I Am Left Brain. I Am Right Brain.

From adsoftheworld.com,  Paint by Mercedes Benz

Left Brain says:

“I am the left brain. I am a scientist. A mathematician. I love the familiar. I categorize. I am accurate. Linear. Analytical. Strategic. I am practical. Always in control. A master of words and language. Realistic. I calculate equations and play with numbers. I am order. I am logic. I know exactly who I am.”

Right Brain says:

Wealth of the Vatican

The Vatican, the center of Christianity, has over 4 million visitors each year marvelling at its interesting museums, unique art collections, and architectural masterpieces. I, too, waited since the break of dawn along the walled gates to get inside.

Although within Rome Italy, the Vatican still retains its autonomy. The population of the Vatican is under 1000 (according to Wikipedia), yet it has its own postal system, used to mint its own coins before the Euro, has its own army of Swiss Guards, and retains Latin as the official language. Althought the Vatican may be small in size and numbers, it has power and influence over millions of people worldwide.

Inside the Vatican museum

A Smile Is Worth A Thousand Words

What is the easiest and fastest way to make new friends?

Correct answer: just smile!

A big 'ol cheesy one! From one ear all the way to the other ear.  

No one can resist but smile back. And the best part is that it doesnt matter the language that you speak, because a smile is universal.

Renaissance Woman (Florence)

Walking down the streets of Florence, I think to myself, "Wow! I am walking down these same streets that once walked the brilliant and famous Renaissance men- Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci,  Machiaevli, the Medicis, Boticelli, and many more." 

You are constantly surrounded by the city's history and beauty- statues and monuments around every corner, famous art galleries throughout the city, gorgeous bridges overlooking the river, and the huge cathedral right in the middle of it all. The birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and the center of European trading and banking, Florence is filled with more things to see than there is time.

When walking down the streets, you have to be careful of all the scooters that jet right past you on every turn. In this city everyone gets around on the scooters. I've seen business men in suits, grandmas with over-sized bags and even women in stilletos hittin' the gas pedals like professional racers. 

Bone Art at Kutna Hora

I've seen people make art out of almost everything, but out of human bones?

It's rather chilling to see flowers made out of the crania and pelvises and chandeliers out of ribs and skulls.

Near Prague, there is town called Kutna Hora. And one of their main attractions is church filled with art made from the from human skeletons. During the European Plague, the cemetery in Kutna Hora was overflowing with plague victims, so they stacked the bones of over 40,000 people in this cathedral. Then at some point, a monk thought to himself, "hmmm... what to do with with all these bones? Why not make art out of it!"

Is it creativity or insanity?

Drawn Into Art in Prague [PHOTOBLOG]

Wandering through Prague, I watched many talented artists draw beautiful caricatures and portraits. I think it is absolutely amazing how the artists start with a blank white canvas and bring it to life through such detailed and intricate portraits of the persons sitting right in front of them.

I can't draw for the life of me, so maybe that's why it draws me in so much...

At Prague, I walked back and forth on the infamous Charles Bridge starring in awe (perhaps some would call it subtly creeping) and taking pictures of the artwork.

Isn't it gorgeous!?

Lviv, A Gem in Eastern Europe

Lviv (Ukrainian), Lwów (Polish),  L'vov (Russian), Lemberg (German), or Leopolis (Latin). Whatever you may call it-- the city is full of history, art and culture. 

Although I was born here, I never realized how much the city had to offer until now- so many art galleries,  coffee shops, cathedrals, monuments, bazaars, museums and more. 

Lviv has a very rich and diverse blending of cultures (as seen by all the different names for the city) that is reflected though the arts and architecture throughout the city. Some churches and buildings have been around since the 13th century and as you walk through the city you can see all the different styles (gothic, renaissance, baroque, traditional). Even though the city has been rules by various nations-- Lviv was under the Austrian Hapsburg empire, then was a major Polish and Jewish cultural center before World War II, then was under German occupation, then was under Soviet control, and finally part of independent Ukraine-- much of its diversity is still preserved throughout the city.