Travel, life, loves and laughs.
It is hard to believe that less than a month ago I was in Lebanon, at the far eastern end of the Mediterranean, and today, I stand on the Rock of Gibraltar, gazing out at the azure sea at the westernmost point of this vast world, considering what it would be like to think the world stops here.… Read the rest
This stunning tower, the Torre de Belém, stands on the banks of the Targus river in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. It is a landmark dating from the 16th Century. It is a ceremonial gateway to the city and officially a fortification that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers.… Read the rest
The hop on, hop off tourist bus operators practically mob us as we emerge into Lisbon from the cruise terminal along Av. Infante Don Henrique. However, we have our day more or less mapped out and we grab a taxi and head straight for the Tower of Belém.… Read the rest
Today we are in Vigo, Spain, in the Provence of Galicia on the northwest coast. There has been a port here since the Middle Ages and there is a colorful if not rather violent history of attacks by Vikings, the English and the Turks, not to mention a period of French rule during the Napoleonic era.… Read the rest
By far the best way to see a city is to walk it. Particularly the compact old towns of Europe. Not everyone has the ability, stamina or perhaps enthusiasm for this endeavor, walking from dawn till dusk (and often into the night as well).… Read the rest
By far the best way to see a city is to walk it. Particularly the compact old towns of Europe. Today I am walking the Rathaus & Hochschulen. Not everyone has the ability, stamina or perhaps enthusiasm for this endeavor, walking from dawn till dusk (and often into the night as well). … Read the rest
By far the best way to see a city is to walk it. Particularly the compact old towns of Europe. Today I’m walking Lindenhof & the City. Not everyone has the ability, stamina or perhaps enthusiasm for this endeavor, walking from dawn till dusk (and often into the night as well). … Read the rest
By far the best way to see a city is to walk it. Particularly the compact old towns of Europe. Today I’m walking the Zürichsee. Not everyone has the ability, stamina or perhaps enthusiasm for this endeavor, walking from dawn till dusk (and often into the night as well). … Read the rest
I board the boat for Rapperswil with an expectation of a lake Zürich cruise and the vague promise of a Schloss (castle) at the end. It’s not like me. Usually I have my days planned to the ‘n’th degree but, apart from today being an unexpected bonus, I think I’m mellowing a little in my holiday expectations.… Read the rest
On the other side of the Limmat River from the Grossmünster cathedral, directly across Münsterbrücke (church bridge) is Kirche Fraumünster. This church was founded as a convent in 853 and like Grossmünster the church was stripped of all decoration at the time of the Reformation. … Read the rest