Sealing,Hidden Reef style

I looked out my window on Wed. morning and noticed a 'new' rock in the sand...wait,the rocked moved..I was able to sneek right up to flipper as she was sun tanning at low tide...her thoughts when from,"Isn't retirement grand." to..."oh oh"...to ..."I hope this guy is Paul McCartney."

I know some of you are trying to post comments...I haven't changed any of the settings...so go back to the older posts if you'd like to post a comment..I'll go back and check.

Merry Christmas and all the best in the new year.

Blue skies and a white Christmas

Mr. L.

United Colours Of Europe

Robbie Burns,Scotland..sharp eyes students.What's he saying?

Temple Bar,Dublin

Venice

Brittany,France

Amsterdam

Bergen,Norway

Bobby Sands

Galway,Ireland

Inverness,Scotland

GREECE

After all these years of teaching you about Ancient Greece... :) .

The Temple of Athena,perched on top of the Acropolis,dominates the skyline of Athens.It was everything I thought it would be... a must see city... .

I am road weary and may end this part of my traveling here... I'm really missing the familiar,family-Canada-the english language...hockey... .My next post may come from Nova Scotia !

Mac,congrats on making the v'ball team(I'm not surprised).

The Temple of Athena from the backside.

From a distance.

The Acropolis from a distance.

One of the amphitheatres... view from the Parthenon.

The Temple of Zeus

...what's left of it...15 pillars.Top view from the Parthenon.

Through the Pillars

The Acropolis, through the pillars.

Brindisi,Italy to Patras,Greece

I took the overnight ferry from Brindisi and was greeted to this...Petras,Greece.

ROME

I came to Rome with two thoughts...the Colosseum and Michelangelo's work,but left with 2 words...two weeks-the time needed to do this great city and culture justice.I'll be back.

The Flavin Amphitheater, or The Colosseum(from the word colossus)as we know it, was built on the site where previously Nero had installed a private artificial lake for his royal palace.It was begun by Vespasian and financed by the booty from the Roman victory of the war in Judaea. Construction began in 80 AD.It held 40-60 thousand,depending on the event.The Colosseum stands almost 50 metres tall.

All staff at schools should know and pay homage(my home-boy) to Emperor Vespasian for it was he who was the first emperor to establish an annual salary for teachers.

Colosseum

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the Christian world... .It is impressive from the outside,but the interior is 'magnificent'... what a work of art.It is awe inspiring and must be the greatest work of architecture for it's time. Michelangelo's marble sculpture,Pieta,is housed there.It was overwhelming... .I didn't think I'd be saying this,but Rome is a must see city.

Venice and the 'Thief Lord'

Ahhh Venice...where the vehicles cease to be and the canals meet the sea.

Rialto Bridge

The famous Rialto Bridge...Can you find Prosper and Bo ?

The busy working highways of Venice.

The Gondola Line

Do you see Victor G. taking pictures?

Masks

The 'carnival' in Venice is the world's oldest.Venice dates back to the year 4... .

Now if you were the 'Thief Lord' which mask would you choose?

St. Mark's Square from the sea

The Winged Lion(s)

St.Mark's Square

Can you find Mosca and the Hedgehog?

Venice Architecture

Back In The USSR

RUSSIA....Of all the cities I've been in, Moscow has been the most foreign.You realize right away,by the police and military presence,that you are behind the 'Iron Curtain'.Little to no english spoken and where you stay,depending on the day, there maybe someone who can help you.

On the overnight train to Moscow I shared a perth with an older man from Russia who spoke some english..we had a good time..he dug out the sausage and Vodka,and as I was told,it is impolite to refuse an offering... :).When I mentioned hockey...Canada..Russia,well it was the 'ice breaker'..we talked hockey the whole trip..'72 Series to present day...you'll never guess which NHL team is his fav...Detroit !!!!! I just about dropped.... .He was best friends with the Russian player,that they called 'Ali',because he liked to fight..his name, Boris Alexandrov... My new friend's name is Alexander...It was a gift to have met him..he eased my concerns about going to Moscow.

The Kremlin...an old word for 'fortress'..the brownish-red wall circles the former home of the Tzar.The huge white building was the home of the Tzar and the churches were his private churches.The Moscow River runs beside it.

They say Moscow is a city of golden domes..with good reason.They say that Christ Church Cathdreal has 240 kilos of gold in it!

St.Basil's

St.Basil's pillarless church is the # 1 tourist attraction in Moscow.

KGB

This is was the headquarters of the 'former' KGB.It's now headquarters for their secret service...hummm... .

Red Square from St. Basil's

Red Square is used for military functions as well as other events.

Red Square

At one end an historical museum.

More Domes

FINLAND-SOUMI

Ulla...after 7 years, 5000 miles,and carrying a bag with 2 Team Canada hats,I finally arrived in Helsinki and met Ulla once again.She hasn't changed a bit..as you can see she stills thinks Team Canada is # 2... .Ulla and her family have been looking after me since I've arrived 2 weeks ago.They have made me feel right at home.I will miss them when I travel to Russia tomorrow.I hope that they will come and visit me in Canada.

Kiitos Nuotion perhe.....Kiitti Suomi

Alisa and Friends

I was invited to spend a morning with Alisa(Ulla's 11 year old sister)and her class,in Oulu. I enjoyed it so much that I stayed the whole day. It made me think of all you students...still missing you... .The students here are the same as home...some Ryans...some Macs....Madisons... Rhyses and some Michelles.... .The school invited me back to their assembly the next morning and do a presentation to the whole school.I showed them our grade 6 pics from the year-end DVD and a few from my travels.I felt at home(even tho' I didn't understand much of what was said)...Alisa,Emilia,Markus,Milla,Salla and Sylvia and the staff were wonderful hosts.

Naantali

Naantali is one of the main summer resorts in Finland.I stayed here for a week with Antti.The President of Finland also has her summer residence here.

Sharp Eyes

I'm not losing it..a picture of a boat that I found in Naantali,Finland..sharp eyes now.