die in his closed hand. A young boy is standing next to them and chewing a piece of bread, lost in thought. The motif of games of chance-and deceit in gambling-can be found just as much in the works of the Caravaggisti as in the Murillo’s choice of the Bamboccianti in Rome. Through Murillo’s choice of children as protagonists, however, the subject loses its moralizing poignancy.

Card Playing Soldiers, ca. 1625/30
Oil on Panel, 32 x 43 cm
Willem Cornelisz Duyster 

While one of the soldiers playing cards concentrates on his hand, the other player, hiding his right hand behind his back, looks out of the painting and catches the viewer’d attention. The depiction is a warning to be attentive and not to push one’s luck

 Danaë, ca. 1527
 Oil tempera on oak panel, 114 x 95 cm 
Jan Gossart

In 1527, Gossart painted his final work on a mythological subject, Danaë, a large-scale work, using sober and elegant architectural motifs as the setting for its subject.
In the centre of the painting an enraptured Danaë sits on two plump pillows on the floor. With her bare legs spread apart, and her deep blue mantle slipping seductively from her shoulders to reveal her right breast, she receives Zeus in the form of the fertile golden rain that gently falls into her lap. In the background, viewed through the columns, are buildings in a mixture of architectural styles: an Italian Renaissance palace, a medieval turret, a north ITalian church tower and lantern, and a Flamboyant Late Gothic edifice.

 The Canigiani Madonna, ca. 1507 
 Oil on wood, 131 x 107 cm 
Sanzio Raffaello (Raphael)

St Columba Altarpiece, ca. 1455
Oil on oak panel, 138 x 70 cm, 138 x 153 cm, 138 x 70 cm
Rogier van der Weyden 

Peasants Playing Cards, ca. 1636/38
Oil on panel 24.5 x  34.3 cm
Adriaen Brouwer

Schöne Grüße! Going grocery shopping is the best way to get to know what the locals eat. Remember, Sundays all the grocery stores are closed.

But the best reasons to come to Germany… Oktoberfest and bratwurst!

While looking for the Unknown Bureaucrat in Reykjavik we found afternoon tea service at the Apotek Restaurant.

Afternoon Tea is served everyday from 2:30 PM til 5:00 PM. Located Austurstraeti 16, Reykjavik 101, Iceland.

Rent a car. There are a lot of roundabouts and gravel roads so get car renters insurance too. We didn’t go on to the gravel road areas much this trip. We just stayed on the main road. If you are renting a car make sure you check road conditions.

Before we headed to Iceland we planned out what we were going to do. Only staying for 3 days, we didn’t want to become over whelmed. Day 1 we got settled in, day 2 Blue Lagoon and the 3rd day we explored the town of Reykjavik and sought out museums.

Reykjavík has a lovely bakery just a block away from Hallgrímskirkja called Brauð & Co. Delicious fresh bread and croissants. If you are planning to drive to the museums, make sure to visit Asmundur Sveinsson Museum.

Restaurant: Library Bistro and Bar

Address: Hafnargata 57, 230 Keflavík, Iceland

*Catch of the Day

Kveðjur!

There are actually trees in Iceland, but when you first land you are met with a strange landscape of volcanic rock and moss. It feels very alien. It is one of my favorite places we visited. I can’t wait to go back and see more of its world renown scenery. I am really sad that WOW airline’s business failed. The Iceland economy was booming 6 months ago. I was reading in Bloomberg today how their fishing season was bad this year too. If you have a chance to visit Iceland, go. It is such a beautiful place.

If you like black licorice, Iceland is the place for you. There is a lot of licorice there. I’ve never seen so much of it anywhere before. You have to try some chocolate covered licorice and a shot of there licorice liquor, Brennivín. Licorice is part of Iceland’s history, when the first Scandinavian settlers came to Iceland they needed more calories to survive the harsh conditions and salted fish with seaweed wasn’t enough. They couldn’t plant flowers for honey bees and wheat doesn’t grow in the volcanic soil. Licorice doesn’t flower and the roots are what make licorice. Licorice is also sweeter than sugar.

Iceland also offers puffin, horse and whale. We accidentally bought some horse sausage at the grocery store. Hrossakjöt means horse meat in Icelandic. Remember to read the labels and use Google Translate, it is a really helpful program.

June is my shih tzu poodle mix. Dutch got her for me on our 1st year anniversary. She is almost 11 years old! I adore her, and she is spoiled. When I need someone to watch her I usually have my family look after her. If I am going on a short term trip I suggest using a site called Rover. Not all sitters are the same, so make sure you read the reviews.