Travel – Travels with Ali

~ Lisbon to Faro – Exploring Faro Old Town ~

We set off for Faro today to meet up with my sister-in-law and nephew. It was an early start and only a brief promised stop at a service station on the way! At least there would be coffee. The drive from Lisbon Airport to Faro Old Town takes approximately 2 hours 40 minutes. It maybe less with a certain driver. The journey is mostly inland so no nice coastal shots.

Crossing over the Vasco da Gama Bridge I was able to take a few photos, when my brother slowed down!

The bridge spans the Tagus River and is 17.2 kilometers long. It was until a few years ago the longest bridge in Europe. That title now belongs to the Crimean Bridge in Russia. It is a spectacular drive over with excellent road surfaces.

Stopping briefly for a much needed coffee at a service station, we huddled together under the smallest umbrella. The rain seemed to be chasing us from Lisbon.

We arrived in Faro around lunchtime in the middle of a storm. With the roads flooding and trees crashing down in the car park, we sat in the car and waited it out.

Sometime later after picking up Colleen and Greg we headed into Faro Old Town for lunch and a wander.

The Old Town features beautiful cobble stone alleyways and lanes. Murals adorn many of the walls and other walls are brightly painted.

We found the perfect spot for lunch, when I asked for the wine list the owner said there is none. He had over 2,500 bottles on display and told me just to describe the type of wine I was after. A tricky one, as who knew there were so many varieties of Alborinho.

After lunch we headed over to Faro Cathedral. By this time the weather had cleared and the sun was shining brightly.

There is no fee to enter and look around which was a welcome surprise. It made me wonder how this place is kept looking so nice, inside and out.

The ornate ceilings inside the chapel. Decorated with blue and yellow painted tiles. The “ribs” of the ceiling are carved masonry.

Deciding to go up to the roof, we climbed some very uneven steep stairs.
Below is a photo looking through the open window to the sea beyond.

Up on top, raincoat back on as the sun has disappeared once again.

Stunning views over the tiled rooftops of Faro

Steady but slow wins the race

The Chapel of Bones and the Bell Tower

The Chapel of Bones is so called because it is lined with skulls and bones of ordinary people. Gruesome indeed, imagining working and handling these.

The Famalam

~ Exploring Macau – A Visit to Taipa ~

After flying from Bangkok to Hong Kong, we immediately took the bus over the new HKZM Bridge. This is something Anthony has wanted to do for a while. Normally we would take the ferry, but after researching how to buy tickets, this was such an easy way to travel. There is no need to pick up your luggage as this is arranged for you. All we needed to do was follow the signs at the airport. Everything went smoothly and the bus ride was very comfortable. Our hotel was just a short taxi ride away.

HKZM Bridge (Hong Kong – Zuhai – Macau – Bridge) s a 55-kilometre (34 mi) bridge–tunnel system consisting of a series of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel, and four artificial islands. It is both the longest sea crossing and the longest open-sea fixed link in the world. The cost of construction was US$18 billion and is meant to last 120 years. Source: Wikipedia.

We were staying at Crowne Plaza, Macau. Possibly one of the few hotels without a casino! Our room was on the 21st floor and we had amazing views over the sea and looking towards China. Although there was massive construction going on below for more reclaimed land.

Macau is a special administrative region of China. It is the most densely populated region in the World with a total of 710,000 people. It consists of three regions, Macau Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane. These three regions are connected by road bridges. There has been so much land reclamation over the last century that Macau has tripled its land size.

One of the places I wanted to revisit was the old Taipa houses. The last time we visited they were not open to the public. These houses were built in 1921 to house the wealthy Portuguese families.

Taipa

There is still a wonderful Mediterranean feel about Macau. With cobbled stone streets, louvered windows and street signs in Portuguese, you could imagine you were in Portugal. Being very near Christmas, there were hundreds of poinsettias lining the stairs and walls.

Old Taipa Houses

We only went into one house, all houses were free to enter. To have indoor plumbing on this tiny island would have been a blessing indeed!

When they were first built, there would have been a view over the sea. Since the land reclamation, there is now a wetland.

It was past lunchtime by now so we headed back to the main streets and found a cute Portuguese restaurant.

This was actually on the ceiling of the restaurant. I thought it must have been hard on the artist’s arms to paint this.

Our delicious lunch.

I hope you enjoyed visiting Taipa with me, next up I will be posting about Macau’s famous casinos.

I’m joining Jo on her Monday Walks also!

~ Three Days in Bangkok – Boats, Bars and Retail Therapy ~

Last week we caught up with Anthony’s brother and wife for a few days in Bangkok. Having been here many times before, there was no need to be a tourist. I had booked us into the Chatrium Riverside Hotel with a fantastic view over the Chao Phraya River. Staying by the river is a wonderful way to see Bangkok, as most hotels have their own river boat. The ferries run all day to Sathorn Pier and from here you can take other boats or walk a short distance to the station.

City and river views from our room

Our first morning was spent catching up over a lengthy breakfast, watching the river transport.

After breakfast we took the river ferry over to the Iconsiam. A massive shopping mall, not with just shops but also artwork, fountains, waterfalls and many restaurants.

It was the King’s Birthday today plus Father’s Day, so we expected crowds. It wasn’t as bad as we feared and we had the ferry almost to ourselves.

Outside and inside the Iconsiam was absolute mayhem, people milling around and taking photos and generally blocking the way! Didn’t expect anything less being a public holiday.

Not your traditional tree!

The basement has a floating market with many hawker type stalls. It’s also where all the Thai style handicrafts are located. I did manage to pick up a few Christmas presents.

I wanted to see the waterfall on the third floor, which drops from the middle of the ceiling and changes colour as it falls. This was spectacular and a feat in architectural design.

For lunch we snagged an outside table overlooking the river and ate while we watched the different boats go up and down.

Taking the same route back to the hotel, we had more of a wait for connecting ferries.

These guys don’t hang around and it’s a swift turnaround. You have to be quick on your feet to jump on and off! But no complaints as it’s a free service.

A new suitcase for me, plus goodies inside for Anthony. I’ll have no trouble at the carousel looking for my case.

We had a quick rest before heading down for a seafood buffet. The weather was perfect, with a light breeze making it possible to sit outside. For me it’s still quite hot, but you see many of the Thai people with hoodies and sweatshirts on as it is Winter.

The next day we took it easy around the beautiful pool, catching some rays and swimming a few laps.

Our last evening was spent on a nearby rooftop bar drinking champagne and watching the sunset.

There is plenty to do in Bangkok, from visiting the temples, just browsing the many shops or taking a leisurely cruise along the river. Also with many different cuisines you can eat cheaply at the hawker stalls or fine dine if that’s your thing. Bangkok is a wonderful city to stop over for a short break.

~ Leading Lines from Across the Globe ~

For Monochrome Madness this week, Sarah from Travel with Me, has challenged us to find leading lines in our photos.

“Leading lines are a compositional technique that uses lines in a photograph to guide the viewer’s eye towards the subject. They can be natural or man-made, and can be straight, curved, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. Leading lines can create a sense of movement and depth, and can be used to direct the viewer’s focus, create balance, and tell a story“.

I’ve thoroughly scoured my archives to see if I had anything along these lines (excuse the pun!).

I wouldn’t have necessarily taken a photo because of the lines, these just become apparent after viewing. I will now try and implement this technique.

It’s something I’ve come to appreciate on these challenges, I find out more and more about different ways of taking photos.

Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge is a popular tourist attraction. For the more adventurous and not something I’ve ever felt inclined to do! I prefer looking up at the ant like characters at the top.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
Hong Kong Skyscrapers

Stairs leading up to a temple in
Luang Prabang
Looking over to Mount Sakurajima, Japan

Quiet street in Luang Prabang, mostly bikes. Such a peaceful road.

Balconies around the World- Lens Artist Challenge

This week the Lens Artist Challenge is balconies, hosted by Flights of the Soul. Who doesn’t love a balcony to sit out and watch the sunset or sunrise from your hotel, or if you’re lucky to have one in your own house to sit and watch the world go by. When we lived in Hong Kong we called a balcony a veranda or verandah, I’ve since learned that the word veranda is very much Australian. A proper balcony is elevated and a verandah is on the ground level, perhaps under a balcony!

Seville, Spain

The above photos were taken on a visit to Seville, Spain many years ago. With most cities a balcony is all important and a way to feel connected to your neighbour and the action below.

The above were taken whilst walking along the Regents Canal, London. I wonder what the significance of the cow is!

Our apartment was the first floor on the left, it was relaxing to sit and enjoy the spectacular views over the Bay of Kotor.

**Enjoying the sun underneath the balcony in Stanley, Tasmania**

Lorne, Victoria — **Enjoying the sun underneath the balcony in Stanley, Tasmania**

I could only stand inside the apartment and take this photo, it made me feel too uneasy being on the 26th floor!

~ Amazing Albania – Berat to Kruje ~

Kruje, located 20kms north of Tirana was our next destination. We were staying for one night in the Hotel Panorama and when we arrived mid-afternoon there were coaches either side of the small narrow road. There was parking but we couldn’t see where to stop to look for it. There was a carpark opposite but it was blocked by a coach, then a man appeared and said he would guide us in! It was just chaos but he seemed to know what he was doing and even took our cases for us. I couldn’t work out if he worked for the hotel or it was just a hobby directing the traffic.

It was very orderly inside and we were promptly shown to our room. After a short rest we decided to walk through the bazaar and then up to the castle. As Tirana was only a short distance it looked to be a busy destination and we could hear the hustle and bustle from our room.

Kruje was like a mix of Gjirokaster and Berat. Cobbled streets, a bazaar and a castle upon the hill.

Various items for sale at the bazaar

Once we were at the top, we stopped for a drink in the cafe and rest! It was only a short walk but of course all uphill.

I can’t believe I didn’t take photos of the castle so have had to “borrow” one from the Albanian Tourist Industry. I was too busy taking in the views.

Looking for a place for dinner later we found the perfect spot with fabulous views. Something I did find odd in all of Albania was seeing groups of men in the evenings at cafes and bars, no women at all. Old and young, smoking and drinking. We walked down one small street in Kruje with cafes either side and they were full of just men. It would be hard travelling with a female companion to feel comfortable in these smaller places.

Interesting Facts: Edward Lear, the famous English landscape painter visited Albania in 1848, but Lord Byron in fact got there 40 years before in 1808. We saw many paintings by Lear in the places we visited. These small things intrigue me especially when I mention Albania to people and so many have asked, if it’s safe and where is it. I suppose the fact that it was closed off for nearly 50 years attributes to this.

A day and one night is plenty to see what Kruje has to offer and makes a good stopping off point to travel further North, which unfortunately we didn’t have time for. Our next and final destination is Tirana.

~ Amazing Albania – Butrint Archeological Park ~

During our stay in Sarande, one of the places we visited was Butrint.

The bus stop was only a five minute walk from the hotel and it arrived shortly after us. We found seats and then promptly sat there for 20 minutes while the bus filled up and up until the doors could hardly close. Amongst the throng was the bus conductor who was issuing tickets, I’m not sure how he checked who had tickets or not. The journey takes around 30 minutes and for 3 Euros each I thought it wasn’t bad. There is only one restaurant there and we ate lunch here after our walk.

Butrint has been inhabited since prehistoric times and also home to many different nations, including Romans, Byzantines and Venetians. The last person who live here was Ali Pasha, an Albanian Ottoman ruler who controlled Butrint and the area until its final abandonment.

Above is the Venetian Triangular Castle sitting on the banks of the Vivari Canal

Butrint is now home to a vast array of flora and fauna. The excellent preservation of the remaining structures bear witness to the amazing building skills of all the previous inhabitants, especially the Romans.

We enjoyed our two hour walk around the site marvelling in turn and discussing the history as we walked.

Sitting by the Venetian Tower and soaking up the atmosphere.

I didn’t realise how vast Butrint actually is, it covers 9,000 hectares and there are steep hills and tracks around and across it. Looking at the map I’m not sure we covered everything there was to see.

Possibly a Roman civic house from the 5th century and the views across Lake Butrint.

Most of the monuments were discovered by the Italian Archaeological Mission between the years 1928 – 1939. The team who worked here were guided by Luigi Maria Ugolini. Imagine the excitement on finding such historical structures.

6th Century Baptistery with mosaic floor

The mosaic has now been covered over again for preservation and apparently it is cleared every few years for viewing.

This was a fabulous place to spend an afternoon if you are interested in history. Because of the many factions living here it was all the more interesting trying to piece together the timeline. It was such a peaceful afternoon, we were lucky that we had managed to avoid the tour buses.

Linking to Jo’s Monday Walk

~ 3 Days in Paleokastritsa, Corfu – Day one – Corfu Old Town ~

I had booked four nights in Paleokastritsa, giving us three full days to explore. Arriving late, we checked in surprisingly quickly and went off in search of a restaurant for a very late dinner. It was past 10pm and the first two places were already closed, so a search on google maps came up with one more. Luckily this one was still open. For us it was still only 8pm.

On waking the next morning, I opened our doors onto the balcony to the most amazing views. We were staying at The Odysseus Hotel, somewhat off the beaten track but fortunately with a bus stop across the road.

We took a Green Bus to Corfu Old Town for a day of exploring, shopping, eating and drinking.

Maybe a Grandpa sharing a book with his granddaughter

Narrows alleys in the Old Town

After lunch I wanted to have a look at the Old Fortress, I did get a shock when I realised how high it was and what a long walk up there it would be. That wasn’t the worst of it though, as I was silently congratulating myself on reaching the summit, huge black thunder clouds rolled in.

Looking mighty pleased at reaching the top

We just about made it to the next level, with Anthony warning me not to hold onto the metal rails. I tried hard but was too worried about slipping on the wet stairs. The only shelter was a grove of pine trees where we stood with about 20 other people. Not a great choice with lightening flashing and thunder crashing above. Everyone came away drenched to the bone. I’ve never heard such loud thunder before, maybe because I’ve never outside in a storm before.

Making a dash for it when there was the teeniest break and just about reaching the next level where we ran to an old tunnel. Finally we walked back to the Old Town and reached the nearest bar before the next onslaught, where we enjoyed very welcome beers and wine.

We did find a fantastic place for dinner that night though, and apparently it hadn’t rained in Paleokastritsa!

I’ve written this post on my iPad and it’s been the most annoying process ever. Every time I wanted to add a photo the whole post moved up to the top. I should have brought my laptop, but trying to travel lightly 😂.

~ Glimpses of Glasgow ~

The journey from Bilton to Glasgow took around four hours and with Anthony having a cold, he was extremely glad to check in to our hotel. The Clayton Hotel had been recommended to us and we had booked for a two night stay. Pleasantly surprised to find we had been upgraded to a larger room on the 16th floor. The views were amazing over the river, city and railway.

After a good rest we headed out for dinner and were going to try a tapas place not too far. We found the restaurant was actually in Prince’s Square Shopping Centre, beautifully decorated with glass and iron balconies with a massive glass dome. As we were heading to the restaurant, a man popped out of a French restaurant and tempted us to eat there instead! He had a good sales technique for sure and we had a gourmet meal.

Billy Connolly Mural
by John Byrne

The next day I suggested taking the hop on and hop off bus so we could see all the major sights Glasgow had to offer. We waited ages for the yellow line route to take us out to Pollark Park, in the end gave up and took the red route. As the weather turned progressively worse through the day, we did spend most of the time on the bus and I don’t think we did Glasgow justice. This is why the post is called Glimpses of Glasgow!

We did enjoy The Hunterian Museum in the University of Glasgow. There were some amazing exhibits on display.

University of Glasgow

The entrance and inside the museum

Patterned Window
inside the University Library

Walking under and through the Cloisters with their fluted columns and impressive archways was amazing.

Roman shoes made of leather
for Man, Woman and Child

“Wives of Fishermen” 1914 – Pierre Braecke
This sculpture was probably inspired by the death of Braecke’s cousin, who had
seen a fishing boat sink in a storm in 1869. It focuses on the grief and anguish the women must have felt as they watched their husbands drown. (As described on the plaque)

Why we stayed on the bus!

It was a dreich day, completely plowetery! A wee bit of Scottish slang for you.

Dinner that night was in a Tapas restaurant within walking distance of the hotel.

And just like that it was time to check out and onto our next destination before heading home.

Linking to Natalie’s Weekend Coffee Share and Public Art

~ Hong Kong – Arts and Flowers ~

The annual flower show was on while we were in Hong Kong recently and when we arrived we were ushered in promptly through the free gate. There are some benefits to being a senior! The crowds were out in force, bus tours from old people’s homes and also school tours. People waited patiently in line to have a photo in front of the spectacular displays.

The theme for 2024 was “Floral Joy Around Town” and attracted more than 200 exhibits from local and mainland horticultural societies. The colourful Angelonia was the feature flower.

“Flowers don’t tell, they show.” – Stephanie Skeem

It was held in Victoria Park, named after Queen Victoria.

The sheer variety of flowers was overwhelming. Some were so intricate and would have taken hours to put together.

There were classic designs and fun exhibits. Something for everyone to admire.

The Art of Ikenobo

“Though we pursue an economic value in life, it is in admiring beauty and creating things that we enrich the ground of our mind.” – Senno

The art of Ikenobo dates back to the 15th Century and was founded by the Buddhist Monk Senno. Japanese people like to give deeper meaning to flower arranging and prefer them upright rather than casually placed.

There is an elegance and simplicity to these designs that bely the hard work that goes into creating them.

After leaving here we went back across the harbour and walked along the sea front to our hotel. On the way we noticed yet another new shopping mall and popped in for a look around. We were astounded by the sheer size of it, not just that but the fabulous art works on display, not something you would normally find in a shopping centre. Of course there were the normal high end designer shops and high class restaurants but I think most people were there to have a look at everything else on display. We were wondering how these shops make any money because most were empty.

K11 Musea