Photos and the City

Author: Ursula Schmitz

  • Support

    lorenzo quinn, support, venice, biennale, italy

    Seeing Venice in the fog, Damien Hirst and seeing the hands emerging from the Canale Grande and supporting Ca´Sagredo Hotel – these were kind of the main reasons for my trip to Venice in November and I got lucky on two of them!

    “Support” by Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn

    lorenzo quinn, support, venice, biennale, italy

    The limbs rest against the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel, dually using the walls as a support system while also appearing powerful enough to dismantle it. The artwork serves as a harrowing visual reminder of the rising sea levels caused by climate change. (Hypebeast)

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  • Die Kaiserliche Schatzkammer

    And it was time to go back to Vienna, luckily I was greeted by an invitation to visit the Treasury (Die Kaiserliche Schatzkammer) and have a drink at the Kunsthistorische Museum with the Igersaustria afterwards.

    The Secular Treasury offers a unique panorama covering over a millennium of European history. This is the home of the most important collection of medieval royal objects: the insignia and jewels of the Holy Roman Empire, including the Imperial Crown and the Holy Lance. Further highlights include the Crown of Emperor Rudolf II. (which later on became Crown of the Austrian Empire), as well as the vestments and other precious items of the Order of the Golden Fleece. (The Treasury)

    kaiserliche schatzkammer, treasury, khm, vienna, austria, museum, jewelskaiserliche schatzkammer, treasury, khm, vienna, austria, museum, jewels

    In the first image, this is how a stripped down crown looks like, all the embellishments are gone. On the second image the Crown of Emperor Rudolf II, made in 1602. Later it became Crown of the Austrian Empire. The Scepter from 1615 and the Imperial Orb from the same time period.

    kaiserliche schatzkammer, treasury, khm, vienna, austria, museum, jewels

    The horn of a unicorn, which actually is a giant narwhal tooth and the crip of the King of Rome. The city Paris gifted it to Napoleon and his second wife Marie Louise in 1811. About 280kg of silver were used on this lavish piece.

    kaiserliche schatzkammer, treasury, khm, vienna, austria, museum, jewels

    The Crown of the Holy Roman Empire (10th century)

    kaiserliche schatzkammer, treasury, khm, vienna, austria, museum, jewels

    kaiserliche schatzkammer, treasury, khm, vienna, austria, museum, jewels

    As it was hard to use the bigger jug a tiny baptismal jug was made, around 1600.

    kaiserliche schatzkammer, treasury, khm, vienna, austria, museum, jewels

  • Oxford

    it was already dark when I had arrived at my last Airbnb, a stunning and still super cosy cabin next to the River Thames, so I was already looking forward to waking up to an amazing snow-dusted view. But in the morning it was all gone… Good bye winter wonderland!

    oxfordshire, oxford, cotswolds, england, uk, ursula schmitz, roadtrip, winter, airbnb

    The view was still beautiful! I just have to come back and stay longer, maybe do the Thames Walk or write a book or both!.

    oxfordshire, oxford, cotswolds, england, uk, ursula schmitz, roadtrip, winteroxfordshire, oxford, cotswolds, england, uk, ursula schmitz, roadtrip, winter, airbnb

    It was hard to leave, even more as it was raining, but Oxford was waiting for me. There are quite a few park & rides all around Oxford, which is the cheapest and easiest way to get into the city centre.

    oxfordshire, oxford, cotswolds, england, uk, ursula schmitz, roadtrip, winter

    Back to city life and people and lots of people feel always a little bit strange after a few quiet days, but Oxford was a lovely place to get back to busier times. It wasn´t possible to visit the universities but I had a long walk around town and enjoyed my last cream tea (still missing those).

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    Divinity Hall at the Bodleian Library – or like Harry Potter fans know it: the Gryffindor Infirmary and also used for the Goblet of Fire and other scenes.

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    My sanctuary from the rain: The Grand Café – the site of the very first coffee house in England, serving great cream tea!

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