The road out to Lindesfarne disappears twice daily under the incoming tides. The white hut in the picture above is a shelter for those caught out by this. It is not uncommon to read in the local paper of cars being abandoned as idiots don't take the signs seriously.
I went with the specific idea of photographing the shelters and the posts that mark the footpath out to Holy Island through the quicksand. The light was fantastic! There was mist for atmosphere and yet still enough sunlight to stop it being dank and dark.
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A trip down memory lane.... To the land that time forgot: Berwick.
This is one of the the views that Berwick is famous for. Within a short space of time there are three bridges over the Tweed. Furthest upstream is the Victorian rail crossing 'The Royal Boarder Bridge', this one is not in the shot though. Then there is the 'new' bridge and closest is the 'old' bridge. I was after the reflection of the arches in the Tweed. These are not the greatest photos in the world but the sand sculptures were amazing. In particular, each of the stones that make up the foundation of the railway is individually carved from sand. The one below gives you an idea of how big they were.
There are two tourist bazaars in Istanbul. Obviously there is the Grand Bazaar and also the lesser known Egyptian (or Spice) Bazaar.
For us the Grand Bazaar was first. First up my bazaar joke: Where we walked in was a row of shops selling sponge fingers and then some selling jelly. Next up was a group selling custard and finally some selling glace cherries. Yes, it was a trifle bizarre! Ho ho Sultanahmet Camil (or the Blue Mosque)
One of the most famous monuments on the Istanbul skyline is the Blue Mosque. From the outside it has barely a straight line, it is all domes and turrets. Famously, it also have 6 minarets, the same as the mosque at Mecca. Suitably attired, we went for a look see on our second morning in Istanbul. The interior is dominated by a huge dome covered in blue tiles (over 20,000 of them) which is how the mosque gets its name. The inside is very peaceful and feels very luxurious. However, as is the case with most (all?) mosques the inside is not as striking as the exterior. However, it is still a magnificent building. Venturing out for another superb meal and a further wander. In the evenings the area in front of the Blue Mosque, which is a lovely area of fountains and grass, is full of Turkish families enjoying the weekend. It had a really nice, friendly atmosphere. In fact, I would say that about all of Istanbul that we saw: The people are super-friendly and welcoming. We arrived in Istanbul stupidly early and for once the airport was efficient. Typical! The one time we were not in any kind of a hurry! However, the journey was painless, deserted roads and a rising sun. The hotel was excellent, they knew we were coming early and had a room ready for us…. It was 5:30 in the morning. So a quick kip and ‘would you like breakfast Sir?’ Certainly would! Came the reply. And very nice it was too. Fresh fruit, cheese, meats, bread, cake and proper coffee.
Thus suitably fortified and fuelled we set out for a still early start around Istanbul. A gentle wander around the outside of the sites seemed the order of the day. Decided to give the palace a miss as, despite there being no crowds we weren't sure how long our stamina would last and it’s supposed to be a long time going around. This turned out to be a bit of mistake as the decision was taken to postpone that wonder until our last day… Tuesday. When we turned up early Tuesday… ‘Sorry sir, closed Tuesday!’ Oh well, next time. After a quick apple tea to fortify us, we headed along with the rest of the multitudes to the Aya Sophia. These are some panaramas taken over-looking the Coasta del Golf in Marbella.
The light was just fantastic, perhaps its just living in China that has made me appreciate what fresh air is! These were all taken from the sun terrace of our apartment in Marbella. |
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AuthorsWe are teachers and have worked in various schools in Europe & Asia. This is really a chronicle of out travels over the years. It is meant for us to look back on, reflect and remember where we've been, what we've done and all our little adventures. If you like it too, then fab! If you don't, do you think we care? Archives
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