POst your photos for November here!
I look forward to seeing them all.

New posters welcome!

This time of year is best for the Bourgainvillae in my pots.

Stunning, I adore those.

The exterior of the temple in the Time thread.

Beautiful flowers and interesting looking temple!

This was the slightly spooky view from my window yesterday - Halloween.

One of my favourite spots in London, Blackheath.

Another detail of the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Cartago.

Lily, that is so lovely! How perfect the positioning of the bird!

Great photos to start the month!

I went for a walk on a bright November Sunday.

My daughter's new kittens.

I set my camera to black and white and pretended I was Ansel Adams. View from my back yard last year.

That is one impressive view- we had a thread ages ago from our windows and none were anything like that!

Another traditional British station in Lee near Blackheath.

Lots of signs of fall in the Northern hemisphere. Lovely shots, all.

Today I was in Cartago, and took this photo of a much smaller church than the grandiose Basilica just a kilometre or two away. The name is not marked, and although it is sorely in need of repairs and a fresh coat of paint, I think it has a charm of its own.

Sweet kittens! Love the black and white and the train station, and the little church is most definitely charming.

I mentioned the domed ceiling of the old bank building that is now part of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, when I posted a photo in the "Time" thread. This is it ...



This sign talks about the stained glass. (Sorry it's a bit fuzzy.)

Fabulous photograph, liz! Interesting information too, thanks for posting that.

My sister, me and my brother reflected in a traffic mirror on San Francisco's Telegraph Hill last year. In the distance the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Taken at... um... lemme think; oh yeah, the corner of Union & Montgomery.

Cool pic, Paul!

Yesterday I bought myself a new gadget. A giant lighter! No!! A mini tripod which extends from 107mm to 203mm (4"-8") and will tilt the camera 90º forward with good stability.

Lovely churches, Mags. The kittens are really adorable, Dotb.

The view from Kolaba fort

I thought that this bush by the river was a particularly striking example of "autumn colours" this morning.

Gorgeous colours, Spanishliz.

Great pic Liz, I haven't seen those colors for ages. In southern Spain, we really don't have autumn so hence the leaves never change color.

Gorgeous colours, sliz. And a gorgeous morning by the looks of it, bright sunshine...what a great place to walk too, along the river.

Butterfly on a daisy in my father's garden. Caught on Kodachrome probably in the 1970s - I don't have the original dated slide mount.

Great shots, everybody!

My new baby. Meet Chicky.

Aaawww. I want one! Just look at that face. I can tell Chicky is going to be spoilt rotten!

Nice to meet Chicky

Marigold flowers

Tredici - how absolutely adorable Chicky is, I just want to pick him up and cuddle him .

Tredici, Chicky is so adorable, what a sweet expression! I want to cuddle him after szabs is finished.

I've just spent a week in the town of Riva Del Garda on lake Garda, North Italy. For late October/early November, the weather was mainly fabulous with clear blue skies for all but 2 days. Here is one of many photos I took:

Kodachrome goes to Spain. Calella de Palafrugell on the Costa Brava, February 1977.

Bentornato, Martin! (Welcome back!) It looks peaceful and relaxing. Is that snow or rockface I see on the mountains?

Edited to add: I'm guessing rockface, as now I notice it pretty far down as well, almost into the town.

It is rock, Mags. You'll have to wait a while until I get to the snowy ones!

Lovely pictures, as always, everyone

I'll add another comment about Chicky, awww he's so cute, Tredici! Can I cuddle him after szabs and MadMags are done?

And beautiful picture of lake Garda, Martin. I would love to visit Italy one day.

I'd like to join the line to cuddle Chicky, please What a doll!

Szabs, I know just what you mean about no autumn colours in the south of Spain. When I was thinking about moving back to Canada (after 19 years in Almeria province), seeing a Canadian friend's photos of all the fall colours was one of the deciding factors!

Here are a couple of "sea dogs" that I spotted in Kingston (Ontario), when I was there a couple of months ago.

'

Chicky is a real snuggler so I'm sure she would welcome all the cuddles. She is an Isabella and Tan Longhaired Miniature Dachshund. We had two others and lost the older,sweet girl a couple of months ago quite unexpectedly. Our remaining dog was as lost without her as we were so this little pup has really brightened up everyone's lives.

awww too cute!

I hope you're all behaving - my net has been slowed so to see any pics it takes forever to download. I remember when we thought these speeds were fast! LOL

anyway. Here is my offering for today. As you can see in the background there isn't a lot of grass around. We feed our goats (the three on the right) but other feral ones are coming in to eat (those three on the left). Last night we went down there and there was a mob of pigs on the feed (that tin tub is full of grain)! I wish it would rain! Oh someone asked if we can eat the feral pigs .. I have known people to catch and eat them but everyone seems to feed them on grains for a month or so before killing them - we had a bloke here do it one time and honestly the amount of food he bought for it and the hassle of the kill it just seems easier to go and buy a bit of pork!

I cannot recommend Lake Garda highly enough to anyone wanting to visit Italy for a break, especially in the northern end where the mountains and the lake combine to give spectacular views. Such as this:

A couple new additions to the menagerie.

One of my favorite areas of San Francisco. Taken from Russian Hill, looking past North Beach to Telegraph Hill and Coit Tower. But for the quantity and models of the cars, this view would have been pretty much the same 50, even 75 years ago. This part of the city still retains the classic San Francisco Mediterranean pastel color scheme and is free of the cold, dark, glass and steel buildings that have taken over downtown. Full disclosure: I did some Photoshop tweaking in an experiment to try to get something of a vintage Kodachrome look to this digital shot I took a couple years ago. Hope that's not considered cheating!

Martin, that is a stunning photo!

Here's a hardy flower, still blooming in November!

This is a small grave next door to my Grandparents grave, there is no large headstone, someone has left this doll on the flower holder,a solemn little thing.

Back after no cable for a few days, this is the Brent Cross flyover in Hendon. Good to see you back Tryst, it must be ages!

Good to see you in the photos Tryst

here is one of the lambs looking cute.

My trip to Italy included several coach excursions. The first was a day-long trip around Lake Garda during which we stopped at 3 of the towns on the lake. This is the castle which guards the entrance to the town of Sirmione.

I'm grooving on these Italy pics, Martin, and not just because I'm half-Italian. My father was born there.

This is the clock at the northern entrance to London Court in Perth. It is one of the most photographed tourist spots in town. London Court is a Tudor-style pedestrian arcade built in 1937. This clock tower is apparently modeled on London's Big Ben; above the clock are four mechanical knights who come into action every quarter of an hour (known as the "Tournament of Armoured Knights"). You can always pick the tourists - they are the ones with cameras standing around patiently waiting for the quarter hour so they can film the tournament.

Edited to add: Ooops! I meant to post this in the Time thread!

Copago, that's a great capture!
Sliz, love that hollyhock, I've never seen one with those deep raspberry streaks before.
*ohs and ahs at Martin's holiday pics*
I'm really enjoying the architecture from around the world. MG that is a gorgeous building and a great shot.

I burnt this egg tray yesterday; after burning with a regular orange flame, it gave off this eerie neon pink afterburn.

Stretch! Being a kitten is such hard work...



Great building MG, and sweet lamb I quite like the burning egg tray, at least the neon pink effect.

The Gothic Revival, or Victorian Gothic style Boyd Gate House (1879) in San Rafael, California. Now the home of the Marin (County) History Museum.

That is a great house! I think I could die happy there LOL. I love that first floor verandah - just lovely.

I'm glad my photos are being so well received. I took about 500 so they'll keep me going for a while! lol (There's a lot of competition from all the other fabuloUs pictures on here.)

We also went to Verona, the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet & this is a shot of Juliet's Balcony.

my son did some archery at a school sporty day a couple weeks ago.

Oooooo ... archery and sons. Reminds me of the time my son thought he'd practise in his bedroom. He had no idea an arrow could get stuck in a window. *rolls eyes*

Nice museum there Paul.

Hey, Copago - here's a trivia question for you: what's the connection between your target photo and the film "The Red Shoes"?

Paul

Coffee beans

It's harvesting time, and the workers pick every day from 5am to 1pm. You need dexterous fingers and a nimble body to be a good picker, as only the red ones must end up in the basket. The coffee bushes are planted on the mountainsides with zigzag paths to work the bushes from. Hard work for little pay, the workers get paid $4 to $6 per basket, 11.5 kilos or 25lbs worth. A family picking including the kids, will earn $40-$45/day. Most Costa Rican coffee gets sold to the highpriced Starbucks.

edited to correct wages earned

Spotted this fellow when I was out walking yesterday, and he posed for me

ahh well there you go - that's my new info learnt for the day, Paul!
We don't allow linking to images apart from Photobucket so I took the image out of your post and just left the link to the photo.

Just after sunset on Saturday night:

A grey and wet Venice. Here is St. Mark's Basilica & square. (At least the bad weather kept the crowds, smell & pigeons at acceptable levels!)

Very interesting MadMags, worthy of the old "what is it?" thread. I'm thinking a bottle cap?

Anyway, here's Precious, helping with the Christmas lights

Charming old house in Healdsburg, California. April 2008. An example of when it pays to use flash in the daytime.

Thank you liz. You're right, it's a Bailey's if I remember correctly. Was taken a couple of months ago, by candlelight. Armchair photography.

Looks like Precious has settled in very nicely!

Back to Lake Garda. I took a boat to the town of Limone. Lots of steep, narrow streets leading up from the lake side. As I was making my way up one, I heard music in the distance & getting louder. In the nick of time I stepped into a shop doorway to avoid being run down my a brass band! (They were heading for some kind of religious ceremony further down. It was all in foreign so I couldn't understand it!)

Martin cube's picture of St. Mark's Basilica & square reminded me of this photo of the ceiling inside the Cathedrale Saint Caprais church in Agen, France.

Oooh, beautiful, lady!

We went to an aquarium again this visit to the UK, The Deep. which is in Hull.

Thank Heavens Sue! Now I know where you were off to: Finding Nemo (and his cohort....)

Flowers on my front porch

Beautiful and mythical looking Barn Owl.

The railway lines looking towards Brent Cross station in Hendon

More from the aquarium.

One of the most disappointing things about the Venice trip was that the Doge's Palace and Old Prison were partially hidden by hoardings to cover up restoration work being carried out on them. The hoardings were advertising something or other, apparently allowed to do so as they were sponsoring some of the work. This left the Bridge Of Sighs looking very sad (IMO):

St. Mary in the Mountains Church in Virginia City, Nevada, built in 1879 during the town's silver mining boom days. I shot this on Kodachrome in September 1966. That's my mother, brother and, mostly obscured, my father walking down the street.

Too bad about the Bridge of Sighs, Martin. It's normally a particularly beautiful, evocative and melancholy sight.

Tredici, I am in awe of your barn owl shot. Absolutely stunning!

I almost didn't post this one, as it's a lousy photo, but a beautiful bird. My gardener pointed it out to me this morning, it took me a good two minutes to see it. By the time I got my camera I had time for one shot only before it flew off. It's a Blue-Crowned Motmot, a member of the kingfisher family. It has a gorgeous long tail with raquet tips which are hidden in this photo by a leaf. (Grr, I know... lousy shot... why am I posting it.... )

You can see the gorgeous tail on this wiki page.
This is the reason why I had such a hard time spotting it.

The original, flanked by the new kids on the block.



The one on the right was the unnamed experimental version, the one on the left is the newer version with the ridiculous name, (which hopefully will be replaced soon), and the one in the middle is the stuff that the wussy English cannot eat.

Just had to post this picture for Satuguru. The train leaving Agen station heading to Toulous, France.

One more from the aquarium then I will stop, these are very small and some kind of eel, they are more like the size of earthworms.

Those look like Garden Eels Sue. Hard to be sure as they are very shy and divers can't get close enough to see them properly - they go back into their burrows whey you approach. Very nich shot.

Fantastic photos, everyone! Tredici, now that everybody has hugged Chicky, it's my turn! I have always wanted a miniature, long-haired dachsund. Mags, your tri-pod photo had me laughing, and I'm inviting myself over for some Baileys.

I was traveling behind this truck yesterday on the New Jersey Turnpike and wondered how Angela felt about having her name on the back of this truck.

While we were in Venice I just had to go to see the Rialto bridge, thankfully unspoilt by restoration works! It really was very interesting to see such a unique bridge with the shops either side. A roaring trade in umbrellas was done on the day!

Nice train Lady! And I have actually driven along what must have been the length of the New Jersey Turnpike when we bussed it round a lot of the States in 1980.

This is a typical view of Hampstead Heath as the leaves turn red and yellow.

Enjoyable aquarium shots, sue, bring 'em on. Lady, that's an interesting roof in your train shot. Martin, another great holiday photo. Ozzz, "the one in the middle is the stuff that the wussy English cannot eat." LOL! . Sat, another nice autumnal shot of England. ClaraSue, funny the things you see on the road, eh? And you're welcome for Bailey's anytime!

Ok, today an artsy shot from me. "Silver ball bearings and Monet-esque flowers"

Thanks Mags, I took a lot yesterday as it was all looking very scenic. Here's one of the many ponds on the heath.

The church looked so pretty with the late afternoon sun yesterday, so I zoomed to max (it was well over a mile away) and captured the geese as well.

A cake which was made to celebrate my niece's partner return from Afghanistan!

The day after the Venice trip, we woke to find snow on the tops of the mountains and, thankfully, another bright & sunny day. This shows both quite well.

Oh Jane, I didn't know he was back. Best wishes! It's a super cake!

sue: I was disappointed to see the note where you said "I'll stop".. I was anxiously awaiting the next aquarium pic! I plan on uploading some of my own if I ever get my hard drive sorted out.

clarasue: giggled out loud at the possible relationship between the Angela and the "warning" on the truck lol

jane: very nice cake, but even nicer that he made it back : )

satguru: oh my but those woods would make an excellent halloween location with all those gnarly trees!

mags: that was a really neat link to the "where's waldo" (errm.. where's the dang bird) pic.. how did you do that?

lily: don't you just love those "happy accidents"? very nice pic.

tredici: I am insanely jealous about your owl photo. Most folks don't get to see one at ALL in the wild, never mind get a fabulous picture of one. Am submitting one from my "neck of the woods" (not nearly as nice as yours)

I thinnk both of the owl shots are fantastic.
Such a nice variety of photos lately - thanks to everyone for showing them.

ANother shot from the freak show .. a four eared lamb ...

Lovely cake Jane, glad he's back safe and sound. Friday's brought another round of interesting pics. (Lol at the lamb) Jakeroo, beautiful bird. How did I make the notes? Double left click on the photo, and type in note. Anyone can leave notes, not just the page owner.

Great cake Jane, and greater still that he's safely home! Love both owl pics, and Sue's aquarium pics, and the four-eared lamb!

Spotting this abandoned boot by the roadside had me thinking up all kinds of scenarios. Was the owner running for the bus, or away from a pursuer? Did the boot get caught in the bus door? Did a naughty three year old throw it out the car window? Perhaps it just fell from a moving van? It was gone when I passed the same spot today, 24 hours after taking the photo...

had any precipitation lately? Perhaps a wicked witch simply melted away LOL

I love the photos of Italy, Martin. The owls are beautiful.



Don Bosco Church, Matunga, Mumbai

had any precipitation lately? Perhaps a wicked witch simply melted away LOL

Ooh, Jakeroo, I hadn't thought of that!

Well I appreciate the positive comments about the picture of the Barn Owl I have to confess I wasn't tramping around the back roads. I had an opportunity to participate is a photo shoot at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Center. These marvelous people rescue birds of prey. Those that can be rehabilitated and released are provided a second chance in the wild, and those that can't are given life in the sanctuary. The modest fee to photograph was well spent to hear about the birds and do their portraits. Here is a little red feathered Eastern Screech Owl who didn't look like he could be a real creature. So darn cute.

And Mad Mags, I love your "silver ball bearinga" capture!

On the trip around Lake Garda, I spotted these oddly shaped hedges from the window of the coach. (Shades of FarmVille for those who partake in that silly time-wasting. )



(Editted my yours truly to correct speeling mistake.)

spanishliz's shot in the "LITTLE" weekly thread of the old church amid the Toronto skyscrapers reminded me of this one I took of St. Patrick's in San Francisco last year. Dedicated in 1872, it's an earthquake survivor.

Martin, those look like European yews, Taxus baccata. Very old native European variety, gives gardens and landscaping a nice period flavor.

Tredici, that's the cutest owl ever. By the way, are there a baker's dozen of you?

Quote:

---

And Mad Mags, I love your "silver ball bearings" capture!

---

Thanks Tredici! It was a slightly off focus closeup of a spider web that I was just about to delete, when I decided to play with it a bit. I don't tweak my photos much if at all, but I mega-tweaked this one, and decided I'd keep it.

Another one from my trip to Blackheath, this is the church in the middle of the village.

My sister and I were out in the country today, visiting some Christmas craft shows, and this old bell caught my eye.

The people of Costa Rica stand firm - even after an earthquake.


This work of art is a tribute to the people of CR, and stands outside the Banco Nacional in San Jose where the country's money is minted. This photo was taken yesterday on Friday the 13th just 12 minutes after a 5.1 earthquake. The citizens are very casual about quakes, as they happen so frequently.

Is there a story to the bell, Liz? Did it originally sit atop a building or is it meant to be on the ground?

sunset last night

I wish I knew the bell's story, but I don't. Sorry

I liked this shot of the town of Limone on Lake Garda with the sun glinting off the lake. Gave the view a very pleasing effect to me.

In case I'm not the only one fascinated by transport history, here's a lovely example of the old signs I collect, which were stopped in 1964 and despite rules to remove them all remain in many corners and a few major roads. This is in deepest Surrey.

A lone egret in amongst many geese at the nature reserve. Plenty of cormorants too, but they were too far away to photo.

Some lovely nature shots, enjoying them all. From the quiet serenity of the countryside to the hustle and bustle of downtown San Jose. The 5.1 earthquake that hit just 25 minutes before hasn't slowed things down any - life in the big city goes on.

We've had unseasonal rains and a cyclone alert this past week. Taken on a cloudy Sunday morning.

SO when you say you collect road signs, SatG, do you mean photos of them?
I used to collect road signs too until a police officer suggested ever so nicely, as a friend and I were pouring ourselves home one night, that we shouldn't ...

Here's the White Nanny having dinner with a feral rabbit.

Here's another picture from Lake Garda, showing a swan having a picnic on the shore with some ducks. It even brought it's own bottle of water. Obviously prefers spring water to the water in the lake.

Oh dear! No, I collect photos of signs- there are a handful of survivors from pre-1964 and definitely belong on the road. As it happens I got some more today, this is one of a number of types of subway signs which all had capital letters and the others were black on white. They are also meant to light up but probably not for decades. This is one of a set of four double sided in Hounslow.

Spotted this delivery bicycle during my 'drive-by shooting', in front of a meat and cheese store as we drove through downtown San Jose on Friday.

I'm really loving all of the pictures. Those statues are great, MadMags! Also liking the birds, goat, bunnies, signs and everything else.

It was a wonderful sunny, mild day again today, just right for going for a walk, so of course I did. Found a different part of town to explore, and spotted this rather interesting house.

An unusually shaped tree at the Colaba Woods.

A shopper in the market district of San Jose, seen as I was driving by.

A creeper growing on a coconut tree.

for some reason I find that kind of creepy, Zorba. Looks like a centrepede climbing the tree!

Yeah, it sure does Copago. Interesting plant. And, the tree from yesterday -- a backward "C." It looks like someone cut the tree and then the tree decided it wanted to live. I can hear it now. "I Want To Live!"

This is the second of my (very) occasional series of photos: Hard Rock Cafés around the world. I'll leave you to guess where this one is...

These flowers caught my eye today in Kenton

Love the trees and flowers!

When I first saw these bunnies today, I thought they were lawn ornaments. Then they moved! There was another white one outside the fence as well.

Another member of the kindness and well being at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Center. This beautiful Redtail Hawk lost her ability to hunt due to brain and eye damage caused by West Nile virus. I knew horses could catch that disease but did not realize birds also suffer. She can no longer hunt, but when the wind blew she faced it and lifted her wings. Somewhere there must be a echoing memory..

Deb, that brought tears to my eyes, as most things do if they concern animals and their pain. She is so beautiful.

This is Croydon, Britain's answer to America, recently added with Canary Wharf but when I took this in the 90s was more or less unique. It was bombed during the war and rebuilt like this. There are a few isolated groups of modern blocks in places like Basingstoke but nothing like this. The best view's from the flyover but illegal to stop, I must try and find a way to do it.

Here's a building which is a little older, the Amphitheatre in Verona. I didn't venture inside, I suffer from Leophobia*.



(*That would be a fear of lions. Probably. )

Now that you mention it Copago, it does look like a centipede.

The Afghan Church at Navy Nagar built by the British to commemorate those who lost their lives in the First Afghan War in 1838.

Here is a picture of a dam across the Adige river in Italy. It's the second longest river in Italy & passes through Verona on it's way to the Adriatic sea. It's also connected via underground tunnels to Lake Garda to prevent flooding of valleys, towns & cities further downstream, a huge problem in the past. This dam is part of the flood control scheme.

The H2 has just left Golders Green station behind it heading for Hampstead Garden Suburb

Banganga, Mumbai

Oooooh, I really like that one, zorba.

I've never seen the Paper Mill glow red before! This normally white building looked like this for about two minutes as the sun disappeared from the horizon.

Another shot from Venice. A gondola full of Japanese tourists? How could I not take a photo & turn the tables on them? See how they like it.

Am enjoying the armchair trip through Italy, Martin.

This is the exterior of La Merced church in Nicaragua, an interior shot of which I posted in this week's theme thread. Although an imposing church, it is in need of cleaning and some repair. The dollar fee one pays to climb up to the bell tower to overlook the colonial city of Granada goes towards their restoration fund.

This is our Renault Dauphine outside our house in about 1964. In 1965 we moved, and in 1995 I returned to an almost identical house on the same estate.

Thank you, MadMags.

Banganga is an ancient water tank. According to legend, Hindu god Ram stopped there while searching for his wife and asked his brother for some water. Laxman shot an arrow and water sprang out of the spot it landed on. The water is considered to be a tributary of the Ganga which is actually miles away. Thus the name Banganga where Ban means arrow.

Another temple from the same complex

Cool.

Tredici: another fabulous bird photo!

Martin: you're fueling my unrequieted wanderlust with all those wonderful pictures (sigh)

Mags: "haunting" subject. Reminds me of New Orleans cemeteries for some reason.

Satguru: lovely bouquets - I'd happily accept any one of them : )

Zorba: wow, realllly neat architecture photos (sighs wistfully). Am afraid "this" is likely to be the closest connection I'll ever have with anything remotely related to India LOL...



I like 3 pickled onions and 5 queen olives in my martooni's - that way I can call 'em "lunch" (gigggles)

Here's another one for you Jakeroo. I'm pleased my pictures are being so well received. It's nice to be able to share my holiday with others this way.

This is just one of the many many vineyards in the area I visited.

Lol at your lunch, Jakeroo. Martin, did you get a sample at each of the 'many many' vineyards you visited?

So... I paid my dollar towards the restoration fund for the Merced church, and up, up, up I went. A tight angle, and tiny steps made it quite the venture.

Thanks, Jakeroo. Martin, that's another beautiful picture. I love the 'blue' mountains. Mags, your photo makes me feel slightly dizzy. How did you manage to climb those narrow stairs?

A few washerwomen heading home at the end of the day.

It isn't even December yet, but many people have their Christmas decorations up already. This well-decorated yard isn't many streets away from mine.

India looks to be a colourful country, zorba. Love that pic.

How did I manage to climb those narrow stairs, you ask? Well, going up wasn't too bad, it's not too scary to have your heels hanging off the step, but coming down was a trip. My toes were hanging over this time, and I had to hold my camera on my shoulder or overhead, as it would bang in any other position. No way could I sling it on my front, as I needed to see my feet! I pity a man with large feet coming down.

Zorba: I agree with Mags comment on all the bright colours in your photos. My part of the world is rather drab by comparison.

Martin: oooo, another "lunch" possibility! lol ty. Seriously though, that's a great picture. I, for one, had no idea the vineyards were that close to the mountains. The only ones I've seen in person were in British Columbia and California - hilly yes, mountains no.

Mags: Well it's a relief to know that the red colour on the stairs is not blood and that you made it down safely lol. VERY cool shot, I must say - at first glance it looked like a really neat "op art" or metal sculpture depiction of a sliced watermelon complete with floating rind : )

and oh yes, I finally found of my cemetery pix of New Orleans that sort of reminded me of your picture. Many of the crypts look like miniature churches or houses. They are constructed that way for two reasons: a) because of the (lack of) sea elevation, traditional below-ground graves don't work well there (the raising of the dead is not appreciated during flooding) and b) the high heat during summer helps to decompose remains quickly - meaning that crypts can be re-used within anywhere between 6 months and 2 years. (hmmm, I feel a quiz topic might be in the works lol)



p.s. One thing I found "ironic" about this location is that the tan coloured modern building in the background is a senior citizen's facility. Imagine looking out your window every day and seeing where you might be going next ~

Cemeteries and graveyards can often make for some interesting photo ops. Nice one, Jakeroo.

From one belltower to the next: At the top of the Le Merced belltower, one can see the belltower of the Granada Cathedral in the distance.

In 1854 the original Le Merced belltower was destroyed, and this one was rebuilt in 1862.



While I was up here, the bellringer did his thing - 3 bells ringing makes quite the noise so close up!

I didn't partake at any of the vineyards. In fact the only wine I drank was a bottle that I bought in a supermarket & drank in my room at the hotel on the nights I was too tired to walk into town. But it was a local 'brew', so maybe that counts.

Spanishliz - Why is Mickey Mouse dressed as santa I wonder? Not exactly traditional I'd have thought!

Mags - that's quite a tricky stairway to negotiate, but the view was worth it.

This is another picture from Venice showing one of the old fresh water wells. Capped & no longer used, it's a reminder of the way things used to be there.


(Slightly blurry due to rain drops on the lens. )

I'm not sure what Mickey thinks he's doing playing Santa, Martin. Perhaps these deer know what he's up to?

lol spanishliz. Not sure they care about Mickey. To me, they look like they're saying "okay, we're all dressed up, now WHERE'S THE PARTY?" lol. Cute pic

This is a place called Brown Moss.