Art | With Love From Mel

September 14, 2021September 14, 2021

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Being a Novocastrian (but from New-Newcastle Australia), I thought it time to visit Newcastle England. I don’t know why it’s called Newcastle Upon Tyne, or Newcastle Gateshead… there is a Gateshead, a Jesmond, and a Wallsend in both the English and Australian versions. Regardless, the locals loved hearing I am from Newcastle Australia, even got discounts.

The town is quite pretty – with many buildings similar to the brownstones in Edinburgh, but thrown in is the University with ultra-modern and sleek buildings. The Sage building is quite beautiful with undulating curves, it is a conference and performance centre.

I was there for four days, and pretty much crossed off every notable tourist attraction – the Castle and the keep, the mini Sydney Harbour bridge, Sunday Market at the Quay, the art galleries, shopping high street, and even went to Bingo!

If you go to Newcastle, you must visit the Biscuit Factory art gallery – all the pieces are for sale, and reasonably priced, ranging from £100 to £8000. Their collection is breathtaking. If you had to choose between the Laing and the Biscuit Factory, definitely go the latter!

Down Grey street, there are a couple of independent art shops (Castle Fine Art in particular) which are worth a visit. I had to exit quickly before I purchased something. Unfortunately due to restricted time openings, I missed the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art Gallery – so if someone has been to both the Biscuit Factory and the Baltic and the latter is better – do let me know!

Close to Newcastle is a beautiful place on the coast – Tynemouth with a proper sand beach. There is a restaurant on the beach – Riley’s Fish Shack. You can watch the waves roll in and listen as they break on the shore whilst you warm your digits over your private fire pit and of course, eat fantastic seafood.

May 20, 2019January 24, 2020

Paris in May

More a year ago I purchased two tickets to go and see Ravi Shankar’s daughter – Anoushka Shankar – undisputedly they are the World’s best Sitar players. The venue was Paris. Unbeknownst to many people, Anoushka is the half sister of Nora Jones…. a more familiar name.

The two sisters collaborated in creating one of the most beautiful songs – Traces of You. Listen to that and your heart will sing guaranteed.

So anyway I bought two tickets, not knowing who might join me because it’s a unique style of music and perhaps not everyone likes such different variety. Plus the concert is in another country and a year in advance – all things to be considered in fairness.

Unfortunately the person I invited did not like the style one little bit… Nor the country and culture.

On top of that they booked the wrong outgoing train and had to change it in rush when their ticket didn’t work at the gates. Now if you had to change an International train ticket, a mere £40 additional cost is a bargain if you ask me. To also have availability on the preferred train as well! And the seat next to me…. I thought they were lucky…. but people react differently to the World….

What was very insulting was that they checked their phone of my communication to them before they could accept their mistake. What a start to the weekend. Great.

Also I did not realise was that the performance was a collaboration of Phillip Glass & Ravi Shankar – and coincidently I had seen the symphonies of Phillip Glass and the legendary David Bowie in London a couple of weeks prior…. So I saw Mr Glass twice on stage in two weeks. And I just learnt that Phillip Glass has also worked with Aphex Twin! How diverse.

I love Paris, its a magical city with a wide variety of art, landscaped gardens and beautiful architecture. The musee D’orsay is my favourite museum in Paris – the sculptures and paintings and the space itself is beyond words. Treat yourself and eat at the restaurant – it looks much more expensive then what it is and its truly majestic – you are sitting in an art gallery within an art gallery.

Wandering the streets of Paris is always colourful and the Marais is my favourite area. Definitely visit Fleux – https://en.fleux.com/ for shopping. Keep in mind that a lot of their goods are available online for 1/3 the price, but some are not – like their terrariums – definitely not available on line – I have looked!!

Careful on the ordering of steaks in France. They do prefer to serve them still kicking and grazing on the garnish – my friend ordered medium rare, but seriously it was still moving. Unfortunately as the first meal in Paris, it didn’t go down well. At all. Was returned for a couple of more minutes on the grill S’il Vous Plait (and probably spat on).

We stayed at a lovely hotel in the 8th arrondissement at the Le Mathurin Hotel & Spa – about £400 for 3 nights. A great location. Not appreciated by my travelling companion in the slightest.

I learnt an important lesson this trip. Careful who you travel with. If your travelling partner(s) are not open to new experiences, possibly insecure recluses, or even have a touch of borderline personality disorder…. don’t take them. Better to travel Hans Solo.

March 3, 2017February 4, 2020

Vienna

On my second visit to Vienna, I had an epiphany, I don’t holiday. I mission. My first visit was to ice skate. And see as much as I could…. this included – eating the World famous sacher torte – a very rich chocolate cake – invented by Austrian Franz Sacher in 1832 for Prince Wenzel von Metternich.

On that first visit, I indulged in a horse drawn cart ride through the city. The driver kept leaning back to share secrets about the city – but frankly I could only understand every second or third word (there was a lot of smiling and nodding in response). Also I visited a couple of art galleries, trouped through the beautiful streets, shopped just a little and ate my way through the city.

My second and further visits were slightly more relaxed, but still at 100 mile per hour.

The Spanish Riding School of Vienna is certainly a beautiful thing to see. The horses are from Slovenia originally. They were instrumental in battle and are very nimble. Photography is strictly forbidden and the staff very quickly stop any happy snappers.

Vienna’s ice rink is in front of the parliament square – the Rathaus – a beautiful building. And the primary rink is right in front. Ice paths circle around beautiful sculptures and trees.

If you like Vienna, consider a trip to Seville, Bilbao, Rome and Budapest.

September 22, 2007January 29, 2020

Madrid

I truly love Madrid and have visited several times. One trip I went for a week to attend Flamenco and Spanish classes. The Flamenco class every day for three hours. Some girls dance for six or more! It’s hard work.

The Flamenco school had several rooms and the class that I was in had about nine students. All stamping away in rhythm. The room had a wall of glass that would fog up and eventually start dripping from condensation. Our teacher would stand in the corner with a cane, first demonstrating the steps to take and then tapping her cane to the beat to keep us in time.

Public transport is very cheap in Madrid – it’s only a couple of Euros to get from the airport to the centre. Wear comfortable shoes because you will do a lot of walking.

One of my favourite hotels is the Vincci Capitol Hotel – the location is excellent (next to Callao metro) with modern decor. It features a roof top terrace overlooking the city with sun lounges. My bedroom was fantastic – mood lighting options included ‘relax’ and ‘awake’ as well as being adjustable. There is a beautiful bar with a view of Calle Gran Via – its easy to just watch the traffic snake through the city.

The best shopping area in Madrid is Chueca. There are several shops brimming with clothes, shoes and furniture. One a visit in 2007, I bought a side table but the shop couldn’t provide shipping so I schlepped it back myself. I’d like to mention that the table’s top is glass and I was totally expecting it to be smashed to smithereens – but was very pleasantly surprised to unwrap it unscathed.

A visit to Museum del Prado is a must – it houses an extensive collection of Goya, Diego Velázquez and Rubens. The Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (founded in 1744) has a great collection of sculpture, modern art and a truckload of religious relics. The Royal Palace is an amazing building with over 3000 rooms! A stroll through the gardens is very relaxing.

Madrileñas speak very rapidly so you might find them to be one of the more difficult Spanish accents to understand.

May 22, 2007January 29, 2020

Paris

I visit Paris at least once a year. The Marais is a wonderful place to stroll around and the Musée d’Orsay is one of my favourite museums in the world.

From London, the Eurostar is the best way to get there. It used to run from Waterloo but changed to Kings Cross in 2007. And it is very reasonable to go just for a day – taking an early morning train and returning in the evening.

I have stayed in the Latin quarter which still hangs on to its bohemia roots. (Stay away from the night life on Champs-Élysées – unless you enjoy trash.)

Do visit Château de Versailles – its a train ride from centre of Paris. There is a walking hall of mirrors inside and the most beautiful Orangerie. Its quite nice to boat around the impressive man made lake.

My favourite restaurant – Chez Paul is in the Marais and was recently featured in ‘The Marvellous Mrs Maisel’ – which pissed me off a bit as now everyone knows about this hidden gem. (Be impossible to get in now.)

Coincidently, a friend of mine – Gwen (who lives in Amsterdam) texted about this amazing French restaurant she had found – my Chez Paul! I’ve been going for more then fifteen years! I even took my nephew there! And bless him, he decided to be adventurous and order the ‘moelle osseuse’ (I thought it would be mussels… er no. Tis bone marrow).

I’m still trying to work out how the French make such amazing omelettes! Always light and fluffy. Best in the World!

I was last in Paris May 2018 for my birthday. We went to see a show at Lido on Av. des Champs-Élysées – and yes do refer to my initial comment about trash on this avenue.

My next visit is May 2019 to see Anoushka Shankar.