.jpg) Crowning Pharaoh Ptolemaios XII
In a beautifully restored wall relief at the temple at Kom Ombo, Goddesses of
Lower and Upper Egypt, Wadjet and Nekhbet, crown Pharaoh Ptolemy XII while Horus (Haroeris) watches on. Bad lighting and dancing shadows lend an eerie air of animation to the figures on the walls all around us. Intricately carved pillars and beautifully restored wall-reliefs contrast with uneven stones and rough scaffolding: it truly is surreal walking after dark through structures built over 2000 years ago.
My Nile river boat was rafted up against a larger boat in the small harbour at Kom Ombo, a small agricultural town in Egypt, about 45km (30 miles) north of Aswan.
I’d started my day at Edfu, after sailing up from Luxor the day before (see: Luxor Bazaar and the Mighty Nile). We’d spent the day chugging up-river, watching the banks with their rich farming lands and and small village slide past. It was already dark when we docked: our destination, the Temple of Sobek and Haroeris, was sitting on a small hill just above us, bathed enticingly in yellow lights.
Often referred to just as Kom Ombo Temple, this distinctive double-temple dates to the Ptolemaic dynasty (305 to 30 BC.), successor to the rule of Alexander the Great, and the last dynasty of Ancient Egypt.
The temple is unique in that it is dedicated to two Gods: Sobek (Sebek) the crocodile god, creator of the Nile River and responsible for fertility, and Horus (Haroeris, Hor, Har, Her, or Heru) the falcon-headed god of power and healing. Therefore, the temple – begun by Ptolemy VI Philometor (180–145 BC) at the beginning of his reign and added to by other Ptolemies – consists of two identical sections along a main axis, each with its own entry, courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms. The northern section is dedicated to Horus, and the southern section to Sobek.
This temple was Sobek’s chief sanctuary. The ubiquitous Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) had a reputation for eating anything in their path, and generated fear in the local communities. Legend has it that in ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the river banks near Kom Ombo, and as totem animals, a number were kept in captivity within the temple itself. This has lead to another unique feature at Kom Ombo: the discovery of three hundred mummified crocodiles – a few of which are on display in the chapel of Hathor, in “Egypt’s first ever crocodile museum”.
On a photographic technical note: the lighting in the temple was truly awful! Most of my shots are taken at the highest ISO settings available to me – 3200 and 6400 – so the quality is not what I would like. Also, only phone-cameras were allowed in the crocodile museum.
I hope you’ll agree that the content is sufficiently interesting to make up for any lack of quality.
.jpg) A Hazy Morning on the Nile
It’s barely 7:15 in the morning, but the sun is already high over the banks on the east side of the river. Our Nile riverboat, featuring a hamsa or khamsah – a hand with the fingers spread apart to ward off evil, is docked at Edfu on the west bank. (iPhone6) .jpg) Tourist Boats at Edfu
It was low season, and operators said business had still not bounced back after the Arab Spring (2010-2012) – making me wonder how crowded it must be on this river in a good high season!  Nile Dahabiya Boat Nile Boat and Kom Ombo Temple
After nightfall, we are tied up in the little harbour, looking across other tourist boats to the lovely Greco Roman temple perched atop a dune. Kom Ombo Temple
It is a short walk to the base of the hill. Temple Under Lights
We are not the only tourists walking around in clumps from one point of interest to the next with their guides. Waves of Stone
Every surface tells a story; … Explaining
… the guides point out the features to their groups. Regal Relief
This story-board show King Ptolemy XIII in the centre, flanked by Thoth and Isis on the left and Sekhmet and Horus on the right. These reliefs have been painstakingly restored: between floods, subsidence, earthquakes, and the Copts who used the building as a church, the temple has experienced extensive damage. Carved Column
The carved sections have withstood the tests of time far better. Shadows across the Murals
The lighting is a real challenge! This intricate relief shows Thoth and Horus pouring sacred water over Pharaoh Ptolemy XII‘s head. Two-Headed Nehebkau and Others
Nehebkau (Nehebu-Kau) was a funerary god associated with the afterlife. Offerings More Stories in Stone
While trying to get a few photos, I missed most of the stories our guide told us. I thought I could look them up easily on line afterwards: I was wrong! I don’t know what Hathor, Horus and the pharaoh are doing here. Flat Walls and Round Columns Columns and Courtyards
It was really hard to get a sense of the floor plan in the dark; … Carved Columns
… carved with ankhs, the symbols of life, the columns seemed to go on forever. Guide outside a Small Chamber Tourist Dwarfed by the Columns More Reliefs Telling Stories
Guides give detailed descriptions of each panel to their customers. It amazes me how much is actually known about the Ancient Egyptians thanks to their extensive hieroglyphics and iconography. Horus the Falcon God
I can’t keep up with the different forms the Gods take, and the complicated interrelations between them! Mummified Crocodiles
I thought the mummified crocodiles, and the various statues to Sobek were as interesting and unique as the double-temple itself. (iPhone6) It really is a fascinating place – and it would be worthwhile to see in daylight, but our boat was continuing up the river to Aswan, where more ancient wonders awaited.
 Until next time,
Happy Travels!
Photos: 09October2019
Posted in Africa,Egypt,History,TravelTags: Ancient Egypt,antiquities,architecture,blog,Egypt,history,low light,night photography,Photo Blog,Religious Practice,ruins,sculpture,temple,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall
Public Art – Local Heritage – Public Space
The tones of a rusty metal bird in flight compliment the grassy wetlands of Tips Billabong and the weathered boards of The Old Bar in the background. It was a glorious Autumn day.
The mood of the participants at the annual Ephemeral – a one day festival celebrating the ever-changing light and landscape of the Panboola Wetlands – was one of gratitude: gratitude for the weather, which was allowing us to wander and workshop outdoors in comfort; gratitude for the space, which is protected by its Environmental Organisation status; and gratitude for the community, whose members had managed to remain in good cheer, and had come together to commune, educate, and entertain.
It has been a long couple of years in this section of the country – as it has in many parts of the world. The festival was cancelled last year because of the Covid lockdowns, and for many months before that, communities in the area were battling unprecedented fires. In the weeks before the festival, many locals were again cut off: this time by flooding caused by well-above-average rainfalls that pummelled us for days. And, while fluctuating water-levels are be expected in a floodplain, the waters swept through at such a damaging rate that even heavy benches were moved.
Fortunately, the Panboola Wetlands are supported by an army of volunteers who swung into action as soon as the rains abated, and by the time the festival was upon us, the walking tracks and open spaces winding around 82 hectare-space looked wonderful. When I arrived on the day, shortly before the festival was due to open up to the public, yarn art and origami cranes decorated the trees, and the artists and crafts-people and volunteers were already busy setting up.
Since my first visit to the Wetlands in 2013 (see: The Pinnacles and Panboola), I’ve become a volunteer – albeit not a very regular or conscientious one. But, I’m happy to spend a few weekly hours cleaning pathways, or counting flying foxes, or weeding out invasive plant species. There is something about these lands: every time I walk onto them, I feel a lifting of my spirit.
The Ephemeral festival is a collaboration between the Lonely Arts Club Pambula and the Pambula Wetlands and Heritage Project. Through various grants from State, Regional and Local governments, it show-cases local talent and draws the community in to celebrate this unique landscape.
In years past, I’ve been away while the festival has been on, so I was looking forward to wandering with my cameras this year.
It did not disappoint!
Preparations
In the cool of the morning, crafts-people and workshop facilitators are already setting up their spaces when I arrive. A Painter and his Muse
Origami cranes – part of the Community Peace & Harmony Installation – flutter from the trees as local artist Lachlan Barratt sits with a blank sheet of paper and a view he likes. Sculpture around Tips Billabong
Award-winning sculptor Jen Mallinson has a number of her beautiful, flowing metal sculptures installed on the site. Jen Mallinson and Aqueous
Later in the morning, I came across the artist talking about her metal sculpture to some interested visitors. Coffee and Chat in the Shade
A coffee and a catch-up with friends is always popular. Hay bales are colourfully covered in fabrics to make temporary seating areas. Julie Krone
New Zealand-born, local-resident artist Julie Krone conducted two popular nature-inspired block printing workshops. Spinning with Tabitha Bilaniwskyj-Zarins
Meanwhile, Tabitha Bilaniwskyj-Zarins from Tabandy Farm in near-by Candelo, talks to workshop participants about spinning yarn and creating textiles. Making “Postcards from Panboola”
All around the grounds, workshops have started … Keeping an Eye on Proceedings
… and Michelle Richmond, Panboola Project Coordinator can take a breath, knowing it is all under way smoothly. Hilary Peterson
The workshop conducted by visual artist and Bega Valley resident Hilary Peterson … “Postcards from Panboola”
… starts with participants exploring the textures and colours of the nature all around them. Panboola Volunteers
With coffees and smiles, volunteers sell products and hand out information. Artist and Educator Sharon Stevens
Several workshops target youngsters, including Botanical Drawing … Author Gabbie Stroud
… and Youth Writing. Orbs by Tharwa Valley Forge
The midmorning sun over Tips Billabong is a sparkling contrast to the beautiful rough textures of the iron orbs, donated and installed by the Tharwa Valley Forge, Canberra. Flowered Orb
Some of the metalworks are on dry land – where we can examine them more closely. Industrial Derevolution
Sculptor Mark Thompson installed his latest work (on loan) along side Tips Billabong. Bush Poetry
Reciting the works of ‘Banjo’ Paterson, Phil Inn entertains … Phil Inn
… among the gum trees. Botanical Drawing Workshop
Trained arborist and botanical artist Ge Warburton gets her participants …. Banksia – Botanical Drawing
… to really look at their specimens as they practice drawing. Women Drawing Children’s Botanical Drawings
The children’s finished artworks are quite lovely – and the kids were rightly proud. Stencil Stamping
The group making folded postcards have finished their base painting, and are ready to overlay contrasting shapes … Postcards from Panboola
… using beautiful stencils that Hilary Peterson has pre-cut of creatures found at the wetlands. Wreaths and Bouquets
Working with natural materials that the Wyndham Basket Weavers have brought along, anyone interested can spin, or weave, or create wreaths or bouquets. “Echo-Location”
Performances punctuate the morning. A group of children: y-fLiNG & Flux of Fling Physical Theatre, represent the creatures and moods of the wetlands. Latvian Independence Day
A swan and a possum performed a few musical sets. Origami Cranes
The Community Peace and Harmony group invites people to make more cranes … Crane for Peace and Harmony
… to be hung all around the venue. Blockprinting with Julie Krone
I admire a piece of fabric printed by one of the women in the first blockprinting workshop … Drawing Printing Blocks
… before the second workshop gets underway, … Carving a Printing Block
… and new participants create their printing blocks. Michelle and a Volunteer
I drop in for coffee, a slice of pizza, and a laugh, … Chalk Drawings on the Path
… before heading down the newly-decorated pathway, and out of the wetlands.
Chances are good that that chalk will all be gone when I next go back.
Like the seasons on the wetlands and the performances at the festival,
It is all impermanent and fleeting.
So, enjoy!
Photos: 17April2021
Posted in Australia,Entertainment,NatureTags: arts and crafts,Australia,blog,environmental portrait,flowers,nature,Photo Blog,sculpture,Ursula Wall
Men in the Street
During the Kumbh Mela, the Haridwar streets were full of life and people. India is in the news at the moment – because of Covid.
In spite of the fast-tracking of any vaccines the country can get hold of, a second wave of virus variants is sweeping the country. India now has the second-highest number of Covid cases in the world, and their public and private hospital systems are completely overwhelmed.
Couple this with a huge disparity in access to health, nutrition, and welfare services according to one’s place among the steeply-separated socio-economic classes – and the country’s inability to maintain any kind of preventative measures – and you have a recipe for disaster.
I was amazed to read that the state governments had refused to call off this year’s weeks-long Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela in Haridwar. Indian cities – including the sacred city of Haridwar – are wonderfully crowded and chaotic at the most ‘ordinary’ of times, and an unimaginable crush (see: A Crush of Happy Humanity) during a Kumbh Mela.
As I’ve written before (eg: Faces in the Crowd), a Kumbh Mela is a Hindu festival that takes place roughly every three years at one of four sacred pilgrimage sites. UNECO-listed for its rich cultural importance, this mela (festival) has been called the largest peaceful congregation of pilgrims on earth. The last was held across 55 days at Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. It attracted more than 200 million people, with 50 million attending on the festival’s most auspicious day. This year, numbers are well down, but not low enough to allow for social distancing: between 3.1 and 5 million people are expected on the equivalent days (see: The Conversation; India Today).
I was at the last mela in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and found the press of humanity in the streets quite staggering (see: Crowds on the Move). On the most auspicious day – February 14th, 2010, when the attached pictures were taken – an estimated 10 million people took their ritual bath in the Ganges.
On the busiest days, I stayed well away from the bathing ghats themselves, and instead wandered around the arterial roads as pilgrims walked in and out of the city’s centre. Many of these pilgrims were happy to chat and wanted their pictures taken.
I’m always amazed how open and friendly so many people are in these foreign environments. Either side of the main roads, people in shops, homes, and temples got on with their every-day lives, and I was often welcomed in. At one point, I was admiring the beautiful facade of a building when a teenage girl with good English came out to ask me what I was doing. When I told her I was taking pictures because the building was so lovely, she went inside and consulted with her mum. I was invited in for tea – where I got to meet some of the five generations living in the home, and was given an explanation of the ritual offerings to the Mother Ganges that I had been a part of a few days prior.
It is almost impossible to imagine this happening here in my neighbourhood!
Join me for some portraits of the locals and visitors to Haridwar:
Riding into Haridwar
On foot or by rickshaw, the sadhus arrive into Haridwar. A Man and his Sewing Machine
Street traders and vendors are kept busy as the pilgrims keep coming. Street Sewing Machine
Every-day life goes on around the busy streets. Sadhu in White
There are temples and sadhus … Sadhu in Red
… in every nook and cranny I check out. Man in a Bindi
Many of the pilgrims stop for a bindi and a blessing before they continue to the bathing ghats. Old Man in Glasses Girl in Red People in the Street Housing Doorway
When I was caught photographing this lovely entry way from outside the front fence … Woman in her Doorway
… mum came out to size me up. Deciding I was harmless, she invited me in for tea! Young Woman
I then got to make portraits of her beautiful daughters against the rich textures of the outer building … Young Woman in Pink
… or against the colourful fabrics adorning the walls indoors. Auntie and her Son
It is not uncommon for extended family to have their own rooms within a shared housing complex. Smiling Young Woman The Matriarch
Several generations were under the one roof, and this was clearly the matriarch. There was an older woman in the central living room where we shared tea, but she was frail, and had clearly relinquished charge of the household. Charismatic Eyes
Back in the streets, the crowds keep walking, … Colourful Women
… or stop for a rest and a chat. Hennaed Hands
Henna is thought to bring positive spirits and good luck; the women walking into town were happy to show off their beautiful designs. Sadhu in Saffron
I find the sadhu’s endlessly fascinating … Masala Chai
… and enigmatic. Smoking his Chillum
They travel light: just a blanket, a prayer book, a small bag of personal items, a container for holy water, and a chillum: a conical clay pipe. Woman in Red
I love the vibrant colours … Woman in Yellow
… and the elegance of the women. Makeshift Campsite
The travellers make do with very little. Woman Smoking
Cigarette breaks are welcome … Smiling Girl
… and smiles are freely given. Young Friends Travelling Together Hindus believe the Ganges is holy and that bathing in it will cleanse them of their sins and bring salvation – especially during a Kumbh Mela, which some call a Festival of Immortality.
 The Uttarakhand Chief Minister has recently been quoted as saying “faith in God will overcome the fear of the virus”; let us hope the sacred waters of the Mother Ganges mitigate the “super spreader” effect that many people expect from the current mela.
Safe Travels!
Photos: 14April2010
Posted in environmental portrait,India,TravelTags: hindu,hinduism,India,Kumbh Mela,landscape,people,Photo Blog,portraits,religion,travel,Travel Blog,UNESCO,Ursula Wall
Buddhas over Beira Lake
Colombo, commercial and legislative capital of Sri Lanka, may well be a multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural city – but it was the many Buddha statues, in all their different glorious forms, that stood out most for me. Sri Lanka was a delight!
I hadn’t done any homework prior to travelling there, so it was also a delightful surprise. I expected (and got) colonial architecture and Hindu temples (see: Temples, Rains, and Ruins), but the number and variety of Buddhist sites in the country (eg: Dambulla Cave; Avukana Buddha; and Sigiriya) surprised me.
It shouldn’t have. Across the country, Buddhism is practiced by over 70% of the population, with Hinduism, Islam and Christianity splitting the other 30%.
In the Colombo Municipality area, however, this split is quite different: with Buddhism and Islam accounting for about 30% each, and Hinduism (22.6%) and Christianity (14.5%) following behind.
Even so, it was the Buddhas, in all their colourful glory and variety of sculptural styles, that stood out for me all around the city.
I went to Sri Lanka without a real plan: I had found a package deal which fit in with other travel my husband and I were committed to, and so we booked it. When the dates for the pre-paid trip finally rolled around, everything had changed, and I was travelling solo, going wherever the accommodation took me. Fortunately, in spite of a constitutional crisis and some major political upheavals while I was there (see: Parliament Dissolved), the country felt comfortable and safe, especially to an old Asia-hand.
I was particularly lucky with the Colombo stays at either end of my trip. My accommodation was wonderfully located: near enough to Viharamahadevi Park for me to walk my morning circuits there before undertaking the day’s activities. And, part of my second stop fell on a weekend, so a friend I knew living and working in the city was able to join me for some photowalks.
Come with us in search of Buddhas – and some other religious icons:
Buddha Blessings in the Morning
It was a short walk from my rooms to the spacious Viharamahadevi Park. Once there, my walking track took me past a giant golden Buddha. (iPhone6) Wedding Photos
Gangaramaya Temple is one of Colombo’s most important Buddhist complexes: a place of worship and centre of learning. I walked past every day, and once was lucky enough to spot a couple in traditional dress having their wedding pictures made. (iPhone6) Elephant Head
Gangaramaya Temple is one of Colombo’s oldest Buddhist temples, and is an eclectic mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Indian, and Chinese architecture. Vishnu-Buddha
The iconography inside is also a rich mix of Buddhist and Hindu traditions: not surprising, considering Prince Siddhartha’s North-Indian Brahmin roots. Prayers
Visitors to the temple pay their respects to all the icons – although there are favourites. Yellow Buddha
The temple is packed with innumerable ornate Buddha statues. Buddha with a Flame Top Knot
Looking like highly polished porcelain, this Buddha features an ushnisha, the flame-like top knot that originated in Sri Lankan Buddhist sculpture. Surrounded by Devas
Some of the Buddha images are ornate and colourful, … Devotion
… others are more subdued. Begging Bowls and Buddhas
You will always find a row of seven Buddhas in Theravada Buddhist temples: each representing a day of the week. They are sometimes in different postures according to the day. You are meant to pay respect to the statue representing the day of the week that you were born on … Bronze Buddha
… and to turn to that Buddha for advice. Ivory-Coloured Alabaster Buddha Bodhi Leaf
I took a phone-picture of the bodhi leaves for my grandson whose name is Bodhi; I then learned that this very tree was planted over a century ago as an off-shoot from the Indian tree under which the Buddha obtained enlightenment. (iPhone6) Clay Buddha
The courtyard housing the magnificent bodhi tree also houses some elegantly simple clay Buddhas. Bronze Buddha or Bodhisattva Golden Buddha
In the courtyard, we find a golden Buddha, a white stupa, and green foliage. Buddhas on the Steps
The rows of Buddha statues on a stepped wall in Gangaramaya Temple are modelled after Borobudur, the 7th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Buddhas on the Steps Stepped Buddhas Shiva Nataraja
The dancing Lord Shiva is stepping on a demon to stamp out evil and prepare the universe for creation. Marble Buddha
This beautiful Buddha in a Chinese-style crown always made me pause as I walked past Gangaramaya Temple. Golden Buddha
Although Seema Malaka is actually a part of the Gangaramaya Temple complex, it is a short walk away. Golden Buddhas
This temple is intended to be used for meditation and rest, rather than for worship … Buddhas in a Row
… and countless Buddhas are there to watch over you … Buddhas over Beira Lake
… and to watch over the city from their vantage point in the lake. The original temple sank into the waters, so the current sanctuary was built in 1976. Stone Buddha
This serene face was my favourite, … Vishnu
… but the more colourful Hindu Gods … Ganesha
… drew more attention from locals. At the Feet of the Buddha Spiritually restored, it was time to find physical sustenance and explore some of the rest of the city.
Until next time,
Peace be with you.
Photos: 10November2018
Posted in Religious Practice,Sri Lanka,TravelTags: buddhism,buddhist,religion,Religious Practice,sculpture,Sri Lanka,temple,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall,worship
Ruta de las Agüeras
Walking trails criss-cross the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain. Some of these ancient routes are the pathways of medieval saints; most connect old villages; and one we found even lead us through a landscape of magical Cantabrian characters. There is something about a European woods that lends itself to cautionary tales of faeries and ogres. Away from the densely populated modern cities, there are still mountains where wolves might dwell, and winding forest paths that have been used for centuries by pilgrims, saints, and ordinary travellers.
In the days before telecommunications, this network of pathways was the only way of disseminating goods and information between towns. Today, the pathways are still used for recreation, and as a means of getting in touch with nature and with the past.
Although I’m getting older and lazier, I still love a walk in the wilds – especially through new terrain. That – and my New Year’s resolution to study a language – was what attracted me the Peak Me language school, located in Panes, in the north of Spain. When the world is not locked down by Covid-19, this school offers a “Walk-and-Talk” program of morning Spanish language classes and afternoon hikes or adventure activities with their partners at Canoe Adventure Trophy.
Unless you remember one of my previous posts from this area (see: Ruta Alevia), you’ve probably never heard of Panes, a tiny parish of 568 people in the Peñamellera Baja in Asturias. This delightful town is well situated within easy reach of the spectacular Picos de Europa mountains on one side and the stunning Atlantic coastline on the other. The local residents and businesses integrate with the language school, and cheerfully tolerate a small but steady stream of visitors with questionable Spanish skills.
Some of our group had complained of aching joints after our mountain climb (see: Ruta Alevia) the day before, so our guide selected a gentle seven kilometre meander for our second day’s outing. After our morning’s intensive class, we travelled a short distance to the region next door – to Cantabria – where we started our walk from the charming village of Cicera. Following a section of the medieval road from La Hermida to the villages of Alto Peñarrubia, we came upon the very modest Hermitage of Santa Catalina, in use in the 17- and 1800s.
We then turned uphill onto Mount Hozarco, where the beautiful deciduous Atlantic forest of oaks, beeches, and chestnut, was populated with hideous creatures apparently common in Cantabrian folklore. From there, we turned back downhill towards the spectacular Hermida Gorge, following the Las Agueras – a route that gets its name because the two ravines it links: the Navedo and the Cicera, have flowing water throughout the year.
Do join me!
Camino Signposting
Brick streets, stone buildings, and mountains lost in mist: Cicera is a traditional Cantabrian village. But, as a nod to modern times, that signboard has a QR Code! More Signposting
In theory, it should be impossible to get lost! Still, I was happy not to be walking alone as the mists surrounded us and the rains threatened. Rooftop in the Rain
Every Spanish town has a Catholic church: the clay-tiled roof of Iglesia del Carmen reaches up into the rainy sky. Iglesia del Carmen
The old stone building is quite lovely, … Cicera
… as is the pretty town below. Pastoral
Nothing says “countryside charm” like sheep on a wet hillside! Rosehips Hermitage of Santa Catalina
I actually found this cracked and ageing information sign … La Ermita de Santa Catalina
… far more visually interesting than the 17th or 18th century shrine located here. Vivi and the Signpost
Although we were meant to be practicing our newly-learned Spanish, our guide Vivi took pity on us, … Mythological Path of Mount Hozarco
… and explained, in English, about the magical Cantabrian characters who traditionally shared these woods with the local humans. Ojáncana
The first figure we come across is Ojáncana, a scary creature with wild boar tusks, and dirty and matted hair. She comes out of her cave to eat lost children. Arquetu in the Woods
Arquetu is a grumpy old man who takes care of those who have lost everything: he lends money to people foolish enough to go broke, … Arquetu and his Chest of Gold and Silver
… but he will reprimand them first, and curse them to eternal poverty if they do it a second time. El Roblón
This was my favourite of the creatures: the more subtle sight of a beautiful trunk of an old oak with arms and legs made of ash branches – with a lost child trapped within it. Walkers in the Woods
As we turn onto la Ruta de las Agüeras, we walk into a beautiful beech forest, … Stumps and Moss
… where it is cool and mossy, and soft underfoot. Fungus on the Forest Floor
Mushrooms and all kinds of fungi thrive on the damp forest floor: … Los Dedos del Diablo
… the most distinctive of these is the devil’s fingers. Also called the octopus stinkhorn (clathrus archeri), it smells like putrid flesh at maturity. Nature’s Sculptures in the Woods
The natural trees here are as wonderful as those along the community-created Mythological Path. Rushing Waters
As we drop down towards highway and the Deva River, a stream races down the hill beside the path. Walking into the Gorge
The steep limestone cliffs rise up on both sides of us and the creek below, as we get closer to the Hermida Gorge either side of the Deva River. More Signposts
Our path takes us to the edge of the N-621 highway which runs the length of the Hermida Gorge, and where our transport will pick us up and take us back to Panes.
I’m sure I learned a Spanish word or two –
and I certainly enjoyed the walk.
Until next time –
Happy Walking!
Photos: 24September2019
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