Juan F. Griffin

Lion Monument

17th November 2015

| 2014, Animal, Day, inLOVEwithSWITZERLAND, Lion, Lion Monument, Lucerne, Rated 5, Sculpture, Statue, Switzerland, Travel

Lion Monument (Lucerne, Switzerland)

The Lion Monument is one of Lucerne’s main landmarks. The lion is surrounded by a sheltered place, a lake with green trees and grass. A place where a lion will really go to die as described already by Mark Twain. Looking to the scene as a whole feels incredibly dramatic.

Carved into the cliff face, the Lion Monument measures ten meters in width and six meters in height.

Lion Monument, lion close up (Lucerne, Switzerland)

Designed by Bertel Thorvaldsen and hewn in 1820–21 by Lukas Ahorn. It commemorates the Swiss guards who were massacred in 1792 during the French Revolution.

I can’t say enough how impressive this particular sculpture is. The lion transmits real sadness and the place really wants you to cry for the lost ones. These feelings have been accentuated by a good use of light and shadow on the image.

There is a more detailed description of the historical facts behind the Lion Monument and Mark Twain description at wikipedia.org.

No Comments

Mount Fuji From Lake Ashi

16th November 2015

| No Comments

| 2015, Day, Fuji, Gate, Hakone, Japan, Lake, Landscape, Mist, Mountain, Rated 5, Torii Gate, Volcano

Mount Fuji from lake Ashi at sunset (Hakone, Japan)

After spending a bit more than a week in the busy japanese capital I moved to Hakone. My idea was to relax in their thermal waters after a busy week, enjoying views of Mount Fuji.

Mount Fuji from lake Ashi at sunset – Close up Shine (Hakone, Japan)

Hakone is famous for its views of Mount Fuji, lake Ashi and the beautiful shine inside the forest. Since I visited during the rainy season, it was always cloudy and Mount Fuji was not visible.

Mount Fuji from lake Ashi at sunset – Close up Fuji (Hakone, Japan)

The first day, during sunset, the volcano’s shadow appeared between the mist for a few minutes. The mist naturally created the look and feel of a classic Japanese painting. Mount Fuji never reappeared during the remaining couple of days I spent there.

Mount Fuji has been nicknamed “Shy Mountain” since it often hides in the mist. This was my first sight of the famous volcano that I would visit a few days later, where I planned to hike up to the peak.

No Comments

Barcelona City Center Night

15th November 2015

| No Comments

| 2014, Architectural, Barcelona, Cityscape, Downtown, Dusk, Montjuic Castle, Montjuic Magic Fountain, Spain, Travel

Barcelona city center night (Barcelona, Spain)

I was enjoying a week long holiday in Barcelona during the end of the summer. As usual, I was trying to rest during the afternoon before sunset. This time I was resting on a shopping mall at the city center. I find it interesting that this mall was built taking advantage of the structure of an older bull’s square. You don’t see that very often.

I visited the top floor by chance, and I noticed that the rooftop had some great views of the city. As it got dark the views became incredible. It felt like a typical cosmopolitan city full of car lights everywhere with five streets intersecting at a roundabout. The combination of these lights and aged buildings creates a very special and harmonious cityscape.

Barcelona city center night – Spain square (Barcelona, Spain)

Barcelona city center night – Montjuic magic fountain (Barcelona, Spain)

This image presents some of the most iconic places in the city. It clearly shows the path from Spain Square to National Palace including Montjuic Magic Fountain. As a plus, the magic fountain is singing and there are some disco lights coming from the back of the palace.

No Comments

The Blog