A couple of days ago, when I was coming back from work and arriving in the picturesque town where I live, I started to think: what would happen if I told one of the AI tools to paint this place using the Impressionist technique, and then told it to describe it? Well, here is the result of this experiment:

"In an Impressionist painting of the Swiss town of Morges, we are transported to a tranquil and picturesque scene next to the pier of Lake Geneva. The essence of the Impressionist style is to capture the fleeting moment, the play of light and color, and the atmospheric ambiance. In this particular painting, the artist has masterfully conveyed these elements.

The canvas is alive with vibrant, dappled colors that dance across the scene. The shimmering waters of Lake Geneva, in soft shades of blues and greens, extend toward the horizon, creating a reflective surface that mirrors the world above. The surface of the lake is beautifully textured with strokes of various shades, conveying the rippling movement of the water..."

This is just an excerpt because the machine then started to describe parts of Morges that are not in the painting, but still, this visual and textual test was quite interesting.

I've been fortunate to explore several European sites showcasing remnants of Roman civilization, such as the Colosseum in Rome, the Library of Celsus in Turkey, the Theater of Mérida, and the city of Augusta Raurica. However, Pompeii undoubtedly stands in a different league altogether. Last weekend I had the opportunity to go there, and it was a truly fascinating experience.

Since this Roman city was frozen in time by the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD and remained undiscovered for centuries, the extent of its preservation is remarkable. It's surreal to find yourself walking along the original Roman streets, where horse-drawn carriages once rode. These narrow, cobblestone streets are flanked by impeccably preserved remnants of residences, stores, and public structures, such as the Amphitheater, the Forum, and even the impressive Tower of Mercury, which offers a panoramic view of the vast archaeological park.

Quite a magical place!

On the Eurostat website, inflation data for the Eurozone and the European Union reveals a decrease compared to the peak observed nearly one year ago. Nevertheless, as reported by Euronews, the European Commission has revised its economic projections downward, noting that persistently high prices for goods and services are having a more substantial adverse effect than originally foreseen.

For 2023 and 2024, inflation in the nations using the common currency is expected to be 5.6% and 2.9%, respectively. These figures are still well above the European Central Bank's (ECB) annual target of 2%, which it aims to reach through interest rate increases.

A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to visit Geneva again with a good friend of mine who was visiting the region for the first time. We decided to pay a visit to this interesting city without a definite plan, just to chill and walk around. When we were passing near the cathedral, I noticed there were some people up in the tower, and I suggested we go up to get a panoramic view of the city (I had never done it before).

The plan turned out to be a very interesting one, offering beautiful views of the different parts of the city with a clear and sunny sky. One of those views is captured in the photograph above: the iconic Jet d'Eau in the middle of the clear waters of Lake Geneva.

A few weeks back, on my way to Poland, I had a connecting flight in Paris. During my stroll toward the Châtelet train station, I came across the majestic Hôtel de Ville again, with its amazing Renaissance-style architecture. On that particular day, it brought to mind a historical event that unfolded many years ago.

On the 6th of July 2005, the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympics was announced. As I looked at the Hôtel de Ville, memories came back of the disappointment and the "noise" from the crowd gathered there when "London" was declared the selected city.

As I reflected on that past occasion, I couldn't help but think of the future. The people of Paris will be in the spotlight next year, since they will host the 2024 Summer Olympics.

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