Monday, February 18, 2008

On to Scanno

Previously I wrote about visiting Castrovalva. This is easily done as a side trip on the way to the more popular destination of Scanno, also the subject of an M. C. Escher work.

A Street in Scanno by LostBob

A Street in Scanno, Abruzzo Italy

Escher’s 1930 woodcut, Street in Scanno, Abruzzi can be seen on the home page (and in the gallery) of the Official M. C. Escher Web Site. Escher’s view looks toward my camera position.

Scanno, just 100 miles and a couple of centuries away from the hustle and bustle of Rome, is a breath of fresh air and should not be missed.

The Road to Scanno by LostBob

The Road to Scanno

The drive south through the Valle del Sagittario on SR479 is simply spectacular, reminding me of an earlier drive up the Big Thompson Canyon from Loveland Colorado to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

In the photo above, taken from Castrovalva, a portion of the road just south of Anversa Degli Abruzzi is seen. South to Scanno is to the left.

The Road to Scanno 2 by LostBob Lago di San Domenico by LostBob
The Road to Scanno 2 Lago di San Domenico
looking south from near Castrovalva & Gole del Sagittario

Villalago by LostBob Lago Di Scanno by LostBob
Villalago Rainbow over Lago di Scanno

Lago di San Domenico by LostBob

Lago di San Domenico

Above, Lago di San Domenico, and Gole del Sagittario. The lake is a popular swimming and picnic spot.

I last wrote of reaching SR479 by exiting the A-25/E-80 Autostrada at the exit for Casale and Anversa Degli Abruzzi. This is correct but is not my best advice.

Unless you are really in a hurry (which is not a very good way to visit Italy), exit a bit earlier at Pescina and follow SR83, the old route over the mountain to Casale. It will add only about 20 minutes of driving time (and maybe 10 more stopping to say wow at the views) as you climb over the mountain (Montagna Grande) that the Autostrada tunnels through. You won't be disappointed.


Cocullo by LostBob

Cocullo

The town of Cocullo sits just above the eastern portal of the Autostrada tunnel. If you take the Autostrada you will pass beneath the town underground. If you follow the route from Pescina you will see the town from above before passing through it.

Because Pescina and Casale are both accessible just off the Autostrada with no major towns in between, this beautiful road sees little auto traffic though it is quite popular among the local motorcyclists. Pescina also offers nice spots to stop for a bite to eat before continuing.

I have posted more photos from Abruzzo into photosets on my Flickr Photo Site

Please check out Abruzzo – Sud (South of A-25, includes Scanno photos), Abruzzo – Nord (North of A-25) and Abruzzo – Fucino (Fucino Valley). Many of the photos there are GeoTagged for location. Comments, suggestions and corrections are welcome and appreciated.

A Trip to Castrovalva

A Town in Abruzzo, An M.C. Escher Lithograph and the title of an episode in the BBC television series Dr. Who.

Castrovalva by LostBob

Castrovalva, Abruzzo Italy

I first saw Castrovalva from my car while driving the A25/E80 Autostrada between Avezzano and Pescara. The town is perched on a knife edge ridge off to your right shortly after you emerge from the tunnel Galleria San Domenico below Cocullo. From the highway, the town almost appears inaccessible. I had to find out how to get there.

The Road to Castrovalva by LostBob

The Road to Castrovalva

To reach the town you exit the A25 immediately after you emerge from the tunnel and travel through Casale and Anversa Degli Abruzzi. The road up to Castrovalva is a left turn shortly after Anversa Degli Abruzzi off SR479, the road south to Scanno through the Valle del Sagittario, between Monte Genzana and Montagna Grande. The road to the town climbs steeply up the western side of the hill via a series of switchbacks until a short tunnel just below the ridge line crosses over to the eastern side. A final switchback brings you into Castrovalva.

Castrovalva Rooftops by LostBob

Castrovalva Rooftops


Street in Castrovalva by LostBob Street in Castrovalva by LostBob

Castrovalva Street Views


Castrovalva, The Edge of Town by LostBob

The Edge of Town


The town was the subject of a 1930 Lithograph by M.C. Escher. I would love to include Escher’s image here but copyright prevents it. The best I can do is point you to the Wikipedia page for the print and to the Official M. C. Escher Website where Castrovalva and many other images are found in several galleries. I learned of the Escher connection only recently. Had I known, I could have attempted to locate his vantage point and recreate his view.

Enlarge Image

M. C. Escher's View (almost)

Escher’s view was apparently near the current road, shortly after it passes through the ridge line tunnel and prior to the last switch back. This is as close as I got. My view is from above the town. Little has changed except the Autostrada which can be seen entering the tunnel between Casale and Cocullo in the distance.

I have posted more photos from Abruzzo into photosets on my Flickr Photo Site

Please check out Abruzzo – Sud (South of A-25, includes Castrovalva photos), Abruzzo – Nord (North
of A-25) and Abruzzo – Fucino (Fucino Valley). Many of the photos there are GeoTagged for location. Comments, suggestions and corrections are welcome and appreciated.

A Perfect Sunday in Prague

Strahov Library Window by LostBob

Strahov Library Window


The far window looks into the Theological Hall in Strahov Monastery Library There's a surprise behind the window. Click the Pic. to see.

Back in 1996, a perfect Sunday in Prague started with Sunday Brunch at Red Hot & Blues. They had the best American breakfast in the city, a friendly Czech staff and a largely ex-pat clientele. Friendly and relaxed, you didn’t mind the typical Czech service. Your orange juice and coffee might be served at the same temperature. The Czech waitress seemed to misunderstand the meaning of the wait part of her title.

After brunch, a walk from Ujezd up the hill, through the park to Strahov Monastery.

It’s my favorite spot in Prague. A real working Monastery with an incredibly beautiful library. The ornately beautiful Philosophical and Theological halls with frescoed ceilings and shelves of centuries old leather bound books are a trip back in time. It is the Monastery’s actual working library. The library and its museum are not highlighted in the tourist books and therefore rarely crowded.

After a vist to the Library and Museum, find a spot on a bench on the Monastery grounds. With vineyards cascading down the hill toward Mala-Strana and the U.S. Ambassador’s residence, the Monastary grounds overlook Prague Castle, St Nicholas Cathedral, The Charles Bridge, the Vlatava River and Old Towne Prague. The view is spectacular as the sun sets over your shoulder and turns the city to gold and the chimes from bells in the Monastery, the Castle and St Nicholas fill the air.

End the day with fresh draft Czech beer and live Jazz at U-Maleho Glena. …
Perfect!

I have posted some pictures of Strahov Monastery on my Flickr photo site. Check them out. More to follow.

Walking with Hillary

Window Reykjavik Restaurant Praha by LostBob

Window Reykjavik Restaurant, Praha


The photo was taken from inside Reykjavik Seafood Restaurant in Old Town Prague. In 1996 it was among Prague’s top restaurants. I had dinner there the night I walked across the Charles Bridge with Hillary Clinton.

After dinner, I was walking across the Charles Bridge on my way home to my apartment in Smichov (with a stop first at U Maleho Glena). Hillary Clinton joined me on the walk. Sort of.

It was a day or so before the fourth of July. Hillary Clinton was on a European tour with a stop in Prague. As I walked, east to west, across Prague’s landmark pedestrian bridge, Hillary and entourage were crossing west to east.

The Charles Bridge is always crowded but never more so than on a warm summer evening. As I started across the bridge, there was the normal heavy evening press. As I neared the center of the bridge, the crowd moving toward me became increasingly dense with something of an urgent press forward. I was clearly going against the flow when I encountered a flying wedge of secret service and security shouldering the crowd out of the way so that Hillary and company had a wide swath of un-crowded bridge to casually stroll across. I was one of the folks elbowed aside to create that space.

I’ve walked across the Charles Bridge with Hillary.


Prague, 1996 revisited

A magic time in the golden city

1961 Skoda by LostBob

Sunday morning after a rain. This 1961 Skoda Octavia has the street to itself.


Old Town Roofs by LostBob Kampa Mill, Prague by LostBob
On the left, Prague roofs viewed from the clock tower in Old Town Square. On the right, the Mill on Kampa Park (now restored).

Old Town from Kampa by LostBob

Golden Prague. The Embankment and Old Town Prague seen from Kampa.


Prague Castle at Night by LostBob
Prague Castle and St Vitus Cathedral.
Prague at night is magic


Bar Live Music by LostBob
Click on the Pic.

to see a different side of 1996 Prague.





Read my post Walking with Hillary about my stroll across the Charles Bridge with Hillary Clinton.

Or check out my idea of A Perfect Sunday in Prague


Charles Bridge from Prague Castle

Mala Strana, Karlov Most and Old Town Prague from Prague Castle.


To see more photos from this magic city please visit my PhotoSets Prague 1996 and Prague 2002 on Flickr.

Attitude Adjustment Time II

A Visit to Amsterdam

Click on the Pic for an alternative attitude adjustment.

checking the Map by LostBob

Checking the Map


Everybody needs a little attitude adjustment time. Amsterdam is perfect. Opportunities abound just a few steps away in any direction.


Canal Life by LostBob
Duck on Canal by LostBob

Take a walk along the canals



Rembrandt's An Oriental, photo by LostBob Van Gogh's Self Portrait, photo by LostBob

Visit the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh


Windmill  by LostBob
Foot Massage by LostBob

Explore the city then enjoy a foot massage and a nice dinner.


A collection of photos from a March 2003 visit can be found at Amsterdam on my Flickr PhotoSharing site at my Amsterdam PhotoSet on Flickr

An alternative Amsterdam attitude adjustment can be found in my earlier post Attitude Adjustment Time on LostBob's Blog.



Wadi Shis

Wadi Shis by LostBob

The green jeep of the story below.


Wadi Shis by LostBob

That's Sregei on the rocks.

Wadi Bashed


Return to the Scene


The real story was the year before.

I was driving. Sergei was navigating using the Wadi Asimah trip description in “Off-Road in the Emirates, Vol 2" by Dariush Zandi.

“…Follow the track that disappears into the water and comes out again…”

Opps, too late. There was more water that day. And the rocks that are piled against the small dam were not there…yet.

Picture the previous year’s jeep, a green one. front wheels hanging in the air above those little rock ramps that are not there yet. Picture the frame cross member resting squarely on that little concrete dam, rear wheels dug in to the axel in loose gravel at the bottom of the pool. Imagine it is 42 deg C (108F).

Glad there was water in that pool.