The Enchanted Monastery

Monasterio de Santa Cristina (Ribas de Sil) in Galicia, Spain, originates from the 11th century, when monks came here to live in seclusion to meditate.

We had great difficulties in finding the hidden monastery, and had to follow winding roads for miles. Then a multitude of stone steps down…but, we were richly rewarded.

There is not much written about the monastery, or its church, but the very location and surroundings are enigmatic. I hope you noticed the stone faces watching us from above in the header…

Hidden in the forest, it was impossible to get an overview of the buildings. We walked up the layered paths, and the unreal feeling only escalated. Not many monks have ever lived here – but how did they survive? It seemed impossible that they would have grown anything in this stone paradise. No matter how green it was…

The old trees all seemed to be aware of us being there…and as I turned around on the path, one of them made my eyes wander up the trunk for his message…resting some four, five meters up…

Travel theme: Writing

Travel theme: Writing

We once started writing to sum up collected taxes and to label things. We still do.  But, we also write for many other reasons – Love for example, and for religious reasons (I guess that too is out of love).

Me meeting all the H.P. fans at the "Elephant House"

Me meeting all the Harry Potter fans at the ”Elephant House” in Edinburgh.

Sometimes the writing is not that beautiful…but still written out of love.

Tibetansk skylt ovanför ingången till ett tempel

Tibetansk skylt ovanför ingången till ett tempel – Tibetan sign from a temple in Lhasa.

And sometimes I find writing utterly beautiful.

Often the eastern ”alphabets” and writings are much more artistic and beautiful than ours – or what do you think?

 

WPC: Fun

Great Fun! Fun watching them, fun playing volleyball, fun puppy love…

How I enjoyed this stay with Totti’s little ones! Thank you Michelle, for finally having Fun!

 

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Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Any Seating Including Tables and Chairs

Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Any Seating including Tables and Chairs

This is Any seating…

from the Car Graveyard in Ryd, Småland, Sweden.

Thursday Thoughts – El Capricho

Why do I love Antonio Gaudí? Maybe because of his love for nature’s wonders – starting when he was only a small child. His way of using nature’s forms and designs in everything he created. Making the pillars in Sagráda Família with scars like the tree trunks get when they have lost a branch, making lamps look like flowers and light spill out like waves in the sea…

In every detail he was …mirroring nature.

In Comillas, on the north coast of Spain, you will find this ”folly” – El Capricho – by Gaudí, built for Máximo Díaz de Quijano (a relative of the marquis of Comillas) in the 1880´s. You immediately recognize his style using iron structures, glazed pottery and stained glass.

Come, let’s take a ”folly” walk …

In my dreams, a dinner with Antonio Gaudí would be optional… to get the opportunity to listen to his ideas and maybe discuss nature’s impact on humans – body and soul. I would have had many, many questions…

I was lucky enough to meet him in his garden, sitting there admiring his work. I tried to get some answers, but mostly we sat quietly contemplating…me admiringly of course. But, I am so thankful for having finally met him – my favourite architect.

CFFC: Legs and Feet

Legs and feet for Cee…could not help posting this one from Le Louvre, Paris. We had great fun, and my daughter had me posing, joking about her brother’s big feet…

For more feet, click here.

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Cee’s Black&WhitePhoto Challenge: Things With Engines or Motors

Well…I’m not sure it had any engine or motor – but I liked it!

Cee is asking for engines and motors…here is a car I fancied – and so did the man in it!

For more engines, click here.