Pegasus by Danielle Steel

Pegasus

Pegasus is a wonderful novel by author Danielle Steel.  It is a beautiful story of two families, who left familiar homes and country to start a new life in USA and also England.  The war years intervened and the story continues to the following generations.  This novel is very inspirational and also gives the reader a sense of belonging to this story.  It certainly is an achievement as the characters of the novel seem so real.

I loved the story, which opens in the beginning chapters in Bavaria, Germany and continues the narrative in USA and gives the reader  an understanding of the lives the people led before the intervention of the war years and how lives were disrupted and also how fortunes could change.

This book is also a beautiful story of the Lipizzaner horses, beautiful horses which were trained for the Spanish Riding School.  This aspect of the novel is also quite beautiful and very poignant to read of the bonds which were formed between the horses and their owners, in particular, the beautiful white horse, Pegasus, and Nicky, a main character of the novel.

This book is a wonderful story of life and love, friendships which endured and a story of the main characters and how their lives panned out over many years, which entailed even working in a circus in USA,which in itself, was a revelation for the wonderful descriptions of circus life and the animals as well as the life in the circus for Nicky and his two sons, Tobias and Lucas.  The story of Pegasus and the links formed between the two families, of which Pegasus is a saving grace, is a recurring theme of the novel.   A wonderful story and well recommended. 

The Fall of the Stone City by Ismail Kadare

This wonderfully written book is a fascinating

tale of legends, beliefs, politics and a lost way

of culture.

It is a story set in Albania when the German tanks advanced

over the border during the war years

and subsequently the communist take-over of power.

The story is written on several levels.

Firstly, it is a very personal oxes, wolves

and human story of two doctors who worked the hospital in the

town of Gjirokaster. Their names were Mr Big Gurameto and Mr Little

Gurameto. They were unrelated. Big Gurameto had studied in Germany and

Little Gurameto had trained in Italy. Both doctors were dedicated to their profession.

The esteem which they were held in by the general populace often fluctuated depending upon the rise and fall of the respective countries in the polictical environment of the time.

Secondly, it is also a story of Albanian honour and hospitality.

Thirdly, it is associated with legends and stories of the Albanian culture.

It is also a breathtaking story for its beauty and scope. Geographical locations

are described and illuminated with clarity. The foxes and wolves of the hills, the mountains of Lunxheria,

the little villages, the ladies from the great aristocratic houses and the stone city are described

beautifully and with wonder. Albania at one time was a beautiful place.

The story also fascinates.

It is as though Mr Big Gurameto has a mirror of his life

held up to him and shining within him. His destiny? Or he wishes he could change it.

From small and generous gestures of generosity and hospitality a previous occasion

comes back to haunt him in unexpected ways. This was the occasion of his generosity

towards a German colonel whom he had known from his student days in Germany.

There is so much more to this story. And what a story it is! Perhaps it was his mind playing tricks on him.

And no wonder! From small childhood beliefs and legends, the story seemed to grow.

The Kaleidoscope of Dreams

 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Romantic Road, Germany from wikipedia:

 

Old Town of Dubrovnik from wikipedia:

Renaissance splendour in Venice at Ca Rezzonico:

A wonderful travel evening of European travel

was held at the Gold Coast Arts Centre last week.

This was an enjoyable event to attend.

Refreshments were served and there was a great deal of

interest in the European evening with many in attendance.

Wonderful slide shows and presentations were given

of the various options available for touring in Europe.

The beautiful, wonderful scenery of the Romantic Road

of Germany with images of the magnificent towns and

castles found along the Rhine Valley.

In so many places

it is as though travelling in time for the unique aspect of the

medieval architecture of the towns and cobblestone lanes and

streets.

The markets of France, the spectacular scenery of travelling

by train in Switzerland, the different and unique advantages

of travelling on a river cruise boat were some of the insights

given.

Travelling on a river gives a different perspective as many

of the old towns and villages are accessible which may not always

be seen when travelling by coach or car. The rivers were also the mode of

transport for the trade of goods from the earliest times.

Russia and Eastern Europe have opened up more for travel since the fall of

the USSR and these places also offer wonderful attractions.

Beautiful medieval architecture and magnificent little villages and towns.

Krakow in Poland, once the old capital of Poland and home of the kings

has beautiful architecture and is a popular destination.

Warsaw is also a city of beauty. I remember admiring the beautiful colours

and architecture of the city and the rolling green fields of the countryside.

Warsaw was rebuilt after the war to the specifications of its appearance

before the war. A city

of unique splendour.

Romania with its folk-lore and images still of horses and carts. I recall seeing

a procession of a brightly coloured wagon and horses and gypsy travellers

once travelling in the rural areas of Romania. I once visited a folk lore

museum in the city of Bucharest, which unfortunately was heavily bombed

during the second world war.

Dubrovnik, the city of marble, was also shown. A picturesque walled town on the

coast with crystal clear sea for swimming.

The Dalmatian Coast and Italy were the first holiday destinations and the

Dalmatian Coast was also

popular with royalty in the earlier years.

Pictures of Montenegro were also shown which looks pristine and beautiful.

Magnificent Russia and its unique and beautiful cathedrals and architecture

is a splendour. Gold domes of churches and monasteries bring magic and opulence

to splendid views and the bell towers and cathedral of St Sergiyev

is a wonder.

Set in a quiet and peaceful setting of gardens and trees

the cathedral is a centre of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Peterhof Palace with its fountains of beauty, statues and gardens

on the Baltic Sea is a place of beauty.

The Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg with its

collection of paintings and beauty is wonderful. This is a magnificent palace

of the Tsars, formerly the Winter Palace.

St Petersburg is a beautiful city, built by Peter the Great in 1703

with European concepts of architecture and design. He had spent time

in Western Europe and some of the designs would have been inspired by

the architecture of France, England, and the Netherlands.

Many of the palaces in Russia were renovated.

The Amber Room of Katherine's Palace was also described. It was also replaced

after the war.

For art, architecture and beauty European travel does seem to have much to offer.

Also the colours, the magical wind-mills, the tulips in the spring time and the reflections

of beauty cast on the rivers by the magnificent castles and palaces, to see Paris in the fall when the colours of the leaves are changing on the trees, it is all a splendour of magnificence.

Well recommended.

So, a feast of places to think about for future travel!

What can I say but a kaleidoscope of dreams!

Last Christmas I booked to go on a trip to Mont St Michel in France, Giverny

(to view the gardens of Claude Monet), Chartres, Normandy towns and villages

and chateaux of the Loire Valley of France and also to Venice for travel in April of

this year.

Beautiful Venice with its magnificent palaces glimmering in reflections

on the waters of the Grand Canal and the lively colours of fishing villages on the islands

of Murano, (famous for glass blowing) and Burano. These are places

which I still hope to visit though unfortunately did not get away this year.

St Michael's Mount in Marazion, Cornwall, England is spectacular, a marvellous castle overlooking

the beautiful sea where can be seen windsurfers and the yachts of sails. I thought

at the time that this was a magnificent setting. There is a causeway to walk across

when the tide is out. I expect that the famous Abbey of Mont St. Michel is similar

also set in a dramatic setting of sea, landscape and sky. Wonderful!