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Lake Oesa is a body of water located at an elevation of 2,267 metres in the mountains of Yoho National Park. Access to this area of Yoho National Park is restricted, you need a pass to access this trail (and all trails around Lake O'Hara). The trailhead is only accessible via shuttle service through Parks Canada reservation system.
Lake Oesa is one of my favorite alpine lakes, climbed a bit higher to overlook Lake Oesa. I did not take my wider lens, too heavy for 14.1km hiking 😉 It was snowing couple of days ago, the hiking and climbing were not easy at some parts ... The photo was stitched from three handheld shots.
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).
This section of Iguazu Falls is known as Devil's Throat. It is most easily seen/accessible from the Argentine side of the falls via a 1200-yard footbridge after getting off of the Jungle Train at Devil's Throat Station. I took this photo from the balcony at the end of the footbridge. The rushing water of the falls is so loud on the balcony that you almost can't hear anything else, and I got very wet from the misty overspray created by the falls. On the footbridge while walking to and from the falls we saw lots of animals and birds including Coatis and Plush Crested Jays.
Quote of the Day:
"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing." (Helen Keller)
Honopū Valley is located along the northwest shore of Kauai on the Na Pali coast. It is isolated and not easily accessible except by water. Best POV are from the air, as in this shot.
Wawel was the residence of the Polish kings between the 10th and 17th century. The area is free accessible. Krakow, Poland.
Der Wawel war zwischen dem 10-ten und 17-ten Jahrhundert die Residenz der polnischen Könige. Das Gelände ist frei zugänglich. Krakau, Polen.
Nikon D810 + Laowa 12 mm f/2.8 Zero-D
The Styx Mill Conservation Reserve is another beautiful wetland worth visiting. The light gravel paths are accessible and there’s a nice walk around the lake, including picnic tables for stopping to take in the view.
Valle de Pineta, Parque nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido, Sobrarbe, Huesca, Aragón, España.
El Valle de Pineta, forma parte del Parque Natural de Ordesa y Monte Perdido en la comarca de Sobrarbe. Un valle muy sobrecogedor por las altas y escarpadas montañas que se formaron como consecuencia del arrastre de desechos como producto del deshielo, esto mismo hace que el valle tenga la forma de U. Su paisaje cautiva por la frondosidad de sus bosques y prados, junto a ellos sobresalen las espectaculares caídas de agua que bajan de lo alto de la montañas.
Gracias a sus elevaciones resulta ser el lugar ideal para practicar deportes de alta montaña. En su cresta sur se observa una sección de picos que superan los 2.500 metros de altura, hacia el extremo sur sobresale un trío de picos conocidos como las tres Marías. Siguiendo hacia la cresta norte el terreno se vuelve menos escarpado.
El valle de Pineta se cierra en una pared bastante escarpada, en su parte alta de donde proceden las caídas de agua se encuentra el circo y el balcón de Pineta. Quienes han logrado subir hasta el Balcón de Pineta no pueden marcharse del sitio sin conocer el ibón de Marboré. Un sitio que ofrece las mejores panorámicas del Glaciar de Monte Perdido, ubicado entre Monte Perdido y Cilindro.
El circo de Pineta es una de las vistas más hermosas del valle. Hay que resaltar que el valle de Pineta es uno de los puntos más accesibles del Parque Natural de Ordesa y Monte Perdido gracias a la carretera que permite acceder hasta el fondo del valle
The Pineta Valley is part of the Ordesa y Monte Perdido Natural Park in the Sobrarbe region. A very overwhelming valley due to the high and steep mountains that were formed as a result of the dragging of waste as a product of the thaw, this itself makes the valley have the shape of a U. Its landscape captivates by the lushness of its forests and meadows, along with they stand out the spectacular waterfalls that come down from the top of the mountains.
Thanks to its elevations it turns out to be the ideal place to practice high mountain sports. On its southern crest there is a section of peaks that exceed 2,500 meters in height, towards the southern end there is a trio of peaks known as the three Marías. Continuing towards the north ridge the terrain becomes less steep.
The valley of Pineta is closed in a fairly steep wall, in its upper part where the waterfalls come from is the circus and the balcony of Pineta. Those who have managed to climb to the Balcón de Pineta cannot leave the site without seeing the Marboré lake. A site that offers the best panoramic views of the Monte Perdido Glacier, located between Monte Perdido and Cilindro.
The Pineta circus is one of the most beautiful sights in the valley. It should be noted that the Pineta valley is one of the most accessible points of the Ordesa y Monte Perdido Natural Park thanks to the road that allows access to the bottom of the valley.
abstraction of a bridge that is not accessible anymore. it used to be the only way to my house yet, years ago, it was replaced by a modern bridge. i have taken many photos while on this bridge or Mud River below. now it is so warped, i am not allowed to even walk on it. time and nature provides so much stuff to photograph!
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
The unique rock formations at Mupe Bay next to Dorset's famous Lulworth Cove. The bay is only accessible by crossing the British Army's heavy gun ranges at Mupe, and even then, only via a steep climb up from the village of Lulworth and a walk of several miles from the car park. Ive visited several times now, always early in the morning, and never once seen another soul there despite Lulworth itself being one of the biggest tourist traps in the county
The most accessible of all the dozen or so falls in the town of Real, Quezon. A river running through the rugged hills of the Sierra Madre is responsible for the numerous waterfalls in the area.
At sunrise on a cliff overlooking Lake Ontario, a newly-landed Nashville Warbler examines the rolled up leaves for insects.
This was one of about twenty species of Warbler that had arrived that morning, dozens of birds all pushing each other out of perceived ‘hot spots’ for bugs. The beneficiary of that push was anyone with a camera: in the early light, the birds dropped down out of the canopy in their search for food.
That meant that some of the more difficult birds to photograph, because of their fondness for the upper branches of trees, were accessible. This Nashville showed off its field marks that give it its French name: the grey cheeks were fully on display.
Oddly, at what was the peak of the spring migration in Prince Edward County, there were very few birders and few among them had cameras. The entire Prince Edward County National Wildlife Area, a large swath of shoreline and mixed habitats, was mostly without people.
As I have mentioned earlier, I had a few lifers on this visit, as well as a lot of fun, especially with my friend Paul. The enthusiasm of the spring migration was infectious, and everyone we did meet was friendly and sharing news of sightings.
A Roseate Spoonbill surveying the territory from its lofty vantage point
Photo taken from a birding trip with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on a barrier Island accessible only by boat.
Little Saint Simons Island, Georgia, USA
MANY THANKS FOR YOUR VISITS, COMMENTS AND FAVES
THEY ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!
"Estudi fotogràfic efímer", Girona, España.
“Girona, Temps de Flors” arranca hoy la 70 edición con 146 proyectos repartidos en 114 espacios que se pueden visitar hasta el 18 de mayo. El Ayuntamiento de Girona ha dado el pistoletazo de salida a la muestra floral esta mañana con un recorrido por algunos de los espacios de la muestra, así como la visita a la exposición "Maestros del arte catalán del siglo XX. Colección Bassat" del Museo de Arte de Girona.
Uno de los espacios que se ha visitado es el patio del Ayuntamiento, donde existe un proyecto conmemorativo de los 40 años de hermanamiento con la ciudad de Albi.
" Esta edición de Tiempo de Flores quiere ser más inclusiva y accesible, pensada especialmente para los gerundenses y las gerundenses. Se han hecho mejoras para personas con movilidad reducida y se ha creado un Espacio Calma para personas neurodivergentes. También se han ampliado los horarios para favorecer una visita más tranquila y adaptada a los ritmos. invitar a todo el mundo a disfrutar de la muestra ”, ha destacado el alcalde Lluc Salellas i Vilar.
“Girona, Temps de Flors” kicks off its 70th edition today with 146 projects spread across 114 spaces that can be visited until May 18. Girona City Council kicked off the floral exhibition this morning with a tour of some of the spaces in the exhibition, as well as a visit to the exhibition “Masters of 20th-century Catalan art. Bassat Collection” at the Girona Art Museum.
One of the spaces visited is the City Council courtyard, where there is a commemorative project for the 40 years of twinning with the city of Albi.
“ This edition of Temps de Flors aims to be more inclusive and accessible, especially designed for Girona residents. Improvements have been made for people with reduced mobility and a Calma Space has been created for neurodivergent people. Opening hours have also been extended to encourage a more peaceful visit adapted to local rhythms. Finally, I would like to thank the public for their involvement and invite everyone to enjoy the exhibition ”, highlighted Mayor Lluc Salellas i Vilar.
To conclude this short series of old Sydney photos, we'll take a look at the restaurant world.
Mr Wong's Cantonese Restaurant is a huge place, with dining facilities on multiple levels. It is designed to reflect two eras in a converted inner city warehouse: Shanghai prior of the invasion of the Japanese and the rise of Communists; and Prohibition era USA. You'll see some photos from the Prohibition Bar, accessible from Mr Wong's via a secret doorway (of course), in my uploaded collage today. merivale.com/venues/mrwong/
We were there for lunch and the food was as spectacular as the setting.
All these photographs today were taken with the natural lighting and handheld by the Panasonic DMC-FS7 compact camera. If you get a chance to purchase one of these lovely little 10MP pocket cameras, in good secondhand condition, I can tell you it will serve you well.
There are impressive waterfalls not only directly in the Plitvice National Park, but also in the further course of the Korana below the officially accessible part of the park, which you can easily hike through.
Imposante Wasserfälle gibt es nicht nur direkt im Plitvice Nationalpark, sondern auch im weiteren Verlauf der Korana unterhalb des offiziell zugänglich Teil des Parks, den man aber einfach erwandern kann.
A storm settles in above Alaska's Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge.
One of the benefits of my trip to Alaska in the summer was to have a much longer autumn season, regarding foliage. This was taken on August 29th and the colors were already turning beautifully. A month earlier then when the fall foliage begins in WA. Nice!
"Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge is part of the world’s largest contiguous conservation unit, sharing a border with Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve and Kluane National Park in Canada. The Alaska Highway borders the refuge, providing unique opportunities to access the area.
Lying near the Canadian border, Tetlin is one of only two refuges in Alaska that are road accessible. It harbors a varied landscape, from rugged snowcapped peaks and glacially fed rivers to tundra, forest, and wetlands. The Refuge was established to conserve waterfowl, raptors and other migratory birds, furbearers, moose, and caribou—which lie in abundance within its borders.
Enjoy a wonderful Sunday!
From Wikipedia
Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule, suspension, and, until 1960, cantilever bridge[1] in London, built between 1886 and 1894, designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry with the help of Henry Marc Brunel. It crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and is one of five London bridges owned and maintained by the City Bridge Foundation, a charitable trust founded in 1282.
The bridge was constructed to connect the 39 per cent of London's population that lived east of London Bridge, equivalent to the populations of "Manchester on the one side, and Liverpool on the other", while allowing shipping to access the Pool of London between the Tower of London and London Bridge. The bridge was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra, Princess of Wales, on 30 June 1894.
The bridge is 940 feet (290 m) in length including the abutments and consists of two 213-foot (65 m) bridge towers connected at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, and a central pair of bascules that can open to allow shipping. Originally hydraulically powered, the operating mechanism was converted to an electro-hydraulic system in 1972. The bridge is part of the London Inner Ring Road and thus the boundary of the London congestion charge zone, and remains an important traffic route with 40,000 crossings every day. The bridge deck is freely accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians, whereas the bridge's twin towers, high-level walkways, and Victorian engine rooms form part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.
Tower Bridge has become a recognisable London landmark. It is sometimes confused with London Bridge, about 0.5 miles (800 m) upstream, which has led to a persistent urban legend about an American purchasing the wrong bridge.
Elna
El claustre d'Elna és un monument medieval del Rosselló, a Elna. És el claustre de la catedral d'Elna i fou residència dels seus canonges. El claustre es coneix essencialment per les seves escultures romàniques, però a més d'això també hi ha un nombre important d'escultures gòtiques.
El claustre respecta l'esquema d'arquitectura establert al segle XII: cada galeria té cinc pilars quadrangulars i vuit columnes geminades unides amb arcs de mig punt. Està elaborat totalment amb marbre blanc, probablement marbre de Ceret. L'espai central l'ocupa un jardí que a l'època medieval no era accessible, perquè no hi havia cap porta.
ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claustre_d%27Elna
El claustro de Elna es un monumento medieval del Rosellón, en Elna. Es el claustro de la catedral de Elna y fue residencia de sus canónigos. El claustro se conoce esencialmente por sus esculturas románicas, pero además de eso también hay un número importante de esculturas góticas.
El claustro respeta el esquema de arquitectura establecido en el siglo XII: cada galería tiene cinco pilares cuadrangulares y ocho columnas geminadas unidas con arcos de medio punto. Está elaborado totalmente con mármol blanco, probablemente mármol de Ceret. El espacio central lo ocupa un jardín que en la época medieval no era accesible, porque no había ninguna puerta.
The Torre del Verger is an old watchtower in the municipality of Banyalbufar in Mallorca.
The tower is located on the northwest coast of the Spanish island of Mallorca. It is located on a high rocky outcrop of the Serra de Tramuntana, which at this point drops steeply towards the Mediterranean Sea.
The tower was built in 1579 as a watchtower to monitor this stretch of coastline and defend it against attacks by pirates. Today it serves as an observation tower. It is accessible via a path (from the nearby viewpoint) and can be climbed via an internal staircase. From its platform, it provides an overview of the coastal section.
In 1875 the tower was bought by Ludwig Salvator of Austria-Tuscany and renovated in 1997. Today it is a listed building
This is the highest accessible viewpoint on Lummi Island, which you can reach on a 2 mile (very steep!) trail from the car park through the Baker Preserve.
Lummi Island lies at the southwest corner of Whatcom County, Washington, United States, between the mainland part of the county and offshore San Juan County. The Lummi Indian Reservation is situated on a peninsula east of the island, but it does not include Lummi Island. The island has a land area of 23.97 square kilometres (9.25 square miles) and had a population of 822 as of the 2000 census. The population nearly doubles in summer when second-home owners from Canada and the U.S. arrive for the summer months.
The island is accessible by a 20-car ferry, the Whatcom Chief, run by Whatcom County Public Works. It is a 6-minute passage from Gooseberry Point on the mainland to the island.
Taken on a lovely sunny day last week at Brandy Cove - a very small cove between Casell and Pwll Du - only accessible when the tide is out.
When we took the hike up to the glacier I just had to get a picture of the blue ice. The state of Alaska has made this area a state park and have really done a great job making the area accessible to the public. There was a small ice cave right next to where the melting water was coming off the mountain. It probably wasn't the smartest thing I've done this year, but I walked underneath the tons of ice to get this shot. The blue color was just amazing and I wanted to capture it. The light coming there the ice was perfect here. The ice is so dense in the glacier that it only reflects this color in the light spectrum. It was a beautiful sight to take in.
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Scenic hike to Stavbrekktjønna lake in the Breiddalen valley of Norway.
The road to this area is only accessible from late May to November due to deep snow and avalanches. Snow remains here even in summer and gives the impressive natural views a special colorful beauty.
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See my new photos in the "My Travels" album:
The attraction of mountain panoramas
www.flickr.com/photos/paradox_m/53903556343
Lake, mountains, glacier - what else is needed for happiness?
www.flickr.com/photos/paradox_m/53749940309
Spectacular alpine panorama from the top of Mont Fort
www.flickr.com/photos/paradox_m/53733788803
Classic of the Mont Blanc massif in the Chamonix valley
www.flickr.com/photos/paradox_m/53701191872
The hidden gem of Swiss glaciers
www.flickr.com/photos/paradox_m/53686682556
Mont Blanc massif from Punta Helbronner
www.flickr.com/photos/paradox_m/53655638014
Alpine places of James Bond
www.flickr.com/photos/paradox_m/53642287433
Golden autumn in Gran Paradiso Park
www.flickr.com/photos/paradox_m/53610351715
Irresistible attraction of Alpine roads
www.flickr.com/photos/paradox_m/53595247888
Unforgettable routes in Catalonia
www.flickr.com/photos/paradox_m/53581061259
One of the most magnificent fjords in Norway
I was shocked to see a boat coming in the other day on the way to recyclables. So I sat there and waited and sure enough it was the Emerald Isle from the island. The boat has been stuck over there because Lake Michigan has been so rough since its last trip. They had an opening where the waters were not so rough and they came back and they are anchored in our harbor for the winter now. They need some engine work done and it is more accessible for them to work on the engines here then fly people over to the island.
Accessible from NF 26, Ryan Lake was hit by the 1980 eruption from Mount St. Helens. Much of the area was open to salvage logging operations afterward, but the lake itself was left as it was, to recover naturally.
Wikipedia: Dunluce Castle (from Irish: Dún Libhse) is a now-ruined medieval castle in Northern Ireland. It is located on the edge of a basalt outcropping in County Antrim (between Portballintrae and Portrush), and is accessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland. The castle is surrounded by extremely steep drops on either side, which may have been an important factor to the early Christians and Vikings who were drawn to this place where an early Irish fort once stood.
"For the last three years, ProRail, The Eye Association Netherlands (Oogvereniging) and more than 200 Dutch municipalities have worked together to make Dutch train stations accessible to the 350.000 blind or partially sighted people in the Netherlands. On Tuesday, October 31, the task, costing around 30 million euros, was completed.
Measures taken
In order to make NS stations accessible to the blind and partially sighted, more than 90 kilometres of visible and perceptible guidelines have been installed in 410 train stations. The guidelines will ensure that visually impaired people do not lose their way."
( www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/all-dutch-tra...)
Located within a remote little visited part of The Anza Borrego Desert, while exploring a rock shelter I came across this interesting scene upon the rock. This is similiar to another Pictograph that I have seen in White clay though that one is more accessible to people and is more faded due to many people who just have to touch.
Picture Lake is the centerpiece of a strikingly beautiful landscape in the Heather Meadows area. The classic alpine vista of Mt. Shuksan mirrored in Picture Lake is one of the most photographed mountain scenes in North America. A backdrop of mountains, wildflowers and colorful plant foliage make this a beautiful, universally accessible family hike.
Lake Garda, Italy
There are countless jetties dotted all around Lake Garda... the only problem is, you need to be an Olympic Long Jumper or Pole Vaulter to access 99% of them. Most are either the property of the adjacent lakeside hotels or private residences. Just to make sure you are aware of this most are fenced off with padlocked gates and the few overzealous ones use a little barbed-wire to keep you off them. The long jump/pole vault option comes into effect for those jetties where the lakeside section has been removed to make them totally inaccessible.
This is the first jetty I found that I could actually walk onto without any restrictions but was a good half hour walk south of Malcesine town centre. Taken half an hour after my previous posting just as the sun was beginning to touch the mountain tops on the opposite side of the lake. Just to the left of the jetty can be seen the town of Limone Sul Garda and at the very top of the lake is Riva del Garda.
United Kingdom, Northumberland, Lindisfarne, Spring 2024
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne in Northumberland is a tidal island off the northeast coast of England. It is accessible, most times, at low tide by crossing sand and mud flats which are covered with water at high tides. These sand and mud flats carry an ancient pilgrims' path, and in more recent times, a modern causeway. Holy Island has a recorded history from the 6th century. It was an important center of Celtic Christianity. After Viking invasions and the Norman conquest of England, a priory was reestablished. A small castle was built on the island in 1550, Lindisfarne Castle.
Another shot from my trip to Wales... and another location where we had to pay to park! Coming from Scotland where our land is much more free and accessible we found this a bit of a culture shock in a way that everywhere wanted money for parking!
I was lucky as this was taken about mid day and I got a nice bit overcast light and a high tide which hid what was a messy foreground! Especially when there was basically no wave action the LE was my best approach!
Mount Siguniang National Park lies 220km west of Chengdu, in the Qionglai Mountains of western Sichuan in China.
Legend has it that the four snow-capped peaks were originally the four daughters of the mountain god.
The park is comprised of Mount Siguniang itself and the three most accessible valleys surrounding it. The nearest town is Rilong. The three valleys are called Changping Valley, Haizi Valley and Shuangqiao Valley.
I trekked in the Changpingou in autumn when the deciduous larch trees provided an amazing colour show. Truly a spectacular sight!
Kachina Point, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park
Arizona's Painted Desert is a surprising land of contrasting colors, light and textures, accented with occasional tree fossils leftover from the ancient forest which flourished here 200 million years ago. These badlands are especially enchanting when washed in moonlight, as seen here.
To see this desert past sunset however, plan well ahead of time. The Painted Desert is actually part of Petrified Forest National Park, and as such is only accessible to the public after sunset in certain viewpoints, and that only with a controlled permit. This is primarily to lesson the likelihood of people freely taking fossils ("petrified wood") from the park. You need to reserve very early in the day as not many permits are available.
This worked to our advantage that night, as my son and I were the only ones there at Kachina Point. We had the park all to ourselves, with a full moon, a gentle breeze, and the happy peace of nature all around.
Selected for FLICKR Explore January 26, 2024
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The most easily accessible dunes in Death Valley National Park. I have to go back sometime and visit the least accessible!
Female is on the left and male on the right. This is the only accessible place to see this duck in Argentina. They remind me a bit of eiders.
Accessible only on foot, boat or kayak, famous Cathedral Cove is one of the “must visit” sites on The Coromandel.
Cathedral Cove is arguably one of the most picturesque spots (and there are many) in The Coromandel
Saksun is a village near the northwest coast of the Faroese island of Streymoy, in Sunda Municipality. Saksun lies in the bottom of what used to be an inlet of the sea, surrounded by high mountains. The inlet formed a good deep natural harbour, until a storm blocked it with sand. The old harbour become an inaccessible seawater lagoon, only accessible by small boats on high tide.
The Manor house has been through a few owners over the past one hundred years. As a result there is no original furniture left in the building.
In the West facing drawing room there was an art exhibition on, in the upper floors (only accessible with a guided tour. some of the fixtures from previous owners remain.
2016 02 19 134606 Worcestershire Croome Court PM1
Another stretch of the magnificent Gower region of South Wales, what a superb place this is, plenty of accessible beaches with many being dog friendly ( including this one)
Mont-Saint-Michel is a tidal island and mainland commune in Normandy, France.
The island lies approximately one kilometre off France's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is 7 hectares in area. The mainland part of the commune is 393 hectares in area so that the total surface of the commune is 400 hectares. 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, and defensible as the 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 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 Catholic site. It is visited by more than three million people each year, and is the most-visited tourist attraction in France outside of Paris. Over 60 buildings within the commune are protected as historical monuments.
In 2023, President Macron marked 1,000 years of the abbey, and the success of the hydraulic dam project and the elevated pedestrian bridge in restoring water flow in the bay, making the mount an island again.
Here is a view down the accessible dock at the Buell Lake County Park, October 6, 2022. Disabled fisher persons have fishing stations that give them a good view of sunrise. Sometimes, the light can give the "ordinary" a crisp look, as what I thought was the case here. I thank Russ Burden's work on Outdoor Photography for giving me insight as to light and the ordinary. And, my friend Paul Sisul, for schooling us all on the composition of lines.
Re-worked, seen at Gythion Bay, Greece April 2019
Dimitrios (Greek Δημήτριος) is a Greek shipwreck famous due to its picturesque location on an easily accessible sandy beach near Gythio, Greece.
Dimitrios (previously named Klintholm), a small, 67-metre (220 ft) cargo ship of 965 gross register tons cargo capacity built in Denmark in 1950, was registered in the Prefecture of Piraeus, registration no. 2707. The ship belonged 76.75% to the Molaris Brothers (Greek: Αφοί Μόλαρη) and 23.25% to the Matsinos Brothers (Greek Αφοί Ματσινού). Dimitrios has been stranded on the beach at Valtaki (Greek Βαλτάκι) in today's Evrotas municipality in the prefecture of Laconia, Greece, since 23 December 1981.
There are many rumors about the ship's origins and how it got stranded on the beach. Most relate that the ship was used to smuggle cigarettes between Turkey and Italy. She was seized by the port authorities of Gythio and then deliberately released from the port and left to be dragged by the sea to the beach at Valtaki, about 5 kilometres (2.7 nmi; 3.1 mi) from the port of Gythio. She was then set on fire to hide the evidence of cigarette smuggling. Another, less common rumor speaks of a ghost ship of unknown origins.
However, according to a book written by the Honorary Chief of the Hellenic Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Christos Ntounis (1935–2010), Ta Navagia stis Ellinikes thalasses (translated as The shipwrecks of the Greek seas) there is more to be said about the true history of the ship.
In Ta Navagia stis Ellinikes thalasses (Volume B 1950–2000), Ntounis writes that the ship made an emergency docking at Gythio on 4 December 1980 because her captain needed access to a hospital due to a serious illness. However, after the ship's docking, financial problems arose with the crew, as did various engine problems, coupled with insurance measures imposed by various lenders. The crew was then fired and the task of safeguarding the ship was assigned to Georgios Daniil and Vasilis Parigoris.
The ship was docked at Gythio until June 1981, when she was declared unsafe due to wear on the docking ropes and starboard list due to water entering her hull. The port authorities asked for her to be moved to an anchorage outside the port for safety reasons, but the owners did not respond until November 1981. The book states that "at approximately 12:30 p.m. on the 9th of November 1981 the ship was swept about 2 [nautical?] miles [2.3 miles; 3.7 km] away due to severe weather conditions and it was temporary anchored". But the temporary anchorage did not last for long, as the ship was swept away again and finally stranded at its current location on the beach at Valtaki on 23 December 1981. The ship was then simply abandoned there and no attempts were made to recover her.
(Wikipedia)
McConnells Mill State Park is a 2,546 acres Pennsylvania state park in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. The park features a deep scenic gorge with the restored watermill and a covered bridge at the bottom, accessible by a roadway that winds between large, room-sized boulders on the hillside.
McConnells Mill State Park was chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and its Bureau of Parks as one of "25 Must-See Pennsylvania State Parks" (Wikipedia)
Excerpt from Wikipedia:
Majorie Castle is a castle in the municipality of Sion in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
The castle is composed of two main buildings: the Majorie and the Vidomnat. The Majorie is a high tower dominating the site and protected by imposing terraced walls. The Vidomnat, located below and westward of the Majorie tower, is made up of two three-storey square towers, which were probably conjoined after their construction.
The existence of the Vidomnat is mentioned as early as 1179. The presence of the Majorie tower is attested as of 1221, when its St Michel's Chapel is mentioned for the first time. The Majorie is then called the Tour de Sion (Sion Tower). On 15 January 1373, the castle was bought by Bishop Guichard Tavelli, and served from then on as the official residence for the Prince-bishops of Sion. The castle then became the Prince-bishops’ seat of power. They preferred it to the more austere Tourbillon Castle, which was less accessible. The Majorie tower probably contained reception rooms, and the buildings that served as bishops’ habitation have not been preserved. In 1529, a fire destroyed the castle. It was rebuilt in 1536 under Bishop Adrian I of Riedmatten.
During the 17th century, political power over Valais was shared between the bishops and the cantonal Diet, but the Diet met in the Majorie Castle. A fire broke out again in 1788 and destroyed the archives of the Diocese of Sion. Despite several reconstruction projects, the castle was left as it was, and the bishops eventually built their palace near the Sion Cathedral in 1839-1840. The State of Valais then bought the Majorie Castle and installed barracks there.
The Majorie Castle has been housing the Valais Museum of Fine Arts since 1947. The Grange-à-l'Évêque (Bishop's Barn), the former stables of the castle, has been home to the Valais Nature Museum since 2013.