South African Hotel

\

Hey, stand over by the fence and I will take your picture.

We stayed at a very nice hotel in Johannesburg  on South Africa, but were asked not to

leave the property without a driver.  We went to a nice mall and had\

lunch and enjoyed it, but had to call a driver to get us back to the hotel.

They were very careful although we did not worry much.

 

Getting close to migration time: Zebras

When we were in Botswana it was getting close to the mass migration of Zebra. They began gathering in small groups and the groups became more plentiful until it was time to travel.

While we did not see the migration, I did see films of it on National Geographic TV.

Photo above was not taken with long lens, so enlarging it made it fuzzy.

 

Flying over AUSTRIA

Thought I could find this picture. This photo taken while on a boat in the Danube,

 

Flying In The Italian Alps

     In several places in the Bavarian Alps as well as those in Italy, we saw people parasailing off cliffs and floating/flying down into canyons below. While I have parasailed behind a boat in Lake Tahoe, California, USA, I cannot imagine free falling using the wind alone to hold me up. Fun to watch.

 

Madrid Spain: A Cathedral In Techicolor

The cathedral across the courtyard from the Royal Palace

in Madrid, is a lively place of color and light.

No solemn place this.

 

Hippos: A family group

While in South Africa we spotted a family group of hippos.

From a distance it looked like a pile of boulders.

Don't tell them that. They are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.

 

Mont-Saint-Michel

Passageway to the rampart at Mont-Saint-Michel.

There are many photos of the Island from a distance, but there are great shots close up.

I like this one I took of a passage to the lower ramparts.

 

About Dogs

      This dog was seen in France. I always know when I am homesick as I take photos like this. It means I am missing my own dog.

      But, this is just a symbol of a world full of canine friends and a few special ones you may encounter on your trips.  Sniffer dogs are around airports more and more. They are fun to watch if you have nothing to hide. But, no matter how much you miss your own pooch, sniffer dogs should be left alone.  They are working to keep you safe and secure. 
 

Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park, London England

Always wanted to give an address at Speaker's Corner. This picture shows me giving my email address.

 

Segovia, Spain

Barcelona, Madrid, Seville and Malaga get lots of coverage, and rightfully so as they are great places to visit. Yet, when we toured Spain by rental car we also discovered so many other places to stop.

One place that we would recommend is Segovia.

A short trip from Madrid, Segovia has many beautiful buildings and vistas.

The castle/alcazar above is on the crest of a hill with wonderful views of the valley.

 

Sainte Chapelle, Paris

Not far from Notre Dame is Sainte Chapelle a grand cathedral which is almost all glass.

Up a narrow staircase, one enters the soaring sanctuary filled with light.

This, as far as I am concerned, is a don't miss in Paris.

 

Workers on the Chain Bridge, Budapest Hungary

     Our riverboat was tied up near the Chain Bridge on the Danube. A wonderful sight while lighted at night, it was interesting during the day as workers did maintenance. The bridge is a symbol of the unity of the two parts to the city.
 

Autumn about to begin in Connecticut

     We came to Connecticut to visit my sister and brother-in-law. Although still the end of September we hoped to see some fall color. Living in Central California we don't see big changes in the seasons. As they had not yet had a hard freeze, we saw little color, but wondered in the green.
 

Which European country do you like the best?

     While I have not been to every European country, the question arises as to which country that I have been to is my favorite. One usually will eliminate those in which he has a bad experience. I have had few to none of those.  Each place has its own charm. I enjoy them all. One that I have been to several times is Austria and I find it a great place to visit. It may be that they have had to get along with neighbors over the years and have become neighborly. The photo above is right outside of Vienna.
 

Courtyard of the Louvre, Paris France

Quick snapshot upon entering the courtyard from the south.

 

Don't mess with a rhino

 

On a safari through a game preserve in South Africa we met several rhinos.

They appeared to be friendly - but do not count on it.

Scottish Country Garden

 What a lovely garden at a Scottish Castle (manor house). Near Loch Ness this garden lets a person go off and hide and reflect on the beauty of it all. It obvious takes a huge amount of work to tend it.

Scary Places In Italy

Standing on the viewing platform in the tower in Verona, my legs were sweating in spite of the cool weather.  I am not a friend of heights.  The photo above is of the interior of the Baptistry in Florence Italy. Looking up is not bad, but we went up the narrow steps to those windows shown. Looking out and down was beautiful;, thrilling and scary to me. Worth it.

 

The Coast of California USA

While California is graced with wonderful beaches, these are punctuated by beautiful rocky coastlines. People come back from traveling in various other countries with pictures that could be taken somewhere in California. That also goes for various areas of mountains.  This is not to say that local Californians should not visit other places. People and customs are more important that pictures of places. But, during this time of pandemic, it is nice to visit wonders close to home.
 

Old Gun Bunker, Normandy Beaches

On the Normandy beaches, where the awful fighting in World War Two occurred, there remains evidence of those battles.  Aside from the cemeteries there are many old artillery bunkers dotted along the coastline. France, I suppose, wishes to remind everyone of the occupation of the Germans that failed.
 

Calgary, Alberta Canada: Winter Olympic City

Calgary is a beautiful city from whence one can go to Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper.

The Olympic site is on the way to Banff.

 

Innsbruck Gate with mountains behind: Winter Olympic City

The mountains dominate the views.

 

Innsbruck, Austria, Winter Olympic City

 Innsbruck is a grand city at the foot of the mountains.  It has an excellent public transportation system and a large pedestrian only center on the weekends. Not far from the center is the Olympic Site.

Mountains over Cortina, Italy - Winter Olympic City

One of our Olympic City Visits

 

Where the Caledonian Canal Reaches Loch Ness

     This is a photo of the final leg of the Caledonian Canal as it reaches Loch Ness at Fort Augustus, Scotland. When I took this photo it was a re-do of the exact same spot and picture I took from nearly 10 years before. This is one of those locations folks call "My Happy Place". I really like this village and the vibe it gives off.  It is busy with tourists as it is home to a series of locks in the canal with boats going up and down.

    The first time we were there, we stayed at the Caledonian Hotel owned by the MacLellans.* It was a good visit. Fun time comparing notes and sharing scotch. The second time is was a short stay on the way north to Inverness. 
 *We spell our name the same way only abbreviated with a line under the "c" which is not possible on a typewriter or easy on a computer.

Abbey on an island in the Firth of Forth

You can join a group in a small boat and visit this abbey in the Firth of Forth

near Edinburgh Scotland. Fun just getting there.

 

Outside a museum in Munich

I personally think the god of wine should be more attractive than this.

This statue is by the front steps of a great museum in Munich Germany.