World Fountain

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Weltkugelbrunnen (World Fountain) by Joachim Schmettaus, 1984
Breitscheidplatz, Charlottenburg
Berlin, September 2011

“Lovingly known by the locals as the Wasserklops or water ball, this hemispherical fountain made of red granite and bronze captivates onlookers with its figures, stairs, geometric shapes and carvings, especially when the water is allowed to flow over it and collect in the basin at its foot.” (World Fountain, Europa Center, Berlin)
See also: Weltkugelbrunnen - Breitscheidplatz

Pope Benedict XVI

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Pope Benedict XVI medallion
Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
Piazzale San Paolo
Rome, May 2011

“After the fire of 1823, Gregory XVI requested that the chronological series of papal medallions, characteristic of the Basilica, be reproduced in mosaic. The old medallions that survived the fire are currently preserved in the monastery.” (From the 5th to the 8th Century, The Basilica, Vatican Official Web Site)

Gare de l'Est

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Platforms of the Gare de l'Est seen from the Pont La Fayette
Rue La Fayette
Quartier Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, 10th arrondissement
Paris, July 2012

Garibaldi in Venice

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Monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi by Augusto Benvenuti, 1885
Viale Garibaldi, Castello
Venice, October 2012

“Leaving Sant’Isepo, turn right and cross the bridge, then turn left and walk along the canal until you reach Viale Garibaldi, a peaceful, tree-lined esplanade dotted with benches and frequented by families. Crowning the end of the Viale is the monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Italian military hero; the murky pond beneath is full of turtles and fish, to the delight of local children.” (Venice Walking Tour: Eastern Castello, National Geographic Society)

See also: Garibaldi in Rome - Giuseppe Garibaldi - Garibaldi - Giuseppe Zolli

Bagpipe Players

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Bagpipe players, Berlin Firefighter Challenge
Potsdamer Platz
Berlin, September 2011

See also: Berlin Firefighter Challenge

9/11 Memorial Garden

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“Grief is the price we pay for love”
Pavilion, 9/11 Memorial Garden
Grosvenor Square, Mayfair
London, October 2009

“These are dark and harrowing times for families and friends of those who are missing or who suffered in the attack, many of you here today. My thoughts and prayers are with you all now, and in the difficult days ahead. But nothing that can be said can begin to take away the anguish and the pain of these moments. Grief is the price we pay for love.” (Grief is price of love, says the Queen, The Telegraph)

See also: Memorial Garden
External links: London’s 9/11 Memorial Garden

Luís de Camões

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Luís de Camões by Clara Menerès, 1987
Boulevard Delessert
Quartier de la Muette, 16th arrondissement
Paris, July 2012

“Avenue de Camoëns is a street in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, in the quarter La Muette. Created in 1904, it was named after the Portugese poet Luís de Camões (1525-1580), also known as Le Camoëns. With a length of only 115 meters this is perhaps the shortest avenue in Paris: it begins at rue Benjamin Franklin and ends at a monumental staircase in boulevard Delessert. At the foot of its steps there is a monument to the Lusitanian poet: a pink marble monolith sculpted by Clara Menéres and erected in 1987.” (Avenue de Camoëns, Wikipedia in French)

Paddling the Canals

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Stand up paddle boarders cruising along a canal
Rio de la Sensa, Cannaregio
Venice, October 2012

“After our preview of the canals by boat we were ready to tackle them on a paddle board. Eliana led the way as we dodged the boat traffic near our launch. After a few turns and some paddling we found ourselves on the quite back ‘streets’ of the city. Each long and narrow canal looked more picturesque and perfect than the one before. Venice is made for paddling. Eliana showed us all of the important historical sights as we glided by the beautiful buildings. Having a guide would prove important as I quickly realized I had know idea where we were. In addition to the maze of canals and side-canals, each blind corner has boats and gondolas jockeying for the right-of-way. There is a system of calls and hand signals that everyone on the canals use in order to keep traffic flowing smoothly.” (Paddling the Canals of Venice, Water Monkey)

See also: Water Bikes

Weltkugelbrunnen

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Weltkugelbrunnen (World Fountain) by Joachim Schmettaus, 1984
Breitscheidplatz, Charlottenburg
Berlin, September 2011

“Since 1983, the Weltkugelbrunnen or World Fountain has provided a refreshing addition to the City West district and forms the centre of a sunken square along the south-east edge of the Breitscheidplatz directly in front of the Europa Center. It is a popular meeting place for Berlin's many street artists and entertainers including acrobats and pantomime actors to portrait artists.” (World Fountain, Europa Center, Berlin)
See also: World Fountain - Breitscheidplatz

Africa, The Four Continents

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Africa, The Four Continents by Daniel Chester French, 1903-1907
Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House
Bowling Green
Financial District, Lower Manhattan
New York, September 2008

“Africa is the fourth sculpture of the group, located to the far right of the main entrance of the building. The central figure is shown sleeping on a chair of rocks. She is half nude, with fabric draped across her lower body. One elbow rests on the head of a lion, while the other rests on a crumbling sphinx. Her hair is in a long braid, falling over her shoulder. Behind her is another figure, almost completely covered in a long, flowing cloak. Only the figure's eyes are visible, and it is not possible to tell whether it is a man or a woman. The hand of this figure rests on a large jar.” (The Four Continents, New York City Public Art Curriculum)

See also: Asia - America - Europe (The Four Continents)

Rue de Sèze

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Légionnaires of the French Foreign Legion after the Bastille Day Parade
Rue de Sèze
Quartier de la Chaussée-d'Antin, 9th arrondissement
Paris, July 2009

San Moisè

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Church of San Moisè (Saint Moses)
Salizada San Moise, San Marco
Venice, September 2012

“An old church from the 8th Century, later restored several times. The final façade was only built in 1668 to a design by Alessandro Tremignon, paid for by the Fini family. San Moisè has a magnificent Baroque style and its massive overloaded façade full of statues and busts. One is particularly obvious: the big bust by the sculptor Heinrich Meyring depicting Vincenzo Fini, placed on an obelisk above the portal. The nineteenth-century English writer and art critic John Ruskin described it as the most ungainly church in Venice.” (Venice ant its Lagoon, World Heritage)

Monsterkabinett

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Welcoming monster outside Monsterkabinett
Rosenthaler Straße
Berlin, September 2011

“Through an old dirty alley housing an independent cinema, in the remnants of the cheap East Berlin that once was, is the most nightmarish art display I have ever set eyes upon. Approaching the Monster Kabinett, I was first greeted by a hulking metal bird creature, slowly and creakily flapping its wings. A skinny man with a shaved head introduced himself as one of the artists in the Dead Pigeon collective, the robotic art group who created the Kabinett, and invited us to the upcoming tour. He directed us then to the promoter, a woman with her pants covered in bright coloured paints, hustling all passers-by to come see the museum. When the time had come, our small group went down the stone steps and into a dungeon of darkness.” (Monster Kabinett, Indieberlin.de / by Kevin Sexton)

Abercrombie & Fitch, London

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People in line (or in a queue) outside Abercrombie & Fitch
Burlington Gardens, Mayfair
London, October 2009

“This Burlington Gardens version of popular US fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch is the flagship store in the UK. You'll find ‘store models’ instead of shop assistants selling preppy all-American college clothes. From low-slung jeans to fashionable flip-flops, there's everything the casual dresser could wish for. A storm of publicity was generated by their half-naked models and sexed-up Bruce Weber ad campaigns. The pleasing eye candy in the store may help to bring in the punters but typically hiked up UK prices mean you may still find it cheaper to get a friend in the States to do the shopping for you.” (Abercrombie & Fitch, LondonTown)

Dante in Paris

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Statue of Dante by Jean-Paul Aubé
Collège de France
Place Marcelin-Berthelot Quartier de la Sorbonne, 5th arrondissement
Paris, July 2012

“We have just seen erected on the little square of the College de France, rue des Ecoles, a statue representing the great Italian poet Dante Alighieri, the remarkable work by M. Jean-Paul Aubé, purchased by the City of Paris at the Salon of 1880. The statue is in bronze and presents the author of the Divine Comedy in his traditional costume; bits of his laurel wreath emerging from his headdress. A statue of Dante has reason to be in the quartier of the rue des Ecoles, because it is exactly at this point of the left bank of the Seine River that Italy's great exile stayed for some time, in the year 1302, at the time of the memorable battle between the Guelfs and the Ghibelins.” (Images of Dante's exile in 19th-century France, Annali d'Italianistica)

The Arrival of the Bride

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A bride arriving in a motor boat
Torcello, Venetian Lagoon
Venice, September 2012

“In their flight from barbarians 1,500 years ago, the first Venetians landed here, prospering even after many left to found the city of Venice. As malaria took its toll and the island’s wool manufacturing was priced out of the market, Torcello became a ghost town. In the 16th century there were 10 churches and 20,000 inhabitants; today you’ll be lucky to see one of the island’s 16 permanent residents.” (Fodor's Venice and Northern Italy)

Matthäuskirche

St. Matthäuskirche seen from the Neue Nationalgalerie
“Vater Staat” (Father State) by Thomas Schütte
Berlin, September 2011

“Standing a bit lost and forlorn within the Kulturforum, the Stüler-designed Matthäuskirche (1846) is a beautiful neo-Romanesque confection with alternating bands of red and ochre brick and a light-flooded, modern sanctuary that doubles as a gallery. German resistance fighter Dietrich Bonhoeffer was ordained a Lutheran minister here in 1931. A few years later the church was scheduled to be transplanted to Spandau to make room for Albert Speer’s Germania. Fortunately the war – and history – took a different turn. Bonhoeffer, however, was executed by the Nazis on 9 April 1945, just a few days before the end of the war.”(Lonely Planet, Berlin)

See also: Vater Staat

Palazzo della Carovana

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Palazzo della Carovana (also Palazzo dei Cavalieri)
Piazza dei Cavalieri (Knights’ Square)
Pisa, January 2013

“At the end of February, 1562, Giorgio Vasari presented Cosimo I with the model for Palazzo della Carovana. In accordance with the principle with which the architect had rethought the whole square, the building was to use as fully as possible the older structure called Palazzo degli Anziani, respecting its preexisting spaces while unifying them behind an elegant façade. This solution was as technically difficult as it was financially advantageous: the Palazzo degli Anziani was inhomogeneous, composed of sections which were stylistically and chronologically different. In fact, it was composed of an older part on the right, called ‘palazzo vecchio’, dating from 1286, and a newer part on the left, called ‘palazzo nuovo’, dating from 1327, and these two parts themselves were composed of different structures. But Vasari quickly finished the main structural work and at the same time the new building of the loggia at the back of the building and of the side which now faces Via Consoli del Mare. The Knights could already move into their rooms by 1564, with the Grand Prior, given the importance of his position, occupying an apartment with various rooms.” (Palazzo della Carovana, Scuola Normale Superiore)

See also: Palazzo dell'Orologio

Leitra

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A Leitra velomobile, or bicycle car
Rue de l'Ave Maria
Quartier Saint-Gervais, 4th arrondissement
Paris, July 2012

“The first LEITRA was built in 1980. Since 1982 it has successfully participated in many tough rallies in Europe, such as Trondheim - Oslo (1983) and Paris-Brest-Paris (1987). It has proven to be a real practical vehicle for long distance touring. Several million kilometers have been covered without personal injuries.
With its three wheels the LEITRA will not overturn on a slippery road. A low center of gravity (typically 35 cm over the ground) and a wide gauge (90 cm) of the front wheels reduce the risk of overturning. The steering is not affected by extra luggage load, because the luggage is kept low, under the seat. At starts and stops, e.g. at traffic lights, it is not necessary to get on and off the bike. The cyclist can sit relaxed, ready to start.” (Introduction to the Leitra Velomobile, Leitra)

Ponte dei Tre Archi

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Ponte dei Tre Archi (Bridge of the Three Arches)
Canale di Cannaregio, Cannaregio
Venice, October 2012

“Rio di Cannaregio, the canal connecting Canal Grande and the lagoon, is crossed by only two bridges: the Ponte delle Guglie (‘Bridge of Spires’, so named on account of the four spires at the four corners) and the superb Ponte dei Tre Archi (‘Bridge of the Three Arches’), originally called the Ponte di San Giobbe (‘St. Job’s Bridge’), which is the only three-arched bridge in Venice today. The bridge was built in 1688 by Andrea Tirali. Its unusual design, with three arches of varying sizes, was inspired by an old drawing from the 1500s. Restored in 1794, this is now the favourite bridge for artists.” (Venice ant its Lagoon, World Heritage)

See also: Ponte delle Guglie

Schaffner

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“Schaffner” (Conductor) by Arminius Hasemann, 1927/38
Eichenstraße, Treptow
Berlin, September 2011

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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Franklin Delano Roosevelt statue by William Reid Dick, 1948
Grosvenor Square, Mayfair
London, October 2009

“The Roosevelt Memorial was funded in 1946 entirely through the sale of a souvenir brochure to the British public. It was the idea of a society called The Pilgrims, who were dedicated to promoting goodwill and friendship between Great Britain and America. So enthusiastic was the public response to the subscription that the total sum required was reached within six days from initial announcement of the appeal (a maximum donation of 5 shillings was set, to allow a greater number to contribute). More than 160,000 separate donations were received. It's worth noting that Britain was approaching starvation during this period (more so than during the war itself), with limited housing and disappearing jobs. Spare funds would have been tough to find. The fact that so many were willing, is testament to the high regard FDR enjoyed among the British Public.” (Roosevelt's Statue - Grosvenor Square, Inside Guide to London)

See also: Allies

Baiser Promenade

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“Baiser Promenade” (Kiss Promenade) by Chantal Blanchy, 2000
Square Édouard-VII
Quartier de la Chaussée-d'Antin, 9th arrondissement
Paris, July 2012

La Caravella

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Sign of “La Caravella” restaurant
Via XXII Marzo, San Marco
Venice, September 2012

“A caravel was a light, fast ship in the days of sail. In its Italian version, La Caravella is the dining room of the Hotel Saturnia in Venice. And a handsome room it is, even for this landlubber, with its ship’s wheel, ropes, hooks, lamps, chains and abundance of dark wood. It is also an excellent restaurant.” (Restaurant La Caravella, Venice, Bown's Best)

Balloons

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Balloons, Alexanderhaus (Alexander House) by Peter Behrens in background
Alexanderplatz
Berlin, September 2011

See also: Völkerfreundschaft - Urania-Weltzeituhr - Haus des Lehrers - Alexanderhaus - Berolinahaus

Europe, The Four Continents

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Europe, The Four Continents by Daniel Chester French, 1903-1907
Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House
Bowling Green
Financial District, Lower Manhattan
New York, September 2008

“The next sculpture to the right is Europe. The central figure in this sculpture sits majestically on a throne with a relief on the side referencing an ancient frieze from the Parthenon. She sits up straight, her crowned head held high as she looks somberly ahead. She wears a voluminous, draping cloak, in the style of the ancient Greeks, with a hem decorated with coats of arms. Her left arm rests on a large book, which is itself on top of a globe of the earth. Behind her, the throne turns into the front of a ship, and there is a Roman Imperial Eagle perched above it. Behind the central figure there sits an old woman, shrouded in a long cape, and reading from a book.” (The Four Continents, New York City Public Art Curriculum)

See also: Asia - America - Africa (The Four Continents)

Planes and Birds

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Planes (and birds) flying over La Défense on Bastille Day
Seen from the Avenue de la Grande-Armée
Paris, July 2012

Bartolomeo Colleoni

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Statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni by Andrea del Verrocchio, cast by Alessandro Leopardi
Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Castello
Venice, October 2012

“The campo also contains the only equestrian monument ever erected by La Serenissima. The rider, Bartolomeo Colleoni, served Venice well as a condottiere, or mercenary commander—the Venetians preferred to pay others to fight for them on land. When he died in 1475, he left his fortune to the city on the condition that a statue be erected in his honor ‘in the piazza before San Marco.’ The Republic's shrewd administrators coveted Colleoni's ducats but had no intention of honoring anyone, no matter how valorous, with a statue in Piazza San Marco. So they collected the money, commissioned a statue by Florentine sculptor Andrea del Verrocchio (1435-88), and put it up before the Scuola Grande di San Marco.” (Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Fodor's Venice Sights)