Streets of London – Love and Love Not

19 augusti, 201719 augusti, 2017 / Leya / 31 kommentarer

Big cities demand a lot of walking – London is no exception. The Underground might be the fastest, but the Overground for certain is the nicest. Let’s go for a walk and a ride…and look upon the city with fresh eyes…Today – What do I still love about it and what do I not love that much?

…the old Michelin building turned into a restaurant

I love the taxis…

…and I love the bridges too.

But…this new landmark…on Trafagar Square, among lions and old heroes….nooooooo

London is a city I will always come back to. Not in the way I used to as a young girl and woman, I know that. Today it is more of the atmosphere…the walks and the talks. The friendly people. No need for many musicals or concerts or exhibitions…How do You feel about London? Do you go often? Why/why not?

Welcome to Little Venice!

16 augusti, 201716 augusti, 2017 / Leya / 17 kommentarer

When in London, I try to visit a new part every time – and this time I walked along Regent’s Canal to Little Venice. They say Lord Byron coined the name, true or not, anyway it is a charming area with its moored boats and little ”gardens”.

How about joining me for a little walk?

Along Regent’s Canal

Under the bridges

Grand Houses along the canal

Some boats were more homes to flowers than to people…

Inviting you to sit down and read a good book!

Minimalistic

Coot in Green

Two for you

Loveliness

WPC: Elemental and Travel theme: Numerals

14 augusti, 201714 augusti, 2017 / Leya / 3 kommentarer

Where do we find it all? In London of course!

WPC: Elemental

Travel theme: Numerals

Giant’s Causeway – The Loveliest Day

5 augusti, 20176 augusti, 2017 / Leya / 30 kommentarer

Soaking wet after the dog walk tonight, I desperately long for a lost summer. When in Ireland (a rainy country they say…) this May, we had sunshine, 20 degrees C and no wind on the north coast. I just have to go back for the photos…think I will show you just How…lucky we were, and what a glorious day we had at Giant’s Causeway. Our landlord told us the weather had not been this beautiful any day this year, 2017.

The walking distance makes this trip a half day tour, but in full sun, everything is just amazing and you can walk any distance… There was even the possibility, for elderly or disabled people, of using a van.

The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. (Although legend has it built by the Irish Giant Fionn…)It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland.

The area was declared a World heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986. According to Wikipedia, there was a poll in 2005, where Radio Times’ readers voted the Giant’s Causeway as the fourth greatest natural wonder in UK.

Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides.

…and flowers grow between the terraced pillars

The little pools make the area more alive…

Excellent playground – if you are careful…

…and bring granddad!

The Giant’s Causeway and Causeway Coast World Heritage Site is today one of the most popular tourist attractions in Northern Ireland. Read about the legend of the two fighting giants from Ireland and Scotland, and the building of the Causeway, here.

WPC: Unusual

19 juli, 201719 juli, 2017 / Leya / 14 kommentarer

Unusual…well, my daughter spotted this unusual grave decoration when we visited the beautiful Highgate Cemetery, London. The much loved author Douglas Adams’ fans leave their most precious pens in the pot. Of course we did as well. We are all only Hitchhikers here, aren’t we…

Thursday Thoughts and WPC: Bridge

6 juli, 20177 juli, 2017 / Leya / 21 kommentarer

My Thursday Thoughts connected with WPC: Bridge.

A hope and a wish for all countries to continue their work – to stand united, bridgeing all disputes – to save our planet Earth. A Swedish meadow in its summer glory – is it not worth preserving? May the Love of Mother Nature be the Bridge for us all.

Kilmacduagh

2 juli, 20172 juli, 2017 / Leya / 11 kommentarer

The stunning Kilmacduagh monastery was founded by St Colman in the 7thCentury.

I loved everything about it – the serenity, the silence, the rural beauty of the area.

The round tower is dated from the 12th Century, and the tallest one in Ireland – Kilmacduagh is 34 meters in height with the doorway set 7 meters above ground level.
The tower also has quite a visible lean to it – said to be 0.5 meter from the vertical.

The biggest church building on the site is the cathedral ( Templemore Mac Duagh). dated between the 11th and 12th Century.

The Church of St John the Baptist (Teampuill Owen) is in the field next to the cathedral.
It dates from the 10th Century which would make this church the oldest building on the site.

The cemetary is still in use, and I do not think I have ever seen a thicker stone wall than this one.

Impressive!

On leaving, we finally got a closer look at the lovely cows – and they finally got a closer look at us…

Early Morning Kilkenny

30 juni, 20171 juli, 2017 / Leya / 14 kommentarer

We woke up early to take a morning walk in Old Town Kilkenny before breakfast. Kilkenny is one of Ireland’s most beautiful towns, and has been of importance since the 13th century – it was even the capital of Ireland a long time ago.

Eight degrees only, but silence and sunshine. A very pleasant walk.

Warning – slippery because of the butter maker’s

Kilkenny Castle, 12th C

Titanic – Cobh, Ireland

27 juni, 201727 juni, 2017 / Leya / 6 kommentarer

A windy and rainy day, we visited Cobh. Somehow the weather seemed appropriate.

The little seaside town of Cobh, with 13 000 inhabitants, has got one of the world’s largest natural harbours. Cobh was the place where most of the Irish emigrants left for America during the great starvation 1844-48. More than 1 million people died when the potato harvest failed (mildew) and by 1856 2 ½ million people had left Ireland for America. Not until 1930 did the Irish stop leaving the country – due to the Wall Street crash.

Cobh was the last stop for Titanic before her Maiden voyage across the Atlantic. Titanic entered Cobh harbour April 11, 1912. 120 passengers had bought their tickets there – hoping for a new and better life overseas. April 15 she went down after hitting an iceberg. I guess everyone knows she was a White Star Line ship.

Today there is a museum where the White Star Line’s terminal was. Down in the harbour there are mosaic tablets with memorials of those who embarked from Cobh that day. Even if we all know the story…this is a very special place to visit.

Thursday Thoughts – Cheers!

22 juni, 201722 juni, 2017 / Leya / 8 kommentarer

When in Ireland, you just have to visit the Guinness Storehouse – Ireland’s most popular tourist attraction. And, if you do not like beer, there are so many other things to lay your eyes on…A highly recommended visit.