Gondolas

The Gondola rides were very expensive at the time of year we visited Venice. We thought it would be nice to take a romantic ride on the waterways in a Gondola, but alas I could not find a gondolier that could sing LOL. At the time it didn't faze me that we didn't travel the waterways of Venice via Gondola, but now, in retrospect, it would have been nice. Next holiday we're going to do everything we can possibly afford, so as to take full advantage. Next holiday also (only a couple of weeks to go now) I'll endeavor to blog sooner rather than later, this retrospective blogging is starting to do my head in. But I WILL stick with it.

Now Back to Venice ... Venetian Statue

There were so many hidden (or 'tucked out of the way') statues in Venice, I'm sure we went back I'd find at least another dozen or so that I didn't see last time. I love that there is always something more to explore.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" staring:
Ben Barnes as King Caspian, Skandar Keynes as Edmund Pevensie, Georgie Henley as Lucy Pevensie, Will Poulter as Eustace Clarence Scrubb, Eddie Izzard as the voice of Reepicheep, Gary Sweet as Lord Drinian, Arthur Angel as Rhince, Tony Nixon as Rynelf, Shane Rangi as Minotaur, Bruce Spence as Lord Rhoop and Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan, is being partially shot in Cleveland, less than an hour from my house.
The Narnia Chronicles was one of my favourite series of books as a child, so I pursuaded my husband to accompany me on a photoshoot (it wasn't really all that difficult to convince him, he is the most supportive person in the world to me - you rock baby). We set out at 3.30am and drove up to the set (The Dawn Treader itself). I expected to see more photographers trying to catch first light, but it appeared that it was only us. Access to the site was quite restricted, lucky for us it's not so easy to hide a ship the size of the Dawn Treader unless you're David Copperfield, and he hasn't been cast into this movie - yet.
We walked out onto the muddy sand flats, relieved that it was low tide, which availed us the opportunity to get as close as possible from the water.


It was surreal to see a ship of that magnitude apparently floating above the mud and sand.


Once we'd explored all we could see from the beach, we walked back up to as close as we could get to the set.
Once I'd climbed the kids playset, and a few random picnic tables we both started to notice how wonderfully the early suns rays were bouncing off the guilding on the ship.
I hope you enjoy my photos.

Dawn in Cleveland

Last Wednesday I noticed an article in the local newspaper announcing that the filming for Voyage of the Dawn Treader - the new Narnia movie was being filmed in Cleveland.

Awaking at 3.30am was an effort, let me tell you. But the quality of light at sunrise is spectacular, to say the least.

These shots were taken on or before first light.