Sunday, February 20, 2005
Marbella
Enjoyed the last day of no working today by missing the bus to Ronda and then just wandering around Marbella. The first 6 photos are the hotel room, requested by Daniel! The others are a sand sculpture at the beach, the main beach at Marbella, and a little street in the old part of town. It's been mid to high 20s today, and very balmy with a lovely sea breeze.... sigh... back to work tomorrow....
Saturday, February 19, 2005
Puerto Banus
Just down the coast a little from Marbella is this rather pretty little town which seems to be populated by the very rich - if the prices (and the yachts and cars) are anything to go by! However Lisa, Sam and I strolled around, Sam and I paddled in the freezing waters of the Mediterranean and we enjoyed a jug of Sangria for lunch. Well it did have lots of fresh fruit in it (top right)! We were intending to go to a market in the bull ring there, but didn't make it in time. Never mind, up early next saturday and we'll get there before we leave for home.
Spain - Marbella
Well a short flight from London then taxi from Malaga and here I am in Marbella! Room very luxurious, however after Paddington what wouldn't be! LOL
Weather is fine and sunny, probably 19 or so degrees, but very clear blue sky. Haven't been out yet, but will do so soon, but this is the only picture so far.
Weather is fine and sunny, probably 19 or so degrees, but very clear blue sky. Haven't been out yet, but will do so soon, but this is the only picture so far.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
London
London college: from top left to right
The Ashes, Lord’s Museum; Regent Street; Eros and Trocadero, Piccadilly Circus; Diagon Alley (Leadenhall Market); Tower Bridge; Big Ben; Houses of Parliament; Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
The Tower of London was said to be the most fearsome of all of the fortifications built by William the Conqueror after the Battle of Hastings. Its primary function was to provide a base for royal power in the City of London, and a stronghold to which the Royal Family could retreat in times of civil disorder. Henry VIII of course used it as a prison for religious and political prisoners.
London Tower collage: from top left to right
Tower of London from the Thames; Wakefield Tower, throne room; Fusilier’s museum; Waterloo Barracks – Jewel House (where the Crown Jewels are kept - MY GOD!); the next two speak for themselves!; Bloody Tower – Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned here for 13 years, and the two princes were allegedly murdered here; Traitor’s Gate – Prisoners accused of treason, such as Ann Boleyn, passed through here; White Tower – the oldest medieval tower.
The Ashes, Lord’s Museum; Regent Street; Eros and Trocadero, Piccadilly Circus; Diagon Alley (Leadenhall Market); Tower Bridge; Big Ben; Houses of Parliament; Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
The Tower of London was said to be the most fearsome of all of the fortifications built by William the Conqueror after the Battle of Hastings. Its primary function was to provide a base for royal power in the City of London, and a stronghold to which the Royal Family could retreat in times of civil disorder. Henry VIII of course used it as a prison for religious and political prisoners.
London Tower collage: from top left to right
Tower of London from the Thames; Wakefield Tower, throne room; Fusilier’s museum; Waterloo Barracks – Jewel House (where the Crown Jewels are kept - MY GOD!); the next two speak for themselves!; Bloody Tower – Sir Walter Raleigh was imprisoned here for 13 years, and the two princes were allegedly murdered here; Traitor’s Gate – Prisoners accused of treason, such as Ann Boleyn, passed through here; White Tower – the oldest medieval tower.
London
Hello all
Here I am in freezing cold London. It's been sunny today, but about 5 degrees, and the sun has no warmth. At least the rain and snow flurries have not eventuated! I have walked all over London today, and seen nearly all that I wanted to see, Tower of London, all sorts of things. I'll try and post some pics soon, but I am currently in an internet cafe, just checking out the facilities. Tomorrow I'll be working most of the day in my room, which is about 3m square at the very most! Bit of a change after the Semiramis Intercontinental!! However it's also nice to be back in a country where people obey the road laws, you aren't in fear of your life crossing the road, and people aren't hassling you all the time to buy something!
Anyway hopefully will post something tomorrow
love
sue
Here I am in freezing cold London. It's been sunny today, but about 5 degrees, and the sun has no warmth. At least the rain and snow flurries have not eventuated! I have walked all over London today, and seen nearly all that I wanted to see, Tower of London, all sorts of things. I'll try and post some pics soon, but I am currently in an internet cafe, just checking out the facilities. Tomorrow I'll be working most of the day in my room, which is about 3m square at the very most! Bit of a change after the Semiramis Intercontinental!! However it's also nice to be back in a country where people obey the road laws, you aren't in fear of your life crossing the road, and people aren't hassling you all the time to buy something!
Anyway hopefully will post something tomorrow
love
sue
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Saturday February 12…
Today we visited the pyramids on the Giza Plateau – first the Great Pyramid of Khufu or Cheops, which is the largest in Egypt and was completed around 2570BC. It’s around 137m high. The second smaller pyramid is the burial place of Khufu’s son Khafre, which still has at the top the limestone casing. It’s 136m high. The third is the pyramid of Menkaure, which is small, only 62mh high! Originally all three were clad in polished white limestone, and they must have gleamed like crystals in the desert. Around the pyramids are several smaller pyramids which are the tombs of Kufu’s wives and sisters. Before the Suez Canal was built, the Nile flowed in front of the pyramids, and the mummy of the pharaoh was brought from the temple to the pyramid in solar barques, which were then buried near the pyramid to transport the pharaoh in the next world.
Next stop was the Sphinx. It was carved from the natural rock at the base of the pyramid of Khafre when they found that the rock could not be removed, and is thought to portray the pharaoh. In Arabic, the Sphinx is known as Abu al-Hol, or the Father of Terror! The nose was hammered off (allegedly) by Napoleon’s soldiers, while the fallen beard was carted off and is now in the British Museum.
After Giza, we went to the pyramids at Saqqara. This is the major cemetery of Memphis, the capital of Ancient Egypt, and was an active burial ground for 3500 years. Old Kingdom pharaohs were buried in the 11 major pyramids of Saqqara, and their subjects in hundreds of smaller tombs in the complex. Most of this was buried in sand until the mid 19th century, and it is slowly being uncovered. Very slowly! The main pyramid is the Step Pyramid of Zoser, which is the oldest pyramid in the world. It was built around 2650BC. Next on to Memphis. Hard to believe now, when it is a dirty, dusty little town, this was once a large, beautiful city filled with palaces, gardens and temples. It’s like stepping back into another world, where donkeys and carts are the main forms of transportation, people still wear traditional dress, and basic agriculture is the main way of life. Oh and trying to flog postcard to tourists! Its cemetery runs for 35km, from Dahshur in the south to Giza in the north. The museum here has a fallen statue of Ramses II, which is truly impressive.
Next stop was the Sphinx. It was carved from the natural rock at the base of the pyramid of Khafre when they found that the rock could not be removed, and is thought to portray the pharaoh. In Arabic, the Sphinx is known as Abu al-Hol, or the Father of Terror! The nose was hammered off (allegedly) by Napoleon’s soldiers, while the fallen beard was carted off and is now in the British Museum.
After Giza, we went to the pyramids at Saqqara. This is the major cemetery of Memphis, the capital of Ancient Egypt, and was an active burial ground for 3500 years. Old Kingdom pharaohs were buried in the 11 major pyramids of Saqqara, and their subjects in hundreds of smaller tombs in the complex. Most of this was buried in sand until the mid 19th century, and it is slowly being uncovered. Very slowly! The main pyramid is the Step Pyramid of Zoser, which is the oldest pyramid in the world. It was built around 2650BC. Next on to Memphis. Hard to believe now, when it is a dirty, dusty little town, this was once a large, beautiful city filled with palaces, gardens and temples. It’s like stepping back into another world, where donkeys and carts are the main forms of transportation, people still wear traditional dress, and basic agriculture is the main way of life. Oh and trying to flog postcard to tourists! Its cemetery runs for 35km, from Dahshur in the south to Giza in the north. The museum here has a fallen statue of Ramses II, which is truly impressive.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
These are examples of parking Cairo style. Will give you some idea of not only parking but driving if you have a look at the condition of the cars. The little boy was selling bread at the Khan al Khalily market... we didn't want to buy any but when I offered him a pound after I took his photo he did the whole affronted thing and asked for two!!! he didn't get it!!!
the spices are fascinating here, bags and bags of them - pity they're covered in flies and customs would have a fit if I tried to bring them back into the country!
the spices are fascinating here, bags and bags of them - pity they're covered in flies and customs would have a fit if I tried to bring them back into the country!
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