"You don't have to be a Celt to believe in faeries"

Under this sun you start looking for faeries; they are more active during the twilight hours... ;)

More from Devon

Sadly I have to leave the close investigation of cliffs to the experts, as there is active erosion along the whole Jurassic Coast :(

Jurassic Coast Devon

This is England's first natural World Heritage Site, and it is known as the "Jurassic Coast".

These dramatic cliffs of red rock are the distinctive feature of the East Devon Coast. The coastline dates back to the Triassic period (250-200 million years ago !!!!). We live near the oldest cliffs (the red ones), but just think that the youngest are about 200 million years old. :))

The geologists say that this area used to be desert-like, with sand dunes and salt lakes...

Devon Cliffs

End of the world: no wireless!!!!

.ro 2

A glowing evening sun shed its light upon the chalet ;) Postavarul Chalet, 1604m, warm wine, home made cakes....

And now perhaps Fyurien should rephrase his statement; any clues?

.ro 1

I couldn't help but share with you these photos. (Romania, January '07). It wasn't my intention for now, but someone provoked me :)

"Duke Ramunc of Walachia,
with seven hundred vassals, galloped up before her
like flying wild birds men saw them ride"
(The Nibelungenlied - epic poem written c. 1200 by an unknown poet from the Danube region)

It's still argued that this could be the first reference of the name "Romanian", but even if it has not been proven YET :) I like to believe in the unidentified Ramunc.

A room with a view - 2

Same window, different view...

And there are many others. Very different, but still all beautiful and true.

Tango to Evora, by Loreena McKennitt

The Celts, the Lusitans, Romans, Moors and Christians ruled the area and today there are many monuments dating from various historical periods.

Loreena McKennitt began her journey when she started to connect Celtic music with its history. She had learned about the geographic and historic spread of the Celts and then she found herself "drawn into a rich, ancient tapestry of sounds and rhythms and stories". She visited many places in the world exploring Celtic ruins and artifacts.

I really enjoy learning more about her recordings and the travels and research behind them.

Tango to Evora reminds me of my childhood days spent during summer holidays; of my childhood home and of my childhood dreams. Probably because of the relation between Vasco da Gama and Evora. I read "The Lusiads" many times as I loved traveling with this successful explorer :) I was very happy when we finally discovered India!

The Comedy of Romeo and Juliet - 2

The second example in support of my argument:

Romeo:Pardon, good Mercutio, my business was great, and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.
Mercutio:That's as much as to say, such a case as yours constrains a man to bow in the hams.
Romeo: Meaning "to curtsy"?
Mercutio: Thou hast most kindly hit it.
Romeo: A most courteous exposition.
Mercutio: Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.
Romeo: Pink for flower
Mercutio: Right.

Which translates :))

Romeo: Excuse me good Mercutio. I had very important business to take care of. It was so important that I had to forget about courtesy and good manners.
Mercutio: In other words "important business" made you flex your buttocks.
Romeo:You mean do a curtsy?
Mercutio: You've hit the target, sir.
Romeo: That's a very polite and courteous explanation.
Mercutio: Yes, I am the pink flower, the master of courtesy and manners.
Romeo: The Pink flower
Mercutio: Right.

I know that Mercutio loves wordplay, especially sexual double entendres, but I am not sure I understand much. Can anyone be more specific? :))))

The Comedy of Romeo and Juliet - 1

I thought Romeo and Juliet was a tragedy. I've just finished reading the play and now I think it is a comedy! :))

I'll bring some examples to support my argument. There is the first one:

'Tis almost morning; I would have thee gone:
And yet no further than a wanton's bird;
Who lets it hop a little from her hand,
Like a poor prisoner in his twisted gyves,
And with a silk thread plucks it back again

which translates :))

It's almost morning. I want you to go, but I'd only let you go as far as a spoiled child lets his pet bird go. He lets the bird hop a little from his hand and then yanks him back by a string.

Juliet compares Romeo to a pet bird. That's why he stands up like a man and says:

"I would I were thy bird!"

A room with a view - 1

They had been promised A room with a view. And they got A room without a view.

They complained about this ( yes, they are women) and someone immediately offered to exchange rooms.

That's how it all started. Then they kissed, and later they became... neighbours. Then they kissed once again and she had to make a decision. :(( She made one, so they married and they spent their honeymoon in the same pensione they had met; the room they occupied was A room with a view.

I had been promised A room with a view too. And I got A room with many views.

Will anyone offer to exchange rooms if I complain well enough?

I wish I had A room with a view, but for me there are so many views from the same window...

Hehehe, just joking! I am not exchanging rooms! Just sharing some of the views from my window (see photo). There are many others...

Norwich Castle with its glass-fronted lift

Good news for William the Conqueror! The Castle he built in Norwich can be reached via a glass-fronted lift from the street level in the Castle Gardens!

We believe that castles were built to hold down conquered territory. We also believe the stone keep castles were built as the ultimate sign of William's power over the English.

The conquered Saxons were forced to raise a mound, some twenty metres high. About 1100 when the mound had settled, masons began to built the stone keep. And again we believe that building on a raised mound gave them the great advantage of visibility.

But you can never know... Maybe William [and I mean William the Conqueror, or William the Bastard :)) ] had this glass-fronted lift in mind when he raised the mound :))

In this case there is no news for him! It's news for us as we find out that castles were built on raised mounds, so we can later enjoy lovely lifts like this one!