Henry VIII's place

Deal Castle, built under the order of Henry VIII between around 1540, is smaller than any of the castles visited thus far, but indeed a powerhouse of a place. German architect, Stefan von Haschenperg engineered the defense fortress with six curved bastions - for 360 visibility and incoming firing to be deflected more readily. This is where Anne of Cleves is said to have stayed on route from EU to London to meet up with Henry. Most impressive from an aerial perspective, Henry 8th and others would have never seen during his reign. Many alterations have been made from 16th century onward to keep up with the changing needs of military defense. 

form + color studies

wooden vessels against horizon + sky @ Deal

Seaside village, Deal

A stop to visit Henry 8th's artillery fort brought us to Deal, southeast of Dover 

along the sea. Although the town appeared a bit 'tired', with vacationing shops 

and restaurants following a busy summer season, it remained charming and quaint 

with fish and candy shops, street buskers, dog walkers and senior filled cafes.

Black Windmill

 on way to Deal from Dover, this punctuated the quick moving landscape

good-bye

Constable roams here

In this magnificent landscape of low laying country and large hovering clouds, how can one not think of Constable and Turner?

Lavish Dover, in all of its splendor

A trip to Dover Castle, sits onto of those beautiful White Cliffs of... A structure of Henry 2's request, built in 1180 stands lavishly adjacent to an Ancient Roman lighthouse (2,000 y/o) and other Roman ruins. One can see it from a great distance, sitting proud within its handsome fortifications that served to protect the English coast for over 1,000 years and greeted, wined and dined foreign dignitaries on their pilgrimages to witness Thomas Becket's shrine at Canterbury Cathedral (Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered by 4 of the King's knights in 1170) eighteen miles away.

Interior displays brings to life the six main rooms of the medieval Keep, where many a  King's reception would have occurred, dining, lodging and other activities to allow this castle to flourish in the wealth and grandeur it once did.  

Chainmaille, visually elegant as crocheted lace.
Lower, students reflect on the knoll within the 12th century fortress.

Site Oud Sint-Jan

Old Saint John's Hospital @ Mariastraat 38, 8000 Brugge, is one of Europe's oldest surviving hospitals dating to the 11th century.  It now serves as a museum of early medieval medical tools, an ambulance, exquisitely  carved cofers (personal wooden trunks) and possessing some of the finest early Flemish paintings you will ever have an opportunity to see!

ooBelgium, is one of Europe's 
 

 

Under painting

Rogier Van der Weyden  b. 1399  – 18 June 1464, another leading Netherlandish painter of the mid-15th century. Kruisafneming (Deposition from the Cross), oil on panel 15th c. One can see the underpainting of Van der Weyden's coming through the fingers of Mary's. @ Old Saint John's Hospital, Brugge . BE under glass

Oak panels

Hans Memling St John Altarpiece, c. 1479, oil on oak panels at Memlingmuseum, in Saint-Jans Hospital, Brugge BE  

Memling is a hero of mine

Hans Memling c. 1430 – 11 August 1494 born in Germany and later moved to Flanders where he became a citizen of Brugge BE Memling was one of the leading painters of the country.  He is known for his Early Netherlandish style of painting, creating supple skin and diaphanous veils on wooden panels.  He has always been one of my favorites; combining lush form against flat abstract grounds. Standing amongst numbers of Memlings, Hugo Van der Goes, Rogier Van der Wyden, in the 11th century Old St. Johns Hospital at Mariastraat 38, 8000 Brugge, Belgium was just this side of heaven! 

Brugge . BE

 A visit to Brugge, Belgium with students on 10.10.14 was picture perfect. The largest province of West Flanders with stunning examples of Medieval architecture dating to the 15th c. was the stomping ground of early Flemish painters Jans van Eyck, Hugo van der Goes and Hans Memling among others. Amazing to wander throughout the streets, enter the Market area and consume my first true Belgium waffle.  Here are images from a canal tour in this breathtaking city composed of narrow winding streets, chocolate shops, and loads of lace! 

Dogs run wild

Found in Canterbury . ENGLAND

dog foot print in brick slab made during Roman occupation

circa 2nd c. AD

Cumulus giving way

Cumulus giving way to cirrocumulus and altostratus - skies are changing from summer to fall. It's getting colder here in Canterbury with rain most mornings, blessed with sunshine by early afternoon. T-shirts, sandals and sneakers replaced with sweaters, scarves and boots. UK gray skies are settling in here. Large quantities of tea being poured and drunk, soups being made!

X-roads C'bury

Interior of The Raj Venue looking onto the High Street  ::

serving Indian, Nepalese & Bangladeshi cuisine, beyond the Westgate

Lonely as a Cloud

I wandered lonely as a Cloud

That floats on high o'er Vales and Hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd

A host of dancing Daffodils;

Along the Lake, beneath the trees,

Ten thousand dancing in the breeze.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Outdid the sparkling waves in glee: –

A poet could not but be gay

In such a laughing company:

I gaz'd – and gaz'd – but little thought

What wealth the shew to me had brought:

For oft when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude,

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the Daffodils.

William Wordsworth (1807)