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The German town Monschau so quaint it feels like a theme park — complete with a 13th century castle. The town is located in the hills of the North Eifel, within the Hohes Venn – Eifel Nature Park in the narrow valley of the Rur river. The historic town center has many preserved half-timbered houses and narrow streets have remained nearly unchanged for 300 years, making the town a popular tourist attraction nowadays. The town of Monschau is made of cobbled streets, foot bridges and a castle overlooking the town. Another warming bonus is that it has its own brewery by way of the Felsenkeller. The region Eifel - a manifold landscape of low mountains with isolated forests, volcanoes that have become extinct, extensive hill countries and picturesque valleys - is situated in the triangle where three countries meet, that is Germany, Belgium and Luxemburg.

Monschau - Germany with its historical Old Town and unique location amidst the famous hedges and impressive scenery of the surrounding Eifel region. A photo of a foot bridge over the river Rur in the historic center of Monschau. This beautiful house is only accessible via this red bridge.

Monschau is een kleine historische stad in de Duitse Eifel. Het ligt in de smalle en diepe vallei van de Roer, op vier kilometer van de Belgische grens. Gebouwd tussen de heuvels, heeft dit plaatsje met zijn vakwerkhuisjes en kleine winkelstraatjes een nostalgische aanblik. Men vindt er veel bezienswaardigheden. In het voorjaar is het erg de moeite waard om deze omgeving eens te bezoeken. De natuur ontwaakt en er kan weer volop gewandeld en gefietst worden. Ook voor de motorrijders is het bochtenparadijs weer geopend. In het de lente is het heerlijk ontspannen in de Eifel. Het vakantiegebied -een gevarieerd middelgebergtelandschap met eenzame bossen, dode vulkanen, uitgestrekte heuvellandschappen en pittoreske valleien- ligt in de drielandenhoek Duitsland-België-Luxemburg.

Rats live better than millions of INDIANS...............

ample food

ample water

plenty of milk

all spoon fed

accessible

24/7

the amazing KARNI MATA temple

DESHNOKE

Photography’s new conscience

linktr.ee/GlennLosack

linktr.ee/GlennLosack

glosack.wixsite.com/tbws

The Columbia Center, formerly named the Bank of America Tower and Columbia Seafirst Center, is a skyscraper in downtown Seattle, Washington, United States. The 76-story structure is the tallest building in Seattle and the state of Washington, reaching a height of 933 ft (284 m). At the time of its completion, the Columbia Center was the tallest structure on the West Coast; as of 2017 it is the fourth-tallest, behind buildings in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The Columbia Center, developed by Martin Selig and designed by Chester L. Lindsey Architects, began construction in 1982 and was completed in 1985. The building is primarily leased for class-A office spaces by various companies, with the lower floors including retail space and the upper floors featuring a public observatory and private club lounge. The tower has the highest public viewing area west of the Mississippi River. It occupies most of the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth Avenues and Cherry and Columbia Streets.

Columbia Center was designed by Washington architect Chester L. Lindsey. The base of the building is clad in Rosa Purino Carnelian granite. The building's structure is composed of three geometric concave facades with two setbacks, causing the building to appear like three towers standing side by side.

Ground level elevation on the Fifth Avenue side of the building is higher than on the Fourth Avenue side; the part of Cherry Street it faces was identified as one of the steepest streets in the Central Business District with a slope of 17.1%. The tower was originally designed to be about 306.5 m (1,006 ft), but federal regulations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would not allow it to be that tall so close to the nearby Sea-Tac Airport. Although city land use regulations at the time were intended to limit skyscrapers to about 50 stories, the developer, Martin Selig, obtained the necessary permits for a 76-story skyscraper due to a part of the law that allowed bonus height for providing retail space with street access. Because three separate stories could access the street on the sloped site, the developers were allowed a bonus for each of the three stories they set aside for retail, which was reportedly an unintended loophole in the law. There is an observation deck on the 73rd floor which offers views of Seattle and environs. The top two floors of the building (75th and 76th) are occupied by the private Columbia Tower Club, which houses a restaurant, bar, library, and meeting rooms. The 40th floor is accessible to the public and features a Starbucks cafe. An underground concourse connects the building to the nearby Seattle Municipal Tower and Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza.

The tower, originally proposed as Columbia Center, opened under the name Columbia Seafirst Center after its largest tenant and financier, Seafirst Bank, and then changed to the Bank of America Tower, when Seafirst, which had been owned by Bank of America since 1983, was fully integrated into Bank of America. That name gave it the nickname "BOAT" (Bank of America Tower). In November 2005, the building's name was changed back to Columbia Center after the bank reduced its presence in the building. Bank of America still maintains office space within the building, but has since closed the bank branch at the base of the tower.

Development and construction

Martin Selig, a local real estate developer who had recently opened the Fourth and Blanchard Building, announced plans for a 75-story office building at 4th Avenue and Columbia Street in October 1980. The $120 million project, named the "Columbia Center", would be funded by the Seafirst Mortgage Company and constructed by Howard S. Wright. Selig borrowed $205 million in 1981 to develop the property. The Columbia Seafirst Center, as it came to be known, was constructed by Howard S. Wright starting in 1982 with a 120-foot (37 m) deep excavation hole that required 225,000-cubic-yards of dirt and soil to be removed. This was one of the largest foundations for a building in Seattle along with concrete footings extending 134 feet (41 m) below street level. While the structural steel of the building was built at a rate of 2 floors per week, the building itself was completed on January 12, 1985,[10] and opened on March 2 of that same year. U.S. Steel Corporation was contracted to provide 16,000 short tons (15,000 t) of steel for construction. It was approximately 50% taller than the previous tallest skyscraper in Seattle, the 630-foot (190 m) Seattle First National Bank Building (now Safeco Plaza) that opened in 1969.

Financial issues and height controversy

Selig continued to own and manage the building until 1989, when financial problems forced him to sell it to Seafirst Corporation for $354 million. Management was taken over by the Tishman West Company of Los Angeles.

Controversy regarding the skyscraper's size contributed to the passage of a 1989 law called the Citizen's Alternative Plan (CAP) that enforced more stringent restrictions on the size of buildings in Downtown Seattle. In 1990, after rejecting earlier plans for 300-foot (91 m) antennas, Seattle and the FAA granted permission to erect two 192-foot (59 m) antennas on top of Columbia Center, which were expected to be used for broadcasting radio and television throughout the region. Though the FAA was originally worried about the tower's height encroaching the airspace, they deemed the addition of the antennas not problematic. The antennas were not built before the permits expired in 1994, however.

Ownership changes

EQ Office bought Columbia Center from Seafirst in 1998 for $404 million. The New York State Common Retirement Fund bought a 49.9% stake in the building and then several years later sold its share back to EQ Office. In 2007, Columbia Center was sold by EQ Office to Boston-based Beacon Capital Partners for $621 million; Beacon later defaulted on a loan in 2010, the height of the Great Recession, at a time when vacancies reached 40%. On August 7, 2015, Hong Kong-based Gaw Capital Partners purchased the building for $711 million.

Renovations

On July 1, 2013, the Columbia Center's observation deck, known as the Sky View, was remodeled from 270 degrees to a 360 degree viewing area. The observation deck underwent further renovations in 2018, adding two express elevators and a new lounge. The 4th Avenue entrance was also renovated.

(Wikipedia)

Das Columbia Center ist das höchste Gebäude in Seattle und im US-Bundesstaat Washington. Mit einer Gesamthöhe von 285 Metern war es bei der Fertigstellung 1985 der höchste Wolkenkratzer westlich des Mississippi, wurde allerdings 1989 durch den U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles mit 310 Metern übertroffen. Die Höhe des Columbia Centers beträgt einschließlich einer Antennenkonstruktion auf dem Dach 295 Meter. Diese wird jedoch nicht als Teil des Gebäudearchitektur angesehen, und somit nicht zur formalen Höhe gewertet.

76 oberirdische Etagen dienen als Büroraum, die sieben Kellergeschosse werden vielseitig genutzt. Der Wolkenkratzer sollte ursprünglich etwa 306,5 Meter hoch werden. Die FAA erlaubte die Höhe nicht, da sich das Gebäude dafür zu nah am Flughafen Seattle/Tacoma befände, wodurch ein höheres Sicherheitsrisiko entstünde. Es wurde in das Projekt Raum für die Öffentlichkeit und Einzelhandel einbezogen, damit die zulässige Höhe nicht zu sehr eingeschränkt werden kann. Das 73. Stockwerk dient nun teilweise als Aussichtspunkt, von dem sich Seattle und seine Umgebung überblicken lässt. Der Columbia Tower Club verteilt sich auf die beiden obersten Stockwerke (75 und 76) und besteht aus einem Restaurant, einer Bar, einer Bibliothek und einigen Tagungsräumen. Ein unterirdischer Gang verbindet das Columbia Center mit dem nahegelegenen Seattle Municipal Tower und dem Bank of America Fifth Avenue Plaza.

Mehrere größere Unternehmen mieten Büros im Columbia Center. Dazu zählen vor allem die Bank of America, Heller Ehrman LLP und Amazon.com.

Ursprünglich trug der Wolkenkratzer seinen heutigen Namen. Später wurde er nach der dort ansässigen Seafirst Bank als Columbia Seafirst Center bezeichnet. Diese gehörte seit 1983 zur Bank of America, wurde im Laufe der 1980er Jahre jedoch vollständig integriert. Daher bekam das Gebäude den Namen Bank of America Tower mit dem Spitznamen BOAT. Im November 2005 wurde es wieder in The Columbia Center (TCC) umbenannt.

Am 16. Juni 2004, noch vor Herausgabe ihres 9/11 Commission Report, machte die Untersuchungskommission zum 11. September 2001 nicht in die Tat umgesetzte Pläne der Terroristen bekannt, die vorsahen mit zehn entführten Passagierflugzeugen die höchsten Gebäude in Kalifornien und im Staate Washington zu beschädigen bzw. zu zerstören. Neben dem Columbia Center in Seattle habe auch der U.S. Bank Tower in Los Angeles zu den Zielen gehört.

(Wikipedia)

Excerpt from www.hiddennewfoundland.ca:

The Brigus Tunnel is a surprising reminder of the impact that the Labrador fishery and seal hunt had on the community of Brigus. The historic town is littered with reminders of what life was like hundreds of years ago and is known for its large number of heritage buildings and picturesque gardens. But the most notable historic site in the town is a large tunnel cut through solid bedrock near the harbour front. To many people’s surprise the tunnel is an artifact of the Labrador fishery in which many of the town’s inhabitants once participated.

The tunnel was built for the famous Captain Abram Bartlett. Bartlett frequently made trips to Labrador to partake in the summer fishery but due to an overcrowded harbour would often have trouble finding a dock to unload his catch. After purchasing a larger ship, his previous berth at Riverhead was no longer usable. The only remaining suitable deep water berth nearby was in Brigus Harbour. Brigus' sheltered and deep water harbour was ideal for holding large ships but finding a place to dock a ship was often difficult due to surrounding cliffs. A tunnel through the ridge would give Bartlett access to his ship and allow for easy offloading of the catch.

Bartlett immediately purchased a section of land near the ridge and hired the help of Cornish miner John Hoskins. Hoskins began construction of the tunnel around 1860. John Hoskins was a professional who had previously been employed at the Tilt Cove Copper Mines on the Baie Verte Peninsula [Virtual Museum]. The roughly 80 foot long tunnel was constructed by hand drilling holes into the rock in which gunpowder would be placed. In order to keep the drill bits sharp a special forge was constructed near the tunnel site. The tunnel is reported to have taken around four months of continuous work to complete. The tunnel measured eight and a half feet high and about eight feet wide allowing wheel barrows, wagons and even horse and carriages to access the wharf on the other side. The tunnel was used until around 1910.

Today the tunnel is accessible by anyone who wishes to venture through. The tunnel is located near the waterfront behind St. Georges Heritage Church near the Bartlett Memorial.

More than seven waterfalls in Munduk highlands, some still has no name, and some is still hard to reach.

Running and rushing, the sound of the water against the pebbles, hidden gem in the mountain wilderness, Melanting waterfall. Only accessible by foot and pathways are not clearly shown on digital maps. this place is mostly quiet all the time but the sound of the waterfall and birds

Melanting waterfall, Munduk, North Bali, Indonesia.

Doubtful Sound / Patea is a very large and naturally imposing fiord (despite its name) in Fiordland, in the far south west of New Zealand. It is located in the same region as the smaller but more famous and accessible Milford Sound. It took second place after Milford Sound as New Zealand's most famous tourism destination.

A quiet inlet accessible from a footpath from Lower Street in the village of Dittisham.

Exploring the South side of Philips Reservoir and the Powder River Recreation Area in Baker County Oregon.

Spent a little time at Philips Lake and the Powder River Recreation Area along the Elkhorn Scenic Byway.

Phillip’s lake is a popular destination along the Elkhorn Scenic Byway for local watchable wildlife enthusiasts with an abundant population of bird species year-round and particularly in spring and fall migration.

The lake is surrounded by hiking and mountain bike trails and in the winter the Shoreline Loop trail becomes a popular Nordic ski trail.

Birding enthusiasts can see more than 300 bird species throughout Baker County.

A few of our favorite nearby birding hot spots include the Sumpter Dredge Wildlife area between McEwen Station and the Sumpter Dredge. We didn't see a lot of birds on this trip but did see lots of early summer wildflowers.

Just north of Phillips Lake below the Mason Dam visitors can explore easily accessible trails along the Powder River at the Powder River Rec Area. This is always a fun stop and offers easy access to fishing with trails along both sides of the Powder River providing easy river access and beautiful views along the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway

For more information about other watchable wildlife opportunities and hiking in Baker County visit the Baker County Tourism website at www.travelbakercounty.com

The island of Evia lies along the Eastern coast of Central Greece, and is accessible to the mainland via two bridges, an old wooden bridge and a contemporary suspension bridge. There are also frequent ferries to several parts of the island. It is 175 km long and is the second largest island in Greece, and the third largest in the Eastern Mediterranean.

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Milwaukee Art Museum Locked Down; MAM behind bars; chanined and locked down from public access, Milwaukee, WI USA

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On the western ridge of the Tribeč mountain, rising above the Nitra Oponice village, there is a ruin of an old guard Oponický Castle built in the 13th century to protect Nitra and the Prince's castle from the Tatars and Turks. The castle was very well fortified, its mighty tower Tereš, which served as a safe during the Turkish Wars - its valuables were deposited here by the elders from a wide area. The Turks never managed to conquer. However, it's destiny, in the first half of the 18th century, became the emperor who, just like many other Slovak castles, had severely damaged the castle after the end of Hungarian Estonian up-risings so that they could not become a refuge for the rebellious nobility. The castle complex, set in a pleasant natural environment, is beautifully landscaped. There is a nice and long view from the castle. The Oponický Castle is accessible through the green footpath from Oponice. The hike is a less than one hour.

It's less than a hour hike from the Oponice village - Slovakia. Its a pleasant route through a forrest, however might be very muddy and slippery. There was no info in English on the information board of the Oponický hrad and the castle is clearly in need of reconstruction but I'm glad we went as it completes the trio of things to see/do in Oponice (chateau, library, castle). The view was outstanding. Photo of me and my wife Kanitha taken by my daughter Samantha.

Op het westelijke puntje van de berg Tribeč staan de ruïnes van het Oponický kasteel gebouwd in de 13e eeuw met uitzicht op het Nitra Oponice dorp. Het kasteel beschermde de inwoners van Nitra van het invallen van de Tataren en Turken. Het kasteel werd goed versterkt met een massieve toren teres dat tijdens de Turkse oorlogen diende als een "veilige" plaats waar hun waardevolle spullen bewaard en beschermd bleven. De Turken zijn er nooit in geslaagd om het Oponický kasteel te veroveren. Maar het lot was verzegeld in de eerste helft van de 18e eeuw door de keizer zelf, - net als veel andere Slowaakse kastelen - werd na de Hongaarse opstanden het kasteel ernstig beschadigd en zo werd het niet een toevluchtsoord voor de opstandige adel. Het kasteel terrein ligt in een aangename bosrijke omgeving met prachtige vergezichten. Oponický kasteel is bereikbaar langs de groen gemarkeerde paden van Oponice. De wandeling vanaf het dorp Oponice duurt een klein uur. Hoewel het heel donker werd bleef het gelukkig droog. Foto van mij en m'n vrouw Kanitha gemaakt door mijn dochter Samantha.

The new Terrigal Boardwalk opened on 14 April 2021 and provides accessible pedestrian access around the headland between the Terrigal Beach and The Haven.

The most accessible and popular waterfall in the Lake Quinault area, just a few feet from the road. This highly photogenic waterfall tumbles 40 feet through mossy rain forest. I really like this waterfalls since there are some many compositions to try.

Accessible from the Pilatusbahn funicular railway, Mount Pilatus towers above Lucerne, covered in a light dusting of snow the day I visited, with the mountaintops rising above the thick clouds and drizzle of rain below

Explore more photos or shop prints, canvas, etc. at andrewwebbcurtis.com

Miners Castle is one of the most famous landmarks along the Pictured Rocks shoreline, and is the only cliff area in the park accessible by vehicle.

Erosion over long periods of time has created the interesting rock formations that give this place its name.

However, a rockfall in 2006 dramatically changed the look of Miners Castle as one of its two turrets (the one on the left above) unexpectedly fell into the lake.

This feature is in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on the shore of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA.

The Lakeshore extends for 67 km along the shore and covers 296 sq km. The park has extensive views of the hilly shoreline between Munising and Grand Marais in Alger County, Michigan, with picturesque rock formations, waterfalls, and sand dunes.

Pictured Rocks derives its name from the 24 km of colourful sandstone cliffs north-east of Munising. The cliffs reach up to 60m above lake level. They have been naturally sculptured into a variety of shallow caves, arches, and formations resembling castle turrets and human profiles. Near Munising, visitors can also visit Grand Island, most of which is included in the separate Grand Island National Recreation Area.

The US Congress designated Pictured Rocks the first National Lakeshore in the USA in 1966. It is governed by the National Park Service, with 22 year-round employees as of May 2006.

The colours in the cliffs are created by the large amounts of minerals in the rock. The cliffs are composed of the Munising Formation of 500-million-year-old Cambrian Period sandstone. The Munising Formation sits atop Precambrian sandstone of the Jacobsville Formation. The mottled red Jacobsville Formation is the oldest rock in the park. On top of the Munising Formation, acting as a cap over the other layers, is the hard sandstone of the younger Au Train Formation from the Ordovician Period. Streaks on the face of the cliffs come from groundwater leaching out of the rock and evaporating, leaving streaks of iron (red), manganese (black-white), limonite (yellow-brown), copper (pink-green), and other minerals.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic 1855 poem, The Song of Haiawatha, featuring Native American characters, is set in the Pictured Rocks area and the National Lakeshore's name is taken from a line in the poem:

"On the shores of Gitche Gumee,

Westward by the Big-Sea-Water,

Came unto the rocky headlands,

To the Pictured Rocks of sandstone"

This is a beautiful lighthouse perched on top of a volcanic rock and only accessible by a long suspension bridge. Because of limited visiting hours and its somewhat secluded location it is overlooked by many visitors to San Francisco. It's a true gem and I highly recommend a visit to anyone in the area. It is accessible to the public during limited hours (12:30 PM–3:30 PM) on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. Was lucky to be able to take a shot before the group of visitors crossed over the bridge. I took this shot with the LEE Big Stopper. I liked how it highlighted the turbulence in the water below.

Point Bonita Lighthouse is a lighthouse located at Point Bonita at the San Francisco Bay entrance in the Marin Headlands near Sausalito, California. Point Bonita was the last manned lighthouse on the California coast.

Per Wikipedia: The original Point Bonita Lighthouse, a 56-foot (17 m) brick tower, was located too high. Unlike the East Coast of the United States, the West Coast has dense high fog, which leaves lower elevations clear. The original light was 306 feet (93 m) above sea level so the second order Fresnel lens was often cloaked in fog and could not be seen from the sea. In 1877, the lighthouse was moved to its current location at 124 feet (38 m) above sea level. The United States Coast Guard currently maintains the light and fog signal. Up until 1940 the lighthouse could be reached without a bridge, but erosion caused a trail leading to the lighthouse to crumble into the sea. A wooden walkway was installed, but when that became treacherous the suspension bridge was built in 1954.

Historical Information from USCG web site:

Point Bonita Light Station had the first fog signal on the West Coast. It was an Army surplus 24-pounder siege gun.

This light is the only one in America that can be reached only by crossing a suspension bridge.

In 1877 the lighthouse was moved to its current location because the original location was often too obscured by fog for the light to be visible from the bay. This location required the builders to overcome many challenges, including the need for a hand carved, 118-foot (36 m) long hard rock tunnel.

More than 300 boats ran aground near the Golden Gate during the Gold Rush years. One shipwreck, the SS City of Rio de Janeiro, is just a few hundred feet offshore from the light.

Registration: N522UP

Type: 747-212BSF

Engines: 4 × PW JT9D-7Q

Serial Number: 21936

First flight: Sep 25, 1979

UPS Airlines is a cargo airline. The fourth-largest cargo airline worldwide (in terms of freight volume flown). In 1980, UPS opened its first major hub for sorting packages transported by aircraft, located in Louisville, Kentucky. Located at the westernmost point of the Eastern time zone, Louisville is accessible across the majority of the contiguous United States in less than three hours. Through its contractors, UPS flew its packages using a fleet of commercial aircraft converted to freighters, including Boeing 727s, Douglas DC-8s, and Boeing 747s.

Poster for Aviators.

www.aviaposter.com

The Basodino is the vastest, most studied and most accessible of the approximately 90 glaciers in Ticino. It represents a precious heritage of a glacier's natural evolution South of the Alps. The glaciological trail (an itinerary that requires good training) offers an insight to discover this spectacular high altitude region, an exclusive environment with very rich flora and fauna. The Alpe Robiei (Robiei Pasture) tells a remote and recent tale of Bavona: a beautiful valley that can be crossed all the way to San Carlo, departure station of the cableway that goes up to Robiei.

The cableway that leads to Robiei was designed by the hydroelectric company of Maggia. More than half a century ago the company also built the dams that accumulate the water necessary for the region's hydroelectric power plants.

The glacier of Basodino has a surface of 2 square kilometers and it is located at an altitude between 2,500 and 3,120 meters. As with most Alpine glaciers, we are witnessing a rapid reduction of their surface and volume. They are shrinking so much that, according to experts, their time is ticking. In approximately twenty years – they claim – only a few residues of ice will remain on the highest mountain crests.

The ideal time to enjoy the rich flora of the area is between the months of July and August. The region is populated by numerous animals: ibexes, chamois, groundhogs, hares, ermines (rare), country mice and numerous birds including the Royal Eagle. Some mountain huts, farmsteads and sprügh (spaces obtained under large boulders) remind us of the vital importance of pastures on these mountains. Also the glaciers exercise their charm. In fact, already at the end of the 19th century Federico Balli ordered the Hôtel du Glacier to be built in the village of Bignasco. Located at the doorstep of the valley it was meant for tourists attracted by the Alps and the perennial snows of Basodino.

source: www.ticinotopten.ch/en/trekking/robiei-glaciological-trail

I love capturing car Light Trails from time to time So early this morning i decided to go out & have some photographic fun :) Rush hour this morning @ Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

www.facebook.com/The-SmOKing-Camera-Hervey-BaY-davefryer-...

Hervey Bay

bay/ˈhɑrvi ˈbeɪ/ is a city in Queensland, Australia.

The city is situated approximately 290 kilometres (180 mi) or 3½ hours highway drive north of the state capital, Brisbane. It is a natural bay between the Queensland mainland and nearby Fraser Island. The local economy relies on tourism which is based primarily around whale watching in Platypus Bay to the North, access to Fraser Island, accessible recreational fishing and boating and the natural north facing, calm beaches with wide undeveloped foreshore zones.

At the 2011 Australian Census the city recorded a population of 76,403.[1] Hervey Bay is an area of high population growth...

Climate

Hervey Bay has a mild climate with an average 30 °C (86 °F) in summer and 22 °C (72 °F) in winter. The coast is predominantly affected by the south east trade winds throughout the summer with occasional strong northerly winds and storm swells. These winds keep the temperatures down in summer and up in winter, preventing temperature extremes. As a result, Hervey Bay rarely experiences temperatures over 35 °C (95 °F) in summer or under 5 °C (41 °F) in winter.

Cyclones are a threat at times with Cyclone Hamish threatening in 2009 as a Category 5. The land mass of Fraser Island significantly affects the pattern of weather in Hervey Bay and protects the immediate marine environment from open ocean storm effects. Cyclone Oswald in 2013 caused significant damage in the area, mainly as a result of tornadoes spawned by the system. The average rainfall for the year is around 1,100 millimetres (43 in). December to March is the main rainy period, with a secondary peak in May and June. The months of April and from July to November are generally dry and sunny.

Whale watching

Hervey Bay is the whale watching capital of Australia, with humpback whales migrating along the coast between April and October every year. Researchers at the Oceania Project conducted a 14 year study which found the bay was an important social hub for humpback whales.[15] Whale number have increased from about 2,000 in 1992, to around 7,000 in 2005.[15] Hervey Bay is the resting place for Humpback whales, Mum's and Calves, they come to the Bay to rest and build up energy for their long travels back to Antarctica. The Adults come to play, socialise and there have been heat runs observed in the Bay. The Humpback Whales are known to be very relaxed in the company of the whale watching vessels.

This was my final stop in Siskiyou County. McCloud Falls is a 3 tiered waterfall and I only had enough time to check out middle falls after visiting Hedge Creek and Mossbrae. If your ever in Northern California, these falls are easily accessible as each is about a 5 minute walk from the parking lot. I would have loved to photograph middle falls from different angles but it was freezing and trekking across the rocks was very unsafe. The rocks were covered in ice and it was impossible to walk on them without slipping. I learned that mistake very early on when trying to climb to a higher vantage point around Hedge Creek falls.

composite image

Set in the leafy Surrey countryside at the foot of the North Downs, Limpsfield borders the town of Oxted and is easily accessible by train (via Oxted station from London Bridge and Victoria) and the M25/A25.

Surrounded by Green Belt, this incredibly pretty and partly Medieval village is a Conservation Area and noted for its variety of architecture, including lovingly restored post and beam, timber-framed cottages dating from Norman times, classic Georgian village houses and many examples of beautiful Arts and Crafts homes

My travels around the UK by car for three weeks with my son. June/July 2019 Scotland.

Day Seventeen .. We have two nights in Glasgow starting at a wonderful airbnb in a two bedroom flat. And we have a washing machine!

The Lighthouse in Glasgow is Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture. It was opened as part of Glasgow's status as UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999.

The Lighthouse is the renamed conversion of the former offices of the Glasgow Herald newspaper. Completed in 1895, it was designed by the architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The centre's vision is to develop the links between design, architecture, and the creative industries, seeing these as interconnected social, educational, economic and cultural issues of concern to everyone.

One of the key features of the Lighthouse is the uninterrupted view over Glasgow's cityscape available from the Mackintosh Tower at the north of the building, which is accessible via a helical staircase from the third floor.

The Lighthouse, Scotland's Centre for Design and Architecture, is a multipurpose visitor centre and events venue in the heart of Glasgow city centre.

For More Info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lighthouse,_Glasgow

Norwegen - Brikdalsbreen und Oldevatnet

Briksdalsbreen (English: the Briksdal glacier) is one of the most accessible and best known arms of the Jostedalsbreen glacier. Briksdalsbreen is located in the municipality of Stryn in Vestland county, Norway. The glacier lies on the north side of the Jostedalsbreen, in Briksdalen (the Briks valley) which is located at the end of the Oldedalen valley, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of the village of Olden. It is located inside Jostedalsbreen National Park. Briksdalsbreen terminates in a small glacial lake, Briksdalsbrevatnet, which lies 346 metres (1,135 ft) above sea level.

The size of Briksdalsbreen depends not only on temperature, but is also strongly affected by precipitation. Measurements since 1900 show small changes in the first decades, with advances in the glacier front in 1910 and 1929. In the period from 1934 to 1951 the glacier receded by 800 metres (2,600 ft), exposing the glacial lake. In the period from 1967 until 1997 the glacier expanded by 465 metres (1,526 ft) and covered the whole lake, with the glacier front ending at the lake outlet. The glacier attracted international attention in the 1990s, as it was growing at a time when other European glaciers were in decline.

After the year 2000, the glacier once again receded. In 2004 it had receded to 230 metres (750 ft) behind the lake outlet and in 2007 the glacier front was on dry land behind the lake. In this regard, its position approximated the situation in the 1960s. However, glaciologists speculate that the size of the glacier was at its smallest since the 13th century.

In 2008, the glacier front had only receded by 12 metres (39 ft) since the 2007 measurement. The slower melting is explained by the glacier being completely on dry land. The winter of 2007–2008 saw an increase in glacier mass, which was expected to move the glacier front forward around 2010. This was confirmed in the fall of 2010, when measurements showed that the glacier had advanced 8 metres (26 ft) over the last year This was however in comparison with the 2009 measurements, which saw the glacier being the most receded since measurements started in 1900.

As the winter of 2009–2010 saw little snow and the summer temperature in 2010 was 2.5 to 3 °C (4.5 to 5.4 °F) above average, Professor Atle Nesje predicts that further strong receding will be seen in 2013. As Briksdalsbreen is now very narrow at some stretches, it is possible that it will temporarily disconnect from the larger Jostedalsbreen.

(Wikipedia)

Oldevatnet is a lake in the municipality of Stryn in Vestland county, Norway. It is located in the valley of Oldedalen. The lake covers an area of 7.9 square kilometres (3.1 sq mi), and has a length of about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi). The river of Oldeelva flows from Oldevatnet via the lake of Floen to Innvikfjorden, a branch of Nordfjord.

(Wikipedia)

Der Briksdalsbre (norwegisch Briksdalsbreen, -en = männlicher bestimmter Artikel) in Norwegen ist ein westlicher Nebenarm des größten Festlandsgletschers in Europa, des Jostedalsbreen.

Er liegt im Gebiet der Gemeinde Stryn im Norden der Provinz Vestland nördlich des Sognefjords im Jostedalsbreen-Nationalpark.

Der höchste Punkt des Briksdalsbre liegt etwa 1900 m über dem Meer. Der Gletscher endete bis 2008 in 346 m Höhe in einem kleinen Schmelzwassersee, Briksdalsvatn (norwegisch: Briksdalsvatnet). Seitdem hat er sich noch weiter zurückgezogen.

Seit 1900 wird jährlich ausgemessen, wo sich die Vorderkante des Gletschers befindet. Der Gletscher hatte um die Jahre 1910 und 1930 Vorstöße, zog sich aber zwischen den Jahren 1932 und 1951 um etwa 800 m zurück. In dieser Zeit entstand das Briksdalsvatn. Die Vorderkante hat seitdem mehrere Vorstöße und Perioden mit Rückzügen vollführt. Während eines Vorstoßes zwischen den Jahren 1987 und 1997 wurde der See vom Gletscher völlig zugedeckt. Nach 1999 zog der Gletscher sich rasch zurück, so dass 2008 der See wieder vollkommen frei lag. Die Messungen werden vom norwegischen Wasserlauf- und Energieamt (Norges vassdrags- og energidirektorat, NVE) durchgeführt.

Der Gletscher ist seit dem 19. Jahrhundert ein bekanntes Tourismusziel und zieht jährlich 300.000 Besucher an.

Drei Kilometer unterhalb des Gletschers gibt es seit 1891 den Berggasthof Briksdal fjellstove mit Restauration und Übernachtungsmöglichkeiten.

(Wikipedia)

The 25th Alton Bus Rally & Running Day took place in Anstey Park on July 21st 2019. Over 150 visiting buses and coaches, both new and preserved, descended on the Hampshire market town for what turned out to be another great event.

Seen in Anstey Park is Alexander Dennis Enviro200 demonstrator YX19OWA.

Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age, although the nature of the early settlement is unclear. There has been a royal castle on the rock since at least the reign of David I in the 12th century, and the site continued to be a royal residence until 1633. From the 15th century, the castle's residential role declined, and by the 17th century it was principally used as military barracks with a large garrison. Its importance as a part of Scotland's national heritage was recognised increasingly from the early 19th century onwards, and various restoration programmes have been carried out over the past century and a half.

As one of the most important strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle was involved in many historical conflicts from the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 14th century to the Jacobite rising of 1745. Research undertaken in 2014 identified 26 sieges in its 1,100-year history, giving it a claim to having been "the most besieged place in Great Britain and one of the most attacked in the world". Few of the present buildings pre-date the Lang Siege of the 16th century when the medieval defences were largely destroyed by artillery bombardment. The most notable exceptions are St Margaret's Chapel from the early 12th century, which is regarded as the oldest building in Edinburgh, the Royal Palace, and the early 16th-century Great Hall, although the interiors have been much altered from the mid-Victorian period onwards. The castle also houses the Scottish regalia, known as the Honours of Scotland, and is the site of the Scottish National War Memorial and the National War Museum of Scotland. The British Army is still responsible for some parts of the castle, although its presence is now largely ceremonial and administrative. Some of the castle buildings house regimental museums which contribute to its presentation as a tourist attraction.

The castle, in the care of Historic Environment Scotland, is Scotland's most and the United Kingdom's second most-visited paid tourist attraction, with over 2.2 million visitors in 2019 and over 70 percent of leisure visitors to Edinburgh visiting the castle. As the backdrop to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo during the annual Edinburgh Festival, the castle has become a recognisable symbol of Edinburgh in particular and of Scotland as a whole.

The castle stands upon the plug of an extinct volcano, which is estimated to have risen about 350 million years ago during the lower Carboniferous period. The Castle Rock is the remains of a volcanic pipe, which cut through the surrounding sedimentary rock before cooling to form very hard dolerite, a type of basalt. Subsequent glacial erosion was resisted by the dolerite, which protected the softer rock to the east, leaving a crag and tail formation.

The summit of the Castle Rock is 130 metres above sea level, with rocky cliffs to the south, west, and north, rising to a height of 80 metres above the surrounding landscape. This means that the only readily accessible route to the castle lies to the east, where the ridge slopes more gently. The defensive advantage of such a site is self-evident, but the geology of the rock also presents difficulties, since basalt is extremely impermeable. Providing water to the Upper Ward of the castle was problematic, and despite the sinking of a 28-metre deep well, the water supply often ran out during drought or siege, including during the Lang Siege in 1573.

Archaeological investigation has yet to establish when the Castle Rock was first used as a place of human habitation. There is no record of any Roman interest in the location during General Agricola's invasion of northern Britain near the end of the 1st century AD. Ptolemy's map of the 2nd century AD shows a settlement in the territory of the Votadini named "Alauna", meaning "rock place", making this possibly the earliest known name for the Castle Rock. This could, however, refer to another of the tribe's hill forts in the area. The Orygynale Cronykil of Andrew of Wyntoun (c. 1350 – c. 1423), an early source for Scottish history, names "Ebrawce" (Ebraucus), a legendary King of the Britons, as having "byggyd [built] Edynburgh". According to the earlier chronicler, Geoffrey of Monmouth (c. 1100 – c. 1155), Ebraucus had fifty children by his twenty wives, and was the founder of "Kaerebrauc" (York), "Alclud" (Dumbarton) and the "Maidens' Castle". The 16th-century English writer John Stow (c. 1525 – 1605), credited Ebraucus with building "the Castell of Maidens called Edenbrough" in 989 BC. The name "Maidens' Castle" (Latin: Castra or Castellum Puellarum) occurs frequently up until the 16th century.[16] It appears in charters of David I (r. 1124–1153) and his successors, although the reason for it is not known. William Camden's survey of Britain, Britannia (1607), records that "the Britans called [it] Castle Myned Agned [winged rock], the Scots, the Maidens Castle and the Virgins Castle, of certaine young maidens of the Picts roiall bloud who were kept there in old time". According to the 17th-century antiquarian Father Richard Hay, the "maidens" were a group of nuns, who were ejected from the castle and replaced by canons, considered "fitter to live among soldiers". However, this story was considered "apocryphal" by the 19th-century antiquarian Daniel Wilson and has been ignored by historians since. The name may have been derived from a "Cult of the Nine Maidens" type of legend. Arthurian legends suggest that the site once held a shrine to Morgain la Fee, one of nine sisters. Later, St Monenna, said to be one of nine companions, reputedly invested a church at Edinburgh, as well as at Dumbarton and other places. Similar names are shared by many other Iron Age hillforts and may have simply described a castle that had never been taken by force or derived from an earlier Brittonic name like mag dun.

An archaeological excavation in the early 1990s uncovered evidence of the site having been settled during the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age, potentially making the Castle Rock the longest continuously occupied site in Scotland. However, the extent of the finds was not particularly significant and was insufficient to draw any certain conclusions about the precise nature or scale of this earliest known phase of occupation.

The archaeological evidence is more reliable in respect of the Iron Age. Traditionally, it had been supposed that the tribes of central Scotland had made little or no use of the Castle Rock. Excavations at nearby Dunsapie Hill, Duddingston, Inveresk and Traprain Law had revealed relatively large settlements and it was supposed that these sites had been chosen in preference to the Castle Rock. However, the excavation in the 1990s pointed to the probable existence of an enclosed hill fort on the rock, although only the fringes of the site were excavated. House fragments revealed were similar to Iron Age dwellings previously found in Northumbria.

The 1990s dig revealed clear signs of habitation from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, consistent with Ptolemy's reference to "Alauna". Signs of occupation included some Roman material, including pottery, bronzes and brooches, implying a possible trading relationship between the Votadini and the Romans beginning with Agricola's northern campaign in AD 82, and continuing through to the establishment of the Antonine Wall around AD 140. The nature of the settlement in this period is inconclusive, but Driscoll and Yeoman suggest it may have been a broch, similar to the one at Edin's Hall near Duns, Scottish Borders in the Scottish Borders.

The castle does not re-appear in contemporary historical records from the time of Ptolemy until around AD 600. Then, in the epic Welsh poem Y Gododdin there is a reference to Din Eidyn, "the stronghold of Eidyn". This has been generally assumed to refer to the Castle Rock. The poem tells of the Gododdin King Mynyddog Mwynfawr, and his band of warriors, who, after a year of feasting in their fortress, set out to do battle with the Angles at "Catreath" (possibly Catterick) in Yorkshire. Despite performing glorious deeds of valour and bravery, the poem relates that the Gododdin were massacred.

The Irish annals record that in 638, after the events related in Y Gododdin, "Etin" was besieged by the Angles under Oswald of Northumbria, and the Gododdin were defeated. The territory around Edinburgh then became part of the Kingdom of Northumbria, which was itself absorbed by England in the 10th century. Lothian became part of Scotland, during the reign of Indulf (r.954–962).

The archaeological evidence for the period in question is based entirely on the analysis of middens (domestic refuse heaps), with no evidence of structures. Few conclusions can therefore be derived about the status of the settlement during this period, although the midden deposits show no clear break since Roman times.

The first documentary reference to a castle at Edinburgh is John of Fordun's account of the death of King Malcolm III (1031–1093). Fordun describes his widow, the future Saint Margaret, as residing at the "Castle of Maidens" when she is brought news of his death in November 1093. Fordun's account goes on to relate how Margaret died of grief within days, and how Malcolm's brother Donald Bane laid siege to the castle. However, Fordun's chronicle was not written until the later 14th century, and the near-contemporary account of the life of St Margaret by Bishop Turgot makes no mention of a castle. During the reigns of Malcolm III and his sons, Edinburgh Castle became one of the most significant royal centres in Scotland. Malcolm's son King Edgar died here in 1107.

Malcolm's youngest son, King David I (r.1124–1153), developed Edinburgh as a seat of royal power principally through his administrative reforms (termed by some modern scholars the Davidian Revolution). Between 1139 and 1150, David held an assembly of nobles and churchmen, a precursor to the parliament of Scotland, at the castle. Any buildings or defences would probably have been of timber, although two stone buildings are documented as having existed in the 12th century. Of these, St. Margaret's Chapel remains at the summit of the rock. The second was a church, dedicated to St. Mary, which stood on the site of the Scottish National War Memorial. Given that the southern part of the Upper Ward (where Crown Square is now sited) was not suited to be built upon until the construction of the vaults in the 15th century, it seems probable that any earlier buildings would have been located towards the northern part of the rock; that is around the area where St. Margaret's Chapel stands. This has led to a suggestion that the chapel is the last remnant of a square, stone keep, which would have formed the bulk of the 12th-century fortification. The structure may have been similar to the keep of Carlisle Castle, which David I began after 1135.

David's successor King Malcolm IV (r.1153–1165) reportedly stayed at Edinburgh more than at any other location. But in 1174, King William "the Lion" (r.1165–1214) was captured by the English at the Battle of Alnwick. He was forced to sign the Treaty of Falaise to secure his release, in return for surrendering Edinburgh Castle, along with the castles of Berwick, Roxburgh and Stirling, to the English King, Henry II. The castle was occupied by the English for twelve years, until 1186, when it was returned to William as the dowry of his English bride, Ermengarde de Beaumont, who had been chosen for him by King Henry. By the end of the 12th century, Edinburgh Castle was established as the main repository of Scotland's official state papers.

A century later, in 1286, on the death of King Alexander III, the throne of Scotland became vacant. Edward I of England was appointed to adjudicate the competing claims for the Scottish crown, but used the opportunity to attempt to establish himself as the feudal overlord of Scotland. During the negotiations, Edward stayed briefly at Edinburgh Castle and may have received homage there from the Scottish nobles.

In March 1296, Edward I launched an invasion of Scotland, unleashing the First War of Scottish Independence. Edinburgh Castle soon came under English control, surrendering after a three days long bombardment. Following the siege, Edward had many of the Scottish legal records and royal treasures moved from the castle to England. A large garrison numbering 325 men was installed in 1300. Edward also brought to Scotland his master builders of the Welsh castles, including Thomas de Houghton and Master Walter of Hereford, both of whom travelled from Wales to Edinburgh. After the death of Edward I in 1307, however, England's control over Scotland weakened. On 14 March 1314, a surprise night attack by Thomas Randolph, 1st Earl of Moray recaptured the castle. John Barbour's narrative poem The Brus relates how a party of thirty hand-picked men was guided by one William Francis, a member of the garrison who knew of a route along the north face of the Castle Rock and a place where the wall might be scaled. Making the difficult ascent, Randolph's men scaled the wall, surprised the garrison and took control. Robert the Bruce immediately ordered the slighting of the castle to prevent its re-occupation by the English. Four months later, his army secured victory at the Battle of Bannockburn.

After Bruce's death in 1329, Edward III of England determined to renew the attempted subjugation of Scotland and supported the claim of Edward Balliol, son of the former King John Balliol, over that of Bruce's young son David II. Edward invaded in 1333, marking the start of the Second War of Scottish Independence, and the English forces reoccupied and refortified Edinburgh Castle in 1335, holding it until 1341. This time, the Scottish assault was led by William Douglas, Lord of Liddesdale. Douglas's party disguised themselves as merchants from Leith bringing supplies to the garrison. Driving a cart into the entrance, they halted it there to prevent the gates closing. A larger force hidden nearby rushed to join them and the castle was retaken. The 100 English men of the garrison were all killed.

The 1357 Treaty of Berwick brought the Wars of Independence to a close. David II resumed his rule and set about rebuilding Edinburgh Castle which became his principal seat of government. David's Tower was begun around 1367, and was incomplete when David died at the castle in 1371. It was completed by his successor, Robert II, in the 1370s. The tower stood on the site of the present Half Moon Battery and was connected by a section of curtain wall to the smaller Constable's Tower, a round tower built between 1375 and 1379 where the Portcullis Gate now stands.

In the early 15th century, another English invasion, this time under Henry IV, reached Edinburgh Castle and began a siege, but eventually withdrew due to lack of supplies. From 1437, Sir William Crichton was Keeper of Edinburgh Castle, and soon after became Chancellor of Scotland. In an attempt to gain the regency of Scotland, Crichton sought to break the power of the Douglases, the principal noble family in the kingdom. The sixteen-year-old William Douglas, 6th Earl of Douglas, and his younger brother David were summoned to Edinburgh Castle in November 1440. After the so-called "Black Dinner" had taken place in David's Tower, both boys were summarily executed on trumped-up charges in the presence of the ten-year-old King James II (r.1437–1460). Douglas' supporters subsequently besieged the castle, inflicting damage. Construction continued throughout this period, with the area now known as Crown Square being laid out over vaults in the 1430s. Royal apartments were built, forming the nucleus of the later palace block, and a Great Hall was in existence by 1458. In 1464, access to the castle was improved when the current approach road up the north-east side of the rock was created to allow easier movement of the royal artillery train in and out of the area now known as the Upper Ward.

In 1479, Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany, was imprisoned in David's Tower for plotting against his brother, King James III (r.1460–1488). He escaped by getting his guards drunk, then lowering himself from a window on a rope. The duke fled to France, then England, where he allied himself with King Edward IV. In 1482, Albany marched into Scotland with Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III), and an English army. James III was trapped in the castle from 22 July to 29 September 1482 until he successfully negotiated a settlement.

During the 15th century the castle was increasingly used as an arsenal and armaments factory. The first known purchase of a gun was in 1384, and the "great bombard" Mons Meg was delivered to Edinburgh in 1457. The first recorded mention of an armoury for the manufacture of guns occurs in 1474, and by 1498 the master gunner Robert Borthwick was casting bronze guns at Edinburgh. By 1511 Edinburgh was the principal foundry in Scotland, supplanting Stirling Castle, with Scottish and European smiths working under Borthwick, who by 1512 was appointed "master melter of the king's guns". Their output included guns for the Scottish flagship, the "Great Michael", and the "Seven Sisters", a set of cannons captured by the English at Flodden in 1513. Sir Thomas Howard, England's Lord Admiral, admired their graceful shape and brilliant finish, declaring them the most beautiful [cannon] for their size and length that he had ever seen. From 1510 Dutch craftsmen were also producing hand culverins, an early firearm. After Flodden, Borthwick continued his work, producing an unknown number of guns, of which none survive. He was succeeded by French smiths, who began manufacturing hagbuts (another type of firearm) in the 1550s, and by 1541 the castle had a stock of 413.

Meanwhile, the royal family began to stay more frequently at the Abbey of Holyrood, about 1 mile from the castle. Around the end of the fifteenth century, King James IV (r.1488–1513) built Holyroodhouse, by the abbey, as his principal Edinburgh residence, and the castle's role as a royal home subsequently declined. James IV did, however, construct the Great Hall, which was completed in the early 16th century. His daughter Margaret Stewart was lodged in the castle with her servant Ellen More.

James IV was killed in battle at Flodden Field, on 9 September 1513. Expecting the English to press their advantage, the Scots hastily constructed a town wall around Edinburgh and augmented the castle's defences. Robert Borthwick and a Frenchman, Antoine d'Arces, were involved in designing new artillery defences and fortifications in 1514, though it appears from lack of evidence that little of the planned work was carried out. Three years later, King James V (r.1513–1542), still only five years old, was brought to the castle for safety. Upon his death 25 years later, the crown passed to his week-old daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots. English invasions followed, as King Henry VIII attempted to force a dynastic marriage on Scotland. When the English burnt Edinburgh in May 1544 the gunner Andrew Mansioun firing from the castle destroyed an English cannon placed to bombard the forework. In 1547 disaffected members of the garrison who resented Regent Arran came to Norham Castle and offered to let the English in.

Refortification in 1548 included an earthen angle-bastion, known as the Spur, of the type known as trace italienne, one of the earliest examples in Britain. Brunstane Castle the home of the traitor Alexander Crichton was demolished to provide building materials. The Spur may have been designed by Migliorino Ubaldini, an Italian engineer from the court of Henry II of France, and was said to have the arms of France carved on it. James V's widow, Mary of Guise, acted as regent from 1554 until her death at the castle in 1560.

The following year, the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, returned from France to begin her reign, which was marred by crises and quarrels amongst the powerful Protestant Scottish nobility. In 1565, the Queen made an unpopular marriage with Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, and the following year, in a small room of the Palace at Edinburgh Castle, she gave birth to their son James, who would later be King of both Scotland and England. Mary's reign was, however, brought to an abrupt end. Three months after the murder of Darnley at Kirk o' Field in 1567, she married James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, one of the chief murder suspects. A large proportion of the nobility rebelled, resulting ultimately in the imprisonment and forced abdication of Mary at Loch Leven Castle. She escaped and fled to England, but some of the nobility remained faithful to her cause. Edinburgh Castle was initially handed by its Captain, James Balfour, to the Regent Moray, who had forced Mary's abdication and now held power in the name of the infant King James VI. Shortly after the Battle of Langside, in May 1568, Moray appointed Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange Keeper of the Castle.

Grange was a trusted lieutenant of the Regent, but after Moray's murder in January 1570 his allegiance to the King's cause began to waver. Intermittent civil war continued between the supporters of the two monarchs, and in April 1571 Dumbarton Castle fell to "the King's men". Under the influence of William Maitland of Lethington, Mary's secretary, Grange changed sides, occupying the town and castle of Edinburgh for Queen Mary, and against the new regent, the Earl of Lennox. The stand-off which followed was not resolved until two years later, and became known as the "Lang Siege", from the Scots word for "long". Hostilities began in May, with a month-long siege of the town, and a second short siege in October. Blockades and skirmishing continued meanwhile, and Grange continued to refortify the castle. The King's party appealed to Elizabeth I of England for assistance, as they lacked the artillery and money required to reduce the castle, and feared that Grange would receive aid from France and the Duke of Alba in the Spanish Netherlands. Elizabeth sent ambassadors to negotiate, and in July 1572 a truce was agreed and the blockade lifted. The town was effectively surrendered to the King's party, with Grange confined to the castle.

The truce expired on 1 January 1573, and Grange began bombarding the town. His supplies of powder and shot, however, were running low, and despite having 40 cannon available, there were only seven gunners in the garrison. The King's forces, now with the Earl of Morton in charge as regent, were making headway with plans for a siege. Trenches were dug to surround the castle, and St Margaret's Well was poisoned. By February, all Queen Mary's other supporters had surrendered to the Regent, but Grange resolved to resist despite water shortages within the castle. The garrison continued to bombard the town, killing a number of citizens. They also made sorties to set fires, burning 100 houses in the town and then firing on anyone attempting to put out the flames.

In April, a force of around 1,000 English troops, led by Sir William Drury, arrived in Edinburgh. They were followed by 27 cannon from Berwick-upon-Tweed, including one that had been cast within Edinburgh Castle and captured by the English at Flodden. The English troops built an artillery emplacement on Castle Hill, immediately facing the east walls of the castle, and five others to the north, west and south. By 17 May these batteries were ready, and the bombardment began. Over the next 12 days, the gunners dispatched around 3,000 shots at the castle. On 22 May, the south wall of David's Tower collapsed, and the next day the Constable's Tower also fell. The debris blocked the castle entrance, as well as the Fore Well, although this had already run dry. On 26 May, the English attacked and captured the Spur, the outer fortification of the castle, which had been isolated by the collapse. The following day Grange emerged from the castle by a ladder after calling for a ceasefire to allow negotiations for a surrender to take place. When it was made clear that he would not be allowed to go free even if he ended the siege, Grange resolved to continue the resistance, but the garrison threatened to mutiny. He therefore arranged for Drury and his men to enter the castle on 28 May, preferring to surrender to the English rather than the Regent Morton. Edinburgh Castle was handed over to George Douglas of Parkhead, the Regent's brother, and the garrison were allowed to go free. In contrast, Kirkcaldy of Grange, his brother James and two jewellers, James Mossman and James Cokke, who had been minting coins in Mary's name inside the castle, were hanged at the Cross in Edinburgh on 3 August.

Nova Scotia and Civil War

Much of the castle was subsequently rebuilt by Regent Morton, including the Spur, the new Half Moon Battery and the Portcullis Gate. Some of these works were supervised by William MacDowall, the master of work who fifteen years earlier had repaired David's Tower. The Half Moon Battery, while impressive in size, is considered by historians to have been an ineffective and outdated artillery fortification. This may have been due to a shortage of resources, although the battery's position obscuring the ancient David's Tower and enhancing the prominence of the palace block, has been seen as a significant decision.

The battered palace block remained unused, particularly after James VI departed to become King of England in 1603. James had repairs carried out in 1584, and in 1615–1616 more extensive repairs were carried out in preparation for his return visit to Scotland. The mason William Wallace and master of works James Murray introduced an early Scottish example of the double-pile block. The principal external features were the three, three-storey oriel windows on the east façade, facing the town and emphasising that this was a palace rather than just a place of defence. During his visit in 1617, James held court in the refurbished palace block, but still preferred to sleep at Holyrood.

In 1621, King James granted Sir William Alexander the land in North America between New England and Newfoundland, as Nova Scotia ("New Scotland"). To promote the settlement and plantation of the new territory, the Baronetage of Nova Scotia was created in 1624. Under Scots Law, baronets had to "take sasine" by symbolically receiving the earth and stone of the land of which they were baronet. To make this possible, since Nova Scotia was so distant, the King declared that sasine could be taken either in the new province or alternatively "at the castle of Edinburgh as the most eminent and principal place of Scotland."

James' successor, King Charles I, visited Edinburgh Castle only once, hosting a feast in the Great Hall and staying the night before his Scottish coronation in 1633. This was the last occasion that a reigning monarch resided in the castle. In 1639, in response to Charles' attempts to impose Episcopacy on the Scottish Church, civil war broke out between the King's forces and the Presbyterian Covenanters. The Covenanters, led by Alexander Leslie, captured Edinburgh Castle after a short siege, although it was restored to Charles after the Peace of Berwick in June the same year. The peace was short-lived, however, and the following year the Covenanters took the castle again, this time after a three-month siege, during which the garrison ran out of supplies. The Spur was badly damaged and was demolished in the 1640s. The Royalist commander James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose, was imprisoned here after his capture in 1650.

In May 1650, the Covenanters signed the Treaty of Breda, allying themselves with the exiled Charles II against the English Parliamentarians, who had executed his father the previous year. In response to the Scots proclaiming Charles King, Oliver Cromwell launched an invasion of Scotland, defeating the Covenanter army at Dunbar in September. Edinburgh Castle was taken after a three-month siege, which caused further damage. The Governor of the Castle, Colonel Walter Dundas, surrendered to Cromwell despite having enough supplies to hold out, allegedly from a desire to change sides.

After his Restoration in 1660, Charles II opted to maintain a full-time standing army based on Cromwell's New Model Army. From this time until 1923, a garrison was continuously maintained at the castle. The medieval royal castle was transformed into a garrison fortress, but continued to see military and political action. The Marquis of Argyll was imprisoned here in 1661, when King Charles II settled old scores with his enemies following his return to the throne. Twenty years later, Argyll's son, the 9th Earl of Argyll, was also imprisoned in the castle for religious Nonconformism in the reign of King James VII. He escaped by disguising himself as his sister's footman, but was recaptured and returned to the castle after his failed rebellion to oust James from the throne in 1685.

James VII was deposed and exiled by the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which installed William of Orange as King of England. Not long after, in early 1689, the Estates of Scotland, after convening to accept William formally as their new king, demanded that Duke of Gordon, Governor of the Castle, surrender the fortress. Gordon, who had been appointed by James VII as a fellow Catholic, refused. In March 1689, the castle was blockaded by 7,000 troops against a garrison of 160 men, further weakened by religious disputes. On 18 March, Viscount Dundee, intent on raising a rebellion in the Highlands, climbed up the western side of the Castle Rock to urge Gordon to hold the castle against the new King. Gordon agreed, but during the ensuing siege he refused to fire upon the town, while the besiegers inflicted little damage on the castle. Despite Dundee's initial successes in the north, Gordon eventually surrendered on 14 June, due to dwindling supplies and having lost 70 men during the three-month siege.

The castle was almost taken in the first Jacobite rising in support of James Stuart, the "Old Pretender", in 1715. On 8 September, just two days after the rising began, a party of around 100 Jacobite Highlanders, led by Lord Drummond, attempted to scale the walls with the assistance of members of the garrison. However, the rope ladder lowered by the castle sentries was too short, and the alarm was raised after a change of the watch. The Jacobites fled, while the deserters within the castle were hanged or flogged. In 1728, General Wade reported that the castle's defences were decayed and inadequate, and a major strengthening of the fortifications was carried out throughout the 1720s and 1730s. This was the period when most of the artillery defences and bastions on the north and west sides of the castle were built. These were designed by military engineer Captain John Romer, and built by the architect William Adam. They include the Argyle Battery, Mills Mount Battery, the Low Defences and the Western Defences.

The last military action at the castle took place during the second Jacobite rising of 1745. The Jacobite army, under Charles Edward Stuart ("Bonnie Prince Charlie"), captured Edinburgh without a fight in September 1745, but the castle remained in the hands of its ageing Deputy Governor, General George Preston, who refused to surrender. After their victory over the government army at Prestonpans on 21 September, the Jacobites attempted to blockade the castle. Preston's response was to bombard Jacobite positions within the town. After several buildings had been demolished and four people killed, Charles called off the blockade. The Jacobites themselves had no heavy guns with which to respond, and by November they had marched into England, leaving Edinburgh to the castle garrison.

Over the next century, the castle vaults were used to hold prisoners of war during several conflicts, including the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), the American War of Independence (1775–1783) and the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815). During this time, several new buildings were erected within the castle, including powder magazines, stores, the Governor's House (1742), and the New Barracks (1796–1799).

19th century to the present

Drawing of the castle surrounded by crowds

King George IV waves from the battlements of the Half Moon Battery in 1822, drawn by James Skene

A mass prison break in 1811, in which 49 prisoners of war escaped via a hole in the south wall, persuaded the authorities that the castle vaults were no longer suitable as a prison. This use ceased in 1814 and the castle began gradually to assume a different role as a national monument. In 1818, Sir Walter Scott was given permission to search the castle for the Crown of Scotland, believed lost after the union of Scotland and England in 1707. Breaking into a sealed room, now known as the Crown Room, and unlocking a chest within, he rediscovered the Honours of Scotland, which were then put on public display with an entry charge of one shilling. In 1822, King George IV made a visit to Edinburgh, becoming the first reigning monarch to visit the castle since Charles II in 1651. In 1829, the cannon Mons Meg was returned from the Tower of London, where it had been taken as part of the process of disarming Scotland after "the '45", and the palace began to be opened up to visitors during the 1830s. St Margaret's Chapel was "rediscovered" in 1845, having been used as a store for many years. Works in the 1880s, funded by the Edinburgh publisher William Nelson and carried out by Hippolyte Blanc, saw the Argyle Tower built over the Portcullis Gate and the Great Hall restored after years of use as a barracks. A new Gatehouse was built in 1888. During the 19th century, several schemes were put forward for rebuilding the whole castle as a Scottish baronial style château. Work began in 1858, but was soon abandoned, and only the hospital building was eventually remodelled in 1897. Following the death of Prince Albert in 1861, the architect David Bryce put forward a proposal for a 50-metre keep as a memorial, but Queen Victoria objected and the scheme was not pursued.

Edinburgh Castle, waxed-paper negative by Thomas Keith, c. 1855. Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington DC

In 1905, responsibility for the castle was transferred from the War Office to the Office of Works, although the garrison remained until 1923, when the troops moved to Redford Barracks in south-west Edinburgh. The castle was again used as a prison during the First World War, when "Red Clydesider" David Kirkwood was confined in the military prison block, and during the Second World War, when downed German Luftwaffe pilots were captured. The position of Governor of Edinburgh Castle, vacant since 1876, was revived in 1935 as an honorary title for the General Officer Commanding in Scotland, the first holder being Lieutenant-General Sir Archibald Cameron of Lochiel. The castle passed into the care of Historic Scotland when it was established in 1991, and was designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument in 1993. The buildings and structures of the castle are further protected by 24 separate listings, including 13 at category A, the highest level of protection for a historic building in Scotland, and special care was taken when installing 31 kW solar panels on the roof of the War Memorial, obscured by its parapet. The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, a World Heritage Site inscribed by UNESCO in 1995, is described as "dominated by a medieval fortress".

Another picture of Castel Meur, the famous little house at the coastal landscape of Le Gouffre des Plougrescant (in English: "The Abyss of Plougrescant"), Brittany, France

Some background information:

Le Gouffre de Plougrescant is a coastal landscape in the very north of the French department of Côtes-d’Armor. It is located on the western edge of the Côte de Granit Rose (in English: "Pink Granite Coast") on a little peninsula. Le Gouffre de Plougrescant is world-renowned for a tiny residential home, which was built right between two huge rugged rocks. This residence is known as "Castel Meur" (in English: "Large Castle") resp. "La Maison du Gouffre" (in English: "The House at the Abyss"). Well, at the latest when you see the house, you realise that its first name is ironical while its second name isn’t.

Built in 1861, this little house embedded in the granite turns its back to the sea to protect itself from the wind and waves. In front of the house there’s a sort of a basin that fills with seawater at high tide, which is why some photographers have the chance to take a picture of both the house and its reflection. However, we were there at low tide, which is why I didn’t get the reflection. But in compensation we had a very beautiful sky.

150 years ago, people didn’t need building permits or licenses to build a house. Hence, they could build their house anywhere, even between two jagged rocks that protect it against storms coming from the sea. Castel Meur has been passed down from generation to generation and is still privately owned. Currently it belongs to the great-granddaughter of the first owner and she uses it at least as her temporal domicile.

Until some years ago, the house was accessible for visitors and people could even walk up to its door. However, some tourists couldn’t resist climbing up the rocks and even climbing on the roof, just to get some extraordinary portrait photos. But by doing that they damaged the roof and it had to be repaired. I guess, that was the moment when the owner was fed up with all those thoughtless and irresponsibly acting visitors, who respected neither her privacy nor property.

So she commissioned a low stonewall to be built around her plot and prohibited tourists to set foot on her property. If you ask me, this step is not only a blessing for the house owner, but also for photographers, who have no problems with other visitors spoiling the view since then.

The owner also had a legal dispute with the tourist authorities of the department of Côtes-d’Armor and all Brittany. The reason was that the authorities used pictures of the house to promote holidays in Brittany without prior agreement. Due to that, more and more tourists visited the house. Hence, she refused the authorities the permission to make use of photos of her house and finally won the case. Since then, the local tourist authorities cannot apply images of Castel Meur any longer.

Nevertheless, the house has become a world-renowned sight and the favourite photo subject as well as the most famous landmark of Brittany. But contrary to what I had expected, the area of Le Gouffre de Plougrescant was not overcrowded. When we were there only a view visitors explored the coastal scenery and the rather small parking area wasn’t anywhere near its capacity limit.

The seacoast of Le Gouffre de Plougrescant derives its name from a huge split rock in the proximity of Castel Meur. If you look through the gap, there’s an abyss of about ten metres and you can look down to more rocks near the surface of the water. These rocks form a little basin that fills with seawater, in particular at high tide.

But it’s not only the house between the rocks and the abyss that makes Le Gouffre de Plougrescant a very special coastal landscape. The whole scenery with its cliffs and rocks at the shoreline is really spectacular and different footpaths make it easily explorable. It seems to be impossible for bigger ships to steer clear of the rocks and even for fishermen with smaller fishing boats it seems to be a difficult task to find a navigational route through the rocks. So I guess, fishermen really have to know their way around.

Plougrescant is a village in Brittany in the department of Côtes-d’Armor in northwestern France. It has less than 1,200 residents. The little peninsula, where Plougrescant is situated, is bordered by the English Channel to the west and the mouth of the River Jaudy to the east.

The area of Plougrescant was already inhabited in the Bronze Age: In 1845, a farmer found a bronze sword while cutting furrows, which dates back to 1700 to 1550 BC. In the 20th century, numerous male citizens of Plougrescant died during the wars: 76 during World War I, 28 during World War II, two during the Algerian War and another three during the Indochina War.

But this loss of human life is not the main reason for the demographic decline since the beginning of the 20th century. Instead, it’s most likely the lack of jobs contingent on the segregated location of the village. Many people have moved away, although some others have moved to Plougrescant thanks to its breathtaking scenery.

The Caribbean flamingos remain in Emmen Zoo in winter outside in the South American bird garden.

Flamingos breed in places where there is plenty of food around, and which are not accessible to predators. With large numbers of birds they are close together. In a very large breeding colony are sometimes counted 200,000 breeding pairs. The nest of a flamingo is a mud mound from 30 to 40 inches high. Then they lay usually only one egg. The male and female take turns brooding. After about 30 days there will be a white chick from the egg.

This is what we saw during our Cycling holiday in Drenthe and Groningen, the Netherlands, where we have cycled through the beautiful landscape.

© www.tomjutte.tk

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Rarely is a wine cellar accessible

by a steep stairway leading directly to the sidewalk and street

but this is the case at the Strehly house.

Historic American Building Survey, 1933

Iceland ice caves are among nature's most extraordinary and mesmerizing wonders and can undoubtedly be counted among the most breathtaking sights the world has to offer. If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, you’ll certainly want to explore these glistening wonders below the surface. There are a number of ice caves in Iceland that are easily accessible, making this the perfect destination if you want to experience first-hand what it’s like to explore a glacial ice cave.

When you are inside one of Iceland’s glacial caves, you are literally standing within the heart of a glacier; its magnificence is all around you – an absolutely unique brain-altering experience! Many visitors experience the sounds of the ice shifting and making creaking noises, which is an excellent reminder that the glacier is a living, moving force of nature.*

*https://adventures.is/iceland/attractions/ice-caves-in-iceland/

A rainy Autumn day!

The island of Evia lies along the Eastern coast of Central Greece, and is accessible to the mainland via a bridge. There are also frequent ferries to several parts of the island. It is 175 km long and is the second largest island in Greece, and the third largest in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Taken on an outing with my English wife Theresa Jane Brown, Sunday, September 16th, 2012.

© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

None of my images may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, manipulated or used on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit written permission. THANK YOU!

This photograph has achieved the following highest awards:

* RED CARPET HALL OF FAME

The most accessible and visited sand dunes in Death Valley are the Mesquite Flat Sand dunes. These dunes formed less then 10,0000 years ago when Ice Age Lake Manly dried up. The dunes result from eroded sand from nearby canyons and washes being moved by the wind and trapped by the nearby Grapevine and Cottonwood Mountains.

Amongst all Scotland's mountain landscapes Assynt is the most unique. Its small, isolated peaks surrounded by uncountable lochs and lochans make it a haven for landscape photography and one of my favourite places.

This shot taken from the top of Stac Pollaidh, the areas most accessible peak, shows the full expanse of the area. From the left are Suilven, Canisp, Cul Mor, Cul Beag and Ben Mor Coigach (which is actually in Coigach, not Assynt). Stac Pollaidh is perhaps the most characterful of all the peaks with fascinating rock formations all over the summit. At around 550m it is also one of the smallest peaks in Assynt yet it enjoys some of the best views over the region.

As this fabulous sunrise developed I was drawn into shooting a massive panorama of the area (as I have often done in the past). In my hurry to capture the scene I ended up with a composition that feels a little unresolved, but I simply didn’t have time to come up with an alternative. Although the structure of the image is a little lacking it does at least succeed in describing the scene in all its glory.

www.alexnail.com/scotland/assynt-expanse/

PADDY: "Oh Scout! Please stop squirming!"

SCOUT: "Why?" *Squirming .* "I want to get down from Daddy's grasp Paddy, and be a tenacious bear! Daddy, please don't squeeze us so tightly so I can get down and go and look at the view!"

PADDY: "Don't listen to him Daddy! Hold tightly to us please, and don't let go!"

DADDY: "Never fear Paddy, I have a tight grip on you both."

SCOUT: "But why, Daddy?" *Disappointed.* "I want to go and look at the view and climb the railings Daddy! I am a tenacious bear!"

DADDY: "And that's why I'm not letting you go, Scout."

SCOUT: "But I thought you liked me being a tenacious bear, Daddy!"

DADDY: "Oh I do little Scout, just not from this altitude! I should be so upset if you fell through the railing."

PADDY: "How far up are we Daddy?"

DADDY: "Oh that's a three hundred metre drop over there, Paddy."

SCOUT: "Three hundred metres, Daddy?" *Gulps.*

DADDY: "Yes Scout. That is why I am standing back here away from the edge, at a highly respectable distance."

SCOUT: "Alright Daddy, don't let go of us! Quickly take our photo to prove that we were here, and then let's go play somewhere much safer!"

PADDY: "Now you are speaking sense, Scout!"

DADDY: *Carefully takes photo of Paddy and Scout.*

Paddy, Scout and I recently took a trip to the Alpine region of Victoria to take in the autumnal colours. This included a visit to the beautiful Mount Buffalo National Park, where we visited Bent's Lookout and Echo Point. Being slightly colder up there, both Paddy and Scout are wearing hand knitted scarves and Paddy is wearing hand knitted hat by Lorna's Lovely Looks. Paddy sports a strawberry pin and Scout insisted on wearing a Hungry Caterpillar one, which seems most appropriate. Both were gifts from a good friend who is very fond of Paddy and Scout.

My Paddington Bear came to live with me in London when I was two years old (many, many years ago). He was hand made by my Great Aunt and he has a chocolate coloured felt hat, the brim of which had to be pinned up by a safety pin to stop it getting in his eyes. The collar of his mackintosh is made of the same felt. He wears wellington boots made from the same red leather used to make the toggles on his mackintosh.

He has travelled with me across the world and he and I have had many adventures together over the years. He is a very precious member of my small family.

Scout was a gift to Paddy from my friend. He is a Fair Trade Bear hand knitted in Africa. His name comes from the shop my friend found him in: Scout House. He tells me that life was very different where he came from, and Paddy is helping introduce him to many new experiences. Scout catches on quickly, and has proven to be a cheeky, but very lovable member of our closely knit family.

Mount Buffalo National Park is located in the Australian Alps, around 350 kilometres north east of Melbourne. In November 1898, an area of 1,166 hectares was reserved on the Mount Buffalo plateau around the Eurobin Falls to form the Mount Buffalo National Park. This makes it one of the oldest national parks in Australia. In 1908 was expanded to 10,406 hectares, before being expanded again in 1980 to its current size. The park exists on a high elevation around the top of the mountain, and it has striking granite boulders, outcrops and rock formations which make the landscape look striking and in some places, almost alien. This is enhanced by many dead trees which were a result of a bushfire that tore through the Mount Buffalo National Park in late 2006 and early 2007. It features The Horn, Cathedral Mountain and Lake Catani amongst other beautiful places to see. The Horn is the highest accessible peak on Mount Buffalo and it offers wonderful views from the top. Lake Catani is a man made ornamental lake which is very tranquil and beautiful. A road into the Mount Buffalo National Park was opened in 1908, and so the alpine tourist trade began. Visitor accommodation was made available at the historic guest house, the Mount Buffalo Chalet, built in 1910, until January 2007. Parks Victoria and the Victorian Government undertook restoration work on the exterior and gardens of the Chalet in 2017 and 2018. The chalet overlooks large sheets of granite and has views of the Ovens Valley and Buckland Valley below. During the winter season, Mount Buffalo is a destination for cross-country skiing. There are a number of cross-country ski trails near the Cathedral, and toboggan runs at Dingo Dell and Cresta Valley, both of which are used by beginners. The Mount Buffalo National Park was added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2008, listing it as one of eleven sites that make up the Australian Alpine National Parks and Reserves.

This highly accessible bronze sculpture of The Beatles on the Liverpool waterfront is the work of Andrew Edwards and was unveiled in 2015. To me, it's interesting that Mr Edwards has depicted John Lennon slightly apart from the other three. Which, in the latter years of the group's history, he was.

There's a closer view of Lennon, with commentary, here.

Pregnant Mom in wheelchair shopping for new baby

The most accessible of Petra’s High Places, this well-preserved site was built atop Jebel Madbah with drains to channel the blood of sacrificial animals. A flight of steps signposted just before the Theatre leads to the site: turn right at the obelisks to reach the sacrificial platform. You can ascend by donkey (about JD10 one way), but you’ll sacrifice both the sense of achievement on reaching the summit and the good humour of your poor old transport.

The obelisks are more than 6m high ( flic.kr/p/2c6XBZ5 ); they are remarkable structures because they are carved out of the rock face, not built upon it: looking at the negative space surrounding them, you can understand the truly epic scale of excavation involved. Dedicated to the Nabataean gods Dushara and Al ‘Uzza, their iron-rich stone glows in the sun and they act like totems of this once-hallowed ground.

The altar area includes a large rectangular triclinium, where celebrants at the sacrifice shared a communal supper. In the middle of the High Place, there’s a large stone block preceded by three steps. This is a motab (repository), where the god statues involved in the procession would have been kept. Next to it is the circular altar, reached by another three steps; stone water basins nearby were used for cleansing and purifying.

The faint bleat of sheep or the clunk of a goat bell evokes the ancient scene – except that no ordinary person would have been permitted to enter this holy of holies at that time. Cast an eye across the superb panorama in front of you – far above the mortal goings-on of both ancient and modern city – and it’s easy to see how this site must have seemed closer to the sky than the earth.

The steps to the High Place of Sacrifice are well maintained, if unremitting, and it takes about 45 minutes up through the crevices and folds of the mountain to reach the obelisks from the Theatre. From here you fork right to reach the altar area. The route is steep but not unduly exposed, so is manageable (unless you suffer from severe vertigo) even without a head for heights. From the altar area, descend the shelves of rock to a broad rim: about 50m down are regal views of the Royal Tombs.

It’s worth sitting here for a while. From this lofty vantage point you can watch the everyday dramas of camel handlers arguing with their mounts, young children moving goats from one patch of sparse vegetation to the next and Bedouin stallholders regaling the unsuspecting traveller. They each move beyond the languishing tombs of ordinary folk, far too mindful of the needs of the living to worry much about the forgotten hopes of the ancient dead.

From the obelisks ( flic.kr/p/2c6XBZ5 ) it's possible to continue to the city centre via a group of interesting tombs in beautiful Wadi Farasa.

An accessibility mat for the physically disabled lays upon the beach, covered in seaweed, and leading down to the water.

Egremni in Lefkada is an amazing beach 30 kilometres south from the Lefkada’s capital, near the village of Athani. The long sandy beach is surrounded by impressive cliffs and clear waters and is only accessible via 250 steps away from the car park.Absolutely recommended..

Accessibility Description: The night sky over the Delaware River glows with the dense band of the Milky Way, its countless stars forming a bright, misty arc of purples, blues, and whites. Below, the river reflects faint starlight as it flows past a rocky shoreline in the foreground, where smooth stones are scattered along the water’s edge. Dark, tree-covered hills frame the horizon on both sides, their silhouettes contrasting against the softly glowing twilight that lingers just above the horizon. The scene is serene, expansive, and filled with a sense of quiet wonder.

i felt like a ninja when i went to do this picture :) it was crazy and funny night....i can say- location wasnt easy accessible ....it was really good session with opportunity to use flashlights from VARTA company , like this mentioned below;

3 Watt LED High Optics Light 3AAA

Returning from 2022 (when I couldn't go), Lightscape transformed the Royal Botanical Gardens of Melbourne/Naarm.

In past light exhibitions (I specifically recall their fire events), the art displays have been somewhat interactive. This exhibition kept you on a specific path you could not wander off from. Therefore I felt detached from the artworks. Whilst there were a couple of highlights in the first half (starting from the main gate entrance), I felt the real excited began after the midway point.

I went to the relaxed session, but their idea of lower numbers, is ridiculous. we started the trail right on go time, but within 45mins, the grounds were swarming with people. There should have been a much longer lead time for the relaxed session - lower numbers is the biggest draw card for people with disability and neurodiversity. PLUS the volume of the music playing was not at relaxed levels. Accessibility isn't hard, so why do so many venues continue to fail?! Not that buying an accessible ticket was accessible - Ticketek is really a sh!t show when it comes to accessibility - it took six weeks to book a ticket that could have been purchased in 15mins (not to mention the stress involved in having to get someone to organise to take a call at a time that suited all parties - with my brand of autism I do not speak over the phone).

The official blurb: "Be mesmerised by a six metre orb made of thousands of LEDs, singing trees and a flickering fire garden amongst colour-changing installations, soundscapes and large-scale illuminated sculptures. Experience the new two kilometre trail around the lake and celebrate the beauty of nature after dark."

Wheelchair accessible entrance

Accessibility Description: A hummingbird perches on the metal rim of a red and yellow glass feeder. Its iridescent green feathers shimmer in the sunlight, while a vivid magenta patch on its throat catches the light, contrasting with its white chest and brown wings. The bird’s slender black beak points forward, and its tiny feet grip the feeder’s perch. The background is softly blurred, drawing attention to the bird’s brilliant colors and delicate form.

Boating up to Stehekin, WA. Stehekin is a small community on Lake Chelan accessible only by boat, plane, or hiking. The Cascade mountains get higher and higher the closer you get, forming the deepest gorge in the United States (deeper than the Grand Canyon) measured from the top of the mountains to the bottom of the lake.

The Zeballos River Estuary is accessible by nature trail from Zeballos village on western Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

A hidden Victorian tunnel in Nottingham, accessible from some easy to miss steps on Upper College Street. Built in 1855 to allow horsedrawn carriages access to The Park Estate from the Derby Road