Cavo Greko, Cyprus, July 2007

The east side of the island. Gotta luv that magnificent blue water, so clear. Having a great time. Wish you were here.

Larnaca, Cyprus, July 2007

First views (cellphone camera) of the city where I'm holidaying with my younger sister and her husband, who is from the island.

Bottom: views from our apartment window.

Middle: the Sea...

Top: The Church of Lazarus. http://www.planetware.com/larnaca/st-lazarus-church-cy-la-laza.htm has this to say about it:

"In the old town of Larnaca is St Lazarus's Church, with the relics of the Saint.
"Saint Lazarus is the patron saint of Larnaca. After his resurrection by Christ, he lived here for another 30 years. He was ordained Bishop of Kition by saints Barnabas and Mark.
"His relics are located in this church, created in his honor.
"The church was built in the ninth century by Emperor Leo VI and was faithfully restored in the 17th century, and the iconostasi is an excellent example of Baroque woodcarving.
"Its white painted belfry is highly distinctive and escaped the Turkish ban on such structures.
"It has four domes over the nave and the roof is supported on four sets of double columns. The pulpit is uniquely placed in one of these columns and is lavishly decorated in gilt. In another column there is a silver icon from 1659, with a picture of St Lazarus. There are also good paintings of the Virgin and Child and St George and the Dragon. The iconostasis or screen between the altar and the main church is a good example of wood carving in the Baroque style.
"Eight days before Greek Orthodox Easter, the icon of St Lazarus is taken in procession through the streets of Larnaca."

Waiting for the Ferry, Tasucu, Turkey

Well, I couldn't just sulk in my motel room for 23.5 hours waiting for the next ferry to Cyprus, could I? Especially as it was a 1-star. So I went out with the cellphone camera.

Bottom: my feet hit the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in my life (as I recall).

Middle: Shore... and an old boat.

Top: One of many glass eyes whose purpose is to ward off the Evil Eye curse. But this superstition is found in many other places too, including Greek Cyprus, where I am now...

The w()rd: Let's talk Turkey

Because that's where I am at the moment, en route to Cyprus after 23 hrs on a bus, which got me to the ferry terminal 1/2 hr late for the day's crossing (no one's fault). ;Scuse me ıf my typıng,s a bıt messed up, but I thought I,d emulate the frustratıons of a dıfferent keyboard layout for you.

Some notable place names in Turkey:
Batman ('nuff said)
Hayrat, home of the infamous hayrat (insert your own story here, best one wins a prize)
Of. Just Of. Origin place of such famous phrases or uses (here presented in their original versions) as:
- What are you thinking, Of?
- Is this milk a bit Of?
- the On/Of switch
- Of to the races
- The Sound of Of music
- poised to take Of

I also passed by Tarsus, birthplace of one Saul (later Paul), who wrote most of the New Testament though he was a major enemy of the Christıans before that. Have to stop there next time.

Another fascinating sıgn I noticed is for the Elif Un Fabrikası (Transl.: Elif Un Factory), where everything is unmade, undone, all words beginning with un having their origin here.

Finally, Final Tea comes from this part of the world - its name evoking strange feelings that this cup of tea would be my last. Such a Final name, isn't it?

The Elusive Ushba, Svaneti, June 2007

In the 2.5 weeks of this last trip to Svaneti, the weather was fairly cloudy much of the time. It kept things cool for the walk, which was useful; and made for some very atmospheric photography. But it also meant that Mt Ushba was hidden most of the time; we saw her well only in Etseri, before the walk started, and again here, as it was ending.

This was the last morning of the walk, and our only camping day, on the pass between Ipari and Mestia, spectacular views from both sides. The little spring-fed lake is about 5 minutes' walk from where the tent was pitched, both tent and lake away from view of the roads. I had gone to get water for cooking, but I hurried back to the camp to fetch my camera when I realised that Ushba had come into view (the twin peaks just right of centre). As well as shooting film, I used my cellphone's little 2 MPixel camera, so this again is a sneak preview of better things to come.

Mestia, Svaneti, June 2007

Sneak preview - a cellphone timer shot of Jeff & me & the Nightmare (before she escaped us the first time & earned her name) at the entrance sign to Mestia, capital town of Svaneti. Just a snapshot, much better things ahead - but something to whet your appetite for photos of the 111-km, 7-rolls-of-film Svaneti walk. Also, a demonstration that Georgia, with its own alphabet (top left) is NOT in Russia. Again.

A New Svaneti Link

For those especially interested in Internet links to Svaneti, here's a good one I've just found:
http://www.svanetitrekking.ge/eng/about.htm
They're trying to develop (or I should say redevelop) Svaneti as a trekker's and general tourist's paradise. 20 years ago it was crawling with tourists, I'm told, but the breakup of the USSR and of Georgia itself was especially hard on this region. So people remember the good old days, but need help getting back to them. This site looks like a big step in the right direction. Good background material as well.

Back from Svaneti

Dear viewers,

On June 21 I returned from the mountains, back into internet contact in Tbilisi. (Well, Mestia does now have a free satellite internet station, NGO-based, but I could only use that once on the trip.) More news to follow, along with the usual daily postings you have come to expect from me.

Soon...

Back from "A Walk on the Wild Side"

After several weeks of absence, leaving pre-drafted posts for friends to post for me while I was away from the internet, I'm back. 111 km of walking through magnificent Svaneti with a friend, our baggage on a horse which eventually earned the name Nightmare. There's plenty to show and tell, including material from 7 rolls of film and about 1/2 hr of video footage from my cellphone, some of which I hope to post to youtube and link to the blog. But first I'm soon off again, to Cyprus for about 3 weeks of holiday with family. As my situation in Tbilisi is curently "between apartments", with all my stuff in limbo/storage until mid-July, blog posting might be expected to be a bit thin for a while. But never fear - I do actually have a lot of extra material ready in the wings to keep you entertained until the new Svaneti images are ready. So stay tuned, faithful

Venice, February-March 2003

Two more of that winged lion motif.

Venice, February-March 2003

Gondolas; and a bridge with reflected sunlight.

Venice, February-March 2003

Two more city views from the St Mark's Square tower.

Venice, February-March 2003

Gondolas whole and closeup.

Venice, February-March 2003

Two more of the city's winged lion: an official graphic, and a sculpture from the St Mark's Square tower.

Venice, February-March 2003

More details on a gondola - a "sea-horse"?

Tbilisi, December 1999
Below, the huge Kartlis Deda (Mother Georgia) statue. One version is that she's saying to her guest, "Drink this wine or I'll cut your throat."

Above, a scene from the memorial to the writer Shota Rustaveli on Rustaveli Avenue.

Tbilisi, December 1999

Below, Sioni (the Patriarch's church) reflection. Above, the Mtkvari river and the Old City.

Etim Gurji, Tbilisi, December 1999

This is, I think, my favourite shot of the poet's statue so far.

Mtkvari reflections, Tbilisi, December 1999

I'm still amazed that a flowing river can offer such scenes, but here they are.

Time for a break from Venice.

Metekhi church and the Mtkvari River, Tbilisi, December 1999