VICTORY PARK
In Moscow, Victory Park covers 182 hectares. It opened in 1995 with representatives from 56 countries, including President Clinton, present. The metal relief 462-foot high oblique is beautiful. A Mosque, Synagogue, and Russian Orthodox Church are in the park.
We entered the main building to find a Russian band waiting for us. The director stood at rigid attention in a uniform that looked a bit big for him. After they played and sang the Russian National Anthem they swung into the Star Spangled Banner. We all stood at attention and sang loudly along with them as more than one of us had tears in our eyes. What a delight! So far from home, on foreign soil and to have such a warm welcome was wonderful.
A local, very Russian, docent then toured us though the excellent museum. The many dioramas were some of the best I’ve ever seen. Svetlana interpreted for us as we moved through the museum. The guide said, “Twenty-seven million Russians died during WW II, seven million were military and 20 million were civilians. The Battle of Moscow in 1941 was followed by the Battle of Stalingrad, which lasted 200 days killing 4 million people. That battle ended in ’43 when Russian soldiers surrounded 90,000 Germans.
“The Nazis couldn’t capture Leningrad so they bombarded it in a siege that lasted 900 days! The Russians would not surrender. People had no heat, water, or food and were given 4-inches of bread a day. One million died in the first destruction of Leningrad in 300 years.
“Kiev was liberated in November ’43. The Nazis lost 70% of their forces on Russian territory. The siege of Berlin lasted 22 days.”
In the Hall of Glory 12,000 hero names are engraved on the walls. Reliefs encircle the dome and in the center a bronze soldier welcomes and represents the drive from Moscow to Berlin.
It is an excellent war museum with outstanding displays.
At the time of my visit Moscow was in high gear for the 65th D-Day anniversary celebrations. President Bush was due in the city in a few days. Orange, yellow and red flags were all over town. Thousands of flowers---tulips and pansies, were being planted.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE
Fantastic Place
One of the most recognizable landmarks in the world is the Sydney Opera House. Pictures just don’t do it justice and what a history! The 4 ½ acre building stands facing the harbor on Bennelong Point Sydney, Australia..
The guided tour was worth both the time and money. Our guide told us, “The opera house has ten ‘sails’ and stands the height of a 22 story building.”
She continued, “In 1959 there was enormous controversy and debate from the inception of the idea for an opera house. An international competition resulted in 233 entries. The dazzling and dramatic design of Danish architect Joern Utzon fired the imagination of the judges. But the technology did not exist in the 50s to build the sails that formed the roof and walls.
“The original cost estimate was seven million dollars with a projected construction time of four years. The actual cost was 102 million and construction took 15 years. However, a special opera lottery paid the additional bills, and the opera house was completely paid for by mid 1975, just two years after its opening!
“The criterion was for a multipurpose hall and minor hall. The first of a three stage construction plan started in 1959. Stage I involved the foundation and base, to the podium level. Stage II was the construction of the roof vaults. One day while peeling an orange Utzon had the inspiration to construct the shells from rib sections of a complete sphere. And so the 2194 concrete ribs, forming the skeleton of the building, were prefabricated and joined together with 217 miles of tension steel. Each section weighs 15 tons. These ribs are clearly visible in the foyers and staircase areas of the concert hall."
The ‘roof’ is covered with 1,056,000 Swedish white tiles which appear as a mosaic. Any one section of the ‘sails’ can be removed without compromising the entire structure. This is also true of the ribs and the tile coverings.
In 1966,shortly before completion of Stage II, Utzon resigned from the project. A team of Australian architects overtook the project and completed this stage in about a year.
The guide continued, “Stage III involved the glass walls, interior rooms, and all the innards, promenades and approaches. Opera House is a bit of a misnomer as it is actually an arts center. Besides the 1547-seat opera theater there is a 2690-seat concert hall, a 544-seat drama theater, and a 398-seat playhouse.
“The building houses a 1000 rooms including a reception hall, five rehearsal studios, four restaurants, six theater bars, extensive foyers and lounge areas, sixty dressing rooms, library, artist lounge, administrative offices, and extensive plant and machinery areas.
“The concert hall roof vault at 221-feet is the highest. The roofs are supported by 32 eight-foot square columns sunk 82 feet below sea level. The acoustics here are nearly perfect. It took Ronald Chap, an Australian, ten years to design and build the organ in this hall. The organ has 10,500 pipes and extends into the back 8 ½ meters.”
The first three rows in the drama theater are actually below sea level. That theater is cooled by salt water passing through aluminum coils on the ceiling.
She concluded, “Brushbox and white birch plywood, both obtained from northern New South Wales, are used extensively throughout. The 67,000 square feet of two layer glass for the windows came from France. One layer of 2000 panes, in 700 sizes, is tinted. The glass wall acts as sound proofing. 400 miles of electrical cable was needed. The power supply, adequate for a city of 25,000, involves 120 distribution boards. Twelve miles of air conditioning duct run from 26 air conditioning rooms/areas.”
I would hate to trouble shoot that electrical system!
This was a most fascinating tour of a fabulous interesting building.
The guided tour was worth both the time and money. Our guide told us, “The opera house has ten ‘sails’ and stands the height of a 22 story building.”
She continued, “In 1959 there was enormous controversy and debate from the inception of the idea for an opera house. An international competition resulted in 233 entries. The dazzling and dramatic design of Danish architect Joern Utzon fired the imagination of the judges. But the technology did not exist in the 50s to build the sails that formed the roof and walls.
“The original cost estimate was seven million dollars with a projected construction time of four years. The actual cost was 102 million and construction took 15 years. However, a special opera lottery paid the additional bills, and the opera house was completely paid for by mid 1975, just two years after its opening!
“The criterion was for a multipurpose hall and minor hall. The first of a three stage construction plan started in 1959. Stage I involved the foundation and base, to the podium level. Stage II was the construction of the roof vaults. One day while peeling an orange Utzon had the inspiration to construct the shells from rib sections of a complete sphere. And so the 2194 concrete ribs, forming the skeleton of the building, were prefabricated and joined together with 217 miles of tension steel. Each section weighs 15 tons. These ribs are clearly visible in the foyers and staircase areas of the concert hall."
The ‘roof’ is covered with 1,056,000 Swedish white tiles which appear as a mosaic. Any one section of the ‘sails’ can be removed without compromising the entire structure. This is also true of the ribs and the tile coverings.
In 1966,shortly before completion of Stage II, Utzon resigned from the project. A team of Australian architects overtook the project and completed this stage in about a year.
The guide continued, “Stage III involved the glass walls, interior rooms, and all the innards, promenades and approaches. Opera House is a bit of a misnomer as it is actually an arts center. Besides the 1547-seat opera theater there is a 2690-seat concert hall, a 544-seat drama theater, and a 398-seat playhouse.
“The building houses a 1000 rooms including a reception hall, five rehearsal studios, four restaurants, six theater bars, extensive foyers and lounge areas, sixty dressing rooms, library, artist lounge, administrative offices, and extensive plant and machinery areas.
“The concert hall roof vault at 221-feet is the highest. The roofs are supported by 32 eight-foot square columns sunk 82 feet below sea level. The acoustics here are nearly perfect. It took Ronald Chap, an Australian, ten years to design and build the organ in this hall. The organ has 10,500 pipes and extends into the back 8 ½ meters.”
The first three rows in the drama theater are actually below sea level. That theater is cooled by salt water passing through aluminum coils on the ceiling.
She concluded, “Brushbox and white birch plywood, both obtained from northern New South Wales, are used extensively throughout. The 67,000 square feet of two layer glass for the windows came from France. One layer of 2000 panes, in 700 sizes, is tinted. The glass wall acts as sound proofing. 400 miles of electrical cable was needed. The power supply, adequate for a city of 25,000, involves 120 distribution boards. Twelve miles of air conditioning duct run from 26 air conditioning rooms/areas.”
I would hate to trouble shoot that electrical system!
This was a most fascinating tour of a fabulous interesting building.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
ST JOHNS, NEWFOUNDLAND
A Charming Historic City
Known as the City of Legends or as stated on our bus as the City of Opportunity, St John’s is Newfoundland’s capital. With a population of 100,000, it is the largest city in the province and also is one of Canada’s windiest cities. Damp and rainy, fog is frequent and can last for days. No one can believe that we had clear sunny days for our entire visit---the Gods were shining down on us!
The picturesque historic port town has provided shelter for explorers, merchants, soldiers, mariners, and pirates for over 500 years. The waterfront, located in historic downtown, is an easy stroll. Steep hills surround the harbor, but the down town area is relatively level and very walkable. Historic buildings, plaques, and parks depict the city’s history since John Cabot dropped anchor at Bonavista Bay in 1497.
My flight was delayed so when I finally arrived very late afternoon I left my luggage in my hotel room and walked the main streets of Water and Duckworth.
I photographed the 1901 stone Victorian Courthouse between Duckworth and Water Streets. Made of local granite and sandstone, the building was cleaned in 1988. I walked up the many courthouse steps, the pedestrian connection between the two major streets, stopping to observe the site of a 19th century produce market and public gallows. I tried to envision the last public hanging in 1835 when John Flood was hanged for robbing the stagecoach.
The War Memorial was erected in 1924, eight years after a Newfoundland Regiment was decimated at Beaumont Hamel, France during the battle of Somme. It is located at Queen’s Beach where Sir Humphrey Gilbert took possession of the island in 1583. The bronze figures represent Liberty, the Merchant Marine, the Army, Navy and Forestry Corps.
There are always funny stories to be found when traveling. One in Newfoundland concerns the Government House, 1824. It is one of the few buildings in North America to have a moat surrounding it. The governor was also the governor of the Bahamas, and he was building two residences at the same time. The moat was to keep out alligators! Needless to say it was soon filled in. Now the building is the private residence of the Lt. Governor and guest house for members of the Royal Family when they visit the province.
I found St. John’s a charming city and have lots more to share on another day.
Known as the City of Legends or as stated on our bus as the City of Opportunity, St John’s is Newfoundland’s capital. With a population of 100,000, it is the largest city in the province and also is one of Canada’s windiest cities. Damp and rainy, fog is frequent and can last for days. No one can believe that we had clear sunny days for our entire visit---the Gods were shining down on us!
The picturesque historic port town has provided shelter for explorers, merchants, soldiers, mariners, and pirates for over 500 years. The waterfront, located in historic downtown, is an easy stroll. Steep hills surround the harbor, but the down town area is relatively level and very walkable. Historic buildings, plaques, and parks depict the city’s history since John Cabot dropped anchor at Bonavista Bay in 1497.
My flight was delayed so when I finally arrived very late afternoon I left my luggage in my hotel room and walked the main streets of Water and Duckworth.
I photographed the 1901 stone Victorian Courthouse between Duckworth and Water Streets. Made of local granite and sandstone, the building was cleaned in 1988. I walked up the many courthouse steps, the pedestrian connection between the two major streets, stopping to observe the site of a 19th century produce market and public gallows. I tried to envision the last public hanging in 1835 when John Flood was hanged for robbing the stagecoach.
The War Memorial was erected in 1924, eight years after a Newfoundland Regiment was decimated at Beaumont Hamel, France during the battle of Somme. It is located at Queen’s Beach where Sir Humphrey Gilbert took possession of the island in 1583. The bronze figures represent Liberty, the Merchant Marine, the Army, Navy and Forestry Corps.
There are always funny stories to be found when traveling. One in Newfoundland concerns the Government House, 1824. It is one of the few buildings in North America to have a moat surrounding it. The governor was also the governor of the Bahamas, and he was building two residences at the same time. The moat was to keep out alligators! Needless to say it was soon filled in. Now the building is the private residence of the Lt. Governor and guest house for members of the Royal Family when they visit the province.
I found St. John’s a charming city and have lots more to share on another day.
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