Venice: The World Loves It To Death

Venice is unique and wonderful.

For that reason people come from all over to walk its streets and take a vaporetto.

At the same time, the huge ships are undermining the piers.

The tourists make it difficult for the natives to get around.

Venice is a victim of its own beauty.

 

Detail: Rock of Gibraltar

If you are like me, you envisioned the Rock of Gibraltar is one huge solid block of limestone. The Rock not only has many natural caves, it is filled with human made tunnels and gun placements. The picture is a long lens photo of a set of gun ports way up on the rock.

 

Glass Art

        My art outlet has been working with glass. While I have used other media I liked the surprising quality to glass. Because of this we made sure to go to the island of Murano out of Venice. There were many factories, but what struck me is the Museum of Glass which had works by people that surprised me. Picasso, for example, as several works on display. The photo here is of a room in the Louvre which contains modern glass, not just ancient works like the British Museum.

        Almost every museum has a area which celebrates glass. In Europe, from Germany to Italy to France we have had to see the glass artistry there. It makes you want to get better.

 

The view from the American Cafe in the basement of the Municipal Building, Prague

 

        Have a beer? Indeed I do. I drink the beer of the nation I am visiting. Most times one glass. My traveling companion prefers wine. I rate the beer in Prague excellent. Munich's beer has a German swagger. Scotland known for Scotch has a beer called Tenants which is great. France and Italy are not  places for beer really. Belgium and the Netherlands have light beers that I like. As for Ireland's Guinness it has to be drawn  or it is not as good and for me I'll have a Carlsberg. Just remember that your favorites in the United States are imports and you will pay for that. Finally, while in an Asian restaurant in America I will drink that nationality. Otherwise, I stick with Sprite.

Vienna: getting ready for music

You do not have to go to a concert in Vienna but it would be a shame if you don't.

 

Brussels by car and driver

A giant model of an iron crystal cell

The Atomium

Brussels World's Fair Expo 58.

        My 12 year-old grandson had chosen to go to Southern Africa (four nations) on Safari. It is a 25 hour flight from San Francisco. As we fly Air France often, we booked a flight to Paris to then catch a flight to Johannesburg. That is two 12+ hour legs.

        I asked my grandson if he could visit another country on the way down (to break up the flight) which one would it be. As his heritage is Flemish, he chose Belgium. From CDG airport we took a train to Brussels for a four day stay. (Went to Amsterdam on the way home.)

           Before we left I contacted a company that provides a car and driver for ten hours to go anywhere in the city you want to go. Grandson made a list. We went from Mini-Europe and the Atomium to the European Union headquarters to lunch at the driver's favorite Belgian Belgian waffle house, and more. We learned a good deal and after our drive we had dinner  at the same waffle house!

        George was our driver and in the end, our friend.

 

Prejudice is not new

        As we see unfolding in the United States, there has been often a willingness to choose a group for all of a nation's problems. History is filled with groups challenging other groups not only for power, but for existence. The Hebrews in scripture tell of the Escape Goat or Scape Goat. A community put all of their problems on a goat and sent the out of the community to be killed.

        In America, in each generation, there has been someone to blame. The Jews, the Irish, the Polish, the Latino, the Native Americans -- all have had their time in the box of hate.

        If one goes to Europe, one sees the evidence of this one time hate for the Jews. The cemeteries and memorials  will not let you forget it.  This photo is of the Jewish Cemetery in Prague.

This is a memorial wall for those who died by the hands of Hitler. 

 

 

Sailing on the Firth of Forth near Edinburgh Scotland

We were on a motorized boat on the way to the island on which a monastery stands.

While dodging the sealions and catching great views we saw several sailboats in the firth.

 When I think of this I am reminded that if we were in a big hurry we would not have been there.

I do not believe you see more by rushing.

You see more by going slow enough to see what is there.

 

The Home of Harry Potter

J. K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter and a citizen of Edinburgh Scotland

frequented Deacon Brodie's Tavern. The pub is located near St. Giles on the Royal Mile.

(A Deacon is an officer in the Church of Scotland.) The place is named for William Brodie

who was the real life inspiration for Stevenson's "Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde"

Brodie, a thief, went to the hangman fancy dressed with a powered wig.

It is said that Rowling wrote much of her books from a table in the tavern.

 

Haunted Castles in Scotland

            Not every castle is haunted, but there are many that claim to be. I cannot say one way or the other although I know a number of people who swear that they exist. There is one in the north of Scotland called Tulloch Castle. It is near Inverness in the Highlands and they even advertise they are haunted. We stayed there. I found it confusing with all of its stairways. The rooms were lovely, but the somber tone might put some folks off. Good breakfast while one of our party sat in the place that Prince Williams has sat. I am not sure who sat where I did.

             The Winchester House in Santa Clara California as made good money advertising it is haunted.

There is no argument that it is odd.

            If you are in the Highlands stop by Tulloch. The Castle has an excellent bar and you may encounter ghosts.

 

The Oregon Coast

 

            We have seen the ocean(s) from many vantage points. The coasts are very different Altlantic, Pacific, Gulf, Channels... One of the most beautiful and unspoiled is the rocky coast of Oregon, USA.

 

Two of the Three Sisters

While we currently live in California we once lived in Central Oregon.

From our back deck we could see ten mountain peaks over 10,000 feet.

Three of them were The Three Sisters. Above are two of them. Not pictured is the third ...

and Mount Bachelor.

 

Mount Hood, Oregon from 30,000 feet

Part of the chain of volcanos along the Pacific Coast of California, Orgon and Washington

Mount Hood can be viewed for hundreds of miles.

Mount Hood and Mount Saint Helens are seen from Portland.

This photo was taken yesterday on an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland to Sacramento.

I cropped the photo, but the original had a smoke layer above the mount from local fires.

 

Vienna, Austria

A rainy  day in Vienna walking around to see the still beautiful city.

There are signs of war and of Roman occcupation.

There arae sonds of famous composers.

And, when the sun came out I had a "wonderful" taxi ride across the city.

 

View from the Lamberti Tower in Verona Italy

The Lanberti Tower was begun in 1172. It was repaired in 1448.

The open area below the top affords a wonderful view of the city of Verona,

 

Monet's pond at Givery

The gardens around Monet's home. You can see where it got some inspiration,.

The Crematorium at Dachau Germany

The  way the Third Reich "deported" the Jews.

 

St. Giles, Edinburgh Scotland

The parish served by The Reverend John Knox during the Reformation.

He preached and helped others do some pretty mean things.

He is buried in the parking lot of the church.

 

The Cathedral of Norte-Dame Paris France

Just a couple of months after our second visit to Norte-Dame in Paris fire raged through the building.

We have been there for two masses and  two tourist walk arounds.

While, at that point, the cathedral was historic, it was also dreary. The walls were discolored from years of candles burning and from insense. 

While the fire was awful, it began a restoration to bring the cathedral into a new condition.

The photo above is one celebrating "Our Lady" Mary, Norte-Dame. 

 

What to read before going on your trip.

        Google will lead you to various guidebooks on just about anywhere. Getting a good one like Lonely Planet will pay off for you.  But the books I am thinking about are novels. Not kidding.

        If you were going to the dry lands of Central California, "Grapes of Wrath" could be helpful.  I suggest,  for rexample,  reading "The City of Falling Angels" before going to Venice. If you are head to the middle of Spain  (see above) you might read "Don Quixote". [It will give you the feel but it is too many  pages.] 

           My favorite before going to Europe is Rick Steve's "Europe Through The Backdoor". I re-read it nearly every trip.

 

Mausoleum In the midst of the city

There are more than one of these in Verona.

Not limited to a cemetary these mark graves of the some ocals.

Of interest to me is that the fence has a massive padlock.

Not sure if it is to keep people out or people in.

 

Favorite Places - So far

 Trips and Visits:

North America: United States  > Canada, Mexico,  The British Isles:  England,  Republic of Ireland,   Scotland,  Northern and central Europe: France,   Belgium,  The Netherlands,  Germany,   Austria,  Hungary. More Southern Europe: Italy, Switzerland, Small countries: Slovakia, The Vatican, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar. The Iberian Peninsula: Spain, Portugal, Africa: South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

                    People often ask me which is my favorite travel destination. At the top is a list of the countries we have visited. I included the United States as some parts were foreign to us. 

                    I think "favorite" is a tough yardstick as each of these places are filled with surprises and memories. Some of these memories are of scenery and others are of people we have met. Some of the most enjoyable are some memorable meals and others of a whole country with their attitude.

                    The photo is of a small part of the Dolomites in the Sud Tyrol of the Italian Alps. They have been and will again be this year the home to the Winter Olympics. It is up there in my favorites. But, so is a small African village in Zambia and a young man named "Peter".

                    All of the places are, in some way, my favorites. Maybe the question is: "where would you like to go back?" Prague, The Dolomites, Botswana, Verona, Loch Ness, Honfleur, Seville, Kenmare are all on my list and it is just partial. I am ready to go just about anywhere.

/Slovakia,    Lichtenstein,  The Vatican,  Gibraltar/ Spain, Portugal,  Czech Republic, Italy,  Switzerland/ Botswana,  Zimbabwe,    Zambia,    South Africa

Martin Luther King in Montgomery Alabama

                We had flown into New Orleans on our way to Atlanta for the Olympics. Besides not liking the Atlanta airport we wanted to spend time in New Orleans and save money as the flights to airports close to the Olympics were very high.

                    After a stay in New Orleans we started the drive to Atlanta. We were taking our time enjoying the southern green and feel. We got to Montgomery Alabama and the co-pilot said that she would like to see the capitol building, one of the sites of the civil rights history. It was closed. Alas, it was Sunday.

                    In a guidebook another place was suggested. It was the Dexter Avenue (King Memorial) Baptist Church. Not far we drove by and saw that they gave tours. On the tour we heard of Rosa Parks, George Wallace, and MLK. 

                    I hung back in the sanctuary and after the group had gone (with the permission of our guide) I went up and stood in the pulpit. There was high up a balcony were 100 years ago the black people had to sit. On the main floor was where everyone now sits after the Civil Rights Movement. I considered what it would be like to preach there, to see Rosa Parks and others in the congregation.

                    I cannot describe how I felt, but it was emotional for me. I have mounted many famous pulpits in around Europe, but nothing compares to the worn lectern in the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

 

Rhinoceros' one major enemy

                While in Botswana we happened upon several rhinos munching grass. They look dangerous and they are. One of them can turn over a safari vehicle with ten people aboard easily. Having said that, they are endangered because of their major enemy: man. People kill them for their horn and leave the rest behind. But, something is being done. The rhino photographed and the others in the group have body guards. Up the hill from them hidden in the trees were two men with long guns. They were not there to kill a rhino, but there to kill anyone attempting to bother a rhino. As I watched the group I had a certain sorrow that my species was causing them to even need protection.

 

Castle on the shore in Ireland

Surprises: The joy of driving. 

                On the way up the coast  of the Republic of Ireland in a tour bus from the Ring of Kerry to the Cliffs of Moher you will go speeding up the highway. You will see the lush green of the land and periodically get a vision of the rocky Atlantic Coast. By car you may stop in Kenmare one of the loveliest towns in the Republic. Next you may take the Dingle Peninsula. You will suddenly find interesting surprises like this castle on a rock over looking the ocean. Our encounter with the Emerald Isle was a two week circuit. Following the two weeks we flew to London for a week. Still not enough time. One of the best things about Ireland is stopping by a pub for lunch or stopping to watch sheep get their "haircut".

Colosseum in Verona Italy, Still hosting performances

A quick photo from the Colosseum in Verona. They were getting ready for a concert.

No lions, no gladiators, just music.

 

Gargoyle: Liechtenstein

Here's looking at you... Liechtenstein church.

 

Fort atop the hill in Barcelona

We highly recommend taking the tram to the fort. There are great views of the city and the harbor.