statue

John Harvard sits pretty in the Harvard Yard at Harvard. He is often thronged by visitors who want to rub his left shoe. Theres a story there.

But there are bigger stories. The first is that John Harvard is not THE founder of Harvard University but a large donor. The second, this statue is not that of John Harvard but another man, for by the time they decided to put up a statue for John Harvard, no one knew how he looked like.

But this, I am told, is the third most photographed statue in the US. After the Lincoln Memorial and the Statue of Liberty. Now, that is some height isnt it?

(at Harvard University)

Some people stand tall. For generations. They move from being physical entities to entities in the mind. Perhaps standing for far more than what they stood for, when they were alive.
Definitely far more than what a mere statue can do. But a good statue is not a ‘mere’ statue 🙂 #charlesdegaulle #Paris #statue #art #artandculture ##France #Europe #EU #travel #travelblogger #travelblogging #memory (at Paris, France)

Charles Karel Buls became Mayor of Brussels in 1881 and remained in office until 1899. His statue reminds the casual passerby of his stature, in his intense look and remarkable countenance. He sits close to the Grand Place with a book in hand.
He was a world traveler and writer too. But amongst these tufts of information lie hidden his efforts to bring reform to Brussels.

Several of these changes have changed the contours of the city. Much more than they are recognised now. Such is the nature of passionate work. Results that live on, long after the effort is done.
#traveler #travel #Blogger #travelblogger #Brussels #people #Passion #writer #statue #history #Europe #Memory #archives (at La Grande Place Bruxelles)

Have you played this game called ‘statue’? Where you call out “STATUE” and the other person freezes over.
After 10 seconds you get fidgety. You become present to the itch at the wrong place. Or the right place for that matter. And the STATUE breaks.
For a moment I thought of the game. As we walked down Champs Elysee in Paris and saw this.
How apart we are yet how similar was obvious.
#Paris #ChampsElysee #statue #livelihoods #traveldiaries #travel #France #culture