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.All Trips / Europe / Italy
Wandering the Lanes of Palermo
Palermo is an ancient city at least 2,700 years old, Of course it has grown and modernized over the years, but it has an old and gritty quality to it. I was charmed during our rambling to see how many narrow roads and lanes persist. It reminds me of cities that were laid out in medieval times.
Many of the lanes are quite narrow, in places narrow enough that a standard car might have trouble navigating the passage. For that reason alone its worth exploring on foot, where you’ll experience the true personality of the city. Here you’ll discover people’s homes, cafes, small restaurants, and children playing in the road. There aren’t many places like it that I’ve encountered in …
.All Trips / Europe / Spain
The Beauty of Stained Light, La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
One of the most written about tourist attractions in Barcelona is La Sagrada Familia, Modernitme architect Antoni Gaudi’s last greatest project and perhaps the most unique cathedral in the world. And it is magnificent, as you can see from the photos below.
Instead of sharing details of the church’s unusual architecture and style in this post, I wanted to highlight what was most memorable to me. We visited in the afternoon, and the sunlight was bathing through the windows, especially those facing west. The light coming through the stained glass was as lovely as any I’ve ever seen, and I stop many times to enjoy it’s beauty. Gaudi himself said, “Sunshine is the best painter”.
(Stained Light La Sagrada Familia)
The stained-glass windows …
Tagged Barcelona, Cathedral, La Sagrada Familia, light
“Pic of the Week”, February 3, 2023: Old Fortified Wall, Seville
The walls of Seville surrounded the Old Town portion of the city. The first walls were constructed by the Romans almost two millenia ago. The walls were maintained and updated over the centuries and portions of them still remain, especially around the Alcázar and in the barrio de la Macarena.
This section of the old wall likely dates to the 12th century Moorish period of the city, although it was modified about 200 years ago. It contains one of the city’s few surviving gates.
(Click on thumbnails below to enlarge the photo)
Feb 2, 2023
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.All Trips / Alberta / Central Canada / North America
The Iceman and the Biscuit, Cardston, Alberta
Sitting on the grounds of the Reynold’s Carriage Museum in Cardston, Alberta is a statue of jockey and his mount, seeming to move at top speed while standing still.
The statue captures a moment in time when local boy turned legendary jockey, George Woolf, rode Seabiscuit to one of the greatest victories in horse racing history. On November 1, 1938, in what was dubbed the “Race of the Century”, Seabiscuit was pitted against Triple Crown winner War Admiral. During the race Seabiscuit broke War Admiral and as he surged to victory, Wolff turned to War Admiral’s jockey (Charley Kurtsinger) and said, “So Long Charley”. It’s one of those phrases that has become part of our everyday vernacular.
Another great moment …
Tagged Cardston, George Woolf, horse, racing, Seabiscuit, War Admiral
.All Trips / Central Canada / Manitoba / North America
Gimli’s Seawall Murals, Lake Winnipeg
It had been at least 35 years since I visited Gimli. The town had grown quite a bit and its reputation as an ethnic travel destination is now firmly established — a bit of Iceland in central Canada.
Gimli has an active summer-time harbor, used by local sailing and boating enthusiasts and commercial fisherman (who harvest Lake Winnipeg’s bountiful walleye, goldeye and whitefish, among other species). To protect the harbor from strong winds and tall waves, a six foot high concrete sea wall was constructed that extends almost 1000 feet from shore.
The seawall was an ugly grey slab so in 1977 the Gimli Art Club decided to transform it. Local artists donated thousands of hours to create scenes about the life and …
“Pic of the Week”, January 27, 2023: Sri Pathrakali Amman Temple, Trincomalee
Trincomalee is best known for its beautiful natural harbor and spectacular diving. But there are some diversions in the town that are worth stopping to see.
The Patrakali Amman Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Kali. It has an elaborate and colorful facade filled with hundreds of statues.
(Click on thumbnails to enlarge)
Jan 26, 2023
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.All Trips / California / North America / Southwestern USA
California’s Mammoth Lakes Basin
California’s Sierra Nevada mountains have some pretty spectacular scenery!
The “Lakes Basin,” as it is commonly referred to, is only a few miles from the town of Mammoth Lakes. Mammoth Lakes sits on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada range and is best known as a top notch down-hill ski destination. It is especially popular with skiers from the Los Angeles area.
(Mammoth Lakes Basin)
The Mammoth Lakes Basin is mostly a summer destination, being a popular spot for hiking, biking, rock-climbing, camping and fishing. There are more than a dozen lakes set in this beautiful environment of mountains and forests.
We visited the area several times when we lived in California and our kids were young. Always had a pleasant half …
.All Trips / Alberta / Central Canada / North America
A Visit to the Remington Carriage Museum, Cardston
Every now and then a trip takes you to fascinating destinations in the least expected places. Most people visit Cardston because of its close proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Waterton Lakes National Park (Alberta) and Glacier National Park (Montana). Little did I expect to find a world-class museum in this town of less than 4,000 residents.
The Museum tells the story of horse-drawn wagons in North America and is the largest museum of its kind in the world. Most of the collection deals with wagons and carriages from the 19th and early 20th century, when horses provided the main means of transportation. You’ll be impressed by the depth of the collection, with more than …
Tagged Cardston, carriage, horse, horse-drawn, Remington Carriage Museum
