Skywatch#132 Windmills of Tarifa

 
They were like sentinels fanning the clouds. The windmills of Tarifa were lined up on the hills and valleys and can be seen along the highway. That day, we went out of our hotel in Seville in the early morning for our destination, the small town of Tarifa. The town is our jump-off point to the continent of Africa. Tarifa is a small town in the province of Cádiz, Andalusia, on the southernmost coast of Spain. The town is located on the Costa de la Luz ("coast of light") and across the Straits of Gibraltar facing Morocco. At exactly 36 degrees latitude, it is the southernmost point of the European continent, situated south of both African capital cities of Tunis and Algiers.(source: Wikipedia)
 

SHARE AND ENJOY THIS POST:

Skywatch#131 Twilight Skies Over Christchurch

Twilight was setting in while we waited on the line to get into the Christchurch Museum in Oxford, England. It was eerie but beautiful.
 

SHARE AND ENJOY THIS POST:

Skywatch#130 Silhouette of Philip IV

Silhouette of Philip IV at Plaza de Oriente 

The statue is located at the east side of the Royal Palace of Madrid, Spain.

Philip IV of Spain (Spanish: Felipe IV; 8 April 1605 – 17 September 1665) was King of Spain (as Philip IV in Castille and Philip III in Aragon) and Portugal as (Portuguese: Filipe III). He ascended the thrones in 1621 and reigned in Spain until his death and in Portugal until 1640. Philip is remembered for his patronage of the arts, including such artists as Diego Velázquez, and his rule over Spain during the challenging period of the Thirty Years' War. (source wikipedia)

 

SHARE AND ENJOY THIS POST:

Skywatch#129 Different Skies and Different Timezones

A few years ago, a friend told me that when I get the chance to travel through continents, I should look out for what she called the "timezone sky". She saw it while traveling from the Philippines to Canada and said that it was really beautiful. Not sure if it's her own label but her explanation was that the sky  looks quite different when crossing timezones.

I love taking photos while airborne. Not only do I feel like I am in heaven as what most people say, I also like how the colors of the clouds change constantly. The favorite time for me is during sunset or sunrise when an array of kaleidoscope of colors change within seconds.

The above photo was taken while we were on our way home from London last year. As can be expected, London was covered with clouds.

More than 30 minutes after, the sunset blue hour started and pastel colors started battling over the blue-black color of the skies.

I never got to see what my friend said years ago about the "timezone sky" and so I stayed awake most of the 17-hour trip to home from our Europe trip just to try if I could see it.  When I saw it, it did not disappoint.

This was no ordinary sunset or sunrise colors I thought when I opened the window shade. Before that, I watched about 5 movies on the plane just to try to see if I could catch this. This should be the "timezone sky" my friend was talking about. Checking out the time, I realized that we must be somewhere between Europe and Asia. How cool is that!

 

SHARE AND ENJOY THIS POST:

Skywatch#128 Dark Clouds Over Big Ben

A friend said that London's weather is almost always unpredictably gray. Meaning, London would always have gray clouds and intermittent rains hovering above but in a few lucky moments in a day, blue skies would peek out to tease and then, it would be back to gray clouds again. I definitely agreed with the observation as can be seen in the photos below: We started our day with threatening gray clouds over London but we kept to our itinerary for the day. As we went from one place to the other, taking photos here and there, I took photos of the Big Ben in a span of a few minutes. The photo above shows dark gray clouds over Big Ben but.. in a few minutes, blue skies are peeping out to tease.
 

SHARE AND ENJOY THIS POST:

Skywatch#126

Photo taken at Hyde Park, London, UK.

We communicate to God through prayers (sometimes they become solicitation of favor/s) but one way of giving back what is due Him and appreciating of what He did for us is to appreciate nature. To stop for a moment in a day to see, to feel, to smell the wondrous thousands of colors a day could evoke, from sunrise to sunset. I dare say, God will feel really appreciated for that.


 

SHARE AND ENJOY THIS POST:

A Visitor’s Guide to Florence

Florence is considered as one of the most important cities of Europe. The city is the birthplace of the opera, the Italian renaissance and also the neo-classical architecture. Florence was also a major cultural and political hotbed in its time and this makes it one of the must-visit places for anyone visiting Italy. Below is a brief visitor’s guide to Florence.

Ideal Time to Visit

Florence falls in the Tuscan region which gets pretty hot during the summer’s peak. This causes most of the local people to retreat to the coastal areas in the period between June and August. As a tourist, the ideal time would be to visit either before or after the summer season passes. April, May, September and October are quite warm and sunny without being too hot.

Notable Attractions

The cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore is the star attraction of Florence. It is a beautiful piece of architecture that dominates the city and is a must-visit. Giotto’s Tower, adjacent to the above cathedral, offers viewers an excellent view of the city that is worth appreciating.

There are also plenty of places to visit in case you want to combine history with leisure shopping. The Ponte Vecchio (literal meaning is ‘Old Bridge’) is home to many shops. The place is also known to be the traditional jewelry buying destination for Florentines.

You can also visit the tombs of great medieval personalities like Michelangelo, Dante, Galileo and Machiavelli.

Exquisite Cuisine

Italians love their food and Florentines are no different when it comes to their palates. Although both meat and fish dishes are dominant in the region, the cuisine is mostly seasonal. There are also many places that serve up inexpensive and yet tasty stuff. Wine lovers can also have a drink in Florence.

While it’s only a brief guide to Florence, most of these places will ensure that you experience the heart of Florentine culture.

SHARE AND ENJOY THIS POST:

London’s Best Kept Secret: Battersea Park

At just a few miles south of Marble Arch, Battersea Park has to be one of London’s best kept secrets. Its inner-city location belies the stunning beauty of this vast park, and if you’re in London then it can provide fantastic respite from the busy capital.

Whether you’re in the city for business or pleasure, why not find a cheap hotel near Battersea Park and enjoy a stroll around this great green space after a hectic day of work or sightseeing?

This park is so vast and varied that you won’t want to miss a thing. Here’s what you need to tick off your must do list:

The Old English Garden
This garden is a wonderfully calm and peaceful place to sit after a stressful day. Relax on a bench surrounded by trees and flowers, while the trickling water of the pond fountain takes you away from the strain of the day.

Get On Your Bike
You can hire a bicycle from the London Recumbents in the park, and take the air and some exercise in a most pleasant way. It certainly beats the gym.

Have an Adventure in the Playground
Those who are in London with the kids should give them respite from the overwhelming sights and sounds of the city, and let them run off some steam in the playgrounds at Battersea Park.

An amazing adventure playground awaits older adventurers, as well as a well-equipped junior and toddler playgrounds. There’s fun to be had here for all ages.

Enjoy Sports
Many budget London hotels don’t have fitness facilities, so why not head to the Millennium Arena at Battersea Park instead? This fantastic sports facility, located in the park, boasts a running track, tennis courts, multi-purpose playing surfaces and a fitness centre.

Don’t let the beauty of Battersea Park pass you by if you’re in the capital. It’s an amazing inner-city green space that’s just the ticket if you need a breather from city life.

SHARE AND ENJOY THIS POST:

Italian Lakes Holidays: Experience Beautiful Natural Italy

Italy boasts some of the world’s most beautiful natural landscapes. Vast, twinkling lakes flanked by majestic mountains await, surrounded by charming villages and traditional towns.

Italian lakes holidays have so much to offer every holidaymaker, but they make a particularly romantic break for couples. Image strolling down a lakeside promenade hand in hand, stopping to share a gelato or a bottle of chianti, and drink in the stunning scenery. The lakes and mountains destinations in Italy really do offer holidays that are like a breath of fresh air.

Lake Maggiore is a truly beautiful choice of destination in the Italian Lake District. The second largest lake in the country, it straddles the Italy/Switzerland border and is flanked by lush, pine clad hills.

Stresa is one of the most popular resorts on the lake, noted for some stunning examples of architecture such as the 19th century Villa Pallivicino stately home. This beautiful lakeside resort is located at the foot of Mount Mottarone, which offers endless opportunity for exploration.

You can take a cable car to the mountain’s summit, or alight half way and make the rest of the journey on foot. While the trek may be hard work, it’ll be more than worth it when you see the spectacular view, which takes in seven lakes and a ring of mountains. It really is truly breathtaking.

The Alpinia botanical gardens are also located half way up Mount Mottarone, so be sure to make the most of your trek up the mountain and take in this wonderful natural attraction as you go.

For those travelling to lake and mountain destinations in Europe walking holidays are a great idea. You can enjoy exploring the stunning surroundings with a guided group, or set off on a pre-planned route for a romantic walk that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

SHARE AND ENJOY THIS POST:

Picking a Package in Spain

Whether you’re looking for the perfect place to spend your annual summer holiday or you’re trying to squeeze in your fifth break of the year, there are more than a few good reasons to spend your next escape in Spain.

On the mainland you’ve got prime city break territory with the likes of fast-paced Madrid, the architectural delights of Barcelona or the chic waterside cafes of Valencia. Then there’s the ever-popular golden Costas which are scattered along the South and South-East coastlines - from the lively Costa Del Sol and boisterous Costa Blanca, to the more authentic and traditional ambience of Costa de la Luz.

Moored just off the coastline are the glorious Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca. If a quiet pace with some serious rest and relaxation are on the agenda, you can’t go wrong with Menorca package holidays. Here you’ll find pine-clad hills flanking golden sandy beaches, calm azure shores and cloudless blue skies, perfect for leisurely strolls, hiking and enjoying a refreshing break at any one of the low-key cafes or restaurants dotted along the coastline.

Spain package holidays are generally geared around the beach, but there are always plenty of other things to see and do. Thanks to their popularity with British and European tourists - which brings many visitors flocking back to these sunny shores year after year - there are plenty of activities on offer to suit every age and ability. Kids will love the numerous water parks with their death-defying flumes, families will appreciate the boat trips and glass-bottomed tours which gives great views of sea life, while energetic types can get their fix by jet skiing, wind surfing or mountain biking.

Spain is a diverse destination with more than enough holiday experiences to suit even the most particular of tastes, and it’s no surprise that so many visitors choose to come back here year after year.

SHARE AND ENJOY THIS POST: