June 24, 2012

Scriptreading by the Wailing Wall

Visiting the square by the wailing wall in Jerusalem the place is always filled with activities and visitors.

In this photo a boy and his grandpa sits down just by the wall to do some script reading
- still the boy seems also interested in some other activity going on near by...

 

June 22, 2012

MV "Color Magic" leaves Oslo bound for Kiel

MV "Color Magic" passes Fjellstrand as she is leaving Oslo


Worlds largest car ferry MV "Color Magic" and her sister ship MV "Color Fantasy" sails daily between Oslo and Kiel in Germany. The route has been run since 1961.
The current ferry owned by Color Line. Previously, the route was driven by Jahre Line.

 

June 21, 2012

Old Roundpole fence in the summer landscape


The roundpole fence is a wooden fence typical to the countryside in Norway (in Norwegian:skigard). It is normally made from unbarked and unsplit youngish trees, mostly spruce or juniper. Roundpole fences have traditionally been used as a means of fencing off animals rather than marking property boundaries.

The fence construction generally consists of 3 or 4 parts: uprights put together in pairs, round poles laid horizontally or diagonally between the two uprights, and binding cord usually made from young saplings - and sometimes also diagonal bracing.

The fence is usually 1.5–2 metres tall. The fencing can also incorporate specially made stiles and gates. The fence requires an abundance of wood, which was never a problem in Scandinavia, as the trees generally came from the owners' own forests in the process ofthinning them out.

The oldest known roundpole fence dates back to the Iron Age.

(ref: wiki)

 

June 19, 2012

The barber shop in old Jerusalem

As we walk the Via dolorosa - the way of grief - in old Jerusalem, we pass this little barber shop along our route.

Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem must be one of the most visited places in the world complete crowded the whole day with tourists and native people - even on a grey day in November.

Good then to have a photo of this moment of peace in the little barber shop .

You are welcome to see all selected photos from our visit to the old town Jerusalem right here >>

 

June 15, 2012

Jerusalem - prayer at the Wailing Wall


We was anchored in the harbour of Port of Ashdod on our Mediterranian cruise with MV Constellation from Celebrity Cruises when we did this bus tour to Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

Difficult to select among the many photos made under such difficult conditions where you walk in a large group of fellow travellers and also other visitors.

You are welcome to see all selected photos from our visit to the old town Jerusalem right here >>

 

 

June 14, 2012

Østensjøvannet, Oslo - in June

Greylag Geeses at the lake Østensjøvannet, Oslo - KLICK for larger version
Østensjøvannet is a lake in Oslo, capital of Norway. It is well known for the wide variety of birds and other wildlife that can be found there. It is surrounded by the Østensjø borough. It is currently a wildlife preserve, though urban development posed a serious threat to the lake and its environs during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Serie with 4 photos right here >>

June 13, 2012

"The earth is the Lord's and the Fullness thereof"

"The earth is the Lord's and the Fullness thereof." - KLICK for version 1000px
It seems as the nature is in full swing reclaiming this old wooden house at the edge of a field at Kråkstad outside of Oslo, Norway                            

June 12, 2012

Summerfield by the Oslofjord

Summerfield at Jeløya by the Oslofjord - KLICK for a large version
The green summer landscape outside Røed Manor at the island Jeløya in the Oslofjord, Norway.
A perfect place for a walk in contemplation....

Complete Flickr photo set from the Oslofjord right here >>

June 11, 2012

A car ferry to cross the Oslofjord

A car ferry leaves Moss bound for Horten 25 minutes away - KLICK for larger version
Every 20 minutes during the day a car ferry cross the Oslofjord from Moss to Horten and/or the other way.
The passage takes app. 25 minutes.  The company shipped in 2010 over 1.5 million vehicles and more than 3 million passengers.

From WIKI:
Ferry connection over the outer part of the Oslo fjord has a long history, and was probably used from the early Middle Ages. In the visitation books of Bishop Jens Nilsson from 1582 it is mentioned that it was customary to travel over the fjord here.
Tronvik on Jeløya was then the ferry site on the east side of the fjord. In a letter dated 1712 orders of King Frederik IV sheriff in Borre to build a larger ferry, it could take 16 horses and 50 men.
At the ferry privilege of 1752 was required to keep the ferry with room for 6 horses with their riders, and in addition boatsmen.
In 1784 given the provisions on ferry fares, the ferry man to have 40 shillings for rowing a boat for 12 people over the fjord, winter fare was 60 shillings. In 1857 it took over government operations, which place and the ferry was moved to the middle Bryggen in Moss.

More photos from the Oslofjord in this Flickr set >>

June 10, 2012

Norway SE: Linnekleppen - a fire watchtower in the forest

Linnekleppen - KLICK for larger version
Linnekleppen is the highest point in Rakkestad municipality in Ostfold, Norway SE.
325 meters above sea level. It is also the fourth highest point in the county.

The Fire Watchtower is Northern Europe's only at active service in the summer.
From the tower one has views over large areas of the forest in southeast Norway, and parts of Sweden.

The tower was established in 1908 and is staffed in June, July and August.
This version of the tower was erected in 1936. The tower is 17 meters high and has a little room to accomondate the person/guard who stays there.
Visitors have to hike app 3,5km to the tower with an elevation at app 250m.

June 8, 2012

...mmm can you smell them?

Summerflowers - can you smell them? (KLICK for larger version)
The nursery at Røeds Manor at Jeløya in the Oslofjord - june 2012.
More photos from this island "Jeløya" in a Flickr photo set from the Oslofjord

June 7, 2012

Oslo Harbour

Oslo Harbour in a tiltshift setting - KLICK the photo for the LARGE PANO setting

Cruiseships in the Oslo harbour by Akershus Castle.
Tiltshift effect.
PANORAMA - best viewed in original size (KLICK the photo)
More photos from the Oslofjord in this Flickr Photo set >>

June 4, 2012

The Bahai Temple in Haifa, Israel

The Bahai Temple in Haifa at night (- klick the photo for a larger version)

The temple is centered in this compo while the darker diagonal (with the ligt patterns) is the temple garden going from the top of mont Carmel and right down to the city centre.

From wiki:
The Terraces of the Bahá'í Faith, also known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, are garden terraces around the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. They are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Israel. 
Along with the Baha'i Holy Places in Western Galilee, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

June 3, 2012

On the way to Peyrepertuse - a Cathar Castle in the clouds

Trek in the clouds
You could see this day how the clouds was hanging around the summits of the lower Pyrennes.
We had in fact to wait till after lunch before visiting - even then we ended up with a walk in the clouds this day of May 2012.

Find the old castle at the google map here >>

June 2, 2012

Norway SE: A small trek in the forest..

A walk in the forest with some freslyh picked "Lily of the valley"
A half day trek in the forest this early in the year is really recommended. The green nature, the birds singing and the smell of early summer.. hmm..  a fine quality time...

You can see the 7,5km trek right here: http://bit.ly/JHSSlO

Below a forest detail, the little pond Gulltjern in this terrain only 40km southeast of Oslo, Norway:

Gulltjern (The Golden Pond)