HAPPY NEW WEEK!Hello from very icy Indiana. I hope everyone has a wonderful week!!!Cardinal on Ice U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service photoLabelled Public Domain (Copyright-Free)
Misty here, but unhealthily mild. Dealing with lots of paperwork and filing this morning. Also yesterday and today washing new towels before first use - old ones were in various stages of "expiring" (like that description, AQ) so we decided to replace them all (20% off with Sparks from M&S). Some old will be designated for utility or garden uses, others will possibly go in the next "charity bag".
Good to hear from everyone, but we seem to have a few confusions about who's who (should that be whom?) right now!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Well, here I am, finally finishing my story of our holiday last October! Every time I sit down to put up my pictures, I seem to get interrupted, or else there is something more pressing needing doing....
Anyway, lets see.... we were in the Town of Olympia in Greece, and we have looked at the wonderful and fascinating remains of the original Olympic Site. When it was excavated, it was soon realised that if they left the statues and artifacts found in situ, they would deteriorate and it was decided to build a modern Museum to house them. So our guide led us through the trees to a long low building. Here, there were many people milling around, including other groups like ours, being guided. So many nationalities!
The museum has mostly windows in the roof to let in light, and artificial lighting otherwise to show up the exhibits. The first place you come to is a large room lined with many many statues rescued from the ruins. They decided to show them just as they were, even with missing parts, rather than put in clumsy modern pieces to fill in the gaps, so they only have pieces of metal to hold them together in places.
--- Sorry if some of my pics are slightly out of focus, as I had to literally snap! quickly as we walked around, and with many other people there, it was sometimes hard to get a good view.
There were several beautiful horses, and many soldiers in uniforms, and various heroes and gods:
Didn't even have time to read the notices, like this chap!
I really enjoyed it, in spite of the crowds. It's quite awesome, to use a word which is popular nowadays, to see things which were from so long ago and were so important at the time.
A lion!
Greek key designs on the pediments.
A striking woman, in spite of her nose and chin being chipped.
In another room, many artifacts from battle and weapons: these were the helmets worn, and they were scary in the extreme. Being made of metal, they had survived well.
The Goddess Medusa, with her snakes for hair.
A particularly special helmet, as it had inscriptions on it to show it was a gift, and who it was made for. A particular important person. It was enclosed in a glass case so that it could be viewed all around. It was very creepy. So sinister.....
There was a special room, set aside for just one exhibit: a large statue of Hermes. Apart from the whole of the museum being built with an eye on the possibility of earthquakes in this part of the world, he was placed upon a special stand to protect him:
He would have been holding a bunch of grapes in his right hand, said our guide. And the little boy who was also a god, would have been reaching out as he teased him with the grapes.
It was certainly a beautiful object. Our guide made us laugh, though, as he said "Women in particular seem to find him handsome, and some have likened him to a certain Robert Redford!"
There were some lovely ladies too Our guide told us that in this era, it was the first time that proper drapery around the statues was depicted, and that everything became more lifelike, including the poses they were in.
Now, this is someone famous, (EDIT -- just looked him up, and it was Hadrian) and the detail on his tunic was fascinating as it had been made to show how powerful he was and what was in his life: the leather skirt, for instance, had various symbols and meanings. I could not get near enough to get him in all his glory, sadly.
Another serene and beautiful lady.
We went back out into the daylight, and the heat was surprising, as it was October, so we were glad to get back into our coach and be taken via a vineyard, where I bought olive oil and gifts, to our waiting ship.
We sailed from there, with a whole day at sea the next day, back to Venice where we completed our circular tour.
That evening I stood on a very windy deck, as I could see that the sunset was very dramatic. These are two of my favourite pictures of the whole trip! :
- - A wonderful, wonderful holiday which I shall keep, treasured in my memory for ever.
Glad you enjoyed your cruise so much and have happy memories to treasure.
Good afternoon, all. Didn't see too much when I went out with the camera today but you might like this bird:
Click on it to see a few more.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.
{{{HUGS}}} to Margo, Brenda, Heather.
Linda - Amazing pics. Thank you.
What a difference a day makes. Temp drop 15 C from yesterday. The poor cyclists in the Barossa endured 42 C and their race was cut short for health reasons. Today they are riding through Adelaide Hills. I am off now to shops to replenish food supplies.
Evening all: Lots of busy stuff around the house again today. Took care of the Cecile Brunner climbing rose, but not before I realized the exterior Xmas lights were still up (though not on), so had to take them down.
Clare: My Mum used to heat the camphorated oil by the fire before I got slathered with it - used to like the smell.
Lindybird: Glad you got your photos all posted. After all, can't be long before your next trip!
Sending very best to Margo and Brenda.
AQ: Here's to cooler days!
Good Morning. Still dark here: it's getting much lighter earlier in the afternoons but still wintry first thing. I'm up early as another busy day - off to get my haircut, to start off.
Annette- You're right, the holiday pics are now done but we are off in five weeks on our next one! By the way, I never did get around to finishing the ones from the previous year, from Malta. LOL! Must put up the ones of Valletta at least......
AQ - Hope the cool spell lasts for you. Those cyclists make me feel tired, even when it's not hot!
Hope everyone has a good day and hugs from me for Brenda and Margo, too.
Today's pic: