The map exhibition was everything it promised to be and more. I went three times in one week. Yes, that does make me feel a bit sad but I doubt I'm going to be back again before it closes in March. The first time we were kicked out because it was closing time, the second time my visit was tragically curtailed by a fire alarm, and the third time I went alone with plenty of time to spare for unforeseen mishaps.
I would recommend going alone unless you a) have a like-minded friend or b) want to filter out unsuitable dates. My perfect man would clearly be able to last at least three hours at a map exhibition without complaining about boredom or threatening to drop dead with some mysterious malady.
Behold this map of 1593. Prior to the Great Fire of 1666 London is but a slip of a town and London Bridge is the only bridge to cross the Thames.
In 1593 bubonic plague is ravishing London, Shakespeare is writing The Taming of the Shrew, the original Globe Theatre is yet to be built.
Bored yet?
10-Dec-06 at 2:00 pm | Permalink
PS. I’m still perplexed by the image editing on this website. I’ve had to make that map smaller than I wanted because it fucks up the text/ title if it’s larger.
20-Dec-06 at 12:08 pm | Permalink
> image editing
A pop-up is probably best for large pics, the column format breaks otherwise.
> kicked out because it was closing time
Really frustrating. Happened to me in Japan.
> Globe Theatre
The remake is just along the river from me. Will hopefully catch some cultcha here when it’s warmer.
> bubonic plague is ravishing London
Ravished by the plague. NICHE PR0N
29-Jan-07 at 1:04 pm | Permalink
In the whole “my perfect man” concept, mine will enjoy city breaks. Here are a few pictures from my weekend in Vienna. http://www.flickr.com/photos/48284747@N00/sets/72157594505420930/
We mainly did the cultural stuff, with some Viennese cake eating, and a mission to find the places where scenes from Before Sunrise were shot. Unfortunately Vienna in winter is freezing so we failed in the latter. It’s a beautiful city, however surrounded by huge, smoky, stinky industrial estates, which don’t sit very well with the romantic idea one might have of it.
The KunstHausWien or Hundertwasserhaus is a truly amazing building designed by Friendensreich Hundertwasser with a permanent exhibition of his work. The floor and walls are never even, as he believes the rigidity of straight lines make us psychologically and emotionally stunted because we are no longer at one with nature. Flowing lines restore this balance. As New-Age as this seems, and as obnoxious as the man seems to have been, you can’t help but admire his work.
The Belvedere houses Klimt’s work – his painting the Kiss has always been a favourite of mine, seeing the real thing was tremendous. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Gustav_Klimt_016.jpg
Other than that, nothing quite beats spending time with an old friend discovering a new place.
29-Jan-07 at 6:16 pm | Permalink
I’m more of a Munch than a Klimt kissy painting fan.
29-Jan-07 at 7:44 pm | Permalink
Klimt/Kiss > To date, the most expensive painting ever bought I believe.
I’m more of a Munch than a Klimt kissy painting fan > Klimt wins for me. Old Ed was a bit too bleak.
30-Jan-07 at 10:19 am | Permalink
Klimt isn’t all kissy, you know. See that painting of the nice plump ginger lady curled up having a snooze? That’s not a picture of a snooze. All those pretty patterns represent Zeus doing a golden shower on Danae, and then getting her up the stick.
30-Jan-07 at 2:32 pm | Permalink
Talking of symbolism and Gustavs and Gustaves, I went to the Gustave Moreau Museum when I was in Paris and it was quite diverting. I like house museums.