Notre Dame

I loved Notre Dame. It was the first, big, inspiring church of the trip and it was very beautiful. I think it helped that the sun was shining and it was Paris. But the inside of Notre Dame was cool and peacefull and you could feel the thousand years of history surrounding you.

Galileo

Venice - Galileo Galilei with his telescope from here on the 21st August 1609 expanded the horizons for men of the fourth century.
Enough said.

Teardrops on the City ...

At some stage in the next few days (if you haven’t already done so) take a moment and play Tenth Avenue Freeze Out (from the Born To Run CD) as loud as you can. Marvel in the sound of the sax as it comes in at the start and weaves its magic through the track. Then blast out the title track of the cd, wait for that great sax solo in the middle and give thanks that such talent walked this earth.


R.I.P. Clarence Clemons (January 11, 1942 – June 18, 2011)


When the change was made uptown
And the big man joined the band
From the coastline to the city
All the little pretties raise their hands
I’m gonna sit back right easy and laugh
When scooter and the big man bust this city in half

Sunrise? Sunset?

Someone I used to spend a lot of time with once asked me if I preferred a sunrise or a sunset. I can't remember what my answer was (let's be honest I probably didn't get to answer, just listen to an hour or two of what he preferred).

I'm still not sure what my answer is. Both are magical, amazing, beautiful and wonder inspiring.

A sunrise holds promise. Of a new day. A new beginning. At sunrise the world is fresh and ready. I saw some fabulous sunrises travelling to work from Geelong every day. There were memorable sunrises in Maldon (of all places!), Queensland and on aeroplanes in various locations. One of my favourites was the sunrise in Western Australia, the morning after we'd watch the sunset at Cape Leeuwin.

Sunsets are different. For me, they should be a sigh of happiness at the end of a day well lived. A fitting full stop to glorious hours of daylight. I have probably seen many more sunsets than sunrises but that does not make either more special. I loved that Cape Leeuwin sunset. Watching the sunsets on the Mediterranean from the cruise ship - Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu. Venice!

Sunset - Venice, Italy. (JB2010)

Pompeii

The mountain in the background is Vesuvius. Before it exploded it was double the size it is today.

Imagine going about your every day life when half of that volcano blasted away. The 20 000 people of Pompeii stood no chance.

Rome - The Colosseum

It didn't matter that the sky was turning grey. Or that fine, misty rain was beginning. This was the moment I had waited for.