The Dutch have had a national passion for flowers - beginning in the 16thc. I'll discuss interesting aspects of floral arrangements then and now and artists who painted flowers (and one who didn't).

If you have ever seen a painting by Johannes Vermeer, you will notice extraordinary brushwork and colors (to die for). I will discuss the camera obscura and highlights from this Dutch artist's oeuvre.

Libraries are not only a bastion of knowledge and learning; they can be aesthetically and architecturally pleasing. I'll discuss some unique hotels with libraries and hotels with historical literary significance.

Immediate thoughts of red may evoke love and passion, but historically it represented quite different reactions. I'll discuss variations of red and artists who purposefully used this color.

I will discuss the fire that engulfed the roof of one of the most significant symbols of France and the Catholic faith; and present an artist whose work is representative of the spirit of Notre-Dame.