Inveraray

Fall 2012 - Inveraray

This is Inveraray in the rain. Almost the whole town is built in the same style as the building in the first photo as at one point the whole thing was rebuilt. Basically the Duke of Argyll, at some point, wanted the town to move to facilitate the building of his now castle/manor house, and so he did. Or at least that's what our guide told us. Anyway, the town is right on the shore of Loch Fyne, which is actually a sea Loch, hence the seafaring vessels. Like Kilchurn Castle, it still managed to be beautiful in the rain. 

Rainy Days

2012 - Kilchurn Castle

That's my mother with the blue umbrella, taking a photo of me. So as you can see it really was quite rainy. I guess it's the traditional Scottish experience? 

Castle Hunting

Fall 2012 - Doune & Kilchurn Castles 

Doune Castle

Kilchurn Castle

Obviously the weather changed a bit in between these two locations. When the parents and I were in Scotland before classes started, we decided to go on a "Western Highlands" tour. It was absolutely beautiful for the first few hours, then it poured, then it got a little better but by then we were all soaked. My mother and I bought new socks halfway through. Though it was a bit horrendous at the time, I have to say I a little bit love the blurry rain photos that came out of it.

So Doune castle is, unsurprisingly, right outside the village of Doune, and though you can't see it, is just by the edge of the River Teith. Both Monty Python and Game of Thrones have filmed here - Monty Python used it for every castle in the Holy Grail, and Game of Thrones used it for the pilot, but still cool. We didn't get a chance to go inside, but I guess that leaves me more to do as the year goes on! 

Kilchurn Castle. Well, first off it's on the edge of Loch Awe, i.e. essentially in the Loch if it rains too much. Something about being on the ruins of a castle in the stormy weather was actually quite beautiful. It just may have actually been worth getting soaked. 

So I Found...

Spring 2011 - Sicily

I can't believe I forgot that I brought my Diana Mini with me to Sicily! Took me forever to use up this film, too (as you'll be able to see by the next few posts...). 

The first photo is from Poggioreale, digitals here, the second is from the ruins of a castle in the town of Enna. 

I especially love the next three. I didn't really get a good shot of the Greek Theatre at Segesta with my digital camera, but I quite love this film one. There's also something about shooting ruins with film that just works. Digitals here.

Final shot from Cefalu, the same church as in the first photo of the other post here.

To the Grand Bazaar

Spring 2012 - Istanbul

I'll be honest, I have no idea what that first building is. I know I took the photo on the way to the Grand Bazaar, hence the two other photos in this post.

The Grand Bazaar. Well, it's certainly something. You could spend days and days walking through the labyrinth of corridors, as long as you can handle all the guys yelling at you as you go by. I especially love the lamp stores - glowing with all of those lights on.

The final photo is actually a courtyard in the older part of the Bazaar.

Basilica Cistern

Spring 2012 - Istanbul

So this place is beautiful. 

The Basilica Cistern lies beneath the modern metropolis of Istanbul, quietly still standing after about seventeen hundred years. It was probably originally built to hold water for the palace complex of Constantinople, though it certainly was not the only one (we had dinner in another cistern that's been converted).

The Little Sister

Spring 2012 - Istanbul

There is no where you can go in this city that is not beautiful. The first photo was taken walking towards the Little Hagia Sophia, which you can see in the back of the shot, the second from the outside, and the third from inside the mosque. I've included that third, not so fancy photo predominantly because of how cool this church-now-mosque is. Originally know as the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus, (a mouthful, to say the least) the church was literally a miniature version of the Hagia Sofia, though it was built first. Like the Hagia Sofia it was converted into a mosque, but it still has the bones of a Byzantine church for sure. Check out the resemblance between these columns and those of it's larger sister church, and oh wait, does the dome seem to be floating to you?

The fourth photo is of the ubiquitous Hagia Sophia at night time. One of the reasons I love this photo of it so much is because of the lack of minarets. Nothing against minarets in general, but they weren't part of the original structure, and so it's always interesting to see it that way. 

And then there's the lock. I love the locks. I have a feeling most people do, but hey, they always look good in a photo. This one is on the fence that surrounds the Obelisk of Theodosius - the base of the obelisk in the background, contributed by Theodosius, while the obelisk was clearly just relocated by him. From what I can tell, the lock reads, "Groetjes van: Marlie & Thijs oktober 2009" or "Greetings from: Marlie & Tijs October 2009". That was the pretty obvious translation in Dutch, there. 

The Hagia Sophia

Spring 2012 - Istanbul 

Where do I start? The Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century by the Roman/Byzantine (depends on who you ask) Emperor Justinian. The Church was built very soon after riots had destroyed the previous church on the site. There are many things about the design of this church that made it groundbreaking for it's time, but perhaps the one that hits you the most upon entering (and is most clear from the photos) is the way the central dome seems to float without visible support. 

The third photo is of the Blue Mosque (seen in my last post) from a window of the Hagia Sophia. The Hagia Sophia is actually cited for being a major influence on the design of the Blue Mosque, as well as many other mosques throughout the Ottoman Empire. 

The whole thing is absolutely breathtaking - I would go so far as to say the most beautiful church I have ever been in, and I have been in many. 

Sicily - Cefalu

Spring 2011 - Sicily, Cefalu

We stopped at Cefalu on the way to the airport. Good Choice, eh? 

Ruderi di Poggioreale Pt. II

Spring 2011 - Sicily, The Ruins of Poggioreale

Apparently this town has been used in filming because it looks like a bombed out town from WWII. 

I think it's beautiful. 

Ruderi di Poggioreale Pt. I

Spring 2011 - Sicily,  The Ruins of Poggioreale

This is the town my Dad's Grandfather (my Great Grandfather) lived in. It was destroyed in an earthquake in 1968, so they moved the city down the hill. Since the city was not completely destroyed, they have left the ruins accessible to anyone who is interested. Needless to say a lot of photos were taken here (there are some film ones I'll have to put up eventually!)

Palermo

2011 - Sicily, Palermo

The first two photos are of the Fountain of Shame, as it is known locally, which was built originally for a villa in Florence but was moved to the city when the inhabitant of the villa was tight on cash. 

The next three are of the Palermo Cathedral, whose facade is a fantastic mix of all the architecture of those cultures who lived in Palermo.

Palermo is a diverse and busy city, for sure. It was great fun to spend about two days in, but after that it got a little claustrophobic, so we set out on day trips.