Montmartre Paris

     We had hired a car and driver for a tour of the city, but had not gone up atop Montmartre to see the cathedral or view Paris from above, My granddaughter wanted cooking lessons so we had spent the next morning at a baking class (I watched) and then called a cab to go back across the river and then to our rented flat near the Eiffel Tower. As we got into the cab I asked the driver to take us over Montmartre instead of around it. I promised him more of a tip than just rounding up. Away we went. The driver seemed to enjoy it as much as we did. We did not have time to see the artists and walk around as we have done before, but my granddaughter got to see one of the best views in Paris (along with the Eiffel Tower and the roof of Galleries Lafayette). 
 

The most dangerous of creatures

Entering the Museum of Apartheid, Johannesburg, South Africa

     We wanted to teach our grandson about history as well as nature on a trip to South Africa. We talked about Bishop Tutu and Nelson Mandela. We went to the Apartheid Museum as well as a local school and several safaris..

     In the museum, you walk among the sight and sounds of the most dangerous of animals - mankind. In one room you are confronted by hundreds of nooses hanging from the ceiling, It is a reminder of the lynch mobs that came for black Africans willing to stand for freedom. I stood between that room and another which was a representation of the cell that Mandala was locked in during prison. I could not move.

     I hope that my grandson took away just a small understanding of what human beings are capable of -both good and bad,

 

Dachau Prison Concentration Camp Germany

Sleeping quarters: four to a bed

Guard Tower

     To visit Dachau we traveled by train from the central Munich Train Station. It was a guided tour. We came upon the concentration camp which was filled with school children from mostly secondary schools around Germany. It is required as part of their education. I suspect it is to stop the possibility of this ever happening again.

     As I waited in the Visitor's Center, I struck up a conversation with a German woman claiming to be in her nineties. She said she had always wanted to come here, but had put it off.  She had lived through the Nazi occupation and had suffered from it. We talked about her experiences and what her feelings were upon seeing the camp. 

      I found this very interesting and also somewhat sad. It reminded me of my feelings having worked on the Navajo reservation in Arizona. While the latter were not gassed, they were separated because of race. People did not know about them because they were isolated.

      In the end, we parted company - the lady and I - and went back to our homes a little more educated about what people can do to other people when they think they are superior.

 

Moules & Frites

A good friend from France, who ran his own winery in the U.S. for a time,

knew I was going to Mt. St. Michel while in Normandy.

He told me just the right cafe to go to and to order moules & frites.

Indeed, mussels and French fries (although French fries were invented in Belgium).

I loved it.

 

City Hall and Plaza Brussels Belgium

Brussels is the home for The European Union

and draws people from all around Europe.

Like many European cities is has an old center 

which is interesting and fun to explore.

 

Eiffel Tower at night

I was on a ship in the Seine and used a long lens for this photo.

There was a rumor that it was illegal to photograph the Eiffel Tower all

lighted up as it was copy-righted art. I never believed that, 

but this photo is so blurry that you cannot tell anyway.

 

Stained glass in Munich Germany Church

For many years, I have worked in glass - both stained and fused - so I am taken by the wonderful windows in churches. In many places (Paris is an example) the glass was taken out during World War Two so that bombing would not destroy the art.

These windows in a Munich Church (near the markets ) are very modern while using ancient symbols. The colors are pastel rather than being bright.
 

Last night we went to the Van Gogh Experience in Portland

The Van Gogh Experience is touring the U.S.

With projection, lighting, and sound, this tech centered

event tells of the life and work of

Vincent Van Gogh.

10 in our family went together and all seemed to enjoy it.

(Photo above is of an approximately 20 foot wall projection.

One of many in the huge area,)

 

Cathedral in Segovia Spain

Segovia is a short drive from Madrid and worth the trip.

One enters from under a giant Roman aqueduct and ascends a hill into

the heart of the old city.

There is lots to see including the Alcazar and Cathedral.

A very manageable walk. 

 

Over Oregon

The flight from Sacramento to Portland is only 1 hour and 40 minutes.

About the time needed to go up and then back down.

The views are wonderful: the Central Valley of California,

along the Cascades, and the Central Valley of Oregon.

Right now a winter Wonderland. 

Hyatt Regency Hotel, San Francisco

Downtown San Francisco is a great visit at Christmastime. 

Macy's is decked out as is Union Square in general.

The Hyatt Regency on Embarcadero is worth a visit - have lunch.

 

Municipal Building, Prague CZ

A pretty cafe in the Municipal Building near the

entry tower (Magazine) leading to old town Prague.

 

Oregon Coast, USA

The Oregon Coast is a pretty place. 

The water is cold and most places are not busy. 

This spot is on a circle drive outside Tillamook.

We enjoyed the drive as well as long stops above the beaches.

 

Pass in the Dolomites (Italian Tyrol Alps)

Amazing view. Amazing place.

I should someday publish my Bucket List (of which this was one).

 

Askari South Africa

We spent several days at Askari in South Africa. It is a game reserve with

vehicle trips in their huge acreage. Many free roaming animals and many

armed game managers. The armed staff is not to protect you from the animals.

It is to protect the animals from us.

 

A tree grows in Botswana

While on Safari, I saw many trees like this.

I find them very artistically interesting,

 

Chime tower, Feldkirch, Austria

Little guy, day and night, tolls the time.

Lovely city and lovely people.

 

Scotland/Edinburgh/Phone Box/ Soon gone

Just as in the United states, folks in Scotland depend on cell phones and smart phones. While you once saw these booths everywhere, they are now a surprise. This on was in Edinburgh near The Royal Mile. We also saw on on the boat landing near the Firth of Forth. I imagine that they may be gone one day.
 

The Alhambra, Granada Spain

You can see by the other photographers across the courtyard that this "Lion" fountain is 

a popular subject at the Alhambra, 

I had been given a book on the Alhambra written by Washington Irving. 

Over the years this place took a priority place in my list.

It is crowded, popular, amazing, and you need a reservation.

I suggest a guided tour as the guides hold good tickets.

Do not drive up. Take the shuttle. 

When done with the tour, hang out in the  gardens or go back to a room or two.

 

Ireland and the Internet

This is a photo of an old Abbey taken from the Rock of Cashel in Ireland.  When we were there on our first visit, I was writing a column for a local newspaper. I did not have a laptop or much access to a computer except in an Internet Cafe. These Cafes were all over in those days. I would write a column and send it in to the editor whenever I could. Those columns were a sort of diary of a trip. Not exactly the quality of "Innocents Abroad", but fun for me. Today, I carry a tablet and phone. There are no Internet cafes around.

 

Excellent London Pub and Rain

The Rising Sun is a pub in central London. It was near the Stauton Hotel 

where we have stayed (great place). I was looking at my ratty old umbrella the other day/

I have a beautiful new one, but the old one is held together with a scrap of an Underground

pamphlet. I put to two together in the rain while near The Rising Sun. Long time ago.

That umbrella has traveled to nearly 24 countries with me since and reminds me of a favorite place.

. 

 

Street Side In Vienna

We have been to Austria a number of times, but it was only on the last trip we spent time in Vienna.

What a wonderful, cultured city. It has art and music all around.

 

Jewish Cemetery in Prague CZ

Prague is an urbane and lively city. It is also a city with a long history.

Part of its history is what happened during World War Two and its

long history of various social and ethnic groups.

A very sobering, but interesting, tour is of the Jewish Cemetery. It is near the river

and in a lovely section of the city. It is well kept. 

Interesting to me is the use of pebbles in place of flowers. Flowers die, but pebbles

are the stuff of the earth, itself. Also, as you can see, no  one worries that

the headstones are not perfectly straight.

 

Budapest two (and too)

The municipal building on the Pest side of the Danube. Our boat moored just to the right. Wedding cake.
 

Budapest

Budapest is a beautiful city and the Danube is blue there,

 

Tapas in Barcelona

How civilized. A late afternoon time of relaxing and food before the 

busy evening comes.

 

San Francisco looking north across the Bay

Alcatraz Island in distance.

(Photo by Marietta McLellan)

 

Saint Peter In Chains - Cathedral in Rome

Lots of churches have containers showing off relics. St. Peter In Chains in Rome boasts the chains used to "bind Peter in the center of Rome where he died". 

His place of death traditionally is located in the large plaza

 in front of St. Peter's Cathedral of the Vatican.

 

Juliette Balcony in Paris

In my quest for cool windows and doors...

 

Spanish Landscape

You would not know that this is not a view of the Coast Range from the

Central Valley of California. Very much alike. This is Spain just south of Toledo.

 

Looking out from the Rock of Gibraltar

I was listening to a show and they mentioned Gibraltar and it 

made me think of my time there. It reminded me of how fortunate I have been

to travel so many places. It is not everyone who can do it.

I am blessed.