Architecture Archives - Nicola Ann Art

Feb 29

by Nicola in Architecture, Cities, Travel 0 comments tags: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch, Pandemic, Venice

Coronavirus cuts short the Venice Carnival

25 JANUARY 2020 A gloomy yet invigorating weekend spent in Venice; busier than expected. 31 JANUARY 2020 Rome confirmed the first two cases of COVID-19. 23 FEBRUARY 2020 The Carnival of Venice was cancelled, result of Coronavirus, two days earlier than scheduled. 29 FEBRUARY 2020 Returned to Venice for another long weekend. NON-CONTACT THERMOMETER CHECKS I counted twenty people on the EasyJet flight. At Venice airport, before reaching passport control, medics checked each passenger’s temperature before permitting us to proceed. GHOST TOWN The carnival always marked the start of Venice’s peak tourist season. Sadly, this year the pandemic chased the revellers away leaving a ghost town in its wake. Surreal yet ingratiating, with most of the shops and restaurants closed. Police patrolled Piazza San Marco and guarded the tightly shut St Mark’s Basilica, museums and theatres. Almost redundant with only a handful of people scattered about. ETHREAL GRANDUER I relished the opportunity of getting up close and personal to the city’s ornate details without having to worry about stepping on anyone’s toes. ABSENT NON-CONTACT THERMOMETER CHECKS Returning to the UK, I counted sixteen people on the flight. At London Luton Airport, we freely entered with no medics to check our temperatures. […]

Oct 20

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Cities, London, The United Kingdom 2 comments tags: Architecture, Back2Blighty, Battersea, Battersea Power Station, BeanOn Photography, Chelsea Bridge, England, The United Kingdom

Iconic Battersea Power Station

Feeling inspired after relishing other people’s art at the Affordable Art Show in Battersea, I ventured along the Thames and happily explored the in-progress renovations of Battersea Power Station. I lived in Battersea many years ago and walked over Battersea Bridge to work, ran around the Battersea Park most days and dined weekly at a cheap and cheerful Thai place where I was known by name. What a delightful surprise to return and find an elegance of eclectic architecture, sonorous and arousing; the beauty of lines. Captured by the reflections, I wanted to include only them in the post; however, all the rest of my images are as charming. A completely different space to when I last visited fourteen years ago. I vow to return to sample Mother, oh please feed me mother, all artisan products sourced directly from Italy and apparently their pizzas are to die for!

Apr 08

by Nicola in Architecture, Travel 0 comments tags: Architecture, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Eze, French Riviera, Monaco

Nestled between Nice and Monaco a trip to Eze is obliging

Nestled between Nice and Monaco, a trip to Eze is obliging. Five out of five stars. Instantly transported to medieval times, Eze also requires a bit of effort to experience. Rugged stone streets lead through narrow passages to boutique stores. Fortunately, not all of Eze has been touched with the expensive wand and the flowing surrealism vistas easily help one turn a blind eye to the tourist trap… Gardens sprouting exotic plants are spotted everywhere. I’ve never tasted a better coffee than at Chateau Eze, also the most expensive but worth every cent! I had to have a second. Oh, the views! In every direction. Monaco! What can be said… other than… when sitting at a café with the view of Monte Casino directly in front of one’s eyes, the luxurious sports cars cause the head to swivel. The McLaren 570S coupe even starred on a film set of sorts. A great pity for the cold, windy weather! Isn’t the French Riviera meant to be sultry at all times?!

Apr 07

by Nicola in Architecture, Cities, People 0 comments tags: Architecture, BeanOn Photography, French Riviera, Nice, People Watching

Nice People French Riviera

Nice People French Riviera, or better said; people spotted in Nice along the French Riviera. A few hot spots below for people watching in Nice: Promenade du Paillon Opened in 2013, the promenade has seen more pedestrian traffic than anywhere else in town. Separating the old town from the modern, it stretches for about a kilometre. Lou Pilha Leva Famous for its socca, a savoury crepe made with chickpea flour, the quaint restaurant is nestled in Place Centrale, along the bustling shopping street in Vieux Nice, Rue de la Boucherie. Facing the busiest entrances to the old town, it is one of the best places to capture people in action. Place Garibaldi Sit near the fountain and watch people getting on and off the nearby bus and tram stops. The nearby bars and cafes mostly have decent happy hours with their food and drink.

Apr 06

by Nicola in Architecture, Beach, Cities 0 comments tags: Architecture, BeanOn Photography, Castle Hill, Côte d’Azur, France, French Riviera, Le Chantecler, Le Negresco, Nice

Nice French Riviera

Nice, Eze & Monaco pulsating along the French Riviera made for a vibrant mini getaway. Côte d’Azur is glitzy but with a splash of medieval when it came to Eze. Nice felt more Italian than French with a twist of Irish. Who would have thought a hunt for french fries on their own would have proved fruitless… A bowl of mussels with french fries, absolutely. But simple french fries on their own, not a chance! Juicy fruit and vegetables, authentic local produce from inland Nice are teeming at the Cours Saleya market in the old town. Expect all of your senses to be charmed, especially your spirit with its stimulating ambience. One of many things Nice can be proud of is their Michelin Star cuisine, especially at Le Chantecler at Le Negresco where Chef Jean-Denis Rieubland is the only chef in Nice with two Michelin stars. The view from Castle Hill is worth the few steep steps to get there, but mind the gale force winds.

Feb 14

by Nicola in Adventure, Architecture, Back2Blighty, Beach, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Llandudno, nature, North Wales, Rugged Terrain, seaside resort, The United Kingdom, Wales

Llandudno, seaside resort, North Wales

Based at Llandudno North Wales, it really wasn’t such a good idea trying to climb Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales at an elevation of 1,085 metres above sea level, middle of February and especially when it’s snowing. Taking heed of the warning: “Ice axe and crampons are essential! Wind gusts 80mph! Feels like -15℃” Ouch! No thank you. If only I’d brought my crampons! Sometimes resistance is fruitful. Out of the snow and icy cold, Llandudno, a beautiful Victorian seaside resort at the foot of Great Orme, North Wales, proved a delight to explore. Affectionately known as the Queen of the Welsh Resorts, it boasts some of the most elegant seafront architecture in Britain.

Dec 04

by Nicola in Architecture, Cities, Travel 0 comments tags: Architecture, BeanOn Photography, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Moscow's Metro, Red Square, Russia, St. Basil's Cathedral, The Kremlin, Travel

Moscow: Russia’s gleaming gem

Moscow, the capital of Russia, is the twelve most populous city in the world, and the largest city on the European continent. Four nights worth of exploring such a marvel of a place isn’t anywhere near enough time to have visited all on my list. I particularly enjoy discovering at night, when the temperatures fell to -6 degrees: crisp, dry and exhilarating. Besides the incredibly arresting landmarks pulsating around Moscow’s core, being underground appealed to me just as much as being on top. Moscow’s metro is a life-changing experience! Public transport that is never delayed. Can you even begin to imagine what that must be like? The Moscow Metropolitan is the world record-holder for on-time departures and arrivals. According to the Moscow transport department, its accuracy equals 99.99%. Impressive! considering that the interval between trains during rush hour is only 90 seconds. Having the station names in both English and Russian goes a long way, following the number (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.) of the lines instead of the colours will allow you to breeze through to any desired destination below ground. Known as the most beautiful subway in the world, the Moscow metro’s 44 out of 200 […]

Nov 06

by Nicola in Architecture, Cities, People 0 comments tags: Adventure, Architecture, BeanOn Photography, Carpet Shop, Exploring, Medina, Mint Tea, Morocco, Tetouan

Morocco’s Tetouan: thirteen years ago and today

Thirteen years ago on the 14th August I visited Morocco for the first time, and fell in love with Tetouan. From Ceuta we caught a bus to the border of Morocco. Fortunately, our recently acquired Canadian travel-buddy spoke French but he struggled to haggle a cheaper taxi ride to Tetouan. Forty-kilometers later, mostly along the coast, we were dropped off in the middle of Tetouan. Once we’d found accommodation, we dumped our backpacks and permitted a young man working at the riad to lead us through the nearby ancient medina. Overpowering smells, only a few palatable, caused me to heave and at times I had to pinch my nose. The vibrant spices, the heaps of henna and varieties of olives enticed me to spend money. Adam’s (aka Omar) family run carpet shop happened to be the next port of call. How did that happen? A good few steps later, we climbed out on to a terrace to admire the magnificent view of the town: thousands of satellite dishes attached to crumbling white buildings, feral cats slinking in alley ways. We were served a glass of melted sugar with mint tea leaves, an instant injection of diabetes, before returning to the carpets below. Instantly I fell in love […]

Jun 26

by Nicola in Architecture, Cities, People, Street Photography 0 comments tags: Architecture, Avenue des Champs Elysees, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, France, Paris, Rigoletto, Sunset

A Paris Fling

Welcome back, Europe! A Paris fling lasting two nights is simply not enough to explore the city’s inspiring grandeur, despite visiting twice previously many years ago. After each visit Paris becomes more appealing, I become more appreciative of its breath-taking architecture and heritage buildings, highlight after highlight – endless intrigue. Did you know that it’s free (yes, free!) entry in to the Notre-Dame Cathedral? A top tip when faced with a ceaseless queue of overheating bodies trying to penetrate the imposing cathedral. Look for a gap, nonchalantly fill the gap and pretend to be with the people in front of you, not looking over your shoulder, and mind your own business. Obviously this needs to happen as far in front of the queue as possible. And… la magie… Resistance becomes futile when Paris presents the opening night of Rigoletto at the Opera Bastille. What an exceptionally powerful performances by all, and such artistry and precision of symphony by the orchestra. Three acts later, I still yearned for more. I feel a humming session about to attack… In English, of course. ‘La donna mobile’ Rigoletto by Verdi Woman is fickle Like a feather in the wind, She changes […]

May 12

by Nicola in Adventure, Architecture, Art, Off-Road 0 comments tags: Adventure, Architecture, Australia, BeanOn Photography, nature, New South Wales, Nimbin, Off-road, The Hemp Embassy

Naughty Nimbin, New South Wales

Happily deciding to only lunch at the chaotic Byron Bay instead of spending the night, we headed in to the mountains before experiencing the day at naughty Nimbin, New South Wales. Recalling the strict instruction, “Only use the campervan on dirt tracks leading to campsites,” from Apollo’s campervan hire assistant, we briefly reconsidered our plight. “What’s the worst that could happen?” “Exactly!” Resistance is futile! Shake, rattle and roll, lasting over an hour, over what should have been termed, or should that be warned, ‘4×4 only track’ where any vehicles are concerned. At least we made it, and even more impressive so did the sleeper van, and surprisingly even so, all the crockery arrived in one piece too. Exciting, right? Well, wait until you step foot inside a place where not another on this Earth could touch it. Welcome to Nimbin – “Australia’s weed capital” – a quaint place with psychedelic buildings. People gaudily coated in tie-dye clothing strolled around aimlessly without a care in the world. Cafés filled with all sorts of people, from businessmen to tramps. Anything goes. Outside, at the back of a café we noticed the kites flying high, how everyone was clearly […]

Mar 22

by Nicola in Architecture, Beach, Cities, Sunset 3 comments tags: Architecture, Australia, BeanOn Photography, Manly Beach, Sunset, Sydney, Sydney Opera House, The Harbour Bridge

Exploring Sydney, Australia

For years I had longed to experience a campervan trip along the north coast of Sydney, Australia and finally I did it! Two weeks in total, I spent the first two nights at the Sydney Harbour Marriott and the last night at the exceptionally beautiful Park Hyatt Sydney – a well-deserved treat after thirteen nights in a camper van. Talk about a room with a view! From there I relished exploring the spectacular city: the buzzing Circular Quay, along the waterfront to Wharf 2 and the Opera House, around the foreshore to the lush green spaces of the Royal Botanic Gardens, over to the Olympic swimming pool alongside the water’s edge, up to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, back along the waterfront to the western side where the promenade leads to the The Rocks, a pulsating hub of cafes, restaurants, bars and historic architecture. The other side of the iconic Harbour Bridge led me to Dawes Point where a wedding ceremony took place, and people posing for photographs in front of the Luna Park’s Ferris Wheel. At sunset on the second evening we caught a ferry to Manly Beach, one of Australia’s most famous surfing beaches, and […]

Lord Millner Hotel, Western Province, Great Karoo

Matjiesfontein Station, Great Karoo, Matjiesfontein

Feb 28

by Nicola in Architecture, People 0 comments tags: Architecture, BeanOn Photography, Great Karoo, Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein, nature, South Africa, Western Cape

Great Karoo, Matjiesfontein

From Cape Town we drove through some spectacular passes and dramatic landscapes making up the Great Karoo that led us to Plettenberg Bay. The highlight of the journey to our final destination had to be spending the night in Matjiesfontein at the Lord Milner Hotel, lord of the manner more like… Imagine stepping back in time over a century ago… I’ve always longed to inhabit the Earth when only wild beasts freely roamed, without us humans around to destroy everything precious. Well, Matjiesfontein is a little like how I imagine the Earth to have been after the first set of humans developed in to ‘town’ dwellers, and ceased the beasts from roaming free. Okay, that may be a slight case of imagination running riot… But, excusing the mild digression, one definitely steps back in time at least one-hundred-and-thirty years when visiting Matjiesfontein in the Great Karroo, Western Cape. Nothing has changed, bar a lick or two of paint perhaps, since 1884. What else could a klein dorpie with this much character ever possibly need? When they refer to it as klein, it truly couldn’t be tinier.

Dec 12

by Nicola in Architecture, Black & White, Cities, Sunrise 0 comments tags: Architecture, BeanOn Photography, Early morning, Exploring, Israel, Jerusalem, Jerusalem’s German Colony, Middle East, Ramparts Walk, Sunrise, The Old City, Yad Vashem - The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

Israel, Jerusalem

At first light, 5:30am, we drove sixty-five kilometres from Jaffa to Jerusalem. With only a few maniacs on the road then, we arrived, without incident, in time for Friday’s sunrise over Jerusalem’s Old City. What a difference it made being able to explore without the masses of tourists vying for the same vista. Ramparts Walk With the Old City waking – people setting up shop, the smells of bread baking, fresh loaves of bread dangling from shop doors, and minimal tourists around – we surrounded ourselves with the religious. Strolling through the Christian quarter, along the Via Dolorosa, Way of Grief, the apparent path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion, lead us to the Ramparts Walk. With Lions’ Gate closed, we scaled the wall, over the fence and made it to the top near the Western Wall Plaza and the Jewish Quarter. Before setting off, we munched on fruit while absorbing the peace and unique views of rooftops, Mount Zion, Mount of Olives and the Dome of the Rock, its gold-plated roof so vivid. Hiking up and down stairs along the wall, overlooking the city on the other side, we arrived at Herod’s Gate, adjoining the […]

Men gazing over Jaffa’s Shuk HaPishpushim, or Flea Market

Nov 25

by Nicola in Architecture, Cities 0 comments tags: Arab children, Arab quarters, BeanOn Photography, Early morning, Israel, Jaffa, Jaffa Old Port, Jaffa's nightlife, Manta Ray Restaurant, Market House Hotel, Middle East

Israel, Jaffa

Shalom! My second visit to Israel left me desiring more. I can’t believe we missed out on Abu Hassan, apparently it’s one of the best hummus restaurants in Israel, Jaffa and because of such loss I shall return. After all, hummus (pronounced with a guttural ‘g’ instead of an ‘h’) is one of my favourite things to eat. Twelve years ago, I first visited Israel and had since lost all my photographs due to a hard drive crash. A return couldn’t have been more welcomed. This time I had my own personal tour guide, and instead of buses with hordes of tourists we’d hired a car and also bicycles, whereby experiencing more of the extraordinary. From Ben Gurion Airport, we took our lives in our hands while driving the twenty-five kilometres in to Jaffa. Just about every car tooted their horns, no gaps left unturned and everyone behind every wheel pushed in, into the absent gaps, not a single driver indicates and add a bit more hooting. Behaving like a driving instructor, my foot constantly wanted to slam down on the imaginary foot brake. Bloodcurdling, to say the least! However, the daily car journeys, many kilometres later, […]

Wood statue in front of Glenfinnan Viaduct

Nov 09

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Adventure, Architecture, Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Glenfinnan, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Harry Potter, nature, Scotland, Scottish Highlands, The United Kingdom

Glenfinnan Viaduct Made Famous by Harry Potter

Made famous by Harry Potter, Genfinnan viaduct is the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland at 380m, and crosses the River Finnan at a height of 30m. The Hogwarts Express calls at Glenfinnan in the second and third Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secret and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The impressive 21 semicicular spans of 15m mass concrete are built on a curve of 241m. An image speaks a thousands words and more…