Mediterranean Cruise II

Click image for more photos ...

 I have posted some photos taken on our Mediterranean Cruise back in November, 2011. It was a fun adventure in very scenic spots so there were a lot of pictures to go through. The picture at left was taken at Oia on the island of Santorini. We missed a conference on Santorini back in 2004. And we had plans to go there back in 2005 -- we had to cancel when Kate broke her ankle. So we finally made it and are pleased to report that it's a stunningly beautiful spot. But so too are the other ports of call. For more photos see the Photo Album of our Mediterranean Cruise.

We did our part to save the Greek and Italian economies and we even did our bit to change the governments -- both Berlusconi and Papandreou resigned during our trip! Coincidence?

Mediterranean Cruise I

Kate and I are just back from a Mediterranean cruise on the Star Princess. The photo is Kate at Katakolon -- a gateway port to Olympia (which we did not visit) in Greece.

We left Rome (actually the port of Civitavecchia) in early November with stops in Naples, Santorini, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Mykonos, Athens, Katakolon, Corfu, Dubrovnik and finally Venice. Nights were spent travelling between ports, days were spent touring -- each day was sort of a "20 minute Louvre" where you dash in and try to see it all. We did a couple of organized tours but most ports we explored on our own. We have a lot of photos to organize.

The weather held for us. We had sunny days and no rain. The day in Mykonos was very windy. We had hoped to go swimming there but it was far too windy for us. Although I did some a couple of brave souls in the water.

We were well outside the tourist season. On Santorini and Mykonos most of the restaurants were closed. But we were surprised how busy things were. It must be really crazy during the heights of tourist season. I have a sense that travelling in late September through early October would be a good time to visit the islands. Perhaps on our next trip.

See also Photo Album of Mediterranean Cruise.

England

Click on Photo for Photo Album

In November of 2011 were were in England for a few days. Kate had a meeting in London so we arranged some holiday time around it. We took a train from Pancras Station and visited with our "No. 1 Son" Christopher in Nottingham where he's a student and I tramped around the city of London while Kate was at her meetings. After England we went on a Mediterranean Cruise of the Eastern end.

Nottingham is a pretty old town with canals and locks from the industrial age. Christopher took us to a couple of very old hotels. The "Trip to Jerusalem" (1189 AD) at the foot of the castle is supposed to be the oldest still standing inn in England but then we bumped into another, The "Bell Inn" that made a similar claim *(oldest in Nottingham, but isn't the other one in Nottingham as well?). Nottingham is of course famous for Robin Hood, Maid Marion and all that.

In London we stayed in Bloomsbury, not far from the British Museum which we both enjoyed. The Parthenon Marbles are found there and are an irritant between Britain and Greece. On the one hand the British say they've saved them, on the other hand the Greeks say they were looted. Our hotel was right across the street from Tavistock Square, there's a statue of Ghandi there.

I tramped around the city quite a bit. Kate's meetings were near Trafalgar Square and I walked from there down the Mall to Buckingham Palace. Lots of pomp and circumstance there. Then to see the horse palace, changing of the guards and a walk along Whitehall to Big Ben and Westminster Palace.

Here's a photo album if you're interested.

Fred Picnic

Click image for more photos ...

Another Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic at the Springwater Conservation Area near Aylmer. Good weather, good music, good fun.

The Rizdales, from London, played this year.

Fred's band, with the fabulous Ginn Sisters continues to evolve with new players on bass, mandolin and electric guitar.

Rizdales

Click image for more photos ..

The Rizdales performed at the Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic. The album under the photo captures some of their performance.

Home County

Click image for more photos ...

Photos from the Home County Folk Festival held in Victoria Park London, Ontario. Beautiful weather to enjoy work shops and hear some new music.

I was most impressed with the very young Ariana Gillis pictured at left. Her dad performed with her.

Pinery & Grand Bend

Click image for more photos ...

My friend Charles wanted to take a photo trip out to the lakeside -- we visited Grand Bend and the Pinery Provincial Park.

Kate and I often go to Grand Bend, I've only been to the Pinery a few times.

Charles took pictures with his 35mm film camera. Today he's travelling with a well used Olympus; he's usually on Nikon cameras. He'll never go digital.