art | Daydream Tourist

Apr 8

Real Gardens that Inspired Art

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we are discussing Spring! Take a look at all the great stories at the bottom of the page.

"The Unicorn in Captivity", Netherlandish, 1495-1505 (Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Unfortunately the unicorn in this lovely garden is pure fantasy. “The Unicorn in Captivity”, Netherlandish, 1495-1505 (Photo: The Cloisters Collection)

While Washington D.C. has been stubbornly cold this March, I’m just starting to see the first bulbs pop up. And nothing announces Spring like flowers! Gardens and their exquisite flora have always been a popular subject in Art, but not all of the places in these paintings are made up locations. Let’s take a look at a few of the “real” gardens behind some famous paintings.

Mar 26

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Hidden Budapest – The Abandoned Párizsi Udvar

One of the thrills of travel is that wide-eyed gasp that inevitably follows after stumbling across something spectacular. I’ve felt this in the past walking into cathedrals, gazing down into valleys, or taking in the beautiful commotion of a market. Quite unexpectedly, I experienced this pure amazement while in Budapest. After stepping curiously through a dark doorway, I discovered the haunting elegance of an abandoned, century old shopping gallery, known as Párizsi Udvar. Exploring this unbelievable ghost was as close to time-traveling as it gets.

A view down the abandoned Parisi Udvar (or Párizsi Udvar) shopping gallery

Mar 23

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Back from Hungary

I’ve been quiet for a little while because I’ve been in Hungary! The trip was filled with amazing food, beautiful architecture, and some of the most wonderful late 19th century art I’ve ever seen – like the elaborate Crypt of the Cathedral in Pécs below. Looking forward to sharing more soon!

Mar 2

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Washington DC: An Art and Culture Capital

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we are discussing Art Cities. Below you’ll find a list of all the stories!

This month we also welcome a new member, Lizzie from WanderArti! Her blog features handy city art guides and profiles contemporary artists who are inspired by travel. Be sure to check out her site!

You’ve got to love excellent urban planning that gives you stunning views like this.

I travel all over the world looking for artistic wonders and historical places, but to be fair, I actually have it really good back home. I live in Washington D.C. and it is a lot more than just the political capital of the US. It is also a world-class art, culture and history destination. From the museums to the architecture to the festivals, Washington DC is a wonderful place to live and to visit!

Feb 23

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My Rijksmuseum Layover in Amsterdam

I like to book my international flights with a long layover in an “extra” city. This lets me sneak out of the airport and enjoy a new place for the day before moving on to my actual destination. If you can get past the jet-lag, this is great option because really, nothing starts off an incredible trip to Turkey like lunch beside Notre Dame in Paris!

So when I visited Israel last year, I made sure to take care of some unfinished business in Amsterdam with a layover specifically designed to see the re-opened Rijksmuseum. The renovations went far beyond repairing the structure; the museum today presents a truly innovative approach to art and culture! It was well worth the extra stop in Amsterdam.