Versalles or France Part II

Versalles was originally built by Louis XIII, but it is Louis XIV who is really known for making it what it is today.  He is also the one to create an image for the French throne.  Everything in this palace was made to overwhelm the observer with its luxury and opulence. Based on my impressions, it works to this day.   After walking through some of the rooms all I wanted was a bare wall to stare at for a few moments. Visual sensory overload should be one of the hazards posted at the doors along with the "beware of pickpockets" and "no flash photography". 


The photos are mine, unless noted otherwise.  I failed at taking quality photos of some of the things, so had to use the internet to bring them to you. 

One  is greeted by Louis XIV himself before entering the gates. 

I seriously think that artists use these gates as inspiration to portray the gates of heaven. 

View of the Palace from the back. More on the gardens, alley and fountains in a different post. 

Copyright Chateu de Versalles

 The Hall of Mirrors is the most famous room in all of the palace.  There is so much art and history to this room, it would be enough to teach a college course. 

Copyright Chateu de Versalles 

Human sized, gold plated candlestick.  There are at least 20 of them in the room... A few in the other rooms as well. They are all vary from one another. 

The mirrors were a huge deal when this room was originally decorated by Louis XIV.  They literally cost a fortune, and bring a lot more light into the room by directly reflecting the windows.  Because of their size, the effect is incredible. 

 Here is what the official Versalles site has to say about them. 

"Economic prosperity is demonstrated by the dimensions and quantity of the three hundred and fifty-seven mirrors that decorate the seventeen arches opposite the windows, attesting that the new French production of mirrors, which at the time were luxury objects, is capable of stealing the monopoly away from Venice" 

Perhaps the most famous portrait of Louis XIV himself!  He was very proud of his legs, and is said to have been a great dancer...  Note the marble, gild, and silk on the walls.

There was something really fragile and gentle about this sarcophagus.  I don't know who this woman is, and the almighty internet could not tell me.

The Queen’s chamber

Copyright Chateu de Versalles

When the palace was invaded by the rioters on 6 October 1789, Marie-Antoinette managed to escape from them through the little door on the left of the alcove.  The fabrics were reconstructed from drawings of the designs.  

The door was open when we were there.  I think that the colors in my photograph are much more realistic. 

I will not bore you with more rooms full of gilt, paintings, lamps, and marble.  Especially since the photos are not of the greatest quality. If you want to see them, invite yourself over for tea...

Grand Trianon is coming up in the next post. 

Soroca Fortress

This fortress was originally built by Moldova's most famous and admired leader, Stefan cel Mare in 1499.  His son Peter later it was rebuilt in stone, and successfully withstood the attacks of the Ottomans.  It was also used as a strategic location by the Russian tsar Peter the Great.  The most amazing thing is that all the walls are still intact.

Today its situated in the middle of a charming town sharing its name.  Besides the fortress Soroca is also known internationally for the drug trafficking kingpins who live there. You would not guess that judging by the peaceful and somewhat sleepy streets.  The only evidence of anything unusual than any other Moldovan town are the monstrous villas surrounded by nine foot fences.  I did not photograph any of those. 

Because its off season the fortress was closed. :( You can see the inside in this video.  I pretty much agree with  all of the observations made by this guy. 

There are hundreds which actually felt like hundreds of thousands of stairs that lead to the monument up top, which is actually a small chapel.  Its an amazing viewpoint to the area. 

Landscape.

 Looking up at the tower.

View from the top.  Ukraine on the right and Moldova on the left. It was a beautiful day!

Oh, well.

I couldn't find a client file for an entire day on Tuesday.  For an hour I frantically searched every corner of my cubicle. So my mind immediately  started imagining all the terrible things that The Corporation could do to me.  You know, like firing me and stuff.  What would losing The Job be like? I could hang out with the Occupy Portland folks, they seem to be having a good time.  Oh I would definitely blog.   A lot.  Visit the unemployment office, and later have enough time to catch up with all the friends who forgot about my existence!  Maybe I would  even make a dent in that reading list from two years ago. 

Then I found the file. Oh, well.  

Todd Mecklem. Occupy Portland 2011

The Motherland, Part I

This is about to become a travel blog.  I will be traveling pretty much the entire month of May.  I don't know how much internet access I will have, but I will do my best to update  you my  dear friends. My sister and I will be visiting the place where I was born and spent my childhood.  We plan to spend most of our time in the little town where my grandparents live.  There is something so surreal about going back to one's roots.  Especially for those who are immigrants.  Walking around a town where everyone is your nationality/ethnicity is unbelievable! 

Most people in the US have never heard of Moldova. So here is some of the essential info you should know.

Lets start with geography:

Moving on to politics.  What mostly started as a student protest turned into the overturning of the communist government in 2009.  They still do not have a president-which is a world record.

Economics: As a largely agricultural country Moldova still struggles as it tried to fit into the global Post-USSR world.  The infrastructure has aged, unemployment rates are astronomical, and many chose to work as illegal immigrants in the neighboring EU countries.

Faded glory to communism. A statue in my old school yard. By Velkuv, 2008

Wheat fields are a common sight across Moldova. By Velkuv, 2008

Sociology: Alcoholism, ethnic divides, and  poverty are ordinary occurrences. One of the biggest problems however, is human trafficking. Due to the previously stated issues Moldovan women are easy targets especially because of the country's geographic proximity to Western Europe, the lack of state infrastructure, and widespread corruption.

Here's a video highlighting some of the causes by people who are trying to do something about it.  

Moldova is a paradox, almost impossible to understand by logic alone.  The combination of my own memories are combined with the reality of Moldova becomes very confusing.  I remember it as a place where I spent my childhood; vast sunflower fields, my grandfather's laughing eyes, and eating cherries directly from the tree with my sister until we got sick.

Over the next couple of weeks I will try to share with you my own stumblings in the attempt to understand this mysterious forgotten by the rest of the world country.