Italy 2011 - Part 5

Update: Bleh.
Update2: I swear it stops here.

Gondola Ride! Venezia

Duomo, Milano (Milan)

Teatro alla Scala (The Scala Opera House), Milano

Castello Sforzesco (yes! Finally got the name right), Milano

Santa Maria delle Grazie, Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milano. This is the rather small and unassuming church which houses the original da Vinci fresco, The Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano). Tickets to see it are booked MONTHS in advance though, so we lost our chance. Nevertheless, it was thrilling knowing we're standing so close to history. Next time round.

Italy 2011 - Part 4

Update: You know what to do.

Ponte Vechhio, the only bridge in Florence with shops, imitating a typical Venetian bridge. Located over Florence's solitary river, Arno.

Sculpture of Niccolo Machiavelli, Uffizi Gallery, a public open air gallery with sculptures of some of history's most illustrious people, including Galileo Galilei, Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti (of course), Dante Alighieri and Giotti. Firenze (Florence)

Palazzo Vechhio, Firenze

Duomo, Firenze

Bell Tower, Duomo, Firenze

View of the cathedral and the rest of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

Basilica San Marco (St. Mark's Basilica), Venezia (Venice)

Basilica San Marco as viewed from its water bus stop, Venezia

Piazza San Marco, Venezia

Bell Tower, Basilica San Marco, Venezia

Piazza San Marco, Venezia

Basilica San Marco, Venezia

Italy 2011 - Part 3

Update: You know the drill.

Piazza Spagna (Spanish Steps), Roma (Rome)

Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain), Piazza Fontana di Trevi, Roma

Piazza Venezzia, Roma

Pantheon, Piazza della Rotonda, Roma

Piazza Navona, Roma

Basilica San Pietro (St. Peter's Basilica)

Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter's Square, as viewed from in front of the Basilica)

Piazza del Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), Roma

Torre Pendente (Leaning Tower), Pisa

Italy 2011 - Part 2

Update: Same as last time.

Entrance to the Musei Vaticani (Vatican Museum)

Statue of God Anubis, Musei Gregorio Egizio (Egyptian Antiquities), Musei Vaticani

Sarcophagus. Greek hero Achilles stabbing a goddess (center). The legend goes that he fell in love with her at the exact moment he dealt the mortal blow. In both their eyes can be seen a surge of both love and death. Achilles’s front arm supports her as she falls, and the other arm behind is imagined to be operating the knife. Musei Vaticani

In the Galleria della Arrazzi, Musei Vaticani. On the right, a bronze life-sized sculpture of the god Hercules

Frescoed ceiling of the Galleria delles Cartes Geografiches, Musei Vaticani

Depiction of the disputation of truth and the subsequent realization of the actual truth in the form of religion, Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael Rooms), Musei Vaticani. Raphael was commissioned to paint these rooms for the Pope residing there at the time.

In the Apartement de Borgia, Musei Vaticani. Here resided a relatively recent Pope, Borgia.

Contemporary rendition of La Pieta on stained glass, Collection of Contemporary Art, Musei Vaticani

Our room. I realize this is not exactly a tourist spot, but I just had to put this up because it was so brilliant. So if you're ever in Rome, look up a small accommodation called Alma de Roma, near the Stazione Termini, especially if you're on a tight budget and looking for a modest but comfortable place and especially one where everyone is so helpful and the atmosphere is so congenial. I know I did. =D

Italy 2011 - Part 1

Update: I realized after posting this that the photos might be too small, and posting them again in large format is just too cumbersome for 2:30 am in the morning. However, just clicking on them will lead you to a rather enlarged and (usually) infinitely more beautiful format. So, you know, just in case...you want to...

Cheers.

Napoli (Naples)

Capri

Capri's small main square, also locally known as La Piazzetta

La Cassa di Rosa (The Red House), Anacapri

Faraglioni, Capri

Beach, Capri

Duomo di Napoli (The Cathedral of Naples)

Colosseo (I don't really think you need the translation for this one.)

Mom and me sharing a moment at the back of the Colosseum

View of the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill from Piazza del Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill)

Fora di Romano (Roman Forum)

Shaitan

I had thought Indian cinema was really going places with movies like Ishqiya and Dev D, but those pale in comparison to this. Anurag Kashyap may well be the Quentin Tarantino of Bollywood. Mind you, he's not Tarantino, but he's the torch bearer which is taking the industry forward. This one is WAY ahead of its time.

Immense attention is given to detail, the soundtrack was something I instantly downloaded, and each scene - EACH friggin scene - is so visually appealing. Never has a Hindi movie come so close to portraying today's youth so accurately and so shamelessly. The first part which shows the habits and lifestyle of the five youngsters living in Mumbai, each scene of that was something I could relate to. It dishes out the dirt that lingers among a particular portion of twenty-somethings living in India's metropolises today and their deviations from the straight path of life they are taught to keep on. And the camera work and stylistic concepts can truly be said to be art.

But it really doesn't matter what I say, does it? You WILL go watch it. =P

What I'm Actually Doing at Law School

1. 127 Hours: I'd been putting off watching it because the thought of watching one guy on camera for one and a half hours, albeit a guy stuck between 2 cliffs with his hand lodged behind a giant rock, struck me as having the possibility of being highly boring. I couldn't have been more wrong. Riveting movie. WATCH IT.

2. Black Swan: Pure genius. Darren Aronofsky shows his brilliance once again. Had it been up to me, I would easily have given this Best Picture Oscar. DO NOT MISS IT, unless you have a weak mind. There were times when I actually physically flinched.

3. True Grit: Slightly boring in parts but still worth a watch. Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges shine in their performances.

4. The Social Network: Fast-paced and completely engrossing movie, simply excellent soundtrack and brilliant acting.

5. The King's Speech: Slow, which might be mistaken as boring for some. But period dramas require a slow pace. Colin Firth truly deserves Best Actor. Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter should have gotten Best Supporting, if you ask me. Excellent movie.

5. The Kids Are Alright: Good movie. Watch it if you can get your hands on it. Excellent performance by Annette Bening.

6. The Fighter: Excellent. Melissa Leo and Christian Bale shine. Mark Wahlberg in his element.

7. Happythankyoumoreplease: Josh Radnor's directorial and acting debut. Not bad.

8. Hot Fuzz: Lots of guns. Plus guys with English accents. What more could I ask for?

9. Ishqiya: Excellent. If Indian cinema takes a cue from this movie and follows its direction, I would be a much happier person.

10. Once: Little known movie. Irish man, Czech woman. Please try to get a hold of it and watch it. And once you're done, download the soundtrack.

11. Pineapple Express: Laughed out loud countless number of times in this movie. Typical Seth Rogen-James Franco flick. Watch it.

12. Rec: Spanish horror film. Do not make the same mistake I did and watch it alone at night.

13. Stranger than Fiction: Saw it recently for the second time. Obscure Emma Thomas-Will Ferell movie. Also stars Dustin Hoffman and Queen Latifah. PLEASE watch it. Excellent plotline, amazing execution.

14. The Butterfly Effect: Nice idea but I didn't think they carried it out as well as they could have. Watch it though, if only for the pop culture value.