Inchcolm, Firth of Forth, Scotland

Inchcolm is an island in the Firth of Forth. It can be reached by small boat.

The island is home to n Augustine Abbey that can be toured.

Beautiful visit and say hello to the sea lions on the rocks.

 

Buskers in Munich

There are buskers everywhere.

These two were sharing their music in Munich.

 

Trinity College, Dublin

I often wear my Rotary pin and by doing so I meet people all over.

As I walked into Trinity a student offered to take us on a tour.

We appreciated it. He also got information about Rotary overseas grants from me.

He had applied for one and I hope he got one.

 

Budapest: The Chain Bridge at night

In a boat from the water, this view of Budapest is a favorite.

One reason is that this city - made from two - is beautiful.

 

After the safari - Victoria Falls

The Livingstone Lodge in Zambia is at the Zambezi River.

Staying there you can visit Victoria Falls easily.

In a small boat you cross the river into Zimbabwe and see the other side of the falls. 

And, the hearty in our party took a helicopter through the gorge.  

 

LOST IN TRANSLATION

While we flew Air France into Paris and then on to Rome, we planned on flying out of Verona

to Paris and back home (SFO). We returned our rental car to the office in Verona and asked how

we could find the near by airport. The office manager for the rental did not speak much English

and my Italian stops at ravioli. The manager kept saying, "Go to the big woman". That did not seem helpful  until we saw this sign about half a block away. She is a very big woman.

 

Capital of Liechtenstein in the rain

Two things about this photo. 1) It is not what one would expect as a capital building.

2) This is in Valduz. It sits on the Rhine. But, it is not the only city in the country. Another city

is Schaan. There are others.

Not realizing this, I got lost while driving in one of the smallest countries in the world. 

 

South Africa: The rhino watches us

I am sorry that I have skipped a few posts. I am in Portland, Oregon USA.

This is, of course, a Rhino. He was eyeing us. We likely were too close to him.

In Africa we visited four countries and encountered lots of big game.

This fellow was one of the biggest big game.

 

The White Tower - Tower of London

 

The White Tower is at the back of the Tower compound. It is an important visit

for anyone wishing to see the crown jewels.

Mike's helpful hint:

Get to the Tower when it opens at 9 am. Immediately go to the rear of the compound

to the White Tower and then work your way back to the entrance. 

The crowds do it the other way.

Remember too to chat with a guard as they love to give you information.

Hiring a driver: Brussels

We have often hired a car and a driver to show us the sites around a city.

While we like Hop-On Hop-Off buses for a tour, nothing beats a local who loves his/her home.

The drivers also go to the places we have chosen to go.

This photo was taken in a wonderful church in Brussels which we would never know about.

Our favorite local drivers are in Ireland, Brussels, Paris(2), and Gibraltar

 

A tree... Africa

A solidary tree in the Chobe National Park, Botswana Africa.

 

Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park London

A famous place for people to come and give a speech or message

on anything on their minds.

I gave an address that day.

My email address.

 

Balmoral Scotland

In the Highland near the towns of Braemar and Ballater there is a famous manor house.

It is easy to get to, but you need to plan before getting there.

None of the royal family need to be in attendance.

The gardens and stables are good to see and, if you are lucky, you can go inside

and see a few rooms. One of these rooms displays Prince Philip's paintings.

He was a surprisingly good artist. 

(We preferred Ballater as a place to stay.)

 

The apes of Gibraltar

We were coming down an ancient walkway to a fort high on The Rock

when I realized that I would have to go by this guy. 

We were that close.

Having no food, we were left alone. They are not vicious, just greedy.

 

View down a "close" in Lismore Ireland

A "close" is an alley in Ireland. This one was in Lismore, county Waterford.

We have an enlargement on our wall.

It is a favorite and relaxing photo.

 

The view from the castle Neuschwanstein

People tend to get focused on the building when the view is also wonderful.

The building (castle) center right is where Ludwig's in-laws lived.

 

Storeroom at the Victoria and Albert

You can see the fine art of the world.

The V&A has copies of much of it.

(Also check out the art tiles in the restrooms)

 

Italy Road Trip

It was 2012 and we set out from Verona and drove north along Lake Largo,

up through the Dolomites to Austria and Germany, across Austria to

Liechtenstein and down Switzerland. We then made a hard left turn

and came back to Lake Como (pictured) and then to Verona.

If you have the time we recommend it.

Mont-St. -Michel Normandy France

Mont-St.-Michel is a remarkable tidal island off the coast of France. I have dozens of photos of it from a distance and it dramatic. But there is more. From the ramparts to the abbey atop it, there are wonderful things to see. This is the entrance to a lower chapel guarded by Joan Of Arc

 

 

Beautiful building: CZ Prague

A few steps from our hotel this building (Municipal)

has a lovely tearoom/cafe on the ground floor and an

American Bar/Cafe in the lower floor.

 

Helicopter view of the Zambezi down river from Victoria Falls

In 2017 Marietta, our grandson Lucas and I went to southern Africa.

We went via Belgium and returned via The Netherlands.

A real adventure. We saw the zebra migration in the Chobe and went on several safaris.

One of the highlights for Lucas was a helicopter trip over Victoria Falls

(on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.)

Lucas is now at the University of Oregon.

 

No need for a car...

This is the train station in Barcelona/

The train to Madrid does not take long as it approached 180 KPH.

Sure, you may have to rent a car to see the small communities

but public transportation is A-1. 

 

The Alhambra, Granada Spain

Just as I had long wanted to see the Dolomites of Italy, so too did both of us

wish to visit The Alhambra. It dominates a hill over looking Granada.

I had read 'Tales of The Alhambra' by Washington Irving and it is an

ode to this wonderful place.

 

 

Smallest and most dramatic memorial: Budapest

On the quay along the Danube in Budapest there is a row of bronze shoes.

These represent a day when the Nazis made the Jews take off their shoes

because leather was valuable. When the shoes were off

the people were killed and their bodies pushed into the river.

 

Castle on a hill over looking Durnstein, Austria: Surprises

 

This photo was taken during a half day visit to Durnstein, Austria.

We happened upon one truly lovely town that we never heard of. 

Roman Aqueduct Segovia, Spain

The Romans did good work.

 

On Lake Como, Italy

This is a water taxi on Lake Como, Italy. Como gets lots of publicity and for a reason.

It is home to Bellagio.

But the smaller and larger sisters are equally as beautiful.

If you go ... stay a few nights. Don't just look and go.

Too pretty for that.

 

Lighted cave in the Rock of Gibraltar

The Rock of Gibraltar is riddled with caves and tunnels.

There are places were you can go inside and then see out through a small gun port.

This large cave is used sometimes for concerts. The colors change.

 

Monet's Garden

 

Along the Seine it is an pretty drive to Monet's Garden

in Giverny, France. Easy to see why he painted waterlilies.

Monet seems to never had trouble with the light as I did when taking this photo.