Showing posts with label Travel (Not Synth Related). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel (Not Synth Related). Show all posts

Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Merida - Yucatan Mexico

Some pics of Merida in Mexico.
Mérida was founded in 1542 by Montejo y León ("el Mozo") and named after the town of Mérida in Extremadura, Spain. It was built on the site of the Maya city of T'hó
  The castle cathedral (Cathedral of San Ildefonso) is huge and imposing. Dates from 1598. It was the first cathedral to be finished on the American mainland. A very severe and imposing structure that I read as a statement to show the power of the church.

The system of vaulting used throughout the building was based on the ideas of Andres de Vandelvira, first applied to the building of the cathedral of Jaen in Spain (1249).

Jaen Cathedral. It was built upon the ruins of a Mosque.
Merida's cathedral was probably built upon the Mayan ruins of T'ho... the Spanish using these conquered people as slaves during construction. It must have been terrible for the inhabitants to see their capital destroyed and this structure built on top.... just as in Mexico City.

 
The Cathedral was commissioned by Pope Pius IV. The architect was Juan Miguel de Aguero. He also built the fortifications of Havana Cuba and the Cathedral of Mexico City.

The crucifix inside is 25ft high. It's supposed to represent friendship between Mayans & the Church.
I found this a bit unsettling considering the building's history.

Wednesday, 7 September 2016

Palenque - Mexico

Situated in one of the northern states of Mexico (Chiapas), Palenqes famous for its Mayan ruins in the jungle.




Lots of climbing in the tropical heat.


There are 100s of ruins spread over 15 sq Kms.


A limestone relief from the "Patio de los Cautivos".... war captives.
A inscription on the stairway in House C mentions the birth of Pakal II (603AD) and a war that he waged against the Pomona.












An ancient Mayan football field.
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Monday, 11 July 2016

Rosh Hanikra - Bridge & railway tunnel / grottoes -israel

Rosh HaNikra or Hanikra (Hebrew: ראש הנקרה‎, lit. "Head of the Grotto"


This is near the border between Israel & Lebanon.








The gottoes are formed formed by sea action on the soft chalk rock.






The tunnels were built by the British for the Haifa-Beirut railroad line, and in 1968 a second one was dug, both connecting the grottoes with each other and allowing access (currently: only exit) along the former route of the British railroad. (wikipedia)







The Cable car is situated very close to the Lebanese border.
Apparently, it's the steepest cable car in the world, ascending at a gradient of 60 degrees









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Thursday, 7 July 2016

Essaouira - Morocco

Some pics from Morocco 2004



Essaouira is  on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. 





Its medina (old town) is protected by 18th-century seafront ramparts called the Skala de la Kasbah, which were designed by European engineers. 






Old brass cannons line the walls, and there are ocean views. There are strong "Alizée" trade wind.
Great for wind surfing



Very laid back place. 












wIKIPEDIA

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