Young Greek woman in a kitchen with a mountain backdrop, Platia Naxos Greece

The Next Generation
At the family-run Platia Taverna and Cooking School on Naxos, we had hands-on practice making traditional Greek dishes under the watchful eyes of local cooks – all in an enviable setting.

One of the many joys of travel is the food – and the excuse to sample new cuisines.

I especially love participating in locally based cooking classes: not because I have any intention of replicating the recipes at home, but because I love photographing the colours and textures (eg: Weekly Wanders Cooking Class). I enjoy hearing about the local ingredients and the rationale behind putting them together in particular ways – and I relish eating the results.

Everywhere I went in Greece, the food was wonderful: every mouthful was bursting with fresh wholesomeness. So, I was really pleased to see that the small group I was travelling with in the Cyclades was going to have a cooking class at the Platia Restaurant in Galini Village on the island of Naxos.

In addition to making several dishes under the very-watchful eyes of three Greek women, we visited the family farm to see where some of the ingredients were sourced. The whole setting was idyllic, and the lunch – accompanied by home-made ouzo – was mouth-watering.

Join me for a freshly-cooked meal in Greece:

Clean cooking

Everything is Ready
When we arrived, shortly before 11am, everything was laid out neatly in the bright and airy restaurant space.

Clean cooking utensils in front of a garden window, Platia, Naxos Greece

Utensils and the Garden
Outside the large windows, the garden is fresh and inviting.

Two Greek woman in a kitchen courtyard, Platia, Naxos Greece

Sisters in the Kitchen
The older cooks keep a very watchful eye on everything!

Steel bowl and kitchen utensils, Platia, Naxos Greece

Implements Ready
Gleaming like surgical instruments, the tools for preparing the vegetables are organised.

A woman coring a red capsicum, Platia, Naxos Greece

Demonstrating Technique
The cooks show the participants how to core the capsicum in preparation for stuffing. (iPhone12Pro)

Close-up: hands chopping green herbs, Platia, Naxos Greece

Chopping Herbs
Meanwhile, herbs are chopped finely for the Tzatziki dip. (iPhone12Pro)

 

Baskets of vegetables in front of window, Platia, Naxos Greece

Still Life Found : Baskets of Vegetables
(iPhone12Pro)

A woman pouring tomato sauce, Platia, Naxos Greece

Home-Made Tomato Paste
Rich tomato sauce is added to a cooked rice mixture. (iPhone12Pro)

Close-up: hands chopping green herbs, Platia, Naxos Greece

Stuffing Capsicum
The herbed rice and tomato mixture is stuffed into the cleaned capsicums before baking. (iPhone12Pro)

Four travellers stuffing capsicum, Platia cooking school, Naxos Greece

Stuffing the Vegetables
We all spend some time stuffing the capsicums, eggplants, and other vegetables. (Not My Image)

Women pouring oil over filled capsicum, Platia, Naxos Greece

Oiling the Vegetables
… and they are drizzled with olive oil before going into a roasting oven.
(iPhone12Pro)

A tray of red stuffed capsicum, Platia, Naxos Greece

Stuffed Vegetables
Once the capsicum are stuffed, the caps are replaced, …

Meatballs and a bubbling pot of fat, Platia cooking school, Naxos Greece

Frying Meatballs
Next, it is time to mix, shape, and fry the meatballs. (iPhone12Pro)

Cooks at work in a kitchen, Platia cooking school, Naxos Greece

A Natural Smile

Red metal decorative bicycle, Platia Restaurant, Naxos Greece

Bicycle in the Yard
The sun is high on the courtyard, …

Inside Platia Restaurant, Naxos Greece

A Clean Airy Space
… and back inside, the room has been magically put back to rights!

Countryside, Galini Village, Naxos Greece

To the Farm
While our vegetables roast, we take a short trip to the nearby farm property. (iPhone12Pro)

Man on a dirt path in orchard and bamboo, Galini Village, Naxos Greece

Farmer in his Orchard
The owner leads us into his property.

Colourful bee hives, Galini Village, Naxos Greece

Past the Hives

Quince – Cydonia Oblonga

Portrait: Greek farmer explaining his trees, Galini Village, Naxos Greece

Farmer
Our guide points out some of the fruit that is ripening, …

Close-up: Citrus medica on a tree, Galini Village, Naxos Greece

Citron – Citrus Medica
… including some which is less familiar to us.

Close-up: Pomegranate on a tree, Galini Village, Naxos Greece

Pomegranate – Punica Granatum

Farmer and a rusty pump, Galini Village, Naxos Greece

Farmer and his Old Pump
As old as this pump is, it still supplies water in times of need.

A rusty pump, Galini Village, Naxos Greece

Still Life Found : Old Machinery

Oven potatoes, stuffed capsicum, Greek salad, tzatziki, meatballs and ouzo, Platia Cooking School, Naxos Greece

Lunch
We are back at the restaurant in time for our meal to come out of the oven. (iPhone12Pro)

Just delicious!

And, made all the better by our efforts.

Until next time.

Bon Appétit!

Photos: 22September2022Text: Bon Appétit

Orange skies over the dunes of the Sahara, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Almost Sunrise
I was on a hill in the Sahara sands at Erg Chebb in Morocco to watch the sun rise over the horizon. (iPhone15Pro)

A new day is full of promise.

As is the New Year.

In theory, we can start again fresh. In practice of course, the dawn is just a continuation of time.

Still, climbing up a sand dune in Erg Chebb in Morocco, not far from the Algerian border, filled me with hope.

I had walked into the dunes the evening before to enjoy the sunset (see: A Night in the Sahara Desert), and set my alarm early to repeat the climb in the murky darkness of morning before the sun was up. I was travelling with a small group, and had spent the night at the Golden Camp, near the town of Merzouga at the very north-western edge of the Sahara Desert. We were surrounded by hills of rippling sand and blanketed by stars.

Join me for a very short walk in the sands of the Sahara

White tents in the Sahara, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Predawn in the Dunes
Another desert camp, much like ours, comes into view in the early morning light.

A man in the predawn dunes, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Waiting for Sunrise
It was quiet, and I only saw one other person against the undulating vastness of the Sahara.

Predawn dunes, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Predawn Dunes
Colour creeps into the sky.

Dunes at dawn, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Dawn
The morning colours over the landscape change quickly.

Dunes at dawn in an orange sky, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Orange Sky

Sunrise over Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Sunrise (iPhone15Pro)

Three camels in saddles, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Camels on the Horizon
The camels that transport visitors in and out of the desert camps are ready for their first trip.

Three camels in saddles, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Three Camels

Portrait of a camel, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

A Camel
In spite of the nasty reputation that camels have …

Portrait of a camel, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Camel Portrait
… I love their gentle-looking faces.

Camels and handler, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Bedouin Handler and his Camels
A cameleer in his colourful garb readies his team. (iPhone15Pro)

Detail: Patterns in the sand, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Nature’s Artworks: Waves in the Sand
(iPhone15Pro)

Sand dunes in Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Rolling Sands
As I make my way back to my tent, I take one last look. (iPhone15Pro)

The new day was well underway: time to prepare to leave the Sahara behind, and look forward to new frontiers.

As this year unfolds, I wish you and yours all the best.

Sunrise over Erg Chebb, Morocco with text: Happy New Year

Photos: 21October2024

 

Sundown on the dunes of Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Sundown on the Dunes
The desert is a magic place at nightfall – and it was a real gift being able to watch sunset over the dunes of Erg Chebb at the western edge of the Sahara in Morocco.

I’m sure I’m not alone in drawing parallels between the end of the year and the end of a day.

And, seeing camel trains always makes me think of the Christmas story of the three wise men.

This year, my gift to myself was a trip to one of my long-time dream-destinations: Morocco. My three and a half weeks in this colourful North African country was everything I had hoped, and there were countless highlights (eg: Walking around Imlil). Watch this space!

But, as the current year draws to a close, I’ve been taking time to reflect, and I keep thinking about my night in the desert: at the very north-western edge of the Sahara Desert, not far from the Algerian border. 

The overnight trip to the Golden Camp, near the small town of Merzouga, involved a short and thrilling ride into the sandy dunes of Erg Chebb, followed by a camel ride on the most uncomfortable seats I’ve ever experienced!  My tent in the desert camp was wonderful – complete with hot water and a working wifi. But, while the camp feels secluded, the area is crowded: at night, the sight of the myriad stars was somewhat offset by the noise of the neighbouring campsite only a short distance away.

I walked into the dunes at dusk in search of a peaceful sunset, and found myself surrounded by tire tracks and the noise of evening dune buggies.

So, like this past year, the night wasn’t quiet and it wasn’t peaceful! 

But, I do love the desert, and it was a wonderful and unique experience, and I feel extremely fortunate to have enjoyed it.

Join me for an evening in the sands of the Sahara.

View of sand through the wind screen of a car, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

The Sahara in our Windscreen
We piled into four wheel drives in the small village of Merzouga, and raced west into the Sahara. (iPhone15Pro)

The sand dunes of Erg Chebb, Morocco.

View from the Four Wheel Drive
The dunes of the Sahara loop and fold on the arid landscape outside our windows. (iPhone15Pro)

Camels on their knees waiting for customers, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Camels at the Ready
The second half of our journey into the Sahara was by camel.

Man in large blue turban against the sands of Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Bedouin
The camel handlers are striking in their piled turbans and colourfully embroidered clothes.

Waving grass and tire tracks in the dunes, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Waving Sands
It wasn’t easy taking pictures while loping camel-back – but I couldn’t resist! (iPhone15Pro)

Long shadows of a camel train in the Sahara sand, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Shadow Selfie
It’s early evening, and the lowering sun stretches the shadows long across the waving sands. (iPhone15Pro)

Metal chairs and table, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

A Table on the Hill
It’s a quirky scene: delicate furniture sits atop the hard-packed dunes.

White tents in the Sahara, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Desert Camp
Being at the very edge of the vast Sahara, this is a busy region. The neighbouring camp was close by.

Sand dunes in Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Folds of Sand

Grass and ripples of sand in the dunes, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Nature’s Artworks : Waves and Grass

Animal tracks in the sand, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Desert Patterns
Although arid, the desert is not barren. You have to wonder what made these tracks!

Bootprint and animal tracks in the sand, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Footprint in the Sand
The colours change with every shift in the light. I leave my own footprints next to tiny animal tracks as I climb to a vantage point.

People on the dunes in the distance, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Waiting for Sunset
The neighbouring dunes are busy as the sun lowers in the sky.

Dune buggy silhouetted against a Sahara sunset, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Chasing Sunset
Dune buggies, trucks, camels, and people are on every ridge.

People silhouetted against a Sahara sunset, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

People in the Sunset
The sky only stays golden for a few minutes …

A Sahara sunset, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Sunset in the Dunes
… before the sun drops behind the dunes, and people make their way back to their respective camps. For a moment, everything was quiet. (iPhone15Pro)

People on camelback silhouetted against a Sahara sky, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Camels on the Horizon

People and metal chairs silhouetted in the Sahara, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Silhouettes 
On my way back to the camp, I spot some of my travel companions making use of those chairs I saw earlier.

Portrait: two young Berber men, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Young Berbers
Two local lads were happy to stop and chat.

Portrait: a young Berber man, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Portrait of a Young Berber

Berber musician warming his goat skin drum on a fire, Erg Chebb, Morocco.

Warming the Drums
After a wonderful Moroccan meal, we were treated to some Gnaoua music under the stars.

It was a treat!

Until next year, wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season.

Long shadows of a camel train in the Sahara sand, Erg Chebb, Morocco with Seasons Greetings text.

Pictures: 20October2024

Houseboat and its reflection in the water, Vembanad Lake, Kerala, South India.

Houseboat in the Wetlands
Like a dream, a houseboat – and its reflection – glide through the backwaters around Vembanad Lake in Kerala, South India.

I’ve said it before: being on and around the waters of Vembanad Lake in Kerala, South India had a soporific effect on me (see: On the Kerala Backwaters). The heat – and the haze that the heat produced on the water – and soft chugging of the motors of the river traffic had me feeling like I was in a dream. Tropical plants adorned the gardens either side of the waterways, and birds were everywhere. Brightly dressed local residents went about their daily lives in small boats and on walkways at the water’s edge.

I knew this region from other people’s photographs, and was finally getting to visit for myself!

I was travelling with a small group, so all the details were looked after for me. We had spent the night in the beautiful CGH Earth Coconut Lagoon resort in Kottayam district on Vembanad Lake. This area is home to a huge variety of bird life which takes sanctuary in the protected neighbouring wetlands.

The resort offered a guided pre-dawn nature walk, so I set my alarm and got up early to join in. As we walked around the grounds and onto the neighbouring sanctuary, a huge array of birds and plants were pointed out to us. Unfortunately, my telephoto lens is by no means bird-worthy, especially in the low light of morning – but I made several attempts to capture some of the species we spotted.

Mid-morning, our group transferred from the resort to kettuvallam – traditional Kerala houseboats – that were to be our homes for the afternoon and overnight. We cruised slowly through the rivers and canals off Vembanad Lake, taking in the colourful life on the banks of the Pamba River before parking at a mooring as the sun went down. 

Join me on the waterways of Kerala.

Indian crow on a wooden railing, Kottayam Kerala

Indian Crow – Corvus Splendens
So ubiquitous around India that the locals call this a house crow or common crow, these greynecked crows struck me as remarkably uncommon! The variants I was used to seeing in North America, Australia – and even Thailand – were pure glossy black.

Asian openbill in green lawn, Kottayam Kerala India

Asian Openbill – Anastomus Oscitans
January is dry season in Kerala, but there is still a lot of water in the landscaped trenches around the resort – making a good spot for a small stork to search for food. The sun hasn’t risen high enough to penetrate the haze and murk of the morning.

Red water lilies blooming on a pond, Kottayam Kerala India

Red Water Lily – Nymphaea Rubra
The lilies are just opening up to the new day.

Houseboat in the low light, Kottayam Kerala India

Houseboat in the Morning
In the low light of morning, Kerala’s famous houseboats are already on the move.

A stream of Asian openbills in the sky, Kottayam Kerala India

A Stream of Asian Openbills
I love the different formations that the birds make overhead in the hazy morning sky.

Asian openbill in the sky, Kottayam Kerala India

Asian Openbill – Anastomus Oscitans
I manage to pull one in on the zoom; the open beak of this distinctive small stork is just visible.

Indian pond heron in the wetlands, Kottayam Kerala India

Indian Pond Heron – Ardeola Grayii
Often called a ‘paddybird‘, this small heron is found everywhere in South Asian rice fields.

Sunbird in bare tree branches, Kottayam Kerala India

Purple-Rumped Sunbird – Leptocoma Zeylonica
High overhead, we spot a sunbird – probably a male – in the trees.

Close up: pink flowers on a powder-puff tree, Kottayam Kerala India

Powder-Puff Tree – Barringtonia Racemosa
The flowers in the resort gardens are much easier to catch!

Kingfisher on a pole in the wetlands, Kottayam Kerala India

Kingfisher on a Pole
The poles in the floating mass of water hyacinth provide a great perch for birds on the lookout for food.

Two men in a wooden motorboat, Kottayam Kerala India

Two Men in a Boat
There is a steady stream of boat traffic on the water. I love how the background fades into the heat-haze.

People in a long wooden motorboat, Kottayam Kerala India

Full Boat
Some of the beasts seem dangerously overloaded!

Cattle egret flying over the wetlands, Kottayam Kerala India

Cattle Egret – Ardea Ibis
I love watching these birds in flight.

Birds in flight over a hazy wetland landscape, Kottayam Kerala India

Like a Minimalist Painting

Wooden viewing platforms on the water

Viewing Platforms
There are a few hides in the wetlands for serious bird watchers.

Red flowers on a cannonball tree, Kottayam Kerala India

Cannonball Tree – Couroupita Guianensis
I love these unique flowers. But, I keep watch for any over-hanging fruit: they are called ‘cannonball’ for a reason!

Woman doing laundry, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Life on the Water’s Edge
Later in the day, we boarded our small houseboats, and set off through the Alleppey Backwaters.

Houseboats on the Pamba River, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Houseboats on the Pamba River
These popular waterways are a labyrinthine network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes, and inlets, stretching over 900 kilometers.

Pedestrian bridge, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Pedestrian Bridge
The waterways are bustling with movement and crowded with buildings.

Young couple on a pedestrian bridge, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Couple on the Bridge

Houseboats on the Pamba River, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Houseboats and Transport Boats

Women walking along the canal, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Women Walking on the Edge
Everywhere we look, there is colour and activity.

Women working alongside the canal, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Women Working
The waterways are the centre of daily life.

Woman doing laundry, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Doing Laundry

Colourful tourist boats on the Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Colourful Tourist Boats
Tourism is a major contributor to Kerala’s income.

Brahminy kite overhead, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur Indus) – I Think?
The sky is alive with raptors.

Houseboat and palm trees, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Houseboat at Rest
As the day draws to a close, the the houseboats pull into their allocated berths for the night.

Young man on the prow of a Kerala houseboat, Alleppey Backwaters, Kerala India

Boatman
The boatmen make sure the vessels are securely tied up …

Orange sunset over Kerala houseboats, , Alleppey Backwaters, India

Sundown on the Houseboats
… and the waterways go quiet.

We ate our wonderful South Indian meal on our houseboat as the sun went down over the Kerala Backwaters and then spent the night in air-conditioned comfort.

It truly was a dream come true!

Until next time …

Pictures: 29January2023

View out of the Water Pavilion of Lotus Fragrance in the Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

The Water Pavilion of Lotus Fragrance
The Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour was gifted to Sydney by her Chinese sister-city of Guangdong in Guangzhou (Canton). It was formally opened in 1988 during the Bicentennial celebrations – and is where my husband and I later married.

I ♥️ Sydney!

Not only is it an aesthetically beautiful city, but every part of it is home to encapsulated memories I’ve collected over many years.

I get into Sydney at least four times a year: for dance, music, theatre, and/or to catch up with former work friends. One of the great joys of not living in the suburbs anymore is having to stay in the city itself for events – rather than just making the long drive in from the outskirts. This makes city trips events in themselves.

I was cleaning up some photo catalogues and came across a set of pictures from a trip many years ago. We had only recently moved back to Australia and had some appointments in the Central Business District. So, we made the day’s drive north, and stayed in nearby Haymarket.

Haymarket is home to Sydney’s vibrant Chinatown and some of the city’s best markets. It is a short walk from the iconic Town Hall and Queen Victoria Building, and next door to the wonderful Darling Harbour.

Darling Harbour is a waterway that runs along the west of Sydney’s city centre. The lands either side have been re-invented many times over the years, but have operated as a pedestrian and tourist precinct since the 1980s. When my children were school-aged, we would visit regularly during school holidays to take part in the free entertainment that was on offer in the summer. I still like walking around there, any time of year (see: Searching for Christmas Spirit).

The Darling Harbour precinct is currently home to restaurants, bars, a casino, entertainment venues, convention and exhibition spaces, a nightclub, the Australian National Maritime Museum, an IMAX theatre, a Madame Tussauds, the Wildlife Sydney Zoo, and the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium among other attractions. My favourite place within it is the Chinese Garden of Friendship – which is where  my husband and I had our wedding.

Join me for a few photographic impressions and memories:

View over George Street, Haymarket Sydney Australia

George Street
From our hotel eyrie n …

View over Hay Street, Haymarket Sydney Australia

Hay Street
… we can watch the world below.

Glossy black sculpture of a bull, Sydney Australia

“The Challenge”
Our morning stroll takes us through the Hordern Arcade in World Square, where we stop to admire the bronze bull created by Alan Somerville in 1999. The plaque reads: The bull, a mythological beast, is the embodiment of spirituality and symbolises the qualities of strength, endurance and tenacity necessary in meeting the many challenges encountered in achieving success.

Ibis walking on pavers, Darling Harbour, Sydney Australia

Australian White Ibis – Threskiornis Molucca
These adaptable native birds, locally known as ‘bin chickens’ for their propensity to search for food in the rubbish, are a familiar part of the Australian natural landscape.

Weeping willows drooping over a green pond and white stone, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

Willows Weeping
The tranquil Chinese Friendship Gardens are a tribute to Chinese heritage and culture, and a recognition of that community’s contribution to commercial and social structures in Australia.

Orange clay roofs of the Twin Pavilion, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

The Twin Pavilion
The heritage-listed 1.03-hectare (3-acre) garden is modelled after the classic private gardens of the Ming dynasty in China.

Tall stone pagoda, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

Stone Pagoda
The garden combines the elements of water, plants, stone, and architecture, attempting to balance the contradictory opposites of yin and yang.

Small roofed structure, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

Reading Brook Pavilion
Every window frames a scene.

Ripe pomegranate, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

Pomegranate – Punica Granatum
The garden was designed and planted by Chinese landscape architects using plants sourced in New South Wales – including many exotic species.

Autumn Zephyrlily flowers, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

Autumn Zephyrlily – Zephyranthes Candida

Yellow lily in a pond, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

Lily Pond

A young couple share a moment, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

Around the Pond
It truly is a tranquil place …

Chinese-style tiled roofs, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

Rooftops and Well-Groomed Plants
… and feels miles away from the modern bustle of Sydney.

Portrait: Man in a cap in the Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

Gabe in the Gardens
We always took pleasure in revisiting.

View over the Chinese Garden of Friendship through red and opaque white glass, Sydney Australia

Almost Abstract – Gardens through the Glass
Every new view is a delight.

The Dragon Wall from across the pond, Chinese Garden of Friendship, Darling Harbour Sydney Australia.

The Dragon Wall
From across the pond, we can admire the ornate, double sided and free-standing glazed terracotta screen. From the government of Guangdong, the wall depicts two dragons – representing New South Wales and Guangdong – in search of the pearl of wisdom. In the background, Sydney Tower rises against the sky, as if to remind us where we are.

Water wheel, Darling Harbour Water Park, Sydney Australia.

Water Park
Especially in the heat of summer, the water park in Darling Harbour is attractive to visitors – particularly young ones.

Waterspout in the sidewalk, Darling Harbour, Sydney Australia.

Intermittent Water Spouts
These dancing waters were one of my children’s favourite features in the extensive playground area.

The execution of King Charles I diorama, the Royal Clock, Sydney Australia.

The Royal Clock in QVB
The nearby Queen Victoria Building is a beautiful block-long heritage-listed late-nineteenth-century building, full of very up-market shops and some interesting novelties. On the hour, the Royal Clock on the upper level rotates through six scenes from English royal history. This one is the execution of King Charles I in 1649.

King Harold diorama, the Royal Clock, Sydney Australia.

King Harold Dying at the Battle of Hastings in 1066
Every scene is mesmerising: each mechanical performance is heralded and accompanied by trumpeters at the tops of the clock’s outer turrets.

Sculpture of Queen Victoria, QVB Sydney, Australia.

Queen Victoria
Outside the building, the Queen is not amused, and the sky darkens.

We hightailed it back to our hotel before the rains came.

Text: Happy Travels

Definitely a morning well spent.

Happy Travels!

Photos: 20February2012