The May issue of Lonny magazine was just released and I flipped as soon as I saw that it prominently featured Marrakech, Morroco — a city that’s high on my must get there someday list of places.
The issue delves into the Majorelle Garden; the souks; the exquisite carvings and architecture of the Ben Youssef Madrasa; the legendary La Maison Arabe hotel; Morroccan cuisine and Marrakech-inspired fashion. The pictures are gorgeous, go check out the issue!
While in Rome, I made a repeat visit to the Colosseum, aka the Flavian Amphitheatre. In its day — it was completed in 80 AD — it could seat 50,000 people.
A lot more of the Colosseum would still be standing had it not been used as a quarry for stone and bronze later in its existence, as well as suffered from violent earthquakes. It’s incredible to try to imagine what it must have looked like the day of its grand opening, isn’t it?
The arena is shorter than a football field, a little more than 270 feet at its longest section.
The arena’s floor is long gone, but without it, you can see into the areas where the animals, gladiators and other people used to run around.
I have visited Rome once before, in 2005 — the week Pope John Paul II died and Pope Benedict was elected. But the city was crazy busy at that time, of course, so it’s been wonderful to get to come back this week and experience Rome all over again, without the excessive crowds.
I’m trying to squeeze in as much as possible by day, walking a lot and taking more photos than I can review each evening. Slowly but surely, I’ll work my way through all of it — the city and the photos. Here are just glimpses of six things I’ve seen so far this week.
[Photos by Marie Look]
Riomaggiore is one of the coziest, most charming little towns I’ve ever stepped foot in.
In July 2011, my family and I visited Florence. We took a nearly three-hour train ride from there to Riomaggiore, a village on the Italian Riviera, and one of the Cinque Terre (“five lands”). The five villages are located along a stretch of rugged coastline west of La Spezia, in the region of Liguria.
Village-hopping among the five is a popular activity with tourists, as all of them are very picturesque and easy to navigate. The homes are very close together and the roads are steep. Many residents must access their homes, gardens and private vineyards via a network of stone stairways.
[photos by Marie Look]
Happy Valentine’s Day from Rovaness!
[via #]
San Telmo is the oldest barrio in Buenos Aires, and people flock to it for its colonial-style buildings, quaint cafes, tango parlors and antiques. On Sundays there’s a market in the streets, complete with arts, crafts, antiques and street performers.
[via #]
[via #]
[via #]
[via #]
[via #]
[via #]
[via #]
[via #]
The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow is a Russian landmark and icon. It was built in 1824 and has since seen numerous performances by the world-famous Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera. It’s also survived fires, reconstructions, the French invasion, Nazi bombs, Lenin’s orders to blow it up (his death was later announced from the Bolshoi’s stage), and other troubles.
In July 2005, the theater was closed for restoration. Six years and nearly $700 million later, it reopened in October 2011, complete with restored Imperial decor and better acoustics.
See some really interesting before and after photos of the theater’s restoration here.
[early 19th century]
[1883]
[1905]
[1932]
[1856]
So the theatre went from this [above] … to this [below] …
[via #]
[via #]
[image via #]
Musician Moby started a quirky architecture blog recently, named what else but Moby Los Angeles Architecture Blog. Browsing it, I noticed he had featured the legendary Castillo del Lago, a Spanish-style Hollywood Hills manse originally built in 1926. Previous owners include Bugsy Siegel in the ’30s and Madonna in the ’90s.
Stats on this oldie but goodie? Nine bedrooms, six bathrooms and 7,780 square feet; and it overlooks Beechwood Canyon and the Hollywood Reservoir (or “Lake Hollywood,” if you prefer …). I’d imagine it has some pretty excellent views, both inside and out.
[images via #]
