Georgena
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural Harbour on the island of Malta. This grand Harbour -- a most fitting name -- has played a major part in Malta's fate throughout history, not quite because of its aesthetic beauty, but because of the opportunities it offered those who sailed the Mediterranean. On the left you can see one of the many look out towers in Malta. This natural Harbour has been greatly improved with extensive docks and wharves, and has been massively fortified in the olden days. .
Ramla Bay
Ramla is the largest sandy beach in Gozo and possibly the best beach on the Maltese islands. The sand has a red golden color,the water is clear and safe for swimming. The view out to the open sea and to the surrounding rock shoreline is beautiful. It is cut off from any significant development and still possesses a rugged natural feel to it. The beach has it's own land mark "A white statue of the Virgin Mary" right in the middle of the beach. Why this statue was placed there I have no idea. The Maltese are very religious people.
Elves in the Woods
It was a crisp sunny autumn day, I decided to talk a walk in the woods. It was quite early so it was pretty quiet, then I heard this rustling sound. To my surprise I saw in the distance what looked like little pointed red caps moving between the trees, so I decided to lay low and wait. It was a group of children around the ages 4 to 6 playing "ELVES" ( Kaboutertjes??) Their"Juff" was sitting on a bench a bit further away. After a while they all gathered on the bench (tired from running around) to have a snack that is when I took the picture. I Iiked the contrast of the red caps with the autumn colors
Sliema Harbour by Day
In the early 1800's, Sliema consisted of little more than open fields bordered by crumbling stone walls. Over the next 50 years, things changed rapidly as the British began building villas and holiday homes slightly outside the capital, and Malta's upper classes followed suit. As Valletta's population grew, more and more people sought to escape the overcrowding and by the mid 1950's, residential areas extended to the north, engulfing Sliema. The people of Sliema, quick to spot the tourist potential, began a building boom that was soon to take over the country, and Sliema became was the first tourist resort on Malta
Sliema Harbour by...N
Evening falls on the Harbour of Sliema. Sliema is a city located on the northeast coast of Malta. It is a centre for shopping, restaurants and café life. Lots of young tourist here. Sliema, which means 'peace, comfort', was once a quiet fishing town. Sliema and the coastline up to neighbouring St. Julian's constitutes Malta's main coastal resort.
Dragon Boat Festival
The Banff Dragon Boat Festival is an annual event that draws as many as 600+ participants to the waters of Lake Minnewanka. The Chinese dragon boats race across the lake with twenty-two rowers moving in perfect synchronicity. Any break in the rhythm could cost them the race. In fact, many races end with split second photo finishes! The dragon boats have been part of Chinese culture because in mythological tradition, dragons are believed to be the rulers of rivers and seas as well as dominating the clouds and rains. The Chinese mythological traditions blend with a traditional Canadian legend on Lake Minnewanka, which is also known as “Lake of the Evil Water Spirits.”
In The Air
Fun and Games, that is the Fancy Fair (Kermis). So nice to see young and old having fun. The flashing lights,music,Cotton Candy and screaming kids on gives it a feel of excitement.
Nederlandse Antillen • Curacao
Nederlandse Antillen • Curacao
Local Soup
There is no doubt that the iguana (yuana) is king of Curaçao reptiles. Although its impressive dragon-like dorsal crest gives a ferocious look, the animal is, in fact, quite shy. Because of its rare double penis the meat and eggs are coveted as supposedly powerful aphrodisiacs. Iguana soup is a local delicacy; the meat tastes somewhat like chicken. Iguana hunting is a popular sport so don't be surprised if you see someone by the side of the road proudly holding up their catch up for sale. Although iguanas are land animals they are excellent swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for as long as five minutes. The young are bright green; adults can change color from green to grey, blending in easily with the underbrush and rocky outcroppings. Curaçao is the first place in the world to successfully breed them in captivity.
The Inland Sea
The Inland Sea is an inland lagoon in Dwejra, and is perhaps the archipelago's most spectacular natural landmark. The Inland Sea, and Dwejra Bay itself, were created millions of years ago when two limestone caves collapsed. The shallow inland lagoon is linked to the sea via a 100 metre cave in the cliff. On calm days, small fishing boats carry visitors out to sea through this tunnel, in order to see Fungus Rock and the Azure Window (which is on the other side of the rock wall) The sea is used by fishermen and bathers, and is also a very popular diving spot. I would of liked to take this photo from a higher point of view but there was nothing i could climb on, too bad.
Jasper Yellow Head...
I took this photo from Whistlers mountain, even though it was August the weather was cold it was only 2 degrees and windy. The sky was overcast, not ideal for photos but the view was magnificent. Below you can see the town of Jasper, the Athabaska River and the Trans Canada Highway also called the Yellow Head HIghway and the Railway.
Yacht Harbor in...Ora
The marina is located in the Oranjestad harbor channel just east of the Cruise ship dock. It is an ideal place also for super yachts, (tip for all you super yacht owners) This photo was taken while having a stroll in Oranjestad just before the sun went down, gave the surroundings a special glow.
The Dead street
Necropolis means is a large cemetery or burial ground, The word comes from the Greek nekropolis, literally meaning "city of the dead". In Turkije they called this the "Dead Street". The necropolis of the ancient city Hierapolis, located in Denzili not far from Pamukale , is one of the largest and best-preserved cemeteries in all of Turkey. It contains sarcophagi, many different types of tombs, and funeral monuments dating from the Hellenistic until the early Christian times.
Hilly Street of...Val
The last photo I posted, a theme photo "Stepped Streets of Valletta", this one is a "Hilly Street of Valletta" Valletta is better explored walking because the streets are very hilly and you will be amazed what you will see when you go on foot. The best place to start is at the Valletta City Gate, that is big bus station. I took this photo on a Sunday, that is why there were not so many cars and people and it had just rained. During the week it is so busy you cannot see the street only a big band of people.
The Stepped Streets.
If you want to explore Valletta it is better to go walking and good shoes are a must. Valletta is best to be explored on foot because driving a car or riding a bicycle up and down the stairs tends to get a bit uncomfortable The lovely ancient streets can be very steep, and some of them are only steps,like this one. Therefore, if you love hilly streets and climbing stairs up and down and this way and that way Valletta is a must! Walk, walk, clinb,climb...
Smiling Fisherman
Fishing is the primary occupation of the Marsaxlokk people. This calm and serene village proudly exhibits its deep rooted traditions. People live here mostly in well formed strong communities. With recent occupation of nearby localities to the village the fishing scenario is seeing a considerable decrease. Still, Malta’s major fish supplies are sufficed by the fish caught in this picturesque fishing harbor. I think this fisherman saw me taking this photo because he bowed his head with a smile.
Nederlandse Antillen • Willemstad
Nederlandse Antillen • Willemstad
Ferry to and from...P
The only ferry that operates in Curaçao is a shuttle that makes regular trips between Willemstad's Punda and Otrobanda. Travelers pay nothing for this short journey between shopping centers, and the view from the boat is spectacular. Passengers aboard the ferry will be able to view The Queen Emma Pontoon Bridge, which is the largest pedestrian bridge in the world, "The Lady," as locals affectionately call the bridge, connects the two shopping areas.
Bridge over the...Kaa
This photo was made in 2005 with an Analog Minolta camera, the photos were put on CD. This picturesque bridge sweeps across the Kaaimans river. The bridge is situated between the towns of George and Knysna, there is a choo choo train that crosses but I was not lucky to see that happen, the bus had to leave. As you can see the river enters the sea at this point. This is a very popular bridge for photographers.
Dirt Road to Hermanus
This picture was taken December 2008 on the way from Stellenbosch to Hermanus , the scenery and landscape was breathtaking. I was with my youngest son,he rented a car and decided to go off the highway, we ended up on this dirt road, the scenery was beautiful but he was really worried about the car,there was a lot of red dust and potholes, if the car was damaged he must pay a big fine, so he decided to get off as soon as possible , but we could not, there were no exits,till almost at Hermanus. So there we were quite tense and quiet in this beautiful surroundings. We had a good laugh afterwards, luckily the car was not damaged.
The Blue Window in...
The Azure Window was created by waves and rough seas breaking on the rocks over a period of thousands of years. On the top of two giant columns of rock, each with a diameter of about 40 metres, rests a huge ledge of rock measuring about 100 metres in length and 20 metres in height, forming a giant window which one can see beyond. For centuries the Gozitans have known this rare rock formation as it-Tieqa (the Window). The day i took this photo were very strong winds,it was hard to keep my balance and the camera straight.
Road Workers in...Dhu
This photo is a scan of road workers in Dhulikhel taken in 1994. Gives you and impression in those days,of modern and old vehicles, the workers bus and the tourist bus. Dhulikhel is located near the Himalayas at 1550m above sea level and is situated 30 km southeast of Kathmandu. We went up there especially to have a view of the Himalayas early in the morning,but unfortunately it was cloudy so I was very disappointed of course.
Spring at it's most..
Keukenhof the most beautiful gardens in the world,( i think so ) is in bloom with blooming tulips and hundreds of flowering rhododendrons. These are azaleas in all its splendor, a brilliant colorful spectacle. If you did not visit the gardens yet, now is the time to go, the flowers wilt away very fast.
Luzzu Boat
A perfect example of the unaltered Marsaxlokk tradition is the luzzu boats. These are the famous fishing boats of this place. They are painted in bright colors of red, yellow, blue and green. The colors of the boats remain unchanged for generations owing to the superstitious beliefs of Marsaxlokk people. If you look carefull you will see each boat bears a pair of eyes called the “Eyes of Osiris”. This symbol is believed to protect the boats from any ill-fate. These bright boats sailing near the harbor area looks striking and accounts to the increased tourism activity here.
Bumpy Road to Than...
The road to Than Sadet passes through dense jungle and a steep mountain pass – according to the season, the condition of the road varies. The road in its various seasons always provides a source of wonder and adventure to all who use it . The authourities have tried to pave this road but the rains just wash it away, so they just left it the way it is. After about a 45 minutes drive ( courageous a driver) I had bumps on my head and blisters on my hands and a sore bum, actually I took this photo with my camera in one hand, the jeep did not have a door at the back, going up you can just slide out if you let go, and the seats were (hard) wood.
The Winding Road in..
Visiting Malta's capital Valletta is like visiting an open-air museum. Hundreds of monuments are hidden inside the massive fortification walls. Took this photo from the Hop on Hop off buss,driving through this fascinating winding road that leads to the center of the city. At the top which was once a fortress is now the Bank of Malta,on the left you can see the huge cannons which defended the city in the olden age.
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