Where: Nagasaki, Japan
When: April 2010
In 1978, the city of Nagasaki invited countries to donate monuments to its Peace Park. Today the Peace Symbols Zone has sculptures from 15 countries, including some that no longer exist. This one, called "Maiden of Peace," was donated by China in 1985. The symbolism of the dove is obvious, but another big symbol in the park is that of water. The heat of the second atomic bomb was so intense that the suffering victims insisted on drinking water for relief -- even though it was contaminated and would kill them.
Where: Vienna, Austria
When: February 2012
Admittedly, I was inspired to post this one today because my youngest niece will be performing in an opera today (not a Mozart one, but I don't have any photos of Brahms). This Mozart statue is located in the Royal Imperial Garden of Hofburg Palace, the extravagant seat of the Hapsburgs back when they were important. The flower bed at the site is shaped like a musical clef, but given that this was in winter, a romantic snowfall was a more-than-welcome alternative.
