The title of this post seems like a mouthful: Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia (Basilica of our Lady of Altagracia).
This massive structure in Higüey, Dominican Republic is to honor the Virgin of Altagracia, national patron saint of the country. It was inaugurated in the 1970s and is within reach of many tourist centers in the DR, like Punta Cana. Its design is very original and it is worth checking out whenever you are ready to take a break from the beach! While you are at it, maybe meander around town – who knows what hole-in-the-wall delicious food you may find! A few more photos to wrap this post!
Detail of the front door
January 29th, 2013
Posted by
Raul |
Dominican Republic, Latin America, Picture of the Week |
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Last summer, as you may have read (or hopefully will check out!), I did a hike in the Transylvanian Alps in Romania. Home base for the trek was the charming city of Braşov. I still have to write about that beautiful town but this picture really evokes the spirit of old town Braşov for me. After a nice summer night dinner, we strolled around town as many of the locals seemed to be doing. It was a fun atmosphere and I wish I had had more time there. I shall return!
December 26th, 2012
Posted by
Raul |
Europe, Picture of the Week, Romania |
one comment
I wrote in an earlier post about this grand hotel of Washington, D.C.: The Mayflower, a Renaissance Marriott hotel. I just stayed there again and got to see it decorated for Christmas. I’d though I’d share this beautiful photo of its lobby area decorated for the holiday season.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all!
December 16th, 2012
Posted by
Raul |
Picture of the Week, US & Canada, Washington, D.C. |
2 comments
Everything in Dubrovnik is picturesque (check out other sights in this jewel of the Adriatic!), including the view below of a harbor used by smaller craft including local fishermen.
September 21st, 2012
Posted by
Raul |
Croatia, Picture of the Week |
6 comments
I finally visited Copenhagen in 2011 with my family. One of the most picturesque areas of this city by the sea is Nyhavn. Nice waterfront cafés (and also good eateries in the side streets!).
September 21st, 2012
Posted by
Raul |
Denmark, Picture of the Week |
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Near the School of Medicine, in Iasi (pronounced yash), Romania, I learned what poetry in motion could mean… Call me. MAYBE.
More about my trip to Romania? Check out the hike I did! Or “static poetry” here. Or how the trip evolved from the hike to a few more things!
September 13th, 2012
Posted by
Raul |
Picture of the Week, Romania |
5 comments
I loved the opportunity that arose unexpectedly a couple of years ago to make the long trip to Australia and New Zealand. It is not often I take more than 2 weeks off work at a time so having a month to go Down Under was pretty special – and yet not enough time by 200%!
One of my favorite discoveries was the incredible natural setting combined with man-made structures that is Sydney Harbor. Though I could not take a camera up when I climbed the iconic harbor bridge, I did strive to take pictures from the bridge.
The picture here takes me back to that visit and to the incredible setting that is Sydney Harbor. Here is to returning some day!
August 30th, 2012
Posted by
Raul |
Australia & NZ, Picture of the Week |
3 comments
I have yet to write about my days in Dubrovnik earlier this year, or about the story behind its tiled roofs but I had to go ahead and share how those tiled roofs are made for lovers… love birds, that is.
August 15th, 2012
Posted by
Raul |
Croatia, Europe, Picture of the Week |
4 comments
As I prepare to write the story of my visit to the Republic of Moldova, a former Soviet socialist republic, I thought this week’s Photo of the Week could be a good initial way to share one of the things that the country has to offer: its monasteries and churches.
The Frumoasa Monastery (which was on our way to the better known and more significant Curchi Monastery) was my first stop after entering Moldova from Romania near Iasi. It is a nun monastery today, as it was for a few years pre-World War II and Soviet communism.
As many monasteries in Moldova, they were severely damaged either intentionally and/or by fire and restored after the fall of communism. Also, as most former monasteries during Soviet communism in Moldova, this one was used for non-religious purposes during that era having served as an orphanage, a school for deaf children, a colony for girls, and even a dancing club for children. Different buildings in the complex were used for different purposes.
While communism severely damaged the original buildings and likely destroyed original architecture, artwork, and documents, the dedication shown post-communism to restore these jewels of Moldova speaks a lot about the Moldovan people, and humans in general: no political system can really remove a people’s faith. Most monasteries I visited had a lot of the faithful -young and old- coming in for prayers.
Frumoasa Monastery and Church
August 1st, 2012
Posted by
Raul |
Europe, Moldova, Picture of the Week |
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Pompeii was a normal town in ancient Rome. Lots of good business due to its place by the sea on the way to Rome. Fast and fun place for the sailors who enjoyed the pleasures it offered. Until that fateful day that destroyed the town and created history…
As I entered Pompeii from where the old shoreline used to be (it’s further away now) and walked up the ramp, I wondered how many people had been running down this main entrance to the city, hoping to make it to a boat, hoping to save their lives on that day…
July 19th, 2012
Posted by
Raul |
Europe, Italy, Picture of the Week |
7 comments
A few years ago, I went to Vienna as part of a series of offices visits for a client. Vienna meetings were conveniently scheduled for a Friday so the weekend could be enjoyed in the former Imperial capital.
As the Peachtree Road Race approaches in my hometown, a race I ran for 10 yrs before deciding the 1 mile walk from home to be a spectator was more fun, I think of the happy coincidence: it was the weekend of the Vienna Marathon. I have such luck sometimes. The same happened when I visited Florence.
Marathons, or any road race for that matter, offer great opportunities for photos of the human effort. However, one of my favorite pictures captures one of the most important spots along a marathon route: the water stops… This is the aftermath after one such stop…
(Photo taken with Canon EOS Rebel)
June 28th, 2012
Posted by
Raul |
Austria, Europe, Picture of the Week |
4 comments
