Joshua Tree National Park in Jan/Feb is beautiful and not very crowded. At one point, standing alone in the desert I stopped and looked around quickly because I thought I heard/felt something. I realized what I "heard" was my own heart beating...aside from that it was 100% absolute silence--kind of cool experience.
A few pics and slide show:
Finally got around to finish going through pics from this trip...it's been so long it feels like a new vacation looking at them :)
Here's some highlights and a slide show:
Sunset at Lincoln City
A Really BIG TREE near the coast:
Rock Formations:
Smith Rock:
Painted Desert (this place is like being on another planet):
Slide Show (Click on FULL SCREEN icon in lower right):
Blarney Castle, Cork:
Crazy Kayaker Going Off of a Dublin Bridge:
Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork:
Dunluce Castle, Northern Ireland:
Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland:
According to legend, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant. The Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool) was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two giants could meet. Fionn hides from Benandonner when he realises that his foe is much bigger than him. Fionn's wife, Úna, disguises Fionn as a baby and tucks him in a cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the 'baby', he reckons that its father, Fionn, must be a giant among giants. He flees back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that Fionn could not follow. Across the sea, there are identical basalt columns (a part of the same ancient lava flow) at Fingal's Cave on the Scottish isle of Staffa.
Ireland 2012 Slide Show:
FRANCE
Strasbourg France:
Strasbourg France:
Strasbourg Cathedral, 2nd largest Church in France:
Owl at "La Volerie des Aigles':
Koenigsbourg:
Koenigsbourg:
Barbary Macaque at "Montagne des Singes:
Barbary Macaque at "Montagne des Singes:
Germany
Stuttgart:
Holenzollern Castle:
Holenzollern Castle:
Holenzollern Castle:
Slideshows:
FRANCE:
BARNABY MACAQUES:
GERMANY: