Photography

Jo’s Monday walk : the Dunajec Gorge
Shall we start at the chair lift?

Shall we start at the chair lift?

To be fair, I have so many photos it’s hard to know where to start!  After the wedding, my Polish family were wonderfully indulgent of my wandering ways.  I had booked into an old wooden villa for a couple of nights, in the upper part of the thermal spa town of Szczawnica, right down on the border with Slovakia.

Why there?  Well, I already knew that the scenery in nearby Zakopane was beautiful.  Part of the Tatra Mountain range, it is renowned for Summer hiking and for Winter sports.  But, as always, I wanted to see somewhere new, yet still within reasonable distance of Kraków.  The Pieniny Mountains are not so high, nor so busy, and they have a beauty all their own.

Szczawnica (rough pronounced ‘Sh-chav-nitsa’) sits in the river valley of the Grajcarek, a tributary of the Dunajec River which forms the border with Slovakia.

Come with me on my walk, and see what you think.

Ok- so from the chair lift we're going to walk alongside the river

From the chair lift we’re going to walk alongside the river

Using this lovely boulevard

Using this lovely boulevard

And crossing some of the many bridges

And crossing some of the many bridges

And sometimes looking back to check the view behind

Not forgetting to look back to check the view behind- peaceful, isn’t it?

This was one of my favourite houses- just look at that roof!

This was one of my favourite houses- just look at that roof!

And always, the river, rushing along beside

And always, the river, rushing along beside

After many twists and turns the Grajcarek flows into the Dunajec, and the beckoning scenery becomes much more dramatic.

One of my reasons for choosing Szczawnica is that it sits at the end of a stretch of the Dunajec famed for river rafting.  Not the white knuckle ride that phrase might conjure up for you, but nevertheless, a strong test of the skills of the boatmen.  The Dunajec Gorge drew me to the area.

Szczawnica przystan, or marina

Szczawnica przystan, or marina

The view from the landing stage

The view from the landing stage

A peaceful island lures you for a closer look

A frail bridge lures you for a closer look

A rather strange bird, guarding his territory

At this strange bird, guarding his territory

And the empty benches

No wonder the benches are empty!

And you never know what might lurk in the caves

I wonder what might lurk in these caves?

But the flora are delicate and pretty

But the flora are delicate and pretty

The water and trees are so many different shades

The trees and water are a myriad of colour

But what's this, patiently waiting?

And what do we find, patiently waiting on the river bank?

Wooden canoe trips have been organised through the Gorge since the early 19th Century, when customers came primarily from nearby castles at Niedzica and Czorstyn (more of these in a later post).  The Gorge loops through the valley, the limestone rock reaching 300 metres in height almost all the way.  It makes for some very beautiful walking and cycling, not to mention the opportunity to river raft.

Gentle aquamarine

Hues of gentle aquamarine

Still and smooth

Still, smooth water

And interesting patterns in the cliff face

And interesting patterns in the cliff face

Light and shade

Wandering through light and shade

The shadows adding a layer of mystery

The deeper shadow adding an air of mystery

Families, walkers and cyclists all have access to this dramatic beauty, though Spring and Autumn are probably the times to see it at its peaceful best.  In Summer and on public holidays there are mountain huts where you can find food and information.

An interesting sign appears

I found this sign quite interesting

And then a further clue

And then a further clue- welcome to Lesnica, written in Slovak

Without realising it I had crossed over the border into Slovakia, part of which is formed by the River Dunajec.  It felt quite strange, and looking at the remaining distance to Cerwony Klastor (approximately 2 hours, according to the sign)  it seemed a good time to retrace my steps.  But not without first paying homage to one of the nation’s favourite sons, who loved to hike and ski in the mountains.

Just one more sign- a view dedicated to Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)

The view is dedicated to Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II)

In no time at all I was back at the marina with a hard-earned beer

In no time at all I was back at the marina, with a hard-earned beer

Fast approaching, round a bend in the river, some boatmen!

Where I saw, fast approaching round a bend in the river, the boatmen!

But that needs to be the subject for another post.  For now, I’m hoping that you’ve enjoyed our Monday walk.  I certainly did!

If you’d like to join in, you’re more than welcome to add a link to a walk you’ve enjoyed in the comments, or to link back to me from your post.  Either way, I really don’t mind.  I try to keep it free and easy so you can join in any day of the week.  The more beautiful walks, the better- right?

Whilst I was in Poland, kind people continued to contribute walks to cheer me up on my return. I’m delighted to be able to share them with you.  Enjoy your walking.  See you next time.

 

Way out in Western Australia we have Pauline, walking on the foreshore :

Geraldton Foreshore Walk

Sylvia is busy packing up her home in South Africa, but still found the time to cherish a few memories in her walk :

Sand Between the Toes for Jo’s Monday Walk Challenge.

Tish Farrell brought me back to her home in Much Wenlock, a beautiful part of Shropshire :

http://tishfarrell.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/much-lettered-at-much-wenlocks-poetry-festival/

A lovely surprise from a lady I’d not met, Gunilla, but will certainly spend some time with :

http://gbkoru.blogspot.fi/2014/05/bloggers-sunday-walk-spring.html

And last, but never least, my sunny friend from Virginia, USA- Cathy, with an arboretum walk :

the state arboretum of virginia

 

Here are some of this week’s walkers,

Paula has been to the zoo :

http://bopaula.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/a-visit-to-the-zoo-part-ii/

And Elaine introduced me to Finsbury Park in London :

a walk in Finsbury Park

And who can resist Amy’s Iphoneography? (is that spelt right?)  What that girl can do with a flower!

http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/phoneography-for-jos-monday-walk/

We’re going to be busy reading this week, aren’t we?

 

Six word Saturday

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Weronika and Wojciech- health and happiness!

The bride and groom

The bride and groom

The children helping to pick up the 'lucky' coins

The children helping to pick up the ‘lucky’ coins, thrown outside the church after the wedding

Sweeping up the glasses smashed for good luck

Sweeping up the glasses, smashed for good luck, before the reception

One of 3 tables at the 'wesele' or reception

One of 3 tables at the ‘wesele’ or wedding reception

One of the chandeliers

The chandeliers were beautiful, weren’t they?

I was there!

I was there, too!

The bride and groom with parents

The bride and groom with parents

And with sister, Ula and brother, Lukasz

And with sister, Ula and brother, Lukasz

Dad 'dancing' with his walking stick and cousin Irena

Dad ‘dancing’ with his walking stick, and cousin Irena

The cake!

The cake!

Feeding each other cake

Feeding each other cake

Maybe not the best of photographs, but certainly the best of occasions.  This is just a snippet from the Polish wedding I attended in Krakow last week.  I cannot thank everybody enough for their kindness.  I had a truly wonderful time, and I think you can see, the bride and groom did too. I know you’ll join me in wishing my neice, Weronika, and her husband, Wojtek (a simpler spelling) the very best of health and happiness in their future together.

My feet have barely touched the ground since my return, and my head is still full of Polish words like ‘slub’- the wedding!  Join me on my Monday walk if you’d like a look at some of the Polish landscape.  Meantime, hello again, and don’t forget to visit Cate at Show My Face to play Six word Saturday.  I’ll be playing ‘catch up’!  See you soon.

 

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Six word Saturday

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What a year for blossom trees!

Like this cluster of pinkness!

Great clusters of pinkness!

I never tire of seeing them overhead

That almost take your breath away

So delicate yet so profuse

So delicate and yet so profuse

The darker pinks, more sparing of their favours

The darker pinks are a little more restrained

But happy to flirt with their showy neighbours

But happy to flirt with their showier neighbours!

Such a heady wash of colour

I never tire of looking up

Restful white

There are still a few delicate, restful whites around

And even a flash of black and white

And even a flash of black with the white!

Aren't the black ones just gorgeous?

Aren’t the little black ones simply gorgeous?

In a sea of colour

Just one more splash of colour!

I’ve gone a little blossom crazy because next week I go to Poland, and I know that when I come back they’ll mostly have vanished. Isn’t this the most beautiful time of year?

I won’t be posting 6WS next week, and I have just one more Monday walk to take before I’m gone. You can catch me there if you like, or even join in, if you have a walk you’d like to share.

Meantime, have a happy and colourful weekend, and don’t forget to visit Cate at Show My Face to post your Six word Saturday.

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Wild! Fast! Panoramic! Epic!
A very tame kind of wildness

A tame version of wildness, but beautiful, don’t you think?

He’s one of my favourite photos from Loule Carnaval, and let me tell you, things can get a bit wild there.  It’s a while since I entered a photographic competition, so when I discovered that my friends at Blacks were hosting one with a pretty wild prize, I thought it was time to have a go.  It’s just a bit of fun really, but you never know where it might lead, do you?

The prize is £2000 to spend with adventure travel experts Explore.   When I opened the link to them and read “Burma for under £2000”, I was convinced to enter!  They organise walking tours and wildlife tours, and cycling tours, of course.  I wondered what a ‘tame’ option like rail journeys would offer and was beyond excited when I saw ‘Japan by rail’ and ‘India by rail’.  Go and have a look at the boat journeys ‘to die for’!  The Nile on a felucca or the Maldives on a dhoni?  I’ve taken a gulet cruise off the Turkish coast, so that’s one less to think about.

So, now you need to know what to do.  Simply, compose a blog post around the subjects ‘Wild, Fast, Panoramic, Epic’.  I’ll give you more details later but for now you should know that Leo the Lion, up there, is my entry for Wild. Well- you can go pretty fast with two pedalling, can't you? Well- you can go pretty fast with two pedalling, can’t you?

In case you haven’t guessed, this is my entry for Fast.  They do say at Blacks that you should be creative, and certainly have fun with it.  I haven’t made it onto that Shinkansen train yet, but I have been to Barcelona.  Stick with what you know, right?  El Quatre Gats was a venue for one of the most creative artists our planet has ever known.  I was walking in the footsteps of Picasso.

I looked up Epic in my dictionary to be sure of the meaning and it seemed to have connotations of history and grandeur.  A few places came to mind, but in the end I decided on Warsaw’s amazing reconstruction of Stare Miasto, the Old Town.  Nothing can have been on a more epic scale than the rebuilding that was necessary after it’s total annihilation in World War 2.

Plac Zamkovy

Plac Zamkowy- Castle Square

And while I’m in Poland I thought I’d finish on a slightly different, interesting panorama.  I was rather surprised by these chess pieces the last time I was in Krakow.  I’m returning next week for a family wedding so I’ll have to check if they’re still there.  Hope you like my Panoramic entry.

Beautiful -framed behind the chess pieces

Beautiful Wawel Castle and Cathedral, framed behind the chess pieces

So now you need some competition details, but you have to promise me not to win!  Otherwise how will I get to Burma or the Maldives?  The closing date for entry is Monday, May 5th at midnight.  You need to tweet your post to Blacks #epicadventures or put it on their Facebook page.  Full details are in the link.

I hesitate to wish you luck.  Oh, go on then!  Good luck!  But expect to be struck off the friend list if you win.

Jo’s Monday walk : Guisborough Forest and the Priory
The ruins of Gisborough Priory

The ruins of Gisborough Priory

On Easter Monday I wasn’t sure whether I should take you on a little local walk, or something more grand.  Well, Gisborough Priory was once very grand indeed.  Now just a ruin, it nevertheless sits at the heart of one of North Yorkshire’s finest market towns, Guisborough.

English being the funny old language that it is, Guisborough town is spelt with a ‘u’, but Gisborough Priory and nearby Gisborough Hall are spelt without.  You can check the Wikipedia links for the where’s and why for’s later, but it’s time to grab your coat, and off we go.

From the car park, at the back of Westgate, turn right down Bow St.  The houses are an appealing mix of stone and whitewash.  In gentle sunshine, a magnolia unfurls.  Just before the railway bridge, a series of steps lead up to a footpath.  If you turn left, it crosses over the bridge.  The railway is long gone but it makes a pleasant enough path around the back of Guisborough.

This magnolia was a beauty!

This magnolia’s a beauty!

The forest or Commondale?

Choices!  Choices!

You can turn right and head for the forest, but beware!   You never know what creatures are lurking in these woods.  It’s ok though- most of them are friendly.

Good morning Mr. Fox!

Good morning Mr. Fox!

And a whole family of sleepy owls!

Sssh!  Don’t wake the owls!

But today we’ll take the shorter route.  Choose the junction to the left, signed Cleveland Street Trail, and follow the path.  You will cross an open field and might have a friendly encounter with a sheep or two.  A frisky herd of horses live at the top of the field. Normally they’ll just keep an eye on you.  Don’t panic if they come to investigate.

The trail ends opposite this gatehouse

The trail ends opposite this gatehouse

Nice, isn't it?

Nice, isn’t it?

Not this grand entry for you, though!  Tradesman’s entrance!  A few yards to the left, a more modest footpath skirts the boundaries and takes you along the Monk’s Walk, through the woods.

And there's the priory, across a field

And there’s the priory, across a field

There's not much to it, when you get up close

There’s not much to it, when you get up close.  Gisborough Priory is a ruined Augustinian priory. It was founded in 1119 as the Priory of St. Mary by Robert de Brus, an ancestor of the Scottish king, Robert the Bruce, and became one of the richest monastic foundations in England.  In 1289 a fire destroyed much of the Romanesque Norman priory, but it was rebuilt in yet grander style.

The priory was prosperous until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1540.  At this time it was demolished and the stone re-used in other buildings in Guisborough.  The east end of the church was left standing- a rather romantic image.

But the arches are pleasing

With rather pleasing arches

If you are interested in the history there is a quite substantial amount of it in Wikipedia.   Also on the site are fragments of the lower courses of the west range, a vaulted undercroft, a gateway and a 14th century dovecote, along with the Priory gardens.

Gisborough Priory is an English Heritage site and instructions on getting here are contained in the link.  There’s also the cutest ‘Brother Ted Bear’ for sale but I warn you, he doesn’t come cheap. Nor does the parking in the main town car park.  You can also walk from nearby Pinchinthorpe through the Guisborough Forest into town if you’re feeling energetic.

In Guisborough centre you will find a number of tearooms- mostly hidden around corners, so poke about a bit.  A more substantial meal can be had in several of the pubs on the main street.

So there you are.  I hope you have a lovely day!  If you would like to join in with Jo’s Monday walk, it’s simple enough.  You can link a post back to me, or you can simply leave a link to a walk you like in my comments below.  It can be as elaborate or as simple as you like, and you can join in any day of the week.  I just like to see where you’ve been.  Nosy, I guess.  Happy walking!

First up, Yvette’s taking us to Richmond, VA :

http://priorhouse.wordpress.com/2014/04/22/short-walk-around-my-town-jos-mw/

Then Amy- avoiding the snakes, I hope! :

http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2014/04/22/jos-monday-walk-countryside-part-2/

And Dale, having fun in the sun :

http://diaryofaninternetnobody.com/2014/04/22/monday-walk/

Six word Saturday

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A hope for peace and harmony

Each morning the beauty of the sky greets us

Each morning, the beauty of the sky awaits us

Unasked, the flowers turn their faces up to us

Unasked, the flowers turn their faces up

With all their shy beauty

With all their shy beauty

Flamboyance

Flamboyance

And delicacy

And delicacy

Each year they awaken and delight

Each year they awaken, to delight

Peeping out of their pots

Peeping out of their flowerpots

Or maybe we've brought them inside to enjoy

Or maybe we’ve brought some inside, to enjoy

Before the sun sets

Before the sun sets

With maybe just a hint of rain

With, maybe, just a hint of rain

And drains the colour from our world

Before the colour drains from our world

It is so simple, isn’t it?  So beautiful.

My wish for you at Easter is peace and love, with not too many raindrops. (and certainly no more snow for my Stateside friends!)

I almost forgot to link to Cate at Show My Face.  Even on Easter Saturday you can still share your six words.  Happy Easter!

 

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A musical interlude
Pearlescent beauty

Pearlescent beauty

Sometimes this blogging world leads me down paths I don’t really want to take.  What place does an Ibanez guitar have in a travel blog?  But it is an instrument of great beauty, and though he rarely plays it these days, a treasured possession of my son’s.

You’re used to seeing my daughter sashay through my pages, with her inimitable flair and style. James, though, would not appreciate an appearance here, though he’s happy enough to perform in another venue.

He’s a left hander who started his musical journey as an Iron Maiden fan.  A proud moment when he was in sixth form college was having Janick Gers (a local lad made very good) from Maiden come to their new recording studio.  The photo still lives on my study wall, and I won’t embarrass James by showing it here.

His real love is recording, though he loves to play too.  Down the years I have followed his musical tastes, sometimes with real pleasure, sometimes with horror.  Instruments have come and gone, but these days it’s not so much the instruments that occupy every available space in his bedroom (and beyond!)  It’s the array of sound pedals and gadgetry which I totally fail to appreciate. There’s little beauty to them.

Many have graced his pedalboard, and I do remember a pretty yellow one.  A little like photography, nothing comes ‘untampered with’ these days, and James will spend many happy hours on his laptop, composing and mixing the sounds.

For me there is nothing quite so fine as listening to my son strum his guitar and sing.

So, many thanks to Jake for reminding me.  Have you joined in with this week’s Sunday Post challenge?  You’re running out of time!

Six word Saturday

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I came, I saw, I photo’d!

Some with wonderful graffiti

The Commonwealth Games- what an event that will be!

Elephants, fishing?

Two elephants- fishing?

One stealthy cat!

One stealthy cat!

And my 'wonder wall'

And my amazing ‘wonder wall’

If you’ve seen any of my posts in the week, you’ll know that I was ‘bowled over’ by Glasgow.  I’ve had a terrific response to all the posts so I’d just like to say thank you to all who visited and enjoyed Glasgow with me.  The wall art was amazing, but that was just a small part of it.

Seonaid of Breath of Green Air shared this link with me yesterday.  It explains a little about the wall art and gives me yet another reason to go back.  I missed the panda, and my Wonder Wall is illuminated at night!

I still have one more delight to share with you, next week.  Here I am, up among the rooftops.

It's a little 'Gaudi', don't you think?

It’s a little ‘Gaudi’, don’t you think?

A small hint at where we'll be going

A small clue.  Anyone know where it is?

No, not the Glasgow School of Art

No- not the Glasgow School of Art

But I did have a quick peek in there

Though I did have a quick peek in there- not long enough!

I have to finish with the riverside.  Undisputably damp though I was, still I was very happy to get my first sighting of the River Clyde.  Grey skies and all!

This is one of my favourite shots from the riverside

This is one of my favourite shots- the sun almost came out!

And I like the reflections on this one

And I like the reflections in this one

But when it comes to reflections ....

But when it comes to reflections ….

I hope you’ve enjoyed reflecting with me.  This time last week my adventure was just beginning.

How about you- what have you done in the week?  You can share it here on Six word Saturday. Cate at Show My Face is a great hostess.   The links and header will show you how it works.

 

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Wonder wall

 

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Candleriggs!  Isn’t that a nice name for a street?

I was heading back towards Glasgow’s Bus Station, trying to make the most of my diminishing time.  I knew that I was in the area of the old covered cheese and fruit markets, now developed into Merchant Square.  A quick ogle at the array of restaurants and it was time to move on.

The tip of a nose, and then an eye, caught my attention as I rounded the corner.  Across a gritty, scruffy, car-parking area I was looking at the most entrancing mural.  It covered the entire wall.

It told a whole and glorious story!

And told a whole and glorious story!

The call of the wild

The call of the wild

All of nature

All of nature

within a single whole

within a single whole

Don't you love this little creature?

Don’t you love this little creature?

And his sad-eyed friend

And his sad-eyed friend

Then there's this inquisitive creature!

Then there’s this inquisitive fellow!

Keeping a watchful eye

Keeping a watchful eye

A luminous

For berries?

Among the toadstools

While amongst the toadstools

The mushrooms lurk

The mushrooms lurk

And the gentle pink flowers

Amid gentle, pink flowers

I thought it was incredibly lovely and stood transfixed, wondering how and why it came to be here.  Then I squeezed between the cars, trying to capture the whole of it.  I left with a huge smile on my face on a dour Glasgow day.

Click on individual photos for a larger image.  I wish I could show you my wonder wall, but the best I can manage is a link to DiscoverGlasgow.org , courtesy of my good friend Jude .  Sam Bates, take a bow!

 

A little side trip to Spain

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I never like to have things hanging about in my ‘Drafts folder’.  I’m not an organised, scheduling sort of person though, heaven knows, it would be an improvement!   But this little side trip keeps smiling sadly at me from it’s lonely position in there.  Unfinished, until now.  So, with a flourish, let me present Ayamonte.

Remember my kings, strolling through the streets of Vila Real de S. Antonio on the Algarve’s eastern edge?  They were smiling and throwing sweets to their loyal subjects, as any good king should at Epiphany.  And then they boarded the ferry for Ayamonte, in Spain.  Just 10 minutes on the ferry, but a lifetime apart culturally and in temperament.

Ayamonte, seen from the ferry, is a simple whitewashed Spanish town.  At close quarters it reveals its medieval side in narrow streets and historical buildings.  This is Huelva province, and there is no shortage of Andalucian flamboyance.

The approach, by ferry

The approach, by ferry

Such pretty tiles around the fountain

Such pretty tiles around the fountain

And on the seating
This little girl caught her jumper on the iron rails- but I missed the shot!
The pigeons weren’t impressed
But the flamenco goes on!
Life is so colourful

Life is so colourful

Even under a cloudy January sky

Even under a cloudy January sky

The bronze dome pierces the clouds

The bronze dome pierces the clouds

I love the colour and the tiles yet it always surprises me how very different Ayamonte feels from Portugal, just a wave away, across the water.  The road bridge over the River Guadiana now links the two, for speedy access, but I prefer a gentler approach to the culture change.

The dome towers over the winding streets
Narrow to keep out the summer heat
Full of religious imagery
And a very distinctive style
Terribly smart for just a bank!
Does he look like he’d take care of your money?
Or maybe his friend is more reliable

A canal runs away from the Guadiana, around the old side of town and past a park at which I don’t look too closely.  There are animals caged there in an environment I would never choose for them.  A new boardwalk has been laid and there is an air that the town is thriving.  Not the case in much of Spain, nor Portugal, for that matter.

Beyond the canal, the older side of town

Beyond the canal, in the distance, the older side of town

And so I’ve had my little flirt with flamenco.  Back on the ferry now, and home to Portugal (and those crazy, likeable kings).