TRAVEL TUESDAY 555 - SAMOTHRACE, GREECE

“Insula importuosissima omnium. (Samothrace is) The most harbourless of all isles.” - Pliny the Elder

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.
There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and then share it with the rest of us. Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only.
Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

Samothrace (or Samothraki) is a rugged, unspoiled Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea. Famous for its wild natural beauty—including sweeping waterfalls, 100+ natural rock pools, and majestic Mount Saos—it is the ancient home of the iconic Winged Victory of Samothrace statue (now in the Louvre) and the mystic Sanctuary of the Great Gods (which you can visit on the island).

Unlike the typical sun-baked Greek islands, Samothrace is intensely green. Fed by sixty freshwater springs, the landscape offers lush plane tree woodlands, dramatic gorges, and wild swimming in crystal-clear alpine pools. There are many hiking paths as well as guided tours which you can enjoy under the care of local guides who walk with you and ensure you don’t miss anything of note.

The Sanctuary of the Great Gods (known in Greek as Ieró tōn Megálōn Theōn) on the island was one of the most prestigious, sacred, and enigmatic religious centres of the ancient Pan-Hellenic world. Operating from at least the 7th century BCE until the 4th century CE, it was the home of the famous Samothracian Mysteries—a secret cult whose initiation rites promised protection from shipwreck at sea and a transformative path to moral improvement. Unlike other cities where status dictated power, this cult welcomed everyone, regardless of gender, social standing, or nationality. The deities worshipped there were collectively referred to as the Kabeiroi or simply "The Gods". Speaking their individual names out loud was strictly taboo. The Hellenistic statue of the goddess Nike (circa 200 BCE) was excavated here in 1863 and now famously resides in the Louvre in Paris.

Mount Fengari rises to 1,611 meters and is the highest peak in the Aegean Sea. Myth has it that Poseidon sat on this mountain to watch the Trojan War.  The Waterpools (Vathres) lend themselves to exploration. Canyoning and hiking to the cascading waterfalls and deep rock pools—such as the famous Fonias river—are a staple of any visit. Pachia Ammos is the island's most notable stretch of sand, framed by dramatic cliffs. Chora is the island's main village, nestled in the mountains above the port. It features winding stone alleys, traditional cafes, and a medieval fortress.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 554 - SAN FRANCISCO, USA

“I left my heart in San Francisco, high on a hill, it calls to me to be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars…” - Douglass Cross

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.
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San Francisco is a vibrant, consolidated city-county located on a 46-square-mile peninsula in northern California, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay. Renowned for its steep rolling hills, distinct microclimates, and iconic historic landmarks, it serves as a major cultural, financial, and technological hub for the western United States.

Several iconic attractions make this destination a popular tourist haunt, and amongst them are: Golden Gate Bridge —The world-famous international orange suspension bridge linking the city to Marin County. Alcatraz Island —A historic former federal prison located in the chilly waters of the bay. Cable Cars — The nation's only moving historic landmark, pulling riders up towering slopes. Lombard Street — A uniquely crooked street featuring eight sharp, manicured switchbacks. Pier 39 & Fisherman's Wharf — A bustling waterfront area famous for sunbathing sea lions and clam chowder bread bowls.

The city's strong bohemian and tech-forward culture thrives within various colourful districts: Chinatown — The oldest and one of the largest enclaves of Chinese culture outside of Asia. The Castro — A historic epicentre for LGBTQ+ culture, activism, and nightlife. Haight-Ashbury — The birthplace of the 1960s counterculture movement, now filled with indie shops. The Mission — Known for its rich Latino heritage, vibrant street murals, and famous Mission-style burritos. Union Square — The central shopping hub packed with premier retail therapy options.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 553 - DUNDEE, SCOTLAND

“The world is neither Scottish, English, nor Irish, neither French, Dutch, nor Chinese, but human…” — Sir Alexander Gray

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

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Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland. The 2020 mid-year population estimate for the locality was 148,210. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea. Under the name of Dundee City, it forms one of the 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Angus, the city developed into a burgh in the late 12th century and established itself as an important east coast trading port. Rapid expansion was brought on by the Industrial Revolution, particularly in the 19th century when Dundee was the centre of the global jute industry. This, along with its other major industries, gave Dundee its epithet as the city of "jute, jam and journalism”.

With the decline of traditional industry, the city has adopted a plan to regenerate and reinvent itself as a cultural centre. In pursuit of this, a £1 billion master plan to regenerate and to reconnect the Waterfront to the city centre started in 2001 and is expected to be completed within a 30-year period. The V&A Dundee – the first branch of the V&A to operate outside of London – is the main centrepiece of the waterfront project. Today, Dundee is promoted as "One City, Many Discoveries" in honour of Dundee’s history of scientific activities and of the RRS Discovery, Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic exploration vessel, which was built in Dundee and is now berthed at Discovery Point.

Dundee is an international research and development hub in technology, medicine and life sciences, with technological industries having arrived since the 1980s. Dundee was named as a “City of the Future” by Cognizant in 2021, the only UK city to be featured. Dundee is also a leading city in AI, cybersecurity, fintech and electric vehicles where the city has one of the largest fleets of electric vehicles in the country. The city was named as the electric vehicle capital of Europe in 2018, and it has continuously been branded as the electric vehicle capital of Scotland and the United Kingdom.

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THE MUSIC OF YOUR THOUGHT

“Immortality is to live your life doing good things, and leaving your mark behind.” - Brandon Lee

Coming back to the New What's Going On blog this week. I have gone into the woodwork the last few weeks as there have been many things happening to me and around me: Illnesses, a death, some friends leaving Australia, and I have been busy preparing for a couple of art exhibitions that I had committed to some months earlier.

I’m sharing a French song I’ve written with you today. I’ll give you the lyrics and the translation if your French is a little rusty.

This song and all my music you can find in my “Otidorchestre”  channel or listen to it on YouTube,  Spotify,  Amazon, Deezer, Flo, Pandora, and other music sharing sites.

La Musique de Ta Pensée

« De tous les chiffres de l'alphabet,
C’est le cramoisi que j'adore… », dit-elle ;
Et je la regardai, déconcerté,
Amusé aussi par sa propension à colorer
Jusqu’au plus terne des sujets.

« La mer, elle vole si bien, chassant les rochers
Tandis qu'ils s'élèvent vers le fond… »
Je lui ai souri, me prélavant dans le soleil
De ses hyperboles, m'approchant au plus près de son étoile
En ce court instant d'un périhélie hyperbolique.

« De ton toucher, j'aime la musique et le miel, »

Murmura-t-elle, sous un souffle de ciel ;
Et j'ai chanté l'onde de ma main, trace de soie,
Sillon de sucre où mon âme se noie.

« Mes pensées secrètes vivent dans un tiroir fermé à clé dans mon ventre… »
J'acquiesçai, en caressant son nombril,
Voulant ouvrir ses cachettes les plus intimes
Pour m'y perdre tout entier.

« J'apprécie l'honnêteté des pégases
Qui, en période de mue, avouent ne plus savoir voler… »
Remarqua-t-elle pensivement, caressant mon omoplate,
Et à cet instant, je sus... oui, je le sus pertinemment...

« De ton toucher, j'aime la musique et le miel, »
Murmura-t-elle, sous un souffle de ciel ;
Et j'ai chanté l'onde de ma main, trace de soie,
Sillon de sucre où mon âme se noie.

Alors que je me préparais à un aphélie perpétuel,
Que je l'avais perdue, à jamais...
Dernière lettre muette d'un alphabet désormais sans chiffres.

The Music of Your Thought

“Of all the numbers of the alphabet
I adore crimson…”, she said;
And I looked at her bemused,
Amused too, by her propensity to add colour
To even the dullest topic.

“The sea, she flies so well, chasing rocks
As they rise up to the bottom…”
I smiled at her, basking in the sunshine
Of her hyperboles, approaching nearest to her star
In that single moment of a hyperbolic perihelion.

Of all the music of your touch,
I love sweetness…”, she added;
And I sang with my hand,
Leaving a trace of honey, treacly, sticky,
On her smooth skin.

“My secret thoughts live in a locked drawer

In my belly…”
I nodded, as I caressed her navel,
Wanting to open up her innermost
Secret hiding places to lose myself into.

“I appreciate the honesty of pegasi
Who in their moulting season admit they cannot fly…”
She pensively remarked, stroking my shoulder blade,
And at that moment I knew,
As I prepared for a perpetual aphelion,
That I had lost her, evermore.

TRAVEL TUESDAY 552 - ULURU

“Since the beginning, Native Peoples lived a life of being in harmony with all that surrounds us. It is a belief that all humankind are related to each other. Each has a purpose, spirit and sacredness. It is an understanding with the Great Spirit or Creator that we will follow these ways. And in this understanding we believe we are related to all other living species.” - Denis Banks

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Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and then share it with the rest of us. Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only.
Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory, central Australia. It lies 335 km south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs, 450 km by road. Kata Tjuta and Uluru are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Uluru is sacred to the Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area.

The area around the formation is home to a plethora of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Uluru is listed as a World Heritage Site. Uluru is an inselberg, literally "island mountain". An inselberg is a prominent isolated residual knob or hill that rises abruptly from and is surrounded by extensive and relatively flat erosion lowlands in a hot, dry region.

Uluru is also often referred to as a monolith, although this is a somewhat ambiguous term that is generally avoided by geologists. The remarkable feature of Uluru is its homogeneity and lack of jointing and parting at bedding surfaces, leading to the lack of development of scree slopes and soil. These characteristics led to its survival, while the surrounding rocks were eroded.

I took the this photo of Uluru on board a plane while we were flying to Singapore. Even at cruising altitude, we were thoroughly awe-struck by its sheer size and majesty. The weathering of iron-bearing minerals in the rock by the process of oxidation gives the outer surface layer of Uluru a red-brown rusty colour, making for spectacular photos at sunrise and sunset when the reddish sun accentuates the rock's colour.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 551 - MT CONNER, NT, AUSTRALIA

“I was lucky enough to grow up in Western Australia and know that the Australian Outback is vast and spell-binding and heart-stoppingly beautiful, and the characters that inhabit it are unique and hilarious and tough and cheeky.” - Tim Minchin

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel. There is only one simple rule:Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and then share it with the rest of us. Please use this meme for your creative endeavours only. Do not use this meme to advertise your products or services as any links or comments by advertisers will be removed immediately.

Mount Conner – also known as Artilla (or Atila), or tongue-in-cheek as Fooluru (or Fuluru) – is a mesa located in the southwest corner of the Northern Territory of Australia. Mount Conner is located 75 kilometres southeast of Lake Amadeus, in the locality of Petermann. It lies within the Curtin Springs cattle station in Pitjantjatjara country, close to the site of the Kungkarangkalpa (Seven Sisters) Dreaming. Its height reaches 859 metres above sea level and 300 metres above ground level.

Mount Conner was named after M. L. Conner by explorer William Gosse in 1873. Its Aboriginal name is "Artilla" or "Attila", believed to be associated with the "terrible ice-man" story. It is also known by locals as "Fool-uru" or "Fuluru", owing to tourists sometimes confusing it with Uluru. Former schoolteacher Ellis Bankin is thought to have mistaken Mount Conner for Uluru when he was travelling to the latter in 1936. He died and was buried near Mount Conner after suffering from exhaustion.

The summit of Mount Conner, along with the summits of low domes in the Kata Tjuta complex and summit levels of Uluru, is an erosional remnant of a Cretaceous geomorphic surface. It is considered to be a classic example of an inselberg created by erosion of surrounding strata.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 550 - KATHERINE GORGE, NT, AUSTRALIA

“We from the south are becoming more and more conscious of the Northern Territory, and are realising what a remarkable future the Territory has... the people of the out-back work under difficult conditions, and their efforts; skill and cheerfulness will make the Territory a great producing area. You are not forgotten.” - Robert Menzies

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Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge is a stunning 13-gorge system carved by the Katherine River through ancient sandstone in Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory. Located 30 km northeast of the town of Katherine, it is celebrated for its towering cliffs, Aboriginal rock art, and diverse outback wildlife.

The best way to experience the area includes: River Cruises, that range from casual sightseeing, sunset dinner and to cultural cruises. Renting a canoe gives you the freedom to paddle through the serene gorges and swim in hidden spots. Helicopter scenic flights provide a spectacular aerial view of the entire gorge system. The park also features a variety of trails, including the multi-day Jatbula Trail and shorter walks to Sweetwater Pool.

The gorge is a 3.5-hour drive south from Darwin along the Stuart Highway. The best time to visit is during the Dry Season (April to October), which is ideal for swimming and canoeing, as the waters are placid and accessible. The Traditional Owners of the land are the Jawoyn people, with Nitmiluk translating to "cicada place" in their traditional language.

Katherine is the town in the Northern Territory closest to the Gorge. It is situated on the Katherine River, after which it is named, 320 kilometres southeast of Darwin. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory, it is known as the place where "The outback meets the tropics". Katherine had an urban population of 9,643 at the 2021 Australia Census.

Katherine is also the closest major town to RAAF Base Tindal, located 17 km southeast, and provides education, health, local government services and employment opportunities for the families of Defence personnel stationed there. In the 2016 census, the base had a residential population of 857, with only around 20% of the workforce engaged in employment outside of defence, the majority commuting to work in Katherine. Katherine is also the central hub of the great "Savannah Way" which stretches from Cairns in north Queensland to Broome in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 549 - PORT MORESBY, NEW GUINEA

“Papua New Guinea, a land where ancient customs and traditions harmonise with modernity.” – David Walliams

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

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Port Moresby (Tok Pisin: Pot Mosbi), also referred to as Pom City or simply Moresby, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It is one of the largest cities in the southwestern Pacific (along with Jayapura) outside of Australia and New Zealand. It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the south-western coast of the Papuan Peninsula of the island of New Guinea.

The city emerged as a trade centre in the second half of the 19th century. During World War II, it was a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43 as a staging point and air base to cut off Australia from Southeast Asia and the Americas. Due to its population and outsized influence compared to other cities in Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby may be regarded as a primate city.

As of the 2011 census, Port Moresby had 364,145 inhabitants. This grew to 756,754 at the 2024 census. The place where the city was founded has been inhabited by the Motu-Koitabu people for centuries. The first Briton to see it was Royal Navy Captain John Moresby in 1873. It was named in honour of his father, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Fairfax Moresby.

Although Port Moresby is surrounded by Central Province, of which it is also the capital, it is not part of that province but instead forms the National Capital District. The traditional landowners, the Motu and Koitabu people, are represented by the Motu Koita Assembly. Port Moresby hosted the APEC summit in November 2018. However, there were concerns about security, given the capital's reputation for violent crime.

There has been substantial building of housing, office towers, shopping malls and commercial establishments over much of the city. The waterfront area has been completely redeveloped with apartments, restaurants and shopping centres. Hanuabada and Koki are the last remaining stilt villages in Port Moresby, where traditional houses are built on wooden pylons over the sea. These homes, which are central to the indigenous Motu community, are connected by wooden walkways and enjoy a strong sense of community.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 548 - MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA

“Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and the unknown. Through them we pass out into adventure and sunshine, to them, alas! we return.” - E. M. Forster

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

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Flinders Street Station is Melbourne's iconic central railway hub and a primary cultural landmark located at the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets. Completed in 1909, its distinctive yellow facade and green copper dome make it one of Australia’s most recognisable buildings. Here is Platform 1, which is the longest railway platform in Australia and the fourth longest in the world, stretching 708 metres.

Flinders St Station serves the entire metropolitan rail network and regional V/Line services to Gippsland. It is the busiest suburban station in the Southern Hemisphere, handling over 1,500 trains and 110,000 commuters daily.

The third floor of the Station houses a grand, abandoned ballroom that was a popular dance hall in the 1950s and 60s. In the late 1980s, heating was installed under the stone steps at the main entrance of the Station to keep commuters warm while they wait. Local lore tells of a ghost named "George," often spotted holding fishing gear on Platform 10.

A row of 13 indicator clocks above the main entrance of Flinders St Station shows the next departure for each line. This is Melbourne's most famous meeting point, often accompanied by the phrase: “Meet me under the clocks.”

As of late 2025, the station connects to the new Town Hall Station via the Flinders Link underground walkway, allowing for seamless interchange with the new Metro Tunnel. The station includes takeaway kiosks (coffee, sushi, hot food), public toilets, and Travellers Aid for travel assistance. A historic hat shop  “City Hatters” located in the station since 1910, was originally the station master's office.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 547 - ROUEN, FRANCE

“In France we have a saying, ‘Joie de vivre’, which actually doesn't exist in the English language. It means looking at your life as something that is to be taken with great pleasure and enjoy it.” - Mireille Guiliano

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Rouen is the historic capital of Normandy in northwestern France, 125 km northwest of Paris. It is known as the “city of a hundred bell-towers” and famed for its medieval, half-timbered houses, rich Gothic architecture, and connection to Joan of Arc. It is located on the picturesque River Seine, and it features the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Gros-Horloge clock, and a population of over 712,000 in its metropolitan area. It is a “Ville Musée” (Museum City) that balances a rich, preserved history with a lively, modern urban atmosphere.

Rouen Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame) is a masterpiece of Gothic art immortalized in a series of paintings by Claude Monet. The Gros-Horloge is a 14th-century astronomical clock located on a Renaissance arch spanning a bustling pedestrian street. The Place du Vieux-Marché is the historic marketplace where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431, now featuring a modern church dedicated to her. Old Town (Le Vieux Rouen) a pedestrian-friendly area, filled with hundreds of medieval, half-timbered houses and cobbled streets is the key venue to visit in the city. The Musée des Beaux-Arts is a fine arts museum with a large collection of Impressionist paintings. History, art and culture are a vibrant part of the fabric of the City.

Every summer, the magnificent cathedral in Rouen comes to life at nightfall with a free, breathtaking light show projected upon its façade. The Rouen Armada is the largest gathering of tall ships in the world. For around ten days, millions of visitors flock to the quays of Rouen to admire the most prestigious ships and greet their crews. Rouen‘s massive Fête du Ventre is undoubtedly one of the must-attend gastronomic events of the autumn and remains a popular attraction for local and international tourists.

Rouen, as the historical capital of Normandy, was crucial during the Middle Ages, with ties to Vikings, William the Conqueror, and Richard the Lionheart. Joan of Arc is also profoundly linked to the City, and Saint Joan was tried and executed here. Known for traditional Normandy cuisine, including local cheeses, apple products, and boasting, in La Couronne, one of France's oldest inns, excellent cuisine. Rouen is must visit city for any foodie.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 546 - DUNNOTTAR CASTLE, SCOTLAND

“The gloomy hills of Scotland keep my spirit clean” - Robert Louis Stevenson

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Dunnottar Castle (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Fhoithear, "fort on the shelving slope") is a ruined medieval fortress located upon a rocky headland on the northeast coast of Scotland, about 3 kilometres south of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. The surviving buildings are largely of the 15th and 16th centuries, but the site is believed to have been fortified in the Early Middle Ages.

Dunnottar has played a prominent role in the history of Scotland through to the 18th-century Jacobite risings because of its strategic location and defensive strength. Dunnottar is best known as the place where the Honours of Scotland, the Scottish crown jewels, were hidden from Oliver Cromwell's invading army in the 17th century.

The property of the Keiths from the 14th century, and the seat of the Earl Marischal, Dunnottar declined after the last Earl forfeited his titles by taking part in the Jacobite rebellion of 1715. The castle was restored in the 20th century and is now open to the public. The castle ruins are spread over 1.4 hectares, The site is surrounded by steep cliffs that drop to the North Sea, 50 meters below.

A narrow strip of land joins the headland to the mainland, along which a steep path leads to the gatehouse. The various buildings within the castle include the 14th-century tower house as well as the 16th-century palace. Dunnottar Castle is a scheduled monument, and twelve structures on the site were listed buildings.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 545 - SANTIAGO DE CHILE

“Mining created Chile. The story of men who go down into the mountain and chip away at minerals in the darkness and then suffer an accident that leaves them at the mercy of that darkness is part of the DNA of Chile, an integral part of the country's history.” - Ariel Dorfman

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Santiago, also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. Located in the Chilean Central Valley within the Santiago Basin, between the Andes to the east and the Chilean Coastal Range to the west, it anchors the Santiago Metropolitan Region and its conurbation of Greater Santiago, which comprises more than forty communes and concentrates over a third of the national population and around 45% of Chile's GDP.

Most of the city lies between 500 and 650 meters above sea level, with recent urban growth extending into the Andean foothills. The basin that Santiago occupies has been inhabited since at least the 10th millennium BC, with early agricultural villages established along the Mapocho River and later incorporated into the Inca sphere of influence. During the Spanish invasion of the Americas, conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded the colonial city of Santiago del Nuevo Extremo on 12 February 1541, laying out a grid plan around the Plaza Mayor (now Plaza de Armas). Despite early food shortages, Indigenous attacks, floods, and devastating earthquakes—notably in 1647—the city consolidated as the capital of the Captaincy General of Chile.

Santiago remained the political centre during the Chilean War of Independence, beginning with the First Government Junta in 1810 and culminating in patriot victory at the Battle of Maipú in 1818, and subsequently expanded through 19th-century railway construction, state-building projects, and the creation of major educational and cultural institutions. The city today is the political and administrative heart of Chile: it houses the presidential palace and the main organs of the executive and judiciary, while the National Congress meets primarily in nearby Valparaíso.

Economically, Santiago is the country's principal industrial, commercial, and financial hub and a regional centre for services, hosting the headquarters of major Chilean companies, regional offices of international organizations such as the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and several of the nation's leading universities and research institutes. Urban growth has been marked by the emergence of high-rise business districts such as Sanhattan, dominated by Gran Torre Santiago, the tallest building in South America and the second tallest building in Latin America (behind Mexico's T.Op Torre 1). 

Santiago's urban landscape combines a 19th-century neoclassical core and surviving colonial churches with extensive modern residential districts, standalone hills such as Cerro Santa Lucía and Cerro San Cristóbal, and parklands along the Mapocho River, including Parque Forestal, Parque Bicentenario, and Santiago Metropolitan Park.

The city has a cool semi-arid climate with Mediterranean characteristics, warm, dry summers and cool, wetter winters; its location in an enclosed valley contributes both to its scenic views of the high Andes and to chronic air pollution and winter smog. Santiago is served by Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport, a dense network of urban highways, and one of Latin America's most extensive metro systems.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 544 - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA

“Where words end, eyes begin, and hands weave timeless stories, that's the art of Kathakali.” ― Raigon Stanley

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

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Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum, is the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 km2, making it the largest and most populous city in Kerala. Located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland, Thiruvananthapuram is a port city located 19 km; 12 mi from a heavily trafficked east–west shipping channel. The city is home to India's first deep-water trans-shipment port, the Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram. Known as the "Evergreen City of India”, it is famous for its blend of colonial architecture, spiritual landmarks, and scenic coastal landscapes.

The city is characterised by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills. Thiruvananthapuram is also known for its cultural heritage, being associated with the musical contributions of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma and the artistic legacy of painter Raja Ravi Varma. Thiruvananthapuram has contributed to the development of Malayalam literature through individuals like Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, Kumaran Asan, C. V. Raman Pillai and Narayana Guru. The city is also known for Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, known as the richest temple in the world.

Thiruvananthapuram is a notable academic and research hub and home to the University of Kerala, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, the regional headquarters of Indira Gandhi National Open University, and many other schools and colleges.

Must see attractions include: Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which is one of the world's richest temples, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and featuring intricate Dravidian architecture. Kovalam Beach, located about 13 km away, it is famous for its crescent-shaped coastline and iconic lighthouse. Technopark, which is India’s first IT park and a major employment hub, currently expanding with a new World Trade Centre. Napier Museum & Zoological Gardens, home to a rare collection of archaeological artefacts and one of the oldest zoos in India. Aazhimala Siva Temple, notable for its massive 18 metre concrete statue of Lord Shiva overlooking the Arabian Sea. Kathakali a stylized classical Indian dance-drama known for its vibrant makeup, elaborate costumes, and highly controlled facial expressions. Native to Kerala in southwestern India, the name translates to "story" (katha) "play" (kali).

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 543 - REIMS, FRANCE

“I drink Champagne when I win, to celebrate… and I drink Champagne when I lose, to console myself.” - Napoleon Bonaparte

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

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Reims  is the most populous city in the French department of Marne, and the 12th most populous city in France. The city lies 129 km northeast of Paris on the Vesle river, a tributary of the Aisne. Founded by the Gauls, Reims became a major city in the Roman Empire.

Reims later played a prominent ceremonial role in French monarchical history as the traditional site of the coronation of the kings of France. The royal anointing was performed at the Cathedral of Reims, which housed the Holy Ampulla of chrism allegedly brought by a white dove at the baptism of Frankish king Clovis I in 496. For this reason, Reims is often referred to in French as la cité des sacres ("the Coronation City").

Reims is recognized for the diversity of its heritage, ranging from Romanesque to Art-déco. Reims Cathedral, the adjacent Palace of Tau, and the Abbey of Saint-Remi were listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 because of their outstanding Romanesque and Gothic architecture and their historical importance to the French monarchy.[6] Reims also lies on the northern edge of the Champagne wine region and is linked to its production and export.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 542 - CAEN, FRANCE

“Peace is not a gift from God to man, but a gift from man to himself.” - Elie Wiesel

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.
There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and then share it with the rest of us.
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Caen is a city and commune 15 km inland from the northwestern coast of France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (as of 2018), while its functional urban area has 470,000, making Caen the second largest urban area in Normandy and the 19th largest in France. It is also the third largest commune in all of Normandy after Le Havre and Rouen. Caen is located 200 km northwest of Paris, connected to the South of England by the Caen (Ouistreham) to Portsmouth ferry route through the English Channel.

Situated a few miles from the coast, the landing beaches, the bustling resorts of Deauville and Cabourg, as well as Norman Switzerland and the Pays d'Auge, Caen is often considered the archetype of Normandy. Caen is known for its historical buildings built during the reign of William the Conqueror, who was buried there, and for the Battle for Caen, heavy fighting that took place in and around Caen during the Battle of Normandy in 1944, destroying much of the city. The city has now preserved the memory by erecting a memorial and a museum dedicated to peace, the Mémorial de Caen.

Caen is in an area of high humidity. The river Orne flows through the city, as well as small rivers known as les Odons, most of which have been buried under the city to improve urban hygiene. Caen has a large flood zone, named "La prairie", located around the hippodrome, not far from the river Orne, which is regularly submerged. Caen is 10 km from the Channel. A canal (Canal de Caen à la Mer) parallel to the Orne was built during the reign of Napoleon III to link the city to the sea at all times. The canal reaches the English Channel at Ouistreham. A lock keeps the tide out of the canal and lets large ships navigate up the canal to Caen's freshwater harbours.

The castle, the Château de Caen, built c. 1060 by William the Conqueror, who successfully conquered England in 1066, is one of the largest medieval fortresses of Western Europe. It remained an essential feature of Norman strategy and policy. Today, the castle serves as a museum that houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Caen (Museum of Fine Arts of Caen) and Musée de Normandie (Museum of Normandy) along with many periodical exhibitions about arts and history.

In repentance for marrying his cousin Mathilda of Flanders, William the Conqueror ordered two abbeys to be built on the Pope's encouragement: Église St.-Étienne, formerly the Abbaye aux Hommes (Men's Abbey). It was completed in 1063 and is dedicated to St Stephen. The current Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) of Caen is built onto the South Transept of the building. Église de la Ste.-Trinité, formerly the Abbaye aux Dames (Women's Abbey). It was completed in 1060 and is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The current seat of the regional council (conseil régional) of Basse-Normandie is nearby.

Other sights include: Jardin botanique de Caen, a historic botanical garden. The Church of Saint-Pierre, the Church of Saint-Étienne-le-Vieux, and the Church of Saint-Jean de Caen. Not to be missed is the Mémorial pour la Paix ("Memorial for Peace") built in 1988, a museum charting the events leading up to and after D-Day. It is an emotional presentation inviting meditation and reflection. The Memorial for Peace also includes an exhibit of Nobel Peace Prize winners and another one on Conflict Resolution in different cultures.

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TRAVEL TUESDAY 541 - SATURN, SOLAR SYSTEM

“Geez, all that money we waste on space exploration; just think how many bombs that would buy!” - Craig Bruce

Welcome to the Travel Tuesday meme! Join me every Tuesday and showcase your creativity in photography, painting and drawing, music, poetry, creative writing or a plain old natter about Travel.

There is only one simple rule: Link your own creative work about some aspect of travel and then share it with the rest of us.
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The ultimate travel destination this week, is an extraterrestrial extravaganza: Imagine yourself on one of the moons of Saturn (it has 285 confirmed moons, the most of any planet in the Solar System!) This location would give you a ringside view (yes, pun intended!) of the most photogenic planet of our solar system… If it were possible to travel there, that is…

Travelling to Saturn is a massive undertaking, with robotic probes like Cassini taking over 7 years to reach the planet (roughly 1.2 billion kilometres away). Human missions are projected to be possible in over 100 years, with travel times likely exceeding a dozen years, relying on advanced propulsion.

Saturn is a gas giant with no solid surface for landing. A spaceship would sink through its thick atmosphere, encountering crushing pressures and extreme temperatures. Future human exploration is more likely to focus on Saturn's moons, such as Titan, which offers possibilities for studying methane lakes and unique, frozen environments.

If you are interested in space, astronomy, astrobiology, possibility of extraterrestrial life, science fiction and science fiction art, please look at my Instagram account @nicvard

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