https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/images daily 0.75 2017-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1505316504547-OLSH9FRLSQUFD7SQ7TOS/IMG_3781.JPG Images - design-build of Trebuchet Tim, Ben and John building a medieval siege engine. Lookout greenhouse... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1505316504547-OLSH9FRLSQUFD7SQ7TOS/IMG_3781.JPG Images - design-build of Trebuchet Tim, Ben and John building a medieval siege engine. Lookout greenhouse... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1505316874213-X7Q4DF6KMWWVBCWQIJFD/IMG_3694.JPG Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1505317030525-WZBCJ1KRXMUV23L7D2OM/IMG_3440.JPG Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1505317307961-ZL1JOH4SO5X5SQB0IMMJ/IMG_2847.JPG Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1505317415818-8O4Z9ZYPNX5MEU1M80VN/IMG_6802.JPG Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1505513284760-VLV3A2ABT4ZVKR0P6ZKF/IMG_6867.JPG Images https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1505513657059-RBY6S0UAYJQU29XAC1LK/DSC01298.JPG Images https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog daily 1.0 2017-12-24 https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/24/epilogue-repatriation monthly 0.5 2017-12-24 https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/14/john-and-his-local-pets monthly 0.5 2017-12-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513277933990-48N2YIYKZU40TFGOELOE/IMG_5743.JPG Blog - John and his Local Pets This little guy was hiding in the bushes near our lunch stop...John fed him and named him Puck. This was the favorite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513278043831-5HBJW4EQXPR97UQOMHTK/IMG_5742.JPG Blog - John and his Local Pets https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513278102711-437UD1INVYJW1MQ6VN7D/IMG_5834.JPG Blog - John and his Local Pets Even the holy cat hair of a monastery cat still makes John sneeze. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513278205955-I0R1GDHNRR3AZO9F0LJY/IMG_5712.JPG Blog - John and his Local Pets https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513278285052-196L6XBGRW65S7YTCN6O/IMG_5698.JPG Blog - John and his Local Pets Momma dog and her puppy in the road at Nafplio. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513278404047-T8WOP4X5HUL79LOZP9QP/IMG_5616.JPG Blog - John and his Local Pets Stretching during the changing of the guard at tomb of unknown soldier. John divided his time between the lecture, the ceremony and the dog :) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513278543128-BFZL4F1ZO0T4PGQMUR0B/IMG_5756.JPG Blog - John and his Local Pets This dog liked John so much that he followed us quite a bit of the way on the road to Delphi... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513278671014-57AIDIUSXNT0T8SRZAGY/IMG_5515.JPG Blog - John and his Local Pets This guy was named peanut...not the most friendly name for John, and he almost tripped the waiter in Krakow twice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513279211603-S3YCA9JKQIW3J3CME0XL/IMG_4640.JPG Blog - John and his Local Pets This little guy belonged to a street vendor in Ronda https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/14/closing-arguments-from-greece monthly 0.5 2017-12-14 https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/14/halfway-between-heaven-and-earth monthly 0.5 2017-12-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513276798117-RQIMQU5DMDAJBK293GP9/IMG_5830.JPG Blog - Halfway Between Heaven and Earth The Monastery of Great Meteoron required many steps, passages, twists and turns to visit. It is quite the operation supporting but a handful of monks. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513277002171-5XRMF94I7B9CBX4G2S1U/IMG_5838.JPG Blog - Halfway Between Heaven and Earth The view is worth all the winding roads, the steps and difficulties associated with the trip ! https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/14/the-oracle-at-delphi monthly 0.5 2017-12-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513243959700-H620SL9WYMBTF45JC0PM/IMG_5767.JPG Blog - The Oracle at Delphi The sacred way, entering into the holy ground of the temple of Apollo. It was lined with statues-- bronze, marble, ivory, gold...all offerings of thanks to Apollo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513244158572-QL5VNR7L45O67CMD7SK5/IMG_5770.JPG Blog - The Oracle at Delphi Numerous kingdoms, and then city-states built "treasuries" to contain the many gifts that the people would send. If it was a big statue, it was mounted outside, a small gold box, inside. The left wall that is bare now, used to contain a huge display of captured Persian weapons and chariots to celebrate the great victory at the Battle of Marathon where Athens prevailed over the Persians in 490BC. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513244604201-C837ODMLL3S04WMCV7V2/IMG_5780.JPG Blog - The Oracle at Delphi The Temple of Apollo at the Oracle of Delphi. The Oracle had left the building. It was a beautiful kind of quiet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513244872596-KLJHT132QJAQC14DA88Y/IMG_5781.JPG Blog - The Oracle at Delphi The block that looks like a domino of sorts was the original perch of the priestess. The 3 legged stool indents and the hole for the gasses can all be seen. It was raised up on its side for better viewing. Catly Catbert stands guard. Steady. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513246278609-MPSF9CHDDZQAJPDFFUHD/IMG_5776.JPG Blog - The Oracle at Delphi To free a slave, you carved the name in the "register" on the wall at Delphi, it was a final transaction for freedom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513246702275-PLA2XVFE69EE72X96AQ5/IMG_5796.JPG Blog - The Oracle at Delphi On the way down from Delphi, olive trees as far as you can see. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/12/finishing-at-the-beginning monthly 0.5 2017-12-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513178676697-TVU3DLE2GXYR2SBI3QHO/IMG_5655.JPG Blog - Finishing at the beginning The Parthenon...built as a temple for Athena, the God protector of Athens. Pericles started the major construction project on the Acropolis in the 5th century BC. The strategic location had been a citadel in the bronze age and inhabited in some way since neolithic times. The temple was turned into a church after Greece converted to christianity, but the Ottomans turned it into a mosque, It was mostly destroyed during the war of Greek liberation from the Turks. The Athenians thank the preservation initiative for their clear skies and healthy breathing. Factories and other sources of pollution were moved far outside of the city center and a underground metro was constructed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513181569172-KECID3L751NNKDRQKJO3/IMG_5674.JPG Blog - Finishing at the beginning The theater of Epidauros is the most perfect and renowned monument of its kind, combining superb acoustics and physical symmetry. It was built in the 4th century BC, and it was not modified during the Roman era, which is unusual. Our guide made us climb to the top and listen to the acoustics. It was amazing how the lowest spoken words could be understood, especially from the center position. You could even hear rustling clothing. No microphone required! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513182716292-GW7SX9FQGVHWK729EDBR/IMG_5681.JPG Blog - Finishing at the beginning Jumping to the Middle Ages for a moment, this is the Bourtzi water castle, built by the Venetians who held Nafplio off and on. We are standing on a high promontory, that has water on both sides. the next picture is looking at the sea from the other side. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513183022640-TUAMLDTV5LKFHBZTR6CZ/IMG_5693.JPG Blog - Finishing at the beginning Looking out over the other side. People were sunbathing and swimming below, so we could not throw rocks as we originally intended... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513184038537-R5DYNO1AV45VGSU1VYE2/IMG_5703.JPG Blog - Finishing at the beginning The city square in Nafplio, yes the whole thing is marble. All the mountains are made of the stuff. They use marble like we use plywood. If you want to impress with extravagance in Greece, use wood. Everyone has marble to spare. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513184633825-VC7APLS0MDQCFOIIVSTO/IMG_5721.JPG Blog - Finishing at the beginning Olympia was the site of the Olympic Games for 12 centuries. This are was for wrestling competitions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513185039104-7JNLX0PVSGJ8YXSK8WEJ/IMG_5722.JPG Blog - Finishing at the beginning The Temple of Zeus. A 40 foot high statue of him sitting in the temple was made out of gold and ivory. It was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. Here is an interesting thing about temples to the Greek Gods-- the temple is for the God. All celebrations, offering and praying happens in the area around the outside of the temple. kind of like a church picnic without the service beforehand, I guess. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1513185533639-DK659WO9XKT22ZSC9W28/IMG_5728.JPG Blog - Finishing at the beginning John is sizing up the competition on the race track. There were no stands, the spectators sat on the ground. Women were not allowed to compete, or to watch, under penalty of death. After one mother dressed as a man to watch her son compete, the rules were changed so that not only the athletes were nude...spectators as well from then on. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/11/back-in-actionwalking-wounded monthly 0.5 2017-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512978972795-QECGHUEY1LMUVOF5UBLZ/IMG_5549.JPG Blog - Back in Action...walking wounded Malbork Castle is the largest brick building in Europe and the largest castle in the world in terms of area -- 42 acres. This section shows the Blessed Virgin Mary Church https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512979126604-EBNPOORJYAUUXP7USM0U/IMG_5551.JPG Blog - Back in Action...walking wounded Gates, towers and administration buildings on the side opposite the Nogat River. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512981904281-6STZZLZOSWW6ZHNKRXN1/IMG_5576.JPG Blog - Back in Action...walking wounded John sits on the throne of the Grand Master in the public confession hall https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512982088935-CLMTKIA65MSV3UKQTHY2/IMG_5560.JPG Blog - Back in Action...walking wounded How do you heat the largest brick castle in the world ? build some big fires and send hot air in pipes to the various rooms above. Instead of a thermostat, temperature was regulated by how many pipe caps you remove ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512982460796-SVNAW7FSU7VKXZTL711E/IMG_5580.JPG Blog - Back in Action...walking wounded An inner courtyard of the castle, with strategic well and secret underground tunnels that led to the city center on the other side of the river...probably resulting in more of the serious confessionals, as it is rumored that these were used for visits to the taverns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512982731232-QITQE5U246XTET1L6J5T/IMG_5585.JPG Blog - Back in Action...walking wounded A simple chapel, renovated in a way that preserves many chapters of its history rather than returning it completely to how they think it looked in its original condition. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512983009752-XEVQUUAG4H213FZKAUGS/IMG_5552.JPG Blog - Back in Action...walking wounded This is a picture from 1945, the castle was bombed to pieces. It took decades to rebuild, and money came from many places to achieve this remarkable renovation. After Poland entered the EU, they were able to get Norwegian oil money to make some final restorations that had yet to be completed. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/5/man-down-but-not-out- monthly 0.5 2017-12-05 https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/4/the-trumpeter-of-krakow monthly 0.5 2017-12-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512421606720-23X7XUHIHDH6Y35L7F3V/IMG_5457.JPG Blog - The Trumpeter of Krakow The trumpeter slid the window down facing us and played the hejnał. I don't see how that kept a soccer team up at night! this tower is 81 meters high, and the other tower is 69 meters high. Another legend says that they were being built by two brothers. The lower brother was gaining on the higher brother and had plans to surpass him. The higher brother stabbed the lower brother in desperation to win the family challenge. The knife from the incident is hanging in the square as a lesson to those that would let family squabbles get out of hand... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512422227663-UB3AUQNNNC3Q3WEA2J7H/IMG_5464.JPG Blog - The Trumpeter of Krakow The Veit Stoss Altar in St. Mary's Basilica-- 1000 year old wood carvings designed for the worship of St. Mary. The artist used real people for models of each character except Mary- you can see many of the maladies of the day in each figure. Modern doctors have diagnosed each person's condition.. Very realistic. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512422810164-59W6DFZ6Z96QA2IV82EU/IMG_5517.JPG Blog - The Trumpeter of Krakow Wawel castle. It is a wonder. Cave with a dragon. A fortification of some sort has been here since ~960. After many incarnations of a growing and evolving medieval castle, it was completely refurbished in Renaissance style at the requirement of a new queen moving in from Milan. Gothic was so last century! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512423387188-XT7OJEXKVIHH5N38FTE9/IMG_5504.JPG Blog - The Trumpeter of Krakow The Royal Cathedral at Wawel Castle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512423731492-8FMZ17KSCHHJC2I1LGIY/IMG_5445.JPG Blog - The Trumpeter of Krakow A 15th century celestial globe on display in the Copernicus room. There were also sextants and an astrolabe from Cordoba circa 1050. A photo of the Earth taken from Apollo 11 and signed by Neil Armstrong hung on the wall. The guide said that the students probably weren't allowed to use the very delicate and one-of-a-kind instruments, they probably had to get by with wooden proxies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512424173305-1M5WZS4WFHBDZFUFH1V2/IMG_5485.JPG Blog - The Trumpeter of Krakow Medieval KFC!! -- our guide said that it is easy to tell the medieval buildings in Krakow, the corner walls are not vertical. See how the base on the left corner is further toward the street than the first floor? Exactly. Medeival KFC. We saw Medieval McDonalds and Medieval Starbucks! https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/1/evil monthly 0.5 2017-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512139760499-XLLF1MLDPRDQHCS5V215/IMG_5352.JPG Blog - Evil The infamous, paradoxical phrase over the main gate at Auschwitz, "Work will set you free." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512140223605-WMX29U09KAFHVE2HYJYS/IMG_5354.JPG Blog - Evil https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512140400692-DQJZQIE9XXRI3EDUYIM0/IMG_5380.JPG Blog - Evil John and our guide are standing at the selection point in Birkenau next to an authentic box car. While Auschwitz was a form Polish army barracks, and thus relatively comfortable, the Auschwitz prisoners built Birkenau camp 4X as big and shelters were made to the spec of the German horse stable, barely able to keep the weather out. 80% of the Jews that arrived went straight to the gas chamber, only the strongest, capable of work and surviving the conditions were sent to real showers and issued striped camp clothing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512140879397-0QYYADAYLBJM4BVSRFXH/IMG_5383.JPG Blog - Evil Monument at Birkenau. The approach they used at Auschwitz was to create a museum environment with articles, personal effects, etc. At Birkenau the objective was to leave it entirely as the Soviets found it when they liberated the camp. With so many visitors coming, they felt like there should be one place where visitors can pause, reflect and collect their thoughts. This was what the came up with. There are tablets written in more than 20 languages at the base of the monument. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512141845730-K0RPP2CG6ISW670NRO81/IMG_5385.JPG Blog - Evil "Forever let this place be a cry of despair and a warning to humanity where the Nazis murdered about one and a half million men, women and children, mainly Jews from various countries of Europe. Auschwitz-Birkenau 1940-1945 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512143334765-R43EQF5NFUT9ZFSCGNB0/IMG_5395.JPG Blog - Evil At the very end of the Schindler Museum there were two books. Our guide kept saying how extreme times brought out the best and the worst in people...on both sides. Many examples of evil and good were recorded in the respective books. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512143538854-IKE9KXSXHISLOBBUSLWU/IMG_5396.JPG Blog - Evil Our guide had John look through the directory for two particular names. Their stories were amazing examples of love for their fellow human beings, demonstrated at great danger to themselves and their families. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512226195683-3370FQBGDT5BPOT2CASX/IMG_5358.JPG Blog - Evil 80,000 shoes. And these are just the ones that were not already sent back to Germany as the normal course of weekly business, or destroyed as the Soviets approached. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/12/1/lessons-from-abdullah monthly 0.5 2017-12-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512136589488-AKLPOSCLW0HJO48X22TW/IMG_5334.JPG Blog - Lessons from Abdullah Although this picture does not really go with the story, it is the last photo I took of Vienna. The gilded Johan Strauss statue in Stadtpark (City Park) is the most often photographed monument in the city, so I wanted to be sure to keep the rate trending upward. It is in a park created on what was the glacis outside the city walls (open field of fire on the approach to the city). The city walls turned out to be of little practical military use, so Emperor Franz Joseph decreed that they be torn down and a Ring road built in their place in the late 1850's. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/30/eins-zwei-eins-zwei monthly 0.5 2017-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512065342887-FU5RMB7BLVX122XPZZPS/IMG_5314.JPG Blog - "Eins, Zwei, Eins, Zwei…" Some of the uniforms looked more like hunting outfits, reminding John and me of Simplicissimus as the Huntsman of Soest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512065871546-NZ5UAKIKQ960FIHAD25K/IMG_5320.JPG Blog - "Eins, Zwei, Eins, Zwei…" John in front of the Archduke of Ferdinand's car...what a series of miscues led the car to be within pistol range of Serbian radical Gavrilo Princip. See the bullet hole in the left rear quarter panel- this was the lethal round that hit Sophie. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512066309080-790NOS7WLYOZE7BVVYLH/IMG_5326.JPG Blog - "Eins, Zwei, Eins, Zwei…" Although the Soviet Red Army liberated Vienna from the Nazis at a cost of 20,000 killed in action, the city was divided into zones governed by each of the 4 allies, similar to Berlin. Our guide showed us his parents ID cards that were in English, French and Russian and stamped with each country's seal. The allies agreed to pull out if the Austrian Parliament would declare themselves to be a neutral country. Austria is now one of 5 European neutral countries along with Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland and Finland. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512066665622-7ZH0EQGUWF78X8LDGV9V/IMG_5332.JPG Blog - "Eins, Zwei, Eins, Zwei…" On a very long walk from the museum back to our hotel (14,000 steps that day), our guide took us to see one of the three pairs of anti aircraft towers protecting Vienna in WW2. Each pair consisted of a radio tower and an AA battery. The three towers were arranged in a triangle with the city center in the centroid. The towers were also used as bomb shelters for the inhabitants lucky enough to be on the list. Local companies had places reserved for their employees. There was a Siemens factory near this site and there were specific places allocated to the Siemens team. The efficiency was remarkable, as Hitler Youth would read out lists of addresses destroyed by bombs at the conclusion of each raid so the people would know whether they were returning to a home that we intact or not. There were 53 allied bombing raids on the city of Vienna. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/30/the-first-viennese-school monthly 0.5 2017-11-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512058073949-OW79IJ6Z76NX2DZLMJKH/IMG_5260.JPG Blog - The First Viennese School Herr Proferror Reinhardt plays a little Mozart on our way from the hotel to Mozart's apartments. We were standing in the square where the current leaders of the country are trying to form a coalition government. The conservative party has the chancellorship, and their tea party is trying to form a coalition government with their democrats. Wishing them luck with that ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512059347801-F0WFZJVIBQAYJJPQFIPU/IMG_5256.JPG Blog - The First Viennese School The Vienna Boys Choir, a 500 year old institution in Vienna performs a final song in front of the congregation in the Imperial Chapel. During the rest of the mass the choir and orchestra are in the thirds balcony behind, so not visible. I was glad we had a chance to see AND hear the singers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512061403237-MSYFJXRG2UEIZIZUYHCK/IMG_5280.JPG Blog - The First Viennese School An early piano model used by Beethoven...the dimensions weree not yet modern, and there were 5 foot pedals! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1512061964954-4VY8MQ5H2QZD5RCCYVU4/IMG_5266.JPG Blog - The First Viennese School The Spanish riding school is another nearly 500 year-old tradition in Vienna. The Lipizzaner Stallions were presents from the Spanish Habsburgs to the Austrian Habsbergs. These horses can really dance the dressage. For all you Crimson Tide fans, these are the horses from Spain, not Portugal. Denzel Washington was right after all. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/25/through-the-fog monthly 0.5 2017-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511632165151-R1M2864HBC6EU5AOKEX2/IMG_5212.JPG Blog - Through the fog Our guide tells John, "if we could just see a little higher, that wall leads up to the castle ruins...trust me when I tell you this..." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511632349063-VXVWRCENNJSLFQ611GZD/IMG_5227.JPG Blog - Through the fog The main façade introducing the feeling that everything you are about to see will be Baroque... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511632622982-H5XG7RF8S02IB4Z98SKX/IMG_5231.JPG Blog - Through the fog The outside of the church in Melk Abbey, viewed from a balcony that swings out overlooking the town of Melk. The fog had lifted just as it became pitch black outside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511633048644-22MJH7R16249KOFRBSPW/IMG_5232.JPG Blog - Through the fog The beautiful baroque interior. This concluded our private tour of foggy, deserted Dürnstien and equally quiet Melk Abbey. I am sure it is bustling, bright and warm in the summer- they have more than a million visitors. However, I think we saw something special, all by ourselves in the cold, wet, November evening. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/25/the-password-isludwigsdorf71 monthly 0.5 2017-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511624387517-L94DUSBA9L5792V3Q1XR/IMG_5210.JPG Blog - The password is…ludwigsdorf71 Studying in a tavern. I asked the owner if we could hang around for a bit and do some school work, and he said sure, no problem, like that happens everyday around here! https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/25/salt-and-souls monthly 0.5 2017-11-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511621225627-11059ITH0RQU30CQIJRV/IMG_5168.JPG Blog - Salt and Souls Salzburg as seen from the Prince-Archbishop's castle on the hilltop. The Danube was the autobahn of the day, they would send salt downriver in three boats, break up and sell two, then bring wine and silver back up river in the one boat by horse power (literally). The cathedral in the foreground is surrounded by church administrative buildings and borders St. Peter's monastery, found by St. Rupert. We walked through the ancient, yet still active graveyard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511621758214-FIYH4FHAVGK41H5U47D1/IMG_5187.JPG Blog - Salt and Souls John prepares to play the copy of Mozart's organ at the original pillar station in the cathedral, under the guidance of Herr Professor Domorganist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511622069081-9F0HMR9X19CY4PQZWDGT/IMG_5195.JPG Blog - Salt and Souls Herr Professor treats us to a magnificent mini-concert on the Salzburg Cathedral main organ-- 3 manuals, 58 stops and over 4000 pipes. Amazing sounds, felt and heard. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511622429857-DQTK7VPP96J6E5F39DD2/IMG_5202.JPG Blog - Salt and Souls John and I celebrated Thanksgiving at the Christmas market in the cathedral square. We had an oreo waffle for an afternoon snack before playing the organ (dessert first), then wings and potato chips afterwards. Perfect! https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/23/they-said-there-would-be-a-lake monthly 0.5 2017-11-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511468628710-587ODWZWGKX0JR07BVD2/IMG_5153.JPG Blog - They said there would be a lake... Trudging along with a mile or so to go, we think. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511468804044-DB326RW28RF0Z7TUI0SK/IMG_5155.JPG Blog - They said there would be a lake... We found the lake, but didn't stay long. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511468915939-XYI96IGW466JLL0JU35S/IMG_5145.JPG Blog - They said there would be a lake... The civilized Alpine hike turned into a barbaric, every-man-for-himself snow ball fight with no warning. I had to take this picture quickly then duck and return fire !! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511469088117-ZJ0X27GC09A4GDKYHIN2/IMG_5137.JPG Blog - They said there would be a lake... After 15,000 steps and an all-out snowball fight, snacks by the fire seemed appropriate. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/19/two-days-of-autumn monthly 0.5 2017-11-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511118014189-183NRCCGTDDF1LUMY7KP/IMG_5095.JPG Blog - Two Days of Autumn Full disclosure, I am a BMW guy...so I found that the coffee device they used to put the 4 circles on my café americano as the highlight of the Audi museum. Just kidding!! it was cool, I admit it. I did not know that the 4 circles represent the 4 companies that came together to form Audi between WW1 and WW2. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511118477354-GYSLB8DA161HPKKG03G0/IMG_5108.JPG Blog - Two Days of Autumn Outside BMW headquarters, gallery and museum, there appears to be a cosmic force of conflict between me and German parking garages. I had a problem when Belinda and I first went to Bavaria in 1992...I did not know the German word for exit. While everything is marked with symbols nowadays, and I know the word, I lost the parking ticket in a purge of pockets and car compartments...and the payment machine froze up on me. Luckily there was another one. John didn't seem to mind, he was watching an episode of "Top Shot" on the iPad. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511118833801-2Y4A2RZ9J67SM7ZDT62H/IMG_5114.JPG Blog - Two Days of Autumn One of the famous / (in)famous BMW Art Cars. This one was painted by Andy Warhol. He was not satisfied with the pattern and transfer that they had done long distance so he came to Bavaria, walked onto the factory floor and painted this car in 28min. It achieved 6th place in the 24hrs of Le Mans. Many of the other Art Cars completed their tours with a crash or other ignominious end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511119656780-4RUUF30KTCRR09T0TDDF/IMG_5126.JPG Blog - Two Days of Autumn This bubble car took the prize for unusual, and unexpected. It may well be the only "front opening" car to enter serialized production. It was one of two models in the 50's that saved the company!! They sold 180,000 units...unbelievable. And our guide Philip asked about where the inspiration for the door, and the entire car came from...his hint was, the handle! I immediately said refrigerator (of course) and he said yes. It was an Italian appliance company that branched out into automotive, and BMW bought the design. They added a 4th wheel and made sure that the 12 horsepower engine was reliable. They even had a special camper trailer that this thing could pull over the Alps. There was photographic evidence of this feat. It is yet another example to me that I don't understand consumers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511120115916-5SCW9SNL3B3AGTC9OIKV/IMG_5132.JPG Blog - Two Days of Autumn Winter is here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1511120335887-FMDVOQSR8Q0W7NADEHAN/IMG_5134.JPG Blog - Two Days of Autumn John throws the first snowball of the season, and it is a direct hit! https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/15/one-more-month monthly 0.5 2017-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510785783111-G6EQSNJSNQM13FJOWHND/IMG_4926.JPG Blog - One More Month This amazing map showed the treaty of Todesillas, which divided the new world between Spain and Portugal. One funny thing- longitude was critical component of the treaty, yet hard to determine. One suspicious thing, Portugal kept arguing for a specific bias to the west, and it just happened to cede them most of Brazil. They probably had been close enough to see that something was there before finalizing the treaty. With this visit to the monument to the explorers and maritime museum in Lisbon, John completed the explorer section !! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510786144024-YGKRITADAI8YEGMIZFV5/IMG_4921.JPG Blog - One More Month Monument to the explorers, a journey much worse than flying coach :) https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/15/go-west-young-man monthly 0.5 2017-11-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510784294824-IGOT7DOSW2SHC0VGBP0B/IMG_5015.JPG Blog - Go West Young Man We stopped here at Cabo da Roca on our way back to Lisbon from Sintra, where the Royal summer palace was built in the mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510784709013-5L9DAO771U4TFR9ALS5U/IMG_4918.JPG Blog - Go West Young Man The Belém Tower, built in 16th century in Manueline style (Late Gothic plus other mixed in). It has features such as the cross of the Order of Christ, Armillary spheres and nautical themes such as ropes. It was farther from shore until the earthquake of 1755 rerouted the river a bit! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510785318360-VOIBDHJ7Z6J3OCV4YUIK/IMG_5028.JPG Blog - Go West Young Man Carlos and João prepare to say good bye to Portugal. These white and black blocks are the norm for sidewalks. We walked a lot of steps on them, uphill, downhill and flat! https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/11/flamenco monthly 0.5 2017-11-12 https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/11/last-train-to-crdoba monthly 0.5 2017-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510402833962-5ULC0483ZL8A104MSRZX/IMG_4817.JPG Blog - Last Train to Córdoba Roman burial towers, right outside the central gate to the city. What you see is an archeological reconstruction technique called Anastylosis which uses as much of the original material as can be found to reconstruct an artifact or structure, and modern, contrasting materials are used to ensure structural integrity and compete the shape. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510403235181-TSPBEQBIE17BG87W07HL/IMG_4819.JPG Blog - Last Train to Córdoba Chariot rut from 200 years before Christ was born...John asked the question I was thinking...this road looks less smooth than the random countryside, these cobblestones would not make for a comfortable ride. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510407873768-BOAAP4ORU1Z1Y9W7I9QO/IMG_4836.JPG Blog - Last Train to Córdoba The Cathedral bell tower was placed on top of the minaret after the Reconquista. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510408366261-W5E48WRG9BWB3UQ119P2/IMG_4842.JPG Blog - Last Train to Córdoba Example of a Roman column and "Wasp nest" capital, recycled as a carriage wheel deflector on the corner of a medieval home. The capital is easiest indicator of Roman, Visagoth or Muslim design/construction as the tools and methods used by each were different. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510408903487-NV0MR5SR1JD8F5CVPWTP/IMG_4851.JPG Blog - Last Train to Córdoba The Cathedral was a mosque, and many architectural features remind us of what it once was. The mosque was expanded two times before it was turned into a cathedral, it is immense inside. in some areas, if you look only at the arches and columns, you feel like you are still in a mosque. It is that big. If you then wander toward an altar, or the choir, you can't miss that you are indeed in a cathedral. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510426667254-3K3UPH7RW9WX87U9BW50/IMG_4858.JPG Blog - Last Train to Córdoba The refurbishment and transformation of the darker, 9th century Muslim design into a 16th century Renaissance masterpiece of a definitive, major alter and transept. The theory of the case was that the new light of the new testament would bring the people out of the un-enlightened state to the glory of the church. A classic quote from Charles I of Spain, later Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire said it all, "We are destroying something uniques and we are constructing something that can be seen everywhere." https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510427342454-B1PDOAU08LTMUAIWZA90/IMG_4844.JPG Blog - Last Train to Córdoba This alley and courtyard is called flower street...for obvious reasons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510427513705-M9DD8W5ANXX0F971PPNM/IMG_4845.JPG Blog - Last Train to Córdoba An edgy cross. Crucifixion was an edgy process. Christianity was an edgy subject during numerous administrations in Córdoba. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510427707767-PQYBQODXLXE44U9DV21L/IMG_4869.JPG Blog - Last Train to Córdoba John and Belinda look at the bridge on the path of the original Roman road leading out from town center. Belinda said goodbye and we miss her already. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/10/acorns-in-aracena monthly 0.5 2017-11-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510309516475-9CWDWZPK2ZI55YITEL7F/IMG_4786.JPG Blog - Acorns in Aracena Elana explains about the trees...how important it is to develop staggered ages of trees in close proximity...not patches of same age trees like commercial forest production. You can see the range of ages behind her, 1-2 years, 10 years, 50 years and over 100 years all in the same photo. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510309909821-4RQ3WMZC1Y0ELSS4D8RM/IMG_4792.JPG Blog - Acorns in Aracena John, Belinda and Elana feed the production team! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510310111517-J9VNH4IP7AVP9L2ERZEN/IMG_4793.JPG Blog - Acorns in Aracena The most important natural resource on the farm. Healthy trees producing acorns. See the slice of cork taken from a 200+ year old limb that fell in a wind storm. Cork cells were first observed by Robert Hooke in the 1660's with his compound microscope. As a materials scientists, we also know that he is responsible for Hooke's Law that says the elongation of a spring (or a solid body) is proportional to the applied force...or as Hooke said in the 17th century "ut tensio, sic vis." Obviously this is true up to the limit where permanent damage occurs to the material. As it turns out, cork demonstrates some interesting behavior as it relates to lateral strain when tension or compression is applied-- it doesn't get any thinner or thicker ! That's right, Poisson's ratio is near zero. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510312184047-0UUIOJU180G3I7RZJ1GV/IMG_4794.JPG Blog - Acorns in Aracena Jamba and a pig discuss the hierarchy and their own reporting relationships. They did not come to an agreement before the meeting broke up. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510312410262-QOEDIAKQD0LQ7LKCWD69/IMG_4807.JPG Blog - Acorns in Aracena Elana's father slices the jamón with a very sharp, very flexible knife. The tags on the hoof area are black (the highest standard), but you can also see a green one. They use that one to denote "organic", but are considering changing the color because it also represents a lower quality grade of pig. We saw many different set-ups for holding the ham, which is very important for producing the thin slices and not wasting any meat. Some looked like bench rest shooting vises or x-ray diffraction goniometers. This one is more modest, and his expertise is high. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510312795616-2269IE7XK0QT35QGWVP6/IMG_8453.jpg Blog - Acorns in Aracena After a wonderful meal at their house. We are thankful for our new friends in Andalusia. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/9/tapas-and-holy-week monthly 0.5 2017-11-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510221852643-HLUW94GWSOY0LPOFPNQC/IMG_4777.JPG Blog - Tapas and Holy Week Belinda watches a procession on the video screen between bites of pork sandwich. She bravely cast aside her food allergies and is toughing it out this week in the name of cultural experience! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510222129096-WNKELIAW4FTTOYA1VTDS/IMG_4780.JPG Blog - Tapas and Holy Week Check out the swinging incense pot in the middle of the frame. We were treated to a large dose, and should be good for a while! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1510222547017-A6BCVDFABTJONWVHMVR4/IMG_4775.JPG Blog - Tapas and Holy Week Well what do you know about that...the visual aid our food expert used to explain the fusion of foods, spices and culture as a layer cake. And she said she likes to think of the icing representing the Jews, as the Sephardic Jews were here as a distinct culture contemporary with the Moors and Christians. Forgive me for a moment on terminology-- I am using "Muslims" to represent the invaders from Africa, and the residents of Iberia who became Muslim...as there were a few Arabs, yet mostly Berbers from the Maghreb in the invasion. Moor is an acceptable, but not very descriptive term that can mean a variety of peoples. We mean the same thing in this case, though. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/4/off-the-grid monthly 0.5 2017-11-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509817706189-NDVA60LVNK9Y5ZLNXMMB/IMG_4681.JPG Blog - Off the Grid Halfway from our hotel (under the bell tower) to the hosts house for cooking class. There was no need for an alarm clock, the bells sounded like a car accident with some semblance of a melody right outside our window. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509817952138-LFPQ8F5JOCP9EH02FW6F/IMG_4672.JPG Blog - Off the Grid standing on our balcony, you can see why we had to hoof it ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509818162810-9RYZPS1I4Z8LN5Y09RN7/IMG_4703.JPG Blog - Off the Grid John and Annie work on the carrots and Pepe prepares some jamon for appetizer. I act busy off camera and try not to get in the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509818340543-25FKHC9QMUAK5OO4FGNO/IMG_4673.JPG Blog - Off the Grid Layers of Vejer. Annie said that instead of washing the white buildings, they just apply another coat of paint or "white wash." Eventually, the plaster may let go from the weight and reveal many cycles of improvement, or layers of time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509818597446-2LUNHLEZHSHL5CY2YES7/IMG_4733.JPG Blog - Off the Grid John befriends Christopher and sends snapchat to that effect. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/3/more-layers monthly 0.5 2017-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509734668033-GUDIELGMA3RP4KFOPY3V/IMG_4574.JPG Blog - More Layers One of the inner walls of the Alcazaba in Málaga. The Muslims archways are clearly Arabic in nature, the recycled Roman columns are more decorative than structural. This is one of few passageways that went straight through, most have 90degree turn to create fatal funnel for invaders. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509735661437-NYO7Q0EAOSE1CNXWQ3G9/IMG_4585.JPG Blog - More Layers One of many defensive towers on the second of three walls. One of the reasons this citadel was considered impenetrable. Ferdinand and Isabella conquered it after the longest siege of the Reconquista in 1487...by cutting off water and food. Apparently, there are two types of trees in Spain-- Olive trees and other trees. While those are "other trees," John and I have seen many, but not all of Spain's 384 million olive trees on our journey. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509745456482-8O7EB4REIPZNYH8IMC8M/IMG_4600.JPG Blog - More Layers The remnants of the minaret from the central mosque became the bell tower of the "cathedral." Ronda is known for its decorative iron works. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509746007146-C6DJIU7YS0D3GHNOQY6O/IMG_4596.JPG Blog - More Layers These 3 Abrahamic religions of the book have worked together successfully during periods of cooperation and harmony on the Iberian Peninsula, though most of the time they were in conflict. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509747259363-A7GJW8QV2LA6GP7IUUHS/IMG_4611.JPG Blog - More Layers another spiral staircase, and another race to the top ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509747644173-31FH1I5UYNOGDYEI21WH/IMG_4641.JPG Blog - More Layers This is the "new bridge" built in late 1700's. The mid-span contained a jail...escape was not an option! Ronda is like the Twin Cities...only smaller. Town homes for families descended from the knights on the right, bull fighting ring and hotels on the left. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/11/1/get-your-mind-right monthly 0.5 2017-11-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509526089660-3G19PPGZXK9D2BTJDW25/air-force-juan-entero.jpg Blog - Get Your Mind Right! Air Force Juan ! Unfortunately, we did not fly that A320. We flew a sister aircraft, didn't catch her name, but it could have been "Vueling Me Softly", "Vueling the World", or "My Name is Ling. Vue Ling". Among others... https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/28/layers monthly 0.5 2017-10-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509223738812-MW0ZDTJB98JG91V2X9QH/IMG_4399.JPG Blog - Layers The Sultan's summer palace...aka Man Cave ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509223945105-QXG51YJ8X8O59IQLT12U/IMG_4418.JPG Blog - Layers This appears to be the building where the Emir/Sultan held court...wait until you see the inside. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509224188747-9MX0286PBV55X23IZFLM/IMG_4426.JPG Blog - Layers the central dome...Gaudi took some cues from what he saw in Alhambra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509224373272-KG163INP1J0XXLIC7QL2/IMG_4422.JPG Blog - Layers they demonstrated that shapes other than regular polygons can fill space - the Alhambra Bone. Many designs used variations of the golden ratio. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509224621791-2EOTBICHV51ZDRLTD37I/IMG_4468.JPG Blog - Layers The summer palace from across the river...we would travel to the other side of the snow-capped peak to hike in Alpujarras region. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509225039310-5BSVLGPHIET6FLBRAUJR/IMG_4501.JPG Blog - Layers I can't remember if we walked down from this village, or up to it ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509225212810-Y1P8L8IJMB6E5MKGMUML/IMG_4522.JPG Blog - Layers Juan and Frederico in the home stretch https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/27/sometimes-you-just-know-whats-going-to-happen monthly 0.5 2017-10-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1509135138955-DRXDBBP06DV00D8BHUOV/IMG_4393.JPG Blog - Sometimes you just know what's going to happen... Taxis to the rescue, but alas, the people are gone...and John and I await our driver. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/24/wpfv3vrhncytz3di66mbo1wa564vvw monthly 0.5 2017-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508870862238-0S7KC7LP4YSFY8H2NF2Z/IMG_4371.JPG Blog - La Sagrada Familia The east facade, 5 large cranes in action, spending $80M this year, then $40M per year...money raised by private foundations and selling tickets. John and I each donated one ticket ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508871082261-RRS63CM3YB707MZUYX40/IMG_4374.JPG Blog - La Sagrada Familia Pillars dedicated to Mathew and Mark in the transept, looking West. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508871242777-EL8M7LMIK1VXRZ3SJSTB/IMG_4381.JPG Blog - La Sagrada Familia John did an absolute fantastic interpretation of his namesake's pillar. He saw something that I did not, the cross near the base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508871328414-MSC7TL3HFPTI95AHC8P0/IMG_4380.JPG Blog - La Sagrada Familia My effort for John's pillar...Joan is John in Catalan, I later found out that Joan of Aragon was not well liked by the locals, he was an outsider... https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/24/romans-visagoths-middle-ages-and-more-no-one-expects-the-spanish-inquisition monthly 0.5 2017-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508855804887-NJG7B9O0JPJHDOC3CRFA/IMG_4325.JPG Blog - Romans, Visagoths, Middle Ages and more.  No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!  A tunnel connecting the preparation rooms for the chariots and the horse teams to the circus https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508855987137-WB85OXVW5GGC9YSO7M5M/IMG_4333.JPG Blog - Romans, Visagoths, Middle Ages and more.  No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!  We stood at the level of the circus, looking down at the amphitheater...and thought, what a great day for sailing on the Med ! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508856257010-50TPE0Y4O6G58FUMJL54/IMG_4334.JPG Blog - Romans, Visagoths, Middle Ages and more.  No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!  We are on the amphitheater floor, looking parallel to the nave of the church. The walls to the left are likely of the convent. The tunnels to the right lead to the beach. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508856506312-G5EFFE9WNW52Y1P98U4V/IMG_4336.JPG Blog - Romans, Visagoths, Middle Ages and more.  No one expects the Spanish Inquisition!  Are you not entertained ? Actually, John is quite tired of Dad pictures. But he rallied because lunch was next stop. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/22/blue-estrada-or-red-estrada monthly 0.5 2017-10-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508674415978-DROGAIBHFENBHG5LPHT2/IMG_4347.JPG Blog - Blue Estelada or Red Estelada? This crowd formed spontaneously, as many decided to march from Las Ramblas to the main Catalan government building to watch a broadcast on their iPhones https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508674589269-NG6GABMUW2H1LL2NOK5B/IMG_4349.JPG Blog - Blue Estelada or Red Estelada? A hush fell over the boisterous crown when the broadcast started, punctuated with periodic applause. Blue estelada or red estelada, it feels like there wants to be an estelada...too difficult to go backwards, except by force. That may be the answer. And we were there...but not for long. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/20/mediterranean-edible-botany monthly 0.5 2017-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508524347175-S8AHQS6FS8WFIGNY1EF4/IMG_4229.JPG Blog - Mediterranean (edible) Botany The incredible white mustard...with an avalanche of flavors. And nearly zero calories! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508524761365-LPBFQTU2X4U40MPKNFYF/IMG_4233.JPG Blog - Mediterranean (edible) Botany Looking down over the town of Girona...we were on the peak between two waves of fog. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508526098058-F1PNSSVC9A8LORCKV3L7/IMG_4243.JPG Blog - Mediterranean (edible) Botany John swings for the fence...just trying to knock down some chestnuts...Botanist struck only once, thank goodness they have national healthcare program https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508526267965-C8FO1RU5HM6Z559JWES4/IMG_4298.JPG Blog - Mediterranean (edible) Botany John imitates the paraglider...not too close, son, you aren't wearing a parachute :) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508526427766-25EP0VQNVZ7CAJZAO43Z/IMG_4297.JPG Blog - Mediterranean (edible) Botany that's better... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508526744015-6O1KMX56JKSL6DFKBYHV/IMG_4303.JPG Blog - Mediterranean (edible) Botany What, peasant bread ? That will have to do. Lunch by a slow moving stream. Calls started coming in for me, so John and the experts went foraging...no mushrooms in sight, but they fashioned an atlatl out of bamboo and John proceeded to launch projectiles... https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/20/a-teenager monthly 0.5 2017-10-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508520992722-5YXPGZ7WMN1VZMKT1BD9/fullsizeoutput_2b8a.jpeg Blog - A Teenager External columns of the Palau...designed by modernist architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, in the modernist Catalan style made famous in the extreme by Gaudi https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508521525718-MT353EPSF2B1FEB02IA5/IMG_4218.JPG Blog - A Teenager John in front of the Catalan Parliament building...where there are many goings-on at this very moment. The reporters are in the background, awaiting one of their many stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508521828506-7MKQUTIVUL64D2MZR2EH/IMG_4221.JPG Blog - A Teenager We ate the whole thing...before our dinner! Happy Birthday, John. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/18/le-vent-dautun monthly 0.5 2017-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508343717000-4BUGNV9VFQBHGBI2MTB6/IMG_4162.JPG Blog - Le Vent d'Autun at the market...avec du pain. Toujours avec du pain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508343897672-CJ0EJ2V8L18XKPNSKJIU/IMG_4166.JPG Blog - Le Vent d'Autun Study hall in Toulouse...pre algebra test...or Europa video game ? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508344348090-FTIRRTFPLKN5TG2W4K2O/IMG_4193.JPG Blog - Le Vent d'Autun On to the Kingdom of Aragon. Reading about Magellan, the Portuguese who signed on to sail for the glory of Spain https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/18/la-ville-rose monthly 0.5 2017-10-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508328877117-OD1QRTHRG6OZR9OZ7OKT/IMG_4138.JPG Blog - La Ville Rose Driving slightly over the speed limit and taking a picture...in a semi deserted approach to a very small town with very narrow streets. It is said that Napoleon planted the sycamores to shade the marching Imperial Army. These did not look that old. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508329261647-FAX07WX5LGVWMSWYA3C7/IMG_4140.JPG Blog - La Ville Rose We saw these ruins at a sharp turn in the small town of Padern, and thinking it was Queribus, we took this picture. As it turns out, this was Chateau Padern, another Cathar castle but not a very important one. It commands quite a view and held quite a position. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508329724823-OHHT519TBJUV5HFPLQ61/IMG_4145.JPG Blog - La Ville Rose Looking over the ramparts from the outer wall of Queribus...I think this was facing North/ Northwest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1508330034060-HJ0AP08AD9B4GM9MT1BU/IMG_4146.JPG Blog - La Ville Rose Sitting in the window of the main residence area of Queribus, one dash away from the keep. Facing Southeast, this perch is safer than it looks...really :) https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/10/birds-of-prey monthly 0.5 2017-10-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1507666947069-MMEC9DPVJZI93TU2FIY3/IMG_4064.JPG Blog - Birds of Prey John and Montana bonding before the action starts https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1507667165327-GEMZ4O12PVYQAAJ9HMAO/IMG_4068.JPG Blog - Birds of Prey Montana returns to John when called...and fed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1507667287778-FXE8HXCR60Y16APAN08U/IMG_4098.JPG Blog - Birds of Prey Job well done, full payout of incentive compensation, as agreed after catching the rabbit...amazing that she can get that whole bird down. She will hunt rabbit, fox, small deer, or pigeon. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1507667708761-33OEYGULOQOU2IQLJUCX/IMG_4100.JPG Blog - Birds of Prey Boys of prey...nice shooting, John. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/9/the-highlands monthly 0.5 2017-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1507587444476-6N6JLC6YGP53VHVX1IWZ/IMG_3947.JPG Blog - The Highlands At the Fraser Clan burial site on Culloden Moore https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1507587613123-8W5IDN8G9D93XL0QOFZS/FullSizeRender.jpg Blog - The Highlands At the 15lb cannon battery on the outer defense of Stirling Castle. The William Wallace Monument can be seen in the distance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1507587771228-ABND26M5RWU3L7R9NMI9/IMG_3969.JPG Blog - The Highlands A grand day for a brochure photo, 5 minutes of sunshine for all to enjoy. https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/10/1/rejected-takeoff monthly 0.5 2017-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1506866636724-LHEBJ0OO5BVQUOBWR5TE/IMG_3934.JPG Blog - Rejected Takeoff Where is the horizon? And what do you mean solar noon, I thought noon was 12pm ! https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/blog/2017/9/13/preparation monthly 0.5 2017-09-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1505316075803-UVXTUF0CGXNKVQJXLZTN/IMG_3547.JPG Blog - Preparation John and Moses in Carmines Cove https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/about daily 0.75 2017-09-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59b8a0018419c2ea9a964d5a/1505315338102-JT79TDKI19CAWSP26SB6/IMG_3392.JPG About https://www.navigatingbythestars.org/new-page-2 daily 0.75 2026-03-20