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From the fjords to the straits

 2024 has been a whirlwind of travel.  All good before time runs out. As in the passage of our being through this galaxy while the faculties still work.

Each trip is a glimpse into human endeavor in different geos, and how it evolved with its local conditions and temperatures and political motivations.

The beginning of the year was the trip to Cote d'Azur and new years day in Antibes, France.  What a gem of a place with its perch on the Mediterranean; a former haven for aristocrat and artistes and today a reminder to take life slow and savor sunsets.


Night lights at the church


Grasse perfumery in the hills


Cannes on the coast


That was then followed by a summer jaunt across the Atlantic this time to hit the northern fringes of Europe in Scandinavia.

Oh what joy! As a train nerd it was especially fabulous with sights like no other from vast fjords to the mountainous regions of Norway.  




A trip on the Fjords


Flams Bana



along the 20 km journey from Flam to top of the hill at Myrdal


Sweden and Denmark dazzled in their own way with the former home to some interesting architecture in towns like Malmo and Goteborg whilst the Danes certainly show how to enjoy summers on the water and grab food on the go.


Mamma Mia museum


Rollicking fun on the sea (Stockholm)


Stockholm metro colors


Oslo architecture


Walking on the roof 


Ode to Munch, Oslo Norway


Corkscrew? More like multi use building in Malmo Sweden designed by Francisco Calatrava whose other works I like include Liege Railway station in Belgium and the Oculus in NYC


Fall saw us visiting the French speaking part of Canada in the royal city of Montreal, Quebec.  It has been a bucket list of mine to eat their poutine (fries with cheese) and smoked meat during a visit to this old city on the Lawrence River. It did not disappoint as the weather although turning cooler was certainly still enjoyable on the water and inland.





1976 Summer Olympics venue


Finally the end of the year took us on an epic journey to visit three countries again to the Mediterranean but this time to allow us to venture by boat to land on the shores of Africa.  Tarifa, Spain to Tangier, Morocco is a hour long ferry ride and what a memory it is.



Alhambra in Granada Spain


Rock of Gibraltar


street scene Tangier, Morocco


Mosque in Tangier


Costa del Sol in Spain (beach resort of Fuengirola)


Ever since watching the Jason Bourne films I had put away another bucket list item and that was visiting the sites to experience that Gibraltar strait crossing myself. It is now a great memory.



Boarding in Tarifa Spain


On the boat to Africa


Oh and one more thing.. for a plane geek like me - crossing an active runway after a jet has rolled on by to land or take off was accomplished walking across the airport in Gibraltar, UK. A British piece of real estate sticking out in the very edge of the Med where it meets the Atlantic the climb up in a cable car is a must see attraction. Your reward - you see 3 countries and 2 continents in one view.

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