Cities Archives - Nicola Ann Art

Feb 20

by Nicola in Cities, Cycling, London, The United Kingdom, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Battersea, Camden, Electric cycling, Hampstead, Houses of Parliament, Leave the Herd Behind, Lime, London

Electric Cycling in lockdown

‘What’s different to do in Lockdown? Other than varying our walks through Hampstead and its surroundings.’ ‘I know, let’s try out electric cycling? An Uber JUMP bike, is it?’ ‘Hey, there’s two right there…’ Such exhilarating fun! We had to do it again a few weeks later.

Jan 16

by Nicola in Beach, Cities, London 0 comments tags: Bermondsey, London, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch, River Thames, Tower Bridge

London’s “Riviera”

Mind the hissing swans at Tower Beach… Photographs captured by iPhone 8 whilst in Lockdown.

Aug 10

by Nicola in Adventure, Cities, Nature, Travel 0 comments tags: MARINA CERTOSA, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch, Social Distancing, The Dolomites, The Great Dolomites Road, Venice

LOST IN ITALY… VENICE, DOLOMITES & Lake Garda

Sadly, with the world in crisis, this year’s adventures didn’t go according to plan. After months of lockdown, and still feeling the sleepiness of the pandemic, we felt humbled being able to return to Venice, to sail Bella Rose to bluer waters. TO THE RESCUE, HERE I AM We’d left Bella Rose, our Oyster 545, at Marina Certosa in Venice for the winter. After experiencing endless issues and lack of action during her berth, we were desperate to return to the yacht, sort out as much as possible and leave soonest. Approaching the jetty at Certosa, a new restaurant loomed ahead. The owner had a Michelin Star restaurant on the mainland. It reminded me of a mini Ibiza, seating on the deck alongside the sea, bean bags and club music reverberated the moment we set foot onto the jetty. At night it turned into a sophisticated diner, music turned down and served simply delicious food, without any pretentious fuss. The best pizza had to be from Verde Pistacchio Pizzeria Sicilian, the tiny-mini-van at the far end of Certosa island. He did the perfect vegetarian without cheese, for us vegans and then we took our own ‘cheese’ the next few days, laughing at […]

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. […]

Dec 30

by Nicola in 4x4, Cities, Travel 0 comments tags: Maputo, Mozambique, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Beykirch, Peri-Peri, Polana Serena Hotel, Tofo Beach

Mozambique’s Tofo Beach to its capital Maputo

Early breakfast. Early departure. We drove from Tofo Beach, with a couple of stops en route, a total of seven hours, to Maputo. Through the main towns traffic jams, car accidents, wedding parties and livestock greeted us from every direction. Fortunately, the national asphalt roads were well maintained and drivers mostly behaved. Unlike when we first entered Mozambique. GRAND DAME BECKONS After checking into the palatial Grand Dame of African Hotels, known as the Polana Serena, we decided to leave the car behind and walk to Baixa, old town Maputo. Mozambique’s capital city, previously known as Lourenço Marques. After twenty minutes winding through the backstreets, we reached one of the wide main roads leading straight into the town. Suddenly it no longer felt safe and exciting. Many were finishing work and didn’t appear too pleased to see us, the only tourists as far as the eye could wander. FOOT DOWN “Let’s go back and get the car!” This time I put my foot down, defiantly insistent. Being enclosed within a vehicle made all the difference to feeling safer. Still, I felt on edge, keeping my wits about me even when in the car, ensuring the doors were locked and windows rolled […]

Aug 22

by Nicola in Adventure, Cities, Sailing, Travel 0 comments tags: Bella Rose, Croatia, Oyster 545 Yacht, Sailing, Venice

PART 5: CROATIA TO VENICE | BELLA ROSE, OYSTER 545, UP FOR SAIL | SUMMER of 2019

BELLA ROSE, OYSTER 545, UP FOR SAIL, AN INDELIBLY SENSATIONAL SAILING ADVENTURE FROM MALTA TO SICILY TO THE GREEK ISLANDS TO ALBANIA TO MONTENEGRO TO CROATIA TO VENICE. SUMMER OF 2019. Part 5: SAILING FROM CROATIA TO VENICE We sailed to 13 islands/towns in Croatia –– Cavtat, Dubrovnic, Sanj, Mljet, Lastovo, Hvar, Primosten, Skradin, Kornati Bay, uvala Balvanida, Pula and Rovinj –– before the overnight venture to Venice. Something I had always longed to do was sail up and down the canal in Venice alongside Piazza San Marco, up to the entrance of The Grand Canal. Such magnificence! The last time I’d visited Venice was in 2003, a completely different experience arriving by plane than by yacht, as though a first time visiting the city this time almost 20 years later. We spent a couple of days exploring Venice and the islands before shutting Bella Rose away for the winter. Perhaps we’ll return to her early next year for a skiing adventure over the Dolomites before the summer sailing in 2020. Photography taken in Croatia Photography taken in Venice

Feb 24

by Nicola in Adventure, Beach, Cities, Sailing, Travel 2 comments tags: Adventure, beach, BeanOn Photography, Gelato sandwich, Published Work, Sailing, Sailing Today Magazine, Sicily, The Med

Sailing Today Magazine Hot Off The Press

A Med-Time Story Majorca To Malta: Island Hopping On A Grand Scale By Nicola Beykirch Published By Sailing Today Almost a year had passed before stepping back on the deck of Bella Rose, our year old Oyster 545. Berthed at Palma, Majorca for the winter, we couldn’t wait to throw off the bowlines, once again crisscrossing the Mediterranean…

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 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.

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 […]

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 […]

Dec 24

by Nicola in Cities, People, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Israel, Jerusalem, Machane Yehuda Market

Israel, Jerusalem, Machane Yehuda Market

Desire experiencing people whom love life and particularly Jerusalem? Well then, a visit to Machane Yehuda Market is a must. Known as one of Jerusalem’s word-famous icons, the market epitomises the contemporary and the future of Jerusalem. Two hours spent absorbing the frenetic atmosphere, watching the traders interacting with the crowds, providing tasters of their wares. The colours and aromas of the variety of foods pleasantly assaulted the senses. Resistance was futile when it came to the buffet of halva (pronounced with that same guttural ‘g’ as in hummus) and I had to have a slice of the chilli halva that delightfully burned while releasing its rich sweetness. At one of the entrances to Machane Yehuda Market we enjoyed respite at a coffee shop while I photographed the energy. An hour or so before sunset on the Friday (the start of the Sabbath) every thing came to a halt and people scattered in all directions, to reach their final destinations before the sun sets. The Sabbath (Shabbat) Observed from just before sunset on Friday to just after dark on Saturday, the Sabbath is extremely holy. Both the religious and non-religious observe the Sabbath by adhering to the […]