On a walk around the city of Rotterdam, there is plenty of greenery to be seen.
The trees are fabulous, the canals are pretty, and the birds are just chillin…
So, yes, Rotterdam is getting prettier and more interesting by the minute…
My first impression of Rotterdam was that it was a dreary, industrial city with not a lot to see and nowhere near as pretty as Amsterdam.
Having been there a second time, I have since changed my mind and it’s growing on me, but when I went to visit Chris in March last year, I was in two minds.
Having said that, I still managed to find lots of art and sculptures around the city.
Have you been to Rotterdam? What did you think of it?
While I was in Valencia last year, I was on my way to meet my friend and I came across the Serranos Gate or Torres dels Serrans (in Valencian). I had some time to kill, so I went to explore.
The Serranos Gate was 1 of 12 gates that made up the city walls of Valencia. It was built in the 14th century and used to defend the city from attacks.
It is still seen as the main entrance to the city and, today, if you climb up to the top of this Gothic-style monument, you will get some amazing views over the city and beyond.
Even though it was January and not that warm, the climb upwards still made me sweat!
But, it was great to see how well-preserved this lovely old gate still is.
Finally, one more flight of stairs to climb and you are at the very top.
If you go to Valencia, make sure you take the time to climb the Serranos Tower!
See morrisophotography for more photos. 🙂
When in Valencia, a fabulous place to visit is the City of Arts and Sciences or Cuidad de las Artes y las Ciencias.
One day, I had arranged to meet my friend, Mark, and as I walked along the dry Turia riverbed, suddenly, I saw these huge buildings looming up in front of me. If you’re into buildings and architecture, like me, these ones definitely have the wow-factor!
This place is so impressive that it is one of the 12 Treasures of Spain alongside the Sagrada Familia and Alhambra, and it’s easy to see why.
There are 7 structures, each has a different purpose.
L’Hemisferic houses a cinema, a planetarium and a laserium. It’s in the shape an eye and with the reflection from the surrounding water you can see the whole eye.
El Museo de les Ciencies Principe Felipe looks like the skeleton of a whale and it’s where the science museum is.
L’Umbracle is a open walk-way with different species of plants that are found in Spain. It’s also where the local parrots have taken up residence.
L’Oceanographic is the largest oceanographic aquarium in Europe where’s you’ll find over 500 species of aquatic animals including dolphins, sharks and seals. We were going to go there because some say it’s one of the best aquariums in Europe, but we decided against it as we didn’t want to see the animals in that kind of environment.
El Palau des les Arts Reina Sofia is an opera house and performing arts centre.
El Pont de l’Assut de l’Or is a cable-stayed bridge connecting both sides of the city.
L’Agora is where concerts and other events take place.
Mark and I wandered around marvelling at the amount of work that had gone into designing and building this stunning complex. It’s definitely a must-see!
For more photographs, go to morrisophotography 🙂
I love street art! Wherever I go, I always make a bee line for it if there is any about.
When I was in Valencia in January 2019, the streets of El Carmen are full of street art. I spent a good couple of hours wandering along the small alleys and streets in search of these colourful creations.
I’ll leave you to follow in my footsteps…
Hope you enjoyed the walk around El Carmen. Do you have a favourite piece of street art?
Jardines de Turia or the Gardens of Turia in Valencia is a must see when you visit the city.
The River Turia has its source in the Montes Universales in the Iberian System of mountain ranges in Spain and it ran right through the city of Valencia into the Med up until 1957 when there was a massive flood which destroyed much of Valencia. To prevent from future floods, the river was diverted around the city. The old course of the river has since dried up and its been turned into a recreational space for everyone to enjoy. (Source: Wikipedia)
The sunken park is around 9 km long and it’s possible to walk (if you’re so inclined) or cycle all of it.
In Valencia at the beginning of this year, I took a walk from my hotel to the City of Arts and Sciences to meet my friend and I decided to walk the 3 km along the dried river bed.
It may be a dried river bed, but it’s actually very beautiful with many species of flowers and trees, fountains and ponds, and attractive bridges which give easy access to the many parts of the city and the wonderful attractions on offer in Valencia.
As I walked along on that crisp January day with the perfectly blue sky above, there were lots of people around.
Some were cycling..
Many were walking, like me…
There were others engaging in a spot of aerobics…
And some, sitting and watching the world go by…
It is such a lovely place to do all these things. It’s so close to the bustling city, but it’s so peaceful and relaxing. Mind you I went in January, so I can imagine there would be hundreds more people around in the high season.
Even so, when in Valencia, you should take a walk through the Gardens of Turia – you’ll be glad you did! 😉
When you think of Bangkok, you might imagine high-rise buildings, long traffic jams, millions of people all going about their day, and noise on every corner. And you’re right – it’s all of these things. What if I were to tell you that there are places, not at all far from all the commotion, where you can enjoy the peace and quiet, away from the madding crowds, the gorgeous trees and flowers, and the resident wildlife? Let’s see where the nature is in Bangkok.
Located in Samut Prakan, lies Bang Pu Nature Reserve – a great little spot where you can go bird-watching and where the locals go to feed the huge flocks of seagulls at the end of the pier.
It’s fun to walk along the elevated walkways through the mangroves with great views of the mudflats and out over the Gulf of Thailand. There’s even a birding hide where you can sit and wait for all the different species that can be found there.
Also in Samut Prakan is Muang Boran – or Ancient City, an open-air museum in the shape of Thailand and covering some 200 acres. The park is full of trees, plants, lakes, decorative bridges, and statues of buildings that can be found all over Thailand, some of which no longer exist.
The best way to see it is to hire a golf buggy or you can cycle round it but, be warned, it is very hot, so you need to take lots of water and wear sunscreen. There are places to buy refreshments in different parts of the park. It’s a really fabulous place to get out into the fresh air where you can learn about some of Thailand’s history.
Chulachomklao Fort is in Phra Samut Chedi District, around 29 km south of Bangkok. It’s a bit of a trek getting there, but it’s fun trying to find your own way there!
There’s lots to explore – a gun park and a bunker with disappearing guns. There’s a statue of King Rama V which stands at the front of the fort and you can also board the huge military ship – H.T.M.S Maeklong – which was used during WWII. Nearby, there is a mangrove forest where you can see the mudflats and critters that live there. You can also meet the resident monkeys who pay no attention to you whatsoever as they chase each other along the boardwalks.
The green lung of Bangkok is the nickname for Bang Krachao, a conservation area located in Phra Pradaeng district, located just across the river from Bangna.
There are orchards, gardens, and forests to explore and the best way to see it all is by bicycle. You can cycle to Bang Nampueng floating market where you can buy and try traditional Thai food. Not too far away is Sri Nakhon Khuankhan botanical gardens, full of tropical trees and flowers, a large pond and several walking and cycling paths. Many people go there to enjoy the nature and relaxed surroundings.
Pa Nai Krung or forest in the city, is located near Suvarnabhumi airport. It’s a beautiful area created to raise awareness of how important the preservation of forest areas is to the environment and where you can learn about forest ecosystems.
There are some 250 native trees, plants and shrubs and a sky-walk and observation tower where you can get fabulous views of the surrounding area.
There are plenty of parks in Bangkok, but King Rama 9 park is the biggest, covering around 200 acres and there are 2,300 plant species and loads of trees for shade on a sunny day. There is plenty of wildlife to encounter too and many photographic opportunities to be had.
The park is split into six different areas, all with different varieties of plants and trees. Many people go to this park as the sun goes down to enjoy the fresh air and the greenery.
Right in the middle of the city, Lumpini Park is a wonderful place to relax if you are out and about. It has a lake, many species of trees and flowers and around 30 species of birds.
This is another popular place for people to go in the evenings to relax after work or to do their daily exercise.
So, if you happen to be in Bangkok, I thoroughly recommend any of these places, especially King Rama 9 park – that was my favourite place to go when I lived there.
What nature is close to your city? 🙂
The Changing Seasons post, inspired by the lovely Sarah at Secret Art Expedition and hosted by Su at Zimmerbitch.
Happy New Year! Let’s hope 2019 will bring joy, happiness, and new adventures!
I arrived back in the UK in time for New Year and saw the beginning of 2019 at my brother and sister-in-law’s party with a family and a few of their friends. It was fun, although I was in bed not long after the clock struck midnight – those damn whisky shots!
After a few more nights in my hometown, I arrived in Valencia full of hope and excitement. This was to be my new home!
I have never been to Valencia before, but the more I read about it – it seemed to be right up my alley. Lots of art and culture and plenty more to explore!
I had given myself a week – thinking back, that was a little overambitious – but a week it was and I wanted to find a place in that time, so I could start my new life.
I found a place, a lovely triplex in Malvarrosa – close to the beach – and it was with excitement I told the guy I’d take it. However, his agent told him to ask me for 11 months rent (7,150 EUR) upfront because I didn’t have income in Spain. That was the end of that!
Then, I found another agent who took me to look at more apartments, but, again, one wanted 6 months deposit, plus his fee, plus 1 month’s (bail) payment – making a grand total of 6,000 EUR. I told him I didn’t have that much money, so forgot about that!
I found out that it is illegal to ask for any more than 2/3 months as a deposit, but there has been an influx of people renting apartments in Valencia and not paying their rent, so many of the landlords are asking for these ridiculous amounts up front. I get it – they are only trying to protect their properties etc., but who has that kind of money to pay up front!? I don’t!
I was only in Valencia for 2 weeks, and for most of that I was stressed, upset, and very frustrated. There were tears, on several occasions. I was sleeping for 12 hours a day, comfort eating, and not doing any exercise!
So, I made the decision to go back to my hometown to reassess and get more money behind me. If I’d stayed in Spain, I would be penniless, not to mention, fat!
My bottom line was “what the hell have I just done – why did I leave Bangkok?”
Even the language was a problem – not many people speak English in Valencia. I was glad that my friend was there because I found it all very intimidating – believe it or not, more people speak English in Bangkok! I’m not shying away from learning Spanish, far from it, and that’s another thing on my list of things to do back home!
I spent the last few days in Valencia getting to know the city. My friend and I went to the City of Arts and Sciences. A stunning complex with several futuristic-type buildings, dedicated to the arts and sciences. (I will write about this at some point)
I took a stroll around El Carmen, whose small lanes and alleyways are adorned with street art. It was great to just wander and see what I came across.
On the way to meet my friend, I came across Torres de Serranos – one of Valencia’s old gateways. I climbed the steps for some awesome views.
I really enjoyed Valencia, apart from all the stress, and it’s a place I can see myself living. I’ve simply taken a sideways step to get me back on track.
I’ve given myself 6 months to get back to where I was! And, if my motto is correct I shouldn’t have any problems!
Everything works out OK in the end! 🙂
The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.
If you would like to join me and the others in this challenge, here are the guidelines:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic)
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
The Changing Seasons post, inspired by the lovely Sarah at Secret Art Expedition and hosted by Su at Zimmerbitch.
I started the month of November with a friend of mine who was in town for a few days and it just happened to be my week off.
We had a fabulous time together and we went to some really nice restaurants and bars in the evenings. Places that I never usually go to – so it was a real treat.
I also took a trip to Muang Boran – or Ancient City– somewhere I have been meaning to go for ages. The park is shaped like Thailand and covers some 200 acres. It’s full of monuments and temples from every corner of the country. It’s too big to walk around, so I hired a golf buggy which was fun! I still never made it all the way round, but I saw a lot!
The park is full of trees, plants, lakes, decorative bridges, and statues of everything imaginable. Some of the structures no longer exist in Thailand, so this place acts like an open-air museum of things that once were. It’s a really fabulous day out!
The best part was a temple at the top of some stairs which gave splendid views across the park and Bangkok.
In other news, one of my favourite restaurants is returning. Hemingways was my go-to place to have lunch and enjoy their all day happy hour! Sadly, it was replaced with a sterile looking hotel that nobody cares about – except those money grabbers! Anyway, it’s re-opening, but I no longer live in Bangkok, so I’ll just have to wait until I go back for a holiday! It looks like they are trying to re-create it as it was before.
I entered Exodus’ 7 world wonders competition. I had to choose 7 places from a list of given destinations and whoever wins gets to go to these places – 1 every year over a 7 year period! Here’s hoping!
My favourite building in Bangkok – Mahanakhon finally opened their observation deck on floors 74-77. I planned to go there before I left, but I didn’t have time, so another thing to add to my list when I return!
My friend Chris and I took a final day out in Banglamphu. To get there, we took the boat along the Saen Saeb canal all the way from Bangkapi to Pathumwan. We got a taxi the rest of the way and once in Banglamphu we walked over 11 km trying to look for a small street full of Buddha statues – which Chris had seen somewhere. We weren’t successful, but it was fun trying.
We had Indian food at Santi, one of my favourite restaurants in that area, followed by a few drinks at a couple of bars. In Superflow, we sat and enjoyed the resident band for over 5 hours wholeheartedly getting involved with giving them requests for songs! It was such a great day out – we always have a fabulous and fun time when we are together.
And here we are half way through December already!
Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas! 🙂
The Changing Seasons is a monthly challenge where bloggers around the world share what’s been happening in their month.
If you would like to join me and the others in this challenge, here are the guidelines:
The Changing Seasons Version One (photographic)
The Changing Seasons Version Two (you choose the format):
In Rome, a great way to explore the city is on foot. I did exactly that with my parents, earlier this year. We spent our days visiting the main sights, like the Colosseum, the Forum, and the Vatican City and, in between, we walked along the streets where we happened upon a few of the city’s wonderful piazzas – each one different, but every one charming. So, here’s my guide to the best piazzas in Rome.
Piazza Navona was my favourite, if only because it was the first one we found. We’d just been to the Vatican and we’d walked through the streets and just came across this beautiful square. With street artists selling their creations, tourists vying for the best spot to take their holiday snaps, and locals chattering over an ice-cream – it’s a vibrant place with a fabulous atmosphere. There are hints of the past all around with its Baroque-style churches and palaces, and 3 impressive fountains which date back to the 16th century. It’s a real pleasure to sit in one of the restaurants, with a glass of wine over lunch, and just lap it all up.
More photographs at www.morrisophotography.co.uk
Piazza della Repubblica is at the top of Via Nazionale and not far from where we were staying. Now a busy roundabout, this piazza is full of history. The shape is semi-circular and part of the piazza was once part of the Baths of Diocletian, as is the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels and Martyrs. In the middle, the obligatory fountain – The Fountain of the Naiads. The fountain was built in 1870 and its 4 statues of the Naiads were built in 1901 by Mario Rutelli. You can see the Nymphs of the Lakes, Rivers, Oceans, and Underground Waters. In the middle, there is a statue of Glaucus, who was supposed to have saved many a sailor from the force of storms at sea. Around the outside of the piazza, the porticos that can be seen were built in the 19th century to commemorate the buildings that stood long ago.
More photographs at www.morrisophotography.co.uk
The day we came across this piazza, we were on a mission to explore Rome by metro. We had already been to the opposite side of the city at Piazza del Popolo and we had made our way to the Spanish Steps. We took the metro to Vittorio Emanuele and found ourselves at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele or Piazza Vittorio. Surrounded with portico-ed buildings, this piazza is the largest in Rome. In the middle of the square is a green space known as Giardini Nicola Calipari. It’s a shame that it was a little run down with overgrown grass and the fountain not working, but it serves as a place to rest your feet for 5 minutes if you are exploring. We were lucky on the day we visited because there was a colourful Hindu festival going out, so we stopped for a while to watch before heading off in the direction of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
More photographs at www.morrisophotography.co.uk
On our last day in Rome, we’d walked over the Tiber River to Isola Tiberina and we had walked back through the streets until we got to the delightful Piazza Campo de’ Fiori. The name means “field of flowers’ which dates back to when the area was nothing but meadows throughout the middle ages. The streets leading onto the piazza are all named after trades – Via dei Balestrari (crossbow makers) and Via dei Guibbonari (tailors) etc. These days there is a bustling market which sells fruit, vegetables, cheeses, and meats, but, in the distant past, it was used as a horse market. Campo de’ Fiori was also used as a place for execution and many a poor soul was burned there. The philosopher, Giordano Bruno among them. Bruno became posthumously renowned for the concept of free thought and new scientific points of view. You can see the statue of Bruno in the middle of the square.
More photographs at www.morrisophotography.co.uk
Enter through the gateway that is Porta del Popolo and you’ll be greeted to a large circular space with fountains and one of the tallest Egyptian obelisks in Rome. The name means “people’s square” which is fitting because it is a place where people can congregate and enjoy each other’s company. Piazza del Popolo was designed in the neo-classical style by Giuseppe Valadier and it links onto the Via Corso which used to be an ancient Roman road called Via Lata.
There are many trees here, making it one of the most attractive piazzas in Rome. The Fountain of the Obelisk is in the middle with its 4 attending lion statues. The Fountain of Neptune and the Fountain of Rome between the Tiber and Aniene flank either side.
We stood and watched some young Sunday morning footballers in action amidst a chattering audience, before climbing the steps to the Pincio Gardens where we could look get a good look at the piazza from our vantage point.
More photographs at www.morrisophotography.co.uk
This little piazza is overshadowed by the well-known Spanish steps that lead down to it, but if you wander around there are little gems to be found. John Keats House has been turned into a museum or there’s Babington Tea Rooms which have been in business since 1893. In the centre of the piazza is the Fountain of the Longboat and hundreds of tourists taking photographs of the famous steps.
Walk away from the throng of people and you’ll find people selling chestnuts or street cafes in the nearby Piazza Mignanelli which is a continuation of Piazza di Spagna. There you’ll find the Column of the Immaculate Conception with its statue of the Virgin Mary at the top and statues of David, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Moses at the base. The column was erected by the city’s firemen and, every year, the fire department places flowers on the monument with the motto: Flammas domamus, donamus corda or we stop fires, giving our hearts.
More photographs at www.morrisophotography.co.uk
This charming piazza was originally jam-packed with shops until Pope Eugenius had them all removed and the area paved in the 15th century. In the shadows of the pantheon, Piazza della Rotonda has always been a hive of activity. A traveller passing through in 1819 described it as:
“Being distinguished (from other parts of Rome) by the gay appearance of the fruit and cake stalls, dressed with flowers and lighted with paper lanterns”
Another traveller, Charlotte Anne Eaton, thought the complete opposite:
“Surrounded by all that is most revolting to the senses, distracted by incessant uproar, pestered with a crowd of clamorous beggars, and stuck fast in the congregate filth of every description that covers the slippery pavement. Nothing resembling such as hole as this could exist in England, nor is it possible that an English imagination can conceive a combination of such disgusting dirt, such filthy odours and foul puddles, such as that which fills the vegetable market in the Piazza della Rotonda at Rome”
Each to their own I guess, but maybe Ms Eaton should have stayed in England!
Thankfully, there wasn’t any disgusting dirt or filthy odours when we sat on the steps of the fountain admiring the beautiful Pantheon and watching the world go by.
The piazza’s fountain, called the Fontana della Pantheon, was built by Giacomo Della Porta in 1575 and has a red marble Egyptian obelisk rising up from the middle. The obelisk was originally built by Pharaoh Ramses II and, after it was re-discovered in 1374, it was moved to Piazza della Rotonda in 1711.
More photographs at www.morrisophotography.co.uk
Have you been to Rome? What are your favourite piazzas? 🙂
