Beaufort-sur-Gervanne

We just spent a great, relaxing few days with our family in Beaufort-sur-Gervanne in the Drôme area of the Rhône-Alpes in southeastern France. It's also located within Vercors Regional Natural Park, which during World War II served as a safe and defensible position for the French Resistance.

Check out the pictures of the town and the lovely vineyards and farmland surrounding it, as well as some views of Crest and the tower of Crest which was used as a prison, living quarters and for protection of the city.

A very fun experience - visiting a goat farm and creamery, having the chance to watch the goats at feeding and milking time :)

La Gervanne, the river that runs through Beaufort-sur-Gervanne

The town centre in Crest

A view from the highest point in the tower of Crest

In the tower of Crest

The Northern Renaissance: Dürer to Holbein

Recently we visited The Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace (one of our favorites) to see their new exhibit on the northern Renaissance.  Here are some we particularly liked.  Enjoy!

'Lucretia,' Lucas Cranach the Elder (1550) and workshop
The virtuous Lucretia was blackmailed and raped by Sextus Tarquinius, and upon losing her honor she stabbed and killed herself, igniting a rebellion that resulted in the foundation of the Roman republic. 

'A standing masquerader,' Leonardo da Vinci (1517-18) 
[black chalk, pen and ink and wash]
Drawn during da Vinci's last years in France, it was a period of extravagant festivals in the French court.  This was most likely a study for costumes to be worn at these events. 

'A rhinoceros,' Albrecht Dürer (1515) [woodcut]
The artist never actually saw the animal in real life, but the depiction is incredibly accurate.  In the centuries since his death, this image has been used by other artists as a model for their own depictions.

'Satyr,' Benvenuto Cellini (1545) [bronze]

'The Apocalypse: The Four Horsemen,' Albrecht Dürer (1498) [woodcut]
The Book of the Revelation of St John - aka the Apocalypse - was a popular subject in the Middle Ages, many believing the world would end in the year 1500. Dürer vividly depicts the violence and horror believed to come, emphasizing the fears and imagination of people at that time (look at the mouth of hell swallowing people in the bottom left corner!). This was published as a book with 15 pages of illustrations.

'A greyhound,' Albrecht Dürer (1500-1) [brush and ink]

'A head of a man wearing a turban,' attributed to a follower of
Martin Schongauer (1480) [pen and brown ink]

Walking back through St James' Park ... a gorgeous day!

Saatchi Gallery

A few weekends ago we finally visited the Saatchi Gallery to see the current exhibit "Gaiety Is the Most Outstanding Feature of the Soviet Union" which includes a collection of Russian artists portraying life in modern Russian after the end of communism...  

"Heart, Organ of Love (Sometimes My Heart Turns Into a Chicken),"
Daria Krotova, Russia.

"Case Studies," Boris Mikhailov, Ukraine.

"What happened on the ruins of the ex-Soviet Empire is still unique ... 
These guys’ shabbiness is the mirror of the ruin and disappointment of a much larger number of people, most of whom no longer feel safe and wealthy as in the Soviet era; many people’s ideals are gone forever, others have simply gone mad!" (Saatchi Gallery).

"Russian Landscape," Sergey Pakhomov, Russia.

"Russian Criminal Tattoo Encyclopaedia Print No. 12," Sergei Vasiliev, Russia.

The artist sought to portray the secret prison language of tattoos. "Tattooing was illegal, so these images were made using scalpels and melted boot heels, often diluted with blood. They were a form of defiance from the very first cut" (Guardian).

"What Does It Matter To Her Ever Creating Womb If 
Today Matter Is Flesh and Tomorrow Worms," 
Dasha Shishkin, Russia.

Edinburgh, Loch Lomond & the Highlands

In November (yes, it's been a while since we've written), Nikki and her friend Meredith who visited from NY flew to Scotland for a fun 3-day trip!  They stayed in a wonderful bed and breakfast in Edinburgh (the "new town") and took a day trip to the Highlands and a boat ride across Loch Lomond (said to be more beautiful than Loch Ness) ... and hit up the many castles along the way!  Edinburgh is a magical medieval city - rich in interesting history, beautiful architecture and cobblestone streets, warm people, and great pubs.  The Highlands are peaceful and vividly beautiful with green, lush hills and the Highland cows grazing next to the road.

A view from their bed & breakfast overlooking the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh, a world-renowned scientific centre for the study of plants, their diversity and conservation.

A "skyline" view of Edinburgh, with the Scott Monument in view (a Victorian Gothic monument to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott).

Outside Edinburgh Castle ...
on the day of Prince Charles' birthday, celebrated with a 21-gun salute.

Inside Edinburgh Castle, this room was Mary, Queen of Scots bedchamber where she gave birth to James who would later become King of Scotland (at 13 months old when Mary abdicated in his favor) and England as well (after Elizabeth I's death).

A view of Edinburgh Castle at night looming over the city.
The castle was built on volcanic rock, and
human inhabitation dates back to the 9th century BC.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen of England's official Scottish residence.
Founded as a monastery in 1128, Mary Queen of Scots lived here from 1561-1567.  Her secretary David Rizzio was murdered in her bedchambers by followers of her husband, who was jealous of Rizzio's influence over her.

Inner court of Holyroodhouse Palace

The ruins of Holyrood Abbey.
Several coronations, births, weddings and burials were conducted
in the abbey in the 1300s-1500s. 

Loch Lomond (The Highlands) on a very foggy day, creating an eerily beautiful scene.

A friendly Highland cow!
Highland cattle are a Scottish breed of cattle known for their long horns
(this one hasn't grown his yet) and long, wavy fur.

Entrance to Stirling Castle.
A 15th century chronicler associated this castle with the legendary court of King Arthur.
Under King Edward I of England, the English occupied this site during the Wars of Scottish Independence, but were removed after Andrew Moray and William Wallace defeated the English armies.

A beautiful view of a graveyard outside Stirling Castle.

A view off the side of Stirling Castle.