Reaching Back in Time

My title today has a double meaning.  I'm visiting the city of Bruges in Belgium which is a city that reaches a very long way back in history.  The other meaning is that these photos date back to 1991 when I visited the city.  So, I'm also reaching back into my travel history.  I recently found a large collection of old slides and I was thrilled to find my photos from this wonderful place among those slides.

Sometime around 1989 or 1990, I saw a magazine cover photo similar to the photo above that prompted me to buy the magazine.  It was a travel magazine and it had a long section devoted to visiting the city of Bruges in Belgium.  I saved that article and reread it many times until I finally made plans to visit in person.

Bruges was a trading center that by the 11th century had become wealthy and prosperous mostly from the cloth trade.  By the 14th century, the population was 35,000, as large as London.  It was one of the biggest cities in the world and trading powerhouse.

By the 16th century, the harbor had silted up and Bruges' economy collapsed.  For centuries the town became a mysterious, dead city.  In the 19th century, a new port began to renew the city's vitality.  By the 20th century it was discovered by tourists.  Because of its long sleepy period, it was one of the most well-preserved Gothic cities anywhere.

The city of Bruges has thrived as a tourist destination ever since.

I can say that it is truly like stepping back in time.  I have a distinct memory of arriving at the train station and thinking, this looks like any other European city.  Then I took a taxi from the station to my hotel and watched as the driver crossed a bridge over a canal and into another world entirely.  The difference was abrupt and amazing.

I had discovered from that magazine article that the building that juts out into the canal in my first photo above, was a restaurant.  So my goal was to have a meal there.  I accomplished that goal and found the experience phenomenally rewarding.  The service was impeccable and the food was delicious.  I don't have photos from inside but here is a link to their website so you can take a peek. That meal was one of the most memorable experience from this trip.

In the photo to the right you can see a slim section of the restaurant all the way to the right and in the middle is the medieval belfry that towers over the city.

Wandering through the city was a photographer's dream.  Everywhere I looked there was something picturesque to capture.

During the city's heyday, Dutch artists Jan Van Eyck and Hans Memling had studios here so art played a prominent role.  While there I toured several museums including the Groeninge Museum, the Memling Museum and Old St. John's Hospital where a display of medieval surgery implements made my happy I'm living in a more advanced age.

Above is a view over the market square where restaurants and shops juggle for space.

Another place that was on my list of must-sees was the Church of Our Lady where Michelangelo's Madonna and Child resides.  The church is tiny but its treasure is great.

If you happened to see the George Clooney movie "Monuments Men", you will know that this statue played an important part in that movie.

The photo above is one of my favorite travel photos.  On one drizzly afternoon, I walked along one of the canals to the outer ring canal where I saw this scene.  There was something so appealing about the wet path, misty atmosphere and that rugged boat.  Struggling with an umbrella, guide book and camera, I managed to get the shot.

The walk was to see the windmills that run along this canal.  You can see one of them through the mist in the photo to the left.

I have been wanting to go back to this magical place ever since this visit so long ago and it has somehow escaped me.  When travel gets restored back to normal, I will make an effort to see this place again.  I hope I find it just as charming as I did almost 30 years ago.

One last thing I forgot to mention.  Chocolate!  There were chocolate shops everywhere and I indulged in a lot of it.  One thing is certain, when I make it back, I'll indulge some more.

Intriguing Discovery

I had just enjoyed a great lunch at a sidewalk cafe on Via Deli Omenoni in Milan last year when I turned the corner and saw a building with a fascinating facade.  It appeared to house either apartments or offices because I could see multiple mailboxes inside that doorway.  But one thing was certain, it was a very old building.

Luckily I had photographed the the street sign so that I would remember to do a little research and see if I could find some information about this place.  I learned this building is called Casa Degli Omenoni and it is a historic palace built by sculptor Leone Leoni.  Apparently he lived and worked here.  You might think he actually sculpted the facade himself but it appears he designed it and it was created by another sculptor, Antonio Abondio.  The name of the palace is based on the eight statues which in Italian were known as "omenoni" or big men.

What caught my eye immediately was this rather grotesque relief just under the cornice.  It depicts two lions tearing a satyr to pieces.  Lions were a reoccurring theme for this building evidently referring to the "Leoni" family name.  This depiction might serve as a warning to not mess with the people living inside.  That's just a guess on my part.

White Dove of the Desert

Mission San Xavier del Bac is located about 10 miles south of Tucson Arizona on the Tohono O'odham Nation San Xavier Indian Reservation.  It was founded in 1692 by Padre Eusebio Kino.  It has come to be known as "the white dove of the desert" because of it's white stucco exterior.

Unlike most of the chain of Missions in California and Arizona, this one is still actively run by the Franciscans and still serves the local native American community and all others who reside in the area.

It is a beautiful church that is easy to find and welcoming to all visitors.  I try to make a point of visiting it anytime I visit Tucson.  These photos were taken during the monsoon season a few years ago.  I think the church looked especially dramatic with those huge, puffy clouds in the background.

A Virtual Walk Near the Beach

Last week I did a virtual walk through the high desert, today I'm going to do a virtual walk near the beach in California.  Since I won't be making the trip this year (for obvious reasons), a virtual walk with a touch of sea air will have to do.

When I'm near the ocean, I like to focus my telephoto lens in on the many sailboats I see.  It must be quite relaxing to be sailing like this.

I have my favorite view points where I can watch the water crashing on the rocks below.

Another thing I love to do is watch the birds along the shore.  For the longest time I thought these were sandpipers but they are actually a bird called godwits.  

Another thing I love to do is see all the beautiful plants that grow so well with the nearby ocean breezes embracing them.  I love finding little ponds with colorful waterlilies and the thousands of bird-of-paradise blooms seem to be everywhere.

And when I'm not walking, I'll find a comfortable place to sit and enjoy a view of the ocean.  This view is from the Crystal Cove shopping center.  A cool drink and a comfortable chair and I'm all set!

A Virtual Walk in the High Desert

I've been thinking about all the things I've missed doing this year since everyone in the world has been staying at home.  One of the things on my list was another visit to Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior Arizona, northeast of Phoenix.  I wrote a post about this place four years ago in which I described the history of the place.  Today I'm going to just concentrate on the scenery.

I started looking through my photos from Boyce Thompson and I ended up taking a virtual tour while sitting at my desk.  Granted, that's not quite the same as being there but it was refreshing nonetheless.

I enjoyed the desert plants that were bursting with blooms when I was there in the spring of past years.  If I time my visit right, the desert trails are ablaze with color.

When I take one of the high trails, I get stunning views of the all the mountains surrounding the area.

Some pretty interesting rock formations can be seen in different locations.  I like that one in the middle that kind of resembles a Moai from Easter Island.

On the "walk-about" trail, I'll pass the old "out-back" shed that looks like it was left by a scruffy, old miner about 80 years ago.  I bet that it wasn't.  It's just there to add some interest to this particular trail.

In one place, giant cactus blooms share the space with beautiful iris.  I can't decide which I like better.

On the lower trail, I find myself in a lush area with tall trees and plenty of shade to cool me down.

I've finally made my way to the demonstration garden where there are several different examples of gardens that can be created in an arid climate.  Sitting quietly in this spot, almost makes one forget about being surrounded by high desert.

I might not be able to visit this place this year but, at least I have a large collection of photos from past visits.  For now, the virtual walk will have to do.

A Stop in the City of Como

Last week a posted about a stop we made on our last day in Italy when a driver took us from Bellagio back to Milan.  We made one other stop that day, this time in the city of Como.

We were there for two hours to do a little exploring and to have some lunch.  The first place we visited was the Duomo di Como or the Como Cathedral.  Construction on this fabulous church began in 1396.

After visiting the cathedral, we just explored the streets and enjoying the look of this city, one of the largest on Lake Como.

Como was a lot bigger than Bellagio and the cities around the area where we had spent most of our time.  I enjoyed seeing all the sidewalk cafes full of people.

In fact, we stopped at one of those wonderful cafes where I enjoyed a beautifully arranged plate of Parma ham and melon.  It tasted every bit as good as it looked.

During the short time we spent in Como, I could see that it was another beautiful city with a lot to offer.  The Lake Como region is truly a jewel in Italy's crown.

Basilica of Agliate

On our last day in Italy, we had a driver take us from Bellagio on Lake Como back to Milan where we would spend the night before our flights home.  One of the stops we made along the way was in the village of Agliate where an ancient church was located.  The Basilica of Agliate is also known as the Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul and it dates to shortly after the year 1000.

Most of the frescos on the wall are badly faded.  It would be wonderful to see some of these restored.

This fresco of the Virgin dates to the second half of the 14th century.

There were two places in the floor where glass had been installed so visitors could see the original foundations dating to Roman times under Emperor Julian the Apostate.

Next to the church was the Baptistry.

Inside the Baptistry were more frescos.  You can see that the three above are badly faded but this last one of the Deposition of Christ dates back to the 14th Century and still has lots of color to it.

It was an interesting place to visit that probably does not get a lot of visitors from other countries.  All of the signs and printed literature was only in Italian.  I'm glad our driver suggested this stop along the way.