Posted by Michael Skorulski (Cigel, Slovakia) on 20 January 2008 in Architecture and Portfolio.
Cortina has an up-market, mink, Maserati and champagne-party image. However, in early December, off-season, it was comatose. I discovered the Fattoria Meneguto pizza restaurant but was disappointed to find their offerings thin, greasy and scorched. But low price overcame taste and I went back often. There was little to do in the evening after snowboarding but cruise the deserted, dimly-lit Corso Italia pedestrian promenade, peering into boutique windows at fur coats costing as much as a house and gloves at the price of a plane ticket home. The location, which hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics, is among the most expensive mountain resorts in Europe.
The Bar Stazione, which I passed on my way back to the hotel, usually embraced only two dusty-looking patrons who sat silently at either end of the counter. I made a third mute figure, slurping my soda slightly louder than usual, my night’s entertainment. In short, (my) Cortina was as drab as a dark day in December. But it flared into life on the day of rest when a film crew from Rome arrived to feature the town as its latest tourist destination.
VFXY Photos
it may be deserted, thus it seems to be a very beautiful place.
20 Jan 2008 1:06am
@Laurent: You are right. Without the people we can see the place as it is. Thank you, Laurent.
There is so much to see in this shot! Love it!
20 Jan 2008 1:33am
@martie: Thank you, Martie. It is a generous comment.
il va falloir que je vienne en Italie promener mon appareil. J'aime l'harmonie de tons
20 Jan 2008 3:23am
@lasiate: Merci beaucoup, Lasiate.
Who could ever be bored looking at these shapes and wonderful architecture...;)
20 Jan 2008 3:31am
@Lorraine: Yes. Italy is just full of interesting buildings to photograph. Thanks, Lorraine.
An ancient city with brilliant architecture
20 Jan 2008 3:57am
@dailyphotosofmalé: Yes Italy is beautiful. Thanks so much for your comment.
nice architecture, very good
20 Jan 2008 4:56am
@eddy: Thanks, Eddy. I appreciate that.
Like your story and the shot is great! Beautiful buildings!
20 Jan 2008 7:17am
@Ina: Thank you, Ina.
nice angle and framing. I like such places so much i wish to see some day....
20 Jan 2008 7:19am
@Zahra: I'm sure you will visit. Thank you, Zahra.
hey i just read ur "about page" I know Ibn Battutah and that was a nice choice! that idea was so creative!
20 Jan 2008 7:22am
@Zahra: Thanks, Zahra. I like his book very much. People in Europe and America have usually not heard of Ibn Battutah.
Sounds a bit like lost holidays - but architecture and scenery are very beautiful!
20 Jan 2008 7:40am
@MadScientist: Thanks, MS. Yes, a bit lost but a trip to Venice saved the holiday.
I like the placement of the two churches, with the stylistically different crosses atop the steeples.
20 Jan 2008 7:45am
@Viewfinder: Yes, it is kind of a study in styles and roof lines. Thanks for the comment, VF.
A town with such beautiful architecture cannot be comatose! It depends from what point you look at it!The shot is beautifully taken!
20 Jan 2008 9:02am
@Japanalia: Quite right, Gabriela. Only because of the almost complete lack of other visitors was it comatose. Many thanks for your positive comment.
Great tones and framing!!
20 Jan 2008 9:52am
@Jen: Cheers, Jen. Thank you.
crisp sharp detail....magnificent!
20 Jan 2008 10:24am
@Hinah: Thanks, Hinah, for the positive remark.
love this perspective,its like two gentlemen in tux standing aside and revealing a stunningly gorgeous lady in the centre.Very beautiful:)
20 Jan 2008 10:59am
@tyan: Love the poetic way you put it. Thanks, Tyan.
Michael - Nice photo, great commentary, delicious soda for sure. Color commentary always brightens up the cool winter doldrums. As if to convey a sense of morning (or mourning), your starkly contrasting nightlife description sprang forth with careless abandon, only to be calmed by the light of your photograph. I can imagine the crew meandering through the streets, capturing the warmth of sunlit shop interiors.
20 Jan 2008 11:00am
@Dean Francis: Actually when the film crew arrived so did a lot of colorfully-dressed townspeople as if they'd been hiding in the wings waiting for their cue to pop out. A great comment, Dean. Thanks so much.
what an architectural design and color! i love the way you wrote your adventure, too.
20 Jan 2008 11:32am
@Photographs by M.E.: Thanks, M.E. Glad you enjoyed it.
Excellent
20 Jan 2008 12:05pm
@Eduarda: Many thanks, Eduardo.
I love it. You are so lucky to have the life that you enjoy. Do you write for travel films only or do your have books (like Shams Ibn Battutah.)
20 Jan 2008 1:02pm
@Michael Rawluk: A humble scribe for newspapers and magazines, Michael. Thanks for your comment.
Great composition and interesting commentary, dobre!
20 Jan 2008 1:03pm
@Wolfgang Prigge: Dakujem, Wolfgang. I didn't know you knew Slovak.
Another great take of Cortina, maybe the tower has bewitch you
20 Jan 2008 1:23pm
@Pedro: LOL, Thanks, Pedro. Actually we have Witchpanther, a real witch, to bewitch us.
How I would love to be standing there staring at such incredible architecture. Love the framing of this... great shot, Michael, and a very personable commentary!
20 Jan 2008 1:33pm
@amy: Thanks, Amy. I'm really glad you liked the story.
I don't know Slovak, but I know that in most Slave languages 'dobre' or any variation of it means good, ex: "dobar dan" in Bosnian...
20 Jan 2008 1:34pm
@Wolfgang Prigge: Quite right. Thanks, Wolfgang.
Very nice composition Michael. Great angle an perspective heading to the church. I like the colour tones
@standley: Thanks, Standley. I'm fond of those color tones too.
This shot is the amazing then the previuos! You have been in a lot of beautiful place!
20 Jan 2008 3:28pm
@Porcsin: Thank you so much, Porcsin.
beautiful architecture!
20 Jan 2008 4:40pm
@Cathie et Michel: Merci beaucoup, Cathie et Michel.
the picture is beautiful and your text really interesting.
20 Jan 2008 5:02pm
@MGB: Thank you so much, MGB.
Interesting travel post !
20 Jan 2008 5:36pm
@Camiller: You're kind. Thank you, Camiller.
Interesting architecture and I like the colors
20 Jan 2008 6:10pm
@Frankie: Thank you, Frankie.
They have striking architecture. Very nice view.
20 Jan 2008 11:00pm
@Oswegan: Thank you very much.
Very beautiful lines and curbes against the soft colours! I love it!
21 Jan 2008 3:07am
@Illuci: Thank you, Erik.
Striking lines and warm colors in this photo. I would find this scene more interesting than the expensive shops.
21 Jan 2008 7:12am
@Anita: Thank you, Anita.
Regardless of the drab time of year as described in your caption I find it a fortunate place to be to capture the fine lines of architecture. I like the way you captured the combination of buildings. Did you capture a shot of the pizza?
21 Jan 2008 8:10am
@Barbara: The pizza disappeared too quickly. Thanks, Barbara.
Beautiful!
21 Jan 2008 8:39am
@alla: Thanks, Alla.
If the buildings were people, this would be a crowded room :) You have a good eye for angles and composition.
21 Jan 2008 9:39am
@Ken McCoy: I appreciate that, Ken. Thanks.
Beautiful well balanced shot!
21 Jan 2008 10:50am
@Steven: Thank you, Steven.
Very nice composition :-)
23 Jan 2008 3:48am
Beautiful cityscape.
25 Jan 2008 3:13pm
@Brites: I appreciate your nice comment. Thank you.
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Brunch with Battutah
Brunch with Battutah
