Category: Architecture

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Put-In Bay and family ties

Lake Erie: our fourth Great Lake. We stayed at Ohio’s East Harbor State park – very pleasant.
My Dad’s parents met in 1932 in Put-In-Bay. Looking forward to seeing the island community.
A short 20 minute ferry ride. We are choosing to walk the 2.5 miles into town.
We first visited the Perry’s Victory and International Peace Memorial, built to commemorate the Centennial of a battle of war of 1812. Beautiful and in a wonderful setting. Visitor center was closed but serendipity as rangers were there and let us have a private viewing of the movie.
View as we relaxed on the bench enjoying the sunshine. “Don’t Give Up the ship!”
We talked to the manager of this hotel as it is the oldest still operating. Many other buildings and parks were around in the 1930s. He said they were not the first couple to meet on the island and get married and not the last.
1939 as they start a family. Grandad was a cook on great lake freighters before Put-in-Bay and afterwards, he owned a Dinette in Jackson, MI. Grandma was a farm girl that became a lifelong waitress – and a great baker as well.

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Utah: Sand Island/Butler Wash

We are in Bluff Utah by lunch and snagged a river site at Sand Island Campground.

A wonderful walk along the river to see petroglyphs – and blooming cactus.

Nicely preserved petroglyphs in the rock faces.

Also some wall remnants protected under cliff overhangs.

We headed up Butler Wash along Combs Ridge for some more remote hiking.

More ancient construction under some huge cliffs with protected coves.

Absolutely gorgeous petroglyphs – quite large and very distinct.

We could make up our own stories as to the meanings.

Nice scenery to enjoy after a day of hiking – relaxing in the shade of the van!

A long day hike up a canyon to some more areas of interest.

Posing outside doorway to give some scale to the building.

Love how the large boulders are incorporated into the walls. There must have been an upper level

Amazing hand print detail captured with a zoom lens.

We had a very hot day of hiking and we did not explore all the side canyons.

But enjoyed some unusual natural rock formations.

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8/8: Hovenweep NM / Canyon of the Ancients NM

“Safer at Home and the Colorado Great Outdoors 2020”

We are back in the shadow of the Sleeping Ute.

There were still ruins we had not seen and trails we had not traversed.

Holly ruins can be hiked from Hovenweep NM but we disperse camped at the trailhead.

Amazing how structures are built right from the rock like a medieval tower.

Painted Hand Tower was unique and a pleasant hike.

This is a panorama of the great kiva at Lowry Pueblo.

We hiked both ends of the Sand Canyon and disperse camped here on the upper north end one night with this view of the canyon…

…and these unique structures in alcoves were on the south end.

We walked around Hovenweep NM and marveled at the construction. 

We were here in October 2016.

We appreciated the interesting cloud formations.And were happy to to spot some wildlife with this lizard.

We enjoyed a spectacular sunset from the campground.

We left the Sleeping Ute in the rearview mirror as we finished our 27 days on the road.

 

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Japanese Garden Project

Time to use those kayak arm muscles to move rocks.First of 3 loads of local rock we had delivered. We had some of the boulders moved as well per the architect’s directions.

Templates made of cardboard first to get the dimensions worked out.

Shapes were then cut out of particle board to make concrete form.

Looking good…This just might work!

Wrapped in plastic, concrete was hand mixed and pushed into crevices.

The unveiling a week later shows the close match of concrete colors/textures with the rocks.

Lakeside view showing how bridges starts thicker, goes thinner as it springs out of the rock.

Seven tons of pea gravel are delivered to create the pond.View from living room after we have added a few plants.

The bridge ends at an island which we hope to feature a character pine.

A rake creates the wave patterns that enhance all the island places.

 

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Caldes de Malavella Spain

We drove to Girona to switch our gray VW Polo for a different VW Polo – a zippy little manual. Time to motor back to the Via Augusta.

So we drove a bit further SW to Caldes de Malavella which is know for thermal hot springs due to volcanic history.

There are many Modernist buildings when this town was rejuvenated in the 1900’s as a Spa Retreat, which it still is today.

It has been a Spa retreat for quite a few centuries, used in 1st to 4th century by the Romans.

We visited the museum as well as this outdoor archeology site of the preserved Roman Baths.

Can’t you just envision a few toga’s lounging around? How lucky for them this was on the Via Augusta!

There were small rooms along the sides surrounding the main pool…cabanas?

It was interesting to see the excavated Drainage System.

We headed out of town to the area of Romanya de la Selva. We hiked a short ways to this Menhir de la Murta, a neolithic manmade stone that aligns with the four cardinal directions.

A little further down the trail was Cova d’en Daina – a very well preserved megalith dating from around 2200 BC.

This fascinating structure of rocks is actually a large burial tomb. It is a dolmen but more complete with a full circle of menhirs surrounding it.

Fascinating to wonder how this was constructed.

The main chamber is 25 feet long by 5.5 feet across. The circle of menhirs is 36 feet in diameter.

The entry to the dolmen chamber is said to align southeast, which permits sunlight to enter at summer and winter solstice.

All the stones are granite.

Really wonderful to be able to walk around.

Excavations found numerous human bones and teeth, arrowhead flints, knife and pottery fragments as well as some necklace beads.

We retraced our steps through the cork forest – this area is sustainably harvested.

And wine corks are crafted! But unfortunately we are going to have to enjoy our wine back in the USA. Like the tramontane winds, the declaration of the WHO pandemic beckons us home.

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Dolmens and Bay of Roses

We headed north to hike the Megalithic Dolmen Route. What a view!

Dolmen de la Vinya del Rey in the Alt Emporda Region. Dolmens are basically remains of megalithic tombs.

Dolmen del Garrollar was another that looks partially collapsed but not by me! One of these top stone slab weighs 18 tons.

Dolmen de la Talaia. These megaliths are neolithic or new stone age when these people arrived about 4500 BC from North Africa.

Dolmen de les Vinyes Mortes is another prehistoric monument right at the crest of the hill.

Wait – did Henry just get younger? Is this photo from 13 years ago?!!!

Hey – is that the same jacket? Once you find a good travel jacket it is so hard to let go.

Dolmen de Puig Margall is the last one on our 4-mile steep loop hike. Time for a short break before climbing back to the car.

We followed a few more twisties up the mountain…

Romanesque Monastery St Pere de Rodes was built on site of a Roman fort. Back then this was a popular start of Camino de St James.

It has an unbelievable view of the Cap de Creus. This must be what if feels like to soar like an eagle.

Nearby Church of Santa Helena de Rodes and the medieval village of Santa Creu de Rodes housed the pilgrims as well as workers.

Are you ready to start the walk across Spain, pilgrim? Let’s storm the gate!

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Pals and L’Estartit Spain

It is so memorable to wake up to these beautiful sunrises and enjoy with some strong rich cafe!

The nearby restored medieval village of Pals was a pleasure to wander around.

Unique architectural details.

Very picturesque roads to wander.

The view from the tower of the coast and Medes Islands.

So we next drove to the coast and L’Estartit to see the islands up close.

The town has a wonderful boardwalk that makes you feel like you are on a ship deck.

A mesmerizing place to experience the sea.

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L’Escala Spain

We followed the Via Augusta North (now a modern highway!) to start our second month in Spain. This is a Roman Aqueduct near Tarragona.

Another beautiful apartment balcony over the Mediterranean! Homeaway rental – Passieg Maritim

With this panoramic view of the harbor of L’Escala.

Wendy and Stan, friends we met here 13 years ago! We had a champagne lunch at their home. Wonderful to reconnect with them!

We had Wendy and Stan over for an incredible full moon rise with tapas dinner in the living room. Tortilla, ham croquettas, cheese & crackers and Tempranillo wine!

We remembered being here over Christmas celebrations in 2006/07 and seeing the band perform in this square. Somehow they have been turned into bronze…

The Pyrenees look gorgeous with that white cap of snow!

L’Escala is a fishing village – anchovies are their specialty. It has around 10,000 population but grows to 50,000 during the summer holiday season – a lot of beauty here to appreciate.

The Barcelona Summer Olympic sailing competition was held here in 1992.

The torch for 1992 Olympics came ashore the same place the Greeks established Empuries, just North of L’Escala proper.

We had explored these Greek and Roman ruins in 2007 but unfortunately we did not get to explore this time.

The Bay of Roses (Roman Rhodes) where the first Greek and first Roman port in Iberia was established.

Heading to the South of L’Escala the coast becomes more cliff like and rocky.

The water is so incredibly clear. Stunningly beautiful. This area is also know for its scuba diving.

The Torre de Montgo was a 3-mile walk from the apartment. It has been beautifully restored.

The view from the tower is spectacular. An excellent hike through the Natural Park! Finished in time to meet up with our friends for Menu del Dia! Mmmm good and we have an appetite!