Unique Urbino

 

 

The following images were captured last year during a delightful 2-week house exchange in Central Italy which encompassed a visit to the walled city of Urbino - noted for its University and independent Renaissance culture.

It was also the birthplace of the painter Raffaello Sanzio, known as Raphael and these cute cherubs at the base of a statue commemorating him caught my eye.

 

It was a warm day and these locals seemed to be enjoying a chat in the shade of these magnificent trees

 

This was the view looking up the hill towards the square housing Raphael's statue - a walk not for the faint-hearted!

 

. . . the beautiful surrounding countryside

A delightful memory of both Italy and France is the colourful window boxes which adorn the soft pastel-coloured buildings that were in abundance throughout our travels

 

Linking up with Our World Tuesday

and thanking Lady Fi and the team for hosting.

Any takers?

While showing my English visitors around South Australia in June this year, we visited the Maritime Museum at Port Adelaide - a fascinating place and worthy of your time as you step back into early history of our Australian State. Experience the on-board accommodation voyagers contended with on their journey from the UK, and hear the creaking of the boat's timbers as "she" ploughs (plows?) through rough seas.

The poster above makes interesting reading, and it caught our eye as my friends live in Truro, Cornwall, UK!

Joining others at Our World Tuesday

and with grateful thanks to our hosts

Historic Hahndorf

This is one of the pathways leading to the home of the late wonderful artist, Sir Hans Heysen. It is located at Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills and, wandering around his property, one can easily see how his surroundings would have provided inspiration for his marvellous talent.

Joining in with Friday's Fences at http://lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com.au/

History's home

Pictured above are Levels 1 and 2 of the Mortlock Wing of the State Library of South Australia. These provide quiet study areas and internet access. The ground floor houses exhibition bays that open a window into the history and culture of South Australia, featuring the people, places, issues and events that have contributed to the State's development.

Mr John Andrew Tennant Mortlock (1894-1950) was the eldest son of William and Rosye Tennant Mortlock, a wealthy pastoralist family, whose residence at Mintaro near Clare was Martindale Hall, made famous through the movie Picnic at Hanging Rock.. He was educated at Glenelg Grammar School and St Peter's College in South Australia, and at Jesus College, Cambridge University.

In honour of a substantial bequest from him, the Libraries Board of South Australia (LBSA) resolved that a percentage of the South Australiana Collections would be housed in the wing and named the Mortlock Library of South Australiana. The Mortlock Library was opened in 1986.

Visit http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/ for
 links to other scenes from around the world. (and many thanks to our lovely hostesses)

Colour captures

The following 5 images (each representing a colour - Red, White, Blue, Yellow and Green) are my entries in "Capture the Colour" competition, at the kind invitation of Dianne from "Adelaide & Beyond".

(Visit http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/capture-the-colour/ to learn more)

Returning to Hong Kong on the ferry from Lamma Island, these red sails of local boats stood out against the high-rise commercial and residential landscape of Hong Kong. (This trip was at the end of 3 weeks spent volunteering at a not-for-profit international aid organisation that distributes new or near-new goods and furniture to those in need both in Hong Kong and other countries around the world: it was an extraordinary experience and this image seemed to represent the huge gulf that exists world-wide between those living in poverty and those more fortunate. From a positive perspective, it might also depict the technological advances that have occurred over generations).

Here, the waves crash against the rocks of Granite Island, a popular tourist attraction lying just off the township of Victor Harbour, on South Australia's south coast.  Visitors enjoy the novelty of reaching the island by horse-drawn carriages across the timber bridge.  The island boasts penguins and birdlife as well as a great bistro (for that much-needed cappucino by those who've chosen to walk the distance!)  The sea's constant changes provide an endless source of delight for photographers, artists and travellers alike.

The (almost!) ever-present blue skies over the City of Adelaide are reflected here in the River Torrens, on which visitors can travel by boat to the local zoo, or just have fun on the available 2-person paddle boats for hire.

The presence of good surf, good cafes and the thunder of waves crashing onto the beach are popular draw-cards for all manner of holiday-makers to the delightful area of Port Elliot - once again on the south coast of South Australia. Here the yellow of adjacent cliffs is reflected at waters edge.

Ross Bridge in Tasmania, was built from sandstone by convict labour in 1836 and is the 3rd largest bridge in Australia still in use today. The detail of its 186 carvings by the convict stonemasons was deemed of such high quality that it won the men a free pardon. The 19th Century village of Ross continues to attract visitors from far and wide to enjoy its offerings - including a fabulous bakery!

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I now invite the following 5 other bloggers to participate in the competition ( you'll need to be quick, as entries close tomorrow 29th!) :

Nick of http://nixpixmix.blogspot.com.au/

Mickie of http://forgetmenotmmm.blogspot.com.au/

Gary of http://vermilonriverwildlife.blogspot.com.au/

Eileen of http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com.au and

Sandy of http://slchome.blogspot.com.au 

Also participating in Our World Tuesday meme - visit http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/ for other views from around the world.

Yesterday's (and today's) heroes

On a recent photographic foray some 100kms north of Adelaide, we came across this haywagon at the entrance to a rural property.

Closer inspection revealed the wonderful ingenuity and craftsmanship of yesterday's farmers and fellow country dwellers in the construction of wagon wheels such as this. (No mass production line stuff here!!)

I admire and salute our farming population - both past and present - for their persistence, patience and perseverance in the face of all kinds of "challenges", resulting in our having food on the table and clothes on our back.  Bravo!

 

Canterbury, England

During a wander through the walled town of Canterbury in 2009 (during a 6-week return visit to the UK with close friends) I took this shot. Only today did I notice the plaque in the bottom right hand corner of the shot (!)  It refers to the "Piran Declaration", which piqued my interest.........

European Walled Towns (then called the Walled Towns Friendship Circle , WTFC) was founded in Tenby (South Wales) in 1989. It is an International Forum to promote the many mutual interests shared by walled towns in Europe. The reason for the need to maintain the historic walled towns was expressed at an Annual General Meeting in Piran in 1998 and hence is called The Piran Declaration, which states:

"Walled Towns are unique inheritances from times long past and should be treasured, maintained and safeguarded from neglect, damage and destruction and passed on into perpetuity as irreplaceable ‘Timestones of History’."

(Bravo!)

At the moment the EWT has a hundred walled town members in more than 20 countries. In addition ten organisation involved with walled towns and twenty five individuals are associate members.

Contributing to http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com.au/