Wales Millennium Centre

Nick and I recently visited the Wales Millenium Centre, at Cardiff Bay. Despite it's local reputation as the 'armadillo', it remains  a truly iconic and impressive piece of architecture to behold. The centre, that was  designed by architect Jonathan Adams, was completed in 2004. Okay, it may not rival the Sydney Opera House, but it certainly adds an elegant  air to the otherwise predicatble design of the newly developed Cardiff Bay waterfront. I love the combination of materials icluding slate, metal, wood and glass, and the awesome scale and glowing lettering .... It's, in my opinion an amazing building that has created its own unique sense of  seaside beauty.

Sagrada Família and Barcelona

When I visited Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, (or Sacred Family church) in Barcelona I'm afraid I was a little underwhelmed. Maybe it was because I had built it up so much in my mind before I got there, or maybe it was because -of course - the building work is not yet finished , so I didnt feel the full force of its splendour, or,  maybe it was the cranes....

The trip to Bracelona was still a very rewarding one however, including visits to the Picasso Museum and the Guggenheim in Bilbau- where the highlight for me was the Rauchenberg retrospective.
And I'm still glad I saw the Sagrada Familia, and maybe, just maybe, it might even be completed within my life-time and then Nick and I will go and enjoy it in its full glory. However, construction on the church is set to continue for at least several more decades to come , so only time will tell....

http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/sf-eng/docs_serveis/informacio.php

The Acropolis at Lindos

The Acropolis

My favorite place -besides Paris-  that I have visited so far in my merry little life is Lindos, a precious village in the Greek island of Rhodes . It is the place my husband proposed to me and  will  forever be embedded in my heart.

View of the castle

Above the beautiful village of Lindos, with its white-washed  walls and rooftop tavernas, rises the acropolis.

From that vantage point at  the 'high city' we have enjoyed spectacular views of the surrounding harbours and coastline. But it is the buildings that remain up there -at the top, that will capture your imagination and bring joy to your soul! The long, hot climb up the mountain slopes to the acropolis is rewarded by such archealogical treasures as  'The Castle of the Knights of St John', built  before 1317, 'The Temple of Athena' built about 300bc and  'The  Greek Orthadox Church of St John', dating from the 13th or 14th century amongst many, many others. I will go back again one day and  it will not be soon enough.

Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris

  

I love the crazy inside-out, post-modern architecture of the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, designed by artchitects Renzo Piano and Richard Rodgers. This  high-tech building  houses the largest museum of modern art in Europe. We climbed to top of the building for the fabulous panoramic views over Paris- well worth the effort!

The views from the top!

http://www.centrepompidou.fr/