Lisbon & Sintra Portugal

#LisbonSintraPortugal

 

Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in Western Europe predating Rome by several centuries which was settled by the Phoenicians around 1200BC As you walk the streets you will notice the beautiful hand painted ceramic tiles known locally as Azulejos, this tradition was brought here during the Moorish period of their history in the area. On my way to find the Pasteis de Belem Bakery and its famous custard tarts that were created by the Catholic Monks at the Jeronimos Monastery. History tells us they used the egg whites to starch their clothes so needed a use for the yolks 😀

 KeyTip; Sintra  by car is not recommended due to the narrow roads, traffic and the lack of parking plus its expensive Taxi/Uber is 40 Euro with no time saved with the gridlock, so take the train at Rossio Station and get there in approximately 40 minutes for under 3 Euro Once you arrive the place is magical with its Villas, Castles, Estates and Royal Retreats that even the Romans were so enamoured with the area they named it Cynthia (who was the Goddess of the Moon.) There is so much to see here but my picks would be  A) Pena National Palace; which on a clear day can been seen from Lisbon as it sits on top a hill overlooking the area and its a UNESCO World Heritage Site. B) Monserrate Palace; it was a villa built in the 1800s  C) Quinta da Regaleria Estate; which needs to be seen with its architectural styles and hidden features. All sites has extensive landscaped gardens besides the structures so a full day to explore all three areas properly

Pena Palace
The site began as a medieval chapel, later became a Hieronymite Monastery (which had only eighteen monks) finally was severely damaged by the 1755 earthquake
The ruins were then purchased by King Ferdinand in 1838 and was transformed into the summer residence
Today it is used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials

Park
The palace is surrounded by a 500 acres of imported exotic plants and trees like the American sequoias or the Australian ferns
It has created a lush, labyrinthine type of gardens with hidden paths, grottos and viewpoints

Colors
Red was used on the older monastery section, yellow was applied to the "new palace" wing built in 1845 and the blue that is found on the rooftop elements plus some facades is the famous
   local ceramic tiles
Rumor says that the fantastical design and the vibrant colors here are what inspired Walt Disney when creating the Cinderella Castle

Quinta da Regaleria Estate

Developed by the wealthy businessman Antonio Monteiro
 He had a varied range of interests / views from the Knights Templar, Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism and Alchemy
 Which then is why he filled up his property with the symbols and designs reflecting on those ideologies

Unlike other historical landmarks in Portugal, this estate was neither royal or of a religious origin,
 but the product of the owners personal vision and the financial resources to put it into place

Today
The property remained in private hands until 1997,  then the local government acquired it
Which turned it into a museum and cultural center for the public to view

Initiation Well
 It was never used for water but was an inverted tower for symbolic rites
The spiral staircase (27 meters - 88 feet) is a metaphor for the journey from darkness to light
 or death to rebirth.
The climb has nine platforms, which some believe is to represent the same number of the founders of the Templar Order 

Gardens of Mystery
The park on the grounds is around 10 acres with lakes, fountains and grottoes that many
 have hidden meanings,
which served its purpose within the owners beliefs 
It was designed to create a sense of mystery and then a journey of discovery

Tunnels
With an extensive network of dark, subterranean shafts and walkways, the newcomers would have to navigate the labyrinth to complete their symbolic trek

Freemason
It started in the Middle Ages with the stonemasons (who built the castles and cathedrals) in which they used the hidden symbols plus handshakes to protect their trade secrets
It is the oldest surviving fraternal organization in the world, which is often misunderstood as a "confidential society" but they have a long and public history

The Symbols
 A) The Square; from the workers roots which is in the meaning to be honest and fair in ones dealings
 B) Letter G; has two meanings God as in the great architect of the universe
 Geometry as the noblest of the sciences that helped the Masons understand the order
 and the perfections of the world
C) All-Seeing Eye; is featured on the US one dollar bill which is linked to the Freemasons, but they did not design that final version
D) Forget-Me-Not; during the Nazi era many were persecuted, so to identify each other they started to wear the flower pin which became an official emblem to honor
 those who endured persecution

Famous Members
George Washington, Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin, Charles Lindbergh, Wolfgang Mozart, Mark Twain, Harry Houdini, Henry Ford, Shaquille ONeal and John Elway to name a few

Monserrate Palace
The structure is a blend of Islamic, Neo-Gothic and Indian architectural styles
It has an extensive botanical gardens with over 3000 exotic species, does not get the over-tourism as the other locations in Sintra and was used for the film Gullivers Travels
So many reasons to visit this location

Palacio Estoril Hotel
Because Portugal was neutral during the war, many elites plus royal families sought refuge in the country and with this hotel being "home" during those times

Spy Bar
It became a legendary spot where intelligence officers and double agents from many nations could be found having a drink just tables away from each other

James Bond
Author Ian Fleming (was at the time a British Naval intelligence officer) stayed at the hotel in 1941
With what he experienced and witnessed here during his time must of inspired some of his plots
 plus in the 1969 film On Her Majestys Secret Service,
  parts of the hotel were featured

Only to confirm or certainly add to the folklore of this location

Roman Galleries of Rua da Prata

The vaults were originally built as a network of corridors and galleries that were stabilizing the foundations of the larger buildings above it, which was on unstable grounds
The site was rediscovered in 1771 after the earthquake in Lisbon and during the rebuild of that city

Plan Ahead
The area is flooded most of the year which is drained for some guided tours
but only in the months of April and September

Sao Jorge Castle
When St. Vincent (Patron Saint of the City) was laid to rest in a tomb within the castle, the crows were said to have escorted the body to the location, then protect the remains from scavengers

Later on wealthy coal merchants in Lisbon would keep pet crows and name all
 of them "Vincent" to pay homage

40,000 Steps
That is how many (per day) in total for the locations of Lisbon and Sintra i put on my feet

KeyTip
If your not so incline for this number, there is a 24 hour unlimited travel card for around 7 euro
 which is a cost effective way to use the Metro, Buses and Trams here 

Hot Air Ballooning over the Australian Outback

#HotAirBalloonAustralia

The Beginnings
The Chinese invented the first Hot Air Balloons (which was thought to be thousands of years ago) which was on a much smaller scale, and that use was to send messages to their troops if surrounded
by the enemy

Animals First to Flight
Then the first recorded pioneers of manned flights were actually a sheep, rooster and a duck who flew 3.2kms (2 miles) in an experimental tethered flight over Versailles France, with the test being conducted by the Montgolfier brothers 

Then People
 Their ultimate idea of balloon flights for humans happened later in 1783 and was in a untethered Montgolfier airship, as the two passengers flew over Paris for around 25 minutes

Early Superstitions
The tradition of the balloonists prayer before flight (which is a glass of champagne) comes from a not so exciting history.
When the Montgolfier brothers were performing test flights, the local farmers were very suspicious as they thought they were dragons descending from the skies and bringing a danger to them

Booze Payments
So nothing like alcohol to ease the tensions 😅 as then they would then give champagne to the
farmers and thus continue to land on the fields with their balloons

Dawn Start

We arrive early in our buses and get ready to soar with the birds in one of mankind's first way to fly.

 At first you don't realize how huge these balloon airships are, but once the propane is fired up to fill the bag or envelope (made of nylon fabric with the material closest to the flame is a fire resistant composite, plus Australian rules require that they meet the criteria of the Civic Aviation & Safety Code) you get a sense what it was like to be a pioneer back in the first days of flight.

 

 Our pilot must of  read the air currents better than our "sister ships," because within minutes we were up around 5000 feet and above them as we flew around this valley for some great views as you can see below 

Lend a Hand

   So as we get ready to land our captain asked if some of us guys would jump out of the gondola to guild it along (as the flatbed truck could not access  the marshy grounds) which then it would transport the wicker basket back to our original starting point

  After the pilot asked in typical Aussie humor if anything poisonous grabbed us while in the tall grass So i asked what kind of animal or plant that could that be? 

 Mate!! everything toxic in Australia, even the women 😂 (as he told me later he was going through a divorce)

Some Cool History of Hot Air Balloons

A) Napoleon brought balloons as a psychology warfare tool to frighten his opponents
 B) They were used during the US Civil War as reconnaissance viewing aircraft to report crucial information from their high perch.
 Then would then either telegraph data or use special flags to signal what they saw
C) Used by meteorologists for atmospheric early studies
D) Used for aerial photography, which helped enhance the accuracy that was obtained
 on ground level 

Flight Rules
One interesting fact is Hot Air Balloons are restricted to fly during wet conditions as it becomes much harder to control for the pilot.
 Why you ask; the rain would accumulate on the top which makes the balloon heavier, burns more
fuel thus adding up to perilous situation

Looking Down at the Outback 
 To be above the other Hot Air Balloons my pilot would of researched the local conditions from the nearby airports, weather stations and service forecasters to get to a proper air current update
 Then he would by controlling the temperature and volume of the heat to inside the envelope to
reach that level

The Decent
To return to earth he would open a large vent at the top of the balloon and valve off the excess
 heat, which all makes it heavier as gravity takes over

Old Folklore
Because balloons drift with the wind, pilots cannot steer them to a fixed runway
So when we finally touch ground and if on a private property, you technically become a
 "baron or baroness" of that specific land

Melbourne
It is one of the few cities in the world where you can take a commercial hot air balloon ride
 directly over a modern city skyline

Kangaroo, Wallabies & Bird Watching
If you pick the right tour you can use it like an aerial safaris, as the balloon drift silently with the wind (when the burner is turned off) and so it does not to scare anything away

Australian Slang
Here is another informal saying for taking flight (what we just experienced) as it is used in
another context; Fleeing or Running away from debt

"Do a Skase"
Named after a 1980s local businessman named Alan Skase, who fled the country to Spain and thus
avoiding corporate fraud charges during the 1980s economic downturn
 

Hooroo Cobbas

Rome Colosseum

#RomeColosseumFlavianAmphitheater
The Rome Colosseum is a structure made of limestone, volcanic rock (tuff), timber and concrete
which stands an impressive four stories tall

Human Labor
It took 60,000 to 100,000 Jewish slaves (after their defeat during the Jewish-Roman War) eight years to complete its construction
 It is still the largest amphitheater (Greek word amphi...both sides or all around) on earth

Other Building Uses
During those times of neglect plus abandonment the nearby Roman Catholic Church used the Colosseum like a quarry for its stone and built the Basilicas of St Peter, St John & Palazzo Venezia

Today
Times have changed as now the arena welcomes millions of tourists per year
KeyTip:
 Tickets will range from $100 up to $400 depending on if its a private tour, to where you visit inside the Colosseum from the underground or arena floor

Portal System
There were eighty entrances to the amphitheater, as the arches were numbered with Roman Numerals to serve as guides for sitting
 A) Seventy-six entry points were for the general audience
B) Two access ways for the participants of the events, which was called The Gate of Life for
the gladiators
 C) The Gate of Death (located on the western side) for the combatants who did not fair so well in the contest and were carried out 
 D) Finally two archways was used exclusively by the Emperor

The Beginnings
When the Colosseum first opened the Emperor Titus celebrated the completion of this massive structure with a hundred days of celebrations that included gladiatorial games and other events

Two Freed Warriors
One such fight between Priscus and Verus  went so well that (in a rare display of clemency) Titus declared both of them winners, so granted them their freedom
(the wooden sword)

Giveaways
Also the Emperor would engage in public gift giving by throwing wooden balls into the crowd that had the prizes etched on them, which could of been for clothing, gold or even slaves 

Other Events
The venue was also used to host dramas, navy battle reenactments and even public executions of criminals in theatrical ways based on Greek or Roman mythology

 The Fall of the Roman Empire
It was a gradual process resulting in a combination of factors including political instability, economic troubles, internal corruption and outside invading forces

 The Colosseum Begins to Deteriorate
Add in earthquakes, passage of time and human neglect, which all meant by the 20th century nearly two-thirds of the original building had been destroyed

Restoration Project
 It began in the 1990s to repair the Colosseum, which today it plays host to millions of visitors each year to see musical concerts plus other events inside the arena to entertain all

Other Ancient Structures
We think of the Colosseum as old (1952 years) but compared to the Pyramids of Giza (4000 years) and Stonehenge which dates back 5000 years, it is young in historical terms but still
very impressive

Fun Fact
 The original name of the Colosseum was the Flavian Amphitheater, which was the name of the dynasty that ruled the empire at this time
Historians also believe the current name came from The Colossus of Nero statue that stood outside
 that amphitheater

Being a huge follower of history, i couldn't wait to visit the Colosseum located in the middle of Rome. It was awe inspiring to see this amphitheater  

  Now once inside the arena you can envision when it could hold around 50,000 spectators who would view gladiatorial contests, executions and even mock sea battles. How you ask                                                                                                              

      Through a series of underground tunnels the Romans would flood the arena floor for Emperor Titus. Then they used special flat bottomed boats (because of the shallow water) to replicate naval battles, also they built an artificial island so sailors could land to fight 

The floor was around 83 by 48 meters (272 x 157 feet) but since it was made from wood plus covered with sand its long gone So because of this the top is open to view, you can now see how the hypogeum (underground) worked with its two level subterranean network of tunnels, hidden maze of rooms and cages 

 There were also 80 vertical shafts to access the hypogeum plus an extensive network of trap doors through which scenery elements could be deployed during the spectacles.

 

       

 If you were Roman your entry fee was free as Emperors used the arena to promote their political policies, if a foreigner you were of no use to the agenda being spoken so had to pay to watch.

          Speaking of no more use 😄 the site that the Colosseum sits on was once the location of an artificial lake from the Golden House of Nero.  Following his demise, much of his luxurious palace was destroyed or put to public use including his private lake

 Facts & Fiction

 A) The movie Gladiator was not filmed inside the Colosseum even though the director had permission. He decided it needed to look newer so built a stand-in Colosseum in Malta, plus many of the location shots were computer generated

B) You think of the Roman Empire and the name of Julius Caesar comes into your thoughts
 But he was never inside the Colosseum as the two never existed simultaneously, where he was assassinated 125 years before the gladiator games even started 

. 

The Construction
The Colosseum was built with approximately 100,000 cubic meters / 3.5 million cubic feet of travertine limestone that was used for the main pillars, ground floor, external walls and the seats
(they no longer exists)
 Also the slabs of travertine were paved into the area to support the outer realm of the building
 and the remaining site was constructed with a mixture of concrete that were held together by 300 tons of iron clamps

Ground Shipping
Finally the Romans built a special road designed to transport the limestone from the quarries of
 Tivoli  (32 kms / 20 miles away) to the arena 

                                              

Running Diamond Head Volcano

#RunningDiamondHeadHawaii

Hours are 6.00am to 6.00pm with a $10.00 per vehicle or $5.00 per person entrance fee
 So if you walk in, arrive via bus, taxi, trolley or in my case running 😅

Thank You Google Maps
 In explaining my trek for this latest adventure of mine
It equipped a local company with its Trekker Backpack Cameras to capture the imagery,
 as it could not use their traditional Street View Cars
(goes without saying) 

Diamond Head
It was a site of reverence and worship for the early Native Hawaiians with religious ceremonies plus sometimes (unfortunately) animal or human sacrifices,
 which was the norm for those times

Moving forward;
 Thanks to many local activists who stopped the development of this area into residential buildings, hotels and even a tramway to the top of the crater
It did so with the preservation plus establishment of Diamond Head as a historic site 

Early History
In 1904 Diamond Head was bought by the US Government (for $3,300) then turned into a military base (Fort Ruger) with the areas of the volcano being carved out for its bunkers plus batteries
Then the trail plus tunnels were built to allow the soldiers to reach the various lookouts and outposts which was all part of the islands coastal defense system

Finally the US Military transferred control to (then territory) Hawaii in 1955
 which became a US State four years later 

The Route
Some of the stairs which gets you to the 560 vertical feet and to the top level
 But certainly feels like a whole lot more with the heat plus footing conditions
Common Sense
 So do i need to say this; Proper Footwear and Hydrate

The Challenge
As you can see there is not a lot of natural cover from the sun, so wear a hat plus lather up on the sunscreen as they say its a 90 minute roundtrip journey, but with crowds that timeline
maybe optimistic

As i sit on Waikiki Beach relaxing, you cannot help but notice Diamond Head
Volcano (named after when the British Sailors in the 1800s who thought the calcite crystals in the lava rocks were diamonds) overlooking the island of Oahu and sitting on the Pacific Ocean

Now I've been told by the locals that the trail (1.1km /0.6 miles) to the rim is manageable for the average person, but when i said  i was going to run it they rolled their eyes

Being me, upped the ante to say i was tacking on the 4kms (2.4 miles) from the hotel to the trail just to make things a bit more interesting 😃

As i do not consider myself the average person jajajaja

I leave the next morning early to avoid the heat plus tourists with the run to the trail as a non-event.

But then as you start on the trek to the top your footing consists on everything from volcanic dust, some concrete steps (70+ & 90+) few tunnels then finally a spiral staircase to an old military bunker at the summit (with great views of Waikiki  / Pearl Harbor and yes i brought my camera)

 I must admit it was tough plus i wouldn't recommend it to anyone who isn't fit, but the next day back at my favorite watering hole i raised my glass towards one of natures marvels and gave her a toast 👍 in presenting me with a another challenge to overcome.

High Traffic
Good to go early to avoid the crowds as its the most popular hiking trail in Hawaii plus you get to do a slow walk into history to get a glimpse from its geological
and military past

Well Trodden Path
The route starts in the parking lot (crater floor) which most of the walkway is paved concrete, but sections of the trail do include uneven and steep areas plus as you have seen
 the long stairways

Pack Train
Some of the trail to the summit from Fort Ruger was through these underground passages
nicknamed the Mule Tunnel
 It was because of those animals which provided the transportation of some of the materials, while other heavier goods where hoisted by winch and cable

The Rules
One of the many fortifications you will encounter with amazing views along your hike,
 but please note;
A) No mountain bikes are allowed
 B) Stay on the marked trails
 C) No dogs allowed in Diamond Head Park
D) No open fires 
E) Over 25 people in a group a hiking permit is required 

Scaling Franz Joseph Glacier

#ScalingFranzJosephGlacier

The Franz Joseph Glacier is approximately 7000 years ago and is a massive 12km (7.4 mile) long sheet of ice
 It meets the river valley below onto an ecosystem of a rainforest which is located in Westland Tai Poutini National Park on the South Island of New Zealand
In 1865 German explorer and geologist Julius von Haast named the ice flow plus area after (at the time) the Austrian Emperor 
 
 KeyTip:
  The village of Franz Joseph has a small population ( around 450) so book accommodations early as the area will swell up to 2500+ (adventure seeking) travelers like myself  per day.

Now depending on your budget or fitness level you have a few options to explore the glacier;
A) Aerial Sightseeing by helicopter of around 20 minutes with a snow landing for photos 
 B) A two hour walk to the terminal face of the ice sheet
C) Heli-Hike  that gives you the return helicopter ride plus a 2.5 hour hike on the upper parts of
 the glacier 
 D) Guided Ice Walk with a full briefing, plus with equipment that is needed for ice climbing

 Guided Ice Hike
First there is the full instruction on safety at the Glacier Base Building, plus then the guide will equip you with all the gear needed

Disney Park
During our classroom session i noticed some of the folks here we not certainly dressed for the elements, but for an amusement ride as in; dress shoes, shirt/tie and even baby strollers 😏 
One of the guides noticed my concern, then came over and told me that the walk out to the glacier tells us who is going onto Franz Joseph, phew! 

 Crampons
 The history goes back to 1929 when Laurent Grivel made the brilliant invention of two front points allowing climbers to stand face up when scaling the steep ice and snow
 Which i certainly took advantage of on Franz Joseph

The Summit
To the top (as far as safety will allows us to go) because of the crevasses, avalanches
plus falling ice

Rules
Most glacier climbs only allows guided tours for those reasons as i have always told my friends
(some who think i am crazy for some of my adventures i have done around the world)
There is no sense me doing a risky journey if i am not around later to talk/blog
 about it later jajajja

    At first your cautious; but because Franz Joseph sits amidst a rainforest (the ice is considered soft) 

             so then after awhile your thinking like Spiderman 😄 so scaling with confidence.

 

Climate Change
Unfortunately in the past ten years Franz Joseph has lost almost 1.6kms (1 mile) of its mass
 Estimates say by the year 2100 there will be probably no ice left in the head of the valley where
 the glacier sits now.

Other Hikes
 Here are some options then to eliminate the carbon footprint in the area and to do our small part in the slowing down of the melt;

A) The Franz Joseph Glacier Walk; a short thirty minute return, plus it is without any steep climbs and has an observation deck 

 B) Fox Glacier South Side Trek; is a two hour roundtrip hike without difficulty plus also has
great viewing areas

 C) Roberts Point Track; is a five hour out-and-back walk with an adventurous element to it.
 It has swing bridges, side streams and open areas of rock plus the viewing area platform that sits
at 2000 feet above
This  gives you a view of the glacier, mountain peaks plus valley below

D) Alex Knob; is a eight hour there and back hike so for only experienced walkers, but well worth it for the views of the glacier, Sothern Alps and surrounding landscape

 E) Mount Fox Route; is for only the most advanced in hiking as its a tough climb to the summit during this eight hour return trek 

Respect The Elements
There were two brothers from Australia who were crushed to death when hundreds of tons of ice fell on them because they walked beyond the warning signs
So again people; NATURE CAN KILL YOU, so respect the surroundings and listen to the guides who are here to show you how to enjoy the area safely

In Closing
 I remind my readers that although the Franz Joseph landscape changes daily (mostly due because of the ongoing weather patterns which  influences its growth or retreat)
 and add in with some of the hikes that go through ice tunnels or crevasses,
the area is considered very safe

Fun Facts;
A) Lord of the Rings; This area was used for the filming of that movie

B) Maori Folklore; the name of the area was Ka Roimata which legend says was from when the Gods froze the tears of a grieving woman who had lost her lover

C) Franz Joseph; is only one of three glaciers in the world that descends into a temperate rainforest
So then lets add in the beach
 and you can experience all three in one day here on the South Island of New Zealand

Looking Back at Franz Joseph
Using Te Reo Maori words; "Nga Mihi Nui" that translates to
Big Thanks