A BLOGGER'S TRAVEL MEMORIES PART TWO

As many of you know I have had a marvelous life exploring, living in, and sharing my life in Latin America with my husband.  It has been an amazing journey which I will always cherish. This is Part Two of this blog posting about those other travel memories with some of my favorite photographs from countries including Ecuador, Colombia, Greece, Australia, and New Zealand. So if you are ready, buckle up and here we go! 

ECUADOR

A lovely young lady participating in the Epiphany Parade in Cuenca, Ecuador. Isn't she and her dress simply gorgeous!

Another child participating in the annual Epiphany Parade (also referred to as Three Kings' Day) in Cuenca, Ecuador. What proud children, parents, and beautiful memories.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is commonly referred to as the New Cathedral of Cuenca in Ecuador. I personally thought the blue domes were especially beautiful.

Quito way, way back when and definitely before my days of blogging. The gold beaded necklaces worn by the local highland women are very traditional and the baby on the mother's back is definitely a special photo memory for me.

COLOMBIA 

Enjoying downtown Medellin in Colombia with Botero's very voluptuous sculptures was not what I would call hard duty. On the contrary, I would call it a privilege to have met these magnificent and memorable sculptures.

Fernando Botero, a native of Medellin, Colombia is an internationally recognized figurative artist and sculptor. Botero's signature style known as "Boterismo" depicts people and figures in large, exaggerated sizes which can represent political criticism or humor, depending on the piece. My only comment was WOW!

Salento is an Andean town in Colombia west of Bogota. It’s known for its coffee estates, verdant scenery, and lovely ladies who we found in "Western Dress" for an annual celebration. The town is a gateway to the snow-capped peaks of Los Nevados National Natural Park to the northeast.

My husband liked to joke that Colombia and it's verdant countryside was so green that it "hurt his eyes!" And neither of us has ever forgotten this memorable pronouncement.

In Salento, Colombia Calle Real (the royal road or street) has colorful buildings and craft shops where the pace is slow and which was sincerely appreciated when we were weary from the road.

GREECE

Greece is a country on the Mediterranean coast in southern Europe. The country is known as the birthplace of democracy, the Olympic Games, western theater, and philosophy as well as the inspiration for Christianity and culture. The country is also famous for its mathematicians, historians, great warriors, and historical battles. And I fell in love with it.

Santorini is an island in the southern Aegean Sea about 120 miles southeast of Greece's mainland. The whitewashed cubiform houses of its two principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera on the Greek island of Santorini. They overlook the sea and small islands to the west with beaches made up of black, red, and white lava pebbles. Simply magical!

My favorite memories of Greece are from the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC which forever shaped its rugged landscape. The above photograph is without a doubt a contender for one of my favorite photo memories of all time. It was taken on the island of Santorini off the coast of Greece.

The Parthenon is a former temple on the Athenian Acropolis in Greece and is dedicated to the goddess Athena whom the people of Athens considered their patron.  Construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the peak of its power and it was completed in 438 BC. When we visited the Parthenon it was obviously undergoing restoration, but that did not hinder our appreciation of this spectacular site.

AUSTRALIA  

Our gateway to visiting the amazing country of Australia, commonly referred to as the "LAND DOWN UNDER" was through the dazzling city of Brisbane as seen above and we were fortunate enough to re-visit Brisbane when changing our itinerary. It set the tone for our wonderful stay in Australia and I would love to revisit it one day.

How does one introduce a person to Australia? I believe it is like introducing a person to America or Canada which I find next to impossible because of their massive sizes, diverse cultures, amazing histories, incredible traditions, etc., etc.

So for the purpose of this blog posting I am limiting myself to some visual memories represented by my photographs taken many, many moons ago from the "Land Down Under" and I am looking forward to your company, mates (Aussie speak for friends).

Sunshine Beach on the Queensland's Coast of Australia we called home for a period of time. I think it appealed to us because of our Southern California backgrounds growing up on beaches and Sunshine Beach was definitely a beautiful place to chill and recharge our batteries.

I loved the road signs in Australia including this sign warning it was a Cassowary crossing and to be on the lookout. The southern cassowary is the third tallest and second heaviest living bird and smaller only than the ostrich and emu.

Another great Australian sign warning of possible crocodiles in the vicinity. What's not to love about this country. The following saltwater crocodile I found on the Internet, not that I was going to get close enough to photograph a live one!

NEW ZEALAND

Before the arrival of the Europeans in the 19th century Russell in the Bay of Islands of New Zealand was inhabited by the indigenous people, the Maori, because of its beautiful climate and the abundance of food, fish, and fertile soil. Russell was then known as Kororareka by the indigenous people. We found Russell enchanting and memorable and it is definitely on my wish list for a return visit.

Russel on the Bay of Islands in New Zealand was wonderful and we enjoyed the warm company of the locals who opened their homes to us.

Rotorua, a town located on its namesake lake on New Zealand's North Island, is renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori culture. It is also home to a living Maori village and the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute with traditional wood carving and weaving schools. A fabulous place to visit in my humble opinion.

Traditional Maori arts play a large role in New Zealand culture. They include whakairo (carving), raranga (weaving), kapa haka (group performance), whaikorero (oratory), and ta moko (tattoo).

Russell, formerly known by the Maori name Kororareka, was the first permanent European settlement and seaport in New Zealand. It is situated in the Bay of Islands in the far north of the North Island. Saying goodbye to New Zealand and Russell in the Bay of Islands was no easy thing.

Thank you for joining me on this excursion to some of my favorite places on this planet and I hope to see you again in the new future. Until then, stay safe and enjoy your travels. Laura