Berlin Christmas Markets

 

Something for everyone.

Brandenburg Gate

First day in Berlin.

   

A Sunday night visit to the Brandenburg Gate.  Fewer lights than usual around the city because of energy shortages and high price of electricity, but I managed a few shots before the lights were turned off.

Nutcrackers

 Off to visit Christmas Markets in Germany and Prague.  These kings and soldiers might have reinforcements when I return.

Library at Naples Art

 

A nice, quiet room for study on the second floor.

M.C.Escher

 A terrific exhibition of works by Dutch graphic artist M.C.Escher is at Naples Art. 

 

I liked seeing some woodcut prints from his years in Italy.  Escher began studying architecture before shifting over to art, and his Italian scenes foreshadow the later works for which he gained his reputation.

This is a corner of a 1935 wood engraving of a hall in St. Peter's Basilica.

You can how three years later Escher's thinking transformed a woodcut into white birds flying right and black birds flying left.

By 1954, Escher created an amazing world in this dazzling tetrahedron.  Escher was fascinated by mathematics.  To me, this is a remarkable blending of architecture, mathematics and art.  It is well worth your time to click on it so you can study the enlargement. 

Simpler.

Safety in Numbers

Back in Florida for a few days.

As the daytime winds down and darkness approaches, ibises  flock together for protection, sometimes with buddies like spoonbills and herons. 

 Useless information:  (1) the plural of ibis is ibis, ibises or ibes, and (2) a group of ibises is a colony, a wedge or a congregation of ibises.

Luxury

The theme for December 1 for City Daily Photo photographers is "Luxury."  I started to drive to Naples'  main shopping street in search of something grand in a store window, but I turned around and went home. 

 I realized that luxury is what I already have.

Time.  Health.  Safety.  Food.  Shelter.  Friends and family.

  And the resources to enjoy all of these.  Life is good.