Exploring and Sharing the World!
Cemeteries always have a draw. Not quite sure if it is purely the inclination to the morbid or something else but, when I drove past this cemetery in Moldova (on my way back to Chisinau after visiting Soroca in the north) and noticed the colorful and unique crosses, I went back to get a quick walk around and snap a few pictures. I love how the dark skies helped make a nice contrast to the color of the crosses.
(Click on the photos to enlarge and step through them.)
One of the pluses of going to Iceland, besides witnessing the magnificent statement nature makes there, is enjoying visiting somewhere that is manageable in size. One can cross the island in one day from coast to coast thanks for a great ring road that is in pretty good condition (especially, when one considers the climate). Another pleasant aspect of it being of manageable size is that its capital, Reykjavik, is quite approachable and easily explored on foot – perfect for a stroll to discover!
With a population of about 125,000, traffic in this city is not a problem; one can easily walk around, cross streets, etc.
Walking around Reykjavik is delightful
Plenty of road space for bicyclists
But Reykjavik has in its city center a nice pedestrian street, Laugavegur. Shops of every kind and a few eateries can be found in this street. We actually stayed right off it in an apartment we rented on Vatnsstigur – a perfect spot central to everything.
Hallgrímskirkja Church as seen from Laugavegur street
Laugavegur is a fun street to walk about!
Neat way to close up the street to cars!
Looking from one end of Laugavegur – it was a nice “warm” day!
The Old Harbor (which still functions as a harbor for fishermen, etc.) is a place with great seafood restaurants (also has a Viking museum and other places of interest). The one I went to was not fancy at all but it served OUTSTANDING fresh seafood.
The Old Harbor has been re-vitalized and it’s a great spot for dining.
One of the many restaurants in the Old Harbor
I found the town to be quite charming even if I cannot say its architecture is overwhelmingly incredible. The type and materials of construction, of course, are designed to deal with the climate the town experiences. But, some of the designs are pretty neat visually, to my untrained eye at least.
Corner door AND sharp color contrast – my kind of place!
Nice contrast between these two neighbors
A propos of it being a seaside city
Nice contrast between the exterior wall and the window frames
Simple is also OK
Typical corner door and “cut-out” above
The picket fence is a nice touch
My favorite corner door and “cut-out”
Don’t forget to look up!
Sharp color contrast
A stroll around Reykjavik is NOT complete without having an Icelandic hot dog.
One of the many hot dog carts around
There is more to see in Reykjavik, of course, like Hallgrímskirkja Church, museums, etc. But, start with a stroll like this and you will love this northern town too!
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Read and see more about my trip to Iceland:
After a great dinner in Palas del Rei and a nice comfortable stay overnight, we left the town on Day 4 to head to Boente, a tiny town and our next overnight. On this day, I would walk 21 km (about 13 miles) in around 5 hours to get to my destination. But we would first make a stop in Mélide to try its famous “pulpo” (octopus). Now, I am not a fan of octopus and similar ugly sea creatures but I had heard about how good the pulpo was in this part of Spain so we took off from Palas del Rei knowing lunch would be in the town of Mélide – I had to try it, I mean, I didn’t come this far to not try the local specialty!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we had to have a mid-morning snack (even though the breakfast at the hotel in Palas del Rei was pretty darn good!).
The pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant) along the Camino is huge!
After eating that monster (OK, I shared…), I had too much energy as my trek roommate, Emory, could attest…
As usual, the path is well marked and consists of a wide range of trail types, some more natural than others.
It is always amazing how there is a symbiosis between the age-old trails and the farms or villages the trails go through. Sometimes you feel bad you are walking right by people’s homes but, it is likely that the trail was there first…
The scenery can be quite charming!
One of my favorite parts of the walk is running into the old churches in the small towns along the way. I am not sure how active these churches are (I am sure they don’t all have their own priest) but they serve as witnesses to the needs of the pilgrims back when the Camino was truly a journey of faith, not just a modern-day trek.
One of several churches we passed this day
Another church on our way
One of the good things about the Camino is the availability of clean, safe water to drink so you don’t have to be buying bottled water or treating water. I filled my bottles at the places I stayed but you can also do refills along the way in any of the public fountains available to the trekkers.
Water fountain along the trail
Now before I get to the “pulpo”, I have to say I enjoyed the chorizo small plate more than the pulpo. The place we ate at was across a small church along the main street in Mélide. It had long picnic-like tables and a nice mix of locals and pilgrims!
Chorizo al vino in Mélide
The guy at the “kitchen” (right by the front door) preparing the pulpo!
Oh, and I have not told you about one of my favorite discoveries along the Camino: the delicious tarta de Santiago (a dense almond cake, sort of)!! Yum. #period
Tarta de Santiago
Leaving Mélide after a nice lunch of chorizo, pulpo, bread – and some wine…
The walk that day was long and, as we approached Boente, we could not wait to arrive at our “albergue”. You could say this was the day we stayed at the “least” of our accommodations (not being a hotel or house) but it was perfect. We had reserved two private rooms to share across the 8 of us and it was perfect as we did not have to fight with individual trekkers to get a bunk bed, etc. The albergue was more than adequate and clean, and the dinner they served was delicious. At this point in my life, I don’t want to do a trek where I have to wonder if I will find a spot to sleep on a given town, or whether the one I will find will be not right by the toilet so booking ahead is the way I trek.
The awesome Albergue Boente!
The Igrexa Santiago de Boente (right across the albergue)
After a stroll around town and dinner, it was time to end Day 4 and rest for Day 5!
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Read more about my Camino:
– Day 1
– Day 2
– Day 3
Among the many beautiful things to enjoy in Santa Barbara, California, one of my favorite ones is the Old Mission. Its architecture, its setting, its history all make it a neat place to visit but what I like the most is that it is still in use by the monks and the locals; in other words, it is not just a museum.
Approaching the Mission on a beautiful California day
The Santa Barbara Mission is located on what seems to be the outskirts of town but it really takes no time to reach it from the center of Santa Barbara (a very easy place to get around with a car or a bike). It was established by the Franciscan monks around 1768 as one of the last of a series of missions founded along California by the order. As with most places where Europeans (or people of European descent), there was contact between the new arrivals and the locals; in this case the Chumash Indians. The Santa Barbara Mission represents the longest continuous presence of the Franciscans in the United States.
The Mission is more than the church and the museum; also a mausoleum and retreat center
The structures that have been on the site and are now have gone through changes and repairs, especially due to damage from earthquakes over its lifetime and after a period of civil administration of the site when the structures were not maintained. Not today: the structures look well kept up and on a beautiful day (which seems to be every day in Santa Barbara), the Mission is perfect for photos! Admiring the facade of the mission is not hard. The ample space outside allows one to step back and soak the whole structure in.
Once inside, one can enjoy the beautiful inner courtyards and outdoor “hallways” of the mission.
Inner courtyard at the Mission
I could sit on a rocking chair here and rock away all day!
At some point, one enters the cemetery area on the side of the main church before entering the church itself, following the sequence proposed in the self-tour which, at $7, was a great deal! They also have led tours which seem would be best to better grasp the history and meaning of the Mission. Unfortunately, we had less time than the tours require so we did the self-guided version.
The cemetery outside of the church, near the mausoleum
The church itself has the feel of what makes a place of worship one where I could focus and reflect and pray. It is simply beautiful.
Main altar at the church
The Mission is not just a place to go check out if you are in Santa Barbara: it is one of the reasons you should GO to Santa Barbara!
The church
Tallulah Gorge State Park is located pretty much in the northeast corner of the state of Georgia. The park centers around the Tallulah Gorge around the – guess what- Tallulah River. The river starts in North Carolina and eventually makes its way to the Savannah River and the Atlantic Ocean. It has a series of waterfalls which are collectively called -wait for it- Tallulah Falls! It is supposed to be the most scenic canyon on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. with a depth of about 1,000 ft. A hike in Tallulah Gorge is a must while in the area!
I visited the canyon around mid-October. It was an unusually warm October so the leaves had not begun to change yet for real. Driving to the park from Atlanta takes about 1.5 hrs, slightly less if you live or are staying at in the northern suburbs of the metro Atlanta.
The park has an Interpretive Center with information and exhibits for the young and the not-so-young. These cover the history of the former resort town, local wildlife, and other topics. The staff at the center is quite helpful and knowledgeable about the park and its vicinity.
For the non-hiker or those who are interested in seeing some of the waterfalls but not climb steep staircases, the park has natural paths along the north and south rims of the gorge that are pretty easy to walk through. These paths offer various vantage points, or overlooks, from which to soak in the view. Walking along the north rim you can see the tower that held the tightrope Karl Wallenda used when he crossed the gorge in 1970!
The view from the north rim near the Interpretive Center
Checking out the gorge from one of the overlooks on the north rim
The north/south rim hike is about 3 miles long round-trip. Depending on the pace, the hike along the Tallulah Gorge should be doable in a couple of hours. From the first overlook, closest to the start of the trail at the Interpretive Center, there is a great view of the L’Eau d’Or (Ladore) waterfalls where yours truly had his pic taken!
Looking down at L’Eau d’Or waterfalls from the overlook
For those wanting to get closer to the waterfalls, the river and the bottom of the gorge… there are stairs!! Over 1,000 steps!
Let the stairs begin!
From the first overlook where my picture was taken, you can proceed to the Devil’s Pulpit where you get a great face on view of L’Eau d’Or.
L’Eau d’Or
From this point the large staircase takes the hiker to the suspension bridge that connects the south and north rims of the gorge.
Crossing the bridge
Once on the south rim, one can access the bottom of the gorge. On some days, it is possible to go further at the bottom of the gorge but only the first 100 people get the needed pass. However, because of the water release schedule for the upriver dam, the bottom of the gorge is not always open. It was not when I went. That was unfortunate because I would have loved to jump into the pool!!
Pool at the bottom of the gorge
Once you reach the bottom, you can take a look at Hurricane Falls and dream of sliding down those rocks!
Hurricane Falls from the bottom of the Gorge
Signs a-plenty – “rattlesnake” weed doesn’t sound good, does it??
The view you are rewarded with from the rim!
A hike in Tallulah Gorge is very enjoyable and quite doable as day trip from Atlanta or from places in Tennesse and North Carolina. Do not miss this chance to see an amazing setting, whether for an arduous hike or a stroll!
Read about these other great hikes in Georgia:
… and more to come!
I enjoyed our night in Portomarín as the town had a nice location along the Miño River – and we enjoyed sitting at a bar the night before with a nice wine enjoying the awesome weather. So I was rested and ready for Day 3.
We left the hotel (and our luggage, which was picked up by a service that dropped it off at our next hotel)around 9 AM and went towards the river where we had just a little confusion as to which way to go. We crossed the river and returned to the path that would take us to Palas del Rei.
As usual, we stopped for lunch at a place past Hospital but before Ligonde. It has a very nice outdoor seating area with plenty of shade. The menu was typical of the pilgrim’s menu.
Menu board with the offerings for the day
In this case, for example, 9 euros would get you a nice burger or lomo (pork) with real French fries accompanied with fried eggs!
Delicious!!!
I also have to highlight one of my favorite dishes: ensalada mixta which has tomatoes, lettuce, tuna, onions, olives and just goodness!
Not only colorful and diverse but mighty tasty!
Palas del Rei is a small town of over 3,000 people. We arrived around 4:30 PM after a beautiful, but long walk, with some good climbs.
Wildlife along the way!
Dirt path going between farms
Sometimes the Camino overlaps with a modern road
Continuing to walk in rural parts of the Camino
We walked into it and past a church where a funeral service was being held. We approached it from the back and then saw the steps leading down from the church to the street below – a steep walk down.
San Tirso Church
Our hotel, Hotel Casa Benilde was not far from that point (maybe 50 meters?).
We arrived at the hotel and the manager and his assistant were at the front desk, likely expecting us. They were the nicest folks, so ready to make us feel at home, walking us through every detail – including how they could accommodate our celiac and vegetarians in the group. The hotel lobby was small and, we found out, that was the reason they “scored” low on the star rating system in Spain. We were shocked at the low star rating as this place had excellent customer service, incredible breakfast catering to the dietary needs (all items were labeled gluten-free or not, etc.), the rooms were clean (if small), and the wifi was great in the rooms.
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More about the Camino before Day 3:
– Day 1
– Day 2
And after Day 3:
– Day 4
Dalvík, in the north of Iceland right at around 12 o’clock, is a small town of about 1,400 inhabitants on the western side of the Eyjafjörður fjord. We drove through this fishing town on the way to our base in Akureyri as we rounded the peninsula where Dalvík sits on route 76 going east after visiting Hólar earlier that day. Route 76 is not part of the famous ring road. It is a very scenic road hugging the coastline and passing through a couple of charming small towns (Siglufjörður and Olafsfjörður) – a drive I would recommend.
We enjoyed some of the views around Dalvík and here I share some of my favorites. What do these images remind you of?
Incredible landscape around Dalvík and across Eyjafjordur.
Fishing and fish processing are the key industries in Dalvík
Beautiful church (Dalvíkurkirkja) that must almost get lost in winter with it being white!
What seemed to be the main church stands out well against the mountains around the town
——– More on Iceland ——–
My itinerary for my week visit to Iceland
Hallgrímskirkja Church in Reykjavik
Þingvellir: Where History and Nature Meet in Iceland!
As I mentioned in a prior post, I started the Camino de Santiago around kilometer 110 in Sarria due to time constraints. However, the group that organized the trek, Trekking for Kids, knew from a prior trek that O Cebreiro was a town we could not missed. So on our way to start our Camino, we made a stop to see O Cebreiro in Lugo, Spain.
O Cebreiro is just 151 km away from Santiago. The yellow arrow indicates the way to Santiago for the pilgrims.
If you are already on the Camino, you will go one up to the most challenging uphills in all the Camino (not THE most, but one of the most from what I am told) to get to O Cebreiro. But based on what I saw, I would say you would be rewarded by arriving at O Cebreiro.
The town has a few souvenir shops and eateries: a good stop for a pilgrim!
O Cebreiro is known for its “pallozas” (huts). It is said they belie the pre-Roman history of the town.
The palloza architecture
Another example of the architecture typical of the town
Even the trash bins espouse the palloza architectural style!
O Cebreiro is also known for a miracle that happened there. The miracle happened in the early 14th century when a peasant struggled on a harsh winter day to get to the town to hear Mass and the Virgin Mary appeared during the consecration of the host and wine. Back in those days, the story of what happened traveled through Europe and even the Catholic Monarchs themselves, Ferdinand and Isabella, did a pilgrimage to the town.
Its current church, Santa María la Real, is not that old at all but it is built on ruins discovered in the 1960s of a pre-Romanesque church. The baptismal font does that from the 9th century so there is something really old in there 🙂
Looking into the church…
Close up of the altar
Side altar at the church
The church is simple and charming but definitely a great place for a wedding!
Wedding guests enjoying the town as a waiting room
The bride and groom’s ride! Awesome!
As we wrapped up our visit to get to Samos (where we would visit its famous and huge monastery), we saw where the Camino leaves town headed west towards Santiago de Compostela. It only made us more eager to get our show on the road at Sarria, our departure point. But first, Samos!
Pilgrims leaving O Cebreiro to continue their Camino… (Note the yellow arrow on the building.) Buen Camino!
I moved to the Isla del Encanto, Puerto Rico, when I was two years old and lived there until I finished high school. During my many trips back to the island, I have always enjoyed the landing in San Juan as I get a great view no matter on which side of the airplane I sit on (though the ocean side is more colorful as you can see!).
I thought it may be cool to share the view from my window seat as the plan crosses over land near Cataño, just west of Old San Juan. Enjoy the pictures of this, one of the prettiest landings ever!
Market time! Marrakesh has a very lively market, Jamaa el Fna (or Djema el-Fna) spread out over the same-named square, second most famous square in African after Cairo’s Tahrir Square. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site so that should command some attention, right?
Of course, the souks (or alleys) of the medina are full of shops but it is this square that is the main scene. At night, the market is teeming with life. Locals and tourists alike enjoy all it offers. The range of items for sale, be them food or other goods is wide. Eateries can be found all around from the basic to the restaurants. Of course, be ready for the extra “persuasiveness” of any of the sellers around. It is intense to walk around (a little bit of a turn-off for me). You can also see diverse live animals to charm you. But feeling the place’s vibrancy makes it a must-see and must-walk-around. Perhaps even buying a thing or two?
Dates, dates, dates
So many orange juice carts! Must be a lot of thirsty people around…
Food stalls, like these with spices, add a lot of color -and aromas- to the scene.
Beautiful lamp
And back to food after that lamp!
Continuing with the food vendors…
Dried figs!
The baked goods could not be far behind!
One of the many casual eateries in the square; more formal ones can be found in its periphery
Soft drinks are part of an entertainer’s set up in the square
Many restaurants all around
So whether during a short visit like mine or one that allows you exploring every nook and cranny of ‘kesh, don’t miss out on an evening out at Jemaa el-Fnaa!
Nothing like a beautiful sunset. And even better: one in California! So I will celebrate that with TWO, not one, of my favorite sunset pictures I took while visiting Santa Barbara!
At the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
When planning our trip to Iceland, we decided that because the Blue Lagoon was on the way from the airport to Reykjavik that it would make a lot of sense to stop there after landing as a way to relax after a not-long-enough overnight flight (and a long layover in JFK).
So after landing in Reykjavik, we found the bus that takes passengers to the Blue Lagoon (along with all the luggage), right outside of arrivals – you can’t miss it once you walk outside! There are buses that go to the Blue Lagoon and others that go into Reykjavik. Just look at the buses or ask! Folks are very helpful.
The arrivals area at the Keflavik airport
Right across from that arrival area, you see the buses
Once you get to the Blue Lagoon, right by where the buses drop you off, is a storage room where you can leave your luggage (for a price). You can bring a bag in to the changing room and there are lockers there but they are small. We packed the bathing suit, a change of clothes and some toiletries in the smaller bag. There was a little of a wait to get in as the place was full and they control how many people will be in at once (which I take it as a good thing).
In the changing area they clearly ask that everyone shower without clothing on BEFORE getting into the lagoon. I assume it is for hygiene reasons but it seems most people ignore that…
Though it was a little cold that morning, the moment you step into the lagoon (which is sort of a light baby blue) you begin to warm up. The lagoon is quite large and you can remain close to the area where you drop your towel/lounge or you can go further away to areas that are much more quite on the opposite side. That day love apparently was in the air as there were many couples on that opposite side… You can also hunt down the areas where the hot water comes in if you want the temperature a little hotter.
Beautiful waters and landscape
Conveniently (probably for all the British youth that may visit), there is a corner of the lagoon with an in-water bar area for those who want their drink on while in the lagoon.
The bar scene
Once in the lagoon, you can go to a couple of spots to find the local white-ish mud to put on you to rejuvenate your skin. Though always uncertain about the effectiveness of such muds, I partook. Clearly, not a flattering look but I look 18 years younger. Well worth the embarrassing look captured below!
The muddy faces blend well with the steamy air of the lagoon!
Oh, and it is worth saying that kids enjoy the lagoon too as you can see above! But be sure to put the arm floaties because, even if they know how to swim, the waters are not clear so if a child goes under, they are unlikely to be seen. No need to ask for trouble!
So, despite the similarly-named film, there was no Brooke Shields anywhere that I could tell. If you go and you spot her, please let me know! Otherwise, know that this is a great first stop to make after landing in Iceland from a red eye flight – it will help you recover some from the jet lag and lack of sleep, even if a bit on the touristy side!
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Read and see more about my trip to Iceland:
Barranco Wall – A Great Challenge | Kilimanjaro Day 4
Preparing to Hike Kilimanjaro: More than Training & Gear
Descending from Kilimanjaro’s Summit | Kilimanjaro Day 6 and 7
Jordan’s Wadi Rum: Not Just for Lawrence of Arabia
On the Machame Route | Kilimanjaro Day 1
Tanzania’s Lake Manyara: A Cool and Easy Safari
Great Gear for Climbing Kilimanjaro | Clothing
A Fourth of July Celebration – Atlanta’s Peachtree Road Race
A Few Good Things to Do in Willemstad, Curacao
Photo Essay of the Center of Moldova’s Capital: Chisinau
