The pulpit: collected experiences

                I can imagine that men who own tie factories visit tie shops on vacation. Chefs probably look for the best place to eat. I am a member of the clergy.

                For some 40 years I stood in pulpits and preached. A good sermon is a work of art. Most great churches are also works of art. Over the years when I am visiting somewhere and find myself in a church I feel drawn to step behind the pulpit. The photo above is one in St. Stephan's in Verona, Italy. I have "mounted" the pulpit in Saint Giles in Edinburgh. I have led worship in a small church on the Navajo Reservation in Leupp Arizona. I have preached in the ghetto in Los Angeles. I have tested them all over Ireland. Lots more.

              The most awe inspiring was at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church in Montgomery Alabama. It is where Martin Luther King was pastor. In my mind I saw the congregation as I stood.

                I share this because I hope that people do not travel to shop or just see some buildings. I hope you will collect experiences.

                  

 

The Dolomites

Regular readers will note that I have a love affair with the Dolomites in Northern Italy.

Two travel publications have listed them as one of ten top places to visit this year.

Better do it in Summer as they host the Winter Olympics come Fall.

These mountains are different from any I have ever experienced.

 

Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain

This is just a slice of the wedding cake that is Park Guell.

Most people visiting Barcelona will see the homes by Gaudi, but on top of the hill is Park Guell.

Great views of the city.

You may wish to take a shuttle or cab up as it is a climb.

Make reservations/tickets before you go.

 

View from the airport at Sedona Arizona. U.S.A.

Hardly anyone leaves Sedona without remembering the topography.

Beautiful.

 

The coast of Oregon, U.S.A>

        While we enjoy going to other countries, we have been blessed by living on the West coasts of California and Oregon. The California coast is about 1.5 hours from our primary home.  The Oregon coast is about 1.5 hours from where we stay in Oregon. The coastlines are much the same.  However,  The Oregon coast is much more wild with its rocks. If you are lucky, you can stay at either beach and enjoy the sounds of the deep. (Photo: Near the lighthouse at Tillamook, Oregon.)

 

Sailing in a long river boat: The Danube

            You have likely seen a river longboat in commercials on television. Viking often advertises on PBS and game shows. The feeling of a trip down a river is very appealing. Viking has very long boats. They may need to have two or more seating times for meals. Likely they have charges for alcohol and then ask you to give tips to workers. People really like them.

            The ship above is called "The Belvedere" and it is not nearly as long a Viking. The area of large glass in the front is a lounge. The section from the dock back aways is the dining area. Along the sides are staterooms with  balconies. It is not very glamorous although very well appointed. On a ten or twelve day cruise you will get to know the crew and they you.  With Road scholar tours the alcohol is free and they take care of the tip. They are not cheaper, just smaller.

            We took the Belvedere down and then up the Danube. It was not a long party, but instead was a real experience of five countries and their capitols.    (Bridge in back is one in Slovakia. )      

 

Bavarian Crown Jewels

I have told you the best way to England's Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.

Now, we turn to the Crown Jewels of Bavaria.

Maximillian 1was the ruler of the kingdom and these jewels were created.

You can see them in The Treasury of the Residenz place in Munich.

There are guards but nice ones (who will also direct you to the employee restroom).

Well worth a visit and there is lots more there.

 

Young people and traveling

 

 

            When I was young my parents took my sister and I on many trips within the United States. After all these years I have vivid memories of them..

            This is why we have taken each of our grandchildren wherever they wanted to go. Seems like they wanted Africa, Scotland, Italy, France (3), Belgium, and The Netherlands. some were combined trips as we have four grandchildren. When we went they were between the ages of 12 and 14.

            It was wonderful to see new places through their eyes. It was a special bonding experience. We got to know them better.

            An example: One of our granddaughters loves to paint and when in Paris she went up Montmartre with some supplies and seated among the artists there did her own work. It has found a place on her family's dining room wall. We hope it reminds her of the gift we were trying to give her.

            We want our grandkids to have a love of adventure and travel.

Where's David?

            Outside the municipal building in Florence you will see a statue of David by Michelangelo -no not really. It is a copy. Well then, take the bus or a cab to the park site above the city and there it is-no not really. It is a copy. Well then where's David? While once outside it was moved to the Galleria dell Accademia. And, it was designed to be atop a church. Made from a block of marble rejected by other artists it is one of the most favorite in the world. It is not that I don't like it, but I like Donatello's David better.  

 

Vienna: Music and More

Vienna is famed for its music and there are many concerts to experience.

We attended an evening of music where we served champagne at intermission.

How wonderfully urbane.

But, Vienna is also a city filled with public art.

This photo was taken in a common park.

 

Dachau concentration camp

 

        Not far from Munich Germany is what remains of Dachau. Many of the buildings which held prisoners are gone. The German government has saved this the building above which was used to house people before they were killed. Other buildings include a Jewish Memorial and a building housing the crematorium. A modern building has books on history and visitors center.

            I had no reason to go inside so I sat in the courtyard. An older woman was sitting near me. We being the only ones there and stuck up a conversation. My German is rusty, but her English was good. She knew I was an American.

            She told me that she was near 100 ears old, a German, and never had been to Dachau. She never wanted to see a place that revealed the terrible side of people.  I said that it is aa good reminder of what people can do to people. She said she was glad she came. 

            We had a lovely conversation.

Traveling in Europe and Great Britain by Train

After Breakfast you hop on  train in Rome and at 200 KPH you are in Florence for lunch. The train from Barcelona to Madrid is a breeze. Get on one at London  Kings Cross (see Harry Potter) dine on the train and in come to Edinburgh. Paris to Brussels or Amsterdam does not take long.

I love to drive myself. I have driven on the left side of the road in three countries.  I have driven in twelve countries (not counting home). Let me say that speeding through the Alps is fun, but you don't see much. It is eyes on the road. Both the train and the car give you different sights. But, driving  is not as good as riding the train for the driver. I have to listen for my passenger to tell me what they saw.

The benefit of driving is it is slower and allows you to stop when you like. You will need an International Driver's License which is easy to get at any AAA office,

The photo above was taken on a train though Northern Italy. It is a sunflower field. You could see it both ways, train or car, whichever you prefer. 

 

Alcazar Seville Spain

 

This photo of the Alcazar in the palace at Seville could be mistaken for one in the Alhambra.

The Alhambra, high on a hill in Granada, is the most famous and recognizable. 

In the center of Seville stands another palace with much the same architecture. 

While the Alhambra requires advance reservations or a paid guided tour,

Seville's has just a short wait. You can get a guided tour, as well. 

The Moorish influence is nearly everywhere in Spain. 

 

Red tile roof in Budapest

 

Budapest is a beautiful city which sits on both sides of the Danube.

An architectural note is the presence of red roof tiles on many buildings.

Here is an example. 

Giant Pandas

The Edinburgh Zoo had two Giant Pandas when we were there.

They have returned to China, but it was fun watching an animal rarely seen.

 

Cortina and the Olympics - One year away

Cortina in the Dolomites has played host to the Winter Olympics before.

On a visit to that city you can see the venues. We visited a few years back.

Along with Milan, Cortina welcomes you in 2026.

Nice city, wonderful geography.

 

Verona, Italy

This is not Rome.

Verona has just about everything Rome has, but on a smaller scale.

The photo above is off their colosseum which is still in use today.

You can go there for concerts and opera and, I suppose, rock bands.

It is pleasant just to go in and sit and ponder what has gone before.

 

Refugees Welcome

On a Madrid Government building there is a sign.

Note that it is in English.

 

European Food and Drink

        Traveling means encountering new things. Some food and drink can we found at home in special restaurants, but are common in other counties. Many foods are surprisingly good. You may wonder why you haven't had them before.

 The full English/Scot breakfast which is also available in Ireland has canned beans. I leave those behind, but I love black pudding and white pudding too. In Scotland, if lucky, they will serve haggis. Just don't think about where it comes from. You likely eat hotdogs at home without thinking.

    The dish above is a pork knuckle ordered in Munich Germany. It tastes great but is very hard to eat as you need to cut much of it off the bone. However, you will have the opportunity for schnitzel all over. It is just made of chicken or veal. 

    Pasta is wonderful in Italy. Just be sure of the sauce. I had Donkey meat Rago and would not have it again.

    I suppose you will need to eat snails in France. It is easier when labeled "escargot". I do not care one way or the other. Garlic coverers everything.

    Embrace the adventure and stay away from MacDonalds which is all over Europe.

    
 

Noisiest Animal In Africa

                Just one man's opinion, but the noisiest animal in Africa is the hippo. Sure when you are out in a tent at night in Zambia the thought of lions, cheetahs and wild dogs might keep you awake . On the other hand the grunt-howl-scream of a hippo in the distance makes it hard for me to sleep. They are surprisingly fast and can be very unpleasant. Here is a family grouping of them on an island in  the Choe River.
 

Rodin Museum, Paris

        Rodin's home and gardens have been turned into a wonderful museum. You may have seen some of his works in the Palace of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco or in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Those are not the only places, but if you wished to see most of this bronzes the museum in Paris is the place. We all know "The Thinker" or "The Kiss", but there are lot more.

          The house and gardens are a short walk from Napoleon's Tomb and other sites.

 

Marble Canyon, Alberta, Canada

Just north of Banff on the way to Jasper you will find Marble Canyon. A great hike.

 

The Harbor at Barcelona

Many cruise and merchant ships in port. 

This photo taken from the hilltop fort near the Olympic stadium.

 

Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco, California USA

            In Golden Gate Park in San Francisco your will find  a nature break in the urban area. The park has at least three special places for the plant lover. There is the Tulip Garden, The Botanical Garden, and the Conservatory of Flowers. As we live near "The City" we have frequented them over the years. We recommend them as part of a visit along with the nearby museums.

 

Computers and airlines

I don't guess that I am getting old. I am old.

At one time I could call the airline and make a reservation.

No more. You communicate with a computer. The computer doesn't know me well.

I keep track of passwords but they may or may not like them.

I change it and they don't like the change.

I just what to talk to a live person.

Today the wait time to do that is one hour and forty minutes.

This is a photo of Air France. Never had trouble with them. Just an airline photo.

 

Small village in Botswana

Part of your trip was to bring school supplies and books to them.

While the people speak their nature tongue, 

many speak English as much of the area was part of the Commonwealth.

 

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is an easy city to walk in the old area.

However, the number one thing one notices is the bikes everywhere.

They say that there are more bikes than people in the city.

Lots of places that cannot be reached by car give the bike a leg up.

The canals are pretty. The people are nice. The food is excellent.

 

After going down the Seine we traveled around Normandy

One of the ways to travel the D-Day beaches is by vintage army personnel carrier.

Kids loved it. I found it uncomfortable. The soldiers must have not been all that comfortable either.