First off, congratulations to the happy couple! You look beautiful, as does the weather and Highclere Castle!

As one of many Americans currently swept up in the current Downton Abbey craze, it's lovely to see the castle in everyday use when it's not being used to film the popular show. Looks like a truly amazing place. Hope to see it one day, in person!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - sweenpole2001 - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Newbury, England ★
Photo courtesy of sweenpole2001

Happy Year of the Dragon!

I love this painterly dragon dance, "A blended image made from 9 separate still images taken in rapid succession with a handheld camera." Beautiful work.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Tony Kemplen - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Sheffield, England ★
Photo courtesy of Tony Kemplen

Thank goodness that portions of Tutankhamun's treasured tomb artifacts are traveling now on exhibition to other museums around the world, and not at home in Egypt. Given the chaos there and the fact that - as happened in Iraq - museums are being vandalized or looted (albeit at the hands of government-sponsored thugs - ugh), it seems a blessing that these spectacular and priceless pieces of Egypt's history are safely abroad. For the moment.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - debbieaspin - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Manchester, England ★
Photo courtesy of debbieaspin

As always, I wish I could capture a place with style, charm, and (most importantly) a vague likeness with something other than a camera. I can't draw. I can't sketch (is sketching drawing?). And I sure as heck can't paint. But thank goodness there are folks out there who can. What a wonderful way to travel and remember the world. Watercolors like this are my favorite. So lovely.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - rufusdos - photo - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: London, England ★
Photo courtesy of rufusdos

Looks like an interesting piece. Definitely an interesting photo.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - aurélien - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: London, England ★
Photo courtesy of aurélien

From time to time I find myself so beguiled with a work of art on Flickr that is not a photo, that I am inclined to blog it here. Such is the story with this beautifully designed and illustrated piece. Just lovely. And fun.

Be sure to check the artist's Flickr stream or site for similarly delicious examples from this series, commissioned for the new cafe at Chiswick House, an English Heritage property.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the artist - Eleanor Rudge - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this illustration or commission beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: England ★
Illustration courtesy of Eleanor Rudge

Have you been to London? I haven't. Not yet, anyway. Therefore it's still very much an imagined place for me. With no firsthand knowledge of what it's actually like, I'm constantly forming a dreamy version of the reality I might find, based on photos, and movies, and delicious watercolor sketches like these. Ignorance is bliss, in this case. It's actually half the fun; that impressionable state we find ourselves in when conjuring up a foreign destination before we've even been there. And more so than pictures, I like to dream of (personally) uncharted places through the eyes of artists whose medium is pen or pencil, paint and paper. Without a doubt, the dreamiest!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the artist - Alvaro Carnicero - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: London, England ★
Sketch courtesy of Alvaro Carnicero