Happy new year!
Thanks so much for all your support this year. I hope you have a truly fabulous 2018!
My final urban sketch for 2017 is ‘at the hospital’. Thank you NHS!
Hanging out in Hoi An
Even in the endless deluge of monsoon season, the ancient town, and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An is awash with colour.
When I visited this time last year, we spent the days wading through puddles, wandering through the lantern filled shops and of course, getting measured at the tailors.
View from Hoi An Roastery, Japanese Bridge
It’s common for Hoi An to suffer flooding, but that week, the waters of the Thu Bon river stayed safely between the river banks, just teetering on the verge of overflowing.
The only way to drip dry, was to consume huge amounts of strong, smoky, sugar-rich Vietnamese coffee in the various Hoi An Roastery’s scattered around the town.
Sweaty and confused in Saigon
This time last year I was stumbling jetlagged and bleary-eyed around the frantic streets of Ho Chi Minh city.
Whilst I love to walk in a city, I’ll never forget the death-defying road crossings through motorbike stampedes to get from the hotel near Tao Dan Park to the highest view point in town, the Bitexco Financial Tower.
Street cleaners in Tao Dan Park
Thankfully no motorbikes in Tao Dan Park!
I opted for the most expensive coffee in town so that I could sketch that great view of the Saigon River through the lazy afternoon smog.
How much is that coffee in the window?
I go misty over you
The Bitexco Tower from the Harmony Hotel breakfast room
Merry Christmas!
So full I could pop! Hope you are having a very merry Christmas.
At rest on Christmas Eve
Sometimes you just need to take time out.
Tarragona, city of human towers
The lovely city of Tarragona was one of the places the human towers originated. No human towers today, but I was lucky enough to get free entry to the 1st century roman tower, as the city celebrates Tarraco’s 17 years as a World Heritage Site.
Stunning views and just time for a quick sketch of the cathedral before descending through the throngs of roman re-enactors!
Castellers in Catalonia
Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia teaching children to build human castles at the Jardins de Frederica Montsen, Barcelona.
House at the Black Madonna
An avant-garde moment at the cubist, Grand Cafe Orient, Prague.
The cafe is on the second floor of the House at the Black Madonna. Originally built as a department store, it now hosts two gorgeous cafe’s, the Czech Cubism exhibition and the most stunning staircase.
Brown nosers
David Černý’s brown-nosers is hidden away in the back garden of the quirky Futura gallery in Prague. There is a special treat inside each bum-hole!
From backsides, onwards to Černý’s pulsating foam and metal embryo sculpture, which clings to a drainpipe in Stare Mesto. You can just see it throbbing in the dimness, across the square from the cosy Tricafe.
Horsey horsey don’t you stop
I love David Černy’s satiric sculpture of King Wenceslas on his upside down dead horse, which dangles proudly from the Art Nouveau dome in the Lucerna Palace shopping centre. Very statesmanlike. The lolling tongue is a particularly nice touch!
cmoorelife 