CFFC: Arch, Dome or Half Circle

For Cee – three different, man made examples and one natural this Tuesday.

In the header, Moroccan architecture.

Beijing, Bridges in the Forbidden City.

Reykjavik, Hallgrímskirkja

And Rome, nature’s own design

 

 

WPC: All-Time Favorites

I want to thank you again, for inspiring us all to keep blogging – share our experiences and learn from each other. It has been good, so good. And tonight I truly feel sorry about losing this opportunity.

Many of us got to know each other through WPC, now some of us maybe will not have the strength, discipline or imagination to blog that frequently again. But, even in the desert there is beauty…So, I hope we will! – You have been a great help to make blogging fun and addictive in a positive way.

It will not be easy to choose an all-time favorite…I don’t believe it is easier to choose  three or four either. I will think about it for an hour or two…meanwhile, I send my love to you all, and especially to: Krista, Jeff, Michelle, Erica, Ben, Sheri, Donncha, Jen, Sara and Cheri.

I cannot choose a favorite of mine among you either…and why should I? I just felt that Cheri, your words added to your picture – those words touched the heart of my blogging.

My choices… there is much feeling connected to the pictures chosen, memories and heart…While some of them were favorites of yours, some of them maybe are only favorites of mine. But they all are some years old – otherwise they could not be All-Time Favorites, could they? (More of my criteria at the end of the post. )

In the header, a lonely beach on the east coast of New Zealand. My family traveled together for a whole month, and we walked alone on this beach, each one of us…contemplating the beauty of Earth, and the end of our journey. Here is my son listening to the ocean.

Then – a hot night in Barcelona, my family and I was out walking and ended up in the middle of a gigantic motor bike gathering. Foreign feeling – but magical.

This is also a family hiking memory – very dear to me. My daughter resting on a giant pine branch in the Spanish mountains, somewhere between Spain and France.

Spain again – Segovia and its famous aqueduct. I had never seen anything like it – it goes through the city center and is still standing after centuries and centuries. No concrete, no nails – only the stones themselves. I walked, sat, stood in the steps contemplating – for hours. Enigmatic shadows as well.

This photo was taken at our summer house, when I still had both dogs, Mille and Totti. No other photo of them shows so on the spot their special temperaments. Now, who is the wild boy and who is the law abiding one? Fond memories.

My dear blogging friend Maria (Mariayarri), in Jämtland, took me to the Tännforsen waterfall in winter. I had never seen a gigantic waterfall frozen before. It took my breath away – and I remember, many of yours’ as well.

An early spring day some years ago, it started snowing on my way back home from the forest walk. This deer shed was still standing. (Now gone) The photo became a favorite with both my readers and me.

My Princess of the Night in flower for the first time. We waited for hours – and then everything was over within 20-30 minutes. A Wonder. This flower is about 20 centimeters and the scent fills the whole room. A photo is not enough to grasp the event…you need all your senses!

Meeting another dear blogging friend, Seonaid (Greenmackenzie) – from Scotland. She does not blog anymore, but I got the opportunity to visit her two times when she lived just outside Edinburgh. She and her lovely family had three Bearded Collies, and two of them looked just like my Amanda ( – before Mille and Totti). Those few, magical days with them will never leave me. Also a photo with feeling, showing well the character of the dog.

This photo was taken on a rainy trip to China. It rained every day – and the wedding couple here had a speedy walk on the Bond in Shanghai, waiting for their photographer. In Sweden there is a saying that rain in your crown on your wedding day – will give you a happy marriage. I hope this one was/is! This shot was a favorite with Sylvain Landry when he had his weekly prompts.

 

Catedrales beach, Spain. We just happened to find it – a World Heritage – it was not in the guide book…Kilometers of rock formations of enigmatic size and shapes. We spent several hours walking in the sunset. Incredible feeling that such a marvelous place was not marked out in any book. It made the experience even more magical.

The last photo, of Lhasa and the Pothala Palace, also marks what I see as my criteria for All-Time Favorites: Deep feeling, being in awe, magical surroundings, beauty, dream fulfilled or come true.

Vadstena – Town and Castle Villa

Vadstena – is named a city despite its only 6000 -7000 inhabitants. This is a very charming place, where the main street still has got all the shops gathered – just as they would have been in the Middle Ages. The buildings in the city center date mainly from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

And – people live in them. It is not a museum, even if you are tempted to think it is.

The old town is well preserved and the streets have not changed much over the centuries. The Town Hall is Sweden’s oldest, dating back to the early 15th century.

A look into our lodging as well – the Castle Villa in charming Jugend style. All in all it was a lovely stay – to celebrate Spring and our son’s birthday.

CFFC: Books or Paper

 

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Books or Paper

 

Thursday Thoughts – The End of the Journey

At the end of this journey – I send my love to the mountains and valleys of Bhutan…

to all its beautiful dzongs and chortens…

to its pristine rural landscapes…

to the beauty of its religion and traditions…

to its lovely flowers and trees…

to its loving people…

and beautiful art…

to its healthy stone baths…

to its humorous games…

and to its beautiful children.

And my sincere gratefulness to our excellent guides, who really went out of their way to show us everything and to share their immense knowledge of the country and its people.

 

The lovely Jenny Adhikari (left) – find her here: https://www.beyondbordersnepal.com

And our eminent local guide, Rinzen (so sorry I never got his last name!). Thank you also for answering all our strange questions and spending precious time in the evenings to explain about life in Bhutan, its customs and religion!

We travelled happily with https://www.varldensresor.se/resor/himalaya/askdrakens-rike

 

Have you missed out on some posts in this Bhutan series – most of them are here :

On the Wings of the Dragon

Paro Tsechu

WPC: Awakening

Thursday Thoughts from Bhutan

The Streets of Paro

Rinpung Dzong – Bhutan and Its People

I Had a Dream Tonight

Walking Home – Slow Contemplation

Thursday Thoughts – 108 Chortens and a Himalayan Panorama

The Divine Madman

Saving the World, and the Contents of a Pouch

A Dancing Traffic Light

Man’s Best Friend – For Real

Thursday Thoughts – Beyond Beauty

The Holy Chele La Pass

Guess Who?

Thursday Thoughts – Thimpu in My Heart

Thursday Thoughts – Taktshang Goemba, or Tiger’s Nest

 

 

 

Thursday Thoughts – Taktshang Goemba or Tiger’s Nest

Guru Padmasambhava, popularly known as Guru Rinpoche, visited and sanctified Bhutan in the 8th century when evil spirits abounded and harmed people.

Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew to this site on a tigress’ back to subdue a local demon. Thereafter, he meditated here for more than three months. Taktshang Goemba or Tiger’s Nest Monastery is one of Bhutan’s most sacred religious sites. It hangs on a cliff 3120 meters above the Paro Valley. Every Bhutanese should visit once during their lifetime.

 

This was our last day in Bhutan, and maybe the one I will keep as the greatest gem

Let there be no sound, no words too many…

 

Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate what they already have

Buddha 

Family is of greatest importance to the Bhutanese people

Magical forests too…

…Pristine in the fresh air of the Himalayas

Meeting so many lovely friends on my three hours’ journey

Taktshang Goemba

Turning back again, walking alone – but then again, not

“There is no path to Happiness. Happiness is the path.”

Buddha