fickle weather

That's what it is. After a beautiful thursday 26th (national holiday in Italy, as it is the celebration of the liberation), today is overcast again and preludes to another rainy week-end. So it is quite fitting that I should post rainy pictures from the previous week-end. Or maybe I am just trying to avert a repeat? But since I will be travelling to Lugano again this week-end, it is almost certain to rain....

Mantova (Veneto)

Apart from the first one, taken in Mantova, the others are from Lombardy, North of Italy in the mountains and around Lake of Iseo. A beautiful region. Around the lakes, the villages look like what you expect of italian villages, colourful, pretty. Up higher in the mountains, it is the mountain village look that is seen. No different form the swiss look, which by the way may only be 1 km away....
Although it is spring, there is still a lot of snow at fairly low altitude I thought (above 1500 m) and the contrast between the snowy tops and the green vegetation and colourful houses was a little bit surprising to me. It reminded of the amazement I had felt in Nepal at seeing Bougainvillé in bloom and lush tropical vegetation against the snowy majesty of the Himalayan range. The Alps are certainly smaller, but beautiful too.

Above Sondrio, the road to the San Marco Pass (closed)

Lovere, on Lake Iseo

Clusone, Monastery

View from the Basilica at Clusone

On another note, I had finished the Armorique shawl by Anntte Petavy / Eclat du soleil. I am very happy with it. The colour is beautiful, it was done in Madelinetosh Prairie, micas colourway, 1 skein crocheted with a 3.5 mm hook. It squishes in a small ball and can be draped around and give the warmth you want from a shawl. I followed Barjolaine in using a larger hook for an open lace look. I had been waiting for a sunny day to take a few pictures. Since I cannot block and like new things washed, I have just extracted the excess water in a towel as I had read on the web and hung it to finish drying, hoping that it would open the design. It does, although doesn't have the crispness of those who do a proper blocking.

Où donner de la tête?

It's difficult to keep up with the weather changes these days.
The trip to London early in April, graced by sunshine and a feeling of spring coming, has been followed by cold rain in Verona, very hot weather for someone who has spent 5 years in London, and heavy rain again.
So, in chronological order, here is a few snapshots of a couple of a recent week-end.
Since Verona is only 1h30 away from Venice by local train (7,5 euros single only!), I hopped on a train for the day when the weather was ideal and spent the day shooting. Of course my battery ran out 50 m from the Piazza San Marco and I could only find a shop selling batteries after the Rialto bridge. Such is the price to pay for having delayed buying a second battery. But that did not diminish the fun for very long.

 

One of the two is a reflection on the canal....

Tai Chi in Taiwan

Just back from Taiwan and the 4th World Cup Taijiquan Championship in Taoyuan, Taiwan with the Longfei Team!
A brilliant 10 days in fantastic company, training in Daan park (3 - 6h a day), seeing a little of Taipei, enjoying the hot springs in Beitou before going to Taoyuan.
Massive competition hall, nice set-up and lovely people from many countries.
And guess what? We did well!!!! Won in both group weapons forms (narrow and broadsword) and got placed as well in some solo forms....
I did not compete in push-hands but those that did had a hard time though they seem to have enjoyed it :-)
I feel so grateful to Barry and the other team members for the experience!

argh! didn't have time to go into the shop!

Daan Park in Taipei - training

Taoyuan - competition hall

group demo > 650 people

 

National palace museum

Temple in Shilin - Taipei

Longshan temple - Taipei