Hello lovely peeps,
I'm finally home again! I arrived yesterday in the early hours of the morning. In the course of yesterday, I set the washing machine to work and I went to the shops to get some basic provisions. I also went to empty my mailbox and I found this lovely card from my friend Maggie:
It shows a 16th century fresco from Knossos called 'Ladies in Blue'. They certainly are very beautiful. (Look at their wasp waist line!)
Maggie and her husband are in Greece, on the island of Crete to be precise, where Knossos is.
The website of the Metropolitan Museum of Art writes this:
Excavated before 1914 near Royal Magazines, Knossos.
This group of three women was originally restored by E. Gillieron, designed on the basis of other fragments of frescos from Knossos, mostly of a much smaller scale. It has been shown that details of the facial outline of the "Cup-bearer" fresco, a reproduction of which is displayed in the exhibition, supplied the model for the faces of the "Ladies in Blue", which are not preserved at all.
This fresco reproduces the few fragments of burnt and abraded original fresco, represented as slightly offset from the restoration, and shows the extent to which the Gillierons recreated the scene. Extensive restorations like this one led the writer Evelyn Waugh after a visit to the Archaeological Museum in Herakleion in 1929 to state it is not easy to judge the merits of Minoan painting "since only a few square inches of the vast area exposed to our consideration are earlier than the last twenty years, and it is impossible to disregard the suspicion that their painters have tempered their zeal for accurate reconstruction with a somewhat inappropriate prediliction for the covers of Vogue."
This fresco reproduces the few fragments of burnt and abraded original fresco, represented as slightly offset from the restoration, and shows the extent to which the Gillierons recreated the scene. Extensive restorations like this one led the writer Evelyn Waugh after a visit to the Archaeological Museum in Herakleion in 1929 to state it is not easy to judge the merits of Minoan painting "since only a few square inches of the vast area exposed to our consideration are earlier than the last twenty years, and it is impossible to disregard the suspicion that their painters have tempered their zeal for accurate reconstruction with a somewhat inappropriate prediliction for the covers of Vogue."
The stamp also features Crete (Thank you Maggie):
The Lighthouse Stamp Society writes:
On 29 Jun 2023, Greece issued a mini sheet of 4 stamps with the theme “Traveling in Greece”. The stamps show views of Crete. One of the stamps depicts the inactive Réthymno Lighthouse located at the port of the same name on the north coast of Crete.
Wikipedia writes: Rethymno, or Rethimno, is a city on the north coast of the Greek island of Crete. In the old town, the Venetian Harbor is filled with fishing boats and lined with tavernas. Rethymno Lighthouse was built in the 1830s.
What's happening here in Spain? I flew back from Istanbul to Malaga (with Turkish airlines, which merits a mention as it was very good). My sister picked me up from the airport and I stayed a few days with her in Marbella. She lives a short walk from the beach, so here I am walking along the water's edge:
Below I am at my sister's, with my feet in the pool drinking a glass of something nice. I feel blessed.
I started preparing this blog (looking for the funnies) by the pool:
On Wednesday, before catching the evening bus home, my sister, her husband and I had lunch on the beach at a bar called The Hippopotamus!
Then I got on the bus which arrived at 01:15 in the morning. Then a taxi ride home and blissfully sleeping in my own bed (after a cuddle with Ronnie the cat).
That is all for today.
More news on Tuesday. In the meantime there are some funnies at the end.
Enjoy your weekend,
Lisca
12 comments:
That's a cool postcard. It makes me want to go back to Greece again after reading about it. Perhaps to Crete this time. :) It sounds like you not only had a super trip, but also had some nice beach and visit time with your sister. It's like a double trip. It looks beautiful where your sister lives. And I love the sheep with the dog in them in your funnies. Thanks for the smile. Have a super weekend ahead. hugs-Erika
That's a truly unique postcard. I loved the postage stamp. The hair curls caught my eye.
It must have been a great way to wind down your trip. Spending time with your sister is always fun and I love her gardens. I see a few palms in the background when you were sitting in the chair. I see you finally got your bubbly at the pub.
Loved the quickie funny and Vince's fork in the road. Have a super rest of Friday and welcome home.
I haven-y had time to look back and see where you have been yet, but I will do later. Anyway it is good to know you are home safely and I bet Ronnie was pleased to see you.
It has been hot here this week, but somehow it is a different sort of heat from Spain. Here if it tops 30º it feels too hot, and I am glad I bought one of my fans home with me.
Your funnies made me laugh as usual.
I am finally back posting and this week's catch-up is HERE Kate x
Hi Lisca! It's been a while since I've visited your blog. Your sisters pool is certainly a blessing. I love the picture of that happy go luck dog in the sheepfold. It tells me that life is what you make of it. Happy FFO!
I'm thrilled that you joined FFO. The card is brilliant. What a nice surprise. Very interesting restoration story on the three women. The stamps of Greece are very inviting. You look fantastic! That's a nice beach. This is an elegant pool side. Sure can tell that the two of you are sisters. Wonderful funnies too. Thank you for joining FFO and have a very nice weekend.
What a powerhouse post! Thank youWhat a powerhouse post! Thank you!
Your trip must have been wonderful from start to end.
Hi Lisca, I should think you're ready for a rest. I love the new postcard. You're right about the squirrels, I don't encourage them but our neighbour puts food out for them. I thought she would have stopped as a couple of years ago they managed to eat a hole in the wood under the roof of their extension and nest in there, it took ages to get them out. The beach looks quiet at Marbella and I bet it wont be soon when the holidays kick off. I must say there's no doubt that you are sisters. Thanks for the funnies too. Have a great weekend, hugs Angela xXx
I like my Friday Smiles posts to have a theme, and after seeing yours today, I "borrowed" one of your meme ideas. Thanks for the inspiration.
Ingo yesterday said he goes to the Greek restaurant to get some food home. I thought at one point he maybe went to Greece?
Came back with empty hands - they were closed. But I have fond memories of that country.
So nice to see you with your sister. Haven´t seen my brother in ages... 60km is too far away for him. And I am sick using public transport when they have two cars. The bone does not come to the dog anymore....
But.... Cha-Cha? Or infantry? Prism, maybe... ;-)
Good morning Lisca, Your sister lives in a lovely place-how awesome.I enjoyed the funnies (nope still can not get a working blog going-oh well) Hugs from the lake Kathy
Dear Lisca, I had to laugh at Evelyn Waugh's comment about the restorations and the fondness for Vogue covers—that's a very astute observation 😅
Speaking of Vogue: You look so stylish as a 'beach beauty' in those light, breezy outfits! How lovely that you were able to spend some pleasant days with your sister!
Thanks for the collection of jokes—and I really liked the picture of the black dog among the sheep 🤣
All the best from Austria, Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2026/05/reisebericht-2025-von-ost-nach-west-auf.html
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