On the Oregon (USA) Coast

Grass

(Photo by Marietta McLellan)

 

Barcelona Spain: Windows, balconies, and more

I was walking along a side street in Barcelona. I like taking photos of windows and doors for some reason that is hard to explain. Here is an apartment house. The people on their Juliet balconies would be on the Third Floor - as the numbering system goes Ground-One-Two-Three-Four. Their Third Floor would be the Fourth Floor in the U.S. The children are getting some outside time.  This is not to say that children do not have plenty of parks and safe areas to play, but in any urban area there are few backyards.

Safari Animal Drive, Botswana Africa

      That is Graham on the right driving the  Toyota Safari wagon (you drive on the left in Botswana). I was seated in the middle of the second row in this photo. We were out on the Chobe Park looking for the Big Five. After a few days of morning and evenings of animal drives this area took on a familiar feeling. This is the dry season, the best time to visit. There are many species to see and very few humans in the way.

Detail along the street in Amsterdam

Amsterdam gets a reputation for being a wide open city.

It has some aspects that might earn it.

However, the city is not really like that.

It is warm and family friendly too.

 

Portion of Victoria Falls, Zambia, as seen from a helicopter

Photo by Grandson, Lucas Meurisse

 

President Joe Biden in Brussels the home of the European Union

When we were in Brussels, it was obvious that they are proud to be the host

for the offices of the European Union.

Belgium is also home to NATO.

They are a nation that understands all too well the need to cooperate. 

(Photo above is of a covered street in central Brussels)

 

Walking in/under a sculpture in Seville Spain

This is a transit station in Seville Spain.

We went on a long walk to see street art and happened upon this.

Made of wood, this shelter from the warm Spring sun was awe inspiring.

 

Santa Maria degu Angrli e dei Martiri, Rome Italy

Near the Termeni (Train Station) in Rome, there is a rather unassuming church.

It is a Basilica meaning a large church that does not house a Bishop.

We went there for an organ concert and stayed for a wedding.

The church does house a beautiful celestial exhibit by Galileo and

the bottom photo shows an arch designed by Michelangelo.

Just another place of worship?

Rome. 

 

Mass at Notre Dame, Paris a couple of months before the fire

We have been to mass (I am a Protestant) at Notre Dame twice and visited twice.

Incense is a little too much. Sermon in French. Great experience.

 

Macarons - Paris or Prague

We took our granddaughter to Paris and while she fell in love with all things French, 

she came back especially loving their macarons. 

While we were in Prague, we walked passed this window to a sweet shop and 

I took this photo to send to her, What a big pile of macarons!

 

St. Martin In The Fields, Trafalgar Square, London

One of my favorite photos and one of my favorite places.

We have been to St. Martins for worship a couple of times.

Great music and nice people.

Looking closely at the left in front of London Bus is statue of George Washington.

The building on the left is The National Gallery - great visit.

To the right will be Nelson's Column.

 

The view from the Rock of Cashel, Ireland

Old Abbey down the hill from the Rock of Cashel, Ireland

 

St. Patrick's Day - Wearing of the Green

Roadway south of Kilkenny, Ireland

View from "The Vee" southern Ireland

 

Red Rocks Near Sedona Arizona

     One can imagine why both Native Americans and early settlers felt that there was magic here in the red rock area of Arizona near Sedona. It is awe inspiring.  It is also fun to go hiking and explore various areas and places. There are sites where the first peoples stayed, lived and made arts and crafts. In the summer, take water as it is dry. In every time of year take a camera as it is beautiful.
 

Different view of Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria Germany

 A different view taken from the trail up to the castle. It is worth the trip.  We arranged a tour from the rail station in Munich to the base of the hill by bus. You can hike up, take a horse cart or a bus to the top. We took the bus and hiked down. some great valley views.

Looking out over Verona Italy

Verona is one of my favorite places to visit. Nice and compact, it is graced by a river with interesting old bridges. The photo above was taken from the great tower near the central plaza. I hate heights like that.   I love to look out of airplane windows, but chill at looking out of a high tower.

This view bothered me and also made me feel good as it is a city that I find welcoming and pretty. Verona is easy to walk and has all of the Italian things of  Rome.

 

Central Plaza , Brussels Belgium

Brussels is the host city for the offices of the European Union.

It is a modern, vibrant city with some interesting older elements.

We stayed a few days, but in order to get a good feeling for the place

we had hired a driver and car to give us an all day -and it was ALL day -tour.

We enjoy getting to know the drivers and their knowledge of their home towns.

 

Men's Room Tiles in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London UK

As you enter the men's room by the café in the Victoria and Albert, you are confronted with art!
 

Inside an Irish Bed and Breakfast

We were greeted at the door and ushered into the parlor for tea and biscuits.

The owner,  went to get her registration book and it gave me opportunity to

photograph the wall next to me. I found it interesting because it was so personal.

The owners were obviously proud of their children.

The place was like that. It was welcoming and as if we were old friends.

The breakfast was "full English" and cooked to order.

 

Gold Doors of the Baptistry, Florence Italy

The gold doors of the Baptistry in Florence draw many people and cameras. They are pretty, but they are fake.  The real doors were taken down for safekeeping and are in the museum behind the Duomo. The museum is worth a visit and will likely not be busy because the tourists are out petting the pig or looking at David. Not that David or the pig are a waste, but the small museums hold a good deal. This is a photo of the real thing.
 

Let's Talk Toilets

The toilet in our hotel in Rome.

European toilets are not all the same, but many bathrooms have bidets or toilet/bidet combinations.

The water pressure also seems higher than  in the United States in several countries.

The first time I flushed a toilet in England, I thought I would be washed out to sea. It was not unlike flushing in an airplane. Some toilets have rubber bladders that increase pressure or add air to the flush.

Just another thing to experience.

Italian bidet.

 

Cathedral near the markets, Munich Germany

Amazingly pretty, this church is a great visit, although I suspect many people

miss it on their way to the street market just outside.

We spent a week in Munich and took the time.

 

Kenmare, Ireland - A Favorite Place To Visit

Kenmare is a great visit. The center city is fun and busy, The bay is a beautiful place for a sunset and is blessed with a nice park on its edge. There are standing stones and druid reminders. Tidy bed and breakfasts in a tidy town.
 

Don't use a third party booking site - I did it once

This is a great hotel in Granada Spain. Good breakfast and excellent service here, but I wondered why I got the room I did having booked so far in advance. Not that it was bad, but not the best in the hotel. The manager was honest. I had booked on a third party booking site. I have always contacted the hotels directly before and since. She told me that because of the commission to the site, they set aside a couple of rooms for people booking through them. The rooms were a little less convenient. I don't blame them. I can see why they do it and why almost every other hotel does the same.

Look for a hotel on the third party site and then call them direct.

 

The Beach At Tillamook, Oregon USA

Tillamook is a nice small town on the Oregon Coast,

There is a circle road that goes out to the beach.

Along the road are great views and some pretty places to stop,

as well as a lighthouse to visit.

(Photo by Marietta McLellan)

 

Reflecting pool at The Alhambra, Granada Spain

    In The Alhambra, as well as various Alcazars in Seville or Segovia, there are reflection pools like this one. It is a warm climate, not unlike my own home state of California, USA, and the sight of water tends to cool both body and spirit.  The buildings have long covered porticos which provide shade. Design often follows climate.