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: Collage

18 juli, 201718 juli, 2017 / Leya / 31 kommentarer

A bit late…but still. Collage Cars! Pictures taken at Kyrkö mosse, Ryd, and at Nostalgia, Ronneby. For more information about Kyrkö Mosse: Visit Sue at Words Visual and Viveka at Myguiltypleasures.

WPC: Surprise

12 april, 2017 / Leya / 22 kommentarer

Surprise – well, some surprises over the years are not easily forgotten. First out in the header – when our neighbours had not picked their red apples before the snow got them…and the second one – the first time I saw a swimming bus… in The Danube!

Jokkmokk – The Reindeer Race

19 februari, 201719 februari, 2017 / Leya / 18 kommentarer

Every year there is this race on the lake – and it is great fun to watch it. The reindeer are indeed not very tame, and they have to be handled rather like the wild creatures they are… But they seem to like this game – and the running!

The horns often got tangled in the ropes…

…but finally time for a new race!

…and the reindeer eager!

Almost unstoppable…

Well…the last guy was really funny – and he most certainly enjoyed this game even more than the reindeer….No sledge, just his boots!

The reindeer are quite unstoppable as well, as you can see from the pictures. When they have finished the race…they will go on running!

And walking them home can be rather tricky too – even more if they are two…

Jukkasjärvi Icehotel

11 februari, 201711 februari, 2017 / Leya / 39 kommentarer

Icehotel is the world’s first hotel made of ice and snow. Founded in 1989, it is reborn in a new guise every winter, in the Swedish village of Jukkasjärvi – 200 km north of the Arctic Circle.

This winter season there is, alongside the classic Icehotel experience. ICEHOTEL 365. This hotel was built to be a permanent structure that includes luxury suites, each with private relax and bathroom, and art suites, all sculptured by selected artists. There is a large ice bar that serves champagne, and an ice gallery. This ice experience can be visited year-round and is cooled by solar panels during the summer months.

Let us first go inside the ordinary hotel and enjoy its cold beauty – 5 degrees C below zero.

As we walk down the aisle there are corridors on our left, all leading into rooms – the hotel has got 55 rooms and suites. I admire the grand chandeliers, all handmade in ice…

We approach the ice chapel, and the light is amazing. I have to walk slowly to take it all in.

The ice benches are all covered in reindeer skins, and we sit rather comfortably here. Artists made the altar and the decorations, as well as the baptismal font to the left.

The very white material making up the chapel is called snis – probably a merge of snow and ice, as that is what it really is.

The Torne river stretches 520 kilometers, and is the largest of Sweden’s four national rivers -in fact also one of the last untouched rivers in Europe.

It’s the Torne River that provides Icehotel with its ice in winter – and in the summer when the hotel melts, the water returns to its source. Natural ice requires a lot of work – before it is harvested in March, when it has grown its thickest. Months are devoted to maintaining the “ice field” and keeping it clear of snow for the ice to have the best possible conditions to grow.

Each harvested block weighs about two tons. The picture shows one of them standing.

In next post we will enter the new hotel and the cool bar…with drinks served in ice glasses. I will walk you through some of the spectacular art suites as well. I wonder if you would like to check in…? Hope to see you then!

CFFC: Good and Bad

24 januari, 2017 / Leya / 5 kommentarer

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Good and Bad

This is a game played by men and bulls in Terceira, Azores. The bad thing is that it seems to be man versus beast – but the good thing is, that the bull is running through the streets on a rope, pulled to a stop when he gets to wild. Mostly young men try to run as close as possible, but never hurt the bull. They let loose about five bulls – one at a time – and take them in to rest when they are tired. Nobody gets hurt. It is a matter of showing courage, impressing ladies and other young guys – bull and man trying to outsmart each other.

No politics…but I could have used the white hat and the black hat in this challenge as well – reversed though. A matter of opinion.

Cee’s B&W Challenge: Sculptures, Statues and Carvings

19 januari, 201719 januari, 2017 / Leya / 2 kommentarer

Cigarette butt sculptures…a one man work to save the islands from this poison. All those sacks contain butts as well. Impressive. He was interviewed by media here.

Partytime – At the Fishmarket!

4 januari, 20174 januari, 2017 / Leya / 16 kommentarer

Before sailing with our ship, Cachalote, we went to the fishmarket in Puerto Ayora. On our way, we were constantly reminded of Darwin and his famous finches, and how repulsed he was by the marine iguanas, famously referring to them in his journal as “imps of darkness.” Personally I must say I love them both! I also love their surroundings and the way they exquisitely blend in…More than once I almost trod on them. Juan, our naturalist guide, was constantly warning us not to touch any animals here.

Marine iguana

Darwin recognized that the differrences in their beaks depends on their different food sources

When we finally reached the fishmarket, we got a full blown show the next half hour!

The fish (and bird…)market in Puerto Ayora

On the roof, waiting for the right moment…

Something fell under that box…let me…

The left brown pelican has lost his upper beak – I wonder how he managed…

The Great Frigate birds are tough guys who always steal their dinners…

If or When you finally get your hands on a piece of fish – run!

Always aware of the importance of their precious islands – do not catch the wrong fish!

Keep the Galápagos Islands the way they are – serene and unpolluted. 200 000 tourists a year visit them. Maybe Ecuador has to slow down a bit to save this treasure for the future?

Galápagos – Santa Cruz and Darwin

3 januari, 20173 januari, 2017 / Leya / 20 kommentarer

From the lushness of the Amazon we flew to Galápagos – now in the dry season. We visited 10 of the 19 islands, starting with Santa Cruz and the Charles Darwin Research Station.

I guess most people recognize this gentleman as a Giant Tortoise, but some maybe think of him as the Galápagos Tortoise or the Elephant Tortoise. Length 150 cm and weight up to 250kg, and they can get very old. Of originally 14 subspecies, 10 remains. This gentleman here, might have been alive when Darwin came to the islands 1835 – just reflect upon that…

Lonesome George was very well known over the world as the last existing of his kind. Despite many efforts to save his species – the scientists failed. He died alone in 2012.

In the highland area of Santa Cruz, these giants walk and live. Not very well seen by the local farmers though, as they easily break any fence and eat 40 kg a day…

…but on the other hand they spread the seeds again back onto earth again …

These giants are not very fast…and we saw several of them along – or on – the road. There were even roadsigns to warn drivers about them.

Our guide, Juan, was a tough guy – almost military discipline – but that is needed to protect the islands and its very special wildlife. We were requested to stay in the group, only walk on the signposted paths and not move closer to the animals than 2 metres.

Most species are endemic, that is also why Darwin got easily observed material for his theories. In fact he did not visit the islands for more than 35 days – and from this came…The Origin of Species. Something that was to change the world for ever.

The research institute is very successful in breeding and releasing tortoises, iguanas and finches – among other endemic species. There was this great story of Diego, a tortoise of the hoodensis species, who 1905 was brought from Espagñola island to San Diego Zoo. He never liked it there, but stayed until 1965, when he was brought back to Santa Cruz to save his species from extinction. And he did – almost he alone! Now there are about 2000 of his offspring ”running” around on the islands! He would not be photographed though…turning his back on us all…

There are two distinct carapace shapes: the dome – shaped and in this picture, the saddle – backed tortoise

The saddle – backed have got longer neck and legs…

…when mating, the higher you can raise your head…the better chances the female will accept you

Freedom!

Amazonas – Goodbye and Happy New Year!

31 december, 201631 december, 2016 / Leya / 43 kommentarer

The very last shimmering hours at Sacha Lodge, we spent canoeing again – and finally, for the sunset over the Amazon, in a high tree tower up in a giant kapok tree.

Let us start with the canoe ride – full up with fresh food and ready for the last adventure!

Into the forest again, on silent waterways

And the beauty of the dense rainforest

Finally we reached the last path, hiking to the old kapok tree.

Breathtaking views..

…in every direction

Do you hear a loud, cartoonish water-droplet noise? A Russet backed Oropendola! (The oriole family)

Tucans – this one as striped as a bumble bee

Orchids on the heavy branches

Slowly the sun was fading and the light smoothened out both the landscape and the minds of us six friends sitting in the kapok tree. Each one in his own world…knowing this was the last day, the last hours of our great adventure. The Amazon saying its goodbyes…and us contemplating life’s beauty, in this moment in time

No words needed – only the sounds of the rainforest. A sadness and a joy, a thankfulness and a hope for this wonder to survive, to be given to our children and grandchildren.

In the early morning, we left this Paradise. Of course it showed its most glorious face this day – for us to treasure and to keep in our hearts.

Sacha Lodge will go on helping the locals with free water taxi, school supplies and a medical assistance program – and ecotourism to positively influence the course of land management in the area.

On reaching the Napo River again – a tiny, but clear rainbow appeared in the sky –

I want to thank you all, readers, followers, everyone who finds joy in my posts – it is you who make me tick…I hope to see you again next year – 2017. All the best!