You can view the entire collection here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRzIxSQRXTc

A memorable moment from The House of Crypto’s visit to Saville Gardens.

Saw this small tower in the town square at Bertinoro while attending the SWING and FOSAD workshops. My initial reaction was that this might have been some ancient torture post :) but the real story is a lot rosier. The ancient familes of Bertinoro erected the post with a ring for each family to settle disputes as to who should host travellers - the traveller would tie his horse to a ring and the family that “owned” the ring automatically had the privilege of entertaining him.

More pictures here and here.

This is NOT the external of an Indian temple. This is the external wall of the San Michele Church in Pavia near Milan!!

More pictures here

This is The Last Supper or “Il Cenacolo” by Da Vinci, undoubtedly the most famous.

I called to book a ticket to see this fantastic piece of work and I was told that all slots were booked for the next three months. Instead, I went over to see the main church, Santa Maria de la Grazie ( The last Supper is in the refectory and entry is separate). After spending a couple of hours at the church I had an urge and I walked into the ticket counter, just as a couple was walking away with disappointed nods after being told that no tickets were available for both of them.

I was then given a ticket for the single no show that day.

This second version of the Last Supper is from the Certosa di Pavia.

And finally, this is Veronese’s ” The Last Supper of Christ”, which for its unusual depiction of the event led to the painter being called to trial..the piece was retitled “Feast At The House of Levi” and now hangs the the Brera in Milan. You can have a virtual tour of this fantastic picture gallery here, though it cannot match a real visit, which will leave you breathless.

Spinning on the erm… privates of the bull etched on the floor, in the hall of Vittorio Emmanuel Gallery, next to the Duomo in Milan is considered good luck!

Apparently the bull ( or rather its balls ) are renovated every couple of years as the floor wears away from the constant silliness :) Here I am contributing to this ancient practice. Hope it brings good luck :)

Finally went climbing outdoors in the hills near Milan with Alice and her friends!

More pictures from the Italy trip here

I came away from the book deeply distressed and troubled. The book is one of the most deceptive that I have ever read. One expects from the title, and even from reading many of the initial chapters that it is a romantic, coming of age kind of novel - till the pieces fall together. The absolute lack of concepts of free will and the characters’ mute resignation and surrender leave a very strong but unpleasant impact.

The book is, in my opinion, a literary masterpiece in a class of the author’s own making.

Do not read it for fun or expecting to liven up your spirits.