Caledonian Canal and Ft. Augustus Scotland

We have visited Fort Augustus twice. The first time we stayed at 

a hotel owned by the family of Chris McLellan. They were wonderful people and it is a nice bed and breakfast. Nothing beats an English/Scottish breakfast. I personally like black pudding and haggis. Not everyone's favorites.   In only a few hundred yards are the locks that control the Caledonian Canal as it dumps into Loch Ness. This photo is taken from the bridge at the lock looking at the Loch. ( A couple of words that sound alike.)This is one of my top ten favorite places.

 

The Treasury of the Residenz Palace Munich

The unheralded museums of Europe.

We are museum groupies. We find ourselves in lesser known places.

For example a visit to the Museum of Modern Art in Prague on a weekday means no crowds.

One we found interesting is The Treasury in Munich.

Here you will see the Crown Jewels on Bavaria and more 

 

Newgrange, Ireland

Newgrange was built by Stone Age farmers, the mound is 279ft in diameter and 43ft high, an area of about 1 acre. A passage measuring 62ft leads into a chamber with 3 alcoves. The passage and chamber are aligned with the rising sun on the mornings around the Winter Solstice.

Easiest is to take a tour out of Dublin. You will see other sites too.

This site may be older than the pyramids of Egypt.

You can go into the mound to the spot where the Winter Solstice sun aligns.

The passage way is narrow. Some folks have trouble fitting. We did not. 

The Famous Temple Bar, Dublin Ireland

The whole area goes by the name of the bar.

Beer and music in many venues.

 

Fascinating Water: Banff to Jasper, Alberta Canada

The drive from Banff  to Jasper is wonderful.

Of interest to me, everywhere on the drive you see water a vibrant 

shade of blue. It occurs due to the dust left from the grinding

of the receding glaciers.

 

Classes in Europe

We are involved in continual learning. Our travels are most often tours with classes.

We have made Gelato in Florence, Paella in Barcelona, this one is our our Granddaughter 

who chose as her outing in Paris to take a class in French Baking. 

 

The Juliet of Munich

Near the street markets, in front of a church, stands this statue.

The one of Juliet in Verona and the Pig in Florence each are magic

To rub them is to have good luck.

Almost every city in Europe has a sculpture to rub.

Notice the place worn down.

 

Baptismal Font in Munich Church

We visited a church in Munich (of course I stop at every church).

This is either a baptismal font or a holy water vessel. 

Either way, it is impressive.

 

Stairway near the Roman Theater in Verona Italy

Verona may be my most favorite city in Italy. While I love Venice and Florence, Verona is not filled with a host of tourists. I remind people that  Juliet is a fictional character so don't waste time looking at those sites.  The city is very walkable and it has nearly everything that you might find in Rome. It is not a big city, but a wonderful visit. Our BNB near Ponte Pietro (Peter's Bridge) was near the Roman Theater. While it is interesting, so are these steps to people's homes. Tough climb. 

 

Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, France

A marvelous chapel of light and color, Sainte-Chapelle is only a few blocks from Notre Dame.

The former is bright and the latter is dark and sullen.

You do not have to choose. Visit both.

 

Common picture taken at Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain

This is on tope of a steep hill.

We suggest a cab up and walking back down.

 

Sirmione, Lake Garda Italy - Baptismal figure in church at end of the ancient city

This sculpture is one baptismal fount of the church.

Lake Garda is the large lake Northwest of Verona

 

Baobab in the Chobe National Preserve, Zambia

 

Big enough for a bird's nest.

Rosh Hashanah = Prague's Jewish Cemetery

One of the most sobering places where we are called to remember Fascism is in Prague.

There is a cemetery in the Jewish section. A memorial holds the names of Jews killed in WWII.

Outside there are graves. Of interest to me, people put rocks on graves rather than flowers.

Flowers fade, socks do not.

This is a place to think about what immoral men of power can do.

May our world never let that memory fade.

 

Mount Saint Michel - France

I took this same photo but Google is better than mine.

Mt. Saint Michel is photographed so much that everyone knows it.

To get to the island you park and walk the long causeway.

As I did with the Mona Lisa (I showed the opposite wall.)

This is what it looks like going back to the mainland from Mount Saint Michel.

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Airplane rides

Going to Europe by airplane is about 9-10 hours out of San Francisco.

By boat it is longer and all you see is water.

I   really like the maps on the screens on the back of the seats.

I keep track of the flight. I am never bored.