Tjeldoya Island looks deceptively empty. On the day we drove to Lodingen we were on the opposite side of the fjord and Amanda pointed out that there are many houses on the shore of Tjeldoya that you don’t see from the narrow road where one driver often has to pull over when two vehicles meet.Continue reading “Community in Kjerstad”
Tag Archives: Attractions
History, arts and culture–if this is the result of high taxes, give me some.
At the end of the road on Tjeldoya Island (and that is saying something) we parked, got out to fish and amid the ruined bunkers of the WWII Fort Tjeldodden we found Georg’s Plass, a picnic spot complete with tables, benches, fire pit, tripod and cooking vessel, dishes, cups and other supplies in a settingContinue reading “History, arts and culture–if this is the result of high taxes, give me some.”
Chefchaouen, a blue city
There isn’t much to do in Chefchaouen, other than admire the lovely blue color painted on many buildings. There is a mosque that can be visited after an uphill walk, a waterfall, and a walk downhill from the waterfall along the wall of the medina. You can stroll in the medina admiring the walls, havingContinue reading “Chefchaouen, a blue city”
Fantasia, a Moroccan sport
Fantasia, or cavalry charge, is the name given to a popular Moroccan sport and neither name does justice to the event, which is a cross between a game of “chicken” and a battle from Game of Thrones. We went to Tissa, where a well known Fantasia and horse fair are held every September. We watchedContinue reading “Fantasia, a Moroccan sport”
Getting used to Fez
We planned for a long time to stay a month in the Fez medina. Now we are here in a riad of our own. There are lots of surprises in the medina. No cars are allowed in most of the area, but donkeys and horses clop back and forth. The animals give you timeContinue reading “Getting used to Fez”
Rabat, Morocco
We arrived in Rabat, and got to our hotel in the medina with minimal confusion. The Rabat medina is more spacious than others we’ve seen in Essaouira, Agadir and Marrakesh. As in the others, no cars are allowed, though motorbikes race through. When we arrived at the walls of the medina, we called our hotelContinue reading “Rabat, Morocco”
New York from two different angles
We spent a clear, bright Sunday visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. An earlier torch was shaped like an aladdin’s lamp. Lyra is standing beside a full-sized replica of the statue’s toes. My paternal great, great grandfather was Michael Dwyer, and he may have arrived atContinue reading “New York from two different angles”
Roman Tarragona
Welcome to Roman Tarragona! Tarragona, Roman Tárraco, was the capital of Hispania Citerior during the Roman Republic, from about 197 BC until 27 BC when the emperor Augustus arrived. He stayed until his death in 14 BC, making Tarraco both capital of his new province Hispania Tarragonensis and the unofficial capital of the Roman Empire.Continue reading “Roman Tarragona”
Barcelona’s waterfront from the sky
The aerial tramway from Barceloneta to the Montjuic hill is a great intro to Barcelona. You can see a little of everything. First you have to wait to go up to the tramway in a very small elevator. The views are spectacular. There is sculpture, a walkway across a swing bridge, and a big mall.Continue reading “Barcelona’s waterfront from the sky”
