Live Simply Simply Live
  • Blog
  • Studio
  • Home
  • Cards
  • Coronation Wood

Simply..bacari and cicheti....

15/5/2018

6 Comments

 
Bear with me as they say, for I am still on about Venice!

I am passionate about Venice - it just happened. I did not need to try (I just needed to be there).

(Can I just add here that a friend who has been reading the comments recently said 'How did they all get to be so wise?')


I loved the cookery book Polpo as much for it's information about Venice as for the food and knew that I would want to eat cicheti at a bacaro (see the Polpo story here) - the kind of place Venetians will stop at on the way home from work, maybe with a colleague or meeting a friend, for a glass of local wine or a spritz and some delicious small snacks.  I was delighted to find that one of Russell Norman's recommended bacari was on the street right below our apartment!
I had also read somewhere about a cafe in a greenhouse (Serra di Giardini) and found it quite easily (Vaporetto stop Giardini). We enjoyed a lunch  and an aperol spritz there on a sunny warm day - so sunny they had to lower the wonderful blinds...

Picture
Picture
Picture
Neither place was expensive.
Picture
Saluti!
6 Comments

Simply..not the real thing....

2/5/2018

7 Comments

 
..but exquisite facsimiles of wonderful books dating from the 1400's.
Picture
In the Scuola Grande di San Marco is a display of very convincing facsimiles of famous and beautiful books which you are allowed to handle and leaf through.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The illuminated manuscripts made into books (codex) were owned by families such as the Medici, d'Este, Rothschild and Duca di Berry and handling them in their bejewelled and embroidered covers we got a sense of how precious books were, and how valued.

Any bibliophile would be thrilled by this exhibition (Barry would have loved it).

I think it is on until September but it will surely travel to other venues in Europe. I am so glad to have experienced it.
Picture
Picture
In the larger room with it's magnificent ceiling and paintings by Tintoretto, are printed books from the 1500's and the Museum of Medical History (the building is part of the hospital).

To see these originals, which were of course in glass cases, as the originals of the codices would also be, brought alive the concepts of the Renaissance for us.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Theophrastus is known as the father of botany and is a bit of a hero of mine.
The medical instruments on display were in Heather's words 'a chamber of horrors', especially those associated with childbirth, but we spent a couple of hours in this quiet museum and I would certainly visit it again.
7 Comments

Simply..it's a miracle....

30/4/2018

8 Comments

 
 ..not only that it still exists, but that it works as well as it does.

Venice that is.

Deliveries, ambulances - yellow with blue flashing lights, rubbish collection - steep fines if you get it wrong! Repairs, sewage, I was aware of working vessels on the canals day and night. Washing hanging out to dry. One of the nicest sounds was the voices of children going to school in the mornings in the street below our apartment.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
This issue is one of the most contentious of all..
Picture


We saw a swallow in Venice, and yesterday I spotted the first one here. I wonder if they will nest with us again...
8 Comments

Simply..Italian style....

28/4/2018

6 Comments

 
 
We did not shop in Venice, except for food. until our last morning when I bought some Murano glass gifts and Heather bought a beautiful little bag, but do come  window shopping with me - what windows! What style!

Picture
Elegance and simplicity in a quiet back street
Picture
and in front of the Gritti Palace Hotel.
Picture
Wit in the optician's window,
Picture
and charm outside a restaurant.
Picture
Stunning glass of course...
Picture
Picture
Picture
Jewellery of every kind.
Picture
Fabulous clothes.
Picture
Picture
Paints aand pigments by the jar or bag or box...
Picture
Picture
Picture
Antiques.
Picture
Pennacchio!

Do you have a favourite place to window shop?
6 Comments

Simply..ghosts?

26/4/2018

6 Comments

 
There is a 'back story' (if I am using that term correctly) to my Venice trip which newer readers of Live Simply Simply Live may not know of..

My husband Barry and I had planned to spend a month in Venice in February 2016 and had done lots of research and planning and booked an apartment which was very Venetian. We wanted to know we were in Venice and didn't want to stay in a place which could have been anywhere. So the one we found  had a canal, a bridge and a private terrace with a view of this 15C church! You can see the apartment here.

When Barry died unexpectedly the owners of the apartment said they regretted they could not refund the deposit but would hold it indefinitely to be used by me or anyone I cared to give it to, and it went to the back of my mind for many months.
Picture
Little window on the terrace

As you can imagine it was with mixed feelings I went to Venice without Barry and to the apartment we had so carefully chosen. I know Barry would have been as thrilled as I was that our lovely Heather came along. She made it fun and a very healing and happy experience.


Last night I watched a production of Vera Brittain's Testament of Youth. In it, towards the end, Winifred tells Vera, who has suffered devastating losses at a very young age,

'All of us are surrounded by ghosts. Now we need to learn how to live with them. You must start at the beginning. Get up, get dressed, eat. Spring is out there, waiting...'

For me, Venice was out there, waiting, and I'm very glad I went to meet her.
6 Comments

Simply..birth, death and politics....

24/4/2018

4 Comments

 
..in Venice which is still a living city of some 57,000 people.
Picture

I had read of this tradition to announce the arrival and the sex (blue for a boy, pink for a girl) of a new baby by attaching a ribbon to the door.

Picture
Picture

Graffiti on the hoarding around the Accademia Bridge which is being restored.

Picture

I had planned to visit the church of SS Giovanni e Paolo on our last morning but a funeral was taking place.

Picture

I have been following this blog about Venice with interest for a few years. The writer Steven Varni, wrote a post about the very funeral I mention above.

4 Comments

Simply..indulge me....

22/4/2018

8 Comments

 

as I post a few more memories of Venice!

I learned from Heather, who learned from Cinzia, who learned from her mother exactly now to make an espresso. I didn't know I liked it.

Picture
This came today. First try tomorrow morning.

How do you like your coffee?

This is quite fun.

I only read it after I came back :-)
8 Comments

Simply..a bookshop....

16/4/2018

9 Comments

 
..like no other!

In Libreria Acqua Alta they are prepared for high water and flooding
Picture
with books stacked in a gondola
Picture
in bathtubs
Picture
and in kayaks.
Picture
You can sit and read looking onto the canal
Picture
This is also the fire escape. And there are chandeliers on the crumbling ceiling,
Picture
and several cats.
Picture
Picture
Fantastico, no? 

Back soon.
9 Comments

Simply..early and late....

15/4/2018

12 Comments

 
If you have been to Venice you will know that even in April it can be very crowded and we found it best to be out early, or late after the day trippers have left, and to go to some of the lesser known museums and galleries.

On our first full day Heather had us up before dawn to see the sunrise from in front of the Doge's Palace.

This is my favourite shot.

Picture
One of the many sweepers out at dawn to clean, with birch brooms, the Piazza and the surrounding areas.
Picture
There were only the sweepers and a few other photographers around and the light was beautiful.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
The Bridge of Sighs Ponte del Sospiri built in the 1600's and so called because of the supposed sighs of those who passed from the courts of the Doge's Palace on the left to the prison building on the right.

It took us just 15 minutes with the help of Google to get from our apartment to Piazza San Marco, without it it took 40 fascinating minutes to get back!
Picture
Picture
There is something to astonish and delight at every turn.
Picture
Back for breakfast on the terrace in warm sunshine!

Bliss.
12 Comments

Simply..Venezia....

13/4/2018

8 Comments

 

Heather and I were walking back through a quiet, almost empty Piazza San Marco to our apartment having just been to a superb performance of Madame Butterfly in La Fenice. It had rained while we were in the theatre. The cafes were almost empty and the chairs were being cleared away but the orchestra was still playing...I didn't really want anything other than Puccini in my head, but my feet were doing the listening and they could not help but move to Scott Joplin. Heather laughed and videod me (No, I am not showing it here!)

Almost exactly two years to the day since this post...

I am passionate about Venice.

A wedding today.

More passion.

More dancing!

So happy.

Venice by night is magical. Lighted windows became something of a theme....

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
'Our' bridge! The door to our apartment is just by the railings on the right.
8 Comments

I simply danced....

13/4/2018

14 Comments

 

..for joy in Piazza San Marco last Tuesday night.

Picture
14 Comments

Simply..sunshine....

1/4/2018

11 Comments

 
..on Loch Fyne today.

In the village of Newton is a long floating pontoon.
Picture
Looking north from it..
Picture
Looking south to the village..
Picture
and at the end of it a picnic table! With flag.
Picture
One day I will take a picnic there.
11 Comments

Simply managed....

3/3/2018

15 Comments

 
..to avoid the snow! We must have been in one of the very few places in UK not to have snowstorms (my village was cut off while I was away). Ardfern was bitterly cold but dry and bright with barely a flurry of the white stuff, and we had a most relaxing time.

We were five (three good cooks - I am so lucky with my friends!). A walk around the frozen ponds in Arduaine Gardens looking at the strange hieroglyphs on the frosted paths, books, films, food and wine and lots of laughter. We watched in amazement the rest of the country on the nightly news and shared pictures and news from our stranded friends and families.

The roads had re-opened when it was time to come home.


Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

This seemed to be the only hazard (and we didn't see it).

Picture

How did you fare? 

I hope you are all safe and warm.
15 Comments

Simply..faster than fairies faster than witches....

16/1/2018

7 Comments

 

A snowy journey home..
Picture
Picture
Picture

And heroes appeared to be a theme..

Picture

Here is the engine that pulled the train on the outward journey.

Picture
Picture
Picture

And I saw Gary Oldfield as Churchill in Our Darkest Hour (he will surely win an Oscar).

Where was I?

In York to meet Mary!
7 Comments

Simply..the texture of a village....

21/11/2017

4 Comments

 

Does this give you a feel of the wintry place? Though there is still quite a lot of colour.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

The village is Riccall in North Yorkshire.
4 Comments

Simply..Nairn....

19/10/2017

12 Comments

 
A nice wee Scottish town with great beaches,

Picture

and long-legged people

Picture

with interesting shoes

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

I wonder who designs the soles?

Picture

and if it's a fun job..

Nairn also has

Picture

this lovely old postbox

Picture

and the best flower shop in the area. (My sister's!)

 www.theflowershopnairn.co.uk/


12 Comments

Simply..under wraps....

29/9/2017

4 Comments

 

So many of York's important buildings were under scaffolding on my last visit (Phoebe the cat lives in York).

St William's College.

Picture

The Mansion House.

Picture

Micklegate Bar.

Picture

With photograph. (To show you what you are missing.)

Picture

And many many more..

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

Inluding the Minster which always was and always will be partially covered in scaffolding. It's essential work and it is good that the money can be found for conservation though it must be a bit frustrating for visitors who have come especially to see the architecture.

Picture

The east end of the Minster has been covered in scaffolding for many years while the restoration and conservation of the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world was carried out. It is wonderful to see it uncovered again.

Picture
4 Comments

Simply..holiday....

26/9/2017

8 Comments

 

The very essence of an ideal holiday for me..being out of doors in gentle sunshine, eating out, a total media break, a good book/gallery/concert...simple requirements.

This can be city or country, abroad or at home, any season, and for a day or a week. I could add no timetable, the freedom to change my mind on a whim, and I would always want my camera.

I prefer short breaks and like to think that is because I love home and don't need to 'escape' it to have a holiday.

Are you also torn between returning to places you love and going somewhere new?

I enjoy quite frequent changes of scene and prefer the company of family and close friends to that of strangers, though I'm happy with my own company too.

Childhood holidays at the seaside, away from the city grime were very special and keenly anticipated once a year events, though when an aunt moved to rural Wigtownshire we spent Easters and some of summer there in the bracing air with wide sandy beaches to ourselves and the freedom to go and explore on our own.

I love holidays.

8 Comments

Simply..holiday....

24/9/2017

12 Comments

 

What four things make your ideal holiday?

Picture


12 Comments

Simply..cat sitting....

23/9/2017

8 Comments

 
Picture
Meet Phoebe.

Picture

A dear little contented cat.

Picture

An undemanding companion, who knows, as only cats know, how to relax totally.

Picture
8 Comments

Simply..time to party....

11/8/2017

8 Comments

 

A special birthday with a patchwork theme.

Quilt expert Maggie (we set up Quilter's Patch in York together) hung her favourite quilts around the walls of the prettily transformed hall where the party was to be held. We took the opportunity to photograph the collection the day before.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

It was such fun being part of a team again, and I also had the nice job of doing flowers and candles for the tables....

Picture

Plentiful food and drink, music, family and friends to catch up with - the party, like the birthday girl, was amazing!

Thank you Maggie and family.
8 Comments

Simply..my second home....

10/8/2017

5 Comments

 
Do you have a place you think of as your second home?

Regular readers will know that I feel that way about the city of York.

Picture

I love this statue by the Minster.

Picture
Picture
Picture

That hand - so expressive of power, cinfidence, arrogance even. It makes me wonder about the man and his times and want to know more. Nowhere brings history alive for me quite like this city.

I was there for a very special party.

More tomorrow....
5 Comments

Simply..Bach....

21/12/2016

6 Comments

 
Picture

The Bach Christmas Oratorio in the Berliner Dom was thrilling.

A dusting of snow on the hills at home today...and here is a poem for the solstice.
6 Comments

Simply..in Berlin....

20/12/2016

7 Comments

 

I was staying with my artist friend Lynne Cameron who is living and working in Berlin and has an exhibition at Under The Mango Tree Gallery in the attractive Schoneberg district - good restaurants, stylish clothes shops, great coffee shops and a Saturday market with traditional German cakes, Turkish food and Polish specialities, Christmas foliage and amaryllis and masses of mistletoe.

See Lynne's work here and read what she says about the recent tragedy here at The Empathy Blog.

Picture
7 Comments

Simply..dismayed....

20/12/2016

7 Comments

 

I got back from a wonderful few days in Berlin yesterday afternoon and am so dismayed at how the atmosphere - so friendly, civilized, festive and delightful when we visited this beautiful market on Friday - must have changed to one of horror since the violent attack on innocent people last night.

Picture

I am full of admiration for all those Berliners who made a point of attending the Christmas markets today.
7 Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write

    Categories

    All
    Live Simply
    Live Simply
    Simple
    Simply Beautiful
    Simply Bin It
    Simply Chill
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Christmas
    Simply Do A Good Deed
    Simply Draw
    Simply Draw
    Simply Eat
    Simply Fitter
    Simply Fun
    Simply Get Rid
    Simply Grow
    Simply Headspace
    Simply Holiday
    Simply Home
    Simply Home
    Simply Inspirational
    Simply Laugh
    Simply Learn
    Simply Listen
    Simply Live
    Simply Low Maintenance
    Simply Money
    Simply Move
    Simply Move
    Simply Organise
    Simply Paint
    Simply Routine
    Simply Seeing.. Or Not
    Simply Stylish
    Simply Venice
    Simply Write


    Author

    An artist seeking a simpler life - (but not too simple!)

    All words and images copyright Freda Waldapfel 2010 - 2020

    Archives

    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.