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| Prague, the Czech Republic |
The Charles Bridge, first dating from 1357, is lined with 30 baroque statues and connects the Old Town with the castle of Prague.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
Charles Bridge
 |
| Prague, the Czech Republic |
The Charles Bridge in Prague is like walking in a fairy tale.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
the Vltava
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| Prague, the Czech Republic |
The Vltava river flows through Prague and is crossed by 18 bridges, creating numerous picturesque moments. The National Theatre can be seen on the left.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
Sunday, April 13, 2014
intricate calendars
 |
| Prague, the Czech Republic |
An intricate calendar dating from the late 1800s, located in the Old Town Square of Prague, sits below the medieval astronomical clock.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
astronomical clock
 |
| Prague, the Czech Republic |
This medieval astronomical clock, installed in the Old Town Square of Prague in 1410, is the third oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working today. Crowds of people gather around on the hour to see the various figures around it move.
Friday, April 11, 2014
la Sagrada Familia
 |
| Barcelona (Catalunya), Spain |
Renown architect, Antoni Gaudí, started this project when he was 31 years old and sadly never saw its completion. At the age of 73 he was struck by a passing tram and died days later. Construction continues and is estimated to be complete by 2027. The Sagrada Familia is the most visited monument in Spain followed by the Prado art museum in Madrid and the Alhambra in Granada.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
curvy rooftop chimneys
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| Barcelona (Catalunya), Spain |
Antoni Gaudi's work is instantly recognizable when you see it. This amazing architect is known for adding color and avoiding straight lines at all costs. This chimney forms part of Casa Batlló, a home in the heart of Barcelona that Gaudí designed in the beginning of the 1900s.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
serenity
 |
| Asilah, Morocco |
“We are not going to change the whole world, but we can change ourselves
and feel free as birds. We can be serene even in the midst of
calamities and, by our serenity, make others more tranquil. Serenity is
contagious. If we smile at someone, he or she will smile back. And a
smile costs nothing. We should plague everyone with joy.”
-Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras
Monday, April 7, 2014
donkeys on the beach
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| Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco |
Camels, horses and even donkeys on the beach... There may have been as many animals as people that day!
Sunday, April 6, 2014
unbeatable views
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| Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco |
If you're hungry or thirsty or just need a break from being under the sun, you can always go to one of the beach stands for a refreshment or enjoy a meal of freshly grilled fish. The views are unbeatable!
Saturday, April 5, 2014
a ride to the beach
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| Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco |
What a great way to get to the beach! If I remember right, it took us less than an hour to get here from Asilah.
Friday, April 4, 2014
getting there
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| Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco |
If you don't have your own transportation to get to the beach, and feel adventurous like when you were a kid without a care in the world, I suggest this option. I'm sitting on a flat cart behind the horse taking the picture, just as you see the people ahead of me. :)
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
a morning stroll on the beach
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| Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco |
Life on Kaf Lahmam (Paradise Beach) is pretty easy to take, the perfect place to disconnect from the rest of the world.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
paradise
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| Kaf Lahmam, Asilah, Morocco |
This beach lies a few kilometers south of Asilah and is known as Kaf Lahmam, or Paradise Beach in English. The name really does speak for itself!
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
just another day
 |
| Asilah, Morocco |
This rocky coastline can be found just outside the fortified walls of Asilah; however, miles and miles of sandy beaches can be found to its north and south.
Thursday, March 27, 2014
lost on the horizon
 |
| Asilah, Morocco |
For those of you who like walking for miles on the beach, this is the place to be!
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
fortified town on the Atlantic
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| Asilah, Morocco |
Asilah has seen the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Portuguese and Spanish settle here at some point in its history. It was the Portuguese, in the 15th century, who built the fortified walls surrounding this whitewashed city sitting on the northwest Atlantic coast of Morocco. Today it is a popular holiday destination which offers beautiful long sandy beaches and hosts international art and music festivals in the summer.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
mesmerizing murals
 |
| Asilah, Morocco |
The International Cultural Moussem of Asilah (Asilah Arts Festival) is an annual cultural extravaganza which brings life and color to this city and has been doing so since 1978. The town is a platform for cultural dialog and exchange between different countries through conferences and seminars. Each year a guest country is invited to share its culture through mural paintings, engravings, music, dance and poetry.
One of the things I like most about this town are its murals! Select artists are invited to paint their works of art on the whitewashed walls of the medina every year. The best ones are kept for years to come. Here is an example of one of them.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
number 32
 |
| Asilah, Morocco |
Anything blue, grabs my attention!
(if you haven't figured that out already!)
:)
(if you haven't figured that out already!)
:)
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Plaza Mayor of Madrid
 |
| Madrid, Spain |
Seventeenth century king, Felipe III, had the Plaza Mayor of Madrid built in 1619 to which centuries later a statue was placed here in his honor. The building with frescos of mythological figures and other pictures related to the history of this capital city, painted by Carlos Franco, is used today as the Madrid Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
the heart of Madrid
 |
| Madrid, Spain |
Madrid's heart of the city, its Puerta del Sol, is where practically the entire nation celebrates New Year's eating 12 grapes while listening to the legendary clock of the old Post Office building (Real Casa de Correos) ring in the New Year.
The statue is of an 18th century King of Spain, Carlos III.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Sunday, March 9, 2014
There's no place like home
 |
| Óbidos (Centro Region), Portugal |
"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home."
-John Howard Payne
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
rooftops amid the wall
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| Óbidos (Centro Region), Portugal |
This hilltop fortification was taken from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, Afonso Henriques, in 1148. Throughout the different reigns of the kings, towers, keeps and other parts of the castle have been added, creating a picture perfect spectacle.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
side streets
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| Óbidos (Centro Region), Portugal |
This picturesque town, but at the same time busy with its cultural calendar, celebrates many events throughout the year, including a variety of festivals such as Baroque and classical music, along with opera, harpsichord, piano and contemporary art. Holy week processions, Christmas and medieval markets as well as chocolate festivals are all on the calendar of events celebrated in Óbidos.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
medieval and literary
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| Óbidos (Centro Region), Portugal |
This Moorish castle and walls around the city, originating from the 8th century, today form part of the pousadas of Portugal. A pousada is a chain of luxury, traditional or historical hotels that exist throughout the country. Next to the castle is the Igreja de Santiago dating from the 12th century, but was completely destroyed in the 1755 earthquake of Lisbon. It was rebuilt at the end of the 18th century and eventually was left to ruin until Ler Devagar (an independent bookshop which translates into "read slowly") decided to take over and convert it into a literary space, along with 7 other locations, turning this medieval wonder into a literary town, with plans to open more in the future.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Saturday, March 1, 2014
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