Mallorca Spain

#MallorcaMajorcaSpain
Mallorca (Latin for larger island) is one of Spain Balearic Islands located in
 the Mediterranean Sea

 Interesting Fact
 Why the waters here are so clear, the seabed are rich in sea grass which oxygenate plus
clarifies the water.
This stop brings me to the Capital City of Palma (430,000 citizens) 
 
KeyTip;
The City Council has worked out a deal with local business owners to create Free Tour Palma
It gets you access for either a one or two hour free tours that all visiting tourists can take advantage of
this great idea by the local government

 

Santa Maria Cathedral
Started in 1229 and completed in 1601, it is one of the largest Gothic
Churches in Spain

Interesting Stuff;
  The rosette has over 1200 pieces of colored glass plus you will see many gargoyles and grotesques on the churches exterior, which is decorative but also it channels away the rainwater

KeyTip
On Fridays there is free admission for the local residents so i bigger crowd.
 So keep that in mind if you so decide to buy a entrance fee, plus please remember there
is a dress code 

Perfect Weather
Palma has over 300 days of sunshine per year with the average temperature of 21C (72F)
hence why millions of tourists visit here each year

Ancient Hidden History
I am sure something profound was written on this wall but it is to weather-beaten to read, but knowing that the Romans founded this area in 2nd Century BC i am certain of that

Local Style
Most of the cities architecture is of the Modernista and Art Nouveau that was created
in the early 20th century 

Bicycle Mecca

As i look for a Bike Rental Shop
Mallorca welcomes tens of thousands of cyclists each year for both professional training and like myself (after retirement of competitions) leisurely biking

Sa Calobra Route
Because of the challenging terrain its a favorite area for the both, with this
 the most feared 
 Its a 10km (6 miles) ride that takes you down the side of a mountain, 
 has 26 hair pin turns plus the final 2km (1.2 miles) which becomes very steep climb,
just to keep things interesting 😉

KeyTip
There is generally a professional photographer on the route to capture those images for you,
which can be purchased online

Religious Archives & Relics
As like many older religious buildings across Spain they hold their "secrets"
 such as the claim of an authentic Holy Grail and other Architectural Oddities 

 Priest Holes
They were old houses connected to the Church to hide them during
times of persecution

Culinary Paradise
I am heading to one of 2,500+ restaurants that is serving fresh seafood, rice
dishes and tapas

 Foodie Fun
 That the famous spicy sausage sobrasada and sweet pastry ensaimada are not made outside the
island of Mallorca but here, so better get your hunger ready 

Local Dialects
Spanish and Catalan are the co-official languages here, but what i noticed in the high tourist
traffic areas there is a lot of English spoken 

 Dragon Caves
As i make my way to the famous grotto

Cuevas del Drach
From the Latin word "draco" meaning dragon

According to local legend, the fierce dragon was to guard the hidden treasures that belonged
to the pirates
The complex is actually made up of four main interconnected caves, which then runs
 out to the sea

Cave Facts
A) A tradition that started in 1935 that has a live musical quartet (two violins, cello and harmonium) that play on a small illuminated boat
B) Jules Verne was in awe of the caves and mentioned them in his novel
 Clovis Dardentor
C) Special electric lighting system was installed here by the same Catalan engineer (Carles Buigas) who also designed the magical fountains of Montjuic in Barcelona

Halifax Nova Scotia Canada

#HalifaxNSCanada

Halifax is the largest city (500,000 citizens) east of Montreal and it is the economic engine that
drives this part of Canada
 It is a transportation hub, has many IT companies, head offices of large corporations, banking sector, shipyards, the East Coast Canadian Navy is based here, tourism sector, etc
With six universities within the city center and it being one of the oldest areas of North America,
 you have a great mixture of youthful energy plus history 

KeyTip;
Many things to see in this beautiful and very walkable city that are all for free;
 The Boardwalk on the Waterfront, Central Library, Point Pleasant Park, Public Gardens, Art Gallery, Historic Properties, Old Town Clock and so on

 Historic Properties (also known as Privateers Wharf)
It was constructed during the late 1700s during the Napoleonic Wars and were used by the
local merchants and privateers

 The most famous shipowner was Enos Collins (for one business venture he started the Halifax Banking Company with Samuel Cunard, which in time became Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce or CIBC) but he also had dealings in many other grey areas jajajaja
A) he defied the blockade to bring American supplies to
 the British
B) bought captured vessels from the courts to sell
 their cargoes
C) he purchased many buildings on the Halifax waterfront
through foreclosures

Legendary Tales
This area made Halifax very prosperous;
but not all the trading with these ships were legal as it was also for smuggling and privateering
But this just adds to the rich history (for its stories) as a seaport 😄

 

Privateers
You need to remember the British government was fighting and protecting a wide empire around the world, so basically did not have much in the way of tax dollars to build a naval fleet for
its new territory here

So they gave permission to these pirates (thus called Privateers) to legally attack enemy ships during wartime under the letter of the marque, with the agreement that they protected the shores
of this area
 The payoff was they were allowed to seize anything of value for themselves and the shareholders like Enos Collins who owned many of the ships, thus he became very wealthy
#FamousSonsDaughters_HalifaxNovaScotiaCanada

Modern Times
In Halifax today, there has been many construction sites stopped after finding parts of these scuttled ships from those times
 As the Privateers would bring the captured vessels to Halifax harbor (from as far away as the Caribbean) to strip down anything of value and also to collect the reward for the crew,
 then the pirate(s) would be tarred and hung
#GeorgesIslandHalifaxCanada

 Maritime Archaeologists
They would be brought in and eventually anything found is usually displayed at one of the new
 buildings and its lobbies

 Historic Properties
 It was rescued from demolition (thankfully) by the Nova Scotia Heritage Trust in the 1970s and today is the "jewel section" of the award winning Halifax Boardwalk

Victorian Homes
Located on Halifax peninsula, it was originally composed of sprawling
farmlands with dense forests
 Then evolving into the grand estates we see today

Maintenance
Yes beautiful, but the structures being 100+ years old do have some issues
Many reports of finding old seaweed or newspapers in the walls that were for insulation purposes,
 which was standard back in those times
Plus your wiring will need to be upgraded, kitchens and bathrooms remodeled as the list grows
 
High Prices
So add those upgrades into the average cost of these homes, are you sitting down;
 they are into the millions 

Bright Facades
You got to love what i call the "Bermuda" tints that highlights the
 architecture of Halifax

Colorful Fun Facts
A) Navigation Theory; maritime folklore says that the bright painted homes helped sailors spot the shoreline through the dense Halifax fog
B) Leftovers; fishing boat paint was very expensive, as it was highly durable and a water-resistant marine product. So families would save whatever bright pigment was left to coat their homes
siding or window trims
C) Softer Palette; our Provincial neighbor Newfoundland is known for its hyper-vibrant "jellybean row" colors, here in Halifax we are a more Bermuda pastel of a muted candy hue shades

The Public Gardens
Located in the heart of the city they opened in 1867 with 15 acres of beauty
 ( for more, look for my blog #PublicGardensHalifax)
It opens daily 8.00am and closes 30 minutes before sunset, plus is free to enjoy 

No Fee Tours
Free one hour horticultural and historical viewings during the summer
season at The Public Gardens
The area does get busy with Weddings, High School Proms or University Graduations who are all looking for their perfect photo background, which is here in abundance

Titanic Model
Look for the (#TitanicHalifaxNSCanadaConnection) replica in the Public Gardens
It is a summer tradition and displayed on Griffins Pond

 Point Pleasant Park (190 acres) 
When the British left our area they sold the land to the Government of Canada, who now leases it to our City for a ceremonial 1 Shilling (less than one cent)

Today
 Us locals use it for long nature walks, watching live theatre (Shakespeare by the Sea)
 our Bluenose Marathon runs some of its course through here, or watch the mighty ships we receive that enter our port (one of the largest natural harbors in the World) 

Military History
It is vast in the park, as it was once part of the Halifax Defense Complex
which included Georges Island, Citadel Fort and the York Redoubt 
Some of the key structures located here are the Prince of Wales Tower, Point Pleasant Battery, Fort Ogilvie, Chain Battery and the Northwest Arm Battery

Invasion
Finally the British military would use the area as i training ground to simulate
 an attack by the Americans, during those times of the 1800s

 Halifax Citadel Fort (4th version was completed in 1856) 

It was occupied by British forces until 1906 (who built all their forts same way) in a star shape so the soldiers would have angles for shooting their muskets plus its cannons.
So because of its strong configuration of a defense setup, the Citadel was never attacked

  Present Times
 It is worth visiting the inside grounds for the Army Museum 
and the78th Highland Regiment plus Royal Artillery as they do reenactments every summer of their drills, the marching and also shooting of the noon day gun (it was used to allow the mariners in the harbor to synchronize their chronometers for their upcoming Trans-Atlantic voyages and also helped the townspeople to set their pocket watches)
 Is a tradition for over 200 years (it is loud) and they are all dressed in the period correct uniforms,
 so you are reliving history  

Basilica

Opened in 1899, the Saint Marys Cathedral is a Gothic Revival design and is located 

on Spring Garden Road

Interesting Facts

A) Illegal Gatherings; when the parish originally formed, celebrating a Catholic mass in Halifax was actually not allowed under British rule

B) Halifax Explosion; every window was shattered within the cathedral, but the thick (locally sourced) granite walls remained completely intact

C) Gifts; within three years after the blast, the stunning new stained glass windows (you see now) were given by Germany as i sign of compassion and peace

D) Hidden Surprise; in 2020 during some restoration work behind the main altar, a long lost set of murals were discovered and since restored, now to be seen

KeyTip; 

Free Guided Tours (Monday to Friday either 10.00am, 1.00pm or 2.30pm)

 after you fill out a form off their website

Historic Area
Three city blocks of Barrington Street has now received that designated status,
thus preserving buildings like these.
With the demolition of the Cogswell Interchange, it will allow the rejoining of the area and bring it
back to its architectural significance 

Building Rules
A great mixture of old and new in the city
What is allowed is any new development has to keep the facade of the historical building, but can add new sections to the top or sides

 Chicago Model
 That city learned through its painful losses of architectural masterpieces, so we have watched
So here in Halifax we have distinct historic areas that has strict architectural
rules for developers

Alexander Keiths Brewery
It is one of the oldest in North America (200+ years) 
This is a MUST Tour

 Besides going through tunnels and having samples in a underground pub 😀
You will learn the history of Mr Keith as a Mayor of Halifax,
Businessman  plus Freemason

Fog & Mist
We do get Tall Ship Festivals occasionally, so what better way for me to take a picture
 but in their element

Weather
We have the cold Labrador Current and the warm Gulf of Mexico that "collide" off our shores,
hence the legendary coastal fog
Read more on this subject #RuralNovaScotiaCanada

The Award Winning Halifax Boardwalk (4km /2.5 miles)

 Museums;
  Pier 21 Immigration, HMCS Sackville, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Discovery Centre,
Museum of Natural History, or CSS Acadia 

Quirky Things
The Whale Tongue or the Blue Wave Sculpture, Submerged Stairs near the Muir Hotel 
 Then pubs like Lower Deck, restaurants, historic buildings, local artisans (Peace by Chocolate),
buskers or just strolling the harbor plus smelling the salty Atlantic Ocean air

 Old Dalhousie
 (one of six universities in Halifax) 
The city is certainly known as a University Town with students coming from all around the world
(100 countries) which just adds to areas culture

Halifax Central Library
 It won a Lieutenant Governors Design Award for its cool shape to mimic a set of books

KeyTip;
 Head to the rooftop outdoor patio for great views of the city

Government House 
It is the oldest official residence in Canada and is the home of the Lieutenant Governor
of Nova Scotia which is the representative of the Crown (England)
#FamousSonsDaughters_HalifaxNovaScotiaCanada

Another day gone overlooking Historic Properties
Thanks Halifax!

Stockholm Sweden

#StockholmSwedenVeniceNorth

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and is built on 14 islands that are connected by 50 bridges which gives it a very unique archipelago setting on the Baltic Sea
So with its location plus the water component it is often referred to as the "Venice of the North"

KeyTip;
 Stockholm is one of the more expensive cities in the world to visit, but well worth it as you will see with my pictures and text
 To save money it is a very walkable city to see Old Town, Street Markets, History and Art Museums, Rosendals Gardens, Kungstradgarden Park, Parliament Building, Churches /Cathedrals etc which are all free to enter 
Finally you will need to know most businesses do not accept cash so
bring that plastic

 

Gamia Stan (Old Town)

Founded in 1252 it is one of the largest and best preserved medieval areas of Europe which encompasses the main island of  Stadsholmen which maybe 1km (.5 miles) across, so small but densely packed  (it has a population today of 3000 citizens)
It is also the home of the Nobelmuseet (Noble Museum), Stockholm Royal Palace, Riddarholmen Church, Stortorget (main public square) and The Great Church

  Fun Fact;
 It has the narrowest street in the city called the Alley of Marten Trotzig who was a local merchant that became wealthy then bought properties in the area

Midnight Sun
After June 11th its daylight almost the entire 24 hours .
 But during the dark period of the year a lot of locals take a vitamin D supplement and use therapy lamps to cope with life minus the sun

KeyTip;
So because the summer season is short, most of bars and restaurants are closed for
 vacation during this time  

Arte et Marte (Art & War)
 Its a Members Magazine business which unfortunately the building was closed for renovations as it looked very interesting for my imagination with camera

Nobel Prize
Speaking of war; did you know that the only one awarded outside Stockholm is the Peace Prize
 that is presented in Oslo Norway
 Alfred Noble wrote in his will he believed the parliament of Norway had become a leader in resolving conflicts through arbitration and mediation

Photography 101
Using reflection to tell many stories as i walk the streets

In the trade its called the "Ninja Technique" as you use windows to shoot a candid
 street photo convertly
 People will assume the operator of the camera is looking at the building, but actually
they are the subject

Citizen Benefits
 Here in Sweden everyone gets a five week paid holiday, free health care and university
 (but not for International Students who still pay tuition fees)  
That explains why most i talk too were in a great mood, but personal speaking its the way it should
 be in all countries 

Physical Activity
People of Sweden like to stay in shape as exercise is a big part of their daily routine, so when walking the streets yourself you will notice a larger number of people in all areas
But then its "fika" time; a break from activity to have a coffee with light snacks and to
relax with others

Stockholm Syndrome
Walking to Norrmalmstorg Square, where back in 1973 during a bank robbery the hostages started to like the criminals more then the law enforcement, hence the phrase was born
During a phone call with the Swedish Prime Minister, one captive said she trusted the robbers more
than the cops
 Then when the police used tear gas to breach the bank, the hostages refused to leave and finally during the trail they declined to testify against the criminals
 and even raised money for their legal defense

Other Famous Cases
A) Patty Hearst; she was kidnapped but joined her captors a few months later to
rob a bank
B) Flight 847; the passengers on this flight openly supported the hijackers demands after
 being freed
C) Natascha Kampusch; she was kidnapped at age 10 and held for eight years, she cried after she learned her captor had died

 

Cycling Culture
Soon 70,000 cyclists will use these streets daily within the city limits
 of Stockholm

The Round Wheel Facts
A) Heated Lanes; technology is used to melt the snow and keep the lanes clear
 during winter
B) Damcykel; the classic Swedish city bike built for women with a front basket and integrated
ring lock
C) Year Round Cycling; the philosophy here is "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing" so the locals bike all 12 months 

Repurposing
Because of their concerns for the environment  the Swedish are great at recycling, so buying
secondhand is encouraged.
So look for the local flea markets (loppisar) if your interested

Mayan Culture
In their beliefs, the number 20 was significant because a person would have 10 toes plus 10
 fingers for counting
Now that has nothing to do with Swedish history, but when you travel enough your
 mind starts to wander 😂
 

Roman Numerals
Next time you see one of these clocks (like this one in Stockholm) look at the number 4 slot.
Here is is 1111, Big Ben in London is 1V.
Some theories suggest a mixture of aesthetics or historical reasons, or its just one of
those mysteries in life

Case In Point
Notice the number 4; maybe the Mobel Hansson antique store
is onto something here and maybe import from England 

Semantic Components

Many of these ornate characters on these doors were to ward of evil spirits and with this symbolic protection to plea with the universe for good fortune and prosperity

Tunnelbana Metro 
On my way to see the artwork, (through this shortcut) which is known as the worlds longest art gallery with 90 of 100 stations featuring unique pieces from 150 artists
 It all started in the 1950s

Daily Smile 😃
Just to bring some happiness to the daily commuters

 

Sorrento Italy

#SorrentoItalyAmalfiCoast

Sorrento (from the Greek word Surreo meaning flow or come together) is a coastal town
in southwestern Italy with a population of 16,000+
Now when i asked the locals in Naples about the Amalfi Coast they all agreed that it is a
beautiful location but everyone also mentioned Sorrento

This area was first Greek then a Roman colony followed by the Goths, Longobards plus Byzantines
Because of its mild climate many emperors (Claudius and Tiberius for example) with other rich patricians chose Sorrento as their summer residence (so because of this) they had roads and villas
built, which is evident as we walk the streets here

KeyTip;
 So i did some research and took the Metro at around 5 Euro from Naples (1 hour 20 minutes)
There is also a ferry that is faster but much more expensive if your traveling in a group (40 Euros PP)

 Finally they have walking tours listed at $50+ Euros PP, this is not needed as the area is
very doable on your own

 

Vallone dei Mulini  (Valley of the Mills)
Was at one time an operational flour mill until the 1940s when it was
closed and abandoned
It was built in this location to take advantage of the water supply (flowed underneath) that was needed to ground all the wheat
 Then finally that operation moved to another location

  Reclaiming The Land
So now nature has slowly been taking back the area of this deep crevasse, that was formed 35,000
years ago during an eruption 

Early History
The Greeks and Romans both built protective walls around the city which now surrounds the Main Square of Piazza Tasso
 (named after the poet Torquato Tasso 1544-1595)

Adult Beverage Stop
Trying some samples; hey its hard work blogging for
you people 😅

Smart Engineering
The ancient Greeks designed the streets to be narrow and intentionally positioned them to
 shade their citizens

Local Lemons
What are grown here are considered to be the best in the world
thanks to the mineral rich volcanic soil
So after your meal you need to drink some Limoncello (digestif) containing alcohol, water,
sugar and fresh lemon rinds

Ancient Grounds
While in Sorrento you are near many historical archaeological sites you can visit;
 The Cave of the Sirens, Porta Romana, Museo Correale,
Punta del Capo, Villa of Pollio Felice
 and the Museum of Villa Fondi

World Heritage Site
Sorrento got that designation in 1997 and while its not part of the Amalfi Coast it is a gateway
 to many other classic cities of Italy like Positano, Pompeii,
 Ravello plus Herculaneum

Dark Past
In the Middle Ages some worked as fishermen, but others earned their money by
being Pirates that would raid nearby coastal towns

Photo Op
I waited until anything came through this tunnel, got lucky with a one
 highlight motorcycle to mimic a "ghost rider"

Myth of Mermaids
Legend has it the towns earliest history is related to this fable,
 which in Italy is known as Sirens

Ulysses Saga
When he heard the Sirens song while sailing past Sorrento, he immediately told his crew to block their ears and to tie him up so to resist this alluring sound

Local Artisans
Sorrento is also known for crafting intricate designs using various types of wood
 So not an expensive piece, but certainly took skill to make this wooden watch that i picked up before i left this beautiful area

The Return 
Heading back to Naples with lots of sitting available until we make the stops at
Pompeii and Ercolano, so be ready for that

 Happy Touring 😃