old town – StickyMangoRice

Drawing of a violin at the Cremona Violin Museum

Cremona Travel Guide – What To Do And See In Italy’s Historic Violin Capital

November 2, 2021

With its terracotta rooftops, pale yellow and red brick buildings, and grand medieval towers, Cremona in the northern Italian region of Lombardy is one of Italy’s underappreciated gems. The grand Cathedral of Cremona and the Torrazzo tower are some of the most impressive sights in the city, and its cultural heritage and history of violin … More Cremona Travel Guide – What To Do And See In Italy’s Historic Violin Capital

Urban sketching zimmer tower square in lier belgium

Lier – Belgium’s Undiscovered Medieval Town

June 12, 2019

Lier is one of Belgium’s undiscovered gems. It is a historic town on the river Nete where little seems to have changed since the 13th century, and makes for a history and culture lover’s dream. Not one, but two UNESCO sites can be found in this tiny place. From the impressive Belfry to the brilliant … More Lier – Belgium’s Undiscovered Medieval Town

drawing of a japanese castle wall and moat

Kyoto in Sketches: Japan’s Cultural Heart

May 31, 2019

My bowl of udon tempura was so small, it fit into the palm of my hand. I couldn’t eat it either, because the chopsticks were the size of toothpicks. It was, however, extremely fun to make. In Mayuka’s Bonchi studio of miniature plastic food, we sliced tiny clay noodles, painted little shallots, and poured epoxy … More Kyoto in Sketches: Japan’s Cultural Heart

Mini stories of Amsterdam and Cologne

October 30, 2012

Amsterdam The layout of central Amsterdam is easy enough to navigate. Beautiful, slow canals are cluttered by small wooden dingys (some half-sunk) and houseboats, their calm brown waters patterned with dark reflections of the bright leafy trees above. Short stone bridges vault over each canal in elegant frozen arcs. The canals spiderwebbed out from the … More Mini stories of Amsterdam and Cologne

StickyMangoRice

The Travel Sketching Blog

Tag: old town

Cremona Travel Guide – What To Do And See In Italy’s Historic Violin Capital

Lier – Belgium’s Undiscovered Medieval Town

Kyoto in Sketches: Japan’s Cultural Heart

Mini stories of Amsterdam and Cologne