The Charm of Venetian Windows.

Congratulations to MommandMatt for winning 5$ from last week’s pool!  Join us today to win 5$ too!

—

I’ve said so many times how Venice is not only the City of Bridges or the City of Waters, it can also be called the City of Windows. Palladian style of architecture can be easily seen as among the buildings in Venice and mostly in Italy. It is a style inspired by Venetian architect Andrea Palladio’s own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of Palladio’s original concepts. His work was strongly based on the symmetry, perspective and values of the formal classical temple architecture of the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

Notice that the 2 windows in the photo has the same arcs as the 2 doors, all with wooden coverings and both doors open up to the balcony thus they are symmetrical in every way. There are so many shots I took in Venice and hopefully I get to feature each of them in this meme…windows in every shape, every color and every size.

—

To join us, simply post a photo of a door or window and let us know where it was taken. Link up to this blog or put a badge which you can get here. Win 5$ too if you join this week!

The Palazzo, tallest building in Nevada (as Fontainebleau construction is put to a halt but it is already taller).

Fancy a grand vacation, fun with friends or shopping and eating or playing for money? Or are you the type who enjoy online games, whether RPGs, tactical games or perhaps farming or kingdom expansion? If you’re the second type then by all means enjoy being a homebuddy and be content with yourself, your computer and some food delivery too.

If you’re the former, head to Las Vegas and have fun the way you always wanted. The Las Vegas Strip, an approximately 4.2-mile (6.8 km) stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South in Clark County, Nevada, is where the happenings that you fancy mostly are.

To enjoy, book yourself a one-week stay at one of the famous casino resort such as The Palazzo. Winner of the AAA Five Diamond Award for 2009, The Palazzo offers the largest standard accommodations on the Strip. Large rooms with great facilities and entertainment features, great views from the rooms are the most common praises you’d get from satisfied customers (I read the reviews). Not to mention the great customer service (with a handful of smirks at times) and the cleanliness of the rooms were par none.

Though The Palazzo does not offer buffets like others at the Strip, expect a wonderful gustatory experience in-suite dining…Morels French Steakhouse & Bistro is one of the highest ranking restaurants in Las Vegas, with good, food, wonderful ambiance and a good view, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Whether breakfast, lunch or dinner; you’d be one happy tummy – don’t forget the onion soup for starters, the rib-eye chop or a filet mignon and of course the cheese fondue and the chocolate souffle for a yummy finish.

If you’re in search of a much delightful steak, go for CUT, yes…Wolfgang Puck’s award-winning Beverly Hills steakhouse is also in Vegas. Have a bite of of one of either USDA Prime Nebraska corn-fed, 35-day dry-aged steaks or the Australian 100% Wagyu Beef , or Kobe Beef Short Ribs “Indian Spiced,” slowly cooked for eight hours served with Curried Cauliflower Puree. You can also try the Colorado Lamb Chops with Cucumber-Mint Raita; and the Wild French Turbot “French Riviera Style.” Whichever you choose, you’re sure to thank your server, eventually the cook, for the yummy meal.

(Then again, if you still insist, you know too well that you can always go to the sister properties for your cravings of eat-all-you-can satisfaction.)

For the fashion conscious, The Palazzo offers Van Cleef & Arpels, Ralph Lauren, Jimmy Choo, Fendi, Cole Haan, Piaget, Diane von Furstenberg, Chloè, Bottega Veneta, Bvlgari, Michael Kors, Burberry, Christian Louboutin, Catherine Malandrino, Anya Hindmarch, Charriol, and others. It also features an 85,000-square-foot (7,900 m2) Barneys New York.

There’s also a 20,000-square-foot (1,900 m²) Lamborghini showroom where non-buying guests of the resort can enter for $10, while children ages five and under receive free admission when accompanied by a paying adult.

Go ahead...just for a day perhaps. (all photos by hubby).

Erpet Bohemia crystal store at Prague's Old Town.

Congratulations again to Tori for winning our last meme’s pool! Join us today to win 5$ too!

—

Fancy crystals and glass collections for your home display? Erpet Bohemia crystal is a place for you to scout for collectibles. With more than 1000 square meters of sales area, you’re sure to find a piece that will make your heart skip. The store is strategically located at the heart of Prague, just across the Orloj, the 600-year-old astronomical clock so it’s hard to miss.

The store offers Swarovski, Hand Cut Lead Crystal, Goebel Porcelain, Color Layered and Cut Crystal, Bohemian Pressed Lead Crystal, Chandeliers and Wall Scones, Bohemia Garnet Jewelry, Enamel Glass, Moser and a handful more of designs from contemporary Czech glass designers.

—

To join us, simply post a photo of a door or window and let us know where it was taken. Link up to this blog or put a badge which you can get here. Win 5$ too if you join this week!

Door to where? Medieval era, Nuremberg.

Congratulations again to Imriz for winning our last week’s pool! Wow, 2 in a row! Join us today to win 5$ too!

—

The medieval city of Nuremberg still has its wall or parts of it intact and this is one of those many doors up there.

—

To join us, simply post a photo of a door or window and let us know where it was taken. Link up to this blog or put a badge which you can get here. Win 5$ too if you join this week!

Deer Creek Canyon in Grand Canyon Nationa lPark,Arizona. photo via http://www.flickr.com/photos/panafoot

It’s spring…the perfect time to travel and photograph the beauty of nature as you one goes city-hopping, sight-seeing. Unfortunately, here we are stuck because there’s school.  ^_^ So for those of you who can, please take this time to visit Deer Creek Canyon. It’s of course because you’re heading to the Grand Canyon so hike from the North Rim to there and down. ^_^It’s like a bonus before finally getting to the big reward.

Inside Vienna's Schönbrunn Palace

First off, congratulations Imriz for winning last week’s pool (…of two, lol). Join us today and win 5$ (sent to your paypal account).

Today’s post features the interior partly of the entrance hall of the Schönbrunn Palace, one of the most important cultural tourist attractions in Vienna that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Schönbrunn (beautiful well) Palace used to be the summer residence of the emperors, empresses and their families. It has been then expanded to a tourist spot with a grand garden, labyrinth, zoo and aquarium, palm house, gloriette and more.

P.S. That’s my son kneeling on the stairs…

—

To join us, simply post a photo of a door or window and let us know where it was taken. Link up to this blog or put a badge which you can get here. Win 5$ too if you join this week!

To infinity and beyond.

Congratulations to Arlene for being our last week’s winner! Join us today and win 5$ (sent to your paypal account).

I think Nuremberg rivals Venice for the title “City of Windows…and passageways” while Venice still holds the title of “City of Bridges.” This stone passageway and cobblestones were at Nuremberg’s wall. The wall runs 5 kilometers around the old town and most of it can be walked on…one can see how it served as a fortress during earlier times.

—

To join us, simply post a photo of a door or window and let us know where it was taken. Link up to this blog or put a badge which you can get here. Win 5$ too if you join this week!

Pelargonia and other flowers grow freely on this window.

Nuremberg again

—

When life gives you lemons…..paint them gold! It’s inspiring when someone or something stands so strong amidst  unfavorable winds and what other oddities life may bring. One can never be too sure how to react in any given situation but take inspiration from these flowering plants, given a small space to grow they just climbed their way up the rails or let themselves freely fall thus creating this beautiful ensemble.

 —

To join us, simply post a photo of a door or window and let us know where it was taken. Link up to this blog or put a badge which you can get here.

Vienna offers a lot of fun things for the kids to do. Once in a while I bring the kids to a painting class. In the summers, that could be 2 days in a week. On other days that follow we go visit one of the palaces and take photos and eat Apfelstrüdel, doughnuts at the nearest cafe for snacks.  The kids are also given discount/free passes for museums, sports clinic and other activities like horseback-riding, baking, tennis, mini-concerts and theater shows.

View Albertina's collection and have the kids participate in a painting session.

There are also many different cuisines in Vienna, different restaurants that serve local food that we’ve yet to try. We’ve been mostly to Japanese and Thai restaurants, we’d surely like to try Vietnamese that I’ve seen sprouting in the city too. Greek, albeit not the kids’ choice is also a must for me. Since it’s summer, we’d be hopping from one ice cream shop to the other, taste gelato here and there, discover the different flavors of bubble teas and find the yummiest frozen yoghurt. ^_^

It would be really nice to visit another city but staying in Vienna to know the city it more is also a wonderful choice. Unless hubby buys our ticket soon, we’ll be having a staycation.

Think hard about where to go on vacation or which palace to visit next.

Consider Las Vegas as the Disneyland for adults. It’s an artificial environment that spells fun and takes away the inhibition to be free to do something you think you wouldn’t while being there. For kids in Disneyland, that’s to become a child. For adults in Las Vegas, well, I won’t spell that out. Anyway if you’re still one who thinks ill of Las Vegas, here are some of the things you could do there.

Venetian, Las Vegas

Ride a Gondola at the Venetian. Indoor or outdoor, you will have a feel of Venice albeit cleaner at this top hotel/resort.   Enjoy the ride with a loved one in an authentic Venetian gondola down the Grand Canal — though smaller than the original, experience going about beneath bridges, beside cafes, under balconies and through the vibrant Venetian streetscape.  Your singing gondolier (who also wears the same striped shirts of gondoliers in Venice) will serenade you along.

Las Vegas' Venetian is cleaner of course.

Go Buffeting

 Buffets. Fancy eating sushi, pasta, pizza, barbecue, burgers, steaks, cakes and ice cream or panna cotta and macarons? How about all of them? The Las Vegas strip has them all day long. Pick from a plethora of choices and you won’t be disappointed whichever you get. If you’re a shrimphead consider having Shrimp cocktail at the Golden Gate’s San Francisco Shrimp Bar & Deli @ 1 Fremont Street for only $1.99! Still at the same price at it was in 1959. Be wary though, Sin city makes it literal because you can turn out to be a glutton while here. ^_^

Paradise Garden buffet

Hubby trying not to get addicted.

If you are one who play free bingo online and online fruit/slot machines then you’d certainly enjoy the real ones. A lot of casinos in Las Vegas offer a wide range of slots and VP machines numbering in hundreds. Of course, you play not just for fun but with the hope to win too. Just always remember that this is a game of chance…no one particular person can win a million overnight. ^_^

Bellagio

Art Enthusiast? Visit the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. At 15$, you can view world-class exhibitions of art and objects drawn from internationally known museums and private collections. Yes 15$, you can view more at a bigger gallery but it’s the Bellagio honey, so stay longer and watch the choreographed water feature of your favorite song. So here’s one, the water fountain dancing to “Time to Say Goodbye” by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman..

There are a lot more fun things to do in Las Vegas like visiting the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay, the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at Mirage, the Aquarium at Silverton (which is free) and has fish feeding hours too. There are circuses to watch, flamingos and exotic birds to see and of course shopping…whoever goes to Las Vegas without shopping? Grab a souvenir too to bring home to your mom when you’re there!