The Royal Family

      The gates to Buckingham Palace in London. I post this photo because I enjoy watching the British Monarchs.  They are more fun than watching the ones who think they are kings and queens of the USA. This is an extra post as I have to work tomorrow. 

Roman Aqueduct , Segovia, Spain

     When entering Segovia you likely will travel under this aqueduct built by the Romans. It is impressive for how long it has been there, the clever engineering and the fact that in my hometown you can hardly drive anywhere because of the potholes in the streets. Our more modern infrastructure is not as long lasting.

Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy

     Let's pretend. You are an official from some small kingdom in Europe and come to Venice. You are taken on a tour. One place they will take you is the shipyard and show you how they can and do build a warship a day. If you are not impressed by that, or the great food with spices from around the world, they invite you to the Doge's Palace.
     The Doge is the head guy in Venice and to get to the room where he will meet with you, you have to climb a stairway with the ceiling pictured above. If that doesn't impress you, there is more, but that ought to do it. (Photo by Marietta McLellan)

Botswana

     It is rumored that President Donald Trump of the United States does not think very highly of the nations of Africa saying that they where not as lovely as his country. Now, I will admit that I think that the United States is a beautiful and wonderful place to live, but look at the picture above. It is a photo of these ancient "Trees of Life" overlooking what is likely the Chobe River plain in Botswana. I have stood in a place like this with a glass of wine in hand and watched similar sunsets. Tell me that this is a ... well, you likely heard the President's word. This photo is not mine. It was sent to me. If it is yours I would like to credit it. Great shot.

The Seine

You can barely see the Seine in the lower right of this photo. That is where it is in summer.  Right now it is way too high. May the great museums and buildings be safe during the flooding.

Trip Planning

     I suspect that, with all of the wonderful places in the world, choosing is hardest. Where do you want to go? I want to see great places I have been and I want to go to new places. I want to go to a country or city that I spent time in, but missed some things I really wanted to do.

     Our next trip is designed by our granddaughter. We said, "Where do you want to go?". There are certain limits: no amusement parks and no places that the State Department considers highly dangerous.

     We will go where our wanderlust first took us, to Scotland for two weeks and then to one of our favorite cities, Paris in a rented flat. The apartment is near the Eiffel Tower and the Seine (expecting that the river level will be down by then). Granddaughter will make a list of destinations. We have a couple of suggestions like Versailles and the Cluny. I also can imagine a half day in Galeries Lafayette. 

     Books, tour guides, websites, recommendations of friends - all adds up to an itinerary which will be flexible leaving room for surprises.  (Photo by Marietta McLellan) 

Peyto Lake, Alberta Canada

     For many months after this photo was taken, it was the desktop of my computer. The color of the water, the glacier cut walls, the moodiness of the day - all play on my memory. It was July on the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper, Canada. It was cold and clear. A wonderful memory.

Catalonia Free

     Nearly everywhere in Catalonia the flag flown was not the one of Spain. The Catalonia flag was everywhere. It was like driving in the South in the United States and seeing the Confederate flag here and there. The people in Barcelona could be heard talking about the fact that they do more for their country than they get back. I am not sure what is true, but one can understand the feeling of not belonging. Increasingly California and especially Northern California feels the same.
     The photo above was taken in the Gothic section of Barcelona... by Mike McLellan.

Bayeax Boxes, France

     Follow this blog for a time and you will discover that I like window boxes. It is a way that people in small urban flats can have a garden. These are on a building near the mill in Bayeax, France. You walk along them as you make your way to the famed Bayeax Tapestry. This is a lovely town and shows its age gracefully. The tapestry is in a building across from the hospital and I was interested in both. The tapestry shows the history of  the Norman Conquest. Someone loves their home as you can tell by this photo.

Desktop Image for you

     Here is a desktop image for your computer. The image is off center so you can stack your icons along the left side. The photo was taken by my grandson and safari companion, Lucas Meurisse, at the Askari Game Preserve in South Africa. His camera was a point-and-shoot Canon on regular settings with the zoom out about half way. The animals are that close - if you are fast - because they take off after realizing you are there. I am guessing that this is a Waterbuck, although I need to consult Lucas. He was able to identify animals at a long distance. I could tell an impala from a hippo.

In defense of London

          This photo was taken from the top of a double decked red bus. I am posting it in gratitude to the Mayor of London and others who have taken a public stand against any world leader who espouses hate or a limited view that we live, not in one country, but a world. I am proud of my country and our history, but I do not believe it is the only good one. From space, my country does not glow gold. 

Movie locations

     This photo was taken at the Portbello Street Market in the Nottinghill section of London. I had long heard about the street market and once I say the movie "Nottinghill" with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, it went on my list. We have flown into London a few times and I can say that it is difficult to exhaust the possibilities. It is a great city. 

      There are many places to go that were featured in films. Trim Castle (Trim, Ireland) was the site for "Braveheart" although the movie is about Scotland. There are plenty of locations in Paris and Rome. Anyone who has seen the old film, "Three Coins in the Fountain" feels at home at the Trevi Fountain. And, if you watched "Bullitt" you know places in San Francisco.

The Buena Vista on Lake Como, Italy

     This is me. I tossed on a sport coat and walked out on the veranda at the Buena Vista Hotel (a B&B) right on the shore of Lake Como. From the veranda you can see Lecco across the water. We were ready to head down and get our rental car and drive out to Bellagio and then to dinner.

      We had not planned this stop, but it turned out to be wonderful. It was non-tourist Italian and from beginning to end a lovely visit with the family who owned the hotel. Highlights were: watching the kite-surfers in the lake, meeting a Swedish couple and taking photos for one another, the best toast I have ever had done by a man that knows little more about cooking than toast but does it very well, and spending time with three generations of folks who love what they do. And, there is the story about leaving my passport in the safe and getting almost to Verona before discovering it - but that is saved for another time.

Mini-Europe, Brussels

We stopped by Brussels Belgium for a few days on a trip to South Africa (OK it is  little out of the way, but we were flying through Paris). My grandson, who planned the trip, wanted to see Mini-Europe. It was a great visit and part of an all day tour of Brussels that we arranged. We had hired a tour guide as our driver for the day. Good investment, although not cheap, as he even knew some great places for waffles! (Photos by Marietta McLellan)

Monet's Waterlilies

Photo taken by Mike McLellan at Monet's Home in France.

Bars and Pubs discovered

Some tapas in Barcelona, Spain

     Taking a extended break in the middle of the afternoon is standard in many countries. Having tapas and wine in Spain is a great idea.

      Not that I have tried every bar and pub in every city I have stayed, I have found a favorite in almost every one. There is a pub across from the post office in Kings Cross that made London home. I found refuge from the rain in a great wine bar in Kilkenny, Ireland. In Paris there is a corner cafe near the Louvre that counters any complaint that the French are not welcoming. If you find yourself in Florence, I have a recommendation for you,

     What makes them good? There is a Pub in Dublin in Temple Bar that is an example. You are welcomed. It has the right balance between noise and quiet, they serve a good product, and when you come back they remember you. Best view: the bar at the Chateau at Lake Louise, Alberta Canada,

The Colors of Spain

The market off Las Ramblas in Barcelona, in living color.

Sundown on the Zambezi, Zambia

This photo from this summer makes me wonder if the current President of the USA has spent time 

in Africa ... but, you understand, Africa in a continent, not a country. 

Near the Top of the Vee, Ireland

     I suppose that we all have photos around that remind us of special times. They may not be great photos, but they capture great moments. The photo above was taken from near The Vee in County Tipperary, Ireland. The Vee is a "V" shaped turn in the road in the Knockmealdown Mountains. The road runs from, in my case, the Rock of Cashel to Kinsale.

    Taking that road is wonderful, but you have to plan for a long day as it is narrow and winding. We ended up having to stop in Lismore which was not in our plans. Worth it. The view is so... so... Ireland. (Photo by Mike McLellan)

Brussels, Belgium

A quiet courtyard in old town Brussels.

Island Fortress Of The Coast of France

      It was a beautiful day for a boat ride and the boat had wheels in case the tide went out. The Island contained an old fortress, a marine biology station, and plenty of flowers. This is the embarrassing part; it was lovely and I have forgotten its name.

On Omaha Beach

A fun and interesting way to visit Omaha Beach, France.

The tops of buildings in Barcelona

 Barcelona is a beautiful city
with interesting architecture by some
famed artists.

As I walked around the streets it was hard not to look up to see that the builders had done.

There are some magnificent tops and roof lines on buildings. Each one changes in the light. Don't stumble.

Elephants on Parade in Botswana

     When I was young, we lived in a small town in Illinois. One of the biggest events was when the circus came to town. We did not rate Ringing Brothers, but we did get Clyde Beatty. They would take the elephants off the train and parade them through downtown to the circus site. It was amazing to me.

     The elephants were of course, very domesticated.  The photo above was taken just outside the city of Livingstone in Botswana. We were in a safari vehicle on the way to our tent camp in the bush from the airfield.

      All of a sudden a group of elephants started our way.  They were just going from one place to another and were not looking for a fight. But, our driver speeded up to get out of the way. There would be plenty more elephants to see, but from a safer distance. They were closer than this looks as I used a wide angle lens. Great welcome to Botswana in southern Africa.

Passage Way In Brussels Belgium

I tagged long behind my wife and grandson and took this photo in Brussels Belgium. 

Photo of a bus on a bridge from a boat in Amsterdam

Photo by Marietta McLellan

The other kind of green forest

Desert Museum in Phoenix, Arizona

The best thing about The London Eye

      Those who read this blog regularly will attest to the fact that this writer does not often spend time criticizing or complaining about things in other countries. That is the stuff of the "Ugly American".  I do have some strong feelings about the London Eye. First, the best thing about the machine is that you cannot easily see it when you are on it. The second thing is that it is in just the wrong place. It does not fit with the neighborhood. It could have been located elsewhere so people could get a view without spoiling the view from the ground. I know that people said these same thing about the Eiffel Tower and the Pickle Building. They did not fit when built - the Pickle Building is still marginal. When in London, I do not say rude things about the Eye. It was set to come down (so was the Eiffel Tower) and was given a few more years. It is just that I do not find it pretty enough to stand next to Elizabeth's Tower.

Model of Trim Castle in Trim Castle

     Most people passed by this model of Trim Castle as they walked toward the stairs that take visitors to the stairways and walk ways high above the central room where this model sits. As I have trouble with stairs and sometimes use a cane, I often get a chance to stay behind and see what others go by quickly. My wife comes back to tell me about things up higher and I report on the doings of the people below. This is way I talk about the ramparts at Mont St. Michele and allow her to talk about the great view from the abbey.

Bronze on Omaha Beach, France

Aside from the crosses, the bronzes tell the tale.