Meeting in South Africa

 These guys were on the lookout for a guy with a camera.

In the Firth of Forth, North of Edinburgh Scotland

 

There is a charter out of a dock at the base of the Forth Bridge that goes out to visit an abbey and monastery. It is a fun trip and well worth it. The other boats are fun to watch as well as the

seals on the buoys.

The Lighthouse dominates part of the area.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica and often called Montmartre, although that is the name of the hill on which it stands. You can get there one of several ways. There is a tram up from the lower level (my choice) or a set of stairs (my granddaughter's choice). You can also take a cab up. If you are driving in Paris and could follow a map, I have no sympathy for you as you will see very little except horrendous traffic. Fly in and take a cab into the central city (65 Euros) go back out and rent a car a CDG and drive in the smaller cities and less populated areas. Cabs are not expensive in Paris.

Travel: She got the whole world in her hands

Not far from the University of London, I took a picture up one of the streets by the Rising Sun Pub. Upon looking at the snapshot, I enlarged this portion to not only check out the pretty shopper, but to see what she was carrying. A globe... electrified... remember it is England and thus the electricity is 240 Watts. You want to play Sherlock?   She is not wearing an engagement ring. Not at a bus stop so must live close by. Hmmmm.

Zambian Hippo

     At dusk our group rented a canopied pontoon boat with a driver and a bartender at the Livingstone Lodge on the banks of the Zambezi. We traveled out to the islands looking for birds and animals out in the cool of the evening. There were many. This is a great way to share a bottle of South African Wine, a sundown, good food, and people you care for. A double pleasure were all of the animals including this hippo checking things out.

Gate to the Jewish Memorial, Dachau Concentration Camp

Rainbow at Victoria Falls, Zambia

Red Rock Area near Sedona, Arizona

Photo taken from the airport atop a mesa in Sedona Arizona.

Scottish Headstones, Edinburgh

     After swinging by the American Embassy atop the hill in Edinburgh and around the corner from our hotel, we walked down the hill toward Holyrood House and the trail took us through an older cemetery. For me, a cemetery is a fun part of any walk. 

Granada Spain

Statue and Cathedral a block from our Bed and breakfast in Granada Spain. We drove to Granada from Madrid and stayed a few days seeing the Alhambra and other sites before taking the road with the White Villages to Gibraltar. Granada is a worthy destination in itself and would be a good place to spend a week or more.

In the Czech Republic I ordered a large beer

Last October, drinking beer around Central Europe, I discovered Czech beer.  

This photo taken at cafe across from the famous

Astrological Clock, Central Prague.

Evening along the Danube

     The Danube River is forever changing in mood as one traveling along from day to evening. Around every corner there is a surprise, something new and different. There are castles and cathedrals, government buildings and fishing shacks. 

The Two of Us: Conner Pass, Ireland

     This is one of three times we have made it to the top of Conner Pass between Castle Gregory and Dingle on the Atlantic Coast of Ireland. We placed rocks on a cairn atop the pass, Overlooked the lake on one side and the bay on the other.  Had to ask a Frenchwoman (they always seem to be French) to take our photo. Fortunately she understood American Gesture, a language we often use.
     Driving in Ireland is not difficult except for having to stop and think about which way to enter the round-a-bouts.                                                                 

Mont-Saint-Michel, between Normandy and Brittany, France

Mont-Saint-Michel is one of my favorite places. It is named for St. Michael and an abbey is perched at the top. We often see photos like the top one showing the whole mount, but I like the lower one too. The lower one is of a portion of the rampart with a gull over-seeing things.

Windows in Rouen France

     I often look toward the windows along the street to see who may be looking at me as I visit a place. I have some photos from almost everywhere we have gone. In Europe, there is not as much air conditioning as in California (USA) and thus people have their windows open and often are looking out, These two are views from the place where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake, Years ago, maybe people were watching that event from these very windows.

Rainbow over the bay between Spain and Gibraltar

 A view of the bay between the Spanish mainland and Gibraltar as seen from a short way up the rock. We hired a driver/guide and van to take us to the top and show us around the whole of the area. He was great and gave us more than our money's worth. Alas, even he did not plan on this rainbow surprise.

Baptismal Font, Notre Dame, Paris

     Baptism is the entry into the church. Most older churches have the font in the rear to symbolize this. The Bapistery in Florence is a gorgeous separate building across the way from the sanctuary. The most interesting fonts I have seen are in Honfuer France, Venice Italy and Segovia Spain. I take photos as I go.. If these photos were high quality - which they are not - I would make a book of them. Maybe I should just put them together as a slide show.

The Tower Bridge - what's in a name?

       This famous bridge crosses the Thames River at the Tower of London, thus it is the Tower Bridge. It has two towers, but that is not why it is called the "Tower Bridge". It is not the London Bridge, although many tourists think it is. The London Bridge is in Arizona USA (likely). The New London Bridge is in London and is flat so it is not notable like the Tower Bridge. There are many other bridges cross the Thames in London. This is what you get when a city grows on two sides of water. 

Museum in Edinburgh is hands on

Grand-daughter, Sarah, tries on spacesuit

at great museum in Edinburgh, Scotland.

My Traveling Companion for 53 Years and Mother of Two Great Daughters

At Lake Como Italy on the way to Bellagio. Marietta Williams McLellan.

The Rock of Gibraltar

     There is a great deal of military history here. It begins during the Revolutionary War with a fear that the French, who sided with the colonies, would invade Gibraltar. The first tunnels and gun ports were installed then. During WWI and WWII things were expanded. To control Gibraltar meant to control the Mediterranean. Top photo looking up. Second Photo looking straight down into the sea. The bottom photo is a stop at an over look shared with the apes that looks out at Spain.

Segovia Spain - A short way for a big surprise

     This is the alcazar and palace in Segovia Spain. To get there we walked from the old roman aqueduct up the hill to the center of the town and then out to the palace. This is a short trip from Madrid and very worth it. The chestnut trees themselves are wondrous.

Zebras in South Africa

Long lens on these guys who were very interested in me.

Boys on the Buoys: Firth of Forth, Scotland UK

     Out in the firth, around a half mile on the way to a remote monastery, we passed a group of three sea lions resting on a channel marker. We came close and they were not bothered. Either we were not scary or they were accustomed to visitors.

 The monastery out in the firth. 

Cross Country Flight: USA West to East

Taking off from San Francisco International Airport and turning West over Campbell 

and the Coast Range. These low mountains divide the cost from the Central Valley

 .

Five hours later we come into JFK, New York across their bay. The lights are on as it is October,

We will land in about  fifteen minutes. About 5,000 miles from where we started.

Astronomical Clock, Old Town, Prague CZ

This is a great feature of the Old Town in Prague. It is at one end of the wonderful

old plaza which in Central to the area.

Lots of things to experience in that plaza, but if you want to see/hear the clock,

get there early or watch from afar.

We were in Prague about a week and got to see/hear it many times.

HINT: Go to open-air cafe and have a beer while you wait.

Great beer.

The Bavarian Crown Jewels inside vault in Munich Germany

Meandering around Munich you will find some surprises. We set out on a circle walk and came to this combination museum and vault. The vault contains the crown jewels as well as great pieces of three-dimensional art in a variety of media. Great visit.

The Grand Canal Venice

Venice Italy is a place like Barcelona Spain that is getting warn down by its own popularity. As one walks around Venice, it appears to be a stage set for some amusement park, but it is home to people with a long history of being a world power. The huge cruise ships coming in and out damage the underpinnings of the buildings and the volume of tourists make it difficult to get around.

HINTS FOR YOUR TRIP. - If you decide on going to Venice, treat it like you would a rare national monument. Be gentle. Be caring. You are a visitor invited in like a house guest. We suggest that you get up early and see those sites you wish to see. Around 10 the tourisst pour out of the ships, so find a nice place to shelter while they run here and there. Around 5 they return to their ships to get ready for dinner. Dinner for the citizens of Venice is 8 or after so take your time, For me, the best hour for walking the city is between ten and eleven at night. Hardly a soul is out, but the lights are on and the bars are still open.

If you must have an early dinner, we recommend the cafe in the center of the Ghetto near the synagogue, but from some reports it is closed. Try anyway. If open, it is away from the crowds and order the fried  olives.

Tales of The Alhambra by Washington Irving

     When we were first married and a long trip was to the beach in our rusty old convertible without a top, my wife's parents returned from Spain and gave me a leather bound copy of 'The Tales of the Alhambra". It went on  our list of things to see.
     High atop a hill overlooking Granada Spain, the fortress/palace/ temple/ gardens stand to welcome visitors. We had reservations and hired a guide. This is absolutely worth it. And, in one room one finds a sign indicating that it was Irving's bedroom during his stay.
     We worked this in on a trip of Spain starting in Barcelona to Madrid, south to Granada, along the White Cities to Ronda, then to the coast and a stay in Gibraltar, up to Portugal, then to Seville and then back to Madrid. A month of following "The impossible dream". Great trip.