After spending five days in Cape Town it was time to head for the road and the Garden Route, one of the most spectacular regions in South Africa.
I hope you’ll join me on this journey, it is not the usual route that tourists take to get to the Garden Route – comments welcome on the original post.
Do you like taking alternative routes?
In Cape Town one thing dominates the horizon, and that is Table Mountain – not Table Top as I have heard it called, but simply Table. There are several such named mountains in the world, but only one with views like this one.
Make sure you get up to the top if the weather is good – you won’t regret it.
(please visit the original to post comments – I’d love to hear from you 🙂 )
Event Type: General Blogging
Start Date: Tuesdays, recurring weekly
Description: Every Tuesday I offer the “A to Z challenge”, walking step by step through the alphabet.
If you would like to join in then please click here
Back in Prague (the city of 101 spires apparently) this week for one of the most recognisable buildings in the Old Town, a Gothic church called ‘The Church of Our Lady in front of Týn‘
The current church is a late Gothic style and construction began in the 14th century. The roof, the 80m high church towers and the smaller spires were completed in the 15th century. It dominates one side of the Old Town Square. (Wikipedia)
The front is decorated with a golden image of the Virgin Mary, made in the 1620s from the melted down Hussite chalice that previously adorned the church. This was during the tumultuous period when Roman Catholics were slaughtering the Hussites who had controlled the church for two centuries.
And take a close look at the two spires on the church. They are not symmetrical. They represent the masculine and feminine sides of the world. This is characteristic of Gothic architecture of the period.
The church is difficult to picture in its entirety as it is hidden behind the four-storey Týn School, and although impressively Gothic on the outside it is heavily Baroque on the inside. It is open to the public, though closed on Mondays, and often used for mass, so check before you visit.
Entrance to the church can be difficult to find as you have to negotiate through the narrow lanes behind the square. This amazing portal dates from 1390 and depicts scenes of Christ’s Passion.
Legend has it that Walt Disney based his Sleeping Beauty Castle on this church. What do you think?
Headed out on a mission yesterday afternoon – to track down some May blossom. Common hawthorn is also known as the May Tree and is so called after the month in which it flowers. A British native hedgerow species, its fragrant blossoms traditionally feature in May Day festivals.
The May Tree
“Spring goeth all in white,
Crowned with milk-white May.”~ Robert Bridges from Spring Goeth in May
The phrase “Ne’er cast a clout till May is out” is believed to refer to the blooming of the blossom although it can be interpreted as being the month of May.
And “April showers bring forth May flowers” can also refer to the blossom or the month – hard to decide which.
It is certainly present in abundance around here!
(please click on an image to enlarge)
Lisa of the blog NorthWest Frame of Mind has decided to run a different project over the next 24 weeks. To try to show what is happening in different parts of the world (if you all join in) at a particular time of day. This week shows photos taken between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm (1400 – 1500).
If you would like to participate you have until next Saturday midnight to post a photo or write about what is happening in your part of the world between 14:00 – 15:00 this week. I hope you’ll join in! See links above for more details.
This weekly challenge is hosted by Dawn from ‘The Day After’ who invites participants to post pictures of any windows that they find curious, inviting, photogenic, or in some way tell a story. Visit her blog to see more windows and/or to join in with the challenge.
Whilst visiting Stockton Bury Gardens in Herefordshire recently I also couldn’t help noticing some windows. The Tithe Barn obviously didn’t have windows, but does have huge doors. Now that it is used as a café new bi-fold windows have been added so that they can be open during good weather.
There is a window in the stable block, occupied by a pair of white doves it seems.
But difficult to spot them from the outside in May.
Budding wisteria in April
turns to dripping wisteria in May, and yes there is a window there if you look hard enough.
and a cute little window in the ladies loo.
TRAVEL WORDS 