My Travel Blog
I do quite a lot of travelling these days and this page details some of the places that I have visited – when I have remembered to take my camera along that is. However, if you came here looking for a blog about fungi check out Fungal Snippets from MykoGolfer.
We are staying in Fira the capital of Santorini for a week. This provided plenty of time to explore the island and indulge in its culinary delights and fine wines. The main agricultural export of the island is wine since the volcanic ash soil provides an ideal environment. The vines do not need to be watered dew provides all the moisture that they require.
The blue domed 'Three Bells of Fira' is one of the
most photographed Churches of Santorini
Donkeys are used to carry cruise ship passengers
from the Old Port up the steep path into Fira
They leave a trail that is easy to follow!
The steps are also marked with directions
There are lots of souvenir shops in Fira
I must buy one of these T-shirts
Cats in Fira seem to be well looked after
Grapevines are hand woven into baskets with the grapes
facing inwards to provide protection from wind and sun
View from the centre of Fira
We visited the Museum of Prehistoric Thera in Fira that has preserved artefacts including wall paintings and pottery from the archaeological site of Akrotiri. Finds have indicated that Akrotiri may have been the lost city of Atlantis. We followed this up with a visit to Akrotiri that only takes about 20 minutes from Fira.
The Museum of Prehistoric Thera has many artefacts from Akrotiri
Paintings on the walls from Akrotiri have been
carefully removed and restored
Our tour of the island also included the coastal town of Oia, the Red Beach and the Black Sandy Beach. Because the island is small it is possible to visit all these locations in a day.
Oia is famous for its blue-domed churches
This donkey in Oia is made from volcanic rock
The Red Beach is famous for its vivid red volcanic cliff
In contrast, the Black Sandy Beach is perfect for swimming
Finally, I need to cover the fantastic restaurants that we visited. Our 5-Star Hotel was superb with an incredible breakfast but to have dinner there the house wine was €90 for a bottle. Fortunately, a short walk from our hotel there were two restaurants that provided great food and in both of them a litre of the house wine was only €16.00.
We found a great Greek restaurant called Kokkalo
I had a Tzatziki dip for the starter
The roasted slow cooked lamb shank was delicious
A large Crème Brûlée for dessert
We were provided with a free glass of Raki as an
apéritif and also a liquor after the meal
Eleanor served us and made us feel very welcome
Salt & Pepper is another welcoming Greek restaurant
that has a good selection of fish dishes
My starter was Haloumi grilled with tomato marmelade
Followed by Sea Bass grilled with olive oil and lemon
We were served by Irene who together with
her husband (the Chef) run the restaurant
It is our last day here and we fancy some wine tasting
Looks good a great assortment of wines from Santorini
We will sleep well on the flight back home tonight!
November 2022 - Parma and Ferrara, ITALY
A short trip fleetingly passing through the Veneto region and Bologna before having the chance to relax for half a day in Parma and finally ending up in Ferrara.
I take the Frecciarossa high-speed train from Venice to Parma
By booking Super Economy Executive in advance I get
a very confortable seat (246 km takes 2.5h cost £86)
I have to change in Bologna and reach platform 1, but
there is a Centrale and Ovest platform 1 - most confusing!
My hotel is opposite the octagonal Baptistery built
between 1196 and 1307 using pink marble from Verona
View of the Baptistery from my bedroom window
The hotel building was originally a palace in the 13th-century
Piazza Garibaldi is at the junction of the main shopping streets
Porta Santa Croce an old city gate
A dried up river bed in the centre of the city
I continue my journey by train to the city of Ferrara. Unlike Parma, Ferrara has retained large sections of its medieval city walls.
The partly restored Porta Paola a good
starting point for visiting the walls
Porta Paola was once a main entrance to the fortified city
Just across the road a path for pedestrians and
cyclists takes you round the outside of the walls
One of the walls defensive bastions - originally
there was an external moat now filled in
The braided stringcourse is clearly visible on this part of the wall
The original walls had high quadrangular towers but
these were demolished in the late sixteenth century
Remains of Porta di San Giorgio (later Porta Romana)
originally the main southern entrance to the city
The cathedral is undergoing restoration work a lion stands guard
I make my way to Este Castle
There are several entrances to the castle
Inside the castle courtyard
Stone relief depicting the Este family heraldic system
After the 2012 earthquake washi paper was used to seal
cracks in frescoes on the ceilings of the main rooms
I do a tour of the dungeons
I am on my knees trying to get through this passage
I need some air and take 122 steps to the top of the Lion's Tower
View from the outside balcony of the Lion's Tower
In the evening I had marinated salmon and
fried porcini (funghi porcini fritti)- fabuloso
September 2022 - Whitby, North Yorkshire, England, UK
With all the problems at airports we decided to take our holiday in the UK this year. Our grandparents always used to go to a seaside resort for their annual holiday such as Scarborough. We decided to go to the less commercialised resort of Whitby. We stayed at the White House Inn on the outskirts of Whitby. There is a scenic footpath overlooking the beach for walking into the centre of Whitby which takes about 20 minutes. The restaurant at our hotel had a reasonable selection of food and drinks.
On the way to Whitby we stopped at the Fox & Rabbit Inn
Just down the road 'The Hole of Horcum' is a huge natural
amphitheatre located in the North York Moors National Park
The view from Levisham Moor
We arrive at our hotel on the outskirts of Whitby
Good view from the balcony of our hotel room
I had kippers for breakfast
The chicken parmo together with halloumi fries for
the evening meal was really good
Just down the road there are walks to Sandsend and Whitby
You walk on the beach to get to Sandsend
Find out what time is high tide if you plan to walk back!
Sandsend is a small fishing village with a nice beach
The other direction takes you into the centre of Whitby
There is a footpath along the top and the bottom of the cliff
Getting close to the centre of Whitby now
We reach the statue of Captain Cook
The Magpie Cafe has not opened yet, we will return for lunch
Inside the Magpie Cafe
The starter was superb
Traditional fish & chips for Rita
I had cod with a salad bowl
You know you are in Whitby when you meet up with Dracula
The Captain Cook Museum is well worth a visit
Different types of sailing vessels of the 18th century
The late 17th century brick floor of the old kitchen
in the house where Cook was apprenticed
Captain James Cook painted by John Webber
at the Cape of Good Hope in 1777
Model of The Endeavour built in Whitby in which James Cook
sailed on his first great voyage of discovery
Captain Cook's cat - unfortunately now stuffed!
We take a taxi up to Whitby Abbey and will walk down the famous 199 steps to visit the Old Town area.
The imposing gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey
Walking down the 199 steps leading to the Old Town
The Old Town Hall built in 1788
The Black Horse Inn dates back to the 16th Century
It is said to be one of the oldest public serving bars in Europe
We visited Robin Hood's Bay an old fishing village only 6 miles from Whitby. Parking is all at the top of a steep hill which leads down to the village and beach.
There is a path with handrail to help with the descent
Shops are further down
The Bay is famous for its Jurassic Age fossils
The Bay Museum only opens at the weekends in September
The Bay Hotel at the end of the walk
It is also the end of Alfred Wainwright's Coast to Coast Walk
October 2019 - Port Erin, ISLE OF MAN - FUNGUS WEEKEND
I took the ferry from Heysham to Douglas and then drove to Port Erin for a weekend of identifying fungi with fellow members of the North West Fungus Group (NWFG) and members of the Isle of Man Fungus Group. The weather was fairly wet which is good for fungi. Sites visited included Ballaugh Curragh a wetland nature reserve, the Ayres National Nature Reserve a stretch of low-lying sand dune coastline with lichen heath and Milntown House that has mature woodland as well as formal gardens. There are now said to be several hundred wild wallabies living on the island descendants of animals that escaped from a local wildlife park and we came across a couple at Ballaugh Curragh. Evenings were spent doing microscopy prior to dinner.
Port Erin was originally a seaside resort
before the decline of the tourist trade
A wallaby hides in the undergrowth at Ballaugh Curragh
Hypholoma fasciculare the Sulphur Tuft growing on a tree stump
Parasol mushrooms at Ayres National Nature Reserve
Waxcaps growing with Marram Grass in the sand dunes
Members of NWFG and the Isle of Man Fungus Group
Mutinus caninus, the Dog Stinkhorn, at Milntown House
Macrocystidia cucumis, growing on wood debris,
smells of cucumbers and has very large cystidia
Volvopluteus gloiocephalus the Stubble Rosegill I found
growing with Marram Grass in the sand dunes
a new record for the Isle of Man
I have a Waxcap but need to confirm its identity
I get a nice white overnight spore print on a microscope slide
Microscopic features are examined to confirm the species
Spore measurements confirm that it is
Hygrocybe conicoides, the Dune Waxcap
View from my cabin window on the ferry back to Heysham - the
large offshore windfarm can just be seen in the distance
September 2019 - DANUBE CRUISE - Bucharest to Budapest
We fancied a river cruise for a change this year and selected the Viking Danube cruise starting at Bucharest and ending in Budapest eight days later. Our Viking Longship named Idun is quite different from the ocean-going cruise ships that we have used previously. There is not enough room for a water pool, fitness centre, hair salon, theatre or shops. Instead a large restaurant is provided to take all 190 passengers in one sitting and the lounge can also accommodate all the passengers. The lounge is used for daily briefings and any entertainment provided on board. Although we started out in Bucharest this city is not on the Danube so we were taken by bus to the Romanian port of Giurgiu on the Danube River.
Route of the Danube river cruise run by Viking
Bucharest - the Palace of the Parliament a colossal
building about 70% of which still remains empty
Bucharest - a street busker provides entertainment
Bucharest - the National Bank has a facade with Corinthian columns
Bucharest - Stavropoleos Church built in 1724
Bucharest - Kretzulescu Church dating back to the 1720s
The National Village Museum (Dimitrie Gusti) exhibits authentic peasant buildings from all over Romania
Half-buried house built around 1800
House rebuilt in the museum in 1936
Following our departure from Romania we next have two stops in Bulgaria visiting Arbanasi and Belogradchik
Bulgaria - the Nativity Church in Arbanasi (15th - 17th century)
has a simple exterior with amazing frescoes inside
Bulgaria - these frescoes were discovered under a layer of
black soot from burning candles over the centuries
Bulgaria - lunch was held in a Bulgarian
tavern complete with music and dance
Bulgaria - I enjoyed a hearty goulash stew
Bulgaria - the Belogradchik Fortress and rock formations
are located on the north slopes of the Balkan Mountains
Bulgaria - a cat joins us on the way down from the fortress
Evening entertainment in the ship's lounge
I am on the sun deck where the ship's bridge is located
A hydraulic mechanism allows the ship's bridge to be lowered to
deck level for passing under low bridges when the river is swollen
We approach the Danube dam and lock which has two chambers
The dam company produces sufficient profit from
selling electricity that access to the lock is free
Slowly moving into the first chamber
The water level needs to rise by about 10 metres
A second ship joins us in the lock
Almost there - you can now see the water
on the other side of the second chamber
We head towards the Kazan Gorge where
an enormous head is carved into the rock
The rock sculpture of Decebalus the last
king of Dacia took 10 years to complete
We continue on our way up the Danube
Our next stop is the city of Belgrade in Serbia located at the confluence of the Danube and the Sava rivers
Belgrade - Church of Saint Sava
Belgrade - Inside the Church
Belgrade - Nikola Tesla invented the first alternating current motor
Belgrade - Cathedral Church of St. Michael built 1837-1840
Belgrade - ? said to be the oldest traditional tavern in Belgrade
Belgrade - one of the gates of the old Belgrade Fortress
Belgrade - view of the confluence of the Danube and the Sava rivers
Belgrade - interior of the National Theater Opera House
Our final destination is Hungary and we will disembark from the ship when we get to Budapest
Hungary - we were treated to a display of horsemanship
at the Bakodpuszta Equesdtrian Centre
Budapest - we dock alongside a sister ship by the Chain Bridge
Budapest - Fisherman's Bastion built 1895–1902 as a viewing terrace
with lookout towers to celebrate 1000 years of the Hungarian state
Budapest - statue of St. Stephen the first Hungarian king
Budapest - Matthias Church originally constructed
in the 14th century has been extensively restored
Budapest - a T34/85 medium tank outside the military museum
Budapest - a trolleybus stops near the Great Market Hall
Budapest - paprika for sale in the market
Budapest - chicken paprika is a popular Hungarian dish
June 2019 - Vilnius, LITHUANIA
I have a short stay in Vilnius. The city is well known for the range of architectural styles of buildings in its medieval Old Town. When Vilnius was capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania it had a defensive wall and castle complex. Most of the wall and all the gates, except the Gate of Dawn have since been demolished. Only the western tower, known as Gediminas Tower of the the Upper Castle remains standing together with a few remnants of the Upper Castle's Keep.
View of Cathedral Square from my hotel window
Monument to Gediminas the Grand Duke of Lithuania
Gediminas' Tower is located on top of a hill
where the Upper Castle once stood
My curiosity aroused I climb the steep hill up to the tower
The observation platform at the top of the tower
provides a panoramic view of Vilnius
Different architectural styles in Pilies Street
The Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas
The Baroque Church of Saint Casimir
The Gothic Church of Saint Anne
Reconstructed 17th century artillery bastion
that formed part of the defensive city wall
I try a traditional Lithuanian cold beetroot soup
Followed by grated potato dumplings
stuffed with ground pork (cepelinai)
The Gate of Dawn is the only remaining city gate in Vilnius
June 2019 - Ponta Delgada, AZORES
We are on holiday staying at Azoris Royal Garden Hotel in Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island the biggest island in the Azores. The city is quite small but has a number of interesting historical buildings. New Zealand Christmas trees (Metrosideros excelsa) in full blossom line the promenade. Their brilliant display of red flowers are made up of stamens. Just outside the city there is a pineapple plantation open to the public free of charge. Pineapples have to be grown under glass in the Azores. A tea plantation is also open to the public on the island. Other attractions include hot springs, spectacular waterfalls, crater lakes and of course the food and local wines.
Portas da Cidade (City Gates) built in the 18th century
The Forte de São Brás built as a defence against pirate
raids now houses a military history museum
Military vehicles inside the museum
Metrosideros excelsa the New Zealand Christmas tree
A tourist train does an historical tour of Ponta Delgada
Church of the Jesuit College in Ponta Delgada
Hermitage of Mãe de Deus situated on a hilltop in Ponta Delgada
View from the Hermitage of Mãe de Deus
Pineapple plantation just outside Ponta Delgada
Pineapple plant during the flowering stage
The pineapple plantation cat on guard duty
Pineapples for sale at the market in Ponta Delgada
We enjoyed a pineapple pie later in the day
Caldeira Grande a hot water spring
The spring water in this area has a high iron content
We had a traditional meat and vegetable stew
Washed down with a bottle of the local wine
The upside down house in Furnas village is an electric substation
Even the bus shelters have tiled interiors
The Azores have the only tea plantations in Europe
Inside the tea factory
The quality control team hard at work
Hydrangeas are used as hedging plants all over the island
An Azorean butterfly orchid
Sete Cidades - twin crater lakes having blue and green
waters due to a difference in depth
Spectacular waterfall at Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeiroes
The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Paz offers good
views over the town of Vila Franca do Campo
View from the Chapel (click on the picture for a larger image).
The white roofed buildings are greenhouses for growing pineapples
and the rectangular enclosed areas are where dwarf bananas are grown.
October 2018 - Shkodër, ALBANIA
We are staying in Dubrovnik but have a two day tour of Albania that includes an overnight stop in the city of Shkodër. On arriving in Albania we first visit the town of Krujë to see the remains of the castle that withstood three massive sieges before falling to the Ottoman Turks. We also visited the largest and best preserved Ottoman bridge in Albania built along an ancient trade route near the village of Mes, about 6 km from Shkodër. Many mosques and churches were shut down or demolished during the Communist era but in Shkodër we saw two mosques that looked almost new. The Great Mosque was renovated and refaced in 1995 and the Parrucë Mosque was rebuilt in 2006. Rozafa castle is situated on a rocky hill just outside Shkodër. The fortifications seen today are mostly of Venetian origin. A 13th century chapel inside the castle was turned into a mosque during the Ottoman occupation. On departing Albania just before the border with Montenegro we come across one of the defensive bunkers built by the communist government during the 1960s to 1980s who feared an attack from what was then Yugoslavia.
Sunset over the Adriatic Sea near Dubrovnik
Trees laden with pomegranates in the hedgerows
on the road from Croatia to Albania
We stop off at the town of Krujë to visit the castle
Part of the castle has been restored and now houses a museum
Fresco depicting the Illyrian-Roman wars
A section of the old walls of Krujë castle
View of the town of Krujë from the castle
Tavë dheu a national dish in Albania consisting of
baked meat with cheese and garlic
Ottoman bridge near the village of Mes built around 1770
The bridge is about 6 km from the city of Shkodër
The Great Mosque in the centre of Shkodër dates from the
18th century but was renovated and refaced in 1995
The Parrucë Mosque in Shkodër was completed in 2006
to replace a mosque demolished by the communist regime
There is a steep walk up to the entrance of Rozafa Castle
The castle grounds are quite extensive
Remains of a mosque built ~1479 which featured a large minaret
The castle walls viewed from the overhanging terrace of the café
Looking down on Bojana river from Rozafa Castle
View of Shkodër from Rozafa Castle
One-person bunker near the Albania-Montenegro border
Date inscribed on the concrete inside the bunker
View from the gun slit of the bunker
June 2018 - MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE - Valletta, MALTA
We had a day to visit Valletta and the surrounding districts before boarding the Oceana for the start of our cruise.
The Watchtower at Gardjola Garden, Senglea
Panoramic view of the Grand Harbour from the Watchtower
From our hotel I walk down the Great Siege Road into Valletta
View across the harbour to Fort Manoel on Manoel Island
Old residential buildings in Valletta
The Cat Village in St. Julian’s set up as a refuge for feral cats
Rita gives a donation approved by a local house cat
Sliema Point artillery battery built by the British in 1872-1876
Saint Julian's Tower and artillery battery now used as a restaurant
I had wanted to visit Rinella Battery (Batterija ta' Rinella) a Victorian battery in Kalkara. It is commonly referred to as Fort Rinella and contains one of two surviving Armstrong 100-ton guns. The other remaining gun is in Gibraltar. Originally two guns were delivered to Malta and two to Gibraltar in the 1880s as part of a program to improve the fortifications of these strategic locations due to the introduction of iron plated ships and in particular the use of the same guns on two Italian battleships. These muzzle-loading guns were enormous weapons for their time and had to be operated mechanically using steam-driven hydraulic power. My great-grandfather was an Artificer Sergeant Major and served in Malta between 1894 to 1898 and then in Gibraltar from 1902 to 1906. He would have almost certainly been responsible for overseeing the maintenance and repair of these guns amongst other duties. The guns were phased out in 1906 but supposedly made ready for use again during the First World War although by then they would have been totally outclassed by more modern artillery.
Fort Rinella is a coastal gun battery completed in 1886
to house and protect an Armstrong 100-ton gun
This room was used as a dining area for the garrison
The Armstrong 100-ton gun
The gun is mounted on a wrought-iron sliding carriage
Traversing and loading of the gun was carried out
mechanically using steam-driven hydraulic power
The fort has been restored and turned into a live museum
by volunteers from FONDAZZJONI WIRT ARTNA
– Malta Heritage Foundation
My great-grandfather (Artificer Sergeant Major) with his wife in Gibraltar
We depart from Malta in the cruise ship at night
The bedroom includes a walk in wardrobe
The separate lounge area was also spacious
Our large balcony overlooking the stern had enough room
for a table with four chairs, two sun loungers
and two deck chairs
June 2018 - MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE - Hvar, CROATIA
Our cruise ship put down anchor close to the town of Hvar and we were ferried to the seafront promenade by tender. As well as visiting the town we also had time to tour part of the island of Hvar. You can walk from the town up to Fortica the Spanish Fortress which has good views of the Port but for an even better viewpoint we drove up to the French Fortress (Napoljun). The French Fortress itself now houses Hvar Observatory and is not open to the public. In the countryside we visited Malo Grablje an agricultural village that was abandoned in the 1950s for economic reasons. Grapevine cultivation and winemaking suffered a serious setback in the 19th century when both an insect (grapevine phylloxera) and fungus disease devastated local vineyards. There was also a thriving lavender oil industry but this could not compete on price when large scale production was taken up by other European countries. We went on up narrow winding roads to visit Sveti Nikola the highest peak on Hvar at 628 metres (2,060 ft).
St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the town of Hvar
The Loggia and Clock Tower now part of the Palace Hvar Hotel
Winged lion of St. Mark symbol of the Republic of Venice
The Arsenal once served as a refitting station for sailing ships
St. Mary's Gate part of the late medieval city walls
Hvar town walls leading up to Fortica the Spanish Fortress
View of the Port of Hvar from the Spanish Fortress
Splendid view from the French Fortress (Napoljun)
of Hvar town and the Pakleni islands
Malo Grablje an ancient village abandoned in the 1950s
The village had a large concrete catchment area for rain water
Hand driven mill for making olive oil one of the millstones is dated
There were some nice butterflies but difficult
to photograph - this one is a Swallowtail
We continue our journey through the islands green countryside
Some of the roads are quite narrow
Sveti Nikola (Saint Nicholas) is the highest peak
on Hvar (628 m) it has a small chapel and stone cross
February 2018 - Tokyo and Kyoto, JAPAN
I travelled to Japan in an Emirates A380 not my first time on this airliner but I have not been in a first class suite before. In Tokyo I stayed at the Tokyo Station Hotel which is so big they give you a plan of the hotel on arrival to find your way around. As the hotel is part of Tokyo Station it was very convenient for catching the Shinkansen train to Kyoto. Too early in the year for cherry blossoms but plum blossoms were just starting to appear on the trees in Tokyo and Kyoto. By going early in the year I avoided the crowds of tourists and the weather was mainly good with blue skies and relatively clear views of snow-capped Mt. Fuji.
First class private suites on the Emirates A380
Dom Pérignon a good start and they have left the bottle
The Emirates A380 first class shower spa
You only get five minutes of water but
can turn the shower off and on again as required
I change into the pyjamas provided by Emirates after my shower
Hennessy Paradis an excellent choice for the digestif
I will sleep well tonight
Looking down on Tokyo Station Hotel from a restaurant in KITTE
Control unit for the toilet in my hotel room
Zojoji Temple and Tokyo Tower
The plum blossoms are just beginning to appear
View over Tokyo from Mori Tower with Mt. Fuji on the horizon
Mori Tower observation deck
Giant spider sculpture near Mori Tower
Another monster this time Godzilla
After all the walking I stop for a bowl of soba (thin noodles)
with conger eel tempura and a glass of sake
I continue down Takeshita Street
Takeshita Street is renowned for its shops
selling colourful and crazy clothing
Barrels of sake wrapped in straw at Meiji Jingu Shrine
Ema (prayer tablets) at Meiji Jingu Shrine
I make my way to the Imperial Palace which
contains the retrenchments of the former Edo Castle
The stone bridge is an entrance to the inner palace grounds
there is a separate iron bridge just behind the stone bridge
Sotosakurada-mon an outer Gate of the original Edo Castle
One of the turrets of the Imperial Palace
I travelled out of Tokyo to the foothills of Mt. Fuji about an hour and a half by car. There are several lakes in this region at the base of the mountain and on a clear day good views from the Chureito Pagoda.
There are 398 steps up to the Chureito Pagoda
Snakes as well - not for the faint-hearted
Chureito Pagoda with Mt. Fuji in the distance
One of the lakes near the foot of Mt. Fuji
View of frozen Lake Kawaguchi from the top of the ropeway ride
To warm up I try a local specialty Hōtō made by
stewing flat noodles and vegetables in miso soup
A Shinkansen waiting to depart from Tokyo Station
My ticket gives the carriage and seat number
Inside the green car
Good view of Mt. Fuji from the window of the Shinkansen
The entrance to Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine is
just across the road from the railway station
Tourists wearing kimonos which can be hired from a local shop
The Shrine is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates
Map of Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine
It is starting to get dark I set off for my hotel in Kyoto by taxi,
taxis have a distinctive company crest displayed on the roof
Do not try and open the rear door of a taxi in Japan
it is controlled by the driver
I am staying at Hyatt Regency Kyoto for a couple of nights. I am too tired to go out looking for a restaurant in the city this evening so I try 'The Grill' restaurant at the hotel. Today they have a buffet of prime meats and seafood grilled to perfection and a selection of wines - all you can eat and drink for around 30 GBP. I am really going to get my moneys worth here tonight.
Next day I visit Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) a
Zen Buddhist temple covered in gold leaf
Reflections in the lake at Kinkaku-ji
The weather takes a turn for the worse
so I seek shelter in a bamboo grove
I have vegetable curry for lunch it is mild and very tasty
Washed down with some green tea
Cultivated fungi for sale at Nishiki Market
A selection of cooked fowl and fish at the market
Back to the old part of Kyoto in the Gion district
A Maiko performs a traditional dance
accompanied by a shamisen player
October 2017 - Lisbon, PORTUGAL
We are spending a few days in Lisbon although October it is sunny and warm. The city centre has some steep hills hence the presence of funicular trams and the Elevador de Santa which are all included in the 24-hour public transport ticket. Most of the old city was destroyed by the 1755 earthquake as evidenced by the ruins of Carmo Church and Convent.
Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square)
View from the top of Rua Augusta Arch
São Jorge Castle from the viewpoint of 'Our Lady of the Hill'
The entrance to São Jorge Castle
You can walk all the way round the battlements
The Elevador de Santa Justa a 19th century lift
Ruins of Carmo Church caused by the 1755 earthquake
The Glória funicular tram attracts the graffiti artists
The Torre de Belém (Belém Tower) a 16th century fortification
View from the top of Belém Tower
MeetUs ao Carmo a small tapas restaurant and wine bar
just across the road from our hotel
The Sobremesa da Casa (House Dessert) was delicious
During my stay in Lisbon I visited part of the Linhas de Torres (Lines of Torres Vedras) constructed on the orders of General Arthur Wellesley (later to become the 1st Duke of Wellington) to defend Lisbon against the forces of Napoléon Bonaparte. Forte do Alqueidão (also known as Forte Grande or the Great Redoubt) is one of a handful of forts that have been restored and maintained by the local authorities.
Wellington's headquarters at Pêro Negro the
building is now used as a nursery school
The Linhas de Torres (Lines of Torres Vedras)
museum at Sobral de Monte Agraço
A signpost points the way
There is a lot of Eucalyptus here a non-indigenous
tree used by the paper making industry
One of many old military roads in the area
At last I reach the location of Forte do Alqueidão (Forte Grande)
The remains of one of five powder magazines which supplied
the 27 cannons. They would have been covered by thick
wooden planks, coated canvas and several layers of earth.
The Governor's House with storage rooms and a larger room
where possibly Wellington met with his senior officers
Observation tower at Forte do Alqueidão
Details of the nearby fortifications and signal stations
View from the top of the observation tower
Before heading back to Lisbon we visited Óbidos an historic town still encircled by its ancient defensive walls. It is a small town and can easily be visited in half a day. The main street is lined with a variety of shops selling gifts and traditional items such as bottles of the local cherry liquor.
The streets of Óbidos are mainly paved with cobbles
Pillory built in granite at the end of the 15th century
A sepulchral chapel dating back to the 14th century
The old castle has been converted into a hotel
The walls extend around the entire town but be
warned there are some dangerous verges
July 2017 - BALTIC CRUISE - The Piano Penthouse
I booked a suite but we were given a free upgrade to The Piano Penthouse on the Aurora. About four times larger than a stateroom the two-storey Penthouse Suites (there are only two on the Aurora) have private balconies on both decks. The upper balcony is overshadowed by the ship’s bridge and is a good place to cool off on hot days.
The Piano Penthouse is located just underneath the
ship's bridge and has five windows
View from one of the windows
The downstairs lounge area
Rita with our butler
Self-playing baby grand piano
The downstairs balcony
The bedroom and upstairs balcony
Sunset viewed from the upstairs balcony
July 2017 - BALTIC CRUISE - Lübeck, GERMANY
Our first port of call was Travemünde about 20 minutes by taxi from the historic Hanseatic city of Lübeck. The Altstadt (old town) of Lübeck is surrounded by the river Trave. Amoung other things Lübeck is famous for its marzipan industry.
The Holstentor (Holsten Gate) dating back to the 1460s is all
that remains of a complex of four interconnecting city gates
The front of the Rathaus (Town Hall) with renaissance staircase
Guildhall for seamen and skippers originally constructed in 1535
the only building of its kind still existing in Lübeck
The Burgtor (Castle Gate) the only other suriving city gate
Bars of chocolate covered marzipan from Lübeck
July 2017 - BALTIC CRUISE - Saint Petersburg, RUSSIA
The Aurora berthed overnight at Saint Petersburg. We visited Peterhof Palace the first day and had an evening tour of the State Hermitage Museum. Next day we toured the centre of Saint Petersburg in a vintage Volga. The ERGO White Nights Marathon was being held so some roads were blocked off to traffic.
The entrance to Peterhof Palace
The two-headed eagle on the top of this building was a
Russian state symbol in the time of Peter the Great
One of many fountains in the gardens of Peterhof Palace
The Grand Cascade at Peterhof Palace
We toured the centre of Saint Petersburg in a vintage Volga
The ERGO White Nights Marathon was being held
Monument to Field Marshal Kutuzov next to Kazan Cathedral
The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood
One of many stalls with Matryoshka dolls for sale
The State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg
The Benois Madonna
(Leonardo da Vinci)
Mosaic Portrait of
Empress Elizabeth of Russia
July 2017 - BALTIC CRUISE - Helsinki, FINLAND
The centre of Helsinki has some attractive and imposing buildings including the neoclassical Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral and Uspenski Cathedral built in the Byzantine-Russian style. The Market Square (Kauppatori) is one of the best known outdoor markets in northern Europe.
The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Cathedral
Monument to Tsar Alexander II in Senate Square
The "Sederholm House" built in 1757 the
oldest building in the centre of Helsinki
Havis Amanda mermaid statue and fountain
The Market Square in Helsinki
The Eastern Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral
July 2017 - BALTIC CRUISE - Stockholm, SWEDEN
The old town (Gamla Stan) of Stockholm is one of the best preserved medieval city centres in Europe situated on an island it is compact and easy to walk around.
The Riksgatan (National Street)
The tower of the Storkyrkan the oldest church in Gamla Stan
Wooden sculpture of Saint George and the Dragon
(1489) located inside the Storkyrkan.
Statue of Crown Prince Karl XIV Johan
Stortorget the oldest public square in Stockholm
Monumental well in Stortorget
Antique looking telephone booth
"Fear God. Honour the King" on the gate of the German Church
Reindeer roast was on the menu at this restaurant
July 2017 - BALTIC CRUISE - Copenhagen, DENMARK
Historic areas in Copenhagen are quite far apart so we used a taxi to get around.
Nyhavn (New Harbor) has brightly painted gabled houses
The lightship (Fyrskib) dates from 1885
Bronze statue of The Little Mermaid
Dragon Fountain and Town Hall
Art Nouveau style Palace Hotel dating from 1910
Statue of Frederick V at Amalienborg Palace Square
March 2017 - Angkor Wat, CAMBODIA
I am staying in Siem Reap close to the temple complex of Angkor Wat, the old Khmer city of Angkor Thom with the Bayon temple at its centre and the temple of Ta Prohm that has been left covered by the massive roots of trees. The temple of Banteay Srei located some 25 km from the main group of temples is built largely of red sandstone. Tonlé Sap the largest freshwater lake in SE Asia is less than an hours drive away.
Pub Street in the centre of Siem Reap
Amok fresh water fish curry dish served in a coconut
The restaurant cat
Restored head of a naga at the causeway leading to Angkor Wat
Scenic view of Angkor Wat with reflections in the water
Bas-relief of a battle scene at Angkor Wat
The guide offers a thirsty monkey a drink
The gateway to Angkor Thom
Smiling faces on the towers of Bayon temple at Angkor Thom
Bas-relief at Bayon temple depicting a naval battle
At the temple of Ta Prohm the decision not to
clear the site of trees made it an ideal
location for the film Tomb Raider
Is this really the carving of a stegosaurus or a hoax?
Monkey guardians at the temple of Banteay Srei
The temple cat at Banteay Samre
Boats on Tonlé Sap (Great Lake) the largest lake in SE Asia
During the monsoon the water can submerge these trees
Lotus plants are cultivated near the Great Lake
The lotus farmers catch catfish from the water
My modern hotel in Hanoi's Old Quarter is surrounded by old houses. There are small shops at the front of many of the houses that spill over onto the pavements and motor scooters are parked everywhere. I visited Halong Bay which is about a 3½ hour drive away. I would also recommend going to a water puppet theatre which are unique to North Vietnam, the show lasts for about one hour.
View from my hotel window in Hanoi Old Quarter
Motor scooters are everywhere in Hanoi
Pho Ga (Chicken Noodle Soup) is a popular dish for breakfast
Bags of dried fungi for sale at the market near my hotel
The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum
The Peugeot 404 was a gift given to President Ho Chi Minh
The Hanoi Opera House opened in 1911
A T-54B tank outside the Viet Nam Military History Museum
The Flag Tower is located inside the museum grounds
Taking a boat ride amoungst the limestone karsts in Halong Bay
Thien Cung “Heavenly Palace” cave in Halong Bay
Water puppetry is a tradition unique to North Vietnam
I am staying at the Island Shangri-La hotel for a couple of days with the view from my room overlooking Hong Kong Park. The park contains some old colonial buildings such as Flagstaff House and a variety of indigenous and non-indigenous birds can be found here. In the evening I went on a cruise of Victoria Harbour to witness the Symphony of Lights laser show that takes place at 8 p.m. everyday. The nearby Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark includes spectacular hexagonal rock columns of international significance.
Flagstaff House built in 1846 as the office and residence
for the Commander of the British Forces is the oldest
remaining colonial building in Hong Kong
The sulphur-crested cockatoo is a non-native species
People statue outside the Conrad Hotel
This building opened in 1915 as the Wan Chai Post Office
The Clock Tower is the only remaining building
of the Kowloon-Canton Railway Terminus
The Symphony of Lights laser show
Live sea food on display outside a restaurant in Sai Kung Town
Hexagonal rock columns near East Dam of High Island Reservoir
How the hexagonal rock columns are formed
My tour guide Alex points out the hexagonal rock columns
at East Dam and gives some idea of their scale
November 2016 - Fuerteventura, SPAIN
Our second trip to Spain’s Canary Islands, this time Fuerteventura. After all my business travel I was looking forward to a relaxing time with family and did not take many photographs.
On a 3-hour dune buggy tour with Casey
Gavin and Casey on a quad bike
September 2016 - Beijing, CHINA
For this trip I booked my own flights and hotels but used the excellent services of ChinaTours.com to provide a local guide at each location. Hainan Airlines now provide a direct flight between Manchester and Beijing making it easy for me to get to China for a short break. In Beijing I had time to visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Mutianyu Great Wall. Following this I travelled to Xi'an to see the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang then on to Yangshuo and Guilin famous for their dramatic landscape of limestone karst hills.
Hainan Airlines advert for the direct flight between Manchester
and Beijing at Terminal 1 Beijing Capital International Airport
The impressive Tiananmen Square in the centre of Beijing
Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City
Dragon Turtle in the Forbidden City
A Kylin (Qilin) at the Summer Palace
The Long Corridor has elaborate pictures on its beams and ceiling
The Marble Boat in the Summer Palace
You can take a dragon boat to cross Kunming Lake
The Seventeen-Arch Bridge is the largest bridge on Kunming Lake
In Beijing I had lunch at Dadong Roast Duck Restaurant
The Bell Tower together with the nearby Drum Tower
were used to announce the time until 1924
Mutianyu is the longest fully-restored section of the Great Wall
Both sides of the wall have a crenellated parapet
so that soldiers could fire arrows at either side.
This is rare on other sections of the wall.
The North Arch Gate was originally built in 1404
I meet one of the farmers who discovered the Terracotta Army
The terracotta figures have been restored from fragments
Kneeling archer in a glass display cabinet
The soles of the archer's shoes are textured to provide grip
View of Li River from my hotel balcony in Yangshuo
View of Yangshuo from the peak of the TV tower
Tasty snacks on the menu at Cloud 9 Restaurant in Yangshuo
I decide to have the beer "MaoGu" fish
A cormorant fisherman at Xingping
Dried fungi for sale at Longji Ancient Zhuang Village
Ganoderma lucidum is too tough to eat but
can be powdered and used in soup or as a tea
The Flower Mushroom is a type of Shiitake
Wood or Jelly Ear Fungus
A happy cat
Terraced rice fields at Longji - the water
filled basin is meant to represent the moon
A Yao woman at Longji
Rice plants are irrigated with spring water from the mountains
Bamboo Rice - sticky rice cooked inside a bamboo tube
View of Guilin and karst mountains from Elephant Trunk Hill
Elephant Trunk Hill a local landmark resembles
an elephant drinking water from the river
Samantabhadra Tower at the top of Elephant Trunk Hill
was built from solid brick during the Ming Dynasty
Sun and Moon twin pagoda-style towers in the centre of Guilin
Shopping centre in Guilin
I have a stopover in Dublin but just half a day to see the city sights. I could not resist visiting the Guinness Storehouse a seven storey building that floor by floor covers the history of this famous stout beer with tastings and a rooftop bar. You could easily spend half a day here but I had to limit myself to 2 hours in order to see more of the city centre.
The entrance to the Guinness Storehouse
The entry price includes a free pint of Guinness
Molly Malone commemorated in the song 'Cockles and Mussels'
Plan of Dublin Castle which formed part of the original city wall
The Record Tower is the last remaining intact tower
of the castle and also of the city itself
Dubhlinn Gardens were laid out on the site of the original
harbour or "black pool" (Dubhlinn in Gaelic)
The State Apartments were built as residential
and public quarters of the Viceregal Court
It takes just an hour to travel from Bratislava to Vienna by road. In Vienna we stayed at Hotel König von Ungarn close to St. Stephen's Cathedral and a 10 minute walk from the Hofburg Imperial Palace complex. It is about 10 minutes by taxi to get to Schönbrunn Palace. It is worthwhile doing a tour of the display rooms at this former imperial summer residence. Unfortunately filming and photography are not permitted inside the palace during opening hours.
Johann Strauss monument in Stadtpark (City Park)
Inside the courtyard of Hofburg Imperial Palace
A heuriger (wine tavern) on the outskirts of Vienna
Cheese schnitzel went well with a bottle of Grüner Veltliner
View of Schönbrunn Palace from the main entrance
Artificial Roman ruins in the grounds of Schönbrunn Palace
June 2016 - Bratislava, SLOVAKIA
Our hotel is in the pedestrian zone of Bratislava's small and compact old town so you can easily visit the main sites by walking. We went on a Danube cruise to visit the ruins of Devín Castle about 12 km from Bratislava.
Michael's Gate the only one of four mediaeval
gateways that still survives today
Display of military uniforms in the Museum of Arms
Short section of the medieval city walls next to the Cathedral
Bratislava Main Square with Gothic Town Hall and Fountain
Statute of Schöne Náci a former inhabitant of Bratislava
Napoleon and his army were in Bratislava in 1805
looks like this soldier did not want to leave
Top facade of the neoclassical Primate's Palace
The 'Blue Church' an Art Nouveau building sanctified
in 1913 as the Church of St. Elisabeth of Hungary
Bratislava Castle was destroyed by fire in 1811 reconstruction
of the Castle Palace was not carried out until the 1960's
Sigismund Gate the best preserved part of Bratislava Castle
The ruins of Devín Castle destroyed by
the retreating forces of Napoleon in 1809
Petra known as the rose-red city after the colour of the sandstone rocks from which it is carved is located in the mountainous desert of southern Jordan and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city began to prosper through trade from the 1st century BC and was later annexed to the Roman Empire. In 363 AD an earthquake destroyed much of the city and by the middle of the 7th century it appears to have been largely abandoned. The entrance to Petra is through a narrow gorge called the Siq. It is about a 15 minute walk from the visitors centre to the Siq and another 20 minutes to the Treasury.
Two soldiers guard the entrance to the Siq
One of the wider parts of the Siq
Al Khazneh (The Treasury) is located at the end of the Siq
it was probably constructed in the 1st century BC
You get a better picture of Al Khazneh in
the morning while it is in full sunlight
this one was taken when I returned in the afternoon
The Street of Façades the name given to a row of tombs
carved into the face of the sandstone cliff
The Theatre has been cut into the hillside out
of solid rock but is now badly eroded
The Urn Tomb is the largest royal tomb at Petra
built around 70 AD and later used as a church
The Colonnaded Street had tall columns on both sides
but these were destroyed by earthquakes
a few have been partially restored
The Colonnaded Street as it would have originally looked like
The Hadrian Gate and Cardo Maximus
(main Roman north-south oriented street)
A winding trail with steps leads up to the Monastery
View looking back as you get near the top
Ad Deir (The Monastery) is one of Petra's largest
monuments dating from the early 2nd century AD
I take a donkey ride back to the Treasury
During my visit to Jordan I stayed in Madaba famous for a Mosaic Map dating from the 6th century depicting the major biblical sites of the Middle East. Mount Nebo, the River Jordan and the Dead Sea are all relatively close to Madaba and can be easily visited in half a day.
Remains of the Madaba Mosaic Map on the floor
of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George
Mount Nebo said to be where Moses was
given a view of the Promised Land
The River Jordan marks the border between
Jordan and the Israeli-occupied West Bank
Baptisms taking place in the River Jordan
The Dead Sea at Amman beach
Salt deposit on the shore of the Dead Sea
We are staying in the historial centre of Verona a city founded in the 1st century BC. Surviving Roman structures include Porta Borsari, the Arena, the Arco dei Gavi, the Ponte Pietra and the Roman theatre. All are within easy walking distance of our hotel located just off the Piazza delle Erbe.
Piazza delle Erbe located on the site of the Roman forum
The winged lion of St Mark symbol of Venice stands
on top of a tall column in front of the Palazzo Maffei
The painted facades of the Mazzanti Houses
Juliet's purported balcony is believed to have
been constructed from a medieval sarcophagus
Bronze statue of Juliet in the courtyard beneath the balcony
Porta Borsari an ancient Roman gate
The Verona Arena a Roman amphitheatre still in use today
The Arco dei Gavi was dismantled in the Napoleonic era
and rebuilt next to Castelvecchio in the 1930s
Ponte Scaligero a fortified bridge that was totally destroyed
during World War II but rebuilt to the same design
The Ponte Pietra a Roman stone bridge was badly damaged
during World War II but rebuilt using original materials
Verona has one of the best preserved Roman theaters in Italy
December 2015 - Cancún, MEXICO
Having a weekend break in Cancún with its white sandy beaches and the city is sufficiently close for day trips to ancient Mayan sites such as Chichén Itzá and Tulum.
Playa Delfines a stretch of white sandy beach in the Hotel Zone
I am standing in front of El-Castillo at Chichén Itzá
Stone serpent heads flank the base of the steps
You have to arrive early in the morning to avoid the crowds
Unrestored rear view of El-Castillo
Engravings on the walls of one of the temples
The Temple of the Warriors at Chichén Itzá is
flanked by round and square columns
The clifftop Castillo part of the walled Mayan site at Tulum
The Templo de las Pinturas takes its name from
coloured frescoes found on an inner wall
There is a stone mask carving on each corner of the temple
The ruins provide a home for lizards
This beach near Tulum is a nesting site for turtles
November 2015 - Lanzarote, SPAIN
On holiday with Rita visiting the volcanic island of Lanzarote. Visitors can take a bus trip around the Fire Mountains formed during the greatest recorded eruptions that occurred between 1730 and 1736. It is amazing how plants cope with what at first sight appears to be such a barren landscape. In Lanzarote where the climate is very dry volcanic rocks are initially colonised by lichens that break up the rock over time turning it into soil. There are plenty of things to do here we went on a dromedary camel safari and took an underwater tour in a submarine.
Parish Church in Teguise the original Capital of Lanzarote
Castillo de Santa Bárbara (16th Century) overlooks Teguise
View of Teguise from the Castillo
The Cactus Garden (Jardín de Cactus)
A variety of crops can be grown in the volcanic ash
Dromedary camels wait for tourists to turn up
A forest of lichens growing on the volcanic rocks
Dwarf woody plants grow among the lichens
The Green Lagoon near El Golfo gets its colour from algae
The submarine and its support vessel
View at 30 metres under the Atlantic Ocean
Los Hervideros a rocky coast of cliffs and caves
formed by the erosion of solidified lava
September 2015 - San Francisco, UNITED STATES
I am staying at the Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf a popular tourist area. Local attractions include trips to Alcatraz Island departing from Pier 33, a colony of sea lions at Pier 39 and you can go inside a World War II submarine moored off Pier 45. The The Powell-Hyde cable car turnaround is just across the road from the hotel.
A street magician performs tricks at Fisherman's Wharf
Alcatraz Island
Cells at Alcatraz had a small sink with cold water and a toilet
The colony of sea lions at Pier 39
USS Pampanito (SS-383) a World War II Balao-class submarine
The 4" deck gun was an important weapon in the Pacific War
One of the hatches you go through on the submarine tour
The Powell-Hyde cable car turnaround
View of Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach
Lombard Street's 8 hairpin turns do not appear to deter drivers
Cable car in San Francisco's Chinatown district
The Dragon Gate in Chinatown
Display outside a shop in Chinatown
Colourful decorations adorn the streets in Chinatown
September 2015 - Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, UNITED STATES
I am staying in Jackson a town located in the Jackson Hole valley of Wyoming. Jackson is quite close to Grand Teton National Park and about 96 miles from the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park. An aerial tram located in Teton Village (12 miles northwest of Jackson) goes to the top of Rendezvous Mountain. Yellowstone is famous for its thermal features including geysers, hot springs and mudpots. The bacterium Thermus aquaticus was first discovered here and its thermostable DNA polymerase is now widely used in medical diagnosis and forensics. I also visited the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone a deep canyon cut out by the Yellowstone River.
The Jackson Town Square antler arches are made
from elk antlers shed on the National Elk Refuge
The aerial tram takes you up to 10,450 feet in the mountains
Bear aware sign on top of the mountain
Birch reveal their autumn colour in Grand Teton National Park
Yellowstone's Old Faithful erupts on time as usual
Wild bison are free to roam in Yellowstone
Grand Prismatic Spring with its colourful microflora
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
August 2015 - Ahmedabad, INDIA
I am visiting Ahmedabad the largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat. In recent times many villages have become part of large urban areas however families have often continued to keep cattle despite spatial constraints. Therefore it is common to see cattle on city roads. There are many historical buildings in the area including temples and mosques. I was able to visit an ancient stepwell located just outside the city.
View of Vastrapur Lake from my hotel window
There are many street dogs in Ahmedabad
Greynecked crows (Corvus splendens) are also common
It is OK to sound your horn in India
Oxen and cows are frequently found wandering on the roads
Adalaj stepwell dating from 1498 is 18 km north of Ahmedabad
Intricate carvings adorn the sandstone walls of the stepwell
The Shaking Minarets of Sidi Bashir Mosque
are located in the centre of Ahmedabad
June 2015 - Tallinn, ESTONIA and Riga, LATVIA
We started our holiday staying at the Palace Hotel close to the Old Town of Tallinn. Tallinn used to be one of the best fortified cities in Europe and 26 of the defensive towers still survive today.
The artillery tower known as Fat Margaret would have
housed cannons inside its structure and may also have
used mortars on the flat roof in times of siege
View towards the Old Town from the top of Fat Margaret
View of the harbour from the top of Fat Margaret
The two towers of Viru Gate are all that remains of a
much larger defensive structure that once served as
the main entrance to the city
The Maiden Tower is the only surviving rectangular
defensive tower with an open town side
The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral built in a typical Russian
Revival style was completed on Toompea Hill in 1900
View of the fortification towers from Toompea Hill
The Gothic Town Hall of Tallinn dates from 1404
The medieval-themed restaurant Olde Hansa has minstrels
and a menu that includes bear meat and elk fillet
Rita has eaten too many steaks on this holiday
Kadriorg Palace built for Peter the Great is only a
10 minute taxi drive from the Old Town of Tallinn
The story of the hunter Actaeon and Diana, goddess of the hunt,
depicted on the ceiling of the Great Hall in Kadriorg Palace
We took the Lux Express coach from Tallinn bus station to Riga bus station a journey of 5 hours at a cost of €14.40 per person each way. You need to show your passport when boarding the coach. Our hotel in Riga the 4-star Avalon is only a short walk from the bus station.
The Cat House (10 Meistaru iela) built in 1909
Rockabilly House
Laima Clock and the Freedom Monument in the background
The Swedish Gate was erected 1698 as a part of the city walls
The Powder Tower originally part of the towns defensives
House of the Blackheads (a guild for German merchants)
the original building was destroyed during the war
this reconstruction was completed in 1999
View of Riga from St Peter's Church Tower
Riga has many examples of Art Nouveau architecture
Riga Castle (Rīgas pils) on the banks of River Daugava
View from our hotel window - the large buildings originally
German Zeppelin hangars now house Riga Central Market
January 2015 - Conegliano, ITALY
I am staying in Conegliano a small town located in the Veneto region of Italy. Conegliano is noted for its wine, particularly the increasingly popular dry white Prosecco. My hotel the Best Western Canon d'Oro has a splendid location in the historical centre of Conegliano. Just down the road from the hotel is the main square, Piazza Cima. From the square there is a walk up to the remains of a 10th-century castle, the Castello, via the Calle Madonna della Neve, a steep path running alongside the old defensive town walls. There are battlements and the Torre della Guardia (Guard Tower) which houses the Civic Museum at the top. You can climb up to the top of the tower for a good view of Conegliano.
The 4-star Best Western Hotel Canon d'Oro is housed
in a 16th-century palazzo with a frescoed façade
Arcaded walkways in the historic centre of Conegliano
The impressive neoclassical theatre (1868) in Piazza Cima
The 18th-century Palazzo Municipale (Town Hall)
The Duomo with its tall bell tower is undergoing renovation
The walk to the Castello along Calle Madonna della Neve
The 14th-century walls have a watchman's walk at the top
Oratorio della Madonna della Neve a small
17th-century church partly embedded in the walls
The Castello at Conegliano with its guelphic battlements
A cat guards the entrance to the museum in the tower
Cannon built in 1911 standing outside the tower
A room forming part of the museum inside the tower
Panoramic view of Conegliano from the top of the tower
The Convento di San Francesco a former convent
Ruins of the lower section of the town walls
September 2014 - Funchal, PORTUGAL
I am on holiday staying in Funchal the capital of Madeira. There is plenty to do at our hotel complex with four restaurants, six bars, an ice-cream parlour and five pools. However, I wanted to spend a day exploring Funchal with its historical buildings and also visit the hilltop suburb of Monte.
Banana plants growing outside our hotel
Lacerta dugesii the endemic lizard of the Madeira Islands
Palace and fort of São Lourenço (16th century)
Fortaleza de São Tiago (Fortress of St. James)
the fortress was rebuilt in the 18th century
Cathedral of Funchal (completed in 1518)
Funchal’s Town Hall (18th century)
Marble statue of ‘Leda and the Swan’ located
in the interior courtyard of the Town Hall
Igreja do Colégio (17th century Jesuit church and school)
Cable cars link Funchal with the hilltop suburb of Monte
The toboggan run transports tourists 2 kilometres downhill
to Livramento where you can take a taxi back to Monte
I walk from Monte back to Funchal using this trail which goes
through eucalyptus forest & then follows the course of a levada
The start of the trail has a good stone path
However it soon becomes a dirt path with fallen trees
The route is mostly downhill so quite steep in places
fortunately some wooden steps have been provided
Fungus probably a Crepidotus growing on a fallen log
I reach a narrow bridge over a stream
At last the levada which does not appear to
have been used to carry water for some time
Cat with a collar & bell I must be near the end of the trail
I follow the cat back to civilization after walking alone
for 2½ hours I did not see anyone else on the trail
There is a good view of Funchal from the levada
Preparing the traditional drink Poncha made from
lemon juice, honey and distilled alcohol from sugar cane
The cooked chestnuts were delicious
Followed by cake and a glass of Poncha
I am now ready to walk another levada
August 2014 - Oporto (Porto), PORTUGAL
I am staying at the Hotel Carris located in the historical district of Ribeira with its medieval streets and alleyways. Just down the road is Praça da Ribeira (Ribeira Square) and the River Douro.
Praça da Ribeira with statue of St John the Baptist
Boat traditionally used to transport goods along the Douro river
Chez Lapin Restaurant located on the Cais da Ribeira
Gratin of codfish a speciality of Chez Lapin
View of Cais da Ribeira from the other side of the river
Café Majestic said to have been frequented by JK Rowling
while working on the first Harry Potter book
Inside the Café Majestic
Traditional grocery store with Art Nouveau tiled façade
The interior of São Bento train station is decorated
with tile panels depicting the history of Portugal
The Lello & Irmão bookshop has an elegant interior staircase
unfortunately they do not allow photographs to be taken
Carmo Church has an exterior panel of tiles representing
scenes describing the foundation of the Carmelite Order
Torre dos Clérigos - you can climb the steps inside this
tall bell tower to reach a viewing area at the top
View from the top of the Torre dos Clérigos
A small remaining section of the medieval city walls
A funicular runs alongside the walls
You can walk along the top of the walls - the entrance is
inside the grounds of the convent of Santa Clara
View of the Ponte Luís I bridge from the tower at the end of the walls
June 2014 - Reykjavík, ICELAND
I am with Rita on holiday in Iceland staying at the Reykjavík Centrum located in the historical centre of downtown Reykjavík. Underneath the hotel are the remains of a Viking hall or a longhouse dating from the tenth century. In Iceland most building materials have to be imported and much use is made of corrugated iron and steel for the roofs and even the sides of houses.
Hotel Reykjavík Centrum is located on Aðalstræti
which is the oldest street in Reykjavík
Residential houses close to the hotel
Aðalstræti used to lead to the beach
Vehicles with 46” inch tyres can travel through
deep snow and over rough mountain trails
Well fed cat in downtown Reykjavík
The Water Carrier dedicated to the women that carried
water from a pump to the houses in town
The Christmas Shop
Looking up Skólavörðustígur towards Hallgrímskirkja Church
There are plenty of excursions leaving Reykjavík every day to choose from - we visited the Geysir hot springs area, several spectacular waterfalls and went on a snowmobile tour to the top of the glacier Mýrdalsjökull an icecap covering Mount Katla.
We passed by several green fields with horses
Geysir Hot Springs Geothermal Area
Strokkur erupts every few minutes
How Strokkur compares to other geysers
Seljalandsfoss waterfall - you can walk behind it
Arctic lupins often seen by the side of roads were
introduced into Iceland to reduce soil erosion
Heading towards the glacier Mýrdalsjökull
I am with Rita on top of the glacier
Rita on the snowmobile
May 2014 - Boston, UNITED STATES
I am in Boston for the weekend staying at the Wyndham Boston Beacon Hill hotel in an historic area with gaslit streets. A good way to explore Boston on foot is to follow the Freedom Trail from Boston Common to the Bunker Hill Monument.
Charles Street with its gas lamps and brick sidewalk
The Freedom Trail
Boston Common
Relief sculpture depicting the city’s founder William Blackstone
welcoming Puritan John Winthrop and his party
The Massachusetts State House built in 1798
The Old State House built in 1713 is the
oldest surviving public building in Boston
The house where Paul Revere lived built in about 1680
Tablet depicting the battle at Breed's Hill
Bunker Hill Monument
I climbed the 294 steps to the top of the Monument which is actually located on Breed's Hill where most of the fighting took place. There are good views over Charlestown from the top. I then visited the old Charlestown Navy Yard which closed in 1974 but has been preserved as part of the National Park. Here the USS Constitution a heavy 'copper-bottomed' frigate launched in 1797 is on display and visitors can walk over three of the decks. I then took the ferry called Rita from Charlestown to Long Wharf in Boston.
View from the top of the Bunker Hill Monument
The USS Constitution
Boston ferry
View of Boston from the ferry
The Long Wharf
Another way to see the historical sites and other points of interest is to take the 80 minute Boston Duck Tour in an amphibious bus. Tours depart from the Museum of Science and part of the trip involves driving into the Charles River. The drivers are a mine of local knowledge.
Passing another DUKW on the river
'Make Way for Ducklings' in Boston Public Garden
March 2014 - Skopje, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
I am staying at Hotel Square in the centre of Skopje a city full of recently constructed monuments and statues. Many buildings were destroyed during the 1963 earthquake and the government has attempted to transform the capital of Macedonia by highlighting the country’s rich heritage. Although the cost has proved somewhat controversial the transformation of Skopje has already resulted in increased numbers of tourists visiting the city. Since it is still early in the year the fountains and coloured light displays have not been turned on yet.
Warrior on a Horse statue in Macedonia Square
The Stone Bridge connects Macedonia Square to the Old Bazaar
The Eye Bridge named after its midway circle
features statues of Macedonian rulers
Statute with inscription on the Eye Bridge
The Bridge of Art features statues of noted
Macedonian painters, poets and musicians
There is even a statute at the base of the Stone Bridge
I tried the local cuisine including 'Tavče Gravče'
which is bean stew cooked in a ceramic dish
The baklava was deliciously sweet and sticky
Reconstructed tower and wall at Kale Fortress
Reconstructed tower and gate
Shop in the Old Bazaar
A street cat in the centre of Skopje
The memorial house of Mother Teresa who was born in Skopje
Porta Macedonia a triumphal arch covered with carved reliefs
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