Pompeii, Ruins can't cover Ancient prosperity

Ancient Pompeii was a Roman city situated in the modern Campania region at the foot of Mont Vesuvius.  It was built on the fertile land between Vesuvius and the sea and was also used to watch out the ports on Gulf Naples. As it was on such important strategical position and was taken control by several forces. Meanwhile, the city was expanded and its economy, arts, architectures, etc were developed as well.

Unfortunately, all was buried after a big unexpected eruption of Vesuvius and it turned Pompeii into ruins. However, from ruin we could still see the "prosperous" Pompeii, from the temple of Apollo to Amphitheatre, from the house of Faun to the Villa of the Mysteries, etc.

Capri, the Most Poetic Island

"Capri, Capri! ..."  There are many songs and poems about Capri, little paradise island Napolitain. Isolated, distanced from the "chaotic" Naples city center, Capri is like pearl on the Mediterranean Ocean, with its own beauty and quietness.

Grotta Azzura, Faraglioni, Augusto's garden, Monte Solaro, Villa San Michele, etc. are among the most visited places on the island. 

P.S. Please pay attention of the notice if you do want to visit the Grotta Azzura. As it  might be closed for safety when the tide is high.

Gustave Moreau, Georges Rouault : Memories of Workshop

Jan 27th to April 25th 2016
Musée Gustave Moreau
14, rue de la Rochefoucauld
75009 Paris


From 1892 to 1898, Gustave Monreau (1826-1898) was the professor at L'Ecole des beaux-arts de Paris. Georges Rouault(1871-1958) was his favorite student, was considered as Monreau's "representative". The exhibition focuses on these two artists, presenting not only their visions on landscapes, women potraits, themes religious, but also the amazing common points in the material the color.

The memory from the students at Gustave Monreau, the prof considered himself as a passager, who used the liberal teaching method. "I am the bridge on which some of you spend." quoted from the professor.

(info from: 
http://www.exposition-paris.info/expo-peinture-paris-gustave-moreau-georges-rouault-souvenirs-d-atelier/
 http://musee-moreau.fr/evenement/gustave-moreau-georges-rouault-souvenirs-datelier#sthash.A4xDKcaB.dpuf)

"Red Ocher" Bologna

My first impression about Bologna came from the BBC Italian language learning program. In my mind, the city was in the red ocher color, ancient, historical, there were some old columns and had the oldest university in the world. 

Luckily I had chance to visit it last Xmas. Indeed ancient and historical. The center square is magnificent: Big Cathedral,  churches, museums, with Poseidon standing on the central square. 

Bologna is also famous for its high towers. Estimated total number is around 80 to 100 towers inside the city in Middle Age Bologna. I couldn't stop thinking about the middle age legends, high towers, flying dragons, trapped princess, brave knights, etc. They might all be true.

By the narrow stairs inside the tower, you could get up to the top of the tower. I do believe it was not at all an easy job to build these towers in 12th or 13th century. Either wouldn't be easy to climb up them.

What a wonderful view once get to the top! all the city is in you eyes now!

Those towers remember me of another little Toscana city - San Gimignano, where has the similar towers.

Master Pieces of Artworks from Budapest

From March 9th to Juillet 10 2016,  master pieces of Budpest Museum will be on exposition in Paris Luxembourg museum. The collections vary from the Midde-Age sculptures to the symbolism and the expressionnisme, in total about 80 paintings, drawings and sculptures by Dürer, Cranach, Greco, Goya, Manet, Gauguin, Kokoschka and other dozens of artworks of Hungry.

(info from:  http://museeduluxembourg.fr/expositions/chefs-doeuvre-de-budapest)

"Truly Madly Deeply"

"Truly Madly Deeply" - A famous single pop of Savage Garden in the 90s brings me back to that careless free teenagehood. The same melody, lyrics, singers and that warm golden-colored video. But when I checked up the it again, I suddenly realised it was shot in Paris. Every location seems so clear and familiar to me now, since I've been living here for years. It feels like time has been crossed up with life experience. The music brings me back, and the video brings me to reality. Anyway, Paris has always been so beautiful!!

So let's enjoy the song.

"I'll be your dream I'll be your wish I'll be your fantasy. 
I'll be your hope, I'll be your love, be everything that you need. 
I'll love you more with every breath truly madly deeply do... "

Mid-autumn Day

The Mid-Autumn Day is on the lunar calendar Aug 15th each year, which is the holiday for some eastern countries. 

In China, it is the day for family gathering, to apperciate the moon (the brightest and the roundest of the year), the flowers and to have the moon cake. It would be a little sad if you are alone and far away from your family. However, the moon connects gets you closer with them.

Through out the history of Chinese literature, many poets had wrote about the day and the moon. 

Some famous lines are as follows:

“但愿人长久，长里共婵娟。”  - 苏轼 《水调歌头》

“海上生明月，天涯共此时。” - 张九龄《望月怀远》 

...

Here I took a photo of the "roundest" moon from Paris, and made a painting of flowers to wish all my family and friends a happy Mid-Autumn day. Miss you all.