"From Seville's palaces
To Ronda's forbidding cliffs,
Extra virgin bliss."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 09 11 Ronda |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from the countryside between Seville and Ronda, Spain. It shows some of Spain's countless olive groves. Spain is the world's largest exporter of olive oil. In 2022, 43% of the world's exports came from Spain.
"Plaza de Toros,
Bullfighting's historic ring,
Hemingway's retreat."
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| From 2023 09 11 Ronda |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from Ronda, Spain.
"The city of Ronda is home to the Real Maestranza de Caballería, the oldest and most noble order of horsemanship in Spain since 1485."
The Plaza de toros de Ronda is claimed to be the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain.
"American artists Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles spent many summers in Ronda as part-time residents of Ronda's old-town quarter called La Ciudad. Both wrote about Ronda's beauty and famous bullfighting traditions."
A bonus photo is after the jump.
"Perched on cliff's edge high,
Ronda's beauty spans the sky,
River far below."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 09 11 Ronda |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from Ronda, Spain. "Ronda is known for its cliffside location and a deep canyon that carries the Guadalevín River."
"Osborne's black bull reigns
On Spanish roads, silent guard,
Cultural icon."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 09 10 Cordoba |
Today's photo-of-the-day is of a highway billboard, the Osborne bull, "a black silhouetted image of a bull in semi-profile...As of July 2022 there are 92 of them installed on hilltops and along roadways throughout much of Spain", as tall as 46 ft. Their history is a fascinating example of bureaucracy at work. Created in 1955 for an advertising campaign, the bulls grew on people and became the symbol of the company, and eventually, the nation. When a 1962 roadside beautification law outlawed billboards within 20 meters of the roadway, the bulls were moved back and enlarged. When a 1974 law banned billboards within 50 meters of roadways, the bulls moved again. A 1994 law targeted the bulls yet again, threatening their removal altogether. This time, the Spanish Supreme Court ruled that the bulls could remain, as they had "aesthetic or cultural significance."
"Great Mosque encircles
Cathedral nestled within,
Unity in stone."
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| From 2023 09 10 Cordoba |
Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, officially known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, but due to its status as a former mosque, it is also known as the Great Mosque of Córdoba. Not to take sides, but it's the architecture of the mosque that is impressive here. The cathedral was built inside of the mosque and, big as it is, is completely encircled by the sprawling mosque. Little appreciated fact: Jesus lived his whole life without ever stepping foot inside either a mosque or a cathedral.
A bonus photo of the cathedral inside the mosque is after the jump.
"Through centuries past,
Alcázar's splendor endures,
A timeless fortress."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 09 09 Seville |
Today's photo-of-the-day is of the Royal Alcázar of Seville, "a historic royal palace in Seville, Spain. It was formerly the site of the Islamic-era citadel of the city, begun in the 10th century and then developed into a larger palace complex by the Abbadid dynasty (11th century) and the Almohads (12th to early 13th centuries). After the Castilian conquest of the city in 1248, the site was progressively rebuilt and replaced by new palaces and gardens." Is it a fort, a castle, a citadel, a palace, a city? Yes. It's a sprawling maze of delights.
"Córdoba's treasure,
Sunlight's dance upon the stone,
Easter's vibrant hues."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 09 10 Cordoba |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, Spain. I'll have more to say about this impressive building with a future POTD, but for today, Happy Easter, for those who celebrate. And Ramadan Mubarak for those celebrating that. Joy and prosperity to all.
"In Maria's park,
Baroque, Moorish dreams converge,
Tiled fountains shimmy."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 09 09 Seville |
Today's photo-of-the-day is of Plaza de España in Seville, Spain, "a plaza in the Parque de María Luisa. It was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. It is a landmark example of Regionalism Architecture, mixing elements of the Baroque Revival, Renaissance Revival and Moorish Revival (Neo-Mudéjar) styles of Spanish architecture." I wonder if that blend of eclectic, even clashing, architectural styles drew disdain like today's McMansion mishmash architectural styles do. I also wonder what reaction a similarly designed Richardson City Hall would get.
"Waves lap at its feet,
Stories of conquest and feat,
Belém Tower reigns."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 09 06 Portugal |
Now for somewhere completely different. Today's photo-of-the-day is of Torre de Belém (Bethlehem Tower) in Lisbon, Portugal, "a 16th-century fortification located in Lisbon that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers."
"Skyline stretches out,
A modern metropolis,
Jakarta shines bright."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 04 09 Jakarta |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from Jakarta, Indonesia. It was taken on the last night of our month-long vacation in New Zealand, Australia, and Indonesia. Jakarta is a modern megalopolis. Situated just south of the equator, its climate is warm year-round. I say warm instead of hot because Texans experience hotter summers than Jakarta does. Jakarta is one of those cities where the expression "it's not the heat, it's the humidity" was made for.
The photo was taken on the umpteenth floor of an apartment building. I say umpteenth because it's hard to know for sure. There are levels for parking, for a mall, for a large outdoor deck, for a swimming pool and community rooms, all before you get up to the residential floors, for which the numbering starts all over. Let's just say we had a magnificent view of central Jakarta from our son's apartment high above Jakarta's streets.
Good night and goodbye, Jakarta. Selamat malam.
"Way down bumpy roads,
Dinner's joy in Bali's heart.
Wonderful retreat."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 04 06 Bali |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from Beehouse Dijiwa Ubud in Bali, Indonesia. We didn't stay in this "private paradise surrounded by amazing rice paddies, lush greeneries, and view of Mount Agung." But we had dinner here on our last night in Bali. Just getting to the restaurant was a nighttime adventure down a narrow, bumpy road that our driver never hesitated on, although I suspect he scratched his car on one tight squeeze. I wish I could remember what we had to eat, but like everything about our stay in Bali, I do remember that it was wonderful.
"Taman Ayun's heart,
Bali's heritage enshrined,
UNESCO's love signed."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 04 06 Bali |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from Taman Ayun Hindu Temple in Bali, Indonesia. Pura Taman Ayun is a quiet oasis of Balinese temples and gardens with water features. In 2012, Pura Taman Ayun was added as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
"Rice terraces stretch
Up, down, along the valley.
Swings high above."
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| From 2023 04 06 Bali |
Today's photo-of-the-day is from Tegallalang, Bali, a popular tourist site because of its beautiful rice terraces and countless photo ops.
A bonus photo is after the jump.
"Bali at twilight,
Low tide unveils rocky path
to Tanah Lot's grace."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 04 06 Bali |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken at Tanah Lot, a spit of rock off the west coast of Bali, Indonesia, that is home to a Hindu temple. The temple can only be reached on foot at low tide. The sun setting in the ocean behind the temple makes it a popular site for photography.
"Hindu temples stand,
throughout the Monkey Forest,
Nature's bandits close."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 04 06 Bali |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken in the Monkey Forest of Ubud on the Indonesian island of Bali. About a thousand long-tailed macaque monkeys live in the sanctuary. The sanctuary is also home to three Hindu temples. Let's stipulate up front that the monkeys love stealing from the tourists and the tourists love seeing the monkeys do it. They can unscrew water bottles and unzip backpacks and purses and reach inside pockets. Keep your hats, sunglasses, cameras, food (especially food) to yourself and out of reach of the monkeys (better yet out of sight of the monkeys), and no one will get hurt (probably). Otherwise, all bets are off.
"Bali's Hindu charm,
Temple by Lake Bratan where
Nature and gods meet."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 04 06 Bali |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken on the island of Bali, Indonesia. Bali is Indonesia's only Hindu-majority province. With its temples, music, dance, painting, and, of course, beaches and resorts, there's something for almost any tourist. Our photo is of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan. The temple complex is on the shores of Lake Bratan in the mountains near Bedugul in north-central Bali.
"Five million souls live
with Ranjani's constant threat.
Lombok's restless heart."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 04 05 Lombok |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken on the island of Lombok, Indonesia, about the same size as Bali, which is just to its west. Lombok is home to over 5 million Indonesians, one of whom is shown here. If Lombok makes the news in America, it's most likely because of a volcanic eruption. The island's geography is dominated by the 12,224 ft stratovolcano Mount Ranjani, an active volcano that had a large eruption as recently as 2010. One of the largest volcanic eruptions in world history occurred on Lombok in 1257.
"Volcanic islands,
Dragons roam in wild splendor.
Evolution's gift."
—h/t ChatGPT
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| From 2023 04 04 Rinca |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken on Rinca Island, home of Indonesia's Komodo National Park, populated by an estimated 5,700 giant lizards, or Komodo Dragons. We saw a dozen or so, from a safe distance. At least they told us we were safe.
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| From 2023 04 01 Darwin |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken on our visit to Darwin, our last stop in Australia. The interior decorator on the Viking Mars cruise ship that we traveled on had a monochrome design fetish, as the bookshelves in various public rooms were ordered by color. Just wanting to mess with their heads, I sometimes swapped a book from one shelf to another, just to see how long it would take before the staff put things back in Viking's preferred order. I was never disappointed.
A bonus photo is after the jump.
"Jaws in midair snap.
Darwin's wild heartbeat revealed.
River spectacle."
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| From 2023 04 01 Darwin |
Today's photo-of-the-day was taken about 45 miles from Darwin, Australia. It was taken from a boat on the Adelaide River, billed as the "Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise." Was it spectacular? See for yourself.
Bonus photos are after the jump.