The Kaiserkapelle is a prime example of romanesque architecture and also one of the most complete such structures. Built in the 13th century, part of Nuremberg Castle.

The chapel is a so-called "double chapel". This is the upper level, reserved for the emperor. The hole right in front connects this level to the lower level, for "ordinary" people, so they could enjoy mass together with the emperor.

Consequently the upper level is only accessible from the inside of the castle's palace, while the lower level only has an entrance from the outside of the palace.

© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.

Dipper - Cinclus Cinclus

aka Water Ouzel

Dippers are members of the genus Cinclus in the bird family Cinclidae, named for their bobbing or dipping movements. They are unique among passerines for their ability to dive and swim underwater.

They have a characteristic bobbing motion when perched beside the water, giving them their name. While under water, they are covered by a thin, silvery film of air, due to small bubbles being trapped on the surface of the plumage.

Dippers are found in suitable freshwater habitats in the highlands of the Americas, Europe and Asia. In Africa they are only found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. They inhabit the banks of fast-moving upland rivers with cold, clear waters, though, outside the breeding season, they may visit lake shores and sea coasts.

The high haemoglobin concentration in their blood gives them a capacity to store oxygen greater than that of other birds, allowing them to remain underwater for thirty seconds or more, whilst their basal metabolic rate is approximately one-third slower than typical terrestrial passerines of similar mass. One small population wintering at a hot spring in Suntar-Khayata Mountains of Siberia feeds underwater when air temperatures drop below −55 °C (−67 °F).

Dippers are completely dependent on fast-flowing rivers with clear water, accessible food and secure nest-sites. They may be threatened by anything that affects these needs such as water pollution, acidification and turbidity caused by erosion. River regulation through the creation of dams and reservoirs, as well as channelization, can degrade and destroy dipper habitat.

Dippers are also sometimes hunted or otherwise persecuted by humans for various reasons. The Cyprus race of the white-throated dipper is extinct. In the Atlas Mountains dippers are claimed to have aphrodisiacal properties. In parts of Scotland and Germany, until the beginning of the 20th century, bounties were paid for killing dippers because of a misguided perception that they were detrimental to fish stocks through predation on the eggs and fry of salmonids.

Population:

UK breeding:

6,200-18,700 pairs

Toute la terre est accessible au sage, car la patrie d’une âme excellente est l’univers.

Démocrite

*

Toda la tierra es asequible al hombre sensato, pues la patria de un alma excelente es el universo.

Demócrito

*

Foto: Románico catalán. Restos del monasterio románico benedictino de Sant Serni (o Sant Sadurní, o San Saturnino) de Tavérnoles en el Alto Urgel (Anserall, Valls de Valira), provincia de Lérida (Cataluña). Historia (o leyenda) sucinta de este santo mártir tal como me han contado en el Valle del Adour (Francia). Unos jóvenes paganos querían sacrificar un buey para homenajar a sus dioses. Saturnino que recorría la región con ánimo de evangelizarla, quiso oponerse al sacrificio. Por venganza, los paganos ataron al santo al buey y lo azuzaron. Despavorido, el animal huyó arrastrando a Saturnino que se rompió la cabeza…

* The last post from my trip to Seville at least for a while . It is another shot from the Plaza de España that we saw on our first afternoon. We were equally impressed by the architecture but also by the wonderful warm temperatures . Two months later and I am still waiting for a little warmth its been a cool wet Spring this year

The Plaza de España is is a beautiful collection of buildings in the Parque de María Luisa in Seville. It was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. The Plaza was, designed by Aníbal González, was a principal building built on the Maria Luisa Park's edge to showcase Spain's industry and technology exhibits. González combined a mix of 1920s Art Deco and Spanish Renaissance Revival, Spanish Baroque Revival and Neo-Mudéjar styles. The Plaza de España complex is a huge half-circle; the buildings are accessible by four bridges over the moat, which represent the ancient kingdoms of Spain. In the centre is the Vicente Traver fountain.

THANKS FOR YOUR VISIT TO MY STREAM.

I WOULD BE VERY GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD NOT FAVE A PHOTO

WITHOUT ALSO LEAVING A COMMENT .

Farstadsanden in Hustadvika is an easily accessible recreation area at the west coast of Norway.

Astia film simulation.

The largest accessible cave in the western Harz offers interesting insights into animal and geological history. Thousands of years ago bears and wolves lived there. The cave in a forest area near the Herzberg district of Scharzfeld is a naturally formed cavity in 270 million year old Zechstein dolomite rock. The cave is the information center of the Harz Geopark and a natural and cultural monument.

Keem Bay, at the western end of Achill Island, is one of the most picturesque bays in Ireland. It is accessible by road over a twisting clifftop route on the side of Croaghaun mountain. Keem Bay is virtually uninhabited (the only building is a former coastguard station) and provides a peaceful and magnificent retreat from the 21st century.

At the heart of Keem Bay is the beautiful fine sandy beach. This strand is bordered on two sides by cliffs; to the east by the slopes of Croaghaun mountain, and to the west by a spar called Moyteoge. At the top of this spar, at an elevation of about 200m, is a former coastguard watch-house. For hillwalkers, this spot marks the start of a a breathtaking 1.5km walk along the top of the cliffs of Benmore towards Achill Head, the most westerly point of Achill Island.

Keem Bay has a strong connection with fishing. It was the location for much of Achill's shark fishing industry during the 1950s and 1960s. At that time the basking shark was a frequent visitor to the waters around Keem Bay, and it was hunted for its liver oil which was exported from Achill to provide fine grade lubricant for the aerospace industry. Much of this fishing took place in currachs, the traditional canvas-covered wooden vessels of the west of Ireland. Keem Bay is most likely the location used by the artist Paul Henry when painting his famous canvas 'Launching the Currach' (in the National Museum, Dublin).

www.visitachill.com/en/keembay.html

The Estate Backershagen goes back to at least 1681 but Prince Frederic who became the owner in 1846 started to landscape the park in English style with a Chinese twist (sorry, Wikipedia text is only in Dutch). The place has now various owners and is accessible for the general public. It's worth a bike ride, but even better: a stroll.

This is where the dance begins..... the tidal Pitt River meets the mouth of Pitt Lake. Accessible by boat alone, head straight towards the mountains, turn left and a whole world of nature opens up to the beauty of scenic Pitt Lake.

Beautiful British Columbia

Canada

~C

Pitt Lake is the second-largest lake in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. About 53.5 square kilometres in area, it is about 25 km long and about 4.5 km wide at its widest. It is one of the world's relatively few tidal lakes, and among the largest. In Pitt Lake, there is on average a three foot tide range; thus Pitt Lake is separated from sea level and tidal waters during most hours of each day during the 15 foot tide cycle of the Pitt River and Strait of Georgia estuary immediately downstream.The lake's southern tip is 20 km upstream from The Pitt River confluence with the Fraser River and is 40 km east of Downtown Vancouver.

Pitt Lake is in a typical U-shaped glacial valley in the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains. The overdeepening of the lower end of the valley over the span of the Wisconsin glaciation created a trough over 140 m below current sea level. After initial glacial retreat at around 13,000 years ago a saltwater fjord occupied this basin when relative sea levels were still ca 120 to 140m above current levels in the region. Unlike neighbouring Indian Arm and Howe Sound farther west, this fjord basin became partly cut off from tidal waters by sedimentation of the lower Fraser River ca 10,500 years ago, and Pitt Lake is now considered a tidal fjord lake.

Pitt Lake is the second largest of a series of north-south oriented fjord-lakes incising the southern slopes of the Pacific Ranges, the largest being Harrison Lake located 60 km to the east. The other fjord-lakes include Coquitlam Lake, Alouette Lake, Stave Lake, and Chehalis Lake.

The Pitt River drains into the northern end of Pitt Lake. The western shore of Pitt Lake are protected within Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, while most of the eastern shore are protected within Golden Ears Provincial Park. The southern end of Pitt Lake features an extensive marshland called Pitt Polder. While most of this marshland has since been drained for agricultural use, the northernmost portion is strictly protected in order to provide critical habitat for migratory birds.

Communities

The community of Pitt Meadows and the First Nations reserve of Pitt Lake Indian Reserve 5 are located at the southern end of the lake. Just southwest of the lake is the community of Port Coquitlam, which is across the Pitt River from Pitt Meadows. At the north end of the lake is a locality named Alvin, which is a transport and shipping point for logging companies and their employees.

Wikipedia

A special thanks to all my Flickr friends and visitors, for taking the time to view and acknowledge my photography.

Happy Clicks,

~Christie (happies) by the River

** Best experienced full screen

Sorrento, perched picturesquely on a plateau above the sea with spectacular views over the Bay of Naples, has been a popular tourist destination for almost two centuries. Traditionally the town is one of the favourite resorts of British visitors to Italy, and over the last few decades it has ruled as Italy's leading package-holiday destination for English-speakers. The historic seaside town has learned to live with, and make the most of tourism, and in return it offers a classic 'Mediterranean summer holiday' atmosphere - but without losing all of its Italian character and charm. The key attraction of Sorrento is that it can offer a variety of holiday experiences to suit different visitors, from rural walks through lemon and olive groves to a choice of excursions by land or sea. Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples are accessible in one direction, and the Amalfi Coast in another. Days out can include Roman ruins, low-key seaside resorts, traditional villages and breathtaking scenery. Being well-connected and easy to get to makes this a straightforward and practical holiday choice.

SÜDAFRIKA( South-Africa), Wanderung am St. Blaize Trail bei Mossel Bay

Direkt unterhalb der St. Blaize-Höhle beginnt der St. Blaize Trail, ein atemberaubender, aber leicht-begehbarer 14 km langer Küstenwanderweg zwischen Mossel Bay und Dana Bay. Aber man muss ja nicht die ganze Strecke laufen! Nach ca. 45 Minuten und 2,1 km entlang der Steilküste mit Natur pur, wunderschönem Blick über den Indischen Ozean und abwechslungsreicher Flora und Fauna .

The St. Blaize Trail begins directly below the St. Blaize Cave, a breathtaking but easily accessible 14 km coastal hiking trail between Mossel Bay and Dana Bay. But you don't have to walk the whole way! After approx. 45 minutes and 2.1 km along the cliffs with pure nature, beautiful views over the Indian Ocean and varied flora and fauna

Plan de la Besurta, La Ribagorza, Huesca, Aragón, España.

Ruta cuyo itinerario discurre en el entorno de las pistas de esquí nórdico de Llanos del Hospital en el Valle de Benasque. La ruta tiene su inicio en el Plan del Hospital atravesando en su recorrido bellos parajes como el Plan de Estan y el Plan de la Besurta para llegar finalmente hasta el espectacular Plan d´Aiguallut con magnificas vistas al pico Aneto. Se trata de recorrer una parte del conocido como Camino dels Aranesos que originalmente unía el Plan del Hospital con el Valle de Arán.

El recorrido se divide en tres tramos, un primer tramo muy corto y sencillo hasta el Plan de l'Estan, un segundo tramo tambien muy sencillo hasta la Besurta y un tramo final algo más exigente aunque accesible a cualquier senderista acostumbrado a la montaña hasta el Forau d´Aiguallut.

Route whose itinerary runs around the Nordic ski slopes of Llanos del Hospital in the Benasque Valley. The route begins in the Pllan del Hospital, passing through beautiful places such as the Plan de Estan and the Plan de la Besurta to finally reach the spectacular Plan d'Aiguallut with magnificent views of the Aneto peak. It involves walking through a part of what is known as the Camino dels Aranesos, which originally linked the Hospital Plan with the Aran Valley.

The route is divided into three sections, a first very short and easy section to Plan de l'Estan, a second section that is also very simple to Besurta and a final section that is somewhat more demanding although accessible to any hiker accustomed to the mountains until the Forau d'Aiguallut.

De Zalmhaven, also referred to as Zalmhaven Toren, is a project that includes a 215m residential tower in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Other parts of the project are two buildings of 70m each. The project was approved by the city in February 2010.

The 215m high residential tower houses 295 apartments and a parking garage. The tower and a second office building are designed by Dam & Partner architects, with Claus en Kaan Architecten designing a residential unit it is one of the tallest residential towers in Europe and the tallest building in the Netherlands.

In September 2016, the Rotterdam city council approved the plan. After fifteen years of preparation, construction started on 25 October 2018. With Zalmhaven I, the Zalmhaven has a height of 215 meters. The building itself is 203 m and the mast takes up the last 12 m.

On December 15, 2020, the construction of Zalmhaven II and III reached the highest point. Zalmhaven I reached its highest point in September 2021 and the entire project is completed in 2022.

De Zalmhaven contains 452 apartments and penthouses, 33 townhouses, a parking garage, offices, commercial spaces and a restaurant. The townhouses have a private roof terrace and the apartments and penthouses all have one or more outdoor spaces. The basement accommodates a five-story parking garage with 456 spaces. An inner garden will be realized in the lobby. A roof garden will be realised on the parking garage that is only accessible to the residents of De Zalmhaven. The apartments and penthouses in De Zalmhaven II and III have their own entrance at Gedempte Zalmhaven, but residents also use the facilities in De Zalmhaven I.

From Wikipedia:

Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped incised meander of the Colorado River located near the town of Page, Arizona, in the United States.

Horseshoe Bend is located 5 miles (8.0 km) downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, about 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Page.

It is accessible via hiking a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) round trip from U.S. Route 89, but an access road also reaches the geological structure, as it is part of a state park. Horseshoe Bend can be viewed from the steep cliff above.

The overlook is 4,200 feet (1,300 m) above sea level, and the Colorado River is at 3,200 feet (980 m) above sea level, making it a 1,000-foot (300 m) drop.

The rock walls of Horseshoe Bend contain a variety of minerals, among which are hematite, platinum and garnet

When we had our holiday home near Looe in south-east Cornwall we would often spend time on Dartmoor, enjoying the peace and quiet of the moors. One of our favourite places was Combestone Tor, which overlooks the valley of the River Dart near Hexworthy. This is perhaps the most accessible of all the tors, and is just a few dozen yards from the road to Venford Reservoir. It has stunning views across the Dart Valley, with Dartmeet just a mile or so away.

Dipper - Cinclus Cinclus

aka Water Ouzel

Double click to view

Dippers are members of the genus Cinclus in the bird family Cinclidae, named for their bobbing or dipping movements. They are unique among passerines for their ability to dive and swim underwater.

They have a characteristic bobbing motion when perched beside the water, giving them their name. While under water, they are covered by a thin, silvery film of air, due to small bubbles being trapped on the surface of the plumage.

Dippers are found in suitable freshwater habitats in the highlands of the Americas, Europe and Asia. In Africa they are only found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. They inhabit the banks of fast-moving upland rivers with cold, clear waters, though, outside the breeding season, they may visit lake shores and sea coasts.

The high haemoglobin concentration in their blood gives them a capacity to store oxygen greater than that of other birds, allowing them to remain underwater for thirty seconds or more, whilst their basal metabolic rate is approximately one-third slower than typical terrestrial passerines of similar mass. One small population wintering at a hot spring in Suntar-Khayata Mountains of Siberia feeds underwater when air temperatures drop below −55 °C (−67 °F).

Dippers are completely dependent on fast-flowing rivers with clear water, accessible food and secure nest-sites. They may be threatened by anything that affects these needs such as water pollution, acidification and turbidity caused by erosion. River regulation through the creation of dams and reservoirs, as well as channelization, can degrade and destroy dipper habitat.

Dippers are also sometimes hunted or otherwise persecuted by humans for various reasons. The Cyprus race of the white-throated dipper is extinct. In the Atlas Mountains dippers are claimed to have aphrodisiacal properties. In parts of Scotland and Germany, until the beginning of the 20th century, bounties were paid for killing dippers because of a misguided perception that they were detrimental to fish stocks through predation on the eggs and fry of salmonids.

Population:

UK breeding:

6,200-18,700 pairs

Longs Peak 14,259. ft (4,346 m) and Keyboard of the Winds are illuminated by the setting sun with reflections in Bear Lake. Rocky Mountain National Park. This is a popular spot for photographers. I arrived at least 1 hour before sunset, but all of the best spots were already taken. I found a rock big enough to sit on that was accessible by hopping about 4 feet across the water and landing on a sloped side. Just big enough for myself and the tripod...I set up and took shots progressively for about 1 hour when this light started to happen, I couldn't believe how wonderful it was. And still water on Bear Lake is a treat as any one who frequents this area can attest. I feel like it was a lucky day to find the spot that allowed me this awesome view of the light show!

Thank you for your faves and comments!

Teil einer großen Burganlage, alles sicher und begehbar.

Und! ein wirklich sehr schöner Wanderweg führt mitten durch, die Hahnenbachtaltour. Wenn ihr Mal was schönes im Hunsrück machen wollt.....

Part of a large castle complex, all safe and accessible.

And! a really beautiful hiking trail leads right through the middle, the Hahnenbachtaltour. If you want to do something nice in the Hunsrück....

Certain flowers invite you in for a closer look. Their petals blowing gently in the breeze seem to call out with a song I can't resist. After taking walks in our neighborhood for many years, I know exactly where the loveliest, and most accessible, specimens grow. I'm just counting the days until the Clematis flowers are once again in bloom.

Joli petit lac entouré de sapins, facilement accessible par la route forestière depuis l'Alpe du Grand Serre.

Le lac du Poursollet se situe dans le massif du Taillefer sur la commune de Livet-et-Gavet à une altitude de 1 649 mètres. Bordé par un petit hameau d'habitation, il est facilement accessible en voiture à partir de la route départementale 114B, appelée « Route du Poursollet », en provenance de La Morte.

L’intérêt environnemental de cette zone est certain !

La forte diversité botanique est liée à la nature du sol constitué d'une juxtaposition de substrats carbonatés et siliceux ; la diversité des milieux (marais, tourbière, lac, landes et plaine d'altitude) rencontrée sur cette zone et offrant des habitats variés accueille de nombreuses espèces animales et végétales ; la forêt alentour héberge d'autres variétés ; les tourbières abritant de nombreux insectes et amphibiens en font une zone exceptionnellement riche dans les Alpes.(source www.isere-tourisme.com/)

Poursollet lake

Nice little lake surrounded by fir trees, easily accessible by the forest road from Alpe du Grand Serre.

Lac du Poursollet is located in the Taillefer massif in the town of Livet-et-Gavet at an altitude of 1649 meters. Bordered by a small residential hamlet, it is easily accessible by car from the departmental road 114B, called “Route du Poursollet”, coming from La Morte.

The environmental interest of this area is certain!

The strong botanical diversity is linked to the nature of the soil made up of a juxtaposition of carbonate and siliceous substrates; the diversity of the environments (marshes, peat bogs, lake, moors and high altitude plain) encountered in this area and offering varied habitats is home to many animal and plant species; the surrounding forest is home to other varieties; the peatlands sheltering many insects and amphibians make it an exceptionally rich area in the Alps

This an observation platform above the shoreline dunes, accessible by a trail near Whitefish Point on Lake Superior.

Château de La Fontaine à Croix - Hauts-de-France -

Recently the great Amsterdam zoo ARTIS was also gazetted as a Botanical Garden, much to my joy! It always had many plants and flowerss, but now lots of them have been signposted as well (not this one, though, which is presumable a cultivar). It's wonderful to be able to alternate between the Hortus and the Zoo, only a couple of hundred metres away from each other.

The Zoo, of course, has many caged animals, but there are 'free in the air' ones as well. Here's a Honeybee scrounging for the last Autumn Nectar. She's on a Sage and flower's nectar is apparently not very accessible for her from the inside. So she's loading up from its backside between the sepals and the corolla, where there's nectar-seepage, or perhaps she's cutting into it.

It was very wet - see the raindrop - but a bit of Sunlight was all Honeybee needed for her expedition.

shot by KHWD

you go by this little boat, quite choppy from Lagkawi, Kuah town, the capital of this Malaysian island

want to see more images or read the blog? www.holiday2013.co.uk/2829Jan2013IslandsPlus

Beras Basah Island is a beautiful, relatively untouched gem off the southern coast of Langkawi, Malaysia. Here are some highlights:

Natural Beauty

Pristine Beaches: The island boasts long stretches of pristine white sand lined with shady palms, meeting the clear blue waters of the Andaman Sea.

Mountain Backdrop: The island is set against a magnificent backdrop of spectacular mountains covered in lush rainforest.

Activities

Sunbathing and Swimming: The idyllic sand is perfect for sunbathing, and the shallow, refreshing waters are ideal for swimming.

Snorkeling and Diving: The surrounding waters offer great opportunities for snorkeling and diving, allowing you to explore the vibrant marine life.

Trekking: The rainforest and mountains offer tempting trekking opportunities for those who enjoy hiking.

Water Activities: The sea lends itself to a multitude of water activities, including jet-skiing and parasailing.

Accessibility

Day Trips: The island is easily accessible for day trips, with many island hopping tours including a stop at Beras Basah.

Private Boat Hire: For those who wish to stay longer, it's possible to hire a speedboat and explore the island at your own pace.

Wildlife

Wildlife Spotting: While the island is uninhabited by people, you may spot an array of wildlife, including monkeys and dolphins.

Beras Basah Island offers a serene escape with plenty of activities to enjoy.

The Philosophical Hall at the Strahov Monastery, Prague, Czechia (the Czech Republic's official short name as of 2016)

(unless you made and paid for a reservation months beforehand, you are not allowed inside and can only admire the room from the doorway; photos can be taken only if you pay extra for a photo permit; best viewed enlarged for details)

Abbot Vaclav Mayer, during the last quarter of the 18th century, decided to build new library premises for the numerous acquisitions so he ordered the Philosophical Hall to be built by the naturalized Italian architect Johann Ignaz Palliardi. The hall is 32 meters long, 10 meters wide and 14 meters high, flanked on all sides by rich walnut wood bookcases. The highest shelves are only accessible from the gallery which is accessed by secret spiral staircases in both corners, masked by false book covers.

The ceiling was painted by Viennese artist Anton Maulbertsch over a period of 6 months, aided by only one assistant. The painting called The Spiritual Development of Mankind depicts the development of religion and science, guided by Divine Providence in the center of the painting, surrounded by virtues.

In the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte's wife Marie Louise visited the library and donated a four-volume work on Louvre museum paintings and Versailles gardens. The gift was stored in the tall bookcase that dominates the left side of the hall. On the top of the bookcase, there is a marble bust of Francis I, Emperor of Austria and Marie Louise's father.

The total number of volumes in the hall exceeds 50,000 works. In 2010, the Philosophical Hall was completely restored.

HBM!

"Humber Bay Park West is a narrow 1.2 mile park jutting out into the water of Lake Ontario in the City's west end. It's an excellent spot for bird watchers hoping to find interesting waterfowl and shorebirds. Along the shores of Humber Bay West, you'll also spot a wide variety of ducks overwintering in Lake Ontario. Combine your walkthrough Humber Bay Park West with a loop around Humber Bay Park East for a great day of hiking. A number of parking lots and paved pathways make this an accessible park.

Thanks for visiting, I appreciate your comments and faves. Enjoy each day.

Tangible being

Distinct experiences

Subtend one another

Known as the "secret cave", this cave is not really a secret, but it is very difficult to get to on foot. Timing is key - it can only be accessed at low tide. There are also some tough climbs on the way, it's definitely not accessible on foot to everyone.

From Wikipedia:

The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is located in London, England. It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative chambers which occupy the building. The palace has been a Grade I listed building since 1970 and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

The site of the current palace may have been used by Cnut during his reign from 1016 to 1035, and from c. 1045 – c. 1050 Edward the Confessor built a palace and the first Westminster Abbey. The oldest surviving part of the palace is Westminster Hall, which dates from the reign of William II (r. 1087–1100).

The building was originally constructed in the eleventh century as a royal palace and was the primary residence of the kings of England until 1512, when a fire destroyed the royal apartments. The monarch moved to the adjacent Palace of Whitehall, but the remainder of the palace continued to serve as the home of the Parliament of England, which had met there since the 13th century. In 1834 a second, larger fire destroyed the majority of the palace, but Westminster Hall was saved and incorporated into the replacement building.

The competition to design the new palace was won by the architect Charles Barry, who chose a Gothic Revival style for the building. Construction started in 1840 and lasted for 30 years, suffering delays, cost overruns, and the deaths of Barry and his assistant, Augustus Pugin. The palace contains chambers for the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the monarch, and has a floor area of 112,476 m2 (1,210,680 sq ft). Extensive repairs had to be made after the Second World War, including rebuilding the destroyed Commons chamber. Despite further conservation work having been carried out since, the palace is in urgent need of major repairs.

From www.bbc.com/travel/article/20200312-why-is-the-palace-of-...:

In 2012, the Houses of Commons and Lords commissioned a study on the condition of the palace, which indicated the need for major restoration work. The current sewage system was installed in 1888; there are more than 1,000 areas that contain asbestos; the chambers are not wheelchair accessible; and even rodents populate the place. Part of the building’s mechanical and electrical systems were installed after World War Two and should have been replaced in the 1980s but were not. Over the years, steam, gas and water services were built on top of each other and next to high-voltage electrical wires. And about 321km of telephone, broadcasting and sound wires need to be upgraded.

The Anston limestone used in the original construction, which was cheap and ideal for carving, began to quickly decay in the 19th Century and was only partially restored in the 1980s and ‘90s. On top of all of that, Barry and Pugin used combustible materials to decorate the palace’s interiors.

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100x: The 2024 Edition

92/100 London landmarks by night

A couple of photos taken inside the Houses of Parliament by me:

Westminster Hall: flic.kr/p/XDhpmD

St Stephen's Hall: flic.kr/p/YikNMj

Der Pikes Peak, oft als "America's Mountain" bezeichnet, ist ein berühmter Gipfel mit einer Höhe von 4.302 Metern (14.115 Fuß) in der Front Range der Rocky Mountains, nahe Colorado Springs, Colorado. Er gehört zu den bekanntesten und am leichtesten zugänglichen „Fourteeners“ (Bergen über 14.000 Fuß) in den Vereinigten Staaten.

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Pikes Peak, often called "America's Mountain," is a famous 14,115-foot (4,302-meter) peak in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, located near Colorado Springs, Colorado. It’s one of the most iconic and accessible "fourteeners" (mountains over 14,000 feet) in the United States.

St Govan’s 13th century Chapel is one of three points of photographic interest (the Green Bridge of Wales and Elegug stacks being the other two) accessible only at weekends as the only route in is through the Ministry of Defence’s Castlemartin gunnery range

The chapel sits precariously on a cliff-lined cove on the site of a holy well once frequented by pilgrims.

This is the camera owned by Walker Evans exhibited at the George Eastman (Kodak Museum). Last weekend when I went to the Art Institute, I overheard a conversation in the photography section of the museum about how it's difficult to find the balance between being in the moment and capturing the moment. I think this is even more true now that photography is increasingly accessible to everyone. However, it was my first true love when I turned 16 and more interesting that any of my first dates. Photography gave me a way to take some of my inside ideas and big emotions and show them on the outside when I was frustrated by drawing and painting and how bad at it I was. I spent many long hours in the dark room of my high school, hiding out from the whole world and experimenting with multiple exposures. My favorite thing about my high school (and one of the only good things) was unlimited clay for my sculptures and unlimited film and paper....which, was truly incredible looking back on it.

**All photos are copyrighted**

Today, the terrestrial order, the order of the earth, is coming to an end. It is being succeeded by the digital order. Heidegger was the last thinker of the terrestrial order. Death and pain do not belong to the digital order. They represent disturbances. Mourning and longing are also suspicious. The pain of the nearness of distance is alien to the digital order. Distance is inscribed into nearness. The digital order transforms nearness into the absence of distance, so that it is no longer painful. Under the compulsion of availability, everything is rendered accessible and consumable. The digital habitus is: everything must be available at once. The telos of the digital order is total availability. This order lacks the 'slowness of the hesitant shyness in the face of what cannot be done'.

- Byung-Chul Han, The Ontology of Pain

View of Hopkins Point Road. The black and white sign marks the US Canadian border, one of border point with no formal control.

Left of the sign in USA and right is in Canada, an enclave only accessible through US road (or with a boat)

Salmon River in Dundee, Qc / Fort Convington, NY

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💚 moccino black friday 💚

from november 21st to november 30st, the whole in-world store is 50%OFF. it’s the perfect chance to grab real quality without paying full price. skins, lipsticks, and even the new renaissance body skin are all there — half off, easy, accessible. if you’ve been waiting for the right moment to get something from moccino, this is it.

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💚 and the new drops?

they keep their standard price, but wearing your moccino group tag gives you 11%OFF. a quiet thank-you for staying close.

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✨ the mood.

explore slowly, pick what feels good, build the look you want.

black friday at moccino isn’t chaos — it’s a soft glow-up season 😉

📌 teleport: Menina da Praia/117/107/27

happy black friday, moccinilicious™. 💚️

The Slieve League (Sliabh Liag) Cliffs west Ireland are the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe at 1972 ft. / 601m.

The Athabasca Glacier is a large, accessible glacier located in the Canadian Rockies, part of the Columbia Icefield. It's one of the most popular glaciers to visit in North America and is known for its accessibility, with tours offered to walk on the ice. The glacier is currently receding at a rate of about 5 meters per year.

This section along the shoreline south of Lost Villages Museum, Long Sault, Ontario. Open water on the St. Lawrence River that can be accessible for our canoe. Unfortunately snow falling the next 4 days making it difficult to paddle. Soon ice will form here too soon.

Below, where I scootered to view this. There is a long walk to the shoreline from Lost Villages, where my scooter is viewed below…

Accessibility Description: A towering curtain of rain hangs suspended in the sky, glowing golden where the low sun strikes it. The rain appears to evaporate before reaching the ground, a phenomenon known as virga, while below, red rock mesas catch the last light of the day. Warm tones highlight the cliffs on the left, their rugged forms rising above a dense forest of green pines and junipers. The sky is filled with dramatic clouds, a mixture of gray, peach, and white, with glimpses of deep blue breaking through at the edges. The entire scene conveys both grandeur and transience, a fleeting desert storm dissolving into light above the enduring sandstone of Sedona.

A stand of Japanese red cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) grows in the Parque Florestal do Cabouco Velho on the slopes on the east side of the the central volcano on Faial Island in the Azores. Because much of Faial's original forests were cleared in the 15th and 16th centuries for agriculture and pasture, today's forests are largely composed of introduced species like these. Enclaves of native evergreen forests and shrublands persist but mostly in less accessible, higher-elevation areas. The park is located in the Frequesia (parish) de Salaõ.

France, Normandy, Mont-Saint-Michel, Spring 2022

Mont-Saint-Michel is a tidal island in Normandy, France. As of 2019, the island had a population of 29. The commune's position—on an island just a few hundred metres from land—made it accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey, but defensible as an incoming tide stranded, drove off, or drowned would-be assailants. The island remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War; a small garrison fended off a full attack by the English in 1433. Louis XI recognised the reverse benefits of its natural defence and turned it into a prison. The abbey was used regularly as a prison during the Ancien Régime. Mont-Saint-Michel and its surrounding bay were inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979 for its unique aesthetic and importance as a medieval Christian site. It is visited by more than 3 million people each year. Mont-Saint-Michel served as an artistic inspiration for a number of works. In Peter Jackson's 2003 film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Gondor's capital city was modelled on Mont Saint-Michel. Likewise, the town and castle in the Disney hit Tangled were based on Mont-Saint-Michel, as was the design of Dark Souls location New Londo Ruins.

À 20 minutes de Rouen, le Centre d’art contemporain de la Matmut - Daniel Havis propose 4 expositions par an d’artistes d’envergure nationale et internationale.

Avec la volonté de rendre accessible l’art et la culture au public le plus large, le Groupe Matmut développe depuis plusieurs années une politique d'action culturelle dynamique, notamment grâce au centre d'art. Elle accompagne et cherche à promouvoir des artistes et structures dans leur démarche de création et de diffusion. Chaque exposition de trois mois environ est accompagnée d’une édition et d’une programmation culturelle (visites commentées, ateliers pour enfants et scolaires, partenariats avec différentes structures, événements) à destination des petits et des grands.

À l’intérieur d’un château néo-Louis XIII du XIXème siècle, le Centre d’art contemporain - Daniel Havis vous invite à découvrir l’histoire et l’architecture de ce lieu. Vous pourrez ainsi apprécier à l’extérieur l’ouvrage de l’architecte Lucien Lefort, les ferronneries de Ferdinand Marrou ou la taille de pierre d’Edmond Bonet. Le château de style néo-classique arbore fièrement sur son fronton la devise « Omnia pro arte » (Tout pour l’art) inscrite par son bâtisseur Gaston Le Breton et aujourd’hui plus que jamais vivante grâce au Groupe Matmut.

Le château se situe dans un parc de 6 hectares avec des univers différents qui évoluent au rythme des saisons : jardin à la française, jardin japonais, jardin de l’Evolution, jardin du Dédale, arboretum, la roseraie, le tout peuplé de sculptures monumentales de célèbres artistes (Peter Briggs, Norman Dilworth, Quentin Garel, Vera Molnar...).

20 minutes from Rouen, the Matmut Contemporary Art Center - Daniel Havis offers 4 exhibitions per year by artists of national and international stature.

With the aim of making art and culture accessible to the widest possible audience, the Matmut Group has been developing a dynamic cultural action policy for several years, particularly through the art center. It supports and seeks to promote artists and organizations in their creative and dissemination efforts. Each exhibition of approximately three months is accompanied by an edition and a cultural program (guided tours, workshops for children and schools, partnerships with different organizations, events) for young and old.

Inside a 19th century neo-Louis XIII castle, the Contemporary Art Center - Daniel Havis invites you to discover the history and architecture of this place. Outside, you can appreciate the work of the architect Lucien Lefort, the ironwork of Ferdinand Marrou or the stone cutting of Edmond Bonet. The neoclassical style castle proudly displays on its pediment the motto "Omnia pro arte" (Everything for art) inscribed by its builder Gaston Le Breton and today more alive than ever thanks to the Matmut Group. The castle is located in a 6-hectare park with different universes that evolve with the seasons: French garden, Japanese garden, Evolution garden, Dédale garden, arboretum, rose garden, all populated with monumental sculptures by famous artists (Peter Briggs, Norman Dilworth, Quentin Garel, Vera Molnar...).

These are big chunky buildings that really loomed over the area. Behind the trees and planting they rose high, as if they might grow ever taller.

I must say I do like the blocky architecture of these apartments, much more so than in the more accessible main block.

From total stillness - yesterday's shot - to lacy, hazy water tumbling and spraying down a cliff face, the west coast water series continues...

Mystic Beach was among my favourite places on southern Vancouver Island. You have to hike in, through an emerald green temperate rain forest, and then you reach a crescent beach of sand and gravel, with sandstone cliffs and a waterfall at one end and a sea cave at the other. Lots of cool stuff in the middle, too. I especially liked going there in winter, when it was usually devoid of people.

Much of this waterfall exists as fine spray, rendered almost invisible here by my slow shutter. You can see where some of that water is hitting, near the bottom right of the frame. At high tide, the water of Juan de Fuca Strait will come right up to the base of the cliff, and this spot won't be accessible. With the sea at our backs we kept that in mind, so as not to get stranded.

Photographed along the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, BC (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2010 James R. Page - all rights reserved.

Vessel (TKA) is a structure and visitor attraction built as part of the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project in Manhattan, New York City, New York. Built to plans by the British designer Thomas Heatherwick, the elaborate honeycomb-like structure rises 16 stories and consists of 154 flights of stairs, 2,500 steps, and 80 landings for visitors to climb. Vessel is the main feature of the 5-acre (2.0 ha) Hudson Yards Public Square. Funded by Hudson Yards developer Related Companies, its final cost is estimated at $200 million.

The concept of Vessel was unveiled to the public on September 14, 2016. Construction began in April 2017, with the pieces being manufactured in Italy and shipped to the United States. Vessel topped out in December 2017 with the installation of its highest piece, and it opened on March 15, 2019.

The structure's name is temporary, as indicated by the TKA abbreviation, which means "Temporarily Known As". Upon opening, Vessel received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its prominent placement within Hudson Yards, and others deriding the structure as extravagant. In its first year, Vessel was also criticized for its restrictive copyright policy regarding photographs taken of the structure, as well as its lack of accessibility for disabled visitors, both of which were later resolved.

Aspens and Dome, Eastern Sierra. © Copyright 2021 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.

A line of autumn aspen trees in front of a rocky dome, Eastern Sierra Nevada.

This photograph comes from a morning of Eastern Sierra exploration into an area that I would not typically go to for fall color photography — not because there is no fall color there to photograph, but because it isn’t exactly the most accessible place to find it. For sure, there are easier places to find the color nearby. We put the 4Runner in 4WD and slowly tracked up toward the base of the range, eventually gaining enough elevation that there were aspens, the sort that live in harmony with surrounding high desert foliage of rabbitbrush and sage.

It was a beautiful morning of the sort that you’ll only find here in autumn. A weak storm has been through a few days earlier, and there was a dusting of snow on the highest Sierra crest peaks and behind us, across Owens Valley, on the White Mountains. Despite the recent storm the morning warmed nicely, and the sunlight was warm as we photographed. Here a small row of aspens, midway through the color change process, stood against a small, rocky dome, and beyond that in the haze-obscured distance were higher hills rising toward the summit of the range.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.

#614, sulfur loads, with a pair of SD60's ----->>>>Soo6018 and Soo6054. This train is cresting the rather large grade along Soo's Tomah sub. This is the only tunnel on the line and was rather accessible during this time.