Theme of the week: 26th March / 2nd April – impressionism, cubism & futurism. Please read the disclaimer at the end of each post for answers to FAQ’s.

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Claude Debussy (1862 / 1918) – an influential French composer, the founder of musical impressionism. When challenged by the registrar of Paris Conservatory as to what style he followed, Debussy replied disarmingly, “Mon plaisir“. Created a vibrant music of colours & emotions. A distinctive & passionate style. Developed an original system of harmony & musical structures sharing traits with the impressionist painters (Monet). Major works – Clair De Lune, Prélude à L’Après-Midi D’Un Faune, Pelléas Et Mélisande & La Mer. “Music is the silence between the notes.”

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Oscar-Claude Monet (1840 – 1926) was a master French painter & founder of the impressionist art movement. Incredibly beautiful nature & landscape art. The term ‘impressionism‘ is derived from the title of his painting Impression, soleil levant, exhibited in 1874. Monet’s genius & ambition to document the French countryside led to a method of painting the same scene many times so as to capture the changing of light & the passing of the seasons. He made light the central focus of his paintings. To capture its variations, he would sometimes complete a painting spontaneously in one sitting, often without preparation. He wished to demonstrate how light altered colour & perception of our reality. Depictions of the water lilies with alternating light & mirror-like reflections became an integral part of his awe-inspiring art. His free flowing style & unbelievable use of colour have been described as ethereal. Extraordinary.

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There are few pleasures in life as soul-stirring & transformative as travel. There are few experiences quite like taking a lovely long road trip & venturing somewhere we’ve never been before. The serendipity, the simplest of joy can be profound & peaceful. Riding on a train & exploring the beautiful scenery is a fascinating pastime. A train is alive with wonderful things that should be seen & heard. Love their rhythm like the rails & the wheels are in tune.

Some say, it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. It offers enigma, energy & unfamiliar adventures. Simultaneously, it broadens our perspectives & brings unbelievable creativity. To immerse ourselves in foreign cultures is to open our minds to incredible new ways of being. Voyages help cultivate a worldwide community in which we as humans appreciate our differences as much as we acknowledge our similarities.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. With a map in hand, the story of discovery never ends. “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” Travel is my therapy.

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All of us, at one time or another, have experienced wanderlust. A desire to explore that is almost irresistible. For those who long for the open road, here’s a rich selection of poems about travel & adventure. Over 90 poems by 50 American & British masters (19-20th century) – Byron, Robert Louis Stevenson, John Masefield, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Shelley, Tennyson & Yeats. Poems celebrate the real & metaphorical journeys each one of us takes in the course of our lives towards discovery & coming home. Incredibly beautiful. Songs For The Open Road.

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Dedicated to the spirit of discovery & adventure in nature…

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both,
And be one traveler, long I stood,
And looked down one as far as I could,
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there,
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay,
In leaves no step had trodden black,
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh,
Somewhere ages and ages hence,
Two roads diverged in a wood and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

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Once in a lifetime road trips on some one of the most scenic routes in our world.

Great Ocean Road – a 151 mile route has it all. Mind-blowing ocean scenery, wide expansive roads, even kangaroos along the way. Surreal.

Alaska Highway, Canada – winding mountain roads, grizzly bear encounters, incredible views over glittering lakes of the Rockies. Serene.

Atlantic Ocean Road, Norway – dramatic coastal route over the iconic Storseisundet Bridge. Beautiful.

Karakoram Highway, Pakistan – highest paved international road in the world connecting Western China & Pakistan. The peak point of the highway is at 4,800m (as tall as Mont Blanc). Challenging.

North Coast 500, Scotland – 500 miles of Scottish soul in the form of fairy-tale castles, rugged beaches & atmospheric ruins. Gorgeous landscapes.

Ring Road, Iceland – vivid & vibrant landscapes. Volcanoes, fjords & geo-thermal pools. Admire the beautiful blue haze. Stunning & peaceful.

Trans-Andean Highway, Chile – 2 spectacular countries, a sensational 225 mile road runs from Santiago in Chile to Mendoza in Argentina. Spell-binding experiences.

Amalfi Coast, Italy – lush mountains, colourful villages, gourmet cuisine & crystal-clear azure waters. Breathtaking natural beauty.

Milford Road, New Zealand – heart-stopping beauty. Drive for miles along the gorgeous forests, marvellous mountains & charming lakes. Unforgettable.

Ladakh Passes, India – unbelievably difficult high altitude driving. Beauty personified with the majestic Himalayas, raging rivers & serene snow. Other-worldly.

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A breathtaking travel book that celebrates scenic routes. Explore 200 inspirational journeys across the globe. Once in a lifetime journeys on foot, by bike, by car or by rail. Explore an epic bike ride along the ancient Silk Road, a cruise around Antarctica or a train journey in Zambia.

Unforgettable Journeys

Our world’s most awesome adventures & exotic experiences like riding the Orient Express, driving Route 66 or walking the Camino de Santiago. Outstanding off the beaten paths in Botswana or the Finnish Lakeland. From hiking to sailing, Unforgettable Journeys is stunning & special.

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Long drives or regular commutes become so special with a fine soundtrack. Great music helps hours spent in the car feel uplifting, inspiring & epic. Drives then become an event in their own right, something to look forward to, with the right music. 

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