inSPIREd Sunday

Seen from the Doge's Palace, this
is one of the domes of the
basilica San Marco.  Would love to
see what's inside those domes,
but not in the summer—it must be very
hot under all that lead.

[To see more churches from
around the world, go here.]

Thursday Challenge—Best of 2013

I chose this image for "Reflection,"
back in April.  My friend Bert then pointed out
that it's not really a reflection but an image
of another part of the Doge's Palace.
I think he's right, but I'm showing it again
anyway—because I still love this picture.

[To see more of the Thursday Photo Challenge, go here.]

Thursday Challenge—"cleaning"

In Venice, it's so worth getting up very early
and heading to Piazza San Marco—you can
have the place pretty much to yourself, except
for the colorfully dressed cleaning crew.  They're
out at dawn and busy with hoses and old-fashioned twig 
brooms, spiffing up the piazza before the hordes descend.

[To see more of the Thursday Photo Challenge, go here.]

Thursday Challenge—"reflection"

I took this photo of Basilica San Marco
through a funky window from inside the
Doge's Palace, in Venice. It was only when
I got it up on my computer that I noticed the
little reflection of . . . the Doge's Palace!

[To see more reflections, visit
the Thursday Photo Challenge.]

abc wednesday - W is for "window"

This colorful window is in the Doge's palace, way up top.
Could I have one just like it in my house, please?
On the other hand . . .

Casanova could see two of them from 
his cell when he was a "guest" of 
the doge.  Do you suppose he 
appreciated their beauty?

[You can see more ABC Wednesday here]. 

Thursday Challenge — "golden"

This is the beautiful scala d'oro (golden staircase) in the 

Palazzo Ducale, in Venice.  It was begun in the middle of the 

16th century, and used only by magistrates and very

 important people.  I happened to meet the Venetian who was

 given the job of re-gilding this staircase (and all the rest 

of the doge's palace).  It's an "inside job" though, because two 

of his ancestors were those same magistrates who were

allowed to use this very special staircase.

[To see more gold, go here.]