The final entry in my series of Röthlisberger statues; this one highlights a diviner. For the complete collection, see these posts and this gallery.
dr Wasserschmöcker – Röthlisberger
The last of the Röthlisberger collection.
The last of the Röthlisberger collection.
A therapist from old Switzerland.
Andy and I had a wonderful hike today, but it’s late and I don’t have the photos or story ready. So for today, another Röthlisberger.
The puzzling old woman who collected plastic bags.
Another childhood memory from the bronze-statue artist Röthlisberger.
A self-portrait by Röthlisberger.
Today, a self-portrait by Röthlisberger, depicting a rather unusual boyhood occupation.
A commissioned piece by Röthlisberger.
Another interesting statue by Röthlisberger, from the installation on Zürichberg.
Röthlisberger statue highlighting a former method of making a living.
A delightful Röthlisberger statue, again highlighting a former method of making a living. Here, a girl who sells flowers roadside at the top of Alpine mountain passes – with a view of the Alps in the background.
A farmhand pauses to play with his dog.
Another playful entry in the Zürichberg collection of Röthlisberger statues.
Another Röthlisberger statue, this of a housecook.
Another Röthlisberger statue, this of a housecook.
I had the pleasure of visiting Florence, Italy — my first time to this beautiful city. I was there to attend the International Conference on Mobile Systems, Applications, and Services (MobiSys), but built in an extra day for exploring the sights and smells of Florence. The weather was beautiful and sunny, most of the time, leading to many wonderful photographs.
Despite attending most of the sessions of the conference, I had enough time to hike around town and see the highlights of the most interesting or significant museums, all within about 72 hours:
Galleria dell’Accademia – with Michelangelo’s stunning statue of David.
There were thousands of other tourists (mostly American college students beginning their summer travel); long lines and crowded museums seemed inevitable. I purchased the Firenze Card – 72 euros for 72 hours of free access to nearly all the important sites and museums in Florence. Totally worthwhile if you’re going to visit more than two or three museums. Plus, the card gives you priority entry – meaning you might wait only 5-30 minutes in line instead of two hours!
Although I took over 700 photos, most are of famous pieces of art you’ve already seen; so my photo gallery tries to explore the little things and capture the scenic views from the towers I climbed.
I was also able to enjoy dining in several wonderful restaurants – mostly little Trattoria with delightful pasta and house wines from Tuscany. Perhaps my favorite meals, though, were the simple lunches assembled from sliced sausage, cheese, and bread.
I stayed in the lovely Hotel Tornabuonio Beacci, an elegant old hotel with a beautiful terrace for sunset views with afternoon drinks, in a convenient location just a few blocks from the Duomo or Ponte Vecchio. Highly recommended!