"the twisted heart"

Peeling myself off the lounge, the book drops to the carpet. Finished. Ah the feeling of walking in another's shoes is freeing and it's therapy is deep and long lasting. Rebecca Gowers extends herself in this fictional piece exemplifying life's cruelty amid the beauty of a growing confusing relationship.

I am reading my way through the Europe...

IKEA is a country

Without the privilege of travelling outside your home country, one can have a distorted view of the world. Comparing your quality of lifestyle or the differences in culture through exploration and adventure can give an enhanced awareness of humanity.

I am not speaking from experience however, I have only explored but a tip of the iceberg, if that. True explorers vary the cultures and continents they visit, from South America to Central Africa, Europe and Asia.

I do however, especially pity all those who have not visited the country of IKEA. It owns soil all over the world and offers relief from stress and boredom of normality. No matter where you are from, your currency will have a strong buying power.

The styles in homes of this nation follow rigid patterns, but the inhabitants are arty and creative. They love candles, with sweet scents, like apple & cinnamon pie, or vanilla ice-cream. The food is delicious and very affordable, my favourite delicacy being the Daim Cake.

Leaving IKEA today I carried the customary blue bag filled with a host of curios ready to take me back to my experiences there, like any good tourist.

Monet and Abstraction

What better way to spend a rainy, windy day in Madrid than to visit the art exhibitions featuring Monet and Abstraction? Especially a sleepy Sunday afternoon.

Walking from Anton-Martin Metro, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum is worth the effort and €8. It was a 40min wait to enter the exhibition which I spent rummaging through their Art Store, which could be the most well stocked art curio store ever. I ran from curio to book to artwork, while my thoughts screamed, "I want this, I want this!" A is for Rhinoceros by Harriet Russell; the Anti Colouring Book by Susan Striker & Edward Kimmel and a book on how to make books were just some of my favourites. There were material dolls of Picasso and Monet. And some gorgeous jewellery pieces inspired by major artworks. A M A Z I N G

My favourite Monet water-lily artwork? : The water-lily pond 1917-1919, why? The shades, hues, rough application and crudeness of the brush strokes, the variegation, texture and weighting, the vertical and horizontal pull, the way it is both dark and dull but also bright and vibrant. It begins to demonstrate his divergence from his movement into abstraction and the difference from his other water-lily paintings is obvious.

Walking from Sol metro North East along a cobbled road, turning right at the church and then left I reached Fundacion Caja Madrid. Gratis(free). It is the second part of the exhibition and completes the examination of Monet and his links to Abstraction. I particularly enjoyed watching Monet paint in the video by Sacha Guitry, Monet pitando en su jardin de Giverney. Monet's study of his subject was so intense, he stared as his subject and only glanced at his artwork to daub his paintbrush. His was wholly focussed on what he saw.

Gerhard Richter's Abtract artworks were particularly interesting and I would like to have exposed my art class to many of his pieces, the dragging, scraping techniques, always revealing former brighter hues. His paintings have their own glow and emit a light of their own, they show careful composition.

I could sit and enjoy Monet's: Iris amarillos(yellow) for hours.

In the development of the Japanese bridge, it is evident that for Monet the subject doesn't change - he does, perspective, time of day, mood, choice of representation, it's all about choice.

Students ask: So was he just going blind?

I know what I need to attempt

Salad Recipes

Courtesy of Sandwich and friends:
#1
wild rice & white rice
sliced roast chicken
fresh sliced mushrooms
pistachios
spices & vinaigrette dressing
#2
sliced roast chicken
pomegrate seeds
sliced roast pear
watercress
nuts
spices & vinaigrette dressing

Travel Tips

less than an expert on anything travel but this is what I found:

Montpellier, France
Splendiferous French city, a hotel on the tram line connects you with the entire area. Older part of the city is filled with stone streets, quaint squares, and street side cafes. Get a 7 day TaM pass for €13.20, which allows you unlimited travel. At night there are some dodgy areas and be more cautious especially any unlit streets. For shopping fancies the old part of the city contains a myriad of boutiques which are sustained by the wealthier occupants of the city. For average stores take the blue tram line to Odysseum, there you will find a wide range including an IKEA, and a Casino MEGA supermarket. Had to phone my husband three times as we kept losing each other just in the grocery store. Well manicured gardens lined with their kaleidoscopic flowers so intrigued me.

Perpignan, France
A week is sufficient time to explore this little city. The 20min bus trip to the beach is definitely worth the effort, markets on Saturdays with fresh fruit and the usual wares. Really enjoyed having a salade at a beach front restaurant. Buses are cheap and for €1 you can visit villages surrounding the area. The Majorque Castle on the hill was free the Sunday we visited, they had an open archaeological dig and a fantastic view of the city from the tower.

My favourite dish is now the salad everything is fresh made to order (surprise surprise). I will have to put those recipes up soon, I can't wait to make them for all my friends.

delectable dishes & flavoursome foods

Biting into a crispy, crunchy baguette whilst strolling down a cobbled path is the picture of a day in Montpellier. Macaroons, a biscuit sandwich of mouthwatering flavour, crunchy outer with a soft, smooth and creamy interior are enjoyed with a cafe(coffee). Other sweets include chocolat au pain(a chocolate croissant) amongst many pastries that titillate my tastebuds. Fresh fruit and chocolate are plentiful and are difficult to resist(if I must).

I have to agree that Cuisse de grenouilles(frogs legs) taste somewhere between fish and chicken and are rather tasty at that. It is my experience that the French care deeply about their food. Each meal has been well-seasoned and gratifying whether fast food from a kiosk or a more extravagant meal.

Crispy waffles were a highlight in Belgium, the syrupy sticky sweetness was absolutely delicious if not toothaching. Amsterdam had scrumptious waffles of its own. Thin wafer-like waffle biscuit sandwiches, filled with a buttery syrup that melts when left resting on your cafe for a few minutes.

I am feeling so hungry now...

Me the Spoilt Brat

Dutch waffles in Amsterdam, a visit to Hema and a walk through the infamous glowing district. Waffles, chocolate and pancakes in Brussels and an exploration of its funky vibe and many churches. Eiffel Tower by night, Notre Dame, viewing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre and eating in the Latin Quarter in Paris so far, aren't I the lucky bugger. I am enjoying myself so much that I feel I must be a brat of sorts to be so spoilt! Yet I push on to enjoy some more...

Saint Pierre de Montmartre church, surrounded by a warm spring day attracted the likes of us (and hundreds of others) to its beautiful gardens and we enjoyed the variety of live entertainment from its steps, street dancers, magicians and bands. Inside the basilica the mosaics were particularly magnificent, especially Christ in Majesty and The Sacred Heart worshipped by the Virgin Mary, Joan of Arc and St. Michael the Archangel which is the largest in the world.